Costa Calida 28 Dec 2023 – 3 Jan 2024 Issue 2008

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THE Christmas Lottery 2023 took place on December 22 in the Teatro Real in Murcia, bringing moments of unexpected fortune to several towns in the Region of Murcia. The Christmas lottery left millions in the Region of Murcia including the second prize and the coveted El Gordo the main prize. Many of the coastal towns were lucky this year with many lottery offices along the Costa Calida among the winners.

San Pedro del Pinatar and Mazarron were among the beneficiaries of the fifth prize of €60,000 per series and €6,000 per ticket.

As the lottery continued, more towns in Murcia received a slice of luck sharing the third fifth-tier prize. Murcia, Cartagena, Aguilas, San Javier, Santomera, Alcantarilla, Archena, Molina de Segura, Mula, and Cehegin celebrated their fortune.

The anticipation grew further with the revelation of the second prize, offering a substantial €1,250,000 per series and €125,000 per ticket. Notably, this coveted prize was sold at ‘El Perolo,’ the renowned lottery administration in San Pedro del Pinatar, intensifying the excitement in the area.

Finally, the high point came with the much-anticipated first prize, number 88008, awarding a grand €4,000,000 per series and €400,000 per ticket. This historic Gordo, despite its delay, proved immensely rewarding, blessing various sites in the Region of Murcia with wealth. Murcia city centre, Aljucer, La Alcayna, Mazarron, Balsapintada, Alcantarilla, San Pedro del Pinatar again in ‘El Perolo’, and Bullas were

Image: Facebook/El Image: Cartagena.es Perolo

MURCIA’S MILLIONS

Chasing dreams, one lucky draw at a time.

among the areas that won this monumental prize, marking an unforgettable conclusion to the Christmas Lottery draw.

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Caring clowns PRESIDENT Fernando López Miras recently joined a heartwarming Christmas celebration at Murcia’s Hospital Materno-Infantil Virgen de SPREADING SMILES: la Arrixaca. The Pupaclown’s joyous visit. occasion, dedicated to the children receiving care, featured the Pupaclown Association’s hospital clowns, who spent time engaging and entertaining the young patients who unfortunately have to spend Christmas in the Hospital.

Highlighting Pupaclown’s remarkable 25-year commitment, López Miras praised the clowns for their invaluable role in not just providing medical attention, but also delivering tailored psychological support to the children.

“Every day, Pupaclown clowns bring smiles to children, but on a day like this, it’s even more crucial because they make Christmas a little happier for many families that have to spend these moments in the hospital,” emphasised Miras.

Accompanied by familiar characters, the hospital clowns led a parade through the hospital wards, spreading cheer and giving out early Christmas gifts to the children. Since 1998, their collaboration with hospital staff has aimed to reduce the stress experienced by young patients through laughter, ensuring their emotional well-being during hospital stays.

Image: carm.es

Costa Calida • Issue No. 2008 • 28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

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28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

Market makeover Image: Cartagena.es

Inflated Christmas

Revamped Cabo de Palos Sunday market!

THE Cartagena City Council is revamping the Cabo de Palos Sunday market, aiming to make it more appealing by adding a foodie twist.

Working closely with vendors’ groups, they plan to jazz up the market, currently in a temporary spot, with a new gastronomic experience. Belén Romero, in charge of Commerce, Hospitality, and Consumer Affairs, spilled the beans during a council meeting. They’re making this market the first of its kind by introducing a section hosting three or four food trucks for people

to grab a bite and chill out.

Vendors are on board with moving about 36 stalls to a friendlier location. This will create a space nestled in trees where the food trucks will set up. Romero believes this change will be a game-changer for both sellers and shoppers at Cabo de Palos. Formerly at Las Dunas, the market had to shift temporarily due to redevelopment plans. The Council is all in, teaming up with groups to tackle issues that arose from this move and bring new life to the market with this tasty addition.

THE festive cheer in Murcia faces a challenge this Christmas as the soaring inflation rates significantly impact holiday meal preparations. The cost of typical Christmas dinner ingredients in Murcia has increased by approximately 11 per cent. This price hike, while perhaps imperceptible to some, has a profound effect on the Yuletide tables.

The highlight delicacies like red prawns and lamb ribs now sit among the most expensive items, red prawn’s prices skyrocketed overnight, now exceeding €100 per kilo.

Even staple items like seabass and chicken, accompanied by sides such as tomatoes, serrano ham, semi-cured cheese, and mussels, have witnessed a price increase, impacting the customary Christmas spread. Additionally, cheese costs have inflated by 12 per cent compared to last year, intensifying the strain on festive expenses.

Moreover, international residents in Spain contend with additional import taxes, further heightening the costs of relishing tastes from their homelands during this season of celebration. As inflation casts its shadow over the traditional Christmas dinner, families navigate through financial challenges to ensure the warmth of the season prevails despite the economic squeeze.

GRUPO ZAMORA proudly inaugurated its latest hospitality venture, ‘Cuarentaytrés,’ (43) in the bustling Port of Cartagena on Wednesday, December 6. The company behind Licor 43 has invested approximately €3 million and will employ 45 people for this ambitious project.

Headlining the establishment is renowned two-Michelin-starred chef Pablo González-Conejero of La Cabaña Buenavista in El Palmar Murcia, spearheading the gastronomic endeavour. Emphasising local produce and collaboration with regional talents across all sectors.

Spanning 2,000 square metres and

Cartagena dining Image: cuarentaytres.com

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Experience culinary brilliance at ‘Cuarentaytrés’.

accommodating 450 diners across the basement, ground, mezzanine, and first floors, ‘Cuarentaytrés’ boasts a

mesmerising show cooking space, a 180-seat restaurant, and the scenic Mirador del Puerto (Port viewing area).

The first floor, designed for events, offers breathtaking views of the bay, it even includes a dedicated area for brides on their special day.

Operating from Tuesday to Sunday, with Monday and Sunday evenings off, ‘Cuarentaytrés’ stands as Grupo Zamora’s tribute to Cartagena - a culinary and touristic project that embraces the essence of this vibrant city.

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NIBS EXTRA Party time

THE Pre New Year party returns to Cartagena’s Plaza del Rey on December 30 at 10pm. The radio station LOS40 Spain, DJ David Álvarez, and host Nazaret Navarro will headline. A street band will kick-start the festivities.

Toy drive

OVER 3,000 toys were collected for distribution this Christmas during the Cartagena Town Hall Toy Drive.

Through the solidarity campaign ‘Juguetea,’ they’ve ensured 1,500 children in Cartagena received gifts this festive season.

Free bus

A COMPLIMENTARY bus service between Mazarron and Puerto de Mazarron has been organised during New Year’s Eve celebrations. Departure times are: 23.30 and 00.00: Departures from Puerto Bus Station and 05.00: Departure from Mazarron, Stop near Sports Pavilion La Aceña.

Musical magic

EXPERIENCE the enchantment of ‘Scara: Tribute to the Lion King 2’ on December 28 at 6.30pm in the Municipal Marquee beside La Aceña Sports Pavilion in Mazarron! Witness the magic of this remarkable tribute, bringing the beloved tale of the Lion King to life.

Final show

GET ready to bid farewell to the year with an unforgettable night! This December 30 at 10pm, the Municipal Marquee alongside La Aceña Sports Pavilion in Mazarrón sets the stage for the ‘Concierto In Vivo’ a tribute to Il Divo.

Dive in

DIVE into the New Year with a Splash for a Cause!

Join Age Concern’s New Year’s Day-sponsored swim at Bahia Beach in Mazarrón and kickstart 2024 in a meaningful way. Raise funds for a great cause!

28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

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A New Year’s Message for Readers: 56

YOUR EWN HAS

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Dear reader

AS we bid farewell to 2023 and welcome the dawn of 2024, it’s impossible to ignore the trials and tribulations that marked the past year. 2023 was a year of unrest, unhappiness, and pain for many around the world. In these challenging times, most of us living in adopted lands do not discriminate based on country or religion; we simply witness the pain and suffering that surrounds us.

Our collective hope for 2024 is that it brings the greatest gift humanity can offer one another: peace, free from conflict and war.

Another significant issue that has been amplified in recent times is loneliness. Many of us find ourselves in new countries, with language skills and cultural knowledge, but lacking extended family and deep friendships forged over a lifetime of occasions and happenings. In an era dominated by online interactions, from shopping to banking, cultivating meaningful friendships has become increasingly challenging, pushing loneliness to epidemic levels.

I, too, have experienced the depths of loneliness recently. My life partner, my best friend, my soul mate, Steven, fell ill, leaving me to navigate the holiday season alone.

Christmas Day, once filled with joy and celebration, became a sombre reminder of his absence. The world seemed colourless, the finest food tasted bland, and even the music I loved couldn’t lift my spirits or get my toes tapping. Loneliness enveloped me, and I gained a profound understanding of what many of my readers endure.

Yet, one of the reasons I cherish living in Spain is the strong sense of community that surrounds us all. There are numerous organisations and social groups filled with kind-hearted people who strive to combat loneliness. However we can all do more - we can can all play a part in this effort. We can visit a neighbour for a cup of tea, strike up conversations in unexpected places, and put down our phones to

Jobs galore

engage with others.

If you haven’t made a New Year’s resolution yet, let’s make one together: let’s step out of our front doors, smile at strangers - let’s make it at least five people every day, and start a conversation with one person we don’t know yet. Imagine if we all took a moment to slow down and connect - it would be marvellous.

Obviously we believe in the value of community newspapers, especially the Euro Weekly News but we respect every community newspaper that keeps us connected and informed about our surroundings, local charities, and social clubs. Even in this digital age, nothing beats the feeling of picking up your newspaper every Thursday. It’s ‘the people’s paper’ for a reason. So in this coming year let’s

transform this community into the ‘chattering, caring coast’.

A coast where people come to live as strangers within us but become friends with ease - let’s make this our mission to assist this integration with ease. Therefore in closing 2023 let’s unite in our prayers for world peace and an end to suffering. But more than that, let’s commit ourselves to eradicating the pandemic of loneliness, often exacerbated by our virtual world. Let’s become a community where caring and conversation reign, a place where we’d all love to live.

Here’s to a hopeful and joyous 2024, and a heartfelt wish for Mr E’s speedy recovery who i am missing dearly, but I now know the true value of the support given by our community during these trying times.

THANK YOU

e in the world.

we wish to se ge an ch e th be 's let d an r, ea Y ew N Happy

THE Agri-food and Transportation City in the Murcia Region has set its sights on becoming the foremost logistical nucleus in southeastern Spain, strategically positioned along the vital Mediterranean Corridor. Its construction not only triples the industrial expanse in Murcia’s southern precinct but also forecasts the creation of over 20,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Covering a vast area of 5.3 million square metres, the intermodal terminal and expanded lorry parking are set to host numerous logistics firms, poised to handle a substantial five million tons annually. The ZAL’s initiation, acquiring 153,000 square metres and anticipating a total area of 177,328.15m2, signals a promising investment with a budget of €2,935,990.17.

Murcia’s strategic leap into this expansive logistics venture not only fortifies its economic standing but also promises to be a catalyst for job creation, propelling the region into a prominent role within Spain’s logistical network and fostering significant employment growth.

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28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

THE generosity of the Mar Menor Frolic Golf Society shone through as they contributed a remarkable sum of €1,800, gathered during their Charity Day on December 1. Jill Leonard, the Captain of MMFGS, was captured in a heartfelt moment presenting the donation to Debbie, President of HELP Murcia Mar Menor, alongside Sandie, the Vice-President.

This benevolent gesture signifies a strong community spirit and a commitment to supporting the invaluable work of HELP Murcia Mar Menor in assisting those in need.

Image: Pat Thear

Helping Hands Tourism thrives

MMFGS donates €1,800 to HELP Murcia Mar Menor.

DURING the third quarter of 2023, Murcia experienced a 5.2 per cent increase in national tourism, with 1,303,518 visits by resident nationals - showcasing a 1.6 per cent increase from 2019. Notably, these visitors significantly boosted the region’s economy, with a staggering 37.6 per cent rise in spending, averaging €263.74 per trip.

The duration of these trips also stood out, as residents spent an average of 6.5 days exploring Murcia, exceeding the national average stay of 5.8 days. More than half of the visits (50.9 per cent) were from residents themselves, indicating a 6.5 per cent increase, while visits from other autonomous communities rose by 3.9 per cent.

This increase in tourism particularly impacted regula-

Image: Shutterstock/ Alex Tihonovs

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Exploring Murcia’s tourism boom.

ted accommodation, witnessing a 14.5 per cent increase in visitors, aligning with peak season months. Notably, 34.7 per cent of visitors chose regulated lodgings, marking a rise from the previous year, while 65.3 per cent opted for private accommodations, reflecting a modest increase.

The substantial increase in visits and spending among national tourists highlights Murcia’s growing appeal as a premier destination for diverse experiences.

Rural revamp SAN JAVIER has just finished sprucing up two rural roads, Tarquinales I and II, investing more than €48,000 in this project.

These roads were in bad shape, full of bumps and unsafe patches for cars.

Now they have been upgraded to make them safe improving both service and road safety.

These roads play a big role, linking different areas farms, and rural properties to the RM-F23 highway. It’s all part of a plan to boost rural areas, led by the Department of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. During a visit with the mayor of San Javier, José Sandoval, the Water Director, said, “These changes will really support farmers and businesses around here.” The mayor added, “It’s fantastic that the Community (of Murcia) responded to our call. This will make life safer and better for everyone here.”

They also upgraded the pavement and cleared the sides to improve drainage.

So, now these roads aren’t just safe; they’re ready to roll!

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Thoughtful fundown JANUARY EDITION: 1957 THROUGHOUT the month of January Fundown ‘environmental officers’ will inform shopkeepers how to correctly recycle paper and cardboard from their establishments.

Murcia City Council, in collaboration with Fundown, is going to develop a special information and awareness campaign among traders who use or are potential users of the free ‘door to door’ commercial cardboard collection service.

The mayor, Jose Antonio Serrano, has presented the campaign entitled: ‘The environment is no joke’ which is in collaboration with 20 ‘environmental officers’ belonging to the Down Syndrome Foundation Fundown of Murcia.

The officers will be responsible for delivering the information included in a cardboard monkey typical of April Fool’s Day and which has been made by the officers themselves during the training.

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Volunteering in Europe FEBRUARY EDITION: 1962 YOUNG people wishing to volunteer in Europe will be pleased to hear that Murcia has renewed the European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.

Young people between 18 and 30 years old who are registered in the municipality will be able to volunteer or carry out work experience in Europe through the European Solidarity Corps.

“The European Solidarity Corps is a programme aimed at increasing the participation of young people and organisations in solidarity activities, especially volunteering, as tools for strengthening cohesion, democracy, European identity and active citizenship in the European Union and beyond,” explained councillor, Teresa Franco.

“In addition, the city council plans to plan and implement a promotional campaign, which

will initially last for two months, to provide the necessary tools to young people in Murcia

who wish to participate in this type of project.”

Information can be found on

the website www.informajo ven.org or by calling (+34) 968 231 589.

Musical medley

Photo credit: Misercua (via Facebook)

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ONE of Cartagena’s most anticiMARCH pated musical events is returning EDITION: 1965 to the city on Sunday, March 12. Talented musicians from the Misercua music school are set to take to the stage for a night of unforgettable entertainment with an evening filled with songs from some of the most loved musicals of all time.

From heartfelt ballads from Bohemian Rhapsody to the high energy dance numbers of ‘Mamma Mia’, the concert has something for everyone. An audience will be swept away by the stunning vocals and powerful performances of our talented cast, as they bring to life the iconic characters and timeless stories Misercua is a musical school in Cartagena made of the stage. up of performers from a range of different Óscar Martínez and Mónica Martínez will direct backgrounds. the group of musicians in this year’s event which is also its 10th anniversary in the city. The talented muTickets for this year’s event start at just €6 and can sicians’ vision is visible in the incredible achievements be purchased online at: https://www.bacantix.com/ of the music group, 95 per cent of whom had no mu- Entradas/WebForms/Forms/Venta.aspx?id=ElBate sical experience before joining the group. l&codigo=000009008000568001716.

The performance will be held at the Auditorio El Tickets are also available from the box office at the Batel in Cartagena from 6.30pm onwards. venue.

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Semana Santa Murcia APRIL EDITION: 1970 SEMANA SANTA or Holy Week is a major religious and cultural event in Spain. It is the most important religious event, commemorating the last week of Jesus’ life.

The Catholic religious brotherhoods (cofradía) perform processions through the streets of all Spanish towns during the last week of Lent, the week leading up to Easter.

Likewise in the Region of Murcia, you can attend the processions in your local area but the most popular processions are held in Cartagena City and Murcia City. Make sure to look up the timetable of the processions as the processions in Cartagena have their

PROCESSIONS: Are carried out in most towns in Spain over Easter.

own particular order.

The main processions in Murcia during Semana Santa are held on Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursday - the silent procession-, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.

Each town hall will have the schedule of

their processions and will usually point out the starting point. In some regions of Spain Easter Monday is a bank holiday but not in Murcia. Murcia’s bank holidays during Semana Santa are on Thursday, April 6, and Friday, April 7.

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Inside the Coronation MAY EDITION: 1974 THIS first weekend in May will be full of royal celebrations as King Charles is set to be crowned alongside the Queen Consort at a grand ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

The long weekend will be filled with celebrations, from street parties to concerts, as King Charles becomes the oldest new monarch in history.

Code-named Operation Golden Orb, plans for the much-anticipated event have been released over the past few months.

Starting on May 6 at 11am, the Coronation Service will kick off a weekend full of events following their Majesties’ crowning in the Abbey in London, in a service that will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The King’s Coronation will include many of the

Photo credit: Clínic Barcelona website

BABY JESÚS: Tamara’s only dream was to be a mother.

King Charles set to be crowned.

ceremonies that were seen in the late Queen’s service, such as anointing with consecrated oil, the delivery of the orb, the pledge to be “Defender of the Faith”, and the enthroning itself.

It is understood that the anointing will not be shown on television and is set to be hidden from the public, as it was for the late Queen’s coronation in 1953.

During the ceremony, the King will be asked if he will govern the UK and the Commonwealth with law

and justice, and if he will keep Christianity alive in the country.

He will sit in the Coronation Chair, also known as Edward’s Chair, holding the sovereign’s sceptre and rod to symbolise his power over the nation, as well as the sovereign’s orb to represent the Christian world.

After the Archbishop has anointed, blessed, and consecrated Charles, the crown of St Edward will be placed on his head, crowning him as King Charles III.

JUNE EDITION: 1978 BEAUTIFUL baby Jesús, the first child born in Spain after a uterus transplant, is finally in Murcia with his incredibly strong and loving family.

Tamara, his mother, has Rokitansky syndrome which affects about one in 5,000 women worldwide. These women are born without a uterus and so cannot get pregnant.

Tamara was heartbroken when she was diagnosed with this condition at 15

Miracle baby years of age, but never gave up hope and when she heard on the news that a baby had been born in Sweden thanks to a uterus transplant she began her investigation.

She came across Francisco Carmona, head of the gynaecology dept at Clinic Barcelona who was preparing to carry out this type of transplant, and when he heard Tamara’s story he agreed to proceed with the complex procedure.

Tamara’s sister, who already gave birth to her own child, donated her uterus to her sister. The transplant took 15 hours to complete and was just the first step in a long process.

Finally, after a fear-filled two years, Tamara gave birth to her baby. He was born prematurely due to the complex nature of the pregnancy weighing 1.1 kilos, but he is growing stronger every day at Arrixaca Hospital.

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KING FELIPE VI presided over the ceremony for the delivery of the 2023 Royal Commissions to 125 new lieutenants of the Spanish Air Force, 10 per cent of whom were women. These officers successfully completed their studies at the General Academy of the Air (AGA) in San Javier, Murcia.

The ceremony, which began at 10am with the arrival of His Majesty the King, took place in the courtyard of the General Academy of the Air in San Javier. The battalion of students, along with authorities, family members, and friends of the academy’s students, totalling nearly 1,000 guests.

In addition to King Felipe, the event was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force (JEMA), General Javier Salto, the Colonel-Director of AGA, Pascual Soria, and other military authorities.

Among the civilian authorities were the acting Pre-

King visits Photo credit : Facebook/San Javier and Torre Pacheco Town Hall

JULY EDITION: 1985

28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

CEREMONY: King Felipe VI presides over the graduation of the Spanish Air Force.

sident of the Community, Fernando López Miras, the President of the Regional Assembly, Visitación Martínez, the Government Delegate, Francisco Jiménez, as well as the mayors of San Javier and Los Alcázares, José Miguel Luengo, and

Mario Cervera, respectively. King Felipe VI, conducted a review of the troops and afterward, the King presented the commissions to the top graduates.

The celebration included a flyover by the Eagle Patrol and a parade.

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Image: Tik Tok/ Jordi Rodríguez Moreno

Image: Shutterstock/ Photos BrianScantlebury

Summer tourism soars Grandma’s surprise

SPANISH TOURISM GROWTH: Record-breaking data.

THE tourism industry in Costa Calida in Spain is witnessing a strong revival, with July recording an impressive 80% tourist occupancy rate, marking a 4% increase compared to the previous year. This resurgence comes as a breath of fresh air, considering some headlines had suggested a decline in tourism trade in Spain.

Leading the charge was the La Manga region, boasting an outstanding 10-point

The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, hailed the excellent booking figures as evidence that the tourism sector remains a key driver of Spain’s economy.

Countries like Colombia, Poland, and Portugal demonstrated strong performance in terms of seat bookings to Spain, and even the United States showed significant year-on-year growth.

The United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy remain the top three countries contributing to Spain’s booming tourism market.

TOUCHING FOOTAGE: A cinema date to melt your heart.

TIKTOK sensation Jordi Roging in candied popcorn. dríguez Moreno based on But it was the end of the SEPTEMBER the Costa Calida has melmovie that truly tugged at EDITION: 1993 ted hearts worldwide with heartstrings. With a huge a heartwarming surprise smile, Jordi’s granny declafor his beloved granny. In a video that has red, ‘I feel young again!’ captured 3.4 million views, 500K likes, and Jordi’s act of kindness serves as a remin5,000 comments at the time of writing, Jor- der that the simplest acts of love can create di treated his grandmother to a day at the lasting memories and inspire millions. In a cinema. world filled with fast-paced content, this The touching footage shows the duo en- video reminds us of the importance of chejoying the movie ‘Elemental’ while indul- rishing our loved ones.

OCTOBER EDITION: 1997 IN a sombre gathering, the Plaza de San Juan de Cruz in Caravaca de la Cruz became a place of profound sorrow as hundreds of people gathered to observe a minute of silence. The purpose was to pay homage to the memory of four beloved residents of Caravaca: Jorge Enrique Batioja Olivero, Rosa María Rosero Sánchez, Leidy Paola Correa, and Kevin Alejandro Gómez.

These individuals tragically lost their lives in the devastating fire that occurred in the nightclubs of Las Atalayas in Murcia on Sunday, October 1.

The community came together in unity, providing unwavering support to the grieving relatives and friends of the victims, conveying their love and solidarity during this unimaginably challenging time. On Friday afternoon October 6, the Parish of El Salvador of Caravaca de la Cruz hosted a funeral mass to bid a final farewell to

Murcia grieves Facebook/ Caravaca Town Hall

AUGUST EDITION: 1988

increase and reaching an impressive 84% occupancy rate.

Campsites, both coastal and inland, contributed to the positive trend. Coastal campsites registered an eight-point increase. Contrary to the perceived decline, data released by Turespaña suggests a robust outlook for Spanish tourism. August, Spain’s busiest month for tourism, is expected to break records, with over 11.4 million seat bookings on international flights – an 8.7% increase from the previous year. The figures almost match those of the pre-pandemic August 2019.

MINUTE’S SILENCE: Murcia unites in grief as the investigation continues.

these four cherished members of their community.

The investigation into the fire’s origin is ongoing, with preliminary findings pointing to the Teatre nightclub as the source. Expert reports and witness videos suggest that the fire may have been linked to a pyrotechnic show during the party. However, the exact cause and sequence of events leading to the tragedy are still under scrutiny.

In the wake of the tragedy, the aftermath continues to impact Murcia’s nightlife.

With the solemn memory of the 13 lives lost still fresh in everyone’s minds, Murcia

City Council has taken decisive action. Three new nightlife venues - Maná, BBT20, and District 13 - have been sealed off by Local Police officers. This stern measure comes as a result of having closure orders in force, bringing the total number of sealed establishments to seven.

The owner of Teatre de Murcia now faces potential legal consequences, with the possibility of a six-year prison sentence for fraud and falsifying documents.

Murcia, a city united in grief, is resolute in its pursuit of justice and the prevention of such tragedies in the future.

FINANCE €1.6 billion A nice surprise 12

euroweeklynews.com • 28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

STAT OF WEEK

investment in Valencia port approved by Spain’s central government will enlarge the country’s biggest container port and allow supersized cargo ships to dock there.

THE High Pay Centre calculated that the ratio of an FTSE 350 chief executive’s pay to that of their employees was 57-to-1 in 2022, slightly up on the previous year’s 56-to-1.

The ratio for FTSE 100 chief executives and their employees was 80-to-1 last year, down from 83-to-one in 2021.

Dancausa move

BANKINTER announced on December 20 that Maria Dolores Dancausa, its chief executive since 2010, would become the group’s non-executive president in March next year.

Her role as chief executive will be taken over by Gloria Ortiz, until now director general of Bankinter’s Commercial Banking division.

Sky high

A FORMER air base on Unst (population 650) in the Shetlands is the UK’s first licensed spaceport for launching and putting satellites into orbit.

Developing the SaxaVord site’s three launch pads and a hangar for rocket assembly has so far cost £30 million (€34.6 million) with plans for a hotel and visitor centre.

Cashing in

A BANK OF SPAIN survey found that 65 per cent of respondents used cash in most of their daily transactions, while 60 per cent said it was their principal method for shopping. Despite these figures, 88 per cent of the population used bank cards while 25 per cent made payments with their mobile.

Write off

FINANCIAL TIMES journalists in the US are asking for a minimum starting salary of $80,000 (€73,112), claiming their current wages were “nowhere close” to liveable.

The newspaper is offering a minimum wage of $60,000 (€54,860,) which the union representing the writers is contesting with the management.

BRITAIN’S annual inflation rate dipped in November to 3.9 per cent, down from 4.6 per cent in October.

Based on the consumer prices index (CPI), November continued the downward trend with the lowest rate in two years.

Cheaper fuel was the main reason for the fall, although last month’s food prices also rose more slowly than they did in November 2022, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) explained.

The pronounced drop did not mean prices were going down, but that they had risen more slowly, chief ONS economist Grant Fitzner

CHEAPER FUEL: Assisted better-than-expected inflation figures.

said. “Prices remain substantially above what they were before the Ukraine invasion,” he added.

Food prices increased by 0.3 per cent last month, down from 1.1 per cent in November 2022, with food price inflation now at 9.2

per cent compared with 10.1 per cent in October.

Although inflation has descended from its 11.1 per cent October 2022 peak, the Bank of England insisted the inflation rate was still too high for an interest rate reduction.

Nevertheless, City analysts predicted the steeper-than-expected fall in inflation encouraged conjecture the Bank of England could begin cutting interest rates next year, probably in May, following successive increases between December 2021 and August 2023.

Although the November figures are almost double the government’s 2 per cent inflation target, Jeremy Hunt said Rishi Sunak had “more than delivered” on his pledge to halve inflation this year. The Chancellor said lower inflation “raised the prospect of improved living standards.”

Spanish government’s Telefonica stake

SPAIN’S government will acquire a 10 per cent holding in Telefonica, the country’s principal telecommunications company.

The multinational’s privatisation process was completed 26 years ago but Spain’s State-Owned Industrial Holding Corporation (SEPI) will now sit on the board as its principal shareholder, accompanied by the BBVA bank, Caixabank, Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and US investment company BlackRock.

Costing around €2 billion at current market prices, the operation is the Spanish government’s response to STC’s 9.9 per cent Telefonica stake announced in September. This was split into 4.9 per

Photo credit: CC/M Peinado

Hard times

Photo credit: Pixabay/Engin_Akyurt

BUSINESS EXTRA

TELEFONICA HEADQUARTERS: Spanish government will have a seat on its board.

cent of Telefonica shares with financial instruments providing economic exposure over a further 5 per cent of the company’s share capital.

Strategically important Telefonica is a Defence service provider and Economy minister Nadia Calvino said the government’s majority shareholding would reinforce the company’s “ownership stability.”

Following the government announcement, Telefonica shares rose 4 per cent to €3.70, their highest price since December 13.

Without revealing a specific timetable, SEPI announced it would buy the shares in a way which minimised the impact on the market price, although insiders told Reuters it would buy “small quantities of shares over a two-month period.”

Future plans Theme park plan ROLLS-ROYCE is discussing the viability of small nuclear power reactors (SMRs) with Ukraine’s biggest private power company.

The Telegraph revealed that DTEK, part of billionaire businessman Rinat Akhmetov’s industrial group, has held early talks with Rolls-Royce to sound out substituting coal-fired power stations with the SMRs. DTEK’s chief executive Maxim Timchenko said that he expected nuclear power to play an important part in the group’s future portfolio once Ukraine is rebuilt and his country can shift away from fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy.

A FORMER brickworks in Bedfordshire could one day become a theme park.

Films and theme parks company Universal confirmed that its Parks division had bought 480 acres of land in Stewartby, a model village originally built for employees of the London Brick Company. The site has planning permission for 1,000 homes.

The company, which already owns theme parks in Hollywood, Orlando, Japan, Singapore and Beijing, is known to be exploring new locations worldwide, suggesting that it is looking at the possibility of choosing the UK for its next major installation.

Stewartby, which is located halfway between Bedford and Milton Keynes, is close to Luton airport and is within easy reach of London by road.

Meanwhile, a company spokesman emphasised that Universal was “in the early stages of exploring its feasibility.”

Flying out SPAIN’S Ferrovial is said to be contemplating the sale of its 50 per cent stake in AGS, the holding company for Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports.

The remaining 50 per cent is held by the Australian financial services group, Macquarie.

At present AGS is engaged in refinancing its €930 million debt, prior to going ahead with the sale, according to Spanish media reports.

The same sources put a value of less than £1.05 billion (€1.1 billion) for 100 per cent of AGS’s capital. Together with Macquarie, Ferrovial acquired Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, which originally belonged to BAA, in 2006.

Another acquisition DAYS after buying Amazon’s biggest logistics installation in Ireland, Amancio Ortega has bought a $113 million (€103 million) warehouse in Florida.

The Zara founder and its principal shareholder continues to invest in property via his investment company, Pontegadea, which is entirely separate from the Inditex fashion empire. It now possesses $20.08 bn (approximately €18.33 bn) in property assets.

Ortega, who has a personal fortune of €89.5 billion, initially acquired luxury tower blocks and office buildings, but has recently diversified into logistics assets in Europe and the US. The latest addition to his property portfolio is a 266,600-square metre cold storage warehouse in Hialeah (Miami-Dade county).

Deal abandoned ADOBE said the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) competition authority had behaved ‘irrationally’ by scuppering a $20 billion (€18.2 billion) takeover.

Best-known for apps like Photoshop and Acrobat, Adobe cancelled plans to acquire its rival, the website design tool Figma, in a move opposed by the European Union as well as the CMA. The deal announced a year ago was subject to an in-depth investigation in the UK and Brussels, with the CMA deciding that it would eliminate competition.

The EU also concluded that it would have “terminated all current, and prevented all future competition between Adobe and Figma.”

Matches sold FRASERS GROUP, owned by Mike Ashley, paid £52 million (€60 million) for luxury online retailer Matches (formerly Matchesfashion).

Matches was founded in 1987

by Tom and Ruth Chapman, who launched it as a boutique in Wimbledon Village.

Ashley is buying the company from the British private equity firm Apax Partners, which is divesting itself of a business that has been affected by a slowdown in the luxury sector.

Apax acquired Matches in 2017 for a rumoured £600 million, although by 2022 it was posting losses of £33.5 million (€38.7 million).

14 EWN 28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

euroweeklynews.com II FINANCE

LONDON - FTSE 100

Closing Prices 26 December

Company

Price(p)

Change(p)

% Chg.

Net

Company

Price(p)

Change(p)

% Chg.

Net

3I Group.....................................2.421,00..............+4,00............ +0,17%......... 703,35K

InterContinental..........................7.106,0................+6,0............. +0,09%......... 222,40K

Abrdn.......................................... 182,60................+0,90............ +0,50%...........2,37M

Intermediate Capital...................1.692,50..............+0,50............ +0,03%......... 200,17K

Admiral Group.............................2.685,0...............+12,0............ +0,45%......... 479,00K

Intertek........................................4.188,0............... -47,0.............-1,11%........... 75,59K

Anglo American...........................1.931,8................+7,8............. +0,41%...........1,05M

ITV............................................... 63,36................. -0,60.............-0,94%............4,11M

Antofagasta................................1.701,50.............. -4,00.............-0,24%.......... 371,00K

J Sainsbury................................. 299,60................+1,00............ +0,34%...........3,03M

Ashtead Group............................5.374,0............... -66,0.............-1,21%............1,26M

Johnson Matthey........................1.690,0................ -3,0..............-0,18%.......... 165,31K

Associated British Foods.............2.366,0................ -9,0..............-0,38%.......... 378,76K

Land Securities........................... 719,00................ -1,00.............-0,14%.......... 321,52K

AstraZeneca...............................10.436,0.............. -44,0.............-0,42%.......... 611,82K

Legal & General.......................... 250,10................+1,50............ +0,60%...........3,61M

Auto Trader Group Plc................ 722,20................+4,80............ +0,67%......... 749,31K Aviva........................................... 431,10................+2,30............ +0,54%...........1,54M B&M European Value Retail SA... 569,60................ -6,40.............-1,11%.......... 731,01K BAE Systems..............................1.090,00.............. -3,50.............-0,32%............1,33M Barclays...................................... 151,78................+0,36............ +0,24%..........13,07M Barratt Developments................. 565,80................+2,80............ +0,50%......... 623,58K Berkeley......................................4.774,0................+5,0............. +0,11%.......... 51,53K BHP Group Ltd...........................2.659,50.............. -5,50.............-0,21%.......... 263,82K BP............................................... 467,20................+0,95............ +0,20%..........13,03M British American Tobacco...........2.290,0................+5,5............. +0,24%...........1,39M British Land Company................. 406,00................+0,70............ +0,17%...........4,25M BT Group.................................... 127,30................+1,00............ +0,79%...........5,72M Bunzl...........................................3.201,0................ -5,0..............-0,16%.......... 214,76K Burberry Group...........................1.420,5................ -8,5..............-0,60%............1,77M Carnival.......................................1.366,5............... -10,5.............-0,76%.......... 899,38K Centrica....................................... 141,90................ -0,60.............-0,42%...........17,65M Coca Cola HBC AG......................2.289,0................+2,0............. +0,09%......... 105,63K Compass....................................2.120,00..............+5,00............ +0,24%......... 704,15K CRH............................................5.326,0............... -46,0.............-0,86%.......... 307,14K Croda Intl....................................5.054,0.................0,0............... 0,00%........... 60,69K DCC.............................................5.682,0............... -84,0.............-1,46%.......... 135,97K Diageo.........................................2.841,5................ -7,5..............-0,26%............1,30M DS Smith.................................... 311,70................+1,40............ +0,45%......... 866,12K EasyJet........................................ 518,00................+0,80............ +0,16%...........1,02M Experian......................................3.185,0................ -6,0..............-0,19%.......... 241,89K Ferguson....................................14.930,0...............+5,0............. +0,03%.......... 21,45K

Lloyds Banking............................ 48,05.................+0,86............ +1,81%..........84,43M London Stock Exchange..............9.284,0...............+28,0............ +0,30%......... 159,04K Melrose Industries...................... 566,60.................0,00.............. 0,00%............1,21M Mondi.........................................1.528,00.............. -7,00.............-0,46%.......... 611,54K National Grid..............................1.061,00.............. -0,50.............-0,05%............2,10M NatWest Group........................... 216,70................ -0,40.............-0,18%...........15,80M Next............................................8.210,0...............+12,0............ +0,15%......... 123,67K Ocado.......................................... 725,00............... -32,20............-4,25%.......... 706,97K Persimmon.................................1.388,5...............+16,0............ +1,17%......... 448,49K Phoenix....................................... 522,40................ -2,60.............-0,50%............1,39M Prudential.................................... 862,00............... -11,80............-1,35%............2,63M Reckitt Benckiser........................5.442,0...............+16,0............ +0,30%......... 744,69K Relx............................................3.075,00.............. -2,00.............-0,07%............1,04M Rentokil....................................... 433,30................ -6,70.............-1,52%............2,40M Rightmove.................................. 571,60................+5,40............ +0,95%......... 861,12K Rio Tinto PLC..............................5.839,0...............+27,0............ +0,47%...........1,12M Rolls-Royce Holdings................. 302,40................+2,60............ +0,87%...........7,84M Sage...........................................1.179,50.............. -0,50.............-0,04%.......... 749,57K Samsung Electronics DRC.........1.453,00.............+13,00........... +0,90%........... 4,98K Schroders.................................... 438,1.................. -0,9..............-0,21%.......... 305,43K Scottish Mortgage....................... 786,00................ -5,20.............-0,66%.......... 508,63K Segro.......................................... 885,40................ -9,20.............-1,03%.......... 707,31K Severn Trent...............................2.619,0............... -10,0.............-0,38%.......... 570,70K Shell............................................2.566,5................+9,5............. +0,37%...........2,72M Smith & Nephew........................1.074,00..............+3,00............ +0,28%...........1,09M Smiths Group.............................1.766,50..............+6,00............ +0,34%......... 154,62K Spirax-Sarco Engineering..........10.365,0............. -130,0............-1,24%........... 25,03K

Flutter Entertainment..................14.065,0.............. -65,0.............-0,46%.......... 158,21K

SSE............................................1.852,00..............+2,00............ +0,11%...........2,10M

Fresnillo...................................... 585,40................+4,00............ +0,69%......... 173,41K

St. James’s Place........................ 681,00................+2,20............ +0,32%......... 368,85K

Glencore...................................... 466,35................ -3,85.............-0,82%...........12,11M

Standard Chartered..................... 652,00................ -3,00.............-0,46%............1,29M

GSK plc......................................1.449,60.............. -0,40.............-0,03%............1,85M

Taylor Wimpey............................ 145,20................+1,25............ +0,87%...........7,33M

Halma..........................................2.290,0............... -26,0.............-1,12%.......... 266,24K

Tesco.......................................... 286,70................ -0,60.............-0,21%............5,95M

Hargreaves Lansdown................. 715,00................ -5,20.............-0,72%.......... 469,50K

Tui............................................... 616,50................ -3,50.............-0,57%.......... 491,57K

Hikma Pharma...........................1.773,00............. -16,00............-0,89%.......... 168,42K

Unilever.......................................3.787,0................+8,0............. +0,21%......... 729,26K

HSBC.......................................... 627,80................+5,30............ +0,85%..........10,40M

United Utilities............................1.070,50..............+2,50............ +0,23%......... 775,44K

IAG.............................................. 157,75................ -1,70.............-1,07%............8,55M

Vodafone Group PLC.................. 69,160...............+0,160........... +0,23%..........45,33M

Imperial Brands..........................1.819,00..............+8,50............ +0,47%......... 636,73K

Whitbread...................................3.634,0................+1,0............. +0,03%......... 379,26K

Informa....................................... 773,80................+2,60............ +0,34%......... 800,14K

WPP............................................ 751,40................ -1,60.............-0,21%............1,50M

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on previous page 0.86814

1.15155

Units per € US dollar (USD)...................................1.1024 Japan yen (JPY)...................................156.94 Switzerland franc (CHF).......................0.9439 Denmark kroner (DKK)........................7.4542 Norway kroner (NOK)..........................11.233 currenciesdirect.com/moraira • Tel: +34 966 265 072 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

DOW JONES

Closing Prices 26 December 3M.............................................. 106,33................+0,77............ +0,73%...........2,27M American Express....................... 185,57................+0,78............ +0,42%...........2,71M Amgen........................................ 284,16................+4,83............ +1,73%...........1,81M Apple........................................... 193,60................ -1,08.............-0,55%...........37,15M Boeing......................................... 260,44................ -1,58.............-0,60%............4,39M Caterpillar.................................... 290,36................+0,29............ +0,10%...........1,67M Chevron...................................... 151,05................+0,34............ +0,23%...........6,38M Cisco............................................ 50,09.................+0,39............ +0,78%..........12,90M Coca-Cola..................................... 58,32.................+0,33............ +0,57%...........9,01M Dow............................................. 55,12.................+0,15............ +0,27%...........2,32M Goldman Sachs........................... 380,65................+0,08............ +0,02%...........1,45M Home Depot................................ 348,59................ -0,38.............-0,11%............2,02M Honeywell................................... 205,64................+0,59............ +0,29%...........1,89M IBM............................................. 162,14................+1,36............ +0,85%...........2,43M Intel.............................................. 48,00.................+0,92............ +1,95%..........30,10M J&J............................................. 155,46................+0,62............ +0,40%...........3,78M JPMorgan................................... 167,40................ -0,10.............-0,06%............6,16M McDonald’s................................. 291,70................+0,31............ +0,11%...........1,70M Merck&Co................................... 107,70................+1,31............ +1,23%...........5,99M Microsoft.................................... 374,58................+1,04............ +0,28%..........17,11M Nike............................................. 108,04............... -14,49...........-11,83%..........46,28M Procter&Gamble......................... 145,28................+1,02............ +0,71%...........4,38M Salesforce Inc............................. 266,34................ -0,91.............-0,34%............2,82M The Travelers.............................. 185,80................+0,23............ +0,12%...........1,08M UnitedHealth............................... 520,31................+0,43............ +0,08%...........1,75M Verizon......................................... 37,49.................+0,06............ +0,16%..........13,06M Visa A.......................................... 258,43................ -1,11.............-0,43%............5,09M Walgreens Boots.......................... 26,22.................+0,16............ +0,61%...........9,78M Walmart...................................... 156,65................+1,85............ +1,20%...........6,45M Walt Disney.................................. 91,02................. -1,00.............-1,09%............9,35M M - Million Dollars

NASDAQ

Closing Prices 26 December

Company

Change Net / %

Volume

Most Advanced Karuna Therapeutics, Inc.................................+47.71%.........................6.981M Neumora Therapeutics, Inc..............................+25.09%........................ 959,003 Rocket Lab USA, Inc........................................+22.80%........................51.905M ANSYS, Inc......................................................+18.08%.........................5.243M Altair Engineering Inc.......................................+11.48%.........................1.339M TFI International Inc..........................................+8.08%......................... 949,555 Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc..........................+7.79%........................118.602M Green Thumb Industries Inc.............................+7.51%......................... 450,611 Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc...............................+7.46%..........................1.485M Immunocore Holdings plc.................................+7.33%......................... 280,239 M - Million Dollars

Most Declined NetEase, Inc..................................................... -16.07%........................21.218M Prosus N.V....................................................... -12.58%........................ 491,299 Naspers Limited............................................... -12.28%........................ 225,041 NIKE, Inc.......................................................... -11.83%........................46.666M Prosus N.V....................................................... -11.42%.........................4.163M AAR Corp......................................................... -10.20%........................ 967,644 NEXON Co., Ltd................................................ -10.09%......................... 99,827 Tencent Holdings Limited................................. -9.84%.........................16.676M Shenzhou International Group Holdings Limited.-8.99%........................ 272,132 Tencent Holdings Limited................................. -7.27%.......................... 75,892 Zalando SE........................................................ -7.25%.......................... 32,518

M - Million Dollars

FINANCE II euroweeklynews.com

Star role

SPAIN’S State-Owned Industrial Holding Corporation (SEPI) will nominate Pedro Duque to take over from Jordi Hereu as president of Hispasat, although this will first need the approval of the Spanish communications satellite board. Pedro Duque, a former aeronautics engineer and an astronaut, was minister of Science and Innovation between June 2018 and July 2021.

Nepo babies

SWISS bank UBS told the international media that it had noticed an escalation this year in the number of new billionaires who have inherited their riches rather than earn them. As a result, the bank has predicted “an enormous increase” in legal battles between siblings squabbling over immense legacies bequeathed by their megarich parents.

No unity between unions

UNION bickering is endangering talks to save thousands of jobs in Port Talbot (South Wales).

The UK’s largest steel plant faces huge job losses after owners Tata announced plans to substitute both blast furnaces with an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) over the next three years.

This is cleaner and greener but also less labour-intensive and between 2,500 and 3,000 workers would find themselves out of work.

Photo credit: CC/Steve Hill

BUSINESS EXTRA

28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

PORT TALBOT: The UK’s largest steel-making plant

Changes at Mango FASHION chain Mango unveiled modifications to its corporate and shareholder structure.

In March next year, the board of the Barcelona-based company founded in 1984 by Isak Andic will have nine members instead of the present four, an official statement announced.

Mango’s chief executive Toni Ruiz becomes a shareholder with a 5 per cent stake

in the company’s capital, which at present is 100 per cent controlled by Andic.

Company sources told the Spanish media that these changes would give additional stability to long-term plans and rejected rumours that they heralded a corporate shakeup or plans to float the company.

Mango also revealed that it expects to finish 2023 with record sales topping €3 billion.

Union sources quoted by the BBC revealed a “deep rift” with Community and GMB on one side and Unite on the other.

The three unions originally suggested closing the oldest blast furnace but keeping the younger one active until 2032 while the small EAF was built, preserving 2,300 jobs and requiring fewer enforced redundancies.

Unite withdrew its support for the plan and now insists on no redundancies at all. “We will make no apology for acting like a trade union,” a spokesperson said.

Sources close to Tata indicated that they might delay closing at least one blast furnace for four or five years.

Apparently the unions have suggested that this could be acceptable if Tata were to install a new and modern steel-making works on one of its other sites in the UK.

EWN 15

Record price AN un-named bidder at a Hollywood auction paid $1.15 million (€1.05 million) for a ballerina-length evening dress worn

by Diana, Princess of Wales for a dinner at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence during a royal tour with her then-husband Prince Charles in 1985. The velvet dress, designed by the Moroccan-British designer Jacques Azagury fetched 11 times more than expected.

Divvied up COMPANIES listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange paid investors a total of €27.4 billion in dividends between January and November, an increase of 18.8 per cent on the previous year. Once buy-backs are added to payments in cash or further shares, this increased to more than €40 billion, revealed the latest report from Spanish Stock Exchanges and Markets.

16 EWN 28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

euroweeklynews.com II FEATURE/NEWS

Happy New Year everyone €2 Million ‘charity’ cake LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT AH well, there it goes; another one bites the bank balance. In fact this past Christmas was almost unbelievably my 84th! - the mind truly does boggle. Memories of previous yuletides do of course abound. My first were of the latter war years, when money, and just about everything else was either rationed or short.

With Dad abroad fighting for his country, it was left to Mum to fill the stocking. I still recall the large male sock, probably Grandad’s, at the foot of my bed, totally stuffed and out of shape with surprises. Vividly I remember my excitement as I delved in and discovered a wonderful Dinky toy, a number of boiled sweets, lead soldiers, a rare orange, an apple and finally a penny, which Mum would then take to the shops for a few more rationed sweet treats (and probably some help toward a packet o’ fags!). One of the best presents I do remember was a wooden truck, fas-

hioned by a German prisoner of war in a camp situated close to where we had been evacuated; no whiff of any possible danger as to their actual location did of course ever unsettle my three or four year old innocence.

In later years I always tried my utmost to be at home with the family at Christmas. Circumstances of course sometimes made this impossible.

One year, during the success of my recording career, I was booked to appear in Scotland on Boxing Day. This of course meant travelling over Christmas. Heading north on some 60s motorway or another, I decided to stop at a fairly respectable looking roadside cafeteria. Christmas dinner was actually advertised outside. On entering I discovered I was in fact the only customer (natch). I soon realised that the young male and female working behind the food counter were indeed well sozzled and the tray on which my special repast was served up left a great deal to be desired.

I was reminded of this a few years later when I found my self incarcerated for an offence I didn’t actually commit. The Christmas of ’71 found

me in the dark confines of Oxford prison. Christmas Eve all the inmates had been presented with a ‘menu’ of what we could expect the following day. It did indeed make very impressive reading. Turkey, gravy, cabbage, roasted potatoes followed by Christmas pudding and custard. I could hardly believe it. The prison fare was normally just about inedible. I needn’t have worried.

The meal, all delivered on a stamped out tin tray, was totally disgusting. The turkey was sliced so thinly that when held up it developed creases like a transparent curtain. The ‘greens’ were sodden with water, the gravy grease spilled over into the lumpy custard and it was all cold. I didn’t eat much. I also refused the boiled sweets the prison guvnor gratuitously handed out as we left the canteen. Memories memories.

Ah well. Happy New Year everyone. Let’s hope the memories infused by ‘24 contain more peace and love than ‘23. Somehow I doubt it.

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.

CHIARA FERRAGNI, well-known Italian influencer has been accused of ‘unfair commercial practices’ after it emerged that the proceeds from the ‘charity’ pandoro she promoted had never reached their destination.

Last year, Ferragni and confectionery brand Balocco launched a pandoro (a traditional Italian Christmas cake), whose packaging and marketing featured the logos of the celebrity. The cake was sold for €9 - double what they usually cost and part of the proceeds were supposed to go to a hospital.

However, according to the Italian press, no funds were ever donated. AGCM (Italy’s anti-trust authority) said Balocco and Ferragni earned almost €2 million, thanks to the fraud. As a result, the Italian courts fined the

companies Fenice and TBS, owned by Chiara Ferragni, more than €1 million, and demanded another €420,000 from Balocco for “unfair commercial practices”.

Last week Ferragni told her almost 30 million followers, “I have always been convinced that the most fortunate have the responsibility to do good. Those are the values that have always driven me and my family and that’s what we teach our children”, she said.

“I am here today to own my mistake. I apologise and announce an important gesture: I will donate €1 million to the Regina Margherita hospital, in order to support the care of sick children. I commit myself to separate my charitable activities from my commercial activities as misunderstandings can arise,” she explained.

BEST OF THE YEAR II euroweeklynews.com

28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

Image: Cartagena.es

Cartagena shines

EXTRAVAGANT DISPLAY: Cartagena will sparkle with festive cheer.

NOVEMBER EDITION: 1996 CARTAGENA is eagerly anticipating the holiday season with an extravagant display of Christmas decorations. The Christmas lights will be switched on December 5, the town hall finally confirmed and will set the streets aglow until January 7.

The municipality’s in-

vestment of over half a million euros will embellish key areas with innovative decorations and lights, including extending traditional almond tree branches to new streets and introducing LED curtains and double motifs on lampposts.

Highlighting the festivities are a towering Scandinavian tree and a colossal interactive snowman, adding a touch of grandeur

to Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Plaza Juan XIII, respectively. Mayor Noelia Arroyo aims to keep Cartagena lively throughout the holiday season with an extensive programme of events and concerts, inviting both tourists and neighbouring residents to partake in the Christmas spirit. This festive programme showcases Cartagena as a prime destination for celebrating the magic of Christmas.

ACE-ING CHRISTMAS MOVE over, Santa! Murcia’s Plaza Circular just got served a tennis-tastic, tree-lighting extravaganza courtesy of none other than the sensational Carlos Alcaraz. The streets were packed waiting for local tennis superstar and singing sensation Ruth Lorenzo to kick off the celebrations.

The whole event kicked off with Drilo’s Gang - delighting the children with some festive tunes, setting the stage for Ruth Lorenzo from Las Torres de Cotillas in Murcia, to hit it out of the park dressed in a Santa cape.

The audience danced and sang along to her tunes. Ruth, who represented Spain in Eurovision 2014, captivated the crowd with performances of ‘Tú’ and ‘Loveaholic’, showcasing why she’s one of the internationally acclaimed artists.

At 7.15pm on December 9, Carlos Alcaraz took hold of an illuminated racket and launched a ball at the 32-metre Christmas Tree structure turning on the lights, and got the party started. A

Image: Steve Laidlow

DECEMBER EDITION: 2006

Carlos Alcaraz ignites Murcia’s holiday spirit.

10-minute firework show followed accompanied by Christmas music. The tennis star left a message for the people of Murcia, writing on a television camera lens: ‘Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Long live the Region of Murcia.’

This Christmas tree now stands as the Christmas hub of Murcia, hosting many daily activities like concerts and workshops.

EWN 17

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 28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

euroweeklynews.com II FEATURE

COMMUNITY

COMMENTS

FOLLOWING an announcement by the Prague Council in the Czech Republic that for the fourth year running they would not be hosting a firework show on New Year’s Eve and in fact were banning them in private hands in a large number of areas, we asked our readers what they thought.

It seems that the majority enjoy the sight of organised displays but can’t stand the noise as it causes so much distress to wild and domestic animals as well as some older people, so they would love to see the introduction of silent fireworks (in the same way that we can now buy crackers without the crack).

“

There are no fireworks in Siberia… there’s also a lot of empty space to stay for you people who want silence.

You are free to make your silent life out there.

Not banned but quiet ones instead.

Lynda Pawley

Yes! silent ones only, fireworks in the daytime just for the noise! Madness.

Lorraine Knott

Pirjo Korhonen

Yes everywhere.

Need to be louder so the hard of hearing can appreciate them.

Mal Stubbs

Maria van Boxtel

Yes should use silent ones.

Audrey Ryan

Never seen fireworks in Spain and I don’t wish to, they are far too dangerous.

Barbara Ball

Yes absolutely !

Please ban !!!

Stephanie Sedlmayr Pape

All fireworks should be silent ones.

Sharon Snowden

Yes definitely.

David Wardell

That be the day. I would love to see it because my cats are so scared that they run towards the toilet. I for one do not go out when it’s Las Fallas. So much noise and the worse are the adults who act like children.

Yes they are just loud bangs. Get silent ones for the animals and people can still enjoy if they want to.

Beth Sims

Izzy Paps

Silent ones only…. IN ANY COUNTRY! Yes. I say this also on behalf of all the animals who live here.

Karen Baker

Alex de Boer

No, they are stopping everything that involves fun!

Silent fireworks & only organised displays.

Maggi Taylor

Lois Bennett

Yes, I think so or if not at least silent ones....

Ban all the loud noisy fireworks, no need for them to make a noise!

Sian Foster

Carol-Anne Abbink

Yes!

Yessssss.

Anna Fulton

Thomas Kat Miauw

With out a doubt, silent ones would be better for sure !!!

Keep the fireworks but lose the bloody awful noise they make.

Jennifer Ancill

Sheilagh Armstrong-Jones

In Spain it’s all about the noise, unfortunately it will never change, our dog is petrified.

They are not fireworks in Spain they sound more like bombs.

Geoffrey Barrett

Patricia Green

Comments should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: euroweeklynews.com Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers.

No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.

FEATURE II euroweeklynews.com ADVERTISING FEATURE

INTERVIEW

Why Europeans move to Spain Antonio Olivares embarked on a journey that took him from the vibrant streets of Barcelona to the eclectic energy of London in 1995.

LITTLE did he know that nostalgia and longing. what was initially plan“When I think of ned as a brief stint London,” he muses, would unfold into “it’s not just the ara 24-year chapter chitecture or the of his life. diverse cityscape Yet, amid the that I miss. It’s hustle and bustthe friendships le of the city, that blossomed Antonio couldn’t over the years, help but feel a the melting pot yearning for the of cultures, and the warmth of Spain, his charm of areas like Image: Antonio Olivares family and friends, and Pimlico and Golders Returned to his roots. the allure of the outdoor Green.” life culture he held dear.

Despite the allure of LonIn 2019, after years of fostering connec- don’s international cuisine and the artions and establishing a life in the UK, An- chitectural marvels around every corner, tonio made a bold decision.

Antonio couldn’t escape the frustrations.

Armed with a property in Alicante he “Closing times of pubs! That was a consbid farewell to the iconic London skyline tant source of irritation,” he laughs. and returned to his roots.

“Compared to the lively bars of Spain, it Choosing Alicante wasn’t just about the felt like the night ended too soon.” beaches; it was a strategic move, a geoHowever, his return to Spain hasn’t graphical sweet spot connecting him to been without its irritations. Antonio canthe heart of Spain and the rest of Europe. didly admits, “The bureaucracy and the Now, back in his homeland, Antonio re- lack of customer service can be exaspeflects on his time in London with a mix of rating.”

28 Dec 2023 - 3 Jan 2024

EWN 21

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EARLY next year Malaga is set to unveil Spain’s first public pet cemetery, providing a dignified resting place for beloved animals, where the care and remembrance of pets are given due importance.

The Malaga pet cemetery is scheduled to open between January and February 2024 in the Malaga Cemetery Park, San Gabriel. This pioneering project represents a substantial investment of €1,011,980, according to a news source.

Eco-Friendly And Compassionate Constructed with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency, the cemetery will offer a range of facilities. These will include a citizen service building complete with a reception area, administrative offices, a veterinary office and toilets.

Additionally, a crematorium and a designated room for farewell ceremonies are included. The

1st Public Pet Cemetery Credit: ayuntamientodemalaga.es

PETS

Malaga’s new pet cemetery.

grounds feature a green space for ash scattering and a dedicated burial area.

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rental of niches and columbariums, and even the deregistration of pets. A basic individual cremation for animals up to 30 kilos is priced at €170.

Meeting The Needs Of A Pet-Loving Province Malaga stands out in Andalucia for its high number of pet owners. According to the Official College of Veterinarians, over 350,000 pets are registered in the region, which accounts for 23 per cent of

the pet population in Andalucia.

This pet cemetery comes as a response to the growing societal sensitivity towards animal care, filling a significant gap in a region that lacked such a facility.

Recognising animals as valuable family members, the facility will provide a dignified and respectful way to say goodbye, underscoring the emotional bond between pets and their owners.

Feline feasting outdoors CURIOSITY often leads our feline companions outdoors, where they embark on thrilling adventures and, inevitably, explore the diverse culinary offerings Mother Nature provides. Ever wondered what your cats munch on during their outdoor escapades?

In the wild, cats are natural hunters, and their outdoor excursions often involve stalking small prey. Birds, insects, and rodents are common items on their menu, satisfying their carnivorous instincts. Additionally, cats may nibble on grass to aid their digestion or even indulge in the occasional plant for added fiber.

Despite their independent foraging, it’s crucial to ensure your outdoor explorers maintain a balanced diet. Supplement their diet with high-quality cat food to meet their nutritional needs, ensuring they receive the essential vitamins and minerals required for optimal health.

Understanding the outdoor dining habits of your furry friends allows you to provide the best care possible. So, embrace their adventurous spirit, but remember to keep a watchful eye on their nutritional intake for happy and healthy feline companions.

NATURAL HUNTERS: Often cats will stalk small prey.

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E1: Electric Formula 1 IN June 2024, Puerto Banús will become one of only nine venues in the world to host the E1 competition, the electric Formula 1 of the sea.

Mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, presented the Cívitas Puerto Banus Grand Prix at the Provincial Council of Malaga and explained the impact that the event will have on the city, highlighting, among other aspects, the more than 1.1 billion followers on social networks of the captains of the participating teams, including tennis player Rafa Nadal, Formula 1 driver Sergio Pérez, footballer Didier Drogba, American football player Tom Brady, DJ Steve Aoki and artist Marc Anthony.

“This race is going to position us as a unique destination,” said the mayor who also expanded on the values of sustainability and equality implicit in this event. “It is an exclusively electric competition in which each team is made up of a man and a woman,” she said.

The Andalucian Minister of Tourism, Víctor González, said during the presentation that this is a, “pure 21st century” event, which is expected to reach 160 million people and have an enormous media and economic impact on the destination. The President of the Provincial Council, Francisco Salado, agreed that the Grand Prix, “will become another boost to the tourism-sport phenomena that we are so proud of on the Costa del Sol, we are expecting 20,000 visitors that weekend.

“Sharing the venue with destinations such as Monaco, Venice, Hong Kong, Geneva, Jeddah and Rotterdam, among others, gives us an idea of the magnitude of this sporting event which, thanks to collaboration between Marbella Town Hall, the Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol and the Andalucian Regional Government, we guarantee that it will be a success,” said Salado.

euroweeklynews.com II SPORT

BBC Sports Award

THE BBC Sports Personality of the Year award appears to have become a battleground for gender in sports.

Outspoken broadcaster Piers Morgan has controversially spoken out after England goalkeeper Mary Earps became the latest winner. The award makes her the third consecutive female to win, after a 14 year dominance by male athletes.

Following a string of male victors from 2007 to 2020, the trend has shifted with three consecutive female winners. Earps’ triumph comes after the success of Lionesses forward Beth Mead in 2022 and tennis sensation Emma Raducanu in 2021.

However, broadcaster Piers Morgan voiced concerns over the selection process, highlighting the overlooked male nominees.

After Earps was announced the winner, Morgan posted on Twitter/X: ‘It looks to me that terrible scourge of virtue-signalling box-ticking has crept into this once great award.

‘Piers Morgan thinks Mary Earps winning Sports Personality Of The Year is “a celebration of mediocrity.”‘

He added: ‘Trying to get my head around two of England’s women footballers winning BBC SPOTY in successive years… while male sporting superstars with great personalities like Rory McIlroy, Frankie Dettori & Ronnie O’Sullivan have never won it.’

Morgan argued: ‘Last year, Beth Mead was deserved winner because the Lionesses won the Euros, but this year they lost the World Cup Final and failed to qualify for the Olympics.

Many men have been more de-

Super Bowl will go through Madrid THIS year’s 58th Super Bowl will be played at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, February 11, 2024 and, with the end of the NFL regular season in sight, the playoffs are just around the corner.

To become NFL champion and win a Super Bowl ring is the goal of every player at the beginning of the season. After a 17-game regular season, it’s time for the decisive moment in the playoffs. The best teams in the NFL face each other with one goal in mind: the Super Bowl Lombardi trophy.

There are a total of 32 teams in the NFL, 16 in each conference, AFC and NFC, made up of four divisions

SUPER BOWL: Playoffs are just around the corner.

of four teams each: North, South, East and West. In each conference, a total of seven teams qualify for the playoffs, with six playing in the Wildcard Round in both the AFC and NFC. Teams now look to finish as high as possible within their conference as the top-ranked team from each conference will skip a round and have a week’s rest before heading into the divisional round. The topranked teams will face the lowest-ranked teams in the first round with home-field

advantage.

As things stand the teams likely to clinch a playoff spot are: San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens. Also in the running are: Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs (last year’s Superbowl winners).

Once the playoffs are finished the two conference champions meet in the Super Bowl.

In Spain there is growing interest in the sport with Madrid likely to host an NFL

game in 2025. “We’re going to look at the opportunities we have to host Madrid in the future; we’re excited to bring that to fruition,” Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of the NFL told the NFL’s official website.

The possibility of Madrid hosting a regular-season NFL game for the first time is growing because the owners of the NFL’s 32 teams agreed that, starting in 2025, up to eight games a year could be played outside the United States.

The NFL has played regular-season games outside the United States since the 2005 season. Since that date, 50 regular season international games have been played; 36 in London, England; six in Toronto, Canada; five in Mexico City; two in Frankfurt and one in Munich, Germany.

According to the NFL website, in addition to Spain, France is another potential destination that has caught the league’s attention.

serving. . .’

He added: ‘No offence to Ms Earps, but shouldn’t it have been given to someone who actually won something in 2023?’

Many shared his views and voiced their thoughts on what they called the BBC’s woke agenda: However, many people disagreed and shared their opinions, one person pointed out: ‘It’s sports “personality” of the year. Maybe the general public prefer Mary’s personality!’

Despite the contention, the public overwhelmingly voted for Earps ahead of cricketer Stuart Broad, jockey Frankie Dettori, athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, tennis player Alfie Hewett and golfer Rory McIlroy.

Piers Morgan voiced concerns.

EU Court Rules IS the future of European football about to change?

In a landmark decision, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared on Thursday, December 21 that UEFA’s dominion over European football violates EU competition law. The decision is expected to significantly strengthen the controversial Super League initiative.

The ruling, found that UEFA and FIFA’s practice of requiring approval for new football competitions, such as the Super League, contravenes European competition laws.

The verdict represents a substantial shift in the landscape of European football governance.

The Super League, backed by A22 Sports, argued that UEFA’s ban on the proposed competition and the penalties threatened against participating clubs contradicted Europe’s competition freedoms.

The ECJ agreed, stating, ‘The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions, are unlawful.’

This stance challenges the long-standing authority of FIFA and UEFA in football’s commercial and competitive arenas. The court highlighted the lack of transparency, objectivity, and proportionality in the existing regulations.

It emphasised, ‘Similarly, the rules giving FIFA and UEFA exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the rights related to those competitions are such as to restrict competition, given their importance for the media, consumers and television viewers in the European Union.’

While the ruling doesn’t explicitly endorse the Super League, it undermines FIFA and UEFA’s ‘dominant position’ in organising football competitions.