Costa del Sol 8 – 14 February 2024 Issue 2014

Costa del Sol • Issue No. 2014 • 8 - 14 February 2024

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ILMAINEN

GRATIS

Photo: Facebook / Manilva Town Hall

School run

Children hit the streets of Manilva.

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8 - 14 February 2024

• Local News •

euroweeklynews.com

€1 per day

ESTEPONA Town Hall has announced that the extension of the northern ring road is now open to traffic, following the work carried out on Calle Santiago de Compostela.

With the works completed, the traffic flow in the area has been improved, as Calle Santiago de Compostela has been connected to the northern ring road and Camino Vereda de Los Frailes. Calle Santiago now has two-way traffic, more than 400 square metres of green areas and 20 new car parking spaces.

The northern ring road around the town was inaugurated at the beginning of 2020, one of the most important projects in the town in recent years. Its commissioning involved the construction of nine roads, totalling more than 42,000 square metres in surface area and more than 1.6 kilometres in length.

This has made it possible to connect the Trade Fair, Sports and Leisure Park, the Felipe VI Auditorium and the new Athletics Stadium, linking up to the easternmost part of the town centre. All this has contributed to this new ring road, which has improved circulation and mobility in the town.

BENALMADENA is following the Estepona model and creating a car park with 800 parking spaces for just €1 per day.

The total will be 687 spaces thanks to the opening of the underground car park in Pueblosol and 85 spaces in Los Nadales, in Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmadena Pueblo.

The €1 a day parking model being used in Estepona is proving to be a benchmark. Benalmadena is going to implement it in Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmadena Pueblo. The mayor Juan Antonio Lara, said that the town hall has taken a giant step to offer residents and visitors the reopening of the Pueblosol car park and the Los Nadales car park, thus adding nearly 800 parking spaces.

In total, there will be 687 spaces in Pueblosol and 85 in Los Nadales, “both of which should be open before the summer, boosting commercial activity in both centres,” said Lara.

If everything goes ahead as planned Benalmadena will have two public car parks like other neighbouring municipalities such as Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Mijas and Estepona, which will cost €1 per day during business hours. Residents and visitors will be able to shop without having to worry about finding parking.

Excessive consumption ACOSOL is studying a measure in order to raise public awareness about saving water.

The public company in charge of water management on the Costa del Sol, Acosol, has proposed to notify any “excessive consumption” that is detected, with the aim of saving water and raise awareness among the population during the drought.

According to Acosol, these notifications would be made by the different operators to the householders, in order to comply with the 20 per cent drinking water saving decreed by the Junta de Andalucia.

Acosol said that the 20 per cent reduction is established by comparing “the data of the amount of water” that is supplied in the same month of the previous year, so they can detect that, when there is no reduction seen in consumption it may be because of continued irrigation, contrary to the decree.

Acosol, based in Marbella, said that they are studying the idea that, “each operator will inform that householder that they are registering a consumption that exceeds the established average or the established limit.”

THE province of Malaga will play a leading role in two of the five stages of the 70th edition of the Vuelta a Andalucia - Ruta Ciclista del Sol (Cycle Route of the Sun), which will be held on Thursday February 15, leaving from Velez-Malaga and, after 192.2 km, will finish in Alcaudete (Jaen).

It will cross the municipalities of Periana and Alfarnate, in the heart of La Axarquia.

The fifth and final stage, on Sunday February 18, will start from Benahavis and head for La Linea de la Concepcion (Cadiz), with a distance of 168.5 km passing through the Malaga municipalities of Benaojan, Cortes de la Frontera and Gaucin.

The event was attended

Photo: Malaga Provincial Council

Ring road opens Cycle Route of the Sun

VUELTA A ANDALUCIA: Malaga will play a leading role.

by the President of the Malaga Provincial Council, Francisco Salado, the Malaga Sports councillor, Juan Rosas, together with the General Manager of Deporinter, Joaquín Cuevas.

President of the Malaga Provincial Council, Francisco Salado highlighted Malaga’s commitment to

cycling and the Andalucian round, stating that, “cycling is one of the disciplines that arouses most interest in the province of Malaga.” He explained that “cycling combines many values with which we identify, such as effort, perseverance, teamwork, fair play, sacrifice, or the ability to overcome and improve.”

from Front page

Children and charity Michael Carrington

AS part of ‘School Day for Nonviolence and Peace’, on January 30, the Manilva schools Pablo Picasso, Maicandil and San Luis de Sabinillas held charity races to raise funds for Save The Children.

The councillor for Education, Fina Gómez, said that this initiative aims to promote values of equality, tolerance, and companionship, in which the families have been able to sponsor the distance covered by the children by means

of a voluntary donation.

The children of Pablo Picasso school ran along the streets of Mar and Álvarez Leiva in Manilva. The race was also run on the promenade by the pupils of the San Luis de Sabinillas school and in the playground of the Maicandil school.

This brings to a close this year’s ‘School, Space for Peace’ programme, which also included Christmas markets and a literary competition in the three schools.

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• Local News •

NIBS EXTRA

New start-ups

RESERVOIRS in Andalucia have managed to accumulate a net gain of water for two consecutive weeks, specifically 23 cubic hectometres (hm3), and thus reach the 21 per cent water reserve barrier after the latest rainfall, according to data provided by the Regional Government.

Tourism tax

MALAGA City Council will not introduce a tourist tax, ie a tax on overnight stays by visitors, which has already been applied in Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, as well as in many other European cities. The Regional Ministry of Tourism has ruled it out due to a lack of consensus.

Hospital strike

THE CCOO union, representing 200 workers, has announced a strike at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella for February 13 in protest at the delay in paying the salaries of staff who are classed as ‘non-fixed permanent employees’ by a month.

Drunk driver

A WOMAN riding a moped has died after being hit by a car driver, under the influence of alcohol, on the A-7 in Estepona.

The incident took place at around 10pm on Thursday February 1, on the road where it passes Arena Beach.

Dog rescue

MARBELLA police rescued a dog whose life was in danger after being locked up for months, without food and water, in a storage room without ventilation or natural light. The dog was taken to Triple A, where it received veterinary attention.

126 STORIES in this week’s edition

Services related to tourism accounted for a high number of start-ups.

By sector, real estate and services related to tourism are the business drivers, accounting for most of the new start-ups. Real estate agencies

and property management are by far the most prominent business sector accounting for over 20 per cent of the total.

Heimlich manoeuvre

New supermarket

BENALMADENA police have saved the life of a sixyear-old child with the Heimlich manoeuvre.

A patrol in Benalmadena Costa heard the desperate cries for help of a woman on Avenida de la Armada, next to a restaurant and two police officers managed to save the life of the boy who was choking on food.

The officers immediately performed the Heimlich manoeuvre to expel the remains of food that were obstructing his breathing. Minutes later the ambulance arrived, whose crew helped the officers and found that the child had recovered well from his ordeal.

The mayor of Benalmadena, Juan Antonio Lara, praised the work of the officers, “who in addition to providing safety in our streets offer citizens a close, professional and immediate resource with knowledge of first aid and emergency management,” he said.

The mayor has proposed to the chief of the Local Police, public recognition for the excellence of the intervention.

ALHAURIN DE LA TORRE Town Council has granted Mercadona a licence to build a supermarket on the edge of the town.

The Planning Board of Alhaurin de la Torre Town Council has approved the proposal of the mayor, Joaquín Villanova, for the granting of planning permission for a new supermarket and an annexed car park for the Mercadona chain.

This supermarket will be the first in the town’s commercial area, located to the south of the industrial estates and between the Avenida de las Américas and the A-404 road, near the Encuentro roundabout. The project presented by Mercadona puts the budget for the works at just over €4.1 million.

This chain currently has three stores in Alhaurin de la Torre: in the town centre, Retamar and Cortijos del Sol. The commercial park in which the new premises will be located covers some 70,000 square metres and will have a total of around 300 parking spaces.

International runners Brian Bamford

MORE than 1,800 athletes took part in the International Half Marathon of Torremolinos, which celebrated its 34th edition on Sunday February 4 in a festive atmosphere through the streets of the town.

The winner of the men’s race was Homolac Jiri with a time of 01:08:55 and in the female category Jo Vic-

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YOUR EWN HAS

Photo: pxhere

Helpful rain

MALAGA Province had its best rate of company start-ups in 19 years: almost 600 new companies per month in 2023. The year saw a total of 7,105 new trading companies set up in Malaga, an increase of 11.5 per cent compared to 2022.

Real estate, construction and hospitality were the most buoyant sectors, according to the IECA according to the latest data published by the Andalucian Institute of Statistics and Cartography (IECA).

Despite the economic slowdown caused by rising interest rates and international geopolitical uncertainty, these are the highest figures since 2004 (when the economic boom at the beginning of this century began).

The figure for company start-ups in 2023 continued to be, moreover, much higher than the number of companies dissolved (around 1,200 in the whole year).

8 - 14 February 2024

kers won with a time of 01:25:00.

The mayor of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid, gave the starting signal for the race which this year again had its start and finish line in the Pablo Ruiz Picasso cultural centre. “The Torremolinos Half Marathon has a very important tourist aspect and this year the race has had nearly 30 per cent of foreign run-

ners,” said Del Cid, who highlighted, “the great influx of athletes from the United Kingdom, who every year have an appointment in this competition.”

Irish, Dutch and Germans are the other well represented nationalities who mixed with athletes from countries such as Argentina, Belgium, United States, Finland, Latvia and Canada.

Pool reopens THE Virgen del Carmen swimming pool in Torremolinos has reopened its doors after various improvement and maintenance works were carried out on the outdoor Olympic facility including new plumbing as well as interior and exterior painting.

In addition, the heating system of the swimming pool has been completely renovated with a new biomass boiler which burns olive pits and the installation of 48 solar panels.

In February, nearly 500 professional swimmers will use the pool, 19 foreign teams arrive for training and which will bring over €200,000 to the local economy.

The outdoor Olympic facility will also be available from Monday to Saturday, 9.30am until 5pm and on Sundays from 9.30am until 2pm.

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8 - 14 February 2024

• Feature •

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Watching the grass grow VIEWPOINT BILL ANDERSON I HAVEN’T been following with any great interest the Covid enquiries currently taking place in the UK. I have come to assume that it stands for Covering Over Vapid Idiotic Discussions.

To be honest, I wouldn’t like all my WhatsApp messages to be made public, especially some that I might have sent in a tantrum, or to a friend after a couple of glasses of wine.

But then again, I am not a national politician making decisions that will affect the economic well-being of the country, the safety of millions of families, the development of children, and so on.

I am always the optimist, and I, unlike many peo-

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Dep. Legal MA-74-2004

ple I know, thought that this might get behind the scenes of the often poor decision making processes that was the whole pandemic response.

How wrong I was. Whatever messages seem to be left in cyber space do little more than question the maturity and capacity of those holding the reins during this time. We already know that, at least in the UK, they didn’t even follow their own guidelines for dealing with this, so the enquiry has not brought to light any mind blowing revelations.

However, disclosures of top politicians allegedly making comments like “Just let people die” whether these are private conversations or semiofficial ones moves the conversation from ‘idiotic’ to ‘disturbing’.

It’s like making jokes about pedophilia: it is bad taste whatever the context.

I wonder how those directly affected by the whole thing either by loss of loved ones or loss of their businesses, homes and mental health, and the subsequent damage from the treatment, feel about the enquiry. I suspect they are not put at ease.

Although not designed for this specific purpose, there is a degree of entertainment value at watching the great and the good squirm in their seats when

asked to explain ‘Why?’ It is amazing how Covid has created collective and selective amnesia among the big players.

‘I don’t recall,’ is clearly a synonym for ‘I don’t want to tell you because it will make me look bad.’

The entertainment value more or less stops there.

Beyond that, the enquiry is as interesting as watching grass grow.

There is another component which could be classed as educational, even though learning how to do this is not an evolutionary advantage for the human race.

That is, how to look sincere and keep a straight face while clearly lying through their teeth, albeit by omission and not by commission.

My poker face directly resulted in losing all of my 20 matchsticks in a game with my son. These guys and gals are past masters at the poker face. I still think I’d rather be an open book with a face and body language that gives me away every time. I prefer the truth even when it works to my disadvantage.

Can’t say I will be following the rest of this with great interest. Life is too short, and watching the grass grow has suddenly captured my attention.

Bill Anderson’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors. bill-anderson@euroweeklynews.com

• Local News •

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8 - 14 February 2024

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THE president of the Urbanisation Torre Bermeja has given himself a salary of €86,000. Residents have taken him to court after he awarded himself a higher salary than the President of the Junta de Andalucia.

Stephen Hills is the president of this community of property owners, which is located near Estepona, and, not content with the salary, he has also exempted himself from paying the community fees, an amount that could be as much as €6,000 per year, according to a news source.

Hills managed to push these propo-

sals through by attending a community meeting and representing a significant number of owners, mostly foreigners, who had delegated their vote to him and which he used to vote through both proposals.

Residents of the urbanisation have asked the Court of Estepona to challenge the agreement adopted by the owners’ meeting, as well as to nullify the decision as being, “contrary to the statutes of the community and the Horizontal Property Law.” They maintain that the statutes of Torre Bermeja establish that, “the position of president is free of charge.”

Price of romance VALENTINE’S DAY is coming, one of those special dates on which Malaga men and women are divided between those who show their love with a gift and those who maintain that gifts should not be given on special dates with a consumerist bias.

The average expenditure in Spain for Valentine’s Day celebrations is €95.48 but the people of Malaga are willing to spend €118.95.

This is a figure, according to a survey carried out by the Spanish Association of Consumers, (Asescon), which makes those

from Malaga Province the most romantic in Andalucia, as it is above the €114.87 of Sevilla, Cordoba with €96.9, Almeria with €94.22; Granada with €93.12; Cadiz with €92.13 average expenditure.

The study also reports that 59 per cent of consumers surveyed said they will celebrate Valentine’s Day in some way. And among the favourite gifts, 74 per cent will spend on hospitality (hotel, dinner, etc); 5 per cent will buy flowers; 4 per cent will give jewellery; only 3 per cent chose a lunch or dinner at home.

Photo: Shutterstock / aleks333

Owners revolt

Temperatures across the whole province were at an all-time high.

Warmest January Brian Bamford

JANUARY was the warmest month in history in the province of Malaga.

With an average of 12.7 degrees Celsius recorded across the whole of Malaga Province, this was an all-time record.

The last four weeks were more than three degrees above average and 2.2 degrees above the record of a year ago, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).

To date, the hottest mon-

th at the start of a year was in 2016, when the average of 11.5 degrees was already a cause for concern. At the opposite extreme, in 1972, 1985 and 1992, the provincial average for the first month of the year was no more than eight degrees.

The first day of 2024 opened with a high of 21 degrees, with clear skies for a sunny and warm day.

Over the following weeks, meteorologists began to talk about the establishment of a “powerful ridge”

in the middle and upper layers of the atmosphere.

And a powerful anticyclone kept any rain away from most of Andalucia during the Christmas period.

The peak was reached on January 26 with an unusually high maximum temperature of over 27 degrees in Coin, one of the highest temperatures in Spain.

The figures recorded in the rest of the country were also more typical of spring than mid-winter.

8 - 14 February 2024

• Marbella News •

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Making waves THE holder of the concession to run Puerto Banus has applied to the Junta de Andalucia to extend until 2067 the term of operation of one of the most exclusive marinas in southern Europe and this has sparked legal action between the company and some of the tenants of businesses in the area.

The disagreement between the concessionaire and some of the traders is mainly due to the use of the terraces of the premises by some businesses in the port.

The business owners accuse the concessionaire, Puerto José Banús SA, of showing “bad faith” by charging them for using spaces which, according to them, are public property, said the legal representative of the traders, the law firm BGI-LAW.

Photo: Flickr CC / Pablo Monteagudo

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Business tenants are in disagreement.

The concessionaire denies that Marbella Town Hall is the owner of the spaces where the terraces of the premises are located and said that they are included in the concession area. “The alleged conflict only exists for some traders who have tried to speculate with the concession land, subletting space owned by the concessionaire without the latter’s authorisation,” the com-

pany added.

The traders, most of whom have premises located on the front line of the marina, accuse the concessionaire of “unilaterally imposing abusive conditions” on them to exploit premises that, according to the businesses, belong to the Town Hall, which has led them to file three lawsuits against Puerto José Banús SA for the annullment of rents.

Charity flea market ON Sunday February 4, the Horizonte Proyecto Hombre Marbella association organised its Winter Charity Flea Market with the aim of raising funds to maintain its therapeutic and prevention programmes.

From 10am to 6pm, the Alameda Park in Marbella hosted 20 stalls with new and semi-new items donated by individuals and companies. This is the first flea market of the year

and the next is in April.

As in previous editions, the stalls sold women’s, men’s and children’s clothing and footwear for the winter season; books in various languages, household items (sheets, pillows, blankets, duvets, duvet covers, decoration, etc.); handbags, belts, toys, costume jewellery, handmade sweets, etc. A raffle was also held and included communion and flamenco dresses.

The six charity flea markets that the Horizonte Proyecto Hombre association organises on the first Sundays of the even months of each year are one of the main sources of funding for its prevention programmes, such as the one developed with the school population of Marbella, which aims to prevent addictions to substances and new technologies in children and young people.

Register robber LOCAL POLICE of Marbella have arrested an individual who allegedly stole a cash register from a fashion shop in the Old Town. During the arrest there was a struggle in which two officers were injured.

A police patrol carrying out surveillance work on foot in the Old Town

heard some loud banging in the area. On arriving on the scene, they observed a man crouching in the street manhandling a cash register.

On noticing their presence, the individual got up and walked towards the officers, hiding his hands behind his back and when the police offi-

cers asked him to show them they saw he was carrying a bundle of crumpled banknotes and bills.

When they asked him to identify himself, the man ignored them and tried to flee, so the officers had to intercept him. The robber resisted and after a few minutes of struggle the police subduef him.

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Charity walk Photo: Manilva Town Hall

Kevin Fraser Park

WORLD Cancer Day is celebrated every year on February 4 and unites the entire world under a single theme to focus on the continuing fight against cancer.

The aim of the day is to reduce the number of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness of cancer in the general population, and by putting pressure on governments to take more action against the disease.

Manilva Town councillors Gema Zotano and Fina Gómez, have shown their support for the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), and together with other members of the council and dozens of residents of the town, have carried

The walk took place on World Cancer Day.

out a non-competitive walk for all ages, which took place on the morning of World Cancer Day. With a gentle route,

TORREMOLINOS gets romantic this Valentine’s Day with various activities until February 19 to promote local commerce.

The town has proposed to make you fall in love on Valentine’s Day. An opportunity to enjoy and fall in love with the town, with romantic decorations in the shops and bars to encourage and promote local commerce.

which started at 10.30am along the coastal path, participants donated €2 all of which went to the charity and also included a healthy

Torremolinos falls in love Under the slogan ‘Torremolinos falls in love’, the town will be dressed up for Valentine’s Day with the idea that locals and visitors can take photos of themsel-

breakfast for the participants.

Until February 11, AECC is also present at the checkout lines of supermarkets, service stations and shops in Spain with the initiative ‘The purchase of your life’.

You add a minimum of €1 to your shopping bill at any of the 6,000 establishments of the more than 80 companies that have joined the cause. Details of where you can make a donation are here.

The proceeds from the campaign go towards cancer prevention and the free services provided by the Association to support and accompany patients and their families, as well as promoting cancer research.

ves at various locations and share them on their social networks with the hashtag #torremolinose namora For the occasion, giant hearts with lights will be set up in the Plazas Costa del Sol, Blas Infante and Lido Playamar, in San Miguel street with the Plaza de la Unión Europea and in El Morro Carihuela - Bajondillo.

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Best breakfast FINCA CORTESÍN in Casares, on the Costa del Sol has been recognised by Madrid Fusión for serving the best breakfast in the Spanish hotel market. An award that adds to that of best hotel in the world, already held by Finca Cortesin.

Madrid Fusión is the most important gastronomic congress in the world, bringing together top chefs, producers, wine experts, confectioners and bakers. The Madrid Fusión team visited countless Spanish hotels in order to create the award for the ‘Best Hotel Breakfast’. Eight establishments competed for first place and were scored by a jury of experts in a secret ballot.

The judges have distinguished it as one of the “great temples of morning snacks in Spain”, with tables that extend out into a garden of ancient olive trees.

The winning breakfast is not a typical buffet, but an a la carte menu with everything from: “Iberian ham, eggs Benedict, fruit salads, freshly made fruit juices, freshly baked home-made pastries and smoked and cured meats that are prepared in the kitchen,” explained Lutz Bösing, the hotel’s chef.

“We use the best products, we have a team of 12 to 15 people in the dining room and six cooks. Everything is designed so that the guest can enjoy everything he or she wants,” said the chef.

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Ground zero Kevin Fraser Park

THE Andalucian Regional Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Carmen Crespo, conveyed a message of calm to the Marbella tourism sector and has said that all, “possible measures” are being taken to alleviate the drought situation in the province of Malaga, which she described as, “ground zero”.

“Our priority is to guarantee the water supply to the population and alleviate the effects of the drought”, she said. Andalucia has now approved the fourth decree against drought, which will mobilise more than €217 million and 81hm3 of water.

The decree envisages emergency actions, which the regional government expects to be completed before next summer, while opening up a €40

Photo: Wikimedia CC / Robert Wade

8 - 14 February 2024

The drought situation in Malaga province is difficult.

million funding to fix existing leaks in the network. In addition, there are other actions in the pipeline, such as the drilling of boreholes near Fuengirola and Estepona, where the installation of desalination plants is also planned.

The CEO of water supply company Acosol, Matilde Mancha, said, “Acosol welcomes these new measures with optimism given the complexity of

the drought emergency situation that we continue to suffer and we have already made available to the Junta de Andalucía all our technical and human resources.”

She added, “We appeal for individual responsibility and we want to call for public awareness, prioritising drinking water consumption, as just one day’s watering of a small garden is enough to supply a family for 10 days.”

One million trees MANILVA has joined the programme ‘Malaga Viva’ launched by the Diputación de Malaga and its plan to plant ‘One million trees in the province of Malaga’ to fight against climate change.

The Environment Department has already opened the registration period for all those local volunteers who want to participate in the tree planting day.

The activity will take place on Sunday February 18 from 9am to 3pm, in the area around the coastal path in the Playas de Manilva Ecological Reserve.

The Diputación will provide the plant species and tools necessary for the planting, as well as gardeners and

environmental education staff who will guide and support the volunteers on the day.

One hundred oleanders, 100 mastic trees, 100 palmettos, tamarisks and 100 junipers will be planted. These are species that tolerate a certain amount of salinity due to the area’s proximity to the sea.

A bus with 50 volunteers from Malaga will join local volunteers. Sign up as a volunteer now - registrations can be made at the Environment office (Urbanismo), phone 619 721 230 or at the website: malagavi va.org/inscrip-

Free parking THERE are more than 250 spaces in two plots of land prepared by the town hall to provide free parking on the edge of Estepona.

The new free parking area in front of Carrefour will become operational during the week starting Monday February 5.

The old parking area next to Avenida Litoral will be converted into a landscaped boulevard.

Photo: Facebook / Estepona Town Hall

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The new parking area is in front of Carrefour.

• Local News •

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Photo: Facebook / AECC

Gala charity dinner

The dinner raised funds to help various local AECC centres.

David Hart

THE mayors of Benalmadena, Torremolinos and Fuengirola, took part on Saturday February 3, for World Cancer Day, in a charity gala dinner for the benefit of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) at the Higuerón Hotel, as part of the ‘Todos Contra el Cáncer’ (Everyone against Cancer) initiative.

The dinner raised funds to help AECC centres in Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Mijas and Torremolinos and help to promote a collective movement that unites people, companies and institutions for a common cause: to exceed the 70 per cent cancer survival rate by 2030.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Spain, with a rate of 25 per cent.

Worldwide, cancer continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Projections for 2040 indicate that some 30 million people could be affected, an increase of 54 per cent. That is why it is essential to persist with awareness campaigns and to support research against this disease.

This Gala Dinner therefore marks a before and after for the Spanish Association Against Cancer and the province of Malaga, beginning a new stage of collaboration between branches with the aim of being more effective in seeking resources that will be invested in patient care and research.

Participation in solidarity initiatives such as this dinner not only raises funds for the cause, but also reflects the continuous progress in the fight against the disease.

IN 1954 on the night of February 2 and 3, it snowed in Malaga, something that had not happened since 1885.

2024 has begun with the warmest January since records began in 1880, so it is hard to imagine snow in Malaga City. But it did 70 years ago. January 1954 ended with the arrival of a cold blast from the east that froze the country. On the afternoon of February 2 the first snowfalls arrived in many areas of Andalucia including Huelva, Sevilla and Cadiz, which were also the last snowfalls in those cities in living memory.

In the city of Malaga it was not until almost midnight on February 2 to 3 that the first flakes fell. As most of the snow fell in the early hours of the morning and set in the early hours of the morning, it was at dawn on February 3, 1954 that the people of Malaga became aware of the phenomenon, seeing the city covered in snow. On that freezing day the temperature reached a minimum of six degrees below zero.

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Biggest snowfall But it did not only snow in the capital. The white blanket covered the whole of the Costa del Sol; in Marbella, Torremolinos and Estepona the storm was intense. And, in the interior of the Guardalhor-

ce Valley, such as in Coin, Alora, the accumulated snow reached almost a metre in height.

The greatest damage was to crops: the citrus, almond and vegetable harvests were lost that year.

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10 8 - 14 February 2024

AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME: The students were able to learn new skills.

A day in the life Brian Bamford

WHAT is the day-to-day life of an ambassador like? This is what the 15 winners of the second edition of the British Embassy’s ‘Ambassador for a Day’ programme have been able to find out. The students, aged between 16 and 18 and from all over Spain, have had the opportunity to talk to ambassadors and diplomats from different countries stationed in Madrid and learn the skills needed to dedicate themselves to diplomacy.

Among the winners is 17-year-old student Lara Villalba from Malaga, after her text explaining how she would promote peace in today’s world was shortlisted from among 200 entries.

“With initiatives such as ‘Ambassador for

a day’, we want young women to get to know the diplomatic world from the inside and see that it is within their reach. Therefore, I hope that the 15 winners from all over Spain who have visited us have learned and enjoyed all the activities,” said the Minister Counsellor of the British Embassy, Sarah Cowley.

Lara Villalba said that it has been an, “extremely interesting and enriching” experience. “The programme motivates me and gives me hope that in the future I will be able to dedicate myself to something related to international relations,” she said. “It has been a pleasure to share my experience with them and to observe the enthusiasm with which they face their future. It reminded me of when I started my career,” said Sarah Cowley.

• Local News •

euroweeklynews.com

LEZ mobile app Photo: Torremolinos Town Hall and Flickr CC / David Stewart

Kevin Fraser Park

ON the issue of Low Emission Zones there is plenty of confusion, there are people who do not know which area of their municipality will be Low Emission, if they access it by mistake will they be fined, if they pass through it to go to work is that a problem?

That is why Torremolinos has developed an app to put an end to all these doubts.

The mobile app ‘Torremolinos Despega’ includes among its many services a new section dedicated to the Low Emission Zone where those who access it will find detailed information, an information leaflet, a map of the LEZ, a link to the citizen survey on the LEZ and the option to check the environmental label of a vehicle.

Those who already have the ‘Torremolinos Despega’ app on their devices

An app will put an end to the confusion.

and still do not see the Low Emission Zone section should update the app so that it appears, the town hall said.

The app can be downloaded via iOS or Android, depending on the device, and has many other sections such as municipal information, notices, news, culture, sport, education, tourist information, citizen par-

ticipation activities, public services to facilitate the payment of taxes or access to grants, among others.

The aim is to improve the contact and relationship between citizens and the town council, as a complement to all the information and services offered on the municipal website www.torremoli nos.es.

8 - 14 February 2024

11

12 8 - 14 February 2024

• Local News •

euroweeklynews.com

AFA MIJAS has launched ‘La Mirada del recuerdo’ (The Glance of Remembrance), the name of a project launched by the Mijas Association of Relatives with Alzheimer’s Disease (AFA Mijas), funded by the

Andalucian Regional Government, which aims to raise awareness of unwanted loneliness and encourage volunteering to fight it.

According to the social worker of their day centre, Lucia Cordero, “this cam-

paign has arisen because the State Observatory of Unwanted Loneliness reported that 90 per cent of the population thinks that loneliness can be a problem that we can have at any time of our lives and about 15 per cent of the population suffers from it.”

But what is unwanted loneliness? As the director of the AFA Mijas day centre, Mari Carmen López, explained, “the real definition of unwanted loneliness is that negative feeling a person experiences when they perceive that the number of social relationships is not what they would like or that, even if they do have these social relationships, they do not provide the emotional support they need.”

The project will be developed in three phases: the first is recruitment; the second, training of volunteers; and the third, action. All you need to do is contact the association by telephone on 952 590 810 or email afami jas@alzheimerdemalaga.

Photo: Benalmadena Town Hall

Glance of Remembrance

WALKING ROUTES: The maps show a series of distances, divided into colours.

Metrominuto Brian Bamford

BENALMADENA councillor for Health, Áurea Peralta, accompanied by the organiser of Metrominuto, Jorge Quesada, presented a pioneering initiative that is giving great results in towns and that is already active on the council website: www.benalmadena.es with a map that runs through the heart of Arroyo de la Miel detailing all of its possible walking routes.

Peralta said that this is, “aimed at promoting better health and the implementation of healthy lifestyle habits with the primary objective of promoting mobility on foot, with a plan similar to that of a metro map.

“This route will encourage residents to lead

a healthier life as the Health Department wants to promote walking for the many benefits it brings,” added the councillor.

Quesada said that these maps are in tended to raise public awareness of the journeys that can be made on foot so that, “CO2 emissions are reduced in the centre of areas such as Arroyo de la Miel.”

The map shows a series of distances, divided into colours, with routes for shopping, going to the Casa de la Cultura or the school, the train station or the sports centre, which will help people to find their way around the town on a daily basis, routes where the maximum distance is 15 minutes and the shortest is one minute, all on foot.

• Local News • PHOTO CREDIT: Business 1st, facebook

euroweeklynews.com

CHARITY GOLF DAY: A thank you to everyone who attended the event.

Business first THE Business 1ST annual Charity Golf Day has been declared a success. The event took place at La Cala Golf in aid of Debra charity.

DEBRA is a national charity and patient support organisation for people living with the rare, extremely painful, genetic skin blistering condition, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) also known as ‘Butterfly Skin’. EB causes the skin to become very fragile and tear or blister at the slightest touch.

Business 1st extends grateful thanks to everyone that attended the event from local players here on the Costa del Sol, the team that flew in especially from Ireland, and to the amazing spon-

sors without whom this event would have not been possible.

Well done to all the winners with a special shout out to Andrew Partridge proud Business 1st member, who not only came 1st in his category but all his hard work along with Karen Harding’s outstanding contribution and, of course, to Melissa Nicol from Just Marbella Golf for helping with the organisation; not forgetting the welcomed contribution from Lush Blush Rosé who supplied all welcome drinks for everyone as well as raffle prizes and winners’ prizes too!! Business 1st advises that they already have confirmed sign ups for next year.

8 - 14 February 2024

13

• News •

euroweeklynews.com

Paperless visa

Linda Hall

France is taking a digital leap.

during this sporting extravaganza, French authorities plan to roll out around 70,000 digital visas.

However, with limited availability, not everyone will make the cut.

This groundbreaking move by France not only sets the stage for a more streamlined visa process

EIGHTY-THREE bottles of rare wine worth €1.5 million have disappeared from the famous La Tour d’Argent restaurant in Paris.

Police were called in after a sommelier from the Michelin-starred restaurant discovered the bottles were missing during a recent inventory, suggesting they must have been taken at some time since 2020, the last time they were checked.

The restaurant on the banks of the Seine with its impressive views of Notre Dame and a documented history dating back to 1582 is as famed for its wines as well as its food.

Some of the missing 83 bottles came from the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti estate in Burgundy which produces some of the world’s most expensive wines, with single bottles selling for five-figure sums.

A bottle of 1945 Romanée-Conti was sold for €482,000 in 2018, making it the most expensive bottle ever sold.

A spokeswoman for La Tour d’Argent declined to comment on the theft but according to reports in the French media, investigators have found no signs of a forced entry.

Sources close to the case revealed that police suspect that the robbery could have been carried out between the spring of 2022 and the autumn of 2023 when

but also underscores the nation’s commitment to embracing the digital era.

Eligibility for the French Digital Schengen visa is split into two categories for non-EU citizens.

The first category is for members of the Olympic and Paralympic Family: This includes a diverse range of individuals, from members of the International Olympic Committee to athletes, coaches, and even accredited journalists.

The second category covers other official guests invited by the Olympic or Paralympic Committee (OCOG).

Wine heist Photo credit : CC/ Riggwelter at wts wikivoyage

FRANCE is taking the lead in a digital revolution, pioneering Digital Schengen visas among the European Union members.

This progressive step is in anticipation of a complete digital makeover of Schengen visa processes, a monumental shift expected to be fully realised by 2026.

This digital leap coincides with France gearing up to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, scheduled from July 26 to August 11 and August 28 to September 8, respectively.

In preparation for the global influx of visitors

Image: AlpakaVideo / Shutterstock.com

14 8 - 14 February 2024

LEGENDARY RESTAURANT: La Tour d’Argent in Paris.

La Tour d’Argent was closed for renovations.

With a cellar whose 300,000 bottles are worth an estimated €27.8 million, La Tour d’Argent has what is believed to be the largest restaurant wine store in Paris.

In 2010, the restaurant’s owner Andre Terrail auctioned off 18,000 bottles of wine and spirits, fetching €1.5 million.

A wine expert quoted by the BBC pointed out that all of the missing bottles were numbered and it would be difficult for a thief to sell them without drawing unwelcome attention.

16 8 - 14 February 2024

• News •

A RECENT survey posed

by Euro Weekly News asked expatriates: ‘If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself before you moved to Spain?’

Living abroad brings a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Expatriates in Spain share what they wish they’d known before embarking on their new life under the Spanish sun, offering a wealth of wisdom and hindsight.

Yvonne commented: “Do your homework, make an effort to learn some Spanish and rent first till you know where you want to be.” “Rent before you buy,” was good advice.

“Learn the language, integrate,” said Emily. Steve advised: “Learn the language before you move and be patient or you will implode.”

A common regret is not maintaining a property back home. Having a base can significantly reduce stress and financial burden during visits or a final move back.

Credit: Jacob Lund/shutterstock.com

Expats - If only I’d known. . .

LIVING ABROAD: Enjoy your new life under the Spanish sun.

Joan advised: “In hindsight I wish we had kept a small flat in the UK. It would have made visits home much easier.”

Navigating Spain’s bureaucracy can be challenging. Expats should seek reliable legal advice. Understanding these aspects thoroughly can prevent future hardships.

Michelle offered some strong advice to couples: “If you are not married to your partner, God help you if either one of you die. You will be crucified by Spanish inhe-

ritance tax and indifference to your grief and situation.”

Liane and Mike gave some encouraging comments: “It’s always difficult moving and you do look back with rose-tinted glasses when things are difficult or frustrating.

Take photos as you go along, especially if you are doing a build/refurb so you can see how far you have come.”

Let’s leave the final word to Susana: “Never looked back, am a Spanish national now, have lived here 49 happy years.”

euroweeklynews.com

Changes to tax for 2024 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN tells us that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. The Spanish government has released new information on changes to the latter. Not even governments can change the former.

Accountant Armando Benito of CostaGestion updates us on some of the changes which will take effect this year.

The amount earned from work which obligates the worker to make an annual tax declaration is now €15,000. If you earn less than this, you can choose to make a return or not.

All self-employed workers will have to make a tax return of their net income regardless of how much or little their net income is. Also, the module system for tax liability will lose the 10 per cent reduction previously enjoyed.

Still with self-employed, new changes to VAT (IVA) regulations may work in their favour.

Workers who invoice less than €85,000 will no longer be obliged to add VAT to their invoices.

As this has still to be approved there is no date for the introduction. This is not an initiative proposed by the Spanish Treasury, but rather a European decision that must be complied with

by the EU Member States.

Electric cars: vehicles purchased between June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2024, will bring tax relief to the purchasers, 15 per cent of the purchase price of the vehicle can be claimed in tax relief to a maximum of €3,000.

There will also be tax relief on the cost of installing a charging point with 15 per cent of the cost receiving tax relief to a maximum of €4,000.

People who sell things online are now being targeted.

From next year digital platforms will have to report to the Tax Agency on the sales operations that professionals or individuals make through them, for example, on Amazon, Wallapop, or Vinted, when sales exceed 30 per year or €2,000 in value. Tax on income generated will be calculated by the authorities.

As from February 1, all self-employed workers with employees and small businesses in the construction sector will have to contribute to a pension plan for their employees. According to some studies, it will increase spending by about €20 per month per worker.

Information provided by CostaGestion.com and correct as of January 31, 2024.

18 8 - 14 February 2024

• European Press •

IRELAND

EUROPRESS

IRISH government ministers including the Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, will visit 86 cities in 48 countries on St Patrick’s Day, March 17. Karadkar is to visit the White House in Washington DC as well as Boston, while deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin will go to Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto in Canada.

Pretty good WOMEN members of Ireland’s Armed Forces can now wear nail varnish and fake tan with six different hairstyles to choose from under rules that came into effect on February 1. “We are making efforts to be as progressive as possible while keeping health and safety and operational effectiveness in mind,” Defence sources said.

NORWAY

SWEDEN

Photo credit: H&M

Big day

euroweeklynews.com

H&M exit HELENA HELMERSSON (51), H&M’s chief executive since 2019, resigned on January 31 ‘with immediate effect’as the fashion chain’s sales fell while failing to keep ahead of rivals like Zara.

Helmersson’s replacement is Daniel Erver, who has worked at H&M for 18 years, mainly as head of the H&M brand.

Role reversal FORMER intelligence chief Hans-Georg Maassen is under investigation as a suspected extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), which he once led. He resigned from the BfV in 2018, accused of being over-lenient towards right-wing extremists, and now vociferously opposes immigration.

Pirate raid POLICE seized 50,000 bitcoins worth almost €2 billion on January 30 and arrested two men aged 40 and 37 in the biggest haul of this kind yet made in Germany. They are believed to have acquired the cryptocurrency from the profits they made by exploiting copyrighted works on a pirate website they ran until 2013.

DANIEL ERVER: New chief executive of Sweden-based H&M chain.

ITALY

GERMANY

FRANCE

DENMARK

Oil-rich

On the game

Smaller crowd

Give and take

NORWAY’S sovereign wealth fund reported record 2023 profits of $213 billion (€917.1 billion) based on the country’s income from oil and returns on technology stocks. The fund, created in the 1990s to invest revenues from the country’s oil sector, now invests in more than 8,500 companies in 70 countries worldwide.

CECILIE HOLLBERG, director of Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia art museum, apologised after claiming that mass tourism had turned the city into “a prostitute” where it was impossible to find normal shops.

Mayor Dario Nardella argued in return that the city deserved respect and tourism “employs thousands of people.”

INTERIOR minister Gerald Darmanin revealed that approximately 300,000 spectators will be able to watch the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics from the banks of the River Seine on July 26. This is half the originally-estimated number, although Darmanin failed to explain why this had been reduced.

DENMARK’S autonomous region of Greenland absorbs more methane than it produces, a University of Copenhagen study has found. Since 2000, Greenland’s dry, icefree areas consumed at least 65,000 tons of the greenhouse gas annually compared with wet zones which produced 9,000 tons, according to the researchers.

Wild West

Tax break

Not so tough

Don’t listen

RESEARCH by fact-checking website Snopes confirmed in January 2024 that the use of ‘Texas’ as Norwegian slang for ‘wild’ or ‘crazy’ is not an urban myth. After finding Texas used as an adjective in 50 publications in 2023, Snopes linked the word to Norway’s early taste for cowboy movies and Western thrillers.

MISTERBIANCO (Sicily) promised a €200 discount on Italy’s rubbish collection tax, TARI, to any resident who adopts a dog from one of the local shelters. This would boost adoptions, reduce the costs of sheltering strays and reward families who adopted by reducing local taxes, said Misterbianco mayor Mario Corsaro.

FRANCE’S new Immigration Law was condemned by critics as “restrictive and racist” but hailed as an “ideological victory” by the far-right’s Marine Le Pen. Asylum expert Smain Laacher said to the Euractiv news website that France’s law was no tougher than other European countries but was “part of a general trend.”

MEMBERS of the public were advised to ignore English-language phone calls where a robot voice claiming to be the Danish police accused them of committing a crime before giving the option to leave a message. The calls were a ruse to trick people into handing over personal information, the Economic Crime Unit (NSK) said.

BELGIUM

NETHERLANDS

FINLAND

PORTUGAL

Bird-watching

Keep it

Wipe clean

Shower fresh

HOUSE sparrows were seen more than any other birds in Flanders as 46,000 people joined the Great Bird Counting Weekend on January 27 and 28. Great tits were ranked second, followed by jackdaws (third) and wood pigeons (fourth) while blackbirds, ranked seventh, were beginning to reappear in greater numbers.

ROTTERDAM mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb’s recent Latin America visit included a stopover in Colombia to discuss the cocaine shipments reaching Europe via Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg. Accompanied by his Antwerp and Hamburg counterparts, Aboutaleb met Bogata mayor Carlos Fernando Galan to debate the problem.

UNIVERSITY OF JYVAKYLA researchers are developing surfaces that can halt the spread of viruses, including different types of coronavirus. An ingredient found in pine resin ‘significantly’ reduced the infectivity of coronaviruses on plastic surfaces, they found, suggesting a practical solution for public spaces and medical centres.

A SURVEY carried out for the OCU consumers’ association found that between 85 and 94 per cent of Portugal’s population showered once a day, making them the second-cleanest in Europe. Italy headed the list with 95 per cent taking a daily shower, compared with 65 per cent France, Germany, Norway and Russia.

Pared down

Sell-out

Vape swoop

Lithium fever

TWO unconnected importers faced prosecution for presenting incorrect paperwork and evading €6.6 million in customs duties on electric bicycles imported from China.

The e-bikes reached Belgium in separate parts, presumably to avoid the EU anti-dumping levies that would have been charged on entirely-assembled bicycles.

STING’s is the biggest international name on the list of 62 acts appearing at the 47th North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam on July 12-14, while the principal Dutch artist will be Anouk accompanied by the Metropole Orchestra. Season tickets for the entire weekend are already sold out, the organisers announced.

A ROUTINE inspection of a courier service depot by Finnish Customs officers uncovered 1,000 vapes remaining from a shipment of 1,600 ordered from China by a Lappeenranta man. He now faces a fine or even imprisonment, plus repayment of evaded taxes and illicit profits amounting to thousands of euros.

UK-BASED Savannah Resources intend to open western Europe’s biggest opencast lithium mine in Covas do Barroso, adjoining the Peneda-Geres National Park in northern Portugal. Residents continue to oppose the plan but fear that the government will compulsorily purchase their land unless agreement can be reached.

FINANCE BUSINESS EXTRA Fiery words

THE global chief executive of Tata Steel TV Narendran defended the Indian company’s decision to cut thousands of jobs at Port Talbot by substituting two blast furnaces with an electric arc furnace.

Shareholders had “grown weary” of spending “billions of pounds” on the Welsh steelworks , Narendran said.

Ready to go

TELEFONICA has received 2,118 applications for its voluntary redundancy plan, covering 62 per cent of planned job cuts for the telecoms’ three Spanish subsidiaries. Union sources revealed that 1,825 applications had come from Telefonica, 244 from Telefonica Moviles and 49 from Telefonica Soluciones.

Vinyl revival

PARENT company Sunrise Records & Entertainment profits reported that HMV profits soared from £2 million (€2.34 million) to £5.3 million (€6.2 million) over the year ending May 2023.

A growing interest in vinyl records boosted sales which jumped 18 per cent from £151 million (€177.1 million) to £178 million (€208.8).

Imagine that

IMAGINA ENERGIA, which specialises in solar power installations, reported sales topping €100 million in 2023 following its merger with Quantica Renovables.

The group, which intends to spend €1.5 billion over the next 10 years, now has more than 23,000 clients, who produce more than 67 megawatts of electricity.

More trouble

TELEGRAPH co-owner Alistair Barclay (34) faces bankruptcy after reportedly defaulting on a £946,754 million (€1.1 million) loan from Investec, whose clients must have a net wealth of at least £3 million (€2.5 million).

20

euroweeklynews.com • 8 - 14 February 2024

STAT OF WEEK

€831.4m

in earnings for Real Madrid FC during the 2022-2023 season, a 17 per cent increase that put it ahead of all other top earning worldwide teams for the 13th time.

HSBC failed customers

HSBC must pay a £57.4 million (€67.2 million) fine for ‘serious failings’ in protecting customer deposits.

The London-based bank excluded billions of pounds of customer deposits eligible for the UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) said.

Under this scheme, deposits are protected up to £85,000 (€99,467) but the PRA, which safeguards the Bank of England’s financial stability, detected massive HSBC exclusions between 2015 and 2022.

Banks must have sys-

Photo credit: CC/Tintazul

HSBC: The bank is headquartered in Canary Wharf, London.

tems and controls in place to ensure that financial information is accurately recorded should the FSCS need to compensate customers if a bank were to collapse.

The PRA inspection reEWNCDS0 vealed that an HSBC subsidiary, HSBC Bank, had incorrectly flagged 99 per cent of eligible deposits

Outlook fair THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the eurozone economies to grow overall by just 0.9 per cent in 2024.

Although more than 2023’s 0.5 per cent growth, this is still three-10ths of a percentage point below the IMF’s October 1.2 per cent growth forecast for 2024.

The Washington-headquartered IMF also reduced its forecast for Spain, whose economy it expects to grow by 1.5 per cent, two-10ths below its original

as ineligible for an FSCS payout. It also provided insufficient proof that its systems met certain requirements of the deposit protection rules, the financial stability watchdog said.

The £57.4 million HSBC fine indicated the “seriousness” of its failings, the PRA said, as it was the

prediction.

This is better than the 0.5 per cent growth foreseen for Germany, or Italy (0.7 per cent), Netherlands (0.7 per cent) or France (1 per cent) but below the 2 per cent that the Spanish government announced for 2024.

The IMF’s 2.1 per cent growth for Spain in 2025 remained unchanged.

The Fund’s chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said inflation should ease worldwide from 6.8 per cent in 2023 to 5.8 per cent this year,

second-largest fine ever imposed by the Bank of England, outstripped only by the PRA’s £87 million (€101.8 million) sanction slapped on Credit Suisse in 2023.

The regulator nevertheless added that it did not consider the bank’s breaches to be “deliberate or reckless.”

As HSCB had cooperated throughout the investigation, the fine was reduced, the PRA said, revealing that it would otherwise have faced paying a £96.5 million (€112.9 million) penalty.

HSBC later issued a statement, declaring it was pleased to have resolved the “historic matter.”

Photo credit: IMF/Cory Hancock

PIERRE-OLIVIER GOURINCHAS: IMF’s chief economist announced 2024 predictions.

before falling to 4.4 per cent in 2025.

In the most advanced economies, the agency expects inflation to drop in 2024 to 2.6 per cent and to the 2 per cent that the Federal Reserve and some central banks have set as their 2025 target.

New approach

Suitor rejected

Crypto hiring

BRADFORD-BASED Morrisons plans to invite customers to attend board meetings and hold monthly round tables for shoppers.

The supermarket chain has fought intense competition from rivals while struggling to service heavy debts following its £7 billion (€8.2 billion) takeover by the US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2021.

The retailer now hopes to “start a new chapter” as Rami Raitieh, who took over from David Potts as chief executive in November 2023, revealed “new plans” which will be announced this coming March.

UK-OWNED Vodafone turned down a €10.5 billion merger offer from Iliad Group, owned

by French billionaire Xavier Niel.

Iliad Group proposed combining their Italian operations in December 2023, pointing out that this would benefit both companies in an ever-more competitive market.

Niel then enhanced the deal with an additional €100 million in cash while relinquishing a call option that would eventually have given it further control over the joint venture.

Vodafone rejected the sweetened offer, resulting in a 4 per cent dip in its share price and is now reported to be ‘considering’ other Italian companies. These include the mobile and broadband provider Fastweb, owned by Swisscom.

Meanwhile, Vodafone chief executive Margherita Della Valle, intends to reduce global operations in an effort to pay off debts and return to growth.

BRITAIN’S former Chancellor, George Osborne, has been hired by US cryptocurrency exchange operator, Coinbase.

“There is a huge amount of exciting innovation in finance right now,” Osborne was quoted as saying in the UK media.

The appointment coincides with Coinbase’s legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which accuses it of operating as an intermediary on crypto transactions “while evading disclosure requirements protecting investors.”

The San Francisco-based company revealed on January 31 it had engaged Osborne on the strength of his “insights and experiences.”

Records broken SANTANDER BANK broke its 2022 €9.6 billion profit record by earning €11.07 billion in 2023.

Assisted by the European Central Bank’s constantly rising interest rates, the bank headed by Ana Botin had reached double-figure profits for the first time, it announced on January 31. Botin also predicted “if 2023 was good, 2024 would be even better.” BBVA has also broken its previous record with earnings that increased by 26 per cent in 2023 to reach €8.02 billion.

The bank announced a “significant increase of pay-out with a relevant cash dividend and a new share buy-back programme” while allocating more than €4 billion to shareholders.

Tax go-ahead THE Spanish government approved a 4.9 per cent airport tax increase at a Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday, January 30.

The new rate coming into force on March 1 works out at approximately 40 cents per passenger, state-owned airports operator Aena announced. The increase, which requires validation from the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC), was based on the 3.5 per cent inflation rate with additional adjustments bringing it up to 4.09 per cent.

Transport and Sustainable Mobility minister Oscar Puente defended the rise, maintaining that Spain had the lowest airport taxes in Europe “as well as the best airports.”

Stout favourite DIAGEO profits fell 11 per cent during the last half of 2023, with the multinational’s overall sales dropping by 1.4 per cent.

Nevertheless, Guinness is becoming popular amongst younger women thanks to endorsement for the drink from celebrities like Kim Kardashian, and its 210 calories compared with 226 for pale ale or 226 for a large glass of wine.

Debra Crew, chief executive at Diageo, which owns Guinness, said 24 per cent more younger women were drinking the stout in the UK despite the drink’s “intimidating” rugby player image.

22 EWN 8 - 14 February 2024

euroweeklynews.com II FINANCE

LONDON - FTSE 100

Closing Prices 5 February

Company

Price(p)

Change(p)

% Chg.

Net

3I Group.....................................2.342,00............ -137,00...........-5,53%............1,25M Admiral Group.............................2.508,0................ -7,0..............-0,28%.......... 106,66K Airtel Africa................................. 111,80................ -0,40.............-0,36%............2,38M Anglo American...........................1.869,8............... -26,8.............-1,41%............1,71M Antofagasta................................1.749,50.............+14,50........... +0,84%......... 765,10K Ashtead Group............................5.248,0...............+46,0............ +0,88%......... 618,17K Associated British Foods.............2.277,0............... -64,0.............-2,73%............1,15M AstraZeneca...............................10.394,0............. -106,0............-1,01%............1,36M Auto Trader Group Plc................ 731,20................+2,40............ +0,33%...........2,36M Aviva........................................... 424,85................ -7,45.............-1,72%............1,69M B&M European Value Retail SA... 515,40................ -3,20.............-0,62%.......... 664,15K BAE Systems..............................1.173,00.............. -4,00.............-0,34%............1,96M Barclays...................................... 145,72................ -2,70.............-1,82%...........13,97M Barratt Developments................. 536,60................ -3,80.............-0,70%.......... 686,61K Beazley........................................ 550,50................+6,00............ +1,10%......... 596,55K Berkeley......................................4.792,2................ -8,8..............-0,18%........... 44,36K BP............................................... 465,30................+2,85............ +0,62%..........24,93M British American Tobacco...........2.337,5................ -1,0..............-0,04%............1,24M BT Group.................................... 109,80................ -2,40.............-2,14%...........14,96M Bunzl...........................................3.194,0............... -21,0.............-0,65%........... 83,94K Burberry Group...........................1.283,2............... -24,8.............-1,90%.......... 318,86K Centrica....................................... 136,30................ -2,15.............-1,55%...........12,32M Coca Cola HBC AG......................2.324,0................ -4,0..............-0,17%.......... 151,84K Compass....................................2.148,00............. -30,00............-1,38%............2,10M ConvaTec Group......................... 238,80................ -2,20.............-0,91%.......... 818,03K Croda Intl....................................4.948,0..............+143,0........... +2,98%......... 215,41K DCC.............................................5.802,0...............+46,0............ +0,80%......... 112,97K Diageo.........................................2.884,0...............+23,5............ +0,82%...........1,62M Diploma.....................................3.358,00.............+98,00........... +3,01%......... 245,34K DS Smith.................................... 278,46................ -4,10.............-1,45%............1,60M Endeavour Mining......................1.394,00............. -18,00............-1,27%.......... 617,82K Entain.......................................... 980,60...............+12,40........... +1,28%...........1,67M Experian......................................3.323,0...............+27,0............ +0,82%......... 455,63K F&C Invest.................................. 967,70................ -6,30.............-0,65%.......... 240,12K Flutter Entertainment..................16.440,0.............+155,0........... +0,95%......... 330,51K Frasers........................................ 800,00............... -10,00............-1,24%.......... 356,98K Fresnillo...................................... 517,20............... -14,40............-2,71%.......... 454,88K Glencore...................................... 424,70................+4,25............ +1,01%..........11,78M GSK plc......................................1.594,80.............+26,80........... +1,71%..........11,76M HALEON...................................... 324,50................+3,00............ +0,93%...........9,16M Halma..........................................2.183,0............... -10,0.............-0,46%.......... 267,74K Hikma Pharma...........................1.908,50............. -23,00............-1,19%........... 78,26K Howden Joinery.......................... 798,00................ -4,80.............-0,60%.......... 528,83K HSBC.......................................... 610,80................ -7,40.............-1,20%............9,28M IAG.............................................. 146,30................ -1,75.............-1,18%............3,24M IMI PLC......................................1.713,00.............+28,00........... +1,66%......... 149,17K Imperial Brands..........................1.879,81............. -18,50............-0,97%.......... 544,12K Informa....................................... 775,60................ -1,80.............-0,23%............3,22M InterContinental..........................7.452,0............... -48,0.............-0,64%.......... 142,86K

Company

Price(p)

Change(p)

% Chg.

Net

Intermediate Capital...................1.794,50..............+8,50............ +0,48%......... 474,27K Intertek........................................4.483,0............... -10,0.............-0,22%........... 52,65K J Sainsbury................................. 268,60................ -1,60.............-0,59%............1,44M JD Sports Fashion....................... 115,00................ -2,05.............-1,75%............3,50M Kingfisher.................................... 217,40................ -3,00.............-1,36%.......... 794,22K Land Securities........................... 657,00............... -12,60............-1,88%.......... 636,03K Legal & General.......................... 251,12................ -3,88.............-1,52%............4,42M Lloyds Banking............................ 42,41................. -0,13.............-0,31%...........77,99M London Stock Exchange..............8.908,0............... -34,0.............-0,38%.......... 518,14K M&G........................................... 220,30................ -3,80.............-1,70%............2,21M Marks & Spencer........................ 242,60................ -4,70.............-1,90%............2,23M Melrose Industries...................... 580,20............... -10,60............-1,79%............1,01M Mondi.........................................1.404,00............. -10,00............-0,71%.......... 913,72K National Grid..............................1.048,50.............. -6,50.............-0,62%............2,42M NatWest Group........................... 220,30................ -4,90.............-2,18%............8,75M Next............................................8.304,0.............. -164,0............-1,94%.......... 252,04K Ocado.......................................... 520,40............... -26,20............-4,79%............1,17M Pearson....................................... 967,40................ -4,20.............-0,43%.......... 332,58K Pershing Square........................3.778,00.............. -2,00.............-0,05%........... 98,41K Phoenix....................................... 503,00................ -2,40.............-0,47%............3,79M Prudential.................................... 804,80............... -13,80............-1,69%............4,75M Reckitt Benckiser........................5.678,0............... -30,0.............-0,53%.......... 360,13K Relx............................................3.287,00.............+25,00........... +0,77%...........2,18M Rentokil....................................... 406,30................ -2,00.............-0,49%............8,73M Rightmove.................................. 568,00................+7,80............ +1,39%...........2,06M Rio Tinto PLC..............................5.472,0............... -31,0.............-0,56%............2,24M Rolls-Royce Holdings................. 300,20................ -1,00.............-0,33%............4,90M RS PLC....................................... 776,40................ -9,20.............-1,17%.......... 625,99K Sage...........................................1.178,00...............0,00.............. 0,00%............1,27M Schroders.................................... 403,3.................. -2,9..............-0,71%.......... 363,87K Scottish Mortgage....................... 762,80............... -11,00............-1,42%.......... 809,35K Segro.......................................... 866,60............... -15,20............-1,72%.......... 676,66K Severn Trent...............................2.597,0................ -1,0..............-0,04%.......... 884,41K Shell............................................2.508,0...............+61,0............ +2,49%...........9,72M Smith & Nephew........................1.097,00............. -13,50............-1,22%.......... 641,15K Smiths Group.............................1.629,50..............+7,00............ +0,43%......... 278,77K Smurfit Kappa.............................2.882,0............... -66,0.............-2,24%.......... 480,51K Spirax-Sarco Engineering..........10.030,0..............+25,0............ +0,25%.......... 55,19K SSE............................................1.667,00............. -18,00............-1,07%............4,52M St. James’s Place........................ 645,60................ -8,60.............-1,31%.......... 424,40K Standard Chartered..................... 594,20................ -4,60.............-0,77%............7,63M Taylor Wimpey............................ 146,68................ -1,52.............-1,03%............5,90M Tesco.......................................... 281,40................ -5,20.............-1,81%...........11,63M Unilever.......................................3.841,5................ -5,5..............-0,14%............2,52M Unite..........................................1.012,00.............. -5,00.............-0,49%.......... 277,77K United Utilities............................1.065,50.............. -1,00.............-0,09%............1,76M Vodafone Group PLC.................. 67,400...............+0,080........... +0,12%..........22,78M Weir Group................................1.817,50.............. -2,00.............-0,11%.......... 122,99K Whitbread...................................3.554,0............... -42,0.............-1,17%.......... 333,22K WPP............................................ 768,80................ -2,60.............-0,34%.......... 638,97K

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on previous page 0.85363

1.16996

Units per € US dollar (USD)...................................1.0828 Japan yen (JPY)...................................158.41 Switzerland franc (CHF).......................0.9329 Denmark kroner (DKK)........................7.4526 Norway kroner (NOK)..........................11.331 currenciesdirect.com/marbella • Tel: +34 952 906 581 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

DOW JONES

Closing Prices 5 February

Company

Price(p)

Change(p)

% Chg.

Net

3M............................................... 94,68.................+0,33............ +0,35%......... 867,98K American Express....................... 200,26................ -0,47.............-0,24%.......... 763,43K Amgen........................................ 317,36................+3,10............ +0,99%......... 457,78K Apple........................................... 185,35................+0,95............ +0,52%..........15,85M Boeing......................................... 208,07................ -2,97.............-1,41%............4,38M Caterpillar.................................... 302,49................+2,18............ +0,73%......... 623,91K Chevron...................................... 147,69................+0,26............ +0,18%...........1,76M Cisco............................................ 50,01................. -0,17.............-0,35%............4,61M Coca-Cola..................................... 60,24.................+0,76............ +1,27%...........2,75M Dow............................................. 52,88................. -0,71.............-1,33%........... 1.000K Goldman Sachs........................... 380,59................ -3,42.............-0,89%.......... 644,35K Home Depot................................ 353,20................+0,24............ +0,07%......... 410,70K Honeywell................................... 194,63................ -7,62.............-3,77%............3,44M IBM............................................. 184,70................+1,04............ +0,57%...........1,14M Intel.............................................. 42,51................. -0,57.............-1,32%...........10,97M J&J............................................. 158,04................ -0,85.............-0,54%............1,33M JPMorgan................................... 171,84................ -2,52.............-1,45%............2,52M McDonald’s................................. 294,11................+1,39............ +0,47%......... 521,96K Merck&Co................................... 124,03................+3,25............ +2,69%...........3,80M Microsoft.................................... 403,47................+5,89............ +1,48%..........12,65M Nike............................................. 101,11................ -0,42.............-0,42%............2,17M Procter&Gamble......................... 158,42................+1,28............ +0,81%...........1,28M Salesforce Inc............................. 281,87................+0,78............ +0,28%......... 800,63K The Travelers.............................. 209,53................ -1,82.............-0,86%.......... 221,76K UnitedHealth............................... 506,97................ -4,77.............-0,93%.......... 899,13K Verizon......................................... 42,37.................+0,01............ +0,04%...........6,94M Visa A.......................................... 275,05................+1,79............ +0,66%...........1,44M Walgreens Boots.......................... 22,54................. -0,04.............-0,16%............4,20M Walmart...................................... 166,88................+1,63............ +0,99%...........1,69M M - Million Dollars

NASDAQ

Closing Prices 5 February

Company

Change Net / %

Volume

Most Advanced Cimpress plc....................................................+24.93%........................ 222,531 Corteva, Inc......................................................+16.90%.........................5.081M Nextracker Inc..................................................+17.32%.........................9.126M Allegro MicroSystems, Inc................................+9.41%..........................2.565M Ferrari N.V.........................................................+9.88%......................... 766,043 Etsy, Inc............................................................+9.65%..........................6.533M Lancaster Colony Corporation...........................+8.94%......................... 100,895 Credit Acceptance Corporation..........................+8.08%.......................... 89,253 UGI Corporation................................................+8.85%..........................1.653M Arvinas, Inc.......................................................+7.61%......................... 307,831 M - Million Dollars

Most Declined New York Community Bancorp, Inc................. -14.61%........................42.959M C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc......................... -11.93%..........................2.62M Western Alliance Bancorporation..................... -13.16%..........................2.44M CONMED Corporation...................................... -11.37%.........................1.044M Valley National Bancorp................................... -11.64%.........................4.628M Markel Group Inc............................................. -10.24%........................ 105,319 Aflac Incorporated............................................ -10.27%.........................2.501M Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc....................... -10.21%........................ 465,484 Zions Bancorporation, National Association...... -9.71%...........................2.98M Banc of California, Inc....................................... -8.42%..........................1.315M Meritage Homes Corporation............................ -7.82%......................... 401,161 M - Million Dollars

FINANCE II euroweeklynews.com Clean green

THE Spanish bought approximately 20,000 cars costing more than €60,000 each in 2023, 51 per cent more than in 2022 although the Agencia Tributaria tax authority took only an average €5,800. Tax is calculated on the amount of pollution they generate, which in the case of expensive electric vehicles is usually zero, insiders said.

BT profit

TELECOMS company BT made a pre-tax profit of £1.5 billion (€1.75 billion) in the nine months ending in December 2023, a 15 per cent increase on the same period in 2022 resulting from a 14 per cent price-rise for mobile and broadband clients. Revenue was up 3 per cent at £15.8 billion (€18.5 billion).

Breaking even JOHN LEWIS, which publishes its annual results on March 14, believes it is on the road to recovery.

Current chair Dame Sharon White announced in a video to staff on January 30 that the Partnership, which also owns Waitrose supermarkets, “would more than break even” in 2024.

Despite three consecutive years in the red, with a £234 million (€273.8 million) loss in 2023, White told em-

Photo credit: John Lews Partnership

BUSINESS EXTRA

8 - 14 February 2024

SHARON WHITE: Changes will put John Lewis on the right track, chair said.

Going shares SIXTY-SEVEN per cent of Iberdrola shareholders are choosing shares over a 2023 cash dividend via the company’s Flexible Remuneration system.

This gave them the option of receiving Iberdrola shares, receiving cash after selling all or some of the shares, or receiving all cash.

Under the system introduced in 2024, the group issued 73,021,000 new shares resul-

ting in a 1.15 per cent capital increase.

The shares could be sold from February 2 onwards, the company announced.

“The level of acceptance once more demonstrates shareholders’ confidence in Iberdrola, which in terms of capitalisation is Europe’s leading utility company and the second most-important globally,” Iberdola said in a communique sent to Spain’s National Stock Market Commission (CNMV).

ployees to prepare for “quite big changes and quite bold changes.”

These will inevitably entail job cuts, following an earlier announcement that John Lewis was considering reducing its staff of 76,000 by 10 per cent to 65,000. In a move to make redundancies more affordable, it is also slashing payoffs by half.

“There’s been an awful lot of change over the past year,” White admitted in her video. “But those efforts are starting to show themselves in our commercial performance, we are converting more of our sales into return to partners, and we will more than break even this year,” she said, “This is a great start as we build back to sustainable profit for the business,” she added, having said in September 2023 that this would not happen before the 2027-28 financial year.

EWN 23

New habits THE UK’S Channel 4 confirmed plans for its biggest-yet staff reduction involving 240 personnel as it struggles to adapt to changes in television viewing habits. The broadcaster also announced that it intends to sell its former Westminster headquarters in Horseferry Road for a hoped-for £90 million (€105.5 million) and will also look for smaller offices in central London.

Danone downer DANONE, France-based but founded in Spain in the 1920s, is closing its Barcelona factory, the second closure in less than two years. The household name, beset by ‘own-label’ supermarket competition, reported net results of €10.8 million in 2022, 36.8 per cent below 2021’s €17.1 million although sales of €768.9 million were 9.6 per cent up on 2021.

• Feature/News •

I couldn’t agree more LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT LET’S be absolutely clear. I find the conflict taking place between Israel and the Hamas organisation completely devastating and absolutely soul destroying. To see the suffering and destruction of men, women and particularly the children, all but breaks my heart and shatters the very essence of my existence among the spiritually immature population of our primordial planet.

The news I watch on TV is generally Al Jazeera, the channel has periodically been recommended as probably the most newsworthy and responsible network of all. (Frankly the likes of Kay Burley and her ilk leave me completely cold when I observe the egotism and self-gratification she and her producers epitomise in their presentation of the news.) I of course fervently crave the termination of the distressing and often positively overwhelming anguish of the war taking place in the mid-east. Unfortunately, in my opinion I’m afraid

this would ultimately be a tremendous error by the Israeli government. Hamas, without the full support of Iran and its allies, has no chance of final victory and will subsequently continue to wage war midst the Palestinian population until many more devastated civilian lives are shattered or lost.

If however a ceasefire is obtained too early and also includes the Israeli release of 30,000 detainees; of which a large number are undoubtedly Hamas devotees, the whole consortium will merely withdraw, regroup, re- arm and in two or three years’ time, probably with even more support and once again using civilians as protective shields, repeat the whole, almost indescribable horror yet again.

Personally I have no real answer to the utterly distressing scenes of suffering we are subjected to on a daily basis, but can only really see the complete annihilation of Hamas as a step in the right and possibly peaceful direction. I would be interested to hear the opinions of some of my readers. Any constructive ideas out there? Drop me a line; we’re all ears.

I was very moved to hear the opi-

nions of Brianna Gheys’ mother on TV last week. Her 16-year-old transgender treasure was brutally killed by two 15-year-old monsters, who were in my opinion quite rightly named, shamed and publically displayed on the British media. Part of her mother’s poignant, but often very constructive interview, contained the advice to those in power to completely restrict the use of ‘fully fledged’ mobile phones to those under 16. She suggested a children’s phone should be obtainable but not contain the vast areas of often indescribable and frequently unspeakable sites that should in no way be available to the young, inexperienced and totally undeveloped minds of our future adult population.

Frankly I couldn’t agree more. It has also been suggested that mobile phones should also be banned in schools.

Another piece of legislation that should as quickly as possible find its way into the law books approved by the politicians of Westminster’s portals. Keep that mail coming and whatever ya do.

Always 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.

euroweeklynews.com

Paczki Day PĄCZKI, (pronounced as ‘pohnch-kee’), are fried doughnuts, sprinkled with sugar, golden brown on both sides and with a lighter-coloured ring around their centre.

These leavened Polish doughnuts are fried and coated with icing sugar or fried orange zest and filled with various jams and jellies.

Paczki have a long history in Poland, dating back centuries, and are particularly associated with carnival and Mardi Gras, known in Poland as Tłusty Czwartek. As with pancakes in the UK and torrijas in Spain, paczki are a way to use up all of the ingredients that are forbidden in Lent, including one that sets them apart: Polish vodka.

Vodka is incorporated into paczki dough which prevents them absorbing too much frying oil and this makes them crispier and lighter than a normal

Credit: hackNY.org flickr

24 8 - 14 February 2024

Zagoździński pastry shop in Warsaw.

doughnut or buñuelos here in Spain.

Pączki have been in Poland since at least the Middle Ages. The dough was improved to make it lighter, fluffier and tougher thanks to the influence of French cooks who came to Poland during the reign of Augustus III. They are eaten during carnival season and bakeries that prepare the pączki are known for their hours-long queues, especially on Maundy Thursday, the day when the biggest sales of pączki occur. This year, Paczki Day lands on February 12, the Thursday before Ash Wednesday.

Kevin Fraser Park LOCAL wine connoisseur, Nicky Lloyd, who runs her own wine tour business, has agreed to conduct a wine tasting for Age Concern Marbella & San Pedro Branch at the Social and Activity Centre in San Pedro on Thursday February 22 at 6pm.

The event includes: five different wines, a tasting template, a tasting booklet with information about all the wines with space to write notes on each, bread sticks, a cheese platter, a cured meats platter.

Especially for Age Concern, Nicky has organised this for only €25 per person. Spaces are limited to 20 and payment is required in advance.

Spaces will be allocated

Photo: Rawpixel CC / Kelly Ishmael

Wine Tasting...

on a first come, first served basis. Please book quickly by email to info@ ageconcernmarbella. com with your name and number of places required.

Payment can be made: using credit or debit card using the Age Concern Paypal page; at the Centre on a Monday between 11am and 1pm or by

direct transfer to their bank account at - Asociacion Age Concern Marbella-San Pedro, IBAN - ES15 0081 2097 6700 0125 3229. For all payments please put ‘Wine & your name’ in the Notes/Reference field.

Age Concern Marbella and San Pedro is keen to tackle the loneliness many suffer in their later years in

Valentine extravaganza

Photo: ARCH and Shutterstock / Rita Kochmarjova

TOPS or The Occasional Performance Society is a group of like minded people who like to get together to arrange events and put on shows to raise money for charity.

Each year they choose different charities and then work all year to help them.

Of course, the charity work is foremost, but they do love to entertain as well. And their first event of 2024 will be on Saturday February

10 at 8pm at Alhaurin Golf Clubhouse. Entertainment will be supplied by live band ‘Deja Vu’, the TOPS singers, and DJ ‘AI’. Tickets are €12 or €10 for TOPS members.

All proceeds go to horse rescue charity ARCH whose mission is to provide the best care and rehabilitation for abandoned and abused horses. The charity works hard every day to offer these animals a better life. They

rely heavily on donations to cover the costs of rescuing and transporting animals to the Centre, giving them veterinary care and proper feeding in rehabilitation, and helping to meet the legal costs involved in prosecuting abusive owners. They could not exist without your support.

For tickets call 627 293 609 or email the TOPS box office boxofficefortops@ gmail.com.

Spain, without their families here to take care of them.

They hold coffee mornings at different locations to make it easy for anyone to attend in their local area.

Photo: pxhere CC

Carnival make-up

THE Youth Department of Fuengirola Town Hall has organised a free Carnival make-up workshop, aimed at young people aged 12 to 37, which will take place on Saturday February 10 from 11am to 1pm, in the Colores de Los Boliches building. “On the occasion of the Carnival festivities, the Department of Youth has organised a make-up workshop which is aimed at young people living in Fuengirola,” said councillor Isaac Vargas, adding that, “participants in this activity will learn simple make-up tricks to have a great time at the carnival. What is carnival without the perfect face to complement the costume?

euroweeklynews.com II SOCIALSCENE

26 EWN 8 - 14 February 2024

Love

Fuengirola

Photo: José Antonio Merchán

Oil and acrylics

Kevin Fraser Park THE Casa de Las Tejerinas in Estepona is hosting the first exhibition of paintings by José Antonio Merchán.

The exhibition will open on Friday February 9 at 6.30pm and will be open to the public until February 21, with free admission.

The exhibition of paintings ‘Óleos y Acrílicos’

by José Antonio Merchán will be inaugurated in Room 2 of the Casa de Las Tejerinas, located in the Plaza de las Flores. José Anto-

nio Merchán considers himself a self-taught painter who, “is learning with each of his works”. His paintings range from acrylics to oils, charcoals and watercolours. In this, his first exhibition, the painter is showing a total of 18 works of different formats and themes, such as portraits, landscapes and emblematic buildings like Malaga Cathedral and the Alhambra, among others.

José Antonio Merchán Martín was born in the Malaga town of

Yunquera in 1977 and he currently lives in San Luis de Sabinillas. From an early age, when he was only 10 years old, he was fascinated by the painting of a neighbour from Yunquera, whom he liked to go and see. Since then, his hobby grew and, over the years, his paintings improved.

The exhibition can be visited until February 21, from Tuesday to Friday, from 9am to 8pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm and from 4pm to 8pm, free of charge.

‘VIVE Fuengirola con Amor’ (Live Fuengirola with Love) has programmed more than 20 events to liven up the town from February 12 to 18.

The mayor, Ana Mula, accompanied by the councillor for Festivities, Isabel Moreno, presented the celebration, which will bring together various leisure, sporting and cultural events for all ages with the aim of commemorating Valentine’s Day in all the town’s neighbourhoods.

More than 30 local businesses have joined this initiative. “Fuengirola is a lively town all year round; cheerful, open and dynamic. Many citizens from other places come here attracted by that and this, in turn, benefits our local economy,” said the mayor.

It is an event that started in 2020

to promote economic activity in the area during this time of year when the town registers fewer visitors.

The businesses involved in this initiative will also contribute by organising different activities individually or jointly and offering promotions and discounts on their services or products.

“The aim is to continue to show that Fuengirola is a place to have a good time and to celebrate love in all its expressions. There will be music, magic, children’s theatre, sports, parades, cooking competitions and parties for singles, among other activities,” said Ana Mula. The full programme can be consulted on the town hall website

euroweeklynews.com II SOCIALSCENE Kevin Fraser Park THE Palacio de la Paz in Fuengirola is the venue for the concert ‘A Valentine’s Day with Orbis’ on Friday February 16. This musical show, which will take place at 8pm is free of charge and is part of the programme of activities of the Department of Culture of the town hall of Fuengirola.

A Valentine’s concert “The second musical event, which will be held at the Palacio de la Paz in February, is called ‘A Valentine’s Day with Orbis’ and will be performed by the Orbis Symphony Orchestra,” explained councillor Rodrigo Romero, adding that the Orbis Cultural Association’s maxim has always been, “to bring culture closer to society, always seeking to attract new audiences to the con-

cert halls.”

The orchestra has put together a programme with works from the most eloquent and vibrant post-romanticism through composers such as Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, to Gabriel Bussi, a contemporary composer whose Symphonic Poem ‘Let’s Follow the Path’ will be performed for the first time.

This musical perfor-

El Oceano reopens THE El Oceano hotel and restaurant reopens on Friday March 29 in time for easter and, on Good Friday Zing Duo will perform and then Johnny Baker will entertain you on Saturday March 30.

Zing Duo’s style of music ranges from laid-back acoustic sets to the best pop, soul and Motown party classics, including today’s chart hits. They also have Italian and Spanish songs in their repertoire. Zing are two accomplished musicians, having performed in stadiums, theatres and the best venues around the world. This friendly duo consists of Gillian on saxophone and Carmine on keyboards. Both sing lead and backing vocals.

Johnny Baker is one of the most po-

mance will feature the following repertoire: Tchaikovsky: Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture, TH.42; Elgar: Salut D ‘Amour; Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor: IV. Adagietto. Sehr langsam; Torroba: Luisa Fernanda.

“From this peaceful corner of Madrid’; Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2: III. Adagio; Rimsky-Korsakov: Sheherazade Op. 35: The Young Prince and Princess; and Puccini: La bohème, Act I: ‘O soave fanciulla’.

Photo: Facebook / Johnny Baker

28 EWN 8 - 14 February 2024

pular artists on the Costa del Sol. Join El Oceano regular, the amazing Johnny Baker, the pianist brings smooth tunes during the meal, then some getup-and-dance classics when you’re ready to hit the dancefloor. Born in London, Johnny has been entertaining audiences for over 30 years in many countries around the world. Now living in Marbella for the past 15 years, Johnny continues to be the resident pianist at El Oceano Beach Hotel. An amazing menu and a great party atmosphere are guaranteed at El Oceano Beachfront Restaurant. Book your table now at the website: oceanohotel.com.

euroweeklynews.com II SOCIALSCENE

30 EWN 8 - 14 February 2024

Chili Pepes

Photo: Facebook / Chili Pepes

Michael Carrington LOUIE LOUIE in Estepona is the venue on Friday February 9 at 11pm to see one of the best Red Hot Chili peppers tribute bands - Chili Pepes.

The band pays tribute to one of the most important Funk/ Rock bands in history: the famous Red Hot Chilli Peppers, active since 1983.

Their powerful live show will teleport the audience for a few hours to California with the most faithful live performance to the Angelinos that you can find. In 2023, Dani, Pepe, Rubén and Paco celebrated a decade in the music business, and their repertoire includes the classics ‘Under The Bridge’, ‘Give it Away’, ‘Other Side’ and ‘Californication’, to

name just a few.

The real Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s and are still active today with the original vocalist and bassist, Anthony Kiedis and Michael Flea, who were joined in 1988 by drummer Chad Smith and guitarist John Frusciante, although the latter left in 1992 and from 2019 to the present day.

Simply Thriving Group A WONDERFUL cruise was enjoyed by group members last week who are now keen to arrange another cruise in the spring, based on price and availability of many single cabins and embarkation at Malaga.

Simply Thriving group is a very simply organised group which aims to avoid loneliness. They meet for lunch the first Thursday of each month and also enjoy an evening event every two months.

There is no joining fee, no collection of money. Book whatever through the Facebook site or phone 951 313

257, turn up on the day, pay direct to the restaurant. Our next lunch is on Thursday February 8 at MerryLand in Fuengirola and the next evening event is The Elvis Experience at La Sierra which is in fact fully booked on Thursday February 22. This is a celebration of Elvis Presley who would now be 89 years old and a celebration of Val Williams’ 85th birthday, the founder of Simply Surviving in the pandemic and Simply Thriving after the pandemic.On April 23 a St George’s event is to be celebrated.

Details soon. It is very sad to report the

death of Dorothy Gallagher who has lived on the coast for many years and was an enthusiastic and loyal member of Friends of the Theatre Association and later joined Simply Thriving Group. For some months Dorothy has been confined to her home and suffering a lot of pain. She was a beautiful lady loved by everyone who knew her. Her favourite night out was to enjoy the Ricky Lavazza show.

We shall miss her. RIP our lovely Dorothy.

LA SCALA GROUP

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Love is priceless

Photo: Alhaurin Town Hall

Kevin Fraser Park ALHAURÍN DE LA TORRE Town Hall has launched a new campaign on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, Tuesday February 14. With the slogan ‘Love is priceless; so is a free night’s stay in a hotel’, the initiative is open to everyone, whether in a couple or not, single, married or simply just friends.

The initiative aims to encourage shopping in Alhaurin and boost the local economy at this time of year. In the words of the mayor, the businesses are welcoming this type of campaign as it gives them ‘visibility’ and helps them to promote sales.The town is holding a raffle with prizes of 10 double spa session vouchers, one hotel night for two people in a superior

room and one hotel night for two people in a premium room. The hotel where the prize is to be won is the Elba Estepona & Thalasso Spa. The campaign is open until February 14, except for bars and restaurants which are open until February 18. To participate, a minimum purchase of €15 must be made in the establishments (€30 in the case of bars and restaurants) on the weekend before or after St Valentine’s Day or on the 14th itself, and the business will give you a stamped ticket which can be inserted into the ballot box which will be installed at the town hall building. The public draw will take place between February 21 and 23 and can be followed through the social networks of the town hall.

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Music Hall

David Hart A WHIMSICAL Wonderment of Sensational Song, Dance and Showmanship will take you back to The Good Old Days at Salón Varietés Theatre in Fuengirola from Wednesday February 14 to Sunday February 18.

The Great British Music Hall was a cultural phenomenon that thrived in the early Victorian era as an entertainment venue for theatre and musical acts. The popularity of the music hall made it a vital cultural and social institution embedded in British history.

The music hall derives its origins from the 18th century coffee houses, saloon bars and taverns that existed across Europe. By the 1850’s music hall theatres solely dedicated to entertainment had evolved, providing a variety of acts with catchy songs and theatrical displays to entertain whilst people ate, drank and smoked.

The music hall became synonymous with affordable entertainment in the Victorian era. The public were treated to a wide range of performances, from gymnastic acrobatics to singing

Photo: Simant Duo

Photo: Wikimedia CC

and dancing routines. Most people will remember music hall from TV’s ‘The Good Old Days’ which ran for 30 years on the BBC from 1953 to 1983.

The audience dressed in period costume and joined in the singing. The show was compered throughout its whole run (except for the first two shows) by Leonard Sachs and, in the course of its run, featured about 2,000 performers.

The Monumental Music Hall now comes to Fuengirola and shows are at 7.30pm each night apart from Sunday when the performance starts at 7pm.

Tickets are available from the Theatre’s website.

Back to the 80s Michael Carrington THE Musical Duo revives the greatest hits of the 80s on their new national tour.

Simant Dúo, consisting of he international trumpeter and European Culture Prize winner Rubén Simeó and the talented pianist Antonio Morant, return to the music scene with the new ‘Back to the 80s’ tour to present their third studio album, which, with the same name, was released in January.

They will be stopping at Malaga on their tour, at Elcamm on Saturday

March 9 at 9pm. Tickets are available now from emotionalevents.es.

Following the line of their previous and successful ‘Skyward tour’, the two virtuoso musicians will continue to demonstrate their ability to fuse genres and styles, making a tour of great international hits of the 80s. As the first preview of the new album, in November, Simant Duo premiered ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’, the timeless Bon Jovi classic that became an anthem of hope and motivation in 1986, which

now, 27 years later, the duo has reimagined, with a unique and audacious interpretation.

The combination of talent, innovation and passion ensures that Simant Duo continue to make their unique mark on the contemporary music scene. The young Spaniards Rubén Simeó and Antonio Morant, together known as Simant Duo, have been working together since 2018, making recordings and performing more than 50 concerts annually.

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8 - 14 February 2024

Photo: Pick Pik and Eddy’s Music Factory

Stage Buzz Live

Kevin Fraser Park PAUL SCOTTON and Eddy Durlacher are collaborating to launch a digital magazine in March dedicated to lovers of live music on the Costa del Sol with the idea of showcasing local bands, entertainers, singers and live music venues.

On Monday February 19, they are holding a launch event at Eddy’s Music Factory in Malaga. This is the first venture of its kind:

a networking initiative for the music business here on the Costa del Sol. The purpose of the launch is to present the upcoming magazine and Eddy’s music production venue, but also to get everyone together in one place to put artists and venues together.

Local TV stations will be covering the event which is being held in two sessions at 4pm and 7pm.Anyone with an interest in live music or who is

working here in the music business is invited to attend to meet each other and collaborate.

Local bands are encouraged to submit articles to the magazine about their experience as a band, singer, entertainer or music promoter here on the coast. The venue owner, Eddy Durlacher, will talk about his venue as well. It’s free to attend and their will be a free drink on arrival plus tapas. See you there.

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David Hart A TOUCH OF CLASS is an amateur entertainment group and they’re ready to go for the new season. The director has been working hard designing their new 10-year anniversary show and they started rehearsing at the end of January.

They really need some new members, so if you know of anybody who would be interested in joining them then tell them to get in touch via the addresses below.

No experience is necessary, if you can sing, do a little dancing or just want to work backstage or making the tea, that would be great.

They are a very friendly group and if you’re interested just go along to one of their rehearsal nights at St Andrews Church in Los Boliches on a Monday or Thursday starting at 5pm.

Otherwise get in touch on 684 395 018 or email tocsecratary bird@gmail.com.

Photo: Facebook / La Comarca del Swing

Duquesa swings

DON’T miss this new date to see the live concert by ‘Comarca del Swing Band’ on Friday February 16 at 9pm at the Gatsby Lounge Bar, Plaza del Coral, Puerto de la Duquesa. An evening of swing, rhythm and blues and entry is free. Comarca del Swing Band is a group of swing enthusiasts (music and dance) that in 2016 was created as a non-profit Cultural Association, ‘La Comarca del Swing’. Among the dance activities offered by the association are Lindy Hop, Jazz Steps, Jive, Balboa classes and the organisation of social dances and concerts. The only requirement to be able to attend the classes is to belong to the Association by paying a registration fee of €10 and a monthly fee of €5. If you are interested in joining please contact by email lacomarcadelswing@gmail.com or go along on February 16 to the Gatsby Lounge Bar in Puerto de la Duquesa. your brains to the test on Monday February 26, Charity PUT 7.30pm at Bridges Bar in Calahonda There will be four separate quizzes: general knowledge, music, a picture quiz round and a marathon. There’s a hot buffet at €15 per Photo: FRawpixel

Photo: Facebook / TOC

A touch of class

person and to book you can call 620 786 772. The best thing is, it’s all for charity in aid of PAD (Protectora De Animales Domésticos), an animal shelter for domestic animals in Mijas. Like all charities they depend on events like this to keep going so book your space and go along to test your knowledge and raise funds at the same time.

euroweeklynews.com II SOCIALSCENE ADVERTING FEATURE

Craftmanship!

DISCOVER the pinnacle of burger craftsmanship at MoMag Burgers & Gin, the brainchild of Magnus Morgen, nestled on the bustling Paseo Marítimo in Fuengirola. This gastronomic haven is renowned for serving up the freshest artisan burgers along the coast, offering an unparalleled culinary experience.

Each burger is a masterpiece, bursting with flavours so memorable, they’ll have you eagerly planning your next visit. Magnus, hailing from Denmark, has made Spain his home for the past five years. His journey in the culinary world began with the launch of Bentleys Burgers, a family venture that enjoyed three years of success. Building on this triumph, Magnus rebranded to MOMAG, a nod to his own name, further cementing his status as the youngest Danish entrepreneur to make a mark in Spain.

Located on the scenic seafront, near the castle, MOMAG Burgers & Gin is a beacon for burger aficionados.

The restaurant’s popularity is evident from the long queue of patrons eagerly awaiting their turn to indulge

Photo: Momag

38 EWN 8 - 14 February 2024

in what many claim are the best burgers in town. Advance bookings are recommended to secure a spot at this coveted dining destination.

The success of MOMAG is not solely attributed to its delectable burgers but also to the dedicated staff hailing from Spain, Morocco, Argentina, and Ireland.

Their passion and commitment to excellence are palpable, making each dining experience truly exceptional. MOMAG isn’t just good; it’s a testament to Magnus’s genius and a reminder of the importance of supporting local businesses. Join the ranks of satisfied customers and let MOMAG Burgers & Gin redefine your burger expectation. T. 674 886 928 momagburgers.com.

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8 - 14 February 2024

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Magnificent El Muro Mijas AFTER a well deserved holiday, El Muro Restaurante in Mijas has once again opened its doors, with a few surprises in store for their customers coming in 2024!

If you are looking for a dining experience that not only offers quality, international cuisine, but also breathtaking and panoramic views, look no further than El Muro Restaurante Mijas. Situated at the foothills of the mountains, their outdoor dining area offers incredible views of not only the dramatic hillsides, but also goes as far out as the Mediterranean sea, allowing diners to enjoy their meals in a stunning, picturesque setting.

The rustic interior of El Muro Mijas offers a cosy and charming atmosphere that perfectly complements its natural surroundings.

Stepping inside, the restaurant is adorned with warm wooden accents and rustic decor, even boasting a fireplace for those chilly winter nights, creating a welcoming ambiance for guests.

The menu at El Muro represents their dedication and love for their international clientele by providing a variety of dishes from di-

fferent cuisines in their a la carte menu. However, the firm favourite is their famous Sunday roast, which consists of the traditional trimmings, all made fresh in their kitchen, which is notable due to the delicious taste and unique shaping of the unbeatable Yorkshire puddings!

As mentioned, guests from all over the world have fallen in love with El Muro restaurant, and the staff are not only friendly and attentive, but also speak both English and Spanish, being passionate about ensuring that each and every guest feels cared for throughout their dining experience. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, the family atmosphere at El Muro is sure to make you feel invited and at home. Both children and small dogs are permitted to enter the restaurant, and 2024 will see a brand new playground built especially for the little ones! The staff ask only that both are well behaved and at the responsibility of their carers.

El Muro restaurant also offers ample parking, with space for more than 80 cars in their private car park. Access for wheelchairs

is ensured, as it is important to this welcoming restaurant that everybody feels personally invited and catered for. Coming up on February 14 is their Valentine’s Day special, where a three- course, set menu is available for a price of €40 per person.

Delicious dishes, including the much loved succulent lamb shank with creamy mashed potatoes and a red wine sauce are on offer, in addition to an array of carefully selected and specialised dishes.

To set the romantic ambience, live music will be performed by Ami Lloyd, who’s beautiful voice will add the perfect background to what is sure to be a magical evening for all.

Due to the popularity of El Muro Mijas, booking as early as possible is recommended, and can be done online or via Facebook: EL MURO MIJAS. Alternatively, call 951 911 555 for further information, as well as all other general bookings. Please note that they also cater for private events. The restaurant is currently open Wednesday to Friday 5pm to 11pm and Saturday and Sunday 12am to 11pm. aicorestaurants.com

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Here to play! The Zona Kids Opening Party!

ADVERTISING FEATURE

ZONA KIDS CAFE is officially open for fun, and they are here to play! Located in Alhaurin el Grande, this play centre and cafe is a fantastic venue for children to explore and have fun, where parents and carers can relax and enjoy refreshments while keeping an eye on their little ones. Euro Weekly News had the pleasure of attending their grand opening party on Saturday, February 3, which began

at 10am. By 11.30am, the venue was already packed, with excited children playing in every direction and adults happily drinking, eating and chatting to their neighbours.

The space consists of five different and immersive play zones, including a soft play centre, a toddler’s area, a perfect princess dress-up booth, a sports pitch and a gaming zone. The cafe at Zona Kids is a game

changer for parents and carers, as it provides a convenient space for them to relax and socialise close to their children playing.

The menu offered a variety of tasty options, catering to both children’s preferences and more sophisticated tastes. The pitta and hummus followed by creamy carrot cake is hard to beat.

One of the highlights of this opening party was without a doubt the presence of some beloved children’s characters, which included Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the Paw Patrol squad and Pikachu! Their appearance added a touch of magic to the day, and sparked excitement in all the young attendees as they ran to greet them, hug-

ging, kissing and even dancing with the special guests, creating unforgettable memories.

Zona Kids is not only a fun space for play, but will also undoubtedly be a pillar within this community.

Neighbours could be heard chatting about school and recent events, whilst at the same time new connections were being made, as parents bonded over hot coffees and croissants.

Euro Weekly News spoke to Jennah Bachelor, who was in attendance with her mother Michelle and son, Logan. Jennah lives locally, and explained that there are no other establishments like this in the area. “We will definitely be back!” she said,

adding that “it’s such a great place for all three of us to socialise.” Also present and happy to express her appreciation of the new venture was British grandmother Dianne, who looks after her granddaughter Lily full

time. She told EWN that: “This is a tremendous place for Lily to play while I relax over a coffee!”

Zona Kids has created a wonderful and imaginative space for children to play, learn,

and socialise, and is an ideal destination for families in Alhaurin el Grande and its surrounding areas. The opening party was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and commitment of the staff to provide a magical and memorable time for all.

Zona Kids Cafe is located on Calle Gondola 2, Alhaurin El Grande and is open seven days a week from 9am to 9pm. Ninety minutes of play for children is €5 or €3.50 for under two’s.

They are also available for private party hire.

For bookings and further information WhatsApp +34 672 879 144.

Visit their website: zonakidsparty.es.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

We have room for Scandinavian-speaking customer service representatives at Barona’s service centre BARONA’S SERVICE CENTRE in Fuengirola already employs more than 350 customer service representatives, most of whom are Finnish. Now it is hoped that the team will also include more diverse Nordic language skills.

The day-to-day operations of the service centre revolve around several different customer relationships - the largest of these, in addition to Telia and DNA, includes Forenom, which offers furnished apartments, apartment hotels and hostel accommodation for temporary needs in all Nordic countries.

Forenom’s main customer segment consists of companies renting apartments to their employees, whose customer service is provided by Forenom’s own local teams, which are mainly present during office hours.

“As far as Forenom is concerned, we primarily offer customer service to private customers at Barona - we help with bookings and questions related to maintenance services, among other things,” says Melina Mäntynen, team manager of the Forenom’s team at the Barona Fuengirola service centre.

Service in the customer’s own

The Scandinavian team is concentrated in Fuengirola.

language Although the majority of the service centre’s employees are currently Finnish, Forenom’s customer relationship is managed by a so-called Scandinavian team under Mäntynen’s leadership.

Forenom’s customer service representatives handle Forenom’s private customers in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway via chat, email and phone. The aim is that customers who speak non-Finnish would also receive the best possible service in

their own language.

“We are contacted by customers around the clock. To ensure a good service experience, we offer services 24/7, says Mäntynen.

Even though the Scandinavian team is concentrated in Fuengirola, customer service representatives also work in different Nordic countries.

“Barona’s employee volumes in Finland are still the largest, so our sister team in Joensuu mostly handles matters related to Finnish-speaking customers. In addition, they handle overflow calls from Scandinavian countries.

In a multilingual team, consensus is important Last June, Mäntynen trained six customer service agents at Barona’s Malmö office, which only handles calls and messages from Sweden. Our hope is that in the future, more Scandinavian customer service representatives will also work on site in Fuengirola, says Mäntynen.

Mäntynen says that you can’t succeed in a multilingual team if you speak only Finnish, but you still don’t need to know all

Scandinavian languages. The Scandinavian team considers it important that the service centre’s everyday life has been made as straightforward as possible for everyone, regardless of their language background.

“In addition to Finnish, our daily communication takes place in English. The practice ensures mutual understanding and that no one feels left out,” says Head of Service centre Marianne Eliasson, who is also bilingual.

The international work community is definitely a source of wealth Eliasson says that Barona’s service centre is an internationalising work community every day, which she sees as a great asset.

“We strongly believe in our growth and aim to increase the number of employees to 450 this year. When our new office opens in March, we will have even better growth opportunities,” says Eliasson.

So, there are places for Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish talent. Open positions are applied for regularly, and it is also possible to apply for jobs with an open application.

For more information, please contact Melina Mäntynen melina.mantynen@barona.fi

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Daily water intake John Ensor NEW research seems to indicate that monitoring one’s daily water consumption could be a key factor in reducing the risk of dementia.

Recently, Dr Angela Rai from The London General Practice shared vital preventative measures against dementia on the UK news. Central to her advice was the daily consumption of two litres of water, among other lifestyle adjustments.

Dr Rai emphasised a holistic approach: Engaging in mental and physical exercises, limiting alcohol, maintaining a balanced diet with ample water intake, cutting down on sugar, quitting smoking, striving for hours of

Credit: goodluz/Shutterstock.com

Water: essential for brain health

quality sleep, socialising, and managing stress.

These recommendations align with studies from the National Library of Medicine, which link dehydration to an elevated risk of dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation explains that water, comprising 60 per cent of the adult human body, is vital for cellular functions, including brain cells.

Insufficient hydration impairs these cells, leading to cognitive issues.

This effect is particularly pronounced in the elderly which hastens cognitive decline. Dr Rai said to look out for early signs of dementia. Warning signs include difficulty remembering names of loved ones or recent events, confusion, and a noticeable decline in short-term memory and concentration.

Healthy WA L K IN G , of ten underestimated, is an excellent way to burn calories and improve overall health. It’s a lowimpact exercise, making it suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. The number of calories burned while walking depends on various factors, including the walker’s weight, pace, and duration of the walk.

On average, a person can burn approximately 100 calories per mile. Brisk walking, especially uphill or on uneven terrain, can increase the calorie burn

walking significantly. Besides calorie burning, walking has numerous health benefits; it improves cardiovascular fitness, strengthens bones, boosts muscle power and endurance, and enhances mental well-being.

Regular walking can also reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Incorporating walking into your daily routine, such as walking to work, taking the stairs, or enjoying a post-dinner stroll, can contribute significantly to a healthier lifestyle.

Now we have entered a new year, after the parties, excesses, holidays and the return to routine, which leaves us without time for what really matters, health.

Contact us and we will schedule a medical checkup.

Prevention is the best medicine.

Avenida de España 20, Local 5, Sitio de Calahonda, Málaga. +34 952 933 377

HEALTH & BEAUTY II euroweeklynews.com

Scalp cleansing

Mud Masks: Can help promote healthier hair growth.

MUD masks, traditionally celebrated for their skin benefits, are increasingly recognised for their potential advantages for hair care.

Rich in minerals like magnesium, sodium, and potassium, mud masks can nourish the scalp, potentially improving blood circulation and promoting healthier hair growth.

They are known for their detoxifying properties, helping to cleanse the scalp of impurities and excess

oil, which can alleviate issues like dandruff. However, their suitability depends on hair and scalp type.

For those with oily scalp conditions, mud masks can be beneficial, but for those with dry or brittle hair, they might be overly drying. As with any hair care product, individual results can vary, and it’s advisable to do a patch test or consult a professional before full application.

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Cancer prevention key

Zoran Pucarevic/Shuttertock.com

44 EWN 8 - 14 February 2024

John Ensor IN connection with World Cancer Day in February, recent findings suggest a strong link between physical activity and cancer prevention. The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) launched an awareness campaign highlighting the importance of exercise in cancer prevention and treatment. This initiative coincided with World Cancer Day, celebrated each year on February 4. SEOM’s efforts aim to educate both the public and healthcare professionals about the benefits of incorporating physical activity into cancer care. Statistics from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) reveal that only 37.7 per cent of Spain’s adult population engages in regular physical activity, while 27.4 per cent describe themselves as sedentary. SEOM’s campaign stresses the need to increase these numbers due to the protective effects of exercise against cancer. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of developing cancer by up to 30 per cent and can lower mortality by nearly 20 per cent once cancer is diagnosed. This is particularly evident in cancers such as breast, colorectal, prostate, lung, bladder, endometrium, and stomach.

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Under pressure MAINTAINING a healthy blood pressure level is paramount for well-being and is a critical indicator of cardiovascular health.

A blood pressure reading of 170/110 or higher signifies hypertension, a condition that puts significant strain on the heart and blood vessels.

Prolonged elevated blood pressure can lead to severe health consequences, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular disorders. Persistent high blood pressure can cause damage to the arteries, leading to atherosclerosis and increasing the likelihood of heart attacks.

It also puts strain on the kidneys, potentially leading to kidney disease or failure. Additionally, hypertension is associated with an increased risk

of vision problems and cognitive decline. What makes hypertension particularly challenging is its often asymptomatic nature, meaning individuals may not be aware of the condition until serious complications arise.

Regular monitoring of blood pressure, lifestyle modifications (such as adopting a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management), and, when necessary, medical intervention through medication are essential in controlling blood pressure and mitigating associated health risks. Proactive management of blood pressure is a foundational component of preventive healthcare, reducing the likelihood of debilitating cardiovascular events and promoting long-term wellbeing.

Moles a mark of beauty or cause for concern?

FACIAL moles, often referred to as beauty marks or beauty spots, can be perceived as charming and unique features, adding character to one’s appearance.

Many consider them distinctive and attractive, enhancing individuality. However, if a mole undergoes changes in size, colour, or shape, it may warrant attention from a dermatologist, as these changes could be signs of potential skin issues. Regular monitoring and professional evaluation are crucial.

Ultimately, whether viewed as a concern or a beauty mark, individual perceptions may vary, and embracing one’s natural features while prioritising skin health is essential.

Moles: always check with a dermatologist

Under Pressure: Management of blood pressure

Bat a lash FALSE lashes can be a safe and appealing cosmetic choice if used with caution. While some individuals may experience allergic reactions to adhesives, a patch test can help identify potential sensitivities.

Proper application and removal techniques are crucial to avoid eye irritation and potential damage to natural lashes. Opt for high-quality lashes and

adhesives to reduce the risk of adverse reactions.

Limiting the frequency of use and practising good hygiene can help prevent eye infections.

Gently removing false lashes with eye makeup remover is essential to protect natural lashes.

Overall, when applied and cared for correctly, false lashes can enhance one’s appearance without compromising eye health.

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Vitamin E: The powerful benefits

VITAMIN E, a powerful antioxidant, offers numerous health benefits.

Its primary role lies in protecting cells from oxidative stress, which can contribute to chronic diseases and ageing.

As an immune system booster, Vitamin E helps the body fight off

VitaminE

infections and maintain overall health. Additionally, it supports skin health by promoting collagen production, aiding in wound healing, and protecting against UV damage. Vitamin

Yoga Yoga: physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions

YOGA is a holistic practice toffering a multitude of benefits for overall well-being. Physically, regular practice enhances flexibility by stretching and lengthening muscles,

E’s anti-inflammatory properties make it beneficial for conditions such as arthritis.

It contributes to cardiovascular health by preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol,

potentially reducing the risk of heart disease.

Some studies suggest that Vitamin E may support cognitive function, protecting against age-related cognitive decline.

while also building strength through various poses.

The emphasis on body awareness and alignment promotes improved posture and balance. The integration of breath control (pranayama) enhances respiratory function, increasing lung capacity and promoting overall respiratory efficiency.

Mentally, yoga provides tools for stress reduction through mindful breathing and meditation. The practice cultivates a mindbody connection, fostering self-awareness and promoting mental clarity. Yoga’s impact on emotional well-being is notable, as it has been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, providing

individuals with a means to manage and regulate their emotions. The benefits extend to physiological aspects, with yoga supporting cardiovascular health through dynamic forms that offer aerobic exercise.

Chronic pain conditions, such as lower back pain and arthritis, may find relief through the therapeutic aspects of yoga. Additionally, the practice contributes to better sleep quality and improved energy levels.

Beyond the physical and mental advantages, yoga creates a sense of community and support, particularly in group classes.

The practice encourages mindfulness, promoting a more conscious and present mindset.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

The best Storey in Marbella ON a cool but sunny winter’s day in the south of Spain, Euro Weekly News entered a hidden Spanish suburb in the foothills of the Marbella mountains, that felt like a magical, pastel coloured world.

The appointment in hand was that of visiting the Storey Interior Design headquarters, and not only meeting its Director, Malin Iglesias Isaksson, but also having the honour of speaking to a special guest, world renowned celebrity hairstylist, Antonio Axu. As one moves through the streets of Urbanizacion Aloha Pueblo, it may feel as though you have stepped into a utopian kingdom. The fresh air of the mountains combined with a luxury coffee scent emerging from the Storey shop, dramatically ignites the senses.

Owner Malin greeted EWN with a smile and open arms, welcoming us into her cool, clean and eclectic interior design haven.

Also present was Antonio Axu, who was running a pop up hair salon at the shop, catering only for his regular VIP clients in the area.

Euro Weekly News sat down with Malin

and Antonio, to find out where they both began, and how it is that they are merging their specialities today. First things first however, ‘the best coffee in Marbella’.

Kindly prepared by Malin herself, we can confirm that it is in fact utterly delicious, and served in a beautiful Moroccan mug! Also present in the interview was the adorable dog Charlie, who posed beautifully for a picture perfect shot!

Malin, who is originally from Sweden, started Storey Design in Spain 2014 after the pandemic, following many years of experience working in interior design.

She explained that Storey is an efficient and flexible interior design agency, which she runs together with her specialised employees. “Passion for our work is the base of everything we do, from the first meeting to the completed assignment, we adapt to each and every one of our customers’ personal needs, whether that be inspiration, interior design, house staging or any other creative necessities.”

EWN then inquired as to how she came to meet Antonio, a hairstylist to the rich and famous around the globe. Antonio smiled

and revealed that: “well she was my client of course, look at her gorgeous hair!” Also originally from Sweden, Antonio began as a hairdresser over a decade ago. Antonio began as a hairdresser over a decade ago.

“I started my carrier in Sweden with the royal hair salon, and then began to travel to Paris, Los Angeles to perfect my art. Now I am working in luxury studios and villas, with celebrities from around the world,” he

explained. Adding that his favourite thing about Marbella is: “the combination of the mountains, the sun, the beach, the skiing and beautiful hikes.” The hairdresser will be there every three months from now on to take clients.

Malin revealed that she has big plans for the future, even suggesting they will soon deal with real estate and the selling of the incredible houses they currently decorate.

Storey Design is not only set in paradise, but continues to create it, and EWN can’t wait to see what is next in store.

Visit the Storey Design studio at Urb. Aloha Pueblo Plaza de las Fuentes, local 31, Marbella, or call on +34 664 375 793. Alternatively, keep up to date with all their news on Instagram @storeymarbella and via Facebook: Storey Interior Design - Marbella.

INTERVIEW

Life is for living Hansi StØkken moved to Spain from his native Norway in the year 2000.

HE saw Spain as a land of opportunities, indulge myself in what is my passion: Spanot to mention better weather and daylinish wines.” ght. Hansi set up a range of companies Hansi studied to become an oenologist under the ‘Conrisa’ brand from property and his Gastrobar boasts the finest wines management, construction and from all around Spain. “I know what was perhaps the jewel it doesn’t sound like work, in his crown, Conrisa but having the opportuGastrobar. “Life in nity to travel around business in Spain Spain once or twice a brings its own chayear, visiting winellenges,” he says. ries and selecting “Diversifying is the wines persoimportant, as manally has been a king a living from highlight for me. one single source I don’t just go for is not always easy.” price, but for qualiHansi speaks Spaty. That’s not always nish like a native, and the same thing. Our Hansi does it all with a English comes naturafortnightly wine tastings smile. lly to him, that is on top of with food pairing are very his grasp of Scandinavian popular, but I think people languages and also German. “It has been are more keen on tasting the wine than important to me to be able to reach out to learning about them,” he says with a grin. as wide a customer base as possible. There “Life is for living, and a glass of good has never been a time when one business wine adds to the experience.” And most approach could meet all the needs, so mulimportantly , he does it all Conrisa, with a tiple streams of income has allowed me to smile.

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

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58

52 8 - 14 February 2024

• Feature •

euroweeklynews.com

• News Across The Regions • Costa Blanca North Fallas fun

Costa Blanca South Olympic Week

Axarquia Cliff squatters

Almeria Walk for Life

Mallorca European summit

Costa Calida Whale sighting

GANDIA is already counting down to the Fallas festival, where the streets will come alive with spectacular sculptural monuments made of wood and papier mâché.

The festivities kick off with street decorations on March 8, with the assembly of monuments beginning on March 9.

Musical events during the afternoon and night of March 9 and the afternoon of March 10 will set the festive tone.

The Fallas tradition has deep historical roots.

It’s origins are in Valencia several centuries ago, when carpenters celebrated the feast day of their patron saint, Saint Joseph, on March 19.

The culmination of the Fallas festival is the burning of these impressive sculptures in a spectacular display of flames and fireworks.

THE environmental group GENA-Ecologistas en Acción has raised concerns over the growing presence of campervans, campers, and squatters in the Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Site, a protected natural area. In January alone, around 50 campervans have reportedly invaded the protected space. Campers have set up in the Las Alberquillas area for extended periods, and a community of squatters has established itself in the remains of an abandoned dwelling. Both groups are in violation of regulations prohibiting free camping and overnight stays in the natural area. Ecologists accuse the campervans of encroaching on the old N-340 road, destroying signage prohibiting overnight stays, and leaving behind various types of waste, including food remnants, wipes, and toilet paper.

MALLORCA is set to become the focal point of European innovation, as the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), under the European Commission, has chosen the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Innovation of the Balearic Government’s proposal to host the prestigious Clusters Meet Regions congress.

This event, earmarked for late 2024 or early 2025, positions Mallorca alongside Malaga and Barcelona as one of the few Spanish locations to hold such a significant international gathering. The congress aims to bolster regional economic development through innovative clusters, focusing on good practices that drive economic transition. It will feature a blend of plenary sessions, workshops, expert debates, and company visits.

GET ready for the ninth Valencian Community Olympic Week, making its way to Torrevieja!

The Real Club Náutico Torrevieja will host the regatta, also serving as the Spanish Cup for the Europe, Flying Dutchman, and RC IOM classes.

Mark your calendars for February 9 to 11, when the western port will witness the IOM Spanish Cup, boasting 40 registered participants.

Following that, from February 16 to 18, the Spanish Cups for the Europe class and the Flying Dutchman class will unfold on a regatta course near the ‘Lo Ferrys’ area.

This edition sets a remarkable record with over 600 registered sailors which is an outstanding achievement in itself!

THE Walk for Life, Arboleas group consists of a small number of volunteers who are dedicated to helping sufferers of cancer and their families within a 25 kilometre radius of the village.

For more than 10 years, they have provided financial support including help with mobility, translation, and transport and every client can expect one to one support, individual to their needs and with complete confidentiality. This year’s event will be a two day affair with pre-registration and entertainment on the evening of Friday May 3 with the Walk starting from Arboleas Town Hall at 5pm on Saturday followed by an evening of entertainment.

Other events organised by the group include dinners, a calendar and other get togethers including a dog show.

A GROUP of four fin whales were spotted off the coast of Aguilas on February 1. Landscape, nature, and weather photographer Mario Navarro captured the images just off the coast at sunset. Later that same evening he captured another pair gracefully passing through.

Fin whales are the second longest animal on earth surpassed only by the blue whale and usually travel between April and October from southern France to the strait of Gibraltar and while on this route they pass the shores of Murcia. If you are in the right place at the right time off the coast of Cartagena, Aguilas, and Mazarron, especially in the months of June and July, you might catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures.

53

PETS

euroweeklynews.com • 8 - 14 February 2024 SPONSORED BY

Pet insurance HAVING pet insurance is akin to having a safety net for your furry family members. It offers financial protection against unforeseen veterinary expenses, which can be substantial, particularly in cases of emergency treatments or chronic illnesses.

One of the primary advantages of pet insurance is the peace of mind it provides. Knowing you’re covered means you can make healthcare decisions for your pet based on the best medical advice, rather than financial constraints.

Most pet insurance plans offer flexibility in terms of coverage options, from accidents and illnesses to routine wellness care. This allows pet owners to choose a plan that best suits their pet’s needs and their budget. Additionally, as veterinary medicine advances, treatments become more

A prudent choice.

sophisticated and costly.

Pet insurance helps make these advanced treatments more accessible, ensuring your pet gets the best possible care.

Furthermore, pet insurance can also cover additional costs, such as lost pet advertising, rewards for lost pets, and even holiday cancellation if your pet falls ill. Overall, pet insurance is a prudent choice, ensuring that your pet’s health and your financial well-being are both well protected.

Need a cat-sitter?

KEEPING your pets at home when you travel can give you real peace of mind. This is accentuated when you know the sitters are checked and come from HouseSitMatch. What is more, they wont charge you a cent!

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If you’re planning a trip in 2024 join now to find sitters. Earlier is better than later. Whether your trip is short or long, get organised. All pets benefit from staying at home, so their routines are undisturbed. Join our pet and house-sitting network. The sitters come for free!

Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and pet care. These are the steps to take: 1.

Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com 2.

Choose a Standard account (£69 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3.

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To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HouseSitMatch.com.

Moving house MOVING house can be a stressful experience, not just for humans but also for our beloved pets. To ensure a smooth transition, it’s essential to consider the needs of your furry friends. Prior to the move, gradually introduce your pet to their travel crate or carrier to build familiarity and reduce anxiety. On moving day, keep them in a quiet room away from the hustle and bustle, ensuring they have their favourite toys, bedding, and water.

During transport, safety is paramount. Secure carriers in the vehicle and never leave pets alone in a parked car, especially on warm days. If it’s a long journey, plan for regular breaks to allow your pet to stretch, eat, and relieve themselves.

Upon arrival at the new home, set up a safe space for your pet with their familiar items. This helps them adjust to their new environment. It’s important to keep routines as consistent as possible, maintaining regular feeding and walking schedules.

For outdoor pets, like cats, keep them indoors for a few weeks to prevent them from trying to return to the old house.

Gradually introduce them to the outside, supervising their initial explorations.

Remember, each pet is unique and may react differently to the move. Patience, reassurance, and extra attention during this transition period can help your NEW HOME: Help your pet to settle pet settle into their new in comfortably. home comfortably.

Automated pet feeders FOOD containers, specifically automated pet feeders, have become increasingly popular among pet owners for their convenience and benefits. These devices can be particularly useful for those with busy schedules, ensuring pets are fed on time, even in the owner’s absence. Automated feeders dispense pre-measured amounts of food, which aids in maintaining proper portion control, crucial for preventing overfeeding and obesity.

Moreover, for pets that require strict dietary management due to health conditions like diabetes, these feeders ensure timely and consistent feeding. Some advanced models even offer the ability to control feeding via smartphone apps, providing additional flexibility and peace of mind for the owner.

However, it’s important to choose the right type of feeder for your pet’s needs. For instance, some pets might try to break into the container, so a sturdy design is essential. Also, while these feeders are convenient, they should not replace human interaction and care. Regular checks on the feeder for cleanliness and proper operation are necessary, and pets still need love, attention, and exercise from their owners. Overall, when used appropriately, food containers can be an excellent tool for managing your pet’s dietary needs.

• Services •

54 8 - 14 February 2024 AIR CONDITIONING

CLEANING SERVICES

AWNINGS

DANCE CLASSES

CONSTRUCTION

euroweeklynews.com DAMP PROOFING

DRAINS

ES

SHAD F O E AC

BUILDING SERVICES

GATES

MOTORING

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

LEGAL

euroweeklynews.com PAINTERS & DECORATORS

• Services • REMOVALS & STORAGE

8 - 14 February 2024

55

56 8 - 14 February 2024 REMOVALS & STORAGE

WINDOWS

• Services •

euroweeklynews.com

CLASSIFIEDS AIR CONDTIONING AIR CONDITIONING by Cool and Cosy. The family company that cares.

Installation and repairs.

Quality machines.

Ecosense movement sensors supplied and fitted from 100 Euros. For other energy-saving products visit www.coolandcosy.es.

952 935 513. We are Junta de Andalucia authorised installers as the new law states (real decreto 115/2017). On the Costa del Sol since 1993 (303640) Quality Air Conditioning Installations. Economical heating, & silent in operation.

28 Years installation history in Spain.

EnviroCare. All Areas Covered. 952 663 141/670 409 759 info@ envirocarespain.com www. envirocarespain.com (304164) MR COOL – Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Heating Sys tems, Sales & Service – Call Christian +34 629 527 587 or Nick +34 618 678 853 – www. mrcool.es (305074) AIR-CONDITIONING installations.

Service &

Repair to any make or model, commercial air conditioning, as well as Bar bottle coolers. Suppliers of catering equipment. All work guaranteed. All areas covered including campo. Contact Williams Refrigeration 952 596 404 / 679 284 959.

AIR CONDITIONING SERVICING 28 Years Servicing & Installing in Spain.

EnviroCare. All Areas Covered. 952 663 141/670 409 759 info@ envirocarespain.com www. envirocarespain.com (304164)

AWNINGS ACE OF SHADES – All colours available.

Urbanisations catered for, electric and manual operation; also recovery service available, largest selection of colours and designs on the coast. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceofshades. design T1(101730) SUNSHINE AWNINGS/ BLINDS Awnings, Persiana, Shutter & Rejas Specialist.

New & Repairs. 25yrs on the

58

coast. 680 323 969 / 952 199 640 (304251)

8 - 14 February 2024 BUILDERS

BLINDS

QUALITY renovation: Kitchens, bathrooms, tiling, windows, doors, plastering, Total property renovations info@ masterbuildspain.com 952663141 /670409759 Over 28 years renovating history in Spain (302479)

ACE OF SHADES - Vertical, Venetian, Roman, Roller, Wooden blinds, various colours available, also black-out blinds. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceofshades.design (101730) BLINDS, awnings, mosquito screens, curtains, vast choice.

All areas covered. Coast and inland. 655 825 931 (303730) MOSQUITO screens, sliding, pulldown, pleated, colours call Mosquito Nick 647 072 861 www. mosquitonick.ws (304439)

SOLAR BLINDS SOLAR BLINDS ES Ideal for large glazed areas to reflect heat / glare and stop furniture fading and still keep the view. SAVE HEAT IN THE WINTER to improve your living environment. ian@solarshadetinting. com Call Telephone: Ian 958 496 571 / 644 546 176 (303296)

tiling & painting. Benalmadena based, travel no problem. Glen 669 073 773 or Paul 642 098 115 (304246)

BUILDING SERVICES JIM’S HOME IMPROVE MENTS. Bathrooms/ kitchen reforms, repairs, plumbing, carpentry, painting, tiling, maintenan ce. Give us a call no job too small. 692 207 799 / 645 559 423 (304610) GENERAL BUILDER, Tiling, plastering, painting, electrician, plumber, carpentry.

Reasonable prices. 635 913 885 (References available) (304615) SWINGLES CASAS SL. For all your building needs. Visit www.swinglescasas.com for more details or call 635 999 765 / 666 960 262 (303441) PLUMBING & GENERAL BUILDING All your plumbing needs. Bathroom, kitchens,

METALWORK NEW REJAS, GATES, Carports & Fencing, repairs & alterations. Work Guaranteed.

Reliable. 19yrs on Coast. Steve the Welder. Call/WhatsApp 655 040 648 (304977)

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FURNITURE Buyers &

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Top prices paid. Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (304097) ITALIAN high fashion labels for ladies size 10/12 all in immaculate condition mostly new or hardly ever worn. Nueva Andalucia.

Please send a WhatsApp message to 0039 335 376833 for enquries and list (305252)

CARS FOR SALE

CLASSIFIEDS II euroweeklynews.com CAR HIRE ALH RENT A CAR – SHORT & LONG-TERM RENTALS FROM €15 A DAY. INSURANCE INCLUDED IN OUR PRICES. - Call telephone: 638 846 909 or reservasalhrentacar@ gmail.com (303303)

CHARITY COLLECTIVE CALLING are urgently requesting donations of clothing, homeware & furniture, so if you are having a House Clearance, Please call us for FREE COLLECTION. We sell good quality items, which then supports low-income families and the homeless in the community. These items can be dropped directly to our charity shop Tienda Solidaria: Av. Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 4, San Pedro de Alcantara, alternatively, call us to arrange collection on +34 711 006 961 (295137)

CHIMNEY SERVICES CHIMNEY SWEEP. Clean reliable professional 608 377 497 (303436) APEX CHIMNEY SERVICES, professional chimney sweeping and smoke testing.

NACS Qualified. Clean and efficient Tel: Bob 696 320 202 (303700)

CHURCH SERVICES BENALMADENA Elim Family Fellowship. Elimfamilyfellow ship.com or call 951 912 525 or 952 446 627. (10011) CALAHONDA: Encounter Church (Elim), Family church with kids’ activities, Iglesia San Miguel, Sundays 4.30pm, Rev. David Hodgson, 695 115 496 (10012) THE Ark Christian Church.

We meet at The Ark Christian School, Calle Río Darro 2 y Plaza Juncal, 29651, Mijas Costa (the road behind the Mijas Aquapark) on Sundays at 11.00am. Pastor, Andrew Seale Tlf 682 713 491 www. thearkspain.com (293850)

CLEANING & MAINTENANCE ADVANCED Cleaning Services. Professional carpet, upholstery cleaning, 27 years experience, wet/dry clean.

Honest, reliable service 678 808 837 / 952 669 701 or email acservs@outlook. com (290189) UPHOLSTERY including leather cleaned also carpets.

685 524 921 (290189)

STARLIGHT Property Cleaning & Maintenance.

All types of cleaning. Any size of property. All Areas.

Residential & Holiday Lets. 682 636451 www.starlight-spain. com (303728)

DECORATORS

CRYSTALLISING, LASTING, HIGH SHINE. REGRINDING, RESTORATION OF SALTY, DEAD FLOORS. 27YRS EXPERIENCE. RELIABLE. REFS AVAILABLE. CYRIL. 645 840 199 (305107)

FOR SALE/WANTED

ATD DECOR. British Painter.

30 Years’ Experience.

Punctual. Great Rates. Call for free quote. 602 431 968 Facebook: @ATDDecorMalaga (304784)

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel 678 716 693 (288662)

RAINBOW PINTURAS. Spray painting, professional finish of kitchens, doors and furniture. All aspects of interior/ exterior paint and decorating under taken. Call/ Whatsapp: 628066308 www. rainbowpinturas.com.

Facebook. Instagram: rainbowpinturasmalaga (303387)

FURNITURE wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals.

Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (304097)

DOMESTIC APP REP DOMESTIC appliance repairs washing machines fridges cookers ovens water heaters gas electric professionally repaired 608 337 497 (303436)

DRAINAGE BLOCKED DRAINS? Leak detection, CCTV survey, root removal, Tel 952 568 414 / 661 910 772 / drainspain.com (296441)

ELECTRICIAN ALL TYPES OF ELECTRICAL work, re-wiring, fault finding. Certified, Reliable & Guarantee. Frank Tel or Whatsapp 650 561 629 (304788)

FLOOR POLISHING MARBLE FLOOR (2.50€/ m2) WHY PAY MORE. WE CLEAN, CRYSTALLISE, SEAL THEN POLISH YOUR MARBLE TO HIGH GLOSS, NON-SLIP. PROFESSIONAL GUARANTEED, FAST SERVICE. 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE. ALSO REPAIRS DAMAGES TO MARBLE, CLEAN AND SEAL TERRACOTTA TERRACES, COVERS ALL COSTA DEL SOL. TEL: 671 244 683 (303059) MARBLE FLOORS polished high shine non-slip. Fast Service Reliable, family-run business.

TERRACOTTA CLEANED and sealed. No job too small. Cleansol 10am – 10pm 7 days all areas. 952 930 861 / 607 610 578 Discount code: EWN 1 CLEAN (206437) MARBLE

POLISHING,

FURNITURE

GARDENING

IRRIGATION IRIS-IRRIGATION and landscapes. TRENCHLESS NO DIG Irrigation installation, Cables, Fibre Optic, Electric & Lighting Cables. New Installations & problem-solving. Turf (supply and laying).

Garden constructions. Tree surgeon. Clearing. Astro Turf (Free Quotation) 676 747 521 (303376)

GATE REPAIRS ELECTRIC GATE/GARAGE DOOR automation repaired.

Free, no obligation quotation. Call Colin - 636 394 641 (304223)

GATES ELECTRIC GATES/Garage Doors.

Intercoms/access control systems and replacement remotes. New installs and repairs. For all your electric gate and garage door requirements call us on telephone: 605 356 469 / 952 786 178. The Garage Door Co & 2 Way Gates. tgdc@hotmail.co.uk w w w. 2 w a y g a t e s . c o m (302680)

GLASS CURTAINS GLASS CURTAIN repairs, specialist in replacement of discoloured plastic strips that act as a seal between the glass panels.

Call Julian 655 825 931 (303730)

HANDYMAN HANDYMAN: General Building work, painting, wall/ roof waterproofing & other jobs. Call Michael 622 755 666 (305164)

8 - 14 February 2024 HEATING Fires: Electric, Gas. Quality guaranteed.

EnviroCare.

All areas covered. 952 663 141 / 670 409759. info@enviro carespain.com www.envi rocarespain.com (304164)

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

VINYL WRAP VINYL SOLUTIONS WHY REPLACE WHEN YOU CAN RENOVATE? Modern adhesive vinyl coverings in hundreds of styles and designs can renovate a tired kitchen, bathroom, wall panels, bedroom wardrobes, fridge doors. Turn a tired looking wood designed kitchen into a modern solid colour or metallic look without painting or replacing. Work carried out on site with 10 year warranties Contact Ian 644 546 176 for design brochure and samples.

(303296)

HOT TUBS AND SPAS HOT TUBS new used, bought, sold, hired. Also move & repairs. Used good Hot Tubs for sale. 691 973 131 / +44 7836 379122 (304541)

HOUSE CLEARANCES ALHAURIN FURNITURE EMPORIUM furniture wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals.

Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (304097)

INSURANCE MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 952 147 834, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 952 147 834 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726) STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www. abbeygateinsure.com (291234)

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ENGLISH LOCKSMITH emergency & appointment, locks changed, patio doors & windows secured. All locks supplied insurance approved.

Fast & reliable service.

No hidden extras or nasty surprises. 657 466 803 www. a1locksmiths.es (290138)

MASSAGE

EWN 59

FUENGIROLA. Japanese Shiatsu & Zen Ki relaxing and therapeutic massage.

Excellent service guaranteed. Home Visits.

WhatsApp for appointment 693 988 340 (304785) ESTEPONA. Susana, Latin Girl sculptural body, trained for deep relaxing massage. 697 705 304 (FU 2786)

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AT MY Wellness Massage Studio your first visit will be the first of many. Tel: +34 623 492 262 (304620)

SAN PEDRO. Sandra.

Professional relaxing, tantric massage. Young, slim, work alone, unforgettable moments.

Nueva Andalucia. 641 346 278

JAPANESE massage.

Marbella. Relaxing, less stress.

664 177 216 (MI 559)

PURE RELAXATION in Nueva Andalucia with attractive independent masseuse. Tantric and other special massages in private apartment. For gentlemen and couples, with no rush attention to your needs 656 350 401 ENGLISH ELEGANT independent & affectionate lady in late 40s, gives a sensual golfers massage to relieve tension in her discreet private apartment.

Satisfaction guaranteed.

Call 680 177 569 (304543) MARBELLA CENTRE the ideal place for relaxing massage in the city centre.

Available 24h and prices from €50. For reservations and information call 620 366 817.

(302600) PROFESSIONAL MALE muscled masseur. Full-body relaxing, deep tissue and therapeutic massage. In/ outcalls. WhatsApp me 607 595 906 (304067) BENALMADENA lovely lady, offering you a very relaxing body massage. Call for an appointment 634 209 427 (305219)

INSURANCE

MARBELLA Tantric ritual massage with aromatherapy to leave completely renewed. 642 751 070 (2907) NEW IN FUENGIROLA. I am Daniela, 19 years old, massages and relax. 603 366 841 (FU 3186) SARA Venezuelan, professional relaxing therapeutic & sensitive massage. I can visit you. For more information contact me 632 770 051 (303021) BENALMADENA Private Villa: DANIELA from Colombia 19yrs Masseur. New on the Coast. in C/ Imperio Argentina N.1 in Benalmadena. Incalls Outcalls 24hrs. Tel. 679 267 197 (305173) BENALMADENA: IRINA Russian Masseur, model, slim, Russian, Spanish, English.

Incalls & Outcalls 24hrs. Tel. 604 181 157 (305173) BENALMADENA Masseur, massage, jacuzzi, outcalls 24hrs. Incalls & Outcalls.

24hrs. Tel. 679 267 197 (305173) NEW IN FUENGIROLA. I am beautiful brunette Luna, treat yourself to massages and relaxation 603 366 841 (FU 3186)

60 EWN 8 - 14 February 2024 BENALMADENA: Maria Colombian Masseur - blond long hair, Incalls & Outcalls 24hrs. Tel. 604 181 157 (305173) BENALMADENA: Alicia Spanish professional & relaxing Masseur.. Incalls & Outcalls. 24hrs. Tel. 679 267 197 (305173) FILIPINA/Thai, exclusive prostatic, deep, hard, soft massage pleasure to body mind therapy, exotic professional relaxation, clean, good atmosphere. Elviria.

Marbella. 604 457 672 (MI 576) FUENGIROLA Centre 3 beautiful girls enjoy with authentic beauties 603 366 841 (FU 3186) BOLICHES: Celina Https:// celina-16.jimdosite.com.

Elegant loving kind lovely delightful lady for educated very discreet, respectable gentleman. Unique relaxing moments, hot sensual massages, private quite place.

Enjoy full deep complete, excellent treatment, special attention of your needs and total satisfaction. Demanding impeccable hygiene. Previous appointment 11am/6pm. 622 210 797 (FU 3180) BENALMADENA: Sandra Spanish Masseur and Amalia - duo massage & relaxing.

Incalls & Outcalls. 24hrs. Tel. 604 181 157 (305173) ASIAN lady tantric sensory generate self esteem body technique, fantastic relaxation massage Marbella. 671 442 664 (MI 576) NEW VILLA in Fuengirola. 4 masseuses. Total discretion.

632 018 105 (FU 3186) VANESSA Benalmadena excellent massage services.

Relaxing & therapeutic. Home premises. Call me 624 811 098 (305190) ASIAN Touch try something different combination Oriental European, absolutely relaxing massage relief pain stress, luxury place. Marbella. Elviria.

633 705 558 (MI 576) ASIAN MASSUER relaxing full massage. Home

LAWYERS

offers body Visits.

WhatsApp 641 980 066 for details (304011) OLGA Mature Masseure relaxing & sensitive. Outcalls & Incalls. 24 hrs. Marbella – Tel: 632 467 580 (304040) FUENGIROLA - Johanna Brazilian 45yrs Slim Mature Masseur. Relaxing Massages.

Best relax guaranteed. Tel: 617.818.615 (305174) FILIPINO MASSAGE CENTRE, where hearts of Asian professional massage daily. 604 421 973 (MI 576) ASIAN PROFESSIONAL Massage, sensual, relaxing & therapeutic, to release tension & stress. Fuengirola. Call 613 592 062 (304091) ASIAN ladyboy and gay, authentic professional/ traditional massage therapy unique treatment, clean atmosphere. Marbella. 603 257 690 (MI 576) GENESIS blond explosive masseur, men and women, from Venezuela. 24 hours outcall / incall - visa & amex Tel. 680 55 614 (304861)

euroweeklynews.com II CLASSIFIEDS LOS BOLICHES - Carolina Pretty Masseur, Slim 45yrs Relaxing Massage, Guaranteed relax - Tel: 634.703.111 (305174)

SAN PEDRO BEACH. RELAXING AND SENSITIVE MASSEUSES WELCOME YOU IN A PRIVATE AND DISCREET PLACE. YOUNG, PLEASANT. WITH APPOINTMENT. EASY, PRIVATE PARKING. 666 194 079 - 674 679 757. (305229) BENALMÁDENA. FRIENDLY attractive masseuse, relieve muscle tension.

From 50€. 613 106 153 (FU 3184)

MISCELLANEOUS GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

MOSQUITO SCREENS

BARBARA mature masseur educated 42yrs, private, 24hrs, Marbella. Tel 613 213 030 CRISTINA and MIA - duo masseurs on holiday in Marbella - infall & outcalls 24hrs - visa & amex - Tel. 680 55 614 (304861)

THAI Benalmádena Costa.

Body-body full massages.

Visits, hotels. Whatsapp 689 387 448 (MI 577) FUENGIROLA. Relaxing ma ssage, Venezuelan Lady boy masseuse Violeta. Chiro practor. 660 867 374 (FU 3185) FUENGIROLA. Marisa, 38 years old, mature, all kinds of massages. Only WhatsApp. 631 659 408 (FU 3168) CASSIE. Mature English lady.

Discreet and clean. Fuengirola.

667 914 732 (FU 3169)

ROBERTSON CARS SALE SALE SALE 4x4 SUZUKI SAMURAI CABRIO This old warrior is in amazing condition.

White with White Soft Hood.

No Air-Con, just take the hood off! Drives like a tank great for campo. ITV until June 2024 only 77,000KMS. MUST BE SEEN €4,500. See Photo on my web page – www.robert soncars-spain.com or text/ Whatsapp me: 608 658 785 Email therobertsonclan@ gmail.com

W W W. L A I L A LY N C H 1 .

COM. Heated pool, Jacuzzi and private bar. Inland private retreat with a full massage service. 662 913 428 (FU 3172)

CASSIE. Mature English lady.

Discreet and clean. Fuengirola.

667 914 732 (FU 3031)

ORIENTAL ladyboy pretty professional traditional, tantric massage relieving.

Marbella. 604 428 812 (MI 576)

Whatsapp me: 608 658 785 Email therobertsonclan@ gmail.com

ACE OF SHADES - Don’t let the bugs get you! Available in enrollable, slider and pleated. Large choice of colours including wood effect. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@ aceofshades.design (101730) MOSQUITO Screens for windows, doors and a high-quality sliding patio door screen. All finishes available. Quick service. All areas covered. Call Julian 655 825 931 (303730) MOSQUITO screens, sliding, pulldown, pleated, colours, call Mosquito Nick 647 072 861 www. mosquitonick.ws (304439)

MOTORING CAMPER VANS, CARAVANS, MOBILE HOMES, BOATS AND ALL PLANT, DIGGERS, DUMPERS, MOTORBIKES, CARS AND COMMERCIALS WANTED. BEST PRICE PAID, CASH TODAY, ANY REGISTRATION WITH OR WITHOUT PAPERS. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837 (290189)

CARS, VANS, ANY RESGISTRATION, INSTANT CASH, FINANCE / EMBARGO UK OR SPANISH 685 524 921 (290189) CARS, VANS UK OR SPANISH BOUGHT FOR CASH. FREE COLLECTION IN SPAIN / UK. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837 OR 952 669 701 (290189)

FOR SALE ROBERTSON CARS...would like to thank all of my past, present & future clients for their continued support over the last 35 years here in Spain. Stay safe and outdrive everyone.

If contacting Samantha in the afternoons, please only Whatsapp on 608 658 785 or Email therobertsonclan@ gmail.com as I am driving mostly & unable to take your calls.

ROBERTSON CARS CLOSING DOWN HOLIDAY SALE: AUTOMATIC / CABRIO SMART CAR Silver with Black Electric Hood, hood can be half opened or fully down, go top-less, 2 seater.

Small Car Big Personality. Park anywhere, little beauty she has her own car cover. Huge Service History originally from Germany, now Spanish Plates.

Low KMS. ITV, Air-condition , Electric Windows and Locking, 2 Keys. Outstanding Condition, WAS €5,995 NOW SALE PRICE €5,000 Perfect Runaround. See Photo on my web page – www.robert soncars-spain.com or text/ Whatsapp me: 608 658 785 Email therobertsonclan@ gmail.com ROBERTSON CARS CLOSING DOWN HOLIDAY SALE 4x4 RANGE ROVER SPORT 2022 LOW KILOMETRES Stunning in White, New ITV Till August.

Always garaged, lady owner has looked after her. Arrive in style was €18,995 now SALE PRICE €17,000 See Photo on my web page – www.robert soncars-spain.com or text/

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance.

Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market.

For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

CAR SERVICES ENGLISH bodyshop, fully equipped, Mijas Costa. No Job Too Small. 952 667 074

IMPORT/TRANSFER CARS TRANSFERRED, history checks, Imports and Embargo problems. Change of use and lost papers. Change your car to Spanish plates, simple efficient service. Cars bought and sold.

Please call 678808837 or email carsinspain@live. co.uk (290189)

WANTED CARS, Vans, Bikes wanted. Any Reg, Anything Considered Call or Whatsapp 687 049 592 WANTED, wanted, wanted!!

All cars, all years, all models… from exotic to classic. Spanish, English, Dutch plated. Call us on 951 977 329 or 606 647 597.

WANTED CARS AND VANS, FREE COLLECTION, SAME DAY 685 524 921 (290189) CARS, VANS BOUGHT WITH / WITHOUT PAPERS. CASH WAITING 678 808 837 EURO CAR Established since 1998. All Cars / Commercials wanted, runners or no-runners.

Cash. Buyer Collects. Transfer included. 605 109 796

PLUMBERS

OTHERS EDS? We have the solution, Ka magra pills & jells, Cialis, Side nafil, over 7 products for men & ladies, mixed trial packs.

Free delivery throughout Costa del Sol. WhatsApp or call 603 117 394

PASSPORT RENEWALS UK & IRISH Passport renewals including photos.

Complete Service. Cath’s Cards. 952 885 759. www. cathscards.es (290153)

PEST CONTROL COCKROACHES, ANTS, insects, fleas, mice, rats, wasps, termite specialists.

Fumigations, bars, restaurants, houses, etc.

Sanitary department officially registered certificates. Serving the coast since 1985. Only legal English owned pest control company on the coast. If you want the best then phone N.P.S. Paul 676 700 370 (303636)

PETS LAGUNAPETHOTEL.COM Loving care for cats and dogs TEL 646 066 351 (302996)

KENNELS CAT & DOG World Kennels and Cattery. 952 112 978 / 630 197 435. www. catanddogworld.com

PET CHARITY ACE CHARITY ‘El Refugio’ in La Cala de Mijas is a registered charity. We have on average 275 dogs in our care and we receive no help from the town hall or the Andalucian government. We desperately need foster homes and adoptants for our many dogs, especially the small ones and puppies who do not do well in a big shelter. We are grateful for any help offered, including donations of food and blankets.

Visiting times are from 13.00 to 15.00 and you can always turn up or make an appointment by calling Denise on 669 018 736. Our website is www. ace-charity.org where you can view all the dogs in our care.

CLASSIFIEDS II euroweeklynews.com ADANA THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN ESTEPONA. We always need volunteers to walk and socialise with our dogs and help with cleaning.

We also need good homes for our animals that you can see on www.adana.es. Kennels open every day 10-1.30, Camino de Casares, near Parque de los Pedregales, Estepona. (5 minutes from the Poligono) For more information call 952 113 467, available from 10.00am until 2.00pm. (93319) ANIMEX Foundation offers free will upgrading when leaving something for abandoned animals. Contact animexfoundation@gmail. com or call 692 166 434 now for this absolutely free service (288287) ARCH - The Andalucian Rescue Centre for Horses, registered charity 8448, the Centre is open to visitors every Sunday from 9am until 2pm. Working closely with the Spanish authorities, we rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abused and abandoned horses and donkeys. Come and meet our current rescues, learn about our work and how you may be able to help.

Run solely by a small team of dedicated volunteers, the Centre is located between Alhaurin el Grande and Coin in Comm. de Viña Borrego behind Venta Miralmonte.

For more information and directions see our website www.horserescuespain.org, our Facebook page Centro Andalusi de Rescate de Caballos or tel. 610 845 491 or 656 935 613 (93322)

how old, they are safe with us.

For day to day needs and to pay for veterinary care, we much appreciate the support we receive. We desperately need items to sell on our market stall to help raise funds and are happy to come and collect. So, if you are having a clear-out, please contact us on 605 227 155. If you would like to know more about rehoming, please call 653 257 875. Visit our website www.sos-animals.org or please phone Sandy on 952 385 923 or 666 814 056 if you would like to make a donation or help in any way. (93317)

PLUMBING PLUMBING. Leak detection & blocked drains. Tel 952 568 414 / 661 910 772 / drainspain. com (296441)

PHOTOGRAPHY SCANNING Old Photos Negatives or Slides. Convert to Digital Files or Prints. View on iPad & Phone Colourising B/W & Retouched to Professional Quality. 664 540 154 (305166)

POOLS

SEPE the horse and donkey charity is open to the public at weekends from 10.00 to 5.00. Volunteers are much needed in all departments and are welcome at any time. For our riding for the disabled classes, we are also in need of extra helpers. We are nationally registered by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior (164640) but only with your support can we give the equine a voice. If you can just commit to 2 or 3 euros a month it will really help make a difference.

You can find us at Lauro Golf Equestrian Centre, Alqueria, Alhaurin de la Torre. Tel. 608 258 950 info@sepeonline.net www.sepeonline.net (93321) SOS ANIMAL REFUGE we have dogs, young and old looking for homes. Some of our dogs have been with us for some time and would love to find a cosy spot to curl up in and a knee on which to rest their heads. If you have room in your heart and home we would love to hear from you. We do not put our dogs to sleep - no matter

/ All types. Spain +34 951 708 422. UK +44 208 144 5008.

Email info@intermarbella. com (303052)

available each way. Tel. 639 928 090 (304973)

THINKING of selling your property or interested in a current valuation?

We have clients actively looking for properties from Torremolinos to Calahonda. List with us and let us sell your property.

Call Joe 626 864 683

MAN & VAN, 20€ ph.

Removals, Rubbish & House Clearances. Paul 634 112 677

PRIVATE BUYER looking for properties between Marbella to Malaga at realistic prices. Quick decision and cash purchase if suitable. Any condition but must be legal. Call or Whatsapp 0034606 526 618

STORAGE, Storage, Storage.

Man & Van Services. Call/ Whatsapp 690 155 340

PROPERTY FOR SALE WWW.INTERMARBELLA. COM Costa del Sol Property for sale. All areas / all budgets / all types. Spain +34 951 708 422.

UK +44 208 144 5008 Email info@intermarbella.com SELLING UP?? Why not give us a call and let us give you an honest and realistic valuation of your property. List with us and let us take the stress out of selling your home. No sale no fee!! English agent on the ball with clients waiting. Please call 685 524 921. (290189) FOR SALE URBAN PLOT 1200m2. Able to build 3 Houses of 143m2.

Good investment in a prominent position Urb Sierra Chica Coin / Malaga. 130,000€ plus taxes.

Tel: +34 696 376 454

PROPERTY

MIRAFLORES, Beautiful 2 bed, 2 bath, 2 terraces, south facing apartment with virtually private garden, easy walking to beach, shops and restaurants, close to bowls and tennis club.

Call owner direct – Melanie 692 504 997 (305322)

PROP MAINTENANCE STARLIGHT Property Cleaning & Maintenance All Areas. Residential & Holiday Lets.

Persiana repairs, Decorating, Electrial & Plumbing repairs. 682 636451 www.starlight-spain.com

PROPERTY TO LET WWW.INTERMARBELLA. COM Costa del Sol Property Long Term Rentals All areas / All budgets / All types. Spain +34 951 708 422 UK +44 208 144 5008.

Email info@ intermarbella.com (303052)

PROPERTY WANTED WWW.INTERMARBELLA. COM Costa del Sol Property Sales & Long term rentals wanted. All areas / All budgets

8 - 14 February 2024

REMOVALS/STORAGE 15 CUBIC metre van returning to the UK 23rd February 2024. Space

MAN AND VAN

2 MEN, Van €30 p hour.

House Clearances & Storage. 651 081 610 moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (301129)

MAN AND VAN removals / storage service. House clearances Collections and deliveries Waste removal NO JOB TOO SMALL Call Mike on 604 380 570 (304093) A&J REMOVALS For all your clearance, delivery and removal needs. Moving never looked so good. Call us on 662534877 (305213)

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL P R O F E S S I O N A L LOCAL REMOVALS AT AFFORDABLE RATES. 1/2 DAY FROM €90. FULL DAY FROM €175. WE ALSO PROVIDE A FORTNIGHTLY DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE TO UK AND EUROPE (INCL SCOTLAND). WORLDWIDE SHIPPING TO USA, AUSTRALIA, ETC AND FULL STORAGE FACILITIES. TEL (0034) 952 578 507 OR (0034) 637 892 278 / EMAIL garymoveit@yahoo. co.uk (304252) JDS EURO TRANSPORT & REMOVALS - Regular trips throughout Europe.

Call or WhatsApp Julian 0044 7884 908 929.

See Facebook Page for recommendations (304139) moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (301129)

STORAGE moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (301129)

ROLLER SHUTTERS ACE OF SHADES PERSIANA (security shutter) electric and manual, various colours available including wood effect, we also offer a repair service. Make your home more secure! Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@ aceofshades.design ROLLER shutter repairs, 7 days a week, conversion from manual to motorised, new installations. All areas covered. Coast and inland.

655 825 931 (303730)

SOLAR SOLAR Hot Water heating: FREE HOT WATER. 28 years installation history in Spain. Envirocare. All areas covered.

Quality guaranteed. 952 663 141/ 670 409 759 info@ envirocarespain.com www. envirocarespain.com

SOFT FURNISHINGS CURTAINS, blinds, cushions and much more. Free estimates and home visits. Tel 657 369 343 or rosannacarmella8@ gmail.com (304143)

SPECIALTY SERVICES 3 IN 1. Nurse 17 years experience, Cleaner, Home help. English / Dutch speaking.

Limited slots available €30 per hour. WhatsApp or Call 690 849 277, 24 hours (304638)

SWIMMING POOLS POOL MAINTENANCE, & Repairs, including heaters & regrouts. Friendly & reliable service. Malaga to Estepona & inland areas. 678 791 495 / 951 536 389 www. sparklenripple.net (303027) SWIMMING Pool Heating Pumps, Pool Covers, Rollers, Filtration Systems. 28 years installation history in Spain.

Envirocare. All areas covered.

Quality Guaranteed. 9526 63141/670409759 info@ envirocarespain.com www. envirocarespain.com POOL MAINTENANCE & repairs. Special Winter Maintenance offer for Dec / Jan / Feb /Mar. Call NOW for more info 603 312 588 (304816)

TRANSLATORS OFFICIAL TRANSLATIONS All Languages. 952 789 204

SOLAR PROTECTION

EWN 61

Mobile 654 613 094 sanpe drotranslations@gmail. com (304238)

TV/SATELLITE REPAIRS to TV’s, LCD, LED, -Videos, Hi-Fi, & Microwaves, Mag Boxes, UK channels installed. 35 years experience.

Free Estimates, Can Collect.

John 952 491 723 or 600 706 201. (305199)

UPHOLSTERY ADVANCED Cleaning Services. Professional carpet and upholstery cleaning, 28 years experience, wet/dry clean. Honest, reliable. 678 808 837 / 952 669 701 acservs@outlook.com UPHOLSTERY including leather cleaned also carpets.

685 524 921 (290189) CARPETS AND SOFAS cleaned. Reliable, fast service.

Family run. Cleansol 952 930 861 / 607 610 578. 10am - 10pm 7 days, all areas Discount Code: EWN 1 CLEAN

WATER HEATERS ELECTRIC & Gas Water Heaters.

Quality Installations.

28 years installation history in Spain. EnviroCare. All Areas Covered. 952 663 141/670 409 759 info@ envirocarespain.com www. envirocarespain.com (304164)

WINDOW TINTING

• Motoring •

euroweeklynews.com

Longest toll road to go IS there a more satisfying journey than a toll-free one? News has emerged of the imminent change to one of Spain’s most extensive and expensive toll highways, although eager drivers will have to be patient for the time being.

On April 20, 2020, the Spanish government announced that the duration of individual tolls on Spain’s highways was to be limited to 30 years.

Hence, the toll on the AP-6 highway which connects Madrid with Castilla y Leon and incorporates the Guadarrama tunnel, is due to be removed before November 19, 2029, and as such will impact thousands of daily commuters.

Other highways in Spain are following suit, with varying concession periods ranging from 30 to 50 years. AP-9 (Atlantic Highway) between Ferrol and the Portuguese border, the AP-36 between Ocaña (Toledo) and the Roda

(Albacete), and the AP-68 are on the list to become toll-free by 2026.

Moreover, Madrid’s radial highways and the AP-15 in Navarra are scheduled to end their toll concessions in 2032 and 2029, respectively. However, tolls remain active on the Catalan C-16 and C-32 highways.

Turning to the Basque Country, an innovative, booth-less toll system on the A-636 is revolutionising travel between Beasain and Bergara. Utilising ‘Free-Flow’ technology, this

system identifies vehicles through cameras mounted on arches at Beasain, Ezkio, and Desakarga.

Motorists must register for charging via the Bidegui app, join ABIATU, or use the ViaT electronic toll. The system offers discounts based on highway usage and eliminates the need for traditional toll booths, streamlining travel and reducing congestion.

This approach, akin to systems in Portugal, could be a precursor to broader implementation across Spain in the near future.

Credit: Philip Lange/Shutterstock.com

62 8 - 14 February 2024

TOLL ROADS: Some of them are due to be phased out.

• Motoring •

euroweeklynews.com

8 - 14 February 2024

63

Lexus NX – classy, comfortable and refined ROAD TEST

By Mark Slack WE have become used to manufacturers creating sporting or luxury brands as offshoots to their main production vehicles.

One of the car makers that began this trend, and certainly brought it to greater public consciousness, is Toyota. In 1989 they launched Lexus as their luxury arm and unlike some brands have maintained a presence where others have retreated. They have also succeeded in differentiating their two brands with Lexus having much sharper and more angular looks and strong exterior lines.

The latest Lexus NX has just been launched and prices for this larger SUV start from a not unreasonable €51,937/£44,430.

Powertrain choices are

the 350h, a self-charging hybrid, or a plug-in hybrid, the 450h, the first from the company. You can drive the front wheels or all four of them, and the 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is mated to an e-CVT automatic gearbox.

All NX models come with tyre pressure warning system, automatic rolling door locks, push-button start, dual zone air conditioning, auto dimming rear view mirrors, power adjustable steering wheel, heated front seats, LED lights with high beam assist, multi-function electric door mirrors, auto lights and wipers, car play and android auto, 10-speaker sound system, reversing camera and power tailgate. Phew!

My test model was the 350h, all-wheel-drive, Takumi model that sits towards the top of the range at €69,536/£59,485, and came with a tilt-andslide panoramic sunroof

along with a vast array of standard equipment and

safety kit. Quality on all Lexus models is pretty

much as guaranteed as it’s possible to be, and the NX is no exception. The interior of my example had ‘Dark Rose’ seating and looked very classy and a nice contrast to

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Facts at a Glance

• Model: Lexus NX 350h Takumi AWD • Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol with electric hybrid self-charging developing 248PS • Gears: e-CVT automatic • Performance: 0-100 kph (62 mph) Petrol 7.7 secs • Maximum Speed – Petrol 180 kph (112 mph) – EV 125 kph (77 mph) • Economy: Petrol 6.4 l/100km (44.1 mpg) WLTP • Emissions: 145 g/km WLTP Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

the black trim elsewhere.

A large touchscreen and some traditional buttons (no sub-menu scrolling required) reveals a much more intuitive control set up. Previous Lexus models have seen controls that are rather too clever for their own good, a kind of form over function approach.

Not so in this latest NX and it enhances the usability of an already impressive interior.

On the road the refinement and smoothness of the NX is excellent, unless you over exercise your right foot when the engine’s vocals rise noticeably due to the nature of the CVT gearbox.

For the main part though it’s a very nice drive with well controlled suspension over the rough stuff and decent steering. The NX is a classy, comfortable and refined SUV with all the usual, and very welcome, Lexus attributes.

• Sport •

64 8 - 14 February 2024

Formula 1 news John Smith FORMULA 1 is back in the news for two reasons, firstly because on February 1 it rejected the recent bid from the Andretti racing team to become part of the franchise.

The group is headed by former McLaren driver Michael Andretti and his probably better known father Mario, was 1978 world champion.

They wanted to become the 11th team on the F1 grid but their

bid was rejected on the grounds that as they don’t have their own power unit and don’t expect partner General Motors to create one for several years, they are unlikely to be competitive.

While the announcement of Lewis Hamilton joining

Credit: Mercedes AMG F1

Hamilton is on the move.

Ferrari for 2025 is understandably creating great excitement as the seven-time World Champion switches to Maranello after over a decade with Mercedes, the big loser in the musical chairs is Carlos Sainz.

There has been a well-documented on-off relationship with Ferrari who have been trying to poach Hamilton for years but when he signed a new twoyear contract with Mercedes in 2023 it was assumed he was tied in until at least 2026.

Appearing on the F1 Nation podcast to discuss Hamilton’s move, F1 journalist Lawrence Barretto said that, given Sainz’s form isn’t in question, the current Ferrari driver will have no shortage of options on the driver market for next season.

Both Mercedes and Red Bull still have unconfirmed race seats for 2025 - although Barretto believes it’s Mercedes at which Sainz has the better chance.

euroweeklynews.com

ANDALUCIA WALKING FOOTBALL LEAGUE

You’ll never walk alone!

THE lack of games this week enables us to take another look at our version of the world’s most popular participation sport.

Until a few years ago, much of the footage depicting walking football available on the internet showed a comparatively sedate game played by ‘old timers’ displaying a debatable level of skill.

However, you will now find many excellent examples of how the game is really played, showing a high level of speed (despite the ‘no running’ rules), skill and fitness.

In one guise or other, football can be traced back to Ancient China, Greece and Rome. The modern game originated in Britain in the 19th century but it wasn’t until 2011 that John Croot invented what we now know as Walking Football at Chesterfield Football Club, and he did so to inspire people to take more exercise and counter social isolation.

A 2014 TV ad featuring an individual playing the game really brought the sport to the attention of the general public and this was escalated by further TV coverage of a walking football session, initially thought to be an April Fool’s joke, by Sky Sports News in 2017. Since then, Walking Football has gone from strength to strength and has been the fastest growing sport in the UK and Spain for several years.

It was introduced to Spain on the Costa del Sol in 2015 and is now played by

The fastest growing sport in Spain.

hundreds of men in their 50s and upwards and by women of 40+, who may participate alongside the men or in teams of their own. The AWFL, split into two divisions, Over 50s and Over 60s, consists of teams from eight different clubs with others waiting to join. Currently, Malaga WFC comfortably head the Over 50s and AC Benahavis the Over 60s Leagues. Look out for individual club Facebook pages and websites for further information.