Mallorca 14 – 20 Dec 2023 Issue 2006

Mallorca • Issue No. 2006 • 14 - 20 December 2023

Credit: Calanova Cancer Charity Shop

WITH Christmas fast approaching, the Calanova Cancer Charity Shop in Palma has been making sure that there’s a special day or two for children on Mallorca who are suffering from cancer.

A cheque for €2,000 was presented to Christina, Secretary of the ASPANOB children’s cancer charity as well as 86 presents for children all donated by the kind clients of the cancer shop.

Each gift was individually wrapped and labelled with details of whether it was suitable for a boy or girl as well as an idea of the appropriate age range.

There is still time to visit the charity shop in Avenida Joan Miro to not only get some great Christmas gifts and clothes for yourself but every purchase raises much-needed funds.

Christmas gifts ready for ASPANOB to distribute.

ILMAINEN

GRATIS

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GRATUITO

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FLYING PRESIDENT More hospital beds Credit: Palma Futsal

Christmas gifts

FREE

WINNERS: President Prohens celebrates with the team.

IT’S not often that the head of a government is thrown into the air by a crowd of celebrating footballers, but that’s what happened on Saturday December 9.

Marga Prohens, new President of the Balearic Government was at Palma Airport alongside island council chief Llorenç Galmés and Palma’s mayor Jaime Martínez and many fans to welcome back the triumphant Palma Futsal team from Brazil.

They had just flown back after winning the Copa Intercontinental World Cup in Foz do Iguaçu, the previous day and returned in high spirits.

Catching sight of President Prohens, well-known as a fan of the club, they ignored proto-

col and simply picked her up and threw her into the air several times, but she seemed quite happy as she had turned up wearing the team shirt.

The team then jumped into an open top bus and drove through the streets of Palma to the applause

of fans who lined the route before arriving at the Son Moix sports centre to be officially congratulated by the President, their biggest supporter.

Despite the long flight they had to prepare for a match against Ribera Navarra the following day.

THE new Medical and Surgical Day Hospital of the Son Llàtzer University Hospital was officially opened on Monday December 11.

For three years work has been undertaken to ensure that the hospital was able to offer a better service to those living in Mallorca.

This project has converted 19 rooms into several specialised units; eight medical consultations that are already at full capacity; two outpatient surgical intervention rooms and the Medicosurgical Day Hospital, with seven patient care areas and five double rooms with the function of treatment rooms.

Overall, capacity for patients has been increased by 32 per cent and the opening of this final part of the three year plan means that patients are able to be seen more quickly in comfortable surroundings.

Effectively, it will now be possible for no less than 47 patients to be treated simultaneously and ensures that the quality of service offered is what should reasonably be expected in the second decade of the 21st century.

EWN

euroweeklynews.com II LOCAL NEWS

14 - 20 December 2023

IT has been an important week for the Catholic Charity Cáritas Mallorca as the organisation has a new location in Calle Socors in the centre of Palma.

This location was previously just used for training and some charity work but now with the restructuring of the facility, the departments dealing with care, reception and support have joined to ensure a more professional and coordinated service.

The Attention, Information and Orientation point (first reception); the Parish Community Service (Social Action); the Training Service and the Itineraries Service (of the Solidarity Economy Programme);

New Cáritas HQ Circus in Calvia Credit: Cáritas Mallorca

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A large attendance for the opening ceremony.

the Administration area; the Department of People Development (Human Resources); Legal Advice and Psychosocial Care services; the Communication and Awareness Area as well

AFTER private hire company Uber indicated that it plans to offer a cheaper service in Mallorca the Balearic parliament responded on Tuesday December 12.

In what is clearly a move to try to help the several thousand taxi drivers currently holding licences across the Balearic Islands.

Although it was expected that the requirement for VTC (mini cab) operations

as the Management team have all been moved to this location.

The opening ceremony was divided into two parts. The first took place in the auditorium of the

Sant Francesc school with the presentation given by Bishop Mns. Sebastià Taltavull on ‘Cáritas Mission and Human Rights’ coinciding with International Human Rights Day on Sunday December 10.

Then the staff, volunteers and people linked to Cáritas Mallorca moved to the new location of the headquarters that has been blessed by the Bishop, toured the facilities, collected information about the spaces, and the opening day concluded with paella for all those attending.

THE magic of Christmas comes to Calvia with Circo Strómboli, a circus show that appeals to both young and old and promises entertainment for all.

The first performance takes place today, Thursday December 14 at the Peguera Auditorium with children from the CEIP Xaloc and Puig de Sa Ginesta.

The following week, there are two performances, firstly at Sala Palmanova, for the CEIP of the area, Jaume I, on Wednesday December 20, finally the last performance will be as the schools break up the following day when La Magia de la Navidad will be staged at CEIP Son Caliu.

The Magic of Christmas will be an unforgettable experience, bringing joy and Christmas spirit to the educational community.

Elves on stilts will welcome spectators, creating a festive atmosphere from the entrance to their seats and other acts include reindeer, snowmen, and endearing characters like the tin soldier and a beautiful dancer inside a giant bubble.

Supporting taxis to allow bookings without any delay, the parliament voted to keep the 30-minute advance booking requirement.

The motion was presented by the PSOE, now in opposition but was su-

pported by all parties with the additional agreement that a licence in Mallorca would not be carried over if the driver moved to one of the other islands.

The following day, both the Spanish

Tourism Board and the National Business Federation of Rental Vehicles with and without Drivers (Feneval) announced their opposition to the decision and suggested that the motion should be reversed both because it goes against the interests of passengers and may be illegal.

Taxi drivers associations naturally support the decision.

NIBS EXTRA Thief caught A THIEF nicknamed Spider­ man has been arrested climbing the exterior of a building after a security offi­ cer responsible for guarding the Christmas market stands in the Passeig Sagrera in Pal­ ma spotted him and alerted officers from the National Police who promptly arrived on the scene and appre­ hended him.

Surprise drop A SINKHOLE in Alcudia made the road collapse and trapped a bus. Luckily there was just a small hole which ate the bus’s front right wheel and there were no passengers being trans­ ported at the time, so the only person affected was the driver who was not in­ jured.

Scam bust AFTER arresting six people in Barcelona who were consid­ ered responsible for a major telephone scam, it has emerged that at least 60 people in the Balearics of which a number were in Mallorca had lost money.

The total amount involved which includes victims from other parts of Spain is around €1.5 million.

March past A PARADE took place at the Son Sant Joan Air Base, in Palma on Sunday December 10 when members of the Spanish Air Force paraded in honour of their patron saint, Our Lady of Loreto. In addi­ tion, decorations were hand­ ed out and the National Flag was flown to honour those who retired or died during the last year.

Fares please UNLESS the Palma Council receives an unexpected sub­ sidy from the National Gov­ ernment, there will be no free travel on buses in Palma in 2024 due to the ongoing cost of running the service.

Fares will be kept at 2020 levels and there will be dis­ counts for pensioners and students.

euroweeklynews.com THE history of glass blowing in Mallorca goes back to the time of the Phoenicians, who, when they settled on the coast in the second cen­ tury BC set up glass fur­ naces.

Having seen the superb results of the production of top art pieces in glass in Venice, in the 18th century, many of the secrets were imported to Mallorca which became an important sup­ plier to the world market.

Representatives of Spain and other European coun­ tries submitted applications to the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commit­ tee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Her­ itage.

They claimed that their countries have special

14 - 20 December 2023

Cultural heritage Credit: Balearic Government

LOCAL NEWS

EWN

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YOUR EWN HAS

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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

St Lucia Day

TOP PIECES: Glass blowing is an art in itself.

‘Knowledge, crafts and tech­ niques of artisanal glass pro­ duction’ and this has now been accepted by UNESCO with Mallorca being one of

the areas recognised.

Traditional craft glass pro­ duction involves shaping and decorating hot and cold glass to produce objects.

The factory in Can Gordio­ la d’Algaida in Mallorca is one of just two in all of Spain that maintains this artisanal way of working glass.

Free parking plus Power subsidy WITH seven special family shows taking place at the Teatre Principal in Palma, the Consell de Mallorca is offering ticket holders two hours of free parking.

The underground car parks at Plaza Mayor, Vía Roma and Antoni Maura will be available for use on show days between December 20 and January 4 and has been made possible with the cooperation of the Palma Council.

The idea behind the offer is to try to encourage families to experience the fun and excitement of attending a show in a theatre without the fear or hassle of trying to find somewhere to park.

There’s a really wide choice of entertainment which in­ cludes classical music, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with a totally modern twist incorporating video with theatre and live music, a circus show and two days of performances of the great JM Barrie classic, Peter Pan. There is something for everyone with the emphasis on pleasing the children on what could be their first trip to the theatre.

THE sum of €3.5 million is to be made available dur­ ing 2024 to help subsidise the purchase and installa­ tion of solar and wind pow­ er generation.

This is aimed at residen­ tial properties in order to incorporate renewable en­ ergy sources and, there­ fore, manage to reduce the consumption of electrical energy from the grid as well as reduce CO2 emis­ sions.

As previously agreed in the 2021 – 2027 pro­ gramme for the Balearic Is­ lands the subsidy may be

Drink and drive ON the morning of Monday May 12, a lorry carrying a full load of bottles of beer lost part of its load on the round­ about on the Llucmajor main road leading to the Son Morro industrial es­ tate.

It appears many of the crates con­ taining the bottles were not properly restrained and reportedly, the side cur­ tains on the lorry opened unexpectedly resulting in the fact that several hun­ dred bottles of Estrella beer fell to the ground and were smashed.

With so much glass on the road, offi­ cers from the Guardia Civil had to close one lane causing delays to drivers whilst cleaners from the Consell de Mallorca arrived to remove the glass and clear up the mess.

Their first job however was to clear the bicycle land and pedestrian cross­ ing before moving onto the road.

Investigations are now ongoing as to the reasons for the accident which may result in prosecution if the driver or the company is found to be responsible.

as high as 60 per cent of the actual cost.

This is in line with Euro­ pean Union objectives of promoting renewable ener­ gies to advance to a green­ er and lower carbon Eu­ rope, a clean and equitable transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, adaptation to cli­ mate change and risk pre­ vention and management.

As well as residential sites, the subsidies will also be offered to not for profit groups as well as communi­ ties of owners such as apartment blocks.

ON December 13 every year, the Festival of St Lu­ cia is celebrated by Swedish communities across the world.

According to tradition, in the fourth century, Lu­ cia of Syracuse brought food to Christians hiding from the Romans in the Catacombs and because they were so dark she wore a headdress with candles to light her way before she was caught and martyred.

Now on December 13, in order to light up the dark Swedish nights a procession with girls wear­ ing the wreath of lights go through the streets before families enjoy ginger cakes and Christmas punch.

The Swedish school in Mallorca follows the same pattern and has done for some 25 years as scholars dressed in white carrying electric candles parade through the streets of Pal­ ma behind Lucia with her special head dress and make for Palma Cathedral for a Christmas concert.

The Euro Weekly News publishes more content both online at euroweeklynews.com and in its papers than any other English news publication in Spain.

Even better, our news online and in print is FREE and we promise to

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EWN

euroweeklynews.com II LOCAL NEWS

14 - 20 December 2023

THE new council team in Marratxi has managed to overturn a 2020 decision that declared it unconstitutional for local residents to have priority in the allocation of housing.

Now on Tuesday December 12, the Marratxi Council and the Balearic Housing Institute (IBAVI) have confirmed that residents with more

Queen Forever

Credit: Queen Forever/Fotografía Bronson

SPANISH tribute band Queen Forever are back on the road and are returning to the Palma Auditorium on Saturday December 16 with tickets costing €45 per person.

This is the start of their new We Will Rock You tour which will see them preform across much of Spain for the next six months.

According to Peter Freestone (Freddie Mercury’s Personal Assistant from 1979 until the day he died): “These guys have taken me back 40 years, musically they are incredible” and you can be sure that after so many years of honing their musical and Queen skills, the show will be a real tour de force.

than five years in the municipality will have priority in the allocation of protected housing in Sa Cabana. in addition to the total, five properties which will become municipal property, will be allocated to people with special needs who are residents in the municipality.

ROCK YOU: A perfect tribute to Queen.

So, if you have been starved of an evening of rock music, tickets to see Tolo Sanders (Freddie Mercury) Adrián Pujadas (Brian May), new member, Juanjo Amen-

gual (John Deacon), Haritz Caperochipi (Roger Taylor) and Sebastián Raimundo (Spike Edney) may still be available for next Saturday’s show.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

“Don’t complain about lack of wind - learn to sail.”

This is an old Swedish saying. The essence of this proverb came from ambitious farmers who had been growing grapes in the cool Scandinavian climate for a few decades: “don’t complain about the lack of sun, learn to grow grapes”.

ONE of the moves that the PP and Vox politicians now controlling the Consell de Mallorca was to remove the BusHOV (high occupation vehicle) lane at Palma Airport.

It argued that the because the lane is actually underused, it increases the volume of traffic on the other lanes of the road, which in turn has contributed to an increase in accidents.

Permission to take this action has to be given by the DGT (General Directorate of Traffic) and this was applied for some months ago.

It has now been revealed that although no formal decision is due until January, the WHILST it is aways good news to see the introduction of new pedestrian crossings, runners at the Campos athletics track had a bit of a surprise when one appeared across their track.

It seemed rather a strange decision and they wondered whether during a race they had to stop and wait if a pedestrian was using the crossing and then carry on after they left.

The somewhat more mun-

Credit: Consell de Mallorca

House warming Airport bus lane PALMA AIRPORT: The Bus-HOV lane.

DGT has indicated in a letter that it would prefer to at least see the lane remain operational during a period yet to be confirmed, which is considered the morning rush hour.

The Consell de Mallorca has released this information and commented that

in the event that such a decision is imposed upon the Council, it is more than likely that it would appeal as the ruling body considers that this experimental lane which only opened in November 2022 is without doubt a failure.

Odd zebra crossing dane explanation given by the council was that it wanted to point out a single place of access to children who needed to access the adjacent playing fields and pa-

rents heading for the stands,.

Time will tell whether spreading white paint over a properly laid out running track will cause athletes to slip should it rain.

Feed locally

LOCAL political party MÉS per Mallorca combined with the Union of Farmers to deliver a major complaint against a perceived breach of regulations.

On Wednesday December 13, they explained that there was a requirement that obliges tourist establishments in Mallorca to guarantee a minimum of 3 per cent of local product (from the Balearic Islands) is used in their establishments.

According to the complaint, to date, no action has been taken to check on or enforce this regulation and MÉS per Mallorca has undertaken to raise this matter in order to encourage the PP-Vox pact to immediately ensure that the current regulations are complied with. Apart from helping the Balearic suppliers of fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and fish, this regulation helps to reduce the volume of foodstuff imported.

EWN

euroweeklynews.com II LOCAL NEWS

14 - 20 December 2023

IN 2007 a Dutch paramedic saw how much pleasure one of his patients showed when he took a diversion and gave her a bit of a ride.

From that small start the Ambulance of Desire Foundation was born and has its own branch in Spain known as Ambulan-

Welcome home Replacing horses

cia del Deseo whose volunteers try to make the wishes of those who are chronically ill come true.

In Mallorca according to EFE, they have just assisted a 76-year-old woman who was confined

to bed following a serious accident to move from Palma via Valencia to the town of Velez de Benaudalla in Granda where she originally came from and still has friends and family.

IN what could be a first for Spain, and certainly a first for Mallorca, the Alcudia Council is calling for the phasing out of horse drawn carriages for tourists.

Progresso en Verde, the Mallorcan Animal Political Party has been pressing for this in Palma but it appears that the new council is reluctant to agree to this step.

In Alcudia, however even the current buggy drivers have indicated that they would be happy to relinquish their carriages and prefer the concept of offering their services to visitors using electric vehicles.

This appears to be finding favour not only with those promoting animal rights but also with potential visitors who worry about the health of the horses especially

Credit: Consell de Mallorca

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HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES: Plan is to phase them out.

when it is very hot.

Councillor Azahara Machado travelled to Valencia with representatives of the carriage drivers to view a potential supplier of genuine horseless carriages, created in traditional style but powered by batteries which can take up to four passen-

gers and after modifications are made, they should be in service by th end of 2024.

As yet there is no news about the future of the horses once they are withdrawn from service but no doubt a close eye will be kept with regards to their well-being.

Levelling up

CERTAIN parts of the Plaza Mayor in Palma have become run down and the council has announced that it has plans to renovate and attract tourists to this part of such a central part of the city.

It wants to set up a visitor centre and having passed the necessary local planning permission is currently in negotiation with private owners to property to take over a number of buil-

dings.

The shopping centre below the square whilst not completely deserted has lost a number of shops and needs upgrading and the square will be made more attractive and welcoming.

Following on from this, the council is also considering re-opening the former railway tunnel to pedestrians which would give direct access to the port.

EWN

euroweeklynews.com II NEWS

14 - 20 December 2023 THE festive period is a time where cases of drink drinking show a significant rise, so much so that the Local Police annually increase their stop checks on the roads.

Christmas parties and end of year celebrations lead to many making the irresponsible decision to choose convenience over the safety of themselves and others.

As most of us know, driving a vehicle whilst being under the influence of alcohol or any other substance is illegal.

The Penal Code in Spain states that a blood alcohol level between 0.50mg/l and 60mg/l incurs a penalty of €1,000

Stop and think!

Image: Shutterstock/ _African Studio

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DRINK DRIVING: Increases over the festive period.

and a deduction of six points from the driver’s licence.

Levels over 60mg/l may lead to imprisonment for three to six months, one year of community service, and a licence suspension ranging from one to four years.

However, something that many are not aware of, are the complications with getting your driving licence back after your ban has ended.

You won’t be able to

regain your licence until you sit a road awareness and re-education course, which will last 24 hours in total.

You will also have to take your driving theory test again before your licence can be reissued.

This can be done in English, but as Manilva resident Matt Trigel explained to Euro Weekly News, “the theory exam is in English but to be honest some of the questions didn’t make any sense as the trans-

lation is poor sometimes.” Another resident, Michelle Vaugn also said that, “the whole process is expensive and not very easy at all.”

In addition to the theory exam, an extra complication is the amount of appointments you need to attend and paperwork that must be completed. It can be a long wait to get one, and if all the official paperwork, which is in Spanish, is not completed correctly, then another appointment, and subsequently a long wait, will have to be made.

So perhaps this information will not only inform but also deter you this holiday season, as it may not just be the time without the ability to drive that will be a problem, if not also the tedious period of official appointments that will follow!

10 EWN 14 - 20 December 2023

euroweeklynews.com II FEATURE/NEWS

Cheap goods and communism LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT IN my opinion the Chinese are the most dangerous race on the planet.

Subjects who live under the iron boot of communism are like ants or bees following the orders of the Queen. On their own they are weak and vulnerable; working together for a common cause, they are virtually unstoppable.

Over the years, this ancient race of people with their inscrutable and patient leaders, has slowly but surely managed to infiltrate the West with far more success and subtlety than the terrorists who have impregnated our society. From the innocuous Chinese restaurants and emporiums of cheap goods, to the high financiers of Wall Street and the city of London, they are everywhere.

Most of their companies in the West are state owned enterprises, including the multi supply stores, whose staff are trained in China and schooled in the language of whatever country they are designated to take up their employment. These stores are

only allowed to buy their stock from China and are totally autonomous.

By selling a complete cross section of cheap goods, their purpose is to undermine and disrupt local businesses. Beijing’s 1997 takeover in Hong Kong and the announcement that they would be instructing schools to teach children from the age of six that they must always show allegiance to the state, was blatant brainwashing and of course ensures that their future generations will not become westernised, a result enjoyed by many of the youngsters who were raised under British rule.

Their technology, particularly in the cyber world, is second to none and the Chinese Communist parties, who lie with monotonous predictability, were almost certainly the source of a number of huge cyber-attacks on the West.

They are a nuclear power that can send rockets into space. Whether intentionally or accidently, China was undoubtedly responsible for the Covid pandemic that severely damaged a multitude of economies and spread fear all over the planet.

At present they are too astute to be actual warmongers, but I still be-

lieve, in the not too distant future, they will begin to flex their military muscles and endeavour to ‘take back’ Taiwan. Whatever the future holds, I think China is the biggest threat to Western democracy the world has ever seen. Can they be stopped? Somehow I doubt it, there are after all over 1.4 billion of them! If they join forces with Putin’s Mafia, I think we can stick our heads between our legs and bid adieu to our posteriors.

Ah well, aint life grand? Delighted to see that ‘I’m a Celebrity’ viewers voted out that awful Nellie individual. No doubt, by the time you read this she will be (unless advised otherwise!) blaming racism as one of the main reasons for her unpopularity. Ridiculous; she was merely a young, spoiled brat of low intellect, no matter what her origins.

Did you know that the ol’ Leaper has, in the distant past, twice been short listed for that show?

Lost out both times I’m afraid.

No need to display the reasons, it certainly wasn’t racism.

Keep the faith Love Leapy. leapylee2002@gmail.com

Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

Winner has it all EUROMILLIONS: One of the largest jackpots in history.

THE winner of one of the largest EuroMillions jackpots in history is somewhere in Austria, lottery officials have said, while the second-highest prize, a mere £1,191,020, may have as many as five winners.

National Lottery officials told a national newspaper on December 8 that three of those winners are located in the UK. The remaining two could be in any of the participating countries, which include Ireland, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal, or Switzerland. To win the second prize, players must match all five numbers and one Lucky Star. Tic-

kets must be purchased before 7.30pm, and players can still take home cash even if they don’t win the top prizes.

Such a jackpot is life changing, especially when you consider that hit songwriters Ed Sheeran and Rod Stewart have net fortunes of just £200 million, less than last weekend’s lucky winner. With £201 million in your pocket the possibilities are endless.

Maybe it’s 500 Rolls Royce Phantoms that tickles your fancy. Or perhaps you’d rather bag a handful of Caribbean islands instead. With such a fortune you could spend lavishly and still have some cash left to invest.

INTERVIEW

Make sure you keep active ANOTHER of our ongoing conversations with Europeans who have chosen to settle in Spain, and this time it’s the turn of Lily van Tongeren who moved to the Costa del Sol in 2012 from The Netherlands.

Explaining her decision, “This is not a hobby, it’s Lily said “I was attraca passion that makes ted by the weather me want to do all and lifestyle after that I can to proa number of hotect and care for liday visits and abandoned anithere was a famals, especially mily reason as the very young well. and those that “I just love it are sick. here, especially “When I come in Marbella which home from worhas an international king with them, I Credit: Facebook population and whilst love to escape into a Lily van Tongeren. the lifestyle is relaxed, you good book and I suppose have to be able to ‘go with the reading is my main hobby.” flow’ as there are some ups and downs.”

One piece of advice which she belieLily acknowledges that there are some ves is very important for anyone who problems with bureaucracy but thinks moves here, especially if they are penthat the same everywhere in Europe as sioners, is that they should ensure that each country has its own ways of doing they keep active and maybe volunteer to things which may seem strange to new- work with a charity as she did. comers, so she tries to navigate as best “That way they will meet other peoshe can. ple, form new acquaintances and also Many will know that Lily is one of the not be tempted to spend too much time guiding lights behind the Triple A animal in local bars, which has been a problem charity in Marbella and she says of this for some people.”

ADVERTISING FEATURE

s a m st Chri

SPECIAL

FA La La La La, La La La La! Oh it really does feel like Christmas now doesn’t it!

Most of the light displays now adorn our town centres, the office has planned the Christmas party, complete with festive jumpers, the kids have all been given their nativity parts (tea

Credit: Commons/serooskerke2011

‘Tis the season to be jolly!

It’s Christmas!

UK DIRECT Merry Christmas and all the very best for a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year

Call Zee UK 00447788853030 Spain 0034634770498

towels at the ready) and the local shopping centres, are now playing Christmas songs on repeat. Cute.

The modern day Christmas admittedly has little to do with its ancient ancestors, and it is widely agreed that it most probably was not the birthday of our saviour (maybe) Jesus Christ.

However, with all the doom and gloom going on in the world, who doesn’t welcome a little bit of festive cheer?

Although this holiday may not be easy for all of us, Christmas is a time to look at the good things in our life, be thankful for family, friends, and cinnamon scented cand-

les, which top tip ... are less than €2 in Mercadona!

If you know someone who you feel may be struggling, lend a helping hand, or bring them over for a cuppa.

This time of year is about spreading that holiday happiness and of course, sharing what we do have with others less fortunate.

Christmas can also be seen as a time to celebrate life, and its ever changing cycles, and whether your Christmas Day feels great, or a bit glum, put a festive jumper on, pull a cracker, and join in arms with the people you’re blessed to have close to you this year.

euroweeklynews.com

Christmas SPECIAL Credit: Wikipedia Commons - dorotheum

The Christmas tree debate

DECEMBER is here! It’s officially Christmas, right?

Although many would scream “yes!” in response to this, having had their Christmas decorations and tree up since November, others would protest that in fact it is still not the festive period yet. “Every year it seems to start earlier and earlier,” Sara Fox from the UK told Euro Weekly News, “I love Christmas, but even I think it is getting a bit ridiculous,” she admitted.

So, when does Christmas actually begin? In Western Christianity, where modern day Christmas originates, the Christmas season is traditionally synonymous with Christmastide, which starts on December 25 (Christmas Day) to January 5 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany Eve), popularly known as the 12 Days of Christmas.

However, here in Spain, celebrations start as early as December 22, with one of the main days being on December 24, ‘Nochebuena’ and last until January 6, The Magic King’s Day. That’s a good 15 days of festivities!

However, even the lengthy Spanish celebration says nothing of December 1 being the start of Christmas, but try telling that to the cities full of Christmas lights, the shopping centres that look like Santa’s grotto already, and the thousands of people who have already put their

Decorating the tree.

Christmas trees up!

Hans Gruber from Germany told EWN that he strictly puts his Christmas tree up on December 24 every year. “That is how we always did it in my family growing up,” he explained, “why would you put it up any sooner, the world has gone Christmas ‘consumer’ crazy!”

However, Amy O’Flynn from Ireland told a different story, saying “oh I’ve had mine up since mid-November! As soon as Halloween is over that’s it, Christmas time! Why not extend that period of joy? There’s enough bad going on in the world, and my tree brings me happiness.”

Merry Christmas in 15 Languages!

HAS your Christmas joy filled up so high that it is spilling over the top? So much so that you just want to wish the whole world a very Merry Christmas?

Well, if so, Euro Weekly News has you covered, well almost. Here is how to say ‘Merry Christmas’ in some languages from around this lovely planet.

The obvious, Merry Christmas, English!

God jul! That is Norwegian and Swedish.

Glaedelig jul! Danish!

Hynaa joulua. If you’re from Finland.

Gleoilig jol. That’s Faeroese!

Juullimi ukiortaasamilu pilluaritsi.

Greenlandic, and 10 points if you can pronounce it!

Joyeux Noel, the language of love,

French.

Feliz Navidad, admit that you sang it to the tune! Home turf, Spain!

Frohliche Weihnachten. The jolly Germans.

Buon Natale, is in Italian.

Wesolych swiat. Polish!

S Rozhdestvom Kristovym, if you’re from Russia.

Milad majid, is how to say it in Arabic.

Souksaan wan Christmas, oh do you recognise a word! That’s in Thai.

Finally, Shengdan kuaile xinnian kuaile.

Another easy one for us English speakers, Mandarin Chinese!

So now it’s time. With your new found multilingual skills, go and let the world know it really is Christmas time!

14 - 20 December 2023

EWN 13

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FINANCE BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (BAT) has taken a £25 billion (€29.1 billion) hit and will write down the value of some US brands as more people stop smoking. Camel, Pall Mall and others acquired in BAT’s 2017 Reynolds £40 billion (€46.6 billion) takeover are now worth considerably less than originally expected.

SAF for Zara

REPSOL is supplying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for Atlas Air which it will use on all flights from Zaragoza Airport for its customer, Inditex. New York-headquartered Atlas Air is also establishing an industry milestone as it is the first cargo airline to use SAF regularly on flights to and from Spain.

Jobs saved

OMNIPLEX, which owns 38 cinemas in Ireland, will pay more than £22 million (€25.6 million) for five sites belonging to the collapsed Empire operator which went into administration in July last year. The expansion of Ireland’s largest cinema chain onto the UK mainland for the first time will also save 150 jobs.

Mine deal

CANADIAN Denarius Metals Corp is paying €25 million for a 50 per cent holding in the Aguablanca copper-nickel mine in Monesterio (Extremadura).

The installation which belongs to Rio Narcea Recursos is located 88 kilometres away from Denarius’s own Lomero Project in Los Cerros del Andevalo (Huelva).

Not here

THE Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) told Marks & Spencer and Morrisons to “improve compliance” after they blocked rivals from opening up near their own stores “on multiple occasions” between 2011 and 2020.

“Competition between supermarkets must work well to help people get the best deals,” the CMA said.

STAT OF WEEK

€21.5 billion

in net profits expected for 2023 by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) after three years of losses owing to the impact of the pandemic on airlines.

Another Saudi investment

Linda Hall SAUDI ARABIA is continuing to increase its high-profile investment presence in the UK. The country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired a 49 per cent holding in Rocco Forte Hotels, putting a £1.2 billion (€1.4 billion) value on the luxury chain which owns Edinburgh’s Balmoral Hotel and Brown’s in London.

Millionaire hotel tycoon Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, Olga Polizzi, retain a 51 per cent stake in the company where they remain in their present posts as executive chairman and deputy chair-

Photo credit: CC/Orderinchaos

Up in smoke

euroweeklynews.com • 14 - 20 December 2023

BROWN’S HOTEL: Part of the Rocco Forte hotel empire.

man.

Forte has four other sisters who are selling their shares, while Italy’s sovereign wealth fund, CDP Equity, is selling its 23 per cent stake to PIF, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Rocco Forte Hotels was founded in 1996

Linda Hall TELEFONICA is set on acquiring all the shares in its German subsidiary which is currently worth approximately €5 billion.

The Spanish multinational has launched a public tender to buy up the remainder of the holding that it does not already own in Telefonica Deutschland, offering €2.35 per share. The acceptance period began on December 5 and continues until January 17 next year.

This is 37.6 per cent above the share price at close of business the day before the offer was announced in November but below this year’s high of €3.15 reached in early 2023.

Dia selling

SUPERMARKET chain Dia is selling its perfume and cosmetic stores, Clarel, to Colombian investment company Grupo Trinity.

According to a statement from Dia, Trinity is paying up to €42.2 million for Clarel’s 1,000 shops in Spain and three distribution centres. Nevertheless, this would have a negative impact of €9.4 million on its account its next financial year, Dia added.

The Trinity sale follows a cancelled deal last December, when private equity group, C2 Capital Partners, an affiliate of Gaw Capital Partners in Portugal, offered €60 million for Clarel. The transaction was cancelled last August when C2 Capital Partners failed to meet agreed conditions.

and owns 14 hotels, the majority of which are located in Italy, including three in Rome and three in Sicily. As the company expects to double in size over the next five years, Forte described PIF as “an excellent partner” for the future, implying that these plans would inclu-

Telefonica wants control Photo: Flickr/Rodolfo Bontempi

BUSINESS EXTRA

14

TELEFONICA DEUTSCHLAND: Headquartered in Munich.

Information in the brochure published on December 5, when

de expansion into the Middle East. Meanwhile Saudi Araabia is also looking to attract more tourism to the Gulf state.

Referring to the Saudi sovereign wealth fund and the hotel chain, Forte said the two had established “extremely good relations” during their negotiations.

“They share the same vision for the brand and the future strategy of the group with the same ambition to take a longterm view,” Forte said.

PIF’s other UK assets include Newcastle United and the second-largest holding in Aston Martin.

the German authorities officially approved the deal, revealed that Telefonica now possesses an additional 9.4 per cent stake, reducing to 18 per cent the outstanding number of shares.

The Spanish multinational spent €57 million on buying up 30.7 million Telefonica Deutschland shares over two days followed the announcement last August that the German subsidiary had lost its contract to provide 5G coverage for telecoms company 1&1 to Vodafone.

Telefonica’s Chief Financial officer Laura Abasola also stressed that the company has no plans to de-list Telefonica Deutschland.

Treading water

Taking a toll

THAMES WATER, burdened with £14 billion (€16.3 billion) debts, is to face a parliamentary committee yet again.

The Environment Food and Rural Affairs committee will recall the company’s chief executive Cathryn Ross amid auditors’ warnings that parent company Kemble Water Holdings could be short of cash by April.

When the company was questioned last summer, MPs learnt that the situation would be alleviated by a £500 million (€583.2 million) injection from shareholders. Instead, the Financial Times reported on December 2 that Thames Water received a £515 million (€600.6 million) convertible loan charging 8 per cent interest to be paid each March, according to Kemble Water Holdings’ accounts.

“This leads us to question the accuracy of evidence provided by Thames Water in July,” said the cross-party committee’s chairman Sir Robert Goodwill.

SPANISH infrastructure multinational Abertis is buying the Autovia del Camino from Swiss investment bank UBS. The Camino motorway, which links Pamplona and Logroño, has a toll concession ending in December 2030.

Announcing the sale while omitting mention of the sums involved, Abertis said the operation consolidated the company’s new growth phase that commenced with the acquisition of new toll roads in the US and Puerto Rico.

In 2022 the Autovia del Camino enjoyed a “solid traffic performance” Abertis added, with a 4.2 per cent increase at year-end, as well as €49.5 million in revenues and an EBITDA of €45 million.

Qatar’s exit

QATAR INVESTMENT AUTHORITY (QIA), Barclays second-largest shareholder, intends to sell approximately 362 million of its shares.

The £510 million (€594.8 million) transaction, where QIA will shed around 45 per cent of its shares, will reduce QIA’s 5 per cent stake to around 2.4 per cent.

In 2008 Qatar helped Barclays to avoid a state rescue with a £4 billion (€4.67 billion) bailout and originally held one billion Barclays’ shares, whose price in the meantime has fallen by half.

The sale comes at a bad time for Barclays chief executive CS Venkatakrishnan (Venkat) who is trying to boost the bank’s performance.

Back to the office

NATIONWIDE told its 13,000 employees that they must work at least twice a week from the office.

From next April, the “work anywhere” policy introduced by its former chief executive during the pandemic will no longer be acceptable, said Nationwide’s current boss, Debbie Crosbie.

The building society has followed the lead of companies like HSBC, BT and BlackRock which announced to staff this year that they were phasing out work-from-home. Employees would now be expected to return to the office for several days each week to increase productivity, they learnt.

Renewables ENDESA is progressing with its plans to sell up to 49 per cent of its renewables portfolio consisting principally of solar power plants.

According to the financial daily Cinco Dias, the energy company is currently considering four separate offers in the region of €1 billion as it seeks to strengthen its position in sustainable energy.

Cinco Dias also revealed that Endesa has engaged both Banco Santander and Intesa Sanpaolo to sound out potential partners although when approached by the media, the company declined to comment.

16 EWN 14 - 20 December 2023

euroweeklynews.com II FINANCE

LONDON - FTSE 100

Closing Prices 4 December

Company

Price(p)

Change(p)

% Chg.

Net

Company

Price(p)

Change(p)

% Chg.

Net

3I Group.....................................2.350,00..............+6,00............ +0,26%......... 117,52K

InterContinental..........................6.848,0...............+18,0............ +0,26%.......... 81,70K

Abrdn.......................................... 179,70................+0,70............ +0,39%...........1,03M

Intermediate Capital...................1.633,50.............+15,50........... +0,96%......... 115,66K

Admiral Group.............................2.769,0............... -31,0.............-1,11%........... 41,84K

Intertek........................................4.015,0............... -37,0.............-0,91%........... 11,76K

Anglo American...........................1.826,7...............+24,0............ +1,33%...........3,17M

ITV............................................... 61,52.................+0,66............ +1,08%...........1,89M

Antofagasta................................1.541,50.............+27,50........... +1,82%......... 273,21K

J Sainsbury................................. 296,13................+1,50............ +0,51%...........1,60M

Ashtead Group............................5.040,6................+6,0............. +0,12%.......... 52,16K

Johnson Matthey........................1.623,5................ -3,5..............-0,21%........... 25,94K

Associated British Foods.............2.439,0...............+17,0............ +0,70%.......... 94,78K

Land Securities........................... 642,80................ -1,00.............-0,15%.......... 167,64K

AstraZeneca...............................10.074,0.............. -48,0.............-0,47%.......... 207,67K

Legal & General.......................... 238,20................ -2,70.............-1,12%............2,49M

Auto Trader Group Plc................ 738,80................+0,80............ +0,11%......... 317,05K Aviva........................................... 426,10................ -3,00.............-0,70%.......... 581,10K B&M European Value Retail SA... 608,00................ -1,00.............-0,16%.......... 326,99K BAE Systems..............................1.042,91..............+0,50............ +0,05%......... 676,10K Barclays...................................... 142,13................ -1,14.............-0,80%...........23,99M Barratt Developments................. 540,80................+4,20............ +0,78%......... 777,00K Berkeley......................................4.683,0............... -57,0.............-1,20%.......... 114,44K BHP Group Ltd...........................2.456,00............. -37,00............-1,48%.......... 180,32K BP............................................... 465,30................ -2,95.............-0,63%............2,74M British American Tobacco...........2.266,0............... -51,0.............-2,20%............1,16M British Land Company................. 381,40................+5,30............ +1,41%......... 586,97K BT Group.................................... 133,25................+1,15............ +0,87%..........25,21M Bunzl...........................................3.067,0............... -12,0.............-0,39%........... 34,61K Burberry Group...........................1.495,0............... -23,5.............-1,55%.......... 110,24K Carnival.......................................1.287,2................+0,5............. +0,04%......... 166,09K Centrica....................................... 143,50................ -5,95.............-3,98%............4,79M Coca Cola HBC AG......................2.267,0................ -7,0..............-0,31%........... 41,11K Compass....................................2.051,00............. -11,00............-0,53%.......... 245,38K CRH............................................5.154,0...............+18,0............ +0,35%......... 160,32K Croda Intl....................................4.723,0............... -44,0.............-0,92%........... 23,46K DCC.............................................5.558,0...............+38,0............ +0,69%........... 8,15K Diageo.........................................2.808,0............... -21,0.............-0,74%.......... 500,21K DS Smith.................................... 300,32................ -2,80.............-0,92%.......... 775,55K EasyJet........................................ 479,70................ -1,50.............-0,31%.......... 383,15K Experian......................................3.078,0................ -3,0..............-0,10%.......... 133,93K Ferguson....................................14.350,0..............+50,0............ +0,35%........... 5,37K

Lloyds Banking............................ 45,58................. -0,72.............-1,56%...........24,87M London Stock Exchange..............9.102,4................+6,0............. +0,07%......... 130,67K Melrose Industries...................... 563,40................+4,00............ +0,71%......... 407,97K Mondi.........................................1.459,50.............. -3,50.............-0,24%.......... 190,21K National Grid..............................1.061,50..............+1,50............ +0,14%...........1,78M NatWest Group........................... 217,00................ -3,50.............-1,59%............3,15M Next............................................8.010,0...............+12,0............ +0,15%.......... 16,30K Ocado.......................................... 630,40................+3,00............ +0,48%......... 334,94K Persimmon.................................1.306,5................ -3,0..............-0,23%........... 83,52K Phoenix....................................... 494,50................ -3,10.............-0,62%.......... 508,68K Prudential.................................... 886,69................ -3,00.............-0,34%.......... 601,35K Reckitt Benckiser........................5.340,0............... -56,0.............-1,04%.......... 120,59K Relx............................................3.106,29.............. -2,00.............-0,06%.......... 280,02K Rentokil....................................... 414,90................ -4,20.............-1,00%.......... 675,11K Rightmove.................................. 577,20................ -3,40.............-0,59%.......... 616,42K Rio Tinto PLC..............................5.479,0.............. -104,0............-1,86%.......... 291,87K Rolls-Royce Holdings................. 295,30................+6,00............ +2,07%...........5,45M Sage...........................................1.180,50..............+6,00............ +0,51%......... 223,25K Samsung Electronics DRC.........1.376,00.............. -6,00.............-0,43%............ 2,58K Schroders.................................... 421,9..................+0,5............. +0,12%......... 126,80K Scottish Mortgage....................... 741,52................ -2,40.............-0,32%.......... 548,16K Segro.......................................... 829,80................ -2,00.............-0,24%.......... 159,59K Severn Trent...............................2.669,0............... -45,0.............-1,66%........... 88,82K Shell............................................2.507,0............... -13,5.............-0,54%.......... 785,33K Smith & Nephew........................1.043,00.............. -5,50.............-0,53%.......... 121,76K Smiths Group.............................1.670,50.............. -4,50.............-0,27%........... 51,31K Spirax-Sarco Engineering...........9.470,0................ -8,0..............-0,08%........... 13,23K

Flutter Entertainment..................13.195,0..............+40,0............ +0,30%.......... 33,67K

SSE............................................1.851,00............. -31,50............-1,67%.......... 300,43K

Fresnillo...................................... 578,80................ -1,60.............-0,28%.......... 107,31K

St. James’s Place........................ 690,60................ -9,00.............-1,29%.......... 190,38K

Glencore...................................... 443,35............... -14,05............-3,07%............7,42M

Standard Chartered..................... 647,40............... -12,60............-1,91%.......... 681,91K

GSK plc......................................1.433,60.............. -0,80.............-0,06%.......... 399,28K

Taylor Wimpey............................ 137,10................ -0,45.............-0,33%............1,67M

Halma..........................................2.195,2............... -10,0.............-0,45%........... 49,12K

Tesco.......................................... 288,45................+0,60............ +0,21%...........1,66M

Hargreaves Lansdown................. 752,00................+3,60............ +0,48%......... 194,61K

Tui............................................... 619,00................ -5,50.............-0,88%.......... 241,99K

Hikma Pharma...........................1.732,50............. -19,00............-1,08%........... 62,57K

Unilever.......................................3.743,5............... -44,0.............-1,16%.......... 585,09K

HSBC.......................................... 611,50................ -7,70.............-1,24%............3,35M

United Utilities............................1.095,27............. -14,00............-1,26%.......... 312,79K

IAG.............................................. 155,68................ -2,70.............-1,71%............2,61M

Vodafone Group PLC.................. 68,804............... -0,430............-0,62%...........10,31M

Imperial Brands..........................1.806,00............. -14,00............-0,77%.......... 379,83K

Whitbread...................................3.337,2................ -6,0..............-0,18%........... 57,88K

Informa....................................... 776,60................+2,20............ +0,28%......... 279,02K

WPP............................................ 717,60................ -5,00.............-0,69%.......... 285,60K

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on previous page 0.85593

1.16756

Units per € US dollar (USD)...................................1.0763 Japan yen (JPY)...................................157.41 Switzerland franc (CHF).......................0.9476 Denmark kroner (DKK)........................7.4560 Norway kroner (NOK)..........................11.778 currenciesdirect.com/mallorca • Tel: +34 687 906 226 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

DOW JONES

Closing Prices 4 December 3M.............................................. 103,32................+0,04............ +0,04%...........3,05M American Express....................... 168,40................ -0,22.............-0,13%............1,86M Amgen........................................ 269,12................ -2,19.............-0,81%............2,51M Apple........................................... 195,71................+1,44............ +0,74%..........49,77M Boeing......................................... 244,45................+7,12............ +3,00%...........6,89M Caterpillar.................................... 259,43................+2,02............ +0,78%...........2,10M Chevron...................................... 144,32................+1,90............ +1,33%...........9,06M Cisco............................................ 48,38.................+0,12............ +0,25%..........14,97M Coca-Cola..................................... 58,60................. -0,14.............-0,24%............9,98M Dow............................................. 50,91................. -0,16.............-0,30%............3,57M Goldman Sachs........................... 350,89................+6,27............ +1,82%...........2,08M Home Depot................................ 326,35................+0,18............ +0,06%...........2,63M Honeywell................................... 194,61................ -3,18.............-1,61%............4,38M IBM............................................. 161,94................+1,72............ +1,07%...........3,75M Intel.............................................. 42,70.................+0,55............ +1,30%..........34,88M J&J............................................. 154,36................ -1,04.............-0,67%............5,90M JPMorgan................................... 158,55................+1,76............ +1,12%...........6,80M McDonald’s................................. 285,53................ -1,26.............-0,44%............3,18M Merck&Co................................... 103,74................ -0,14.............-0,13%............7,20M Microsoft.................................... 374,23................+3,28............ +0,88%..........18,55M Nike............................................. 115,90................+1,09............ +0,95%...........5,89M Procter&Gamble......................... 145,14................ -1,36.............-0,93%............4,77M Salesforce Inc............................. 250,73................+1,88............ +0,76%...........4,39M The Travelers.............................. 181,22................ -0,69.............-0,38%.......... 568,09K UnitedHealth............................... 549,93................+1,66............ +0,30%...........1,91M Verizon......................................... 38,24................. -0,41.............-1,05%...........18,10M Visa A.......................................... 255,69................ -0,13.............-0,05%............3,42M Walgreens Boots.......................... 23,16.................+0,25............ +1,09%..........17,24M Walmart...................................... 150,82................ -1,64.............-1,08%...........11,07M Walt Disney.................................. 92,82.................+0,77............ +0,84%...........6,54M M - Million Dollars

NASDAQ

Closing Prices 4 December

Company

Change Net / %

Volume

Most Advanced NWTN Inc........................................................+17.85%......................... 37,026 Paramount Global............................................+12.11%........................49.773M Axos Financial, Inc...........................................+11.81%.........................2.259M Paramount Global............................................+10.90%........................ 112,152 SiTime Corporation...........................................+9.87%......................... 237,513 Upstart Holdings, Inc........................................+9.01%.........................13.751M C3.ai, Inc...........................................................+8.65%.........................16.088M InterContinental Hotels Group PLC...................+8.47%.......................... 80,831 Hut 8 Corp........................................................+8.47%..........................6.155M Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc..........................+8.19%.........................53.071M Mondi plc..........................................................+8.15%.......................... 17,615 Most Declined Anglo American plc.......................................... -19.06%.........................1.646M HashiCorp, Inc................................................. -16.43%........................17.561M RH.................................................................... -14.00%.........................3.732M Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc......................... -11.58%.........................1.004M Beam Therapeutics Inc...................................... -8.17%...........................1.78M CRISPR Therapeutics AG.................................. -8.08%..........................17.23M Sunrun Inc........................................................ -7.07%.........................16.528M MINISO Group Holding Limited........................ -6.90%............................3.6M National Beverage Corp..................................... -5.57%......................... 238,026 XPeng Inc......................................................... -5.31%.........................14.219M GameStop Corp................................................. -4.95%.........................10.401M

M - Million Dollars

FINANCE II euroweeklynews.com

No grudges

AIRPORTS operator Aena called on Iberia to be “bighearted” and instead of hindering the handover to other companies to accept that it lost ground handling licences at Spanish airports because rivals presented better offers. Iberia retains Madrid-Barajas but has lost Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Tenerife Sur, Ibiza and Bilbao.

Don’t go yet

THE UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) plans to ban High Street banks from closing unless residents have access to free-to-use cash machines. When proposing to close, banks will have two months to report to the FCA with details of facilities for cash withdrawals as well as deposit services for businesses and current accounts.

TUI could leave London

TUI, Europe’s largest travel operator, is deliberating whether to delist from the London stock exchange.

On publishing its full-year results on December 6, the Hanover-based company revealed that shareholders were “concerned” regarding the current dual listing on the London and Frankfurt stock exchanges.

They queried whether this was “optimal and advantageous” in view of a “notable” shift in share ownership from the UK

Photo credit: Tui AG/Christian Wyrwa

BUSINESS EXTRA

14 - 20 December 2023

TUI: Chief executive Sebastian Ebel announced a record year.

to Germany over the last four years.

Leaving London could lead to reduced costs, cen-

Iberdrola-Masdar alliance

ABU DHABI’S Masdar bought a 46 per cent stake in Iberdrola’s East Anglia 3 offshore windfarm, the largest in the UK. Masdar, controlled by the Gulf state and chaired by Dr Sultan al-Jaber, president of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai, announced the €15 billion deal during the climate talks.

“By combining our renewables experience and financial strength we can deli-

ver secure, competitive and clean energy more quickly,” said Ignacio Galan, Iberdrola’s executive chairman on Tuesday, December 5.

It was the UAE’s second agreement of this kind following Masdar’s acquisition on December 1 of 49 per cent of German-owned RWE’s £11 billion (€12.8 billion) Dogger Bank South project in the North Sea.

tralisation of liquidity and “potential benefits to European Union airline ownership and control requirements” the 2023 annual statement pointed out.

An end to pandemic restrictions coupled with higher prices, gave TUI a record turnover as the company headed by Sebastian Ebel saw underlying earnings before interest and tax soaring by 139 per cent to €977 million in the 12 months ending September.

Revenue rose to a record €20.7 billion following a strong summer season, as fourth-quarter sales increased by 11 per cent to €8.5 billion.

“2023 was a good year for TUI,” Ebel said. “Hotels and cruises are growth areas and highly profitable. Other segments, like the tour operator business, are undergoing transformation in order to also return to very good profitability.”

EWN 17

New role

THE Coca Cola Company announced that Spanish national Manuel Arroyo takes over as executive vice-president on January 1 although he would also retain the post of global chief marketing officer which he has occupied for the last four years. Arroyo, who first joined the company in Madrid in 1995, was initially responsible for the group’s operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cellnex sells

THE Somerset Capital Management co-founded by the Tory MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, is preparing to wind down following the departure of its most important client, wealth management company St James’s Place. Rees-Mogg’s business has lost around £2 billion (€2.3 billion) in assets, leaving it with approximately £1 billion, a sum generally regarded as too small for an effective hedge fund.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

23

20 EWN 14 - 20 December 2023

euroweeklynews.com II FEATURE

COMMUNITY

COMMENTS

THE news that those who ride electric scooters are going to be required to comply with a number of new regulations here in Spain with effect from January 22, 2024 this has found favour with a number of our readers as well as some questions.

The article appeared in a number of regional editions of issue 2005 or can be viewed on the Euro Weekly News website.

“

They have no tax to pay. l have had two near accidents with them, the younger ones have no idea about road safety, no clue at all. They are banned in a lot of countries… they are dangerous to themselves and drivers who have done road safety and know the rules and regulations of the road… THEY DO NOT… please get these off the road…

Mary Hollamby

I live in Spain, as a driver of a car, these seem to come out of the blue, often with insufficient lighting. That said, they look like fun, my son wants one! No way. But what is the alternative? A moped, possibly worse?

From a drivers’ point of viewing (literally) the electric scooter wins. But young people use them on pedestrian areas, THIS is VERY dangerous, as they are silent and very fast.

I don’t know the future, it’s just one more thing to look out for. As for my son, he will wait one year more and drive with protection ie air bags.

Lorraine, Denia

The worst thing about it, people are using on pavements, parks etc. Kids are nowhere safe anymore.

Yoy

What about public insurance and form of tax with the hire company?

Mr Jackson

I am 83 years old and own a four wheel mobility scooter which I need to get about for visits to my doctor and pharmacy, how will these new regulations affect me please ?

Chris Dixon

A regular reader sent a long and very interesting comment following an article published on our website which suggested that the bilingual education system in some Spanish schools could harm learning; Quote: “Can Spanish teachers speak good English?

Related to this is the fact many teachers lack English proficiency themselves, meaning that they often fail to convey the subtleties necessary for effective instruction.”

This is a HUGE problem, because no, the vast majority can’t but also insist that they can! I’ve even known British kids contradicted and told they are using the wrong vocabulary.

Last year I had a class of B1 students who kept saying “I’m agree”, among (many) other mistakes. When I corrected them they told me that their high school teacher insists on it! I suggested they tell her that their Academy English teacher, who teaches all levels including C2, that to agree is a verb and so just as you can’t be run, sit, or read, you cannot be agree.

I’ve also seen ‘to attend to the school…’ in course books, instead of attending a school.

When I explain that the caretaker and cleaners attend TO the school; they are looking after it / maintaining it, whereas enrolled students attend their schools.

One major issue is la escuela oficial de idiomas, is deeply flawed, yet its qualifications are given prescience over Cambridge English qualifications, which are the most highly regarded certificates the world over.

Known for their rigorous standards, and continuous professional development, it isn’t easy to achieve the highest levels required to even contemplate becoming an English teacher, and so very many Spanish-English teachers (and officials) opt for the easy route…. They just NEED a certificate for their job!

While Spain continues to operate in a prejudiced way, favouring its home-grown language school exams, and making it obligatory to sit and pass “oposiciones’ in SPANISH, no decent, fully qualified English teacher can get hired in a state school, unless they have been raised inside the Spanish education system. There is no equality, not a chance of a school appointing the ‘best teacher for the job’, it is completely out of their hands, some faceless bureaucrat holds the power for any position in a civil position.

Concha

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22

euroweeklynews.com • 14 - 20 December 2023

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No puppies for presents this Christmas A DOG is man’s best friend. A quote that is old but true, as anybody who has had the honour of living alongside one of these caring creatures knows.

Is there anything cuter than a puppy? Perhaps a puppy with a big red bow, smiling up at a child on Christmas morning. Perfect for photos, and the child will surely be elated, however, what about what comes next?

A law has recently been passed in Spain that makes pet insurance compulsory for dog owners, the minimum cost of which is €20 per month but can be significantly more depending on the breed. The puppy will also need its injections, which usually total around €150, as well as a microchip and passport, if you wish to travel with your new companion. All in all, you should expect to spend between €220 and €800 in the first few weeks of owning a dog, and this expenditure is before the life of owning an animal has even begun. The Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) discovered that people in Spain spend an average of €1,131 per year on a dog, a figure that many do not take into account before making the commitment to taking one home.

Unfortunately, far too often this financial and physical responsibility becomes too much for new dog owners, especially when reality sets in and six months down the line the adorable puppy has chewed the new sofa (yes they will), takes time and effort to house train, and has perhaps doubled or

even tripled in size. When the cuteness fades and the inconvenience of caring for an animal becomes apparent, many decide that having a dog “is not for them”, and swiftly rehome their once loved friend. Of course though, a one year old dog is not as easy to find a family for, hence why dog shelters in Spain and all over Europe are currently overflowing with many discarded Christmas ‘gifts’.

These poor animals, who once thought they had found their forever family, now sit alone wondering what went wrong, and the responsibility of caring for them lies with generous volunteers and donors, but they can only do so much. For this reason, animal shelters are desperately urging people to carefully consider the decision when adding a furry friend to the family. They may look very cute on Christmas morning, but they are living, breathing, sentient beings, just like you and I. They are not a gift, not a perfect posed picture accessory, they are a friend for life, and they will have their flaws!

For anyone who is feeling the desire to add the magic of a dog into their lives, perhaps consider fostering for a while, to understand the reality of caring for one. Fortunately, many shelters, after witnessing a common pattern, now do not allow dog adoptions around Christmas time, due to this tragic trend.

A dog is a man’s best friend, and life is never the same after living with one, but they are for life, not a gift for Christmas.

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euroweeklynews.com II SPORT

RIDING high after last summer’s World Nations success, Team Spain Walking Football team have secured a collaboration with the town hall at Pilar De la Horadada in the municipality of Alicante.

Mark Kavanagh, part of the Team Spain’s management had a successful meeting with Pedro Quesada, sporting technical director and José Antonio Martinez, sports councillor in which the town’s football stadium was officially announced as the new home for Team Spain to hold International matches and host tournaments.

This represents a mas-

Image: Team Spain Walking Football

New national stadium deal

Mark Kavanagh (centre) with José Antonio Martinez and Pedro Quesada.

sive breakthrough for the sport with the collaboration and partnership at local government level and can only enhance its growing popularity within both the Spanish and expatriate communities.

Team Spain have wasted no time in utilising their new home with the announcement of a major International tournament next September when they will host

England, France, Italy and The Basque Country among others between December 26 - 28.

The event will be contested in three categories - Men’s over 50, over 60 and Ladies over 40 which marks another stride forward in announcing a further two representative sides playing under the Team Spain umbrella. Mark Coleman, Team Spain manager, explained the need for expansion;

“We have had huge interest from other countries since the World Cup with invitations to play in Europe, Thailand and even Australia, but in several age categories. Currently we are underrepresented and so we need to address that in line with the games expansion and popularity among different age groups and genders.”

He added, “The Ladies will be playing in their first International tournament in Marrakesh in March with all groups represented together for the first time later in the year, in Nantes, France in July.”

Any players wishing to take up Walking Football and looking to find a club or are currently playing and looking to represent Team Spain can contact Mark Kavanagh (Alicante Area) mkavanagh@live. co.uk or Mark Coleman (Malaga Area) chame leon1965@icloud.com.

€1 Million record A HUGE financial carrot has been dangled in front of the world’s marathon elite by the patron of the Valencian Marathon.

In a bold move, Juan Roig, president of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation and patron of the Valencia Marathon, announced the extraordinary €1 million reward for breaking the marathon world record in Valencia in 2024.

This year marked the 43rd edition and was held on Sunday, December 3, with Roig making the announcement following its conclusion. “We want to announce that we will give the person who breaks the world record €1 million, if they do it in Valencia, of course.

“One of our great wishes and dreams is for the world record to be achieved here and we are willing to work for it,” Roig stated to the gathered media, according to a Spanish news outlet.

Valencia’s marathon is renowned for its ultra-fast course and typically favourable December weather, making it a prime location for record attempts.

These conditions are not only conducive to worldclass performances but also attract a wide range of athletes seeking Olympic qualifying times, set at two hours, eight minutes, 10 seconds for men and two hours, 26 minutes, 50 seconds for women.

This year’s event saw Ethiopian Sisay Lema clinch victory with a time of two hours, one minute, and 48 seconds, making him the fourth fastest athlete of all-time rankings at the distance.

Notably, Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, a three-time 10,000-metre world champion making his marathon debut, clocked in at 2:08:59.

In the women’s race, Ethiopian Worknesh Degefa led with a time of two hours, 15 minutes, 51 seconds.