Costa de Almeria 16 – 22 November 2023 Issue 2002

Costa de Almeria• Issue No. 2002 • 16 - 22 November 2023

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ILMAINEN

GRATIS

MOJACAR MURALS

Credit: My name is Fran Facebook

UNIQUE: Mesmerising mural with its creator!

Jennifer Popplewell ART comes in many forms, and is at its best when it can be seen by many, to be received by each person in their own unique way.

One man from Mojacar, who goes by the title of ‘My name is Fran’, is cre­ ating magical murals that transport one to another world. He uses bright

colours and incorporates the natural elements of his canvas into his works.

Fran’s work is unique, with one of his recent murals that was made for a private client including gangster emus with guns and sunglasses!

Another piece shows his talent for realism as he paints a majestic An­ dalucian mountain back­

ground, complete with a reflective sea.

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GRATUITO

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16 - 22 November 2023

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LOCAL NEWS

Terror tunnel

Alison Radley PREPARE to be petrified? Tread through the terror tunnel of Albox the weekend of the 18th, if you dare!

Albox has set out its very own pas­ sage of doom, where it promises that ‘all your nightmares will be­ come a reality’, ominous!

Entry to this living nightmare is free but it is not recommended for children under the age of 12.

Groups of eight to 10 people can enter from the hours of 9pm until 1am.

The Terror Tunnel will be located at the Pabellon Las Ventas in Albox.

Be there, and be scared!

So, for the lovers of all that is dark and mysterious, and who wish to embark on their own personal hor­ ror story, the entrance awaits…

from Front page The local artist often shares his murals on his social media, and many of his followers react in awe at the photos of his work. Com­ ments on the latest mural shared on Face­ book included “wow, such talent”, and “fantastic, such an artist!”

PASSAGE OF DOOM: Even he’s scared!

Such talent

In addition to his mesmerising mural paintings, my name is Fran also offers cus­ tom pieces on canvas. You can find him at the Los Llanos Market in Arboleas every Saturday morning.

Credit: Wikipedia

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LOCAL NEWS

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16 - 22 November 2023

YOUR EWN HAS

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

NIBS EXTRA Churro Day WORLD Churro Day was cel­ ebrated on Saturday, November 11, in Almeria in a very special way. Vouchers for drinks were distributed to customers of three very famous restaurants as a re­ ward for their loyalty, as well as to promote and highlight this artisanal dish so deeply rooted in Spanish culture.

Vera flamenco INTERNATIONAL Flamenco Day will be celebrated in Vera with the performance of ‘time comes to our city as a witness,’ a musical show by the renowned pi­ anist Dorantes. He will share the stage with the percussionist Sergio Fargas and the double bassist Javier Moreno. The show will take place on Saturday November 18 at 8pm at the Ciudad de Vera Audito­ rium. Do not miss it!

Coffee & Links ‘COFFEE and Links’ day, which included a memory workshop, was held in the Social Room with the elderly citizens from Antas Day Cen­ tre. In attendance was the mayor of Antas, Pedro Ri­ dao, who accompanied the elders and enjoyed the day.

Friendships and connections have been strengthened through the different activi­ ties carried out.

Losing streak FOOTBALL team UD Almeria have unfortunately contin­ ued on their losing streak this week, the final score was UD Almeria 1­3 Real So­ ciedad. As defeat seems to be the new routine for the red and white family, even blaming the referee (as many did in this match) does not quite cut it.

WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY is a celebration recognised worldwide on November 20.

This is an important day, as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopt­ ed the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

In Vera there are two days planned for celebration of our young generation. The first day will be Sunday, November 19 where a party will be held in the Plaza May­ or, Plaza de la Verja and in the Plaza de José Ramón ‘El Alicantino’. The events will begin at 10.30am and end around 1pm.

Credit: CGTN

Celebrate children 113 IMPORTANT DAY: Chidren are the future.

The following day, Mon­ day November 20 there will be an activity organised by the Almeria Provincial Coun­

Spectacular scene

Tumble trees IT has been reported that nearly 100 trees in Almeria City have been left damaged in the wake of storm Ciaran.

It has taken almost a week for the council to count the number of trees that have been affected by the passage of storm Ciaran. The strong winds caused 50 trees to fall directly to the ground with an additional 47 that suf­ fered partial breaks in their branches.

Minor injuries were reported from these incidents, therefore Almeria trees are now classified as low, medi­ um, high or imminent risk depending on the possibility that their branches or the entire specimen could fall or cause a problem.

These markings have been carried out in an intent to avoid further dan­ gerous situations, however, in times of extreme wind like last week, it is rather difficult to avoid it.

cil which will be aimed at children from six to nine years old. These are family workshops, where children

have to be accompanied by an adult. The activity will consist of three parts: raising awareness about rights and duties, a storyteller and a personalised badge work­ shop. All participating chil­ dren will receive a gift in ad­ dition to taking home the badges they make. There are limited places for the Mon­ day event, therefore prior registration through email is necessary. All bookings and enquiries should be sent to ludoteca@vera.es.

Here’s to the generation of the future leaders of Spain and the world!

THE ‘spectacular’ Almeria City Christmas Nativity Scene opening date has been announced.

Each year it seems like Christmas begins even earlier, with all the lights and trees that have been erected already making early November feel like late December in 2023!

However, there can never be enough Christ­ mas joy, so who can com­ plain, but some good news came in Almeria on Sunday November 12, as it was announced that the traditional spectacular Nativity Scene will official­ ly open its doors on De­

Credit: Ayuntamiento de Almeria

XMAS JOY: A previous Almeria Nativity Scene.

cember 1. It will be held at the ‘Antonio de Torres’ Guitar Museum and can be visited from this date until January 6.

Creators of this sacred scene are The Almeria Student Brotherhood, who attained the honour through the winning of a

Wicked waves IT’S that time of year where the sea is just that little bit too cold for many to take a dip, however some brave thrill­ seekers didn’t mind making a splash in Cuevas del Almanzora!

It was the Spanish National Wake­ board Championships at Lunar Cable Park in Cuevas del Almanzora last weekend. The qualifying rounds were held on Saturday November 11 and the finals rounds were on Sunday Novem­ ber 12.

Those who attended declared that it

was an exciting couple of days and that the standard was incredible.

A chiringuito was close by for those who became a tad parched, ready with food, drink and live music all day, as well as a much­appreciated beer tent (run by Jorge from De Tap Room in Mojacar). In addition to this, next door there was an axe throwing stall! Hap­ pily (and perhaps surprisingly in this rave of risks) there were no injuries from the weekend, and a good time was had by all!

competition, specifically created for this purpose.

As the spectacle seems to get better each year, and many come from far and wide to view it, the residents of Almeria await excitedly what magic will be shown this Christmas!

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Military mystery A US military plane landed in Almeria air­ port, causing residents to wonder why it mys­ teriously showed up and what its plans were.

The flight, which was a Boeing C­17 Globe­ master III, landed in Almeria at 8.57am and kept the people of Almeria in suspense.

The uncertainty sur­ rounding the arrival of the aircraft was en­ hanced when both AE­ NA and the Govern­ ment Sub­delegation and the Ministry of De­ fence did not give any statement regarding de­ tails of the mystery mili­ tary aircraft.

Almeria Airport then decided to turn the inci­ dent into a real­life X Files episode when they declared that this is “sensitive information” and that the responsibil­ ity falls on the Ministry of Defence. However, the latter has not pro­ vided any statement on the matter.

Many have been coming up with their own wild and wonder­ ful theories, but until further information is revealed all Almeria can do is wait.

Who can handle this suspense!?

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16 - 22 November 2023 THE town of Mojacar established its brand new bus station on Monday, November 13.

Mojacar currently holds nearly 7,000 inhabitants, however, this increases up to around 40,000 during the summer months. Over 40 bus expeditions usually stop in Mojacar, however, despite the large volume of travellers, until now it did not have the appropriate facilities to serve this.

The new bus interchange is located on Avenida de Andalucia which is the road that connects the historic centre of the municipality with its coastal

Sunny station The mayor of Mojacar with councillors.

development.

The station, which has been co-financed by European Feder funds, has enough room for 15-metre long bus bays, as well as an operations building where offices, ticket

offices and bathrooms are located.

The mayor of Mojacar has expressed satisfaction with the construction of an interchange that “will meet the demand of our neighbours and visitors.”

PROVERB OF THE WEEK “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

This proverb highlights the need for steady persistence in achieving any goal and comes from the 6th century BC Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism.

LOCAL NEWS

Charity market ON Saturday, November 18, local charity, MACS Mojacar, will hold their Christmas Market in the parking area in front of their charity shop.

MACS (Mojacar Area Cancer Support) provide help, care and support for people with cancer related disorders. MACS is a registered charity and as such, is totally de­ pendent upon external support/donations and also the commitment of volunteers.

The group continues to raise much needed funds for the immediate and future medical require­ ments of patients. There are numerous compa­ nies and individuals who have supported and con­ tributed to MACS, en­ abling the group to pro­ vide much needed help during often very trau­ matic times.

This year’s MACS Christmas Market will be held on Saturday, November 18 at 10am and there is no entry cost.

Available to enjoy will be many different stalls selling various gifts and handmade Christmas to­ kens, in addition to as­ sorted food stands which will serve both savoury and sweet treats.

Live music will also be played at the event, per­ formed by Jake and Lady Ellen.

The market will last until around 3pm and proceeds will go towards this worthwhile charity. macscancersupport.com

68 years: the length of the longest bout of hiccups.

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16 - 22 November 2023

Pink Arrows THE ‘Pink Arrows’ day was held in Antas and ended in a fantastic success!

The event was organised by the Makura Association, in collaboration with the Antas Council, and was held to raise funds for the Amama (Breast Cancer) Association.

During the day, participants were able to enjoy various activities related to the sport of archery. According to studies carried out, the practice of archery is beneficial for mas­ tectomised women, because it exercises the arm, the affected muscle and concen­ tration.

Alongside this there was a delicious breakfast, shooting exercises, archery prac­ tice, finger food, raffles and an excellent day of fantastic fun. Antas Council publicly thanked everyone who participated in this important event for a worthy cause, stat­ ing that “without them none of this would have been possible.”

Tourism rises

TOURISM figures for the Almeria coast have sig­ nificantly improved since 2019.

With 2019 being the last tourist season before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, figures comparing the year to this year, 2023 have shown a significant rise, according to data provid­ ed by Exceltur. Amidst the positive data from Almeria, the rise in two municipalities stands out: Roquetas de Mar and Mojacar.

In the case of Roquetas de Mar, RevPAR has grown by 13.6 per cent.

This statistic measures the number of guests booked in each hotel and the income generated by the reservations. In the case of Mojacar, RevPAR has grown by 8.1 per cent in four years.

In terms of hotel occupancy, Roquetas rose to 89.4 per cent while in Mojacar it was 82.4 per cent. In the summer months, between June and

Credit: Mojacar Town Hall

MOJACAR: Saw a significant increase.

September, tourists who have visited the province have spent, on average of €71.10 per day, which is 4.8 per cent more than in the same period of the year of 2019.

Great news for these areas, as after Covid 19 caused a disaster in the tourism sector, it seems the light that was waiting at the end of the tunnel is now shining brighter than ever!

LOCAL NEWS

Agricultural agreement AN important agricultural agreement is now signed, sealed and delivered in Huercal­Overa.

The agreement involves the donation of a farm for the purpose of water regeneration.

The Huercal­Overa Council and the Northern Zone Irrigation Community have signed a collab­ oration agreement in the Plenary Hall to pro­ mote the treatment project in the water regen­ eration facility.

Present at the signing was the mayor, Domin­ go Fernandez, who pointed out that “through this agreement, we launch a mechanism that will allow the Community of Irrigators to carry out this vitally important project, it will make al­ most a cubic hectometre of water available for irrigation, with the consequent wealth it gener­ ates. Water scarcity is one of the main con­ cerns.” This agreement establishes the tempo­ rary and partial transfer of use of half a hectare in a municipal property with the objective of carry­ ing out the tertiary treatment project in the mu­ nicipality’s water regeneration facility.

Barry Austin

Modern business

EXCITING plans for a modern business cen­ tre, ‘CASA OROZCO’ have been approved in Vera, in the building annexed to the Casas Palaciegas.

The building of the ‘CASA OROZCO’ is proposed to have more than 2,680 square metres, which will be distributed amongst a basement, three floors and a rooftop

area with stunning views. It will become a modern and innovative business centre, in face and in function. The building will house the new headquarters of the mixed company Codeur.

CASA OROZCO will function as a business coworking area, training rooms, as well as hosting other community events.

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Credit: Maz’s Rescues Facebook

Maz’s rescues Volunteers with the doggies!

MAZ’S RESCUES is a canine and feline sanctuary based in Albox.

They are a registered charity in Spain dedicated to rescuing and saving abandoned and abused dogs and cats. They state on their website that they strongly believe that no healthy animal should be put to sleep.

They work to find suitable homes for the dogs and cats in their care and have links outside of Spain that allow them to rehome their animals both within Spain and overseas.

Maz’s Rescues desperately need volunteers for their shop, located on Avenida America in Albox. If you can spare just four hours a week to help in their charity shop you would be working with a great bunch of volunteers and helping towards providing much needed funds for all the animals in their care. The shop is open six days a week Monday to Saturday, 10am until 2pm.

Alternatively, you can donate to their cause directly, consider adopting an animal or attend one of their many fundraising events.

If you are interested in volunteering your services and for any further information please contact them either by email info@mazsrescues.org, via their website mazsrescues.org, or call into the shop and see the Shop Manager, Louise.

Help give these poor animals a PAWsome life!

16 - 22 November 2023 AT the Mojacar primary school, Ceip Bartolome Flores, as a part of the Ear­ ly Childhood Education Cycle, the stu­ dents are carrying out the ‘Los Polli­ tos’ (the chicks) project.

The main objective is to ensure that chicks who were born at the school from eggs are now cared for in an in­ cubator.

The students have cared for these special eggs for 21 days, maintaining the temperature and pouring water on them.

Finally, on Monday, November 6, they saw live how the very first chick was born! The next day three more chicks were born.

OLE! The Huercal­Overa Council celebrates Flamenco Day with the local schools.

The Huercal­Overa Coun­ cil, through the Department of Education, commemo­ rates Flamenco Day today, Thursday November 16, with an activity aimed at pri­ mary school students from all the local schools.

The aim is to put into practice the value of cultural dance and spread this artis­ tic manifestation among young children.

The activities, in which more than 2,000 schoolchil­

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Children & chicks Credit: Ceip Bartolome Flores

LOCAL NEWS

PROJECT: Caring for the eggs.

The school has stated that “without a doubt it has been a wonderful expe­

rience in which both students and teachers have enjoyed it to the fullest.”

Other primary school students have been invited to meet the chicks and also enjoy the wonderful nature.

From now on, the students will take care of the four chicks and continue researching their care, characteristics, types of birds... and enjoying this wonderful project, in which they learn responsibility and practise love and care.

Ole Flamenco!

dren will participate, are the result of a collaboration of the Martin Alonso Munici­ pal Music School (EMMA) of the municipality and the dif­ ferent Primary Education centres.

Students will be able to enjoy a live performance with flamenco cajon and guitar by EMMA teachers.

International Flamenco Day is celebrated every November 16 since UNESCO declared it Intangible Her­

itage of Humanity. Since then, November has been a

key date for the entire fla­ menco family in our coun­ try, especially in Andalucia, the birthplace of flamenco in all its forms.

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16 - 22 November 2023

LOCAL NEWS

Salaries shared Credit: CC

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MONEY MATTERS: Annual salaries of the councillors have been made public.

ALBOX Council has made the annual salaries of its councillors public.

This information was re­ leased through the Official Gazette of the Province of Almeria.

In total, the payment of these salaries represents a total of €190,169.14 that is paid from the council’s cof­ fers, without taking into ac­ count the sum of the salaries of the highest representative of the municipality.

The highest paid is Martin

Martinez Porcel, second deputy mayor, delegate councillor for the Area of Sports, Tourism, Citizen Se­ curity and Special Infrastruc­ tures, who receives a total of €46,082.40 gross per year.

Showing as the lowest paid in this regime is Maria Luisa Granero Martinez, first deputy mayor, Dele­ gate Councillor of the Presi­ dency, Communication, Employment, Human Re­ sources and Cadastre Area, who receives €39,048.10

ALMERIA has long been known to be frequent­ ed by our alien amigos, particularly Aguadulce, an area abundant in terms of recorded UFO sightings.

An expert in ufology, writer JJ Benitez, stated that “Almeria is a land of UFOs” at the El Ejido Book Fair in 2008. Its beaches and cliffs are a perfect point to observe strange flying objects, and several UFO groups from Almeria often meet on the El Cañarete highway at night. One of these, the AVANCE Cultural Association, made one of many calls on the infamous alien night of March 23, 1977, to report a UFO in the sky over Roquetas de Mar and Aguadulce. That night, a famous actor from Almeria experi­ enced something unexplainable. Paco Barrila­ do reported that he got in the car with his wife in Roquetas de Mar, and in less than three min­ utes he was impossibly on the outskirts of Almeria capital. Neither of them remembered

gross per year.

Through this action, the mayor of Albox Council, Maria Del Mar Alfonso Perez, has made the data public, so that the informa­ tion is available to all. This in accordance with the provi­ sions of article 75.5 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulato­ ry of the Bases of Local Regime and in article 45 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, on the Common Administra­ tive Procedure of Public Ad­ ministrations

Aliens in Almeria

anything about that trip. However, the next day he saw a headline that read: ‘Several UFOs seen near Roquetas de Mar’.

Recently, in late October, a file was declassi­ fied on UFO sightings in Almeria, stating that they are ‘frequent’. In a statement by the Gen­ eral Sub Inspector of the 2nd Air Region it not­ ed that a ‘countryman’ reported an unidenti­ fied flying object that was then observed by authorities. The same commander confirmed the non­existence of flights at those times, ac­ cording to the control tower. As Arthur C Clarke stated, “two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”

MARVEL-ous Vera Barry Austin

THE Regio Cinema of Vera has announced its winter pro­ gramme, which from Friday November 17 until Thursday November 23 will be showing the spectacular film, ‘The Marvels’. The last showing, on Thursday November 23 at

8.30pm will be in English au­ dio with Spanish subtitles.

In addition to this, on Friday November 17, there will be a special day for children in which a kids animation per­ formance of ‘The Marvels’ will be shown at 6.30pm.

Entry to this super show will be free to all those, adults

and children alike, who dress up in a Marvel inspired cos­ tume, so get the fancy dress box out!

Remember, anybody can wear a cape, but a real hero saves the day! (by making a cape out of a tablecloth and taking the kids out for a fun filled Friday)

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Credit: Blog Diputacion de Almeria

Almeria to Antarctica

A GREAT JOURNEY: Marga pictured on the right is currently sailing on her way.

THE road to Antarctica from Almeria, the start of the great journey of Marga López from El Ejido.

Marga Lopez Rivas will take the name of Almeria all the way to Antarctica. The biolo­ gist is currently sailing on her way to Antarctica, participat­ ing in the international ‘Homeward Bound’ project.

The researcher, whose mother is from Malaga and whose father is from Dalian, was raised in El Ejido, and is one of the 93 women partic­ ipating in the first expedition

of the fifth edition of ‘Home­ ward Bound’, an interna­ tional programme designed to strengthen female leader­ ship in the fight against cli­ mate change.

Marga is the first Andalu­ cian to be part of this project and is one of four Spaniards who have already left the Port of Ushuaia, in Argenti­ na, on a trip that will last un­ til November 22.

Homeward Bound is a project supported by the Ac­ ciona Association and is now resuming these journeys af­

ter the break due to the pandemic.

“We are very happy. After three years, this moment has finally arrived. We want to really enjoy the experi­ ence, give everything we have inside and contribute to achieving a better plan­ et,” said Marga Lopez, in statements provided by the organisation before embark­ ing on the great adventure of her life.

LOCAL NEWS

Exciting exhibit THE Vera International Photo club presents an exciting new exhibition in Mojacar.

The ‘La Fuente de Mojacar’ Municipal Art Centre has opened its doors to a new exhibition by the Vera International Photo Club.

The club is well-known in the area for the quality of their work, as they bring together photographers of all levels and a blend of nationalities, meeting regularly, both online and in person, to share, develop and appreciate their diverse work and to stimulate creativity in all photographic genres.

During the entire month of November visitors can enjoy this fantastic exhibition that shows the incredible work produced by its members, with high

A FOURTEEN­YEAR-OLD boy from Almeria has been arrested for driv­ ing a sports car in an attempt to reach France.

The young man, who may have thought he was in the sequel film, Too Fast Too Furious ­ Fourteen­ Year­Old Nicked, was pulled over by police in a random stop and subject­ ed to the corresponding regulatory breathalyser tests, in which he gave a negative result.

Following this his documentation was required which stated that he

Credit: Mojacar Town Hall

QUALITY WORK: The Vera International Photo Club.

quality images based on landscapes, portraits, abstracts, wildlife, Spanish life, and more.

Vera International Photo Club is the most prominent photography collective in the province, and many of its members are

considered inspirations in the genre.

The exhibition will be open until November 29 and entry is free!

Opening times are: Monday to Friday, 9am until 1pm. Saturday and Sunday, 10am until 2pm

Small speeder had been born in 2009, making the boy 14 years old.

Although he was behind the wheel of a high­power sports car, he did not hold any type of permit or driving licence that would enable him to drive a motor vehicle.

Even more shocking is that he was accompanied by his father, who at that time had given him permission

to drive the car.

After identifying him, the Guardia Civil verified that they came from their home in the province of Alme­ ria and were heading to France.

Their crimes have been reported and at this time no further informa­ tion is known as to what the conse­ quences of these alarming actions will be.

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LOCAL NEWS

BEAUTIFUL: Magic in the Mojacar skies.

er who claimed it could not be that. It was named as ‘divine magic’ by one member, how­ ever, one thing that they all did agree on, was that it is breathtakingly beautiful.

So next time the day feels as though it’s run­ ning away from you, and your to­do list is as long as your arm, just take a second to stop, look up above, and you might just meet some magic.

THE presentation of the football school teams of Gar­ rucha, season 2023/24, took place on Friday November 10.

The ceremony of all cate­ gories of the PD Football School was held at the Emilio Moldenhauer Municipal Field in Garrucha.

In attendance at the event was the Mayor Pedro Zamo­ ra, Sports councilor, Jose Os­

Credit: FiestasDelCuadrillas

THE town of Albox is return­ ing to its roots this weekend with a traditional music and dance festival.

In today’s world, many spe­ cial and sacred cultural tradi­ tions have sadly been lost to time. The older generation of­ ten tell of songs, dances and rituals that the new genera­ tion are simply not interested in.

In Albox, however, these Almeriense songs and dances are coming back to life this weekend. The third Festival of Traditional Almeriense Dance and Music will be held on Sat­

MUSIC & DANCE: Traditional Andalucian Cuadrilla.

urday, November 18 at 11am in the Plaza del Pueblo, and al­ so at 12pm at the Water and Health Centre in Albox.

The traditional Spanish folk music ‘Cuadrilla’ will be played live, by Cuadrilla de

Velez Rubio and Cuadrilla El Niño De Napoles.

Come along to fully im­ merse yourself into the cul­ ture that must be upheld and celebrated throughout the ages.

Garrucha goals orio and even the former In­ ternational soccer player Sal­ va Ballesta!

Seventeen teams partici­ pated in this event, with around 350 children in total.

The football team also thanked all the dedicated parents of the participants for sticking it out until the end, despite the slightly windy weather conditions!

Credit: Ayuntamiento de Vera

Alison Radley LIFE can be busy and hectic for many of us.

However, it is important to sometimes just slow down, take a breath, and look up at the beautiful sky under which we lead these crazy lives. If you do, you may, like many in Mojacar did recently, get a wonderful surprise.

Sightings of a rare phenomenon have been reported in the last week in the town of Mo­ jacar, that being multicoloured rays of light within clouds and the sky. Photos of the unique visual have been shared on social me­ dia, with debates as to the explanation behind it.

One user titled it as a ‘cloud iridescence’, with another agreeing, saying they have seen a similar vision recently in other areas of Spain too.

One claimed that the colours were due to an aurora, however this was denied by anoth­

Credit: Anne Soderman Facebook

Surreal skies Traditional festival

ROLLER SKATING: Something for everyone to enjoy.

Sunday skating!

Ivy Cheetham IT is important to keep chil­ dren active this winter and away from being constantly in front of the television! In Vera there are now free fam­ ily weekend activities over the winter, for all to enjoy.

On Sundays, come with their friends and families to enjoy a day of roller skating, with no entrance cost nor registration required!

Is it all part of the ‘Your Winter Beaches’ programme in Vera, that is encouraging people to come out and take advantage of the good weather enjoyed in this part of the world, all year round.

The skating activities are designed for all ages, from the youngest to the most ex­ perienced. It will be held at Plaza de la Pergola (Prome­ nade of Vera Playa) at 11am.

LOCAL NEWS

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16 - 22 November 2023

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Sustain the future ON Saturday November 18 and Sunday November 19, Ve­ ra will host the third Malvasia Festival: action for climate change and a sustainable fu­ ture.

The festival will be held at the Amphitheatre of Los Caños de Vera and will begin on Saturday at 10am.

This is the third consecutive year of the festival, which is working together with the Save the Salar Los Caños Asso­ ciation, and attendees can en­ joy many activities.

Workshops will be held on how personal actions can help the climate, as well as talks

Credit: Vera Council Facebook

Save the Salar Los Caños Association.

and presentations from envi­ ronmental experts. There will also be games for the children, in addition to music and danc­ ing.

The festival states that this is a unique opportunity to en­

joy our environment, get to know it and value it in com­ munity and surrounded by na­ ture. The Vera Council has also thanked the Andalucian Youth Institute for its invaluable col­ laboration.

Bringing Bristol Brits here!

ALMERIA airport will now have a new flight connecting to the United Kingdom, specifically, to the city of Bris­ tol. The airline providing this new service has yet to be an­ nounced.

Bristol will be the sixth British airport with which Almeria will be connected to

by air by the year 2024.

During the council’s partici­ pation in the 44th edition of the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, the desti­ nation ‘Costa de Almeria’, re­ inforced its commitment to the British market with the new flight connection.

In reference to the new

bond with Bristol, the provin­ cial deputy, Carlos Sanchez stated that “our province has the highest average stay in Andalucia with 8.3 days, com­ pared to the average 7.2. In addition, everyone has shown interest in the improvement in direct air connections with Almería.”

Fully equipped p open p p plan kitchen working well withhe rest of the house.

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Garcia at the Gala

Vazquez Cebas. The cele­ bration they attended was the gala of the Diario de Almeria Awards in honour of the 16 years that it has been running.

Many important faces were in attendance, all dressed to impress for this celebration.

Various awards were given in the Auditorium Theatre, before tapas and drinks were enjoyed by all.

Congratulations to Di­ ario de Almeria and of course to all the award winners.

WELL DONE: The mayor at the Gala.

Avant-garde Almeria THE Almeria studio Paralela, directed by the ar­ chitect Pedro Francisco and the interior designer Alexia Martinez, have signed one of the most outstanding proposals of the current edition of Marbella Design & Art. Marbella Design and Art is a leading fair for avant­garde design that brings together today’s leading designers and innovative art.

The proposal, named ‘Transversal’ has the concept of an ambiguous ‘temple’, capable of transporting the visitor to other places of memo­ ry. ‘Transversal’ is captured in a space as if it were an empty box, perforated with an earthy, quasi­

LOCAL NEWS

Close call Credit: Ayuntamiento de Vera Facebook

THE mayor of Vera, Alfon­ so Garcia attended a sig­ nificant celebration that was held at the Auditori­ um Theatre in Roquetas Del Mar. Garcia was ac­ companied to the event by the first deputy mayor, Carolina Perez Gallardo and the councillor for Communication Irene

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stone materiality. The box is covered and pro­ tected at its entrances with an overlapping strip that, as it is introduced into the space, is trans­ formed into equipped walls, where different construction elements appear inside.

A play of materials, which generate a transi­ tion from the ethereal (the reflections of light) to the most tectonic (the stone), are used. This con­ cept of an architectural temple is thanks to the wide versatility of applications of surfaces. The proposal has outstanding support in terms of product placement from many different compa­ nies.

AN elderly man has been rescued in Bedar after being missing for five hours.

At around 4.30pm on November 10, the Turre Guardia Civil in Almeria were alerted to the fact that a man, aged 78, had left his home on foot and headed to the Los Pinos de Bedar area.

A call was made from the man, at around 4.15pm, to a family member, when he stated he had suffered a fall, was disoriented and could not walk.

The family member altered the authorities and the Guardia Civil Command of Almeria immediately mobilised several patrols to locate the injured person.

Thankfully after an extensive search, the man was located just after 9pm. He was found disoriented and suffering from an injured leg.

LOCAL NEWS

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16 - 22 November 2023

Trophy haul Credit: Ayuntamiento de Mojacar

FINAL RACE: The Los Bandidos runners.

ON Saturday November 11, 13 Los Bandidos runners participated in the 18th and final race in the series of the Circuito de Carreras Populares Diputacion de Almeria 2023.

The 9km course ran through the town before heading onto tracks through the forest, and then finished on a long, steady hill, with a steep downhill to the final finish line in front of the council building.

The winner finished in 31:24, with the first lady in 34:59. A total of 141 runners managed to cross the finish line! The trophies were awarded to first, second and third places in each age group as well as to the overall winners. Los Bandidos took home an impressive nine trophies!

Los Bandidos results (position, name, times and age group prizes) 36 Gail Colville 39:46 (2nd F) DANCING is well known for being beneficial to your health, mood and soul! It is also a great way to meet new people and make friends!

Every Friday from 4pm until 7pm, Glynis and Mary Beth hold Line Dancing classes at the Centro de Usos Multiples in Mojacar Pueblo.

The classes are in the Salon de Actos room, which

F)

49 83 85 94 100 102 103 104 109 116 141

Steve Slack 41:55 (3rd E-M) Paul Darcy 48:38 (3rd F-M) Sarah Briggs 49:38 Patricia Mulcahy 51:37 (1st D-F) Karen Ayers 52:50 (1st F-F) Rachael Slack 53:46 (2nd E-F) Jackie Darcy 53:49 (3rd E-F) Corinne Cherel 53:48 Sharon Howlett 56:04 (2nd D-F) John Davidge 58:55 Lesley Davidge 1:22:31 (2nd G-

In the Sub-14 category Guillermo Moscardo Cherel finished in seventh place in a time of 11:04.

At the end of the 18 race series, this Mojacar running group have picked up a total of 20 first place, 22 second place and 21 third place trophies! Bravo Bandidos!

Boot scootin’

you enter from the back of the building by the 3rd Edad Bar. The hour of 4pm until 5pm is dedicated to those who consider themselves complete beginners, but all levels are welcome.

The entrance fee is €5 with all profits made going

to local charities.

It is not required for anybody to bring a partner, just a positive attitude and be ready for some shufflin’ and socialising!

For any further details contact Glynis on 648 217 503 or Mary Beth on 661 671 526.

Zumba Sundays

YOUR Winter Beaches project in Vera has presented its Zumba classes, for all those who feel like shaking their body by the sea!

Last Sunday’s class was a total success! All participants moved and grooved to the music with amazing energy and soft sand under their feet.

The next Zumba class will be on Sunday, November 19 at 11am until 1pm. It will be held at Marinas Beach - Bolaga (Laguna).

Don’t miss the opportunity to burn some calories, stretch out your body, and meet some lovely smiling faces. What a super Sunday!

EWN 15

16 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

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NEWS

MARCELO REBELO DE SOUSA, the President of Por­ tugal, has announced the dis­ solution of parliament. He will leave António Costa as the head of government until the next elections, scheduled for March 10, 2024.

On Thursday November 9, prior to making his highly­an­ ticipated announcement, Marcelo said that: “For the first time in democracy, a prime minister learned that he was going to be the sub­ ject of an autonomous pro­ cess under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.”

This dictated the dismissal of the head of state, for: “rea­ sons of indispensable dignity to the continuity of the cur­ rent mandate,” the President added.

After the politician submit­ ted his resignation earlier the same day, De Sousa accepted António Costa’s resignation as Prime Minister of Portugal on Tuesday, November 7.

Costa’s resignation came after the Public Ministry re­ vealed he was the target of

Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

an autonomous investigation by the Supreme Court of Jus­ tice into projects involving lithium and hydrogen busi­ nesses.

It was confirmed by the At­ torney General’s Office (PGR) that the investigation arose after: “knowledge of the ex­ ploitation by suspects of the name and authority of the Prime Minister and his inter­ vention to unblock proce­ dures.”

At least five people were arrested after around 20 searches were carried by the Public Ministry in several min­ istry offices plus Costa’s offi­ cial residence on Tuesday.

They included searches of offices belonging to public en­

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!

Credit: European Parliament/Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

Portugal dissolves parliament

tities and companies. A total of 17 searches were also con­ ducted in homes, with anoth­ er five at a lawyer’s office and their home.

Those detained reportedly included Diogo Lacerda Machado, the businessman and close friend of Costa. Ví­ tor Escária, the PM’s chief of staff, was also arrested.

João Galamba, president of the Portuguese Environment Agency was accused as an ‘ar­ guido’ or formal suspect, along with Duarto Cordeiro, the Minister of the Environ­ ment, João Pedro Matos Fer­ nandes, the former Minister of the Environment, and Nuno Mascarenhas, the may­ or of Sines.

18 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

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HÉCTOR GÓMEZ, Spanish caretaker Minister of Indus­ try, Trade and Tourism has just attended World Travel Market in London.

Having made it clear in a statement that “tourism adds almost three million workers and creates one in four new jobs in the econo­ my” it has become apparent that the British market is still of major importance despite Brexit.

There is a large body of opinion which believes that action needs to be taken to redress the problems caused by the 90/180 re­ strictions on visiting Schen­ gen countries by non­EU passport holders and al­ ready the French Senate is considering a bill which would grant long stay visas to British second home owners without the usual problems of red tape delays.

It is reported that Minister Gómez took the opportunity whilst in London to visit the

Credit: WTM

Can Spain change?

LONDON: The very busy World Travel Market.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to discuss the very problem of restrictions on visits by UK residents to Spain to try to find a solution.

Currently, the UK allows Spanish citizens to spend up to six months per visit and this is what campaigners such as the 180 Days in Spain group believes should be the norm for British visi­ tors to Spain. Spain still holds the Presidency of the EU un­

til the end of this year and even with a caretaker gov­ ernment still has more chance of gaining traction for a change in the rules whilst in this position.

The argument up to now has been made that Schen­ gen rules can’t be changed for just one or two countries, but with the French prece­ dent already set, this may be the right time for Spain to make its own bid for special treatment.

THE world of wine often grap­ ples with the unpredictable quirks of Mother Nature.

This year, it faced a series of challenges, including early frosts, heavy rains, mildew, and droughts.

Global wine production took a hit, declining by a sub­ stantial 7 per cent, marking its lowest point since 1961, ac­ cording to estimates from the International Vine and Wine Organisation (OIV).

Amidst this turbulent year, France has once again claimed its title as the world’s leading wine supplier, sur­

NEWS

Fine whine

passing Italy whose produc­ tion fell by a discouraging 12 per cent.

However, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

The OIV highlights the po­ tential for ‘particularly large’ volumes in renowned wine regions such as Cognac, the sun­drenched shores of Corsi­ ca, and the lively hills of Champagne.

This is a silver lining that re­ minds us that even in the face of adversity, the world of

wine retains its capacity to surprise and delight.

Surprisingly, the decrease in wine production doesn’t nec­ essarily spell doom and gloom.

The OIV emphasises that, in a world with declining global wine consumption and suffi­ cient wine stocks in various parts of the globe, this expect­ ed low production might ac­ tually act as a natural stabilis­ er, bringing balance to the global wine market.

Painting the town red FAMOUS museums, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum were among venues that were heavily defaced with paint during Amsterdam’s Museum Night, bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘paint the town red’.

Two arrests have been made in Amsterdam, after the annual Museum Night ended in disaster and destruction of public property.

Several museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Muse­ um, were defaced with paint on Saturday November 11. Two suspects were detained.

The defacing included the underpass at the Ri­

jksmuseum, which was splattered with bright red paint in various areas at around 9.45pm. Some of the windows of the Van Gogh Museum were al­ so targeted with the same paint.

A spokesperson for the police told a local TV station that “a few bystanders were also covered in paint.” The motive behind these crimes against the buildings is still unclear although many specu­ late it to be some kind of protest. The police have stated that they, “hope to get more clarity on this after questioning the suspects.”

For now the graffiti still stands, and no notice has been given as to when it will be removed.

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Morel of the story THE recent story of deadly mushroom poison­ ing in Australia has highlighted Finland’s love af­ fair with Gyromitra esculenta, commonly known as the false morel mushroom.

The false morel mushroom is discarded by many because of its toxicity. However, Fin­ land’s gastronomic scene holds the false morel in high regard, deeply rooted in its cultural palate even making it onto Finnish postage stamps in 1974, despite its potentially harmful nature.

Strict guidelines surround its sale, ensuring that each transaction is accompanied by a stark warning of the mushroom’s toxicity and a com­ prehensive guide on how to eat it safely. These procedures include extensive boiling and rins­ ing to remove the gyromitrin, the mushroom’s toxic compound.

Yet, the health implications of long­term con­ sumption, including the risk of carcinogenic ef­ fects, remain a subject of scientific debate. This uncertainty underscores the Finnish approach to the false morel which is a delicacy to be re­ spected and feared.

The hazards of gyromitrin, once they have metabolised into monomethylhydrazine (MMH) within the human body, are severe.

MMH poses a significant risk to the liver, diges­ tive, and nervous systems, potentially leading to convulsions, unconsciousness and organ fail­ ure. Interestingly, MMH does have its uses, its high reactivity has been harnessed as an ingre­

Credit: Post of Finland/Public domain

FINNISH POSTAGE STAMP: False morel.

dient for rocket fuel by space agencies including NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. To counteract the dangers, Finnish legislation enforces strict culinary protocols for handling false morels. Consumption of the mushroom in its raw state is expressly forbidden, and specific preparation methods must be followed to the letter to avoid the risk of serious health implica­ tions.

The Finnish affinity for the false morel mush­ room exemplifies the complexities of local tastes balanced with global health perspec­ tives.

It is an extreme example of the lengths to which cultural traditions will go to preserve their culinary heritage, even in the face of po­ tential danger. One can only assume they taste amazing.

16 - 22 November 2023

EWN 19

Iceland volcano threat

ICELAND has been bracing itself due to the high risk of a volcanic eruption, with many of its citizens now prepared to evacuate if need be. This follows a se­ ries of potent earthquakes on the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of the country.

Iceland’s Ministry of For­ eign Affairs announced on X/Twitter: “The Govern­ ment of Iceland continues to monitor the situation in close collaboration with the Department of Civil Protec­ tion and Emergency Man­ agement and the Icelandic Meteorological Office,” lat­ er adding: “The Depart­ ment of Civil Protection and Emergency Management has declared an Emergen­ cy/Distress Phase on the Reykjanes peninsula, due to increased seismic activity.

All residents of Grindavik are obliged to evacuate the town.”

Experts are closely moni­

Credit: Nasa Public Domain/Creative Commons Attribution

NEWS

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland in 2011.

toring the escalating seismic events, which according to the Icelandic Met Office (IMO), could cause an erup­ tion within days. The village of Grindavik, located about three kilometres southwest of the quake’s epicentre, is on high alert. Approximate­ ly 4,000 residents are ready to evacuate if needed.

Late on Friday, two pow­ erful tremors were felt, the largest measuring a magni­ tude of 5.2, affecting areas as far as Reykjavik some 40 kilometres away.

In light of the recent seis­ mic activity, local authori­ ties have taken precaution­ ary measures. A key road to

Grindavik was shut down after suffering damage from the earthquakes. The region has experienced over 24,000 tremors since late October.

The Reykjanes peninsula has witnessed three erup­ tions since 2021, occurring in March 2021, August 2022, and July 2023. Each of these eruptions was safely distant from populated ar­ eas and critical infrastruc­ ture.

Iceland, with its 33 active volcanic systems, holds the record for the most in Eu­ rope. The current threat is reminiscent of the events of 2010 in which a series of eruption in Eyjafjallajokull affected travellers around Europe and further afield.

The danger lay in the vol­ canic ash and its effect on jet engines, hence the clo­ sure of European airspace in what was the largest air­ traffic disruption since the Second World War.

20 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

Aircraft factory WORK on a factory that will produce the first Portuguese aircraft is expected to start in 2024. As announced on Thurs­ day, November 9, by Hugo Hilário, the municipality’s pres­ ident, it will be constructed in Ponte de Sor, Portalegre.

“The first prototype of the plane is expected to be launched in the first half of 2026 and the second proto­ type in the second half of 2026,” he explained to Lusa.

“We hope that by October or November 2024, at the time of the PAS, we will already be starting construction of the fac­ tory,” he detailed.

Ponte de Sor is involved in

three mobilising programmes of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), worth more than €200m. It is hoped to create around 500 direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect jobs.

The first programme is ‘Aero.next Portugal’ (a consor­ tium), which will be responsi­ ble for producing the first Por­ tuguese aircraft, the LUS 222.

‘Neuraspace’ is the second project, which aims to help solve problems related to space debris, with a radar be­ ing created in Ponte de Sor to respond to this need. “Around €200m is being invested’ and it is expected to create 20 to 30 direct jobs.

euroweeklynews.com A BOY blissfully lying on a so­ fa, loaded onto the roof of an old white Fiat Panda driving through the traffic on the streets of Catania in Sicily, as if it was nothing out of the ordi­ nary. All captured in a short video that ended up on social media on the afternoon of Saturday November 4 and went viral in a few hours on TikTok. The next day, local po­ lice tracked down the driver of the Panda, who was charged with several traffic vi­ olations. Through the analysis of the images and after a brief investigation, the officers of the Borgo Ognina police sta­ tion identified the owner of the car, a 43­year­old woman, and then traced it back to the driver of the car, her 41­year­ old husband.

According to what the po­ lice reconstructed, the 41­ year­old, together with a friend, after collecting a sofa from an acquaintance who wanted to get rid of it, loaded it onto the roof of the car to take it home.

Once back in the car, a young man climbed onto the roof of the Panda, lying on the sofa and being carried along the city’s ring road.

NEWS

Photo: TikTok

LAID BACK: The driver was fined.

Easy rider The driver, after justifying himself by telling the officers that he,”did not realise he

was carrying a young man ly­ ing on the sofa,” (which the police obviously considered

implausible), was fined sever­ al hundred euros and several points were deducted from his driving licence. A few days ago, also in Catania, a 15­year­ old boy was caught on video going around the city sitting on a sofa mounted on an elec­ tric scooter.

Vampire grave THE remains of a child buried face down, held in place with an ‘anti­vampire’ triangular padlock, were discovered near Pień in south­eastern Poland by researchers from the Nicolaus Copernicus Uni­ versity in Toruń.

The 17th­century burial

was found near the grave of the ‘vampire from Pniu’ dis­ covered a year earlier ­ a woman buried with a sickle around her neck and a pad­ lock locked on her toe.

Vampires were feared not only in popular fiction, but in real life by people living sever­

al centuries ago.

This is why those suspected of supernatural powers were often buried in very specific ways: with their faces down­ wards, tied with ropes in an embryonic position, with their heads cut off, pressed to the ground with a boulder or their chest pierced with a sharp tool. Researchers from the University discovered the skeleton of a woman doubly protected from rising from the grave.

The people burying the girl had placed a triangular pad­ lock on her left big toe and ad­ ditionally pinned her neck to the ground with a sickle.

The bones were very quick­ ly dubbed ‘vampire’ in the media.

“Our discovery does not necessarily indicate that a vampire was buried here,” said the head of the research in Trunks, Dr Dariusz Poliński, Professor of the UMK Insti­ tute of Archaeology. I would treat these treatments more as ‘anti­vampiric’ activities.

Maybe the woman had some kind of physical or men­ tal defect, her fellow inhabi­ tants treated her badly while she was alive and were afraid that she would haunt them after death.

90 days: the time an average person will spend kissing.

22 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

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NEWSDESK

NEWS ACROSS THE REGIONS FROM THE PEOPLE'S PAPER RECORDBREAKING IN an impressive feat, the Ali­ cante­Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport has recently celebrated its best October ever, welcom­ ing a staggering 1,586,073 trav­ ellers.

This marks a remarkable 17 per cent increase compared to the same month last year, showcasing the airport’s grow­ ing popularity.

Out of this record­breaking figure, 1,584,276 were com­ mercial passengers, with a no­ table surge in international travel.

A significant 17.9 per cent rise in international flights was recorded, with 1,378,143 pas­ sengers jetting off to various destinations.

Domestic flights also saw a robust 11.1 per cent increase, with 206,133 passengers choosing to explore their own backyard.

Taking a closer look at the international travel landscape, the United Kingdom led the pack, contributing 536,480 travellers.

Following closely were the Netherlands (113,129), Ger­ many (98,643), Belgium (84,720), and Norway (73,715).

COSTA DEL SOL

ELECTRIC ESTEPONA

Photo: Estepona Town Hall

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

STREET LIGHTING: The project will take two months to complete.

By Kevin Fraser Park ESTEPONA Town Council is re­ ducing its electricity consumption by 30 per cent through the re­ mote management of street lighting.

The council is implementing a remote management system of 46 control centres in the town centre which will be telematically controlled. That equates to more than 3,000 public lighting fix­

tures. The project will take two months to complete and will re­ sult in a saving of more than €40,000 a year on the council’s electricity bill.

The mayor explained that, with this pioneering system in the city, the council will be able to im­ prove the energy efficiency of public lighting by instantly regu­ lating the lighting of roads ac­ cording to their use. In addition,

the new IT service will provide automatic warnings in the event of breakdowns or malfunctions, as well as an alarm system that will automatically warn of at­ tempted theft or sabotage.

The system will also prevent more than 61.5 tonnes of pollut­ ing gases being released into the atmosphere each year, thereby also reducing the current carbon footprint.

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

COSTA CALIDA

REMEMBRANCE DAY BURGER BRILLIANCE

IN the heart of Camposol residents joined forces to create a touching tribute for Remembrance weekend. The community witnessed an outpouring of unity as individuals came together to honour those who had fallen in the line of duty. The Green Fingers Camposol maintenance team and dedicated volunteers kicked off the preparations. They worked diligently to tidy up and create a beautiful memorial garden and they even collected an impressive €176 in the collection buckets.

In the lead­up to Remembrance Day, the community diligent­ ly prepared the memorial gardens. Weeding, debris clearance, and pine needle removal were among the tasks undertaken to ensure the Circle of Remembrance stood as a pristine and solemn tribute. The collective efforts of the Camposol communi­ ty resulted in beautiful and meaningful spaces, allowing resi­ dents to come together, reflect, and honour the sacrifices made by servicemen and women.

THE culinary showdown at Altea Burguer Gourmet reached its crescendo as El Bar de Confianza’s hamburger emerged victorious, crowned the best among 23 participants by the discerning jury.

Mayor Deo Sánchez unveiled the thrilling results, revealing that a whopping 1,050 votes were cast by the public, a testament to the event’s popularity.

However, the true extent of the gastronomic success extended beyond the vote count, with many more delectable hamburgers savoured during the event.

Such was the triumph of Altea Burguer Gourmet that plans are already underway to expand the event in the coming year, promising an even more extensive and tantalising showcase of gourmet burgers.

The gastronomic extravaganza witnessed such overwhelming demand that local butcher shops found themselves working over­ time to meet the soaring appetite for hamburgers.

AXARQUIA

TWINNING

A PLAQUE that gives the name of Almuñecar to a beau­ tiful square in the Zaragoza town of Cariñena has been un­ veiled.

Located next to the town’s cultural centre of the town, it celebrates the 50th anniver­ sary of the twinning between the two municipalities. Juan José Ruiz Joya and Sergio Ortiz, the mayors of both towns re­ spectively, performed the un­ veiling on November 11.

After signing Cariñena Coun­ cil’s book of honour, the may­ or then held a meeting with the local council members. He also met with members of the Association of Elderly People, and a group of young people who had visited the Sexita town a few months ago on an exchange programme.

Both municipalities commit­ ted themselves to: ‘promote a meeting between their respec­ tive associations to promote initiatives and collaboration that will benefit the economic sectors of Cariñena and Al­ muñecar,’ the mayor said.

The twinning of Cariñena and Almuñecar took place in 1973, when José Antonio Bus­ tos was mayor. Since then, the Sexita town has had a central street that bears the name of Cariñena.

MALLORCA

YORKIE RESCUE

ON Sunday, November 12, in an extraordinary rescue operation in Mallorca, emergency teams saved a Yorkshire Terrier who had fallen off the edge of a cliff in Llucmajor. The incident oc­ curred near Calle Cristobal Colon in Bahia Grande, with the dog becoming lodged in a tree some 30 metres below. Llucmajor Civ­ il Protection volunteers, a Guardia Civil member, and Mallorca Firefighters collaborated in the rescue.

A local Civil Protection volunteer was the first on the scene.

Alerted by the dog’s barks, she promptly mobilised the rescue operation. Additionally, an off­duty Guardia Civil officer from the drone unit, who happens to live in Bahia Grande, helped by us­ ing a drone to confirm that the little dog was still alive.

Firefighters then descended the cliff and safely returned the dog to its owner. The dog miraculously escaped with no broken bones. This is not the first rescue of its kind in the area under­ scores the dedication of Mallorca’s emergency services.

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26 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

DENMARK 3D flats DANISH design company SAGA Space Architects working with 3DCP Group have announced that they will build the largest ever 3D produced building in 2024 which will consist of 36 student homes, situated near to VIA University College’s Holstebro campus.

The apartments will include wood floors, a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room.

Green fuel LIKE some other countries, the Danish government has announced that it is considering imposing a tax of around Kr100 (€13.4) on all domestic air travel in order to help finance the transition to 100 per cent sustainable fuel by 2030 with the cash collected being used to reduce the cost of fuel to the airlines operators.

NORWAY

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EURO PRESS BELGIUM

Credit: volleyballworld.com

Got the gold BELGIUM had never won a medal at the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships before setting foot in RoiEt, Thailand. The pressure was on for young Belgians, Van Langendonck and Vercauteren, as they faced a wellexperienced and confident Austrian pair.

However, they emerged from the ashes to clinch the gold medal, following their down-to-the-wire win. “We are world champions,” Van Langendonck exclaimed.

GERMANY

EUROPEAN PRESS

IRELAND Health Fest THE 'Keep Well, Keep Movin' Older Persons Community Health Festival will be held at Mallow GAA and Sports Complex on November 15. Organised by Cork Kerry Community Health Care, it offers older adults a chance to connect with health services, featuring activities like drum fit, relaxation exercises, and talks on nutrition and brain health.

THE WINNERS!

Dire display A SCOOTER rider, aged 20 was arrested in Linkeroever, Antwerp last week. He was found to be carrying over 13 kilograms of fireworks and was detected by Local Police due to his erratic behaviour whilst riding his electric scooter against traffic on the Beatrijslaan cycle track. The confiscated fireworks are set to be destroyed in the near future.

FRANCE

Dubliner honoured DUBLIN-born Richie Baneham, a two-time Oscar winner for visual effects, will be honoured at the 18th Oscar Wilde Awards. A Ballyfermot College of Art & Design alumnus, Baneham's notable works include 'Avatar' and 'The Lord of the Rings'. The US-Ireland Alliance event celebrates the contributions of Irish Americans to cinema.

PORTUGAL

National Park

Cyber winners

Country of origin

Minimum wage

AFTER 11 years of argument, it has been confirmed that a new National Park will be declared in Østmarka a popular recreational area to the east of Oslo. Apart from having to gain agreement from five different local governments bordering the area, those behind the scheme also had to combat farmers frightened by the protection given to predators such as wolves.

GERMANY is the winner of the 2023 European Cybersecurity Challenge (ECSC) followed by Switzerland in second place and Denmark in third place. The ECSE held in Hamar, Norway had a total of 34 teams representing EU Member States as well as five guest teams: Canada, Georgia, Serbia, Costa Rica, Singapore and the USA, took part in this year’s challenge

ON supermarket shelves around France, consumers are becoming increasingly concerned. For several days now, a number of Internet users on TikTok have been reporting the presence of avocados from Peru or Mexico that actually come from Israel. While the display shows a different producer country, the boxes where the avocados are stored indicate the opposite: ‘Country of origin Israel’.

'THE Council of Ministers has now approved the decree-law that determines the increase in the national minimum wage to €820 from January 1, 2024, in compliance with the commitments assumed within the scope of the Reinforcement of the MediumTerm Agreement on Improving Income, Wages and Competitiveness', indicated a government statement.

Housing crisis

Last journey

90th Anniversary

THERE is a bit of a housing crisis in Norway, not as is sometimes the case, a shortage of property but a glut with almost 20,000 properties currently unsold and with that number due to increase as new builds are completed according to Estate Agents Association Eiendom Norge and this is the highest figure since 2009.

BERLINERS affectionately dubbed them ‘Coke Cans’.

For decades, the Model Series 485 trains dutifully traversed Berlin's S-Bahn tracks. These stalwart vehicles, initially commissioned and constructed in the German Democratic Republic during the era of the Berlin Wall, are bidding farewell. On November 12, the final 22 of these iconic trains will make their last journeys through the city, marking the end of an era.

MARKING 90 years of elegance in Paris, Air France extends its jubilation globally. Commemorating this milestone the airline highlights a legacy of technology, innovation, and comfort. Exhibitions featuring vintage memorabilia and fashion shows spotlighting uniforms, past and present, adorn iconic locations in Rome, Delhi, Accra, Washington, Shanghai, and Buenos Aires.

THE death of a Groundforce/TAP worker at Porto Airport has been blamed on the facility's emergency policies. After being taken ill while taking a shower at the end of his shift, the Transport Workers Union of Portugal claimed that protocols prevented him from receiving immediate medical assistance. Airport rules state that an internal nurse must first be called and only then can the INEM medical emergency service be alerted. They arrived 40 minutes after he was taken ill.

FINLAND

SWEDEN

ITALY Italian refugees PRIME MINISTER Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama have reached an agreement on building centres for refugees and asylum seekers in Albania. Once rescued in the Mediterranean by Italian ships, these people will be sent to the other side of the Adriatic Sea, where procedures will be started to verify whether or not they are entitled to international protection.

Unpaid taxes AIRBNB is alleged to have evaded taxes in Italy on more than €3.7 billion. The accusation comes from the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office, which is investigating for tax fraud the short rental giant and three top managers of the company. According to investigators, Airbnb did not pay 21 per cent withholding tax between 2017 and 2021. Guardia di Finanza has seized over €778 million in assets.

THE NETHERLANDS

Unusual location AFTER the collapse of the Dutch coalition government earlier this year, the Netherlands are hosting elections on November 22, with an unexpected twist. One of the poll stations available will be none other than the iconic Anne Frank House! It will be closed to the public on that day and open to voters from 9am to 7pm.

Better beds THE Dutch Cabinet plans to improve the status of sex workers with a new proposed plan. This is necessary as these workers often face unequal treatment due to prejudices about their profession, stated State Secretary for Justice and Security Christophe van der Maat. A plan of action has been sent to the lower house of the Dutch parliament.

Airport death

Game Oscars

Going strong

THE highly acclaimed video game 'Alan Wake 2'

by Finnish company Remedy leads The Game Awards nominations and is aiming to be crowned Game of the Year. This horror adventure, blending Finnish culture, got rave reviews, scoring 87-94 on Metacritic. Released for PS5, PC, and Xbox, the game is reportedly, ‘Finland's most expensive cultural product of all time.’

IT has been reported by Sweden's national export credit agency that North Korea owes Sweden $267 million (€249) for 1,000 Volvo cars that were sold to North Korea in 1974 but although they have never been paid for, it appears that several are still in service as taxis in the capital Pyongyang.

Ex-PM’s book FORMER Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who at 34 became Finland’s youngest prime minister has now made the transition to author with her book: ‘Our Turn: Fearless Leadership for a New Generation’. Marin continues to maintain a strong media presence and recently signed with Range Media Partners. As yet no release date for her book has been confirmed.

Exotic taste THE Swedes are well-known for their love of food and those living in Gothenburg now have the option to enjoy a different culinary experience at Restaurant Saga which is run by a young chef from Singapore Pearly Teo. Her tasting menu features special dishes based on the taste of her grandmother’s cooking.

euroweeklynews.com

16 - 22 November 2023

Christmas Day ritual LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT AND so this is Christmas. Well perhaps not quite, but if you’re reading this on the day of publication you have just 39 days to gear yourself up for yet another precious celebration of the Christian majority. Surrounded by family and friends, hopefully many of you will, once again enjoy this time honoured and much loved occasion.

I’m pretty sure most of you will also observe the ritual Christmas day tradi­ tions that we have become familiarised with over the generations. In the begin­ ning we are the babies, crawling around the base of the tree with the young mums of the family lightly ad­ monishing us as we endeavour to pull baubles and shiny bits of tinsel from the lower branches.

Over the next few years we morph into the youngsters, excitedly tearing off the paper from presents, brought by a Santa we are becoming slightly

more sceptical about but still prepared to give the benefit of the doubt ­ just as long as we receive at least a proportion of the presents we asked him for!

The next stage in our Christmas gen­ eration game sees us become one of the young and mid aged adults who, having finally got the youngsters off to bed, are pouring copious measures of alcohol and consuming about a million calories in Quality Street and mince pies, while relating what we consider hilarious tales of past Christmas turkey disasters. All being played out against a back drop of East Enders, Coronation Street, the Monarch’s message and yet another rerun of Dr Zhivago on the box.

Generations later, if we last long enough, we find ourselves in the twi­ light of our years, quietly enjoying the utterly spoiled and most loved exulted position you can attain. You become Grandpa/Grandma. And that’s actually just where this ol’ boy has finally found himself. Grandpa (or in my situation Great Grandpa) is expected to do just about nothing. He is not required to wash up, clear up, lift up furniture or

top up the drinks. He occupies the most comfortable chair in the room (general­ ly in the corner).

Periodically, he is asked by various family members if he ‘wants anything’.

He is then allowed to doze off, without being labelled a party pooper and is subsequently not particularly worried that his chair is a little out of the way ­ just as long as he is close enough to oc­ casionally interject the conversation with an ‘I remember when’ recollection of his own.

These narratives are usually deliv­ ered to reassure the room (and him­ self) that he hasn’t actually ruined the whole Christmas celebrations by self­ ishly deciding to slip away and meet his maker; thereby decidedly becoming an ‘I remember when’ subject for a whole host of future family Christmas gather­ ings. Let’s also hope our religious and peaceful beliefs have not by this com­ ing yuletide, been ripped asunder by those who consider violence and may­ hem the true answer to any future exis­ tence on our precious planet.

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.

EWN 27

No kids allowed

THE owner of a restaurant in Italy has banned un­ der­14s from his establishment saying: “They break everything” The restaurateur went to say, “I am exas­ perated. When I tried to report it to the parents, they just defended the out of control children.”

A notice on the premis­ es of the ‘Hostaria Oasi Marina’ in Bacoli near Naples reads: “For reasons out of our control, we are forced to not accept bookings with children or young people under the age of 14.

Don’t hold it against us, but it is the fault of many parents who are irre­ sponsible.”

The restaurateur de­ fended his choice and, speaking on ‘Uno Matti­ na in famiglia’ broadcast on Raiuno, said: “I am ex­ asperated by various

Photo: Shutterstock

FEATURE

Children banned.

events. To name a few, I had to remove all the wine glasses on the ta­ bles, because they were breaking everything.

They were chasing each other between tables and it’s dangerous. With the parents undaunted, unmoved. In fact, when I tried to point it out, they defended their children.

“I want to add that I am also a teacher and encounter the same diffi­ culties at school. There are children who are an­ gels. I am also a father.

But with certain parents, it is difficult to inter­ vene,” the restaurateur concluded.

FINANCE Cleaned out BRITISH STEEL, owned by China’s Jingye Group, plans to close its Scunthorpe blast furnaces, putting up to 2,000 jobs at risk.

They will be replaced by an elec­ tric arc furnace in Scunthorpe and another in Teesside in a £1.25 billion (€1.43 billion) pro­ ject to turn British Steel into “a clean, green and sustainable business.”

Ill wind SPAIN’S Association of Petroleum Product Operators (AOP) warned that extending Spain’s windfall tax on large en­ ergy companies endangered €16.5 billion in investments. Rep­ sol has already delayed plans for a hydrogen plant in Bilbao, while Endesa’s chief executive con­ demned the tax as “discriminato­ ry and unjustified.”

Naked truth NAKED WINES shares plummet­ ed more than 30 per cent after the group cut its annual fore­ casts, with adjusted pre­tax earn­ ings cut to between £2 and £6 million (€2.3 and €6.9 million).

The company’s chief executive Nick Devlin announced he was stepping down from the busi­ ness “with immediate effect.”

Settle up MADRID’S Provincial High Court handed Carlos Iglesias, brother of singer Julio Iglesias and his former manager, a six­month prison term and a €30 million fine for failing to pay corpora­ tion tax on land he sold in Madrid. The transaction was carried out by a Panama­regis­ tered company where Carlos Iglesias was also the manager.

Prime time ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS, which owns Primark, attributed rising profits and sales to al­ liances with celebrities who have included Rita Ora. The group’s total revenue grew by 16 per cent to £19.7 billion (€22.6 billion) in the first three quarters of 2023 with Primark sales rising 15 per cent to £9 bil­ lion (€10.3 billion).

euroweeklynews.com • 16 - 22 November 2023

STAT OF WEEK

paid by Inditex founder Amancio Ortega’s investment company Pontegadea for the purchase of a 49 per cent stake in Repsol’s Spanish windfarms and solar power plants.

€490 million

M&S recovers its spark Linda Hall MARKS & SPENCER share­ holders will receive £20 mil­ lion (€23 million) in dividends next January for the first time since 2019.

Pre­tax profits climbed by an unexpected 56 per cent to £326 million (€374.5 mil­ lion) in the six months end­ ing on September 30 as the company focused on re­ vamping stores, clothing lines and its digital offer.

Clothes sales rose 5.5 cent while profit margins in­ creased to more than 12 per cent compared with 9.8 per cent during the same period in 2022, with fewer items sold at reduced prices.

Food sales have increased

Photo credit: marksandspencer.com

BUSINESS EXTRA

28

TURNAROUND: Marks & Spencer’s pre-tax profits rose 56 per cent.

by almost 12 per cent while the Remarksable budget range rocketed by 45 per cent.

Despite the buoyant half­ year results, chief executive Stuart Machin viewed the remainder of 2023 and the coming year with caution,

TELEFONICA will spend approximately €1.97 billion on buying up the 28.19 per cent of its German subsidiary Telefonica Deutschland it does not already own.

The Spanish multinational has con­ firmed an offer of €2.35 per share, a 37.6 per cent premium on the closing price of November 6.

Telefonica said the takeover bid, which involves 838, 452,647 shares, would reinforce its position in its four strategic markets together with Spain, Brazil and the UK. This would also sim­ plify the structure of the group while im­ proving its cash flow in euros.

Responding to the offer, Telefonica Deutschland, listed on the Frankfurt

warning on November 8 that the recent and favourable market condi­ tions might not persist.

High interest rates, slower price rises, global conflict and erratic weather could hit trading, he said, although he was “hopeful” that the com­

pany’s growth would contin­ ue.

“Against more challenging comparatives, we expect profit before tax and adjust­ ing items to be weighted to­ wards the first half,” the chief executive added.

One drawback for Marks & Spencer has been the company’s association with online grocer which regis­ tered a £23.4 million (€26.9 million) operating loss in the first six months of the year.

Although the company admitted earlier that it “was not happy” with the online grocery retailer’s perfor­ mance, Machin said he re­ mained positive about its po­ tential.

Plans to fully control Deutschland Telefonica fol­ low on from the loss of a major roaming contract last August when the 1&1 mo­ bile operator announced stock market since 2021, an­ that it would be nounced that its “management switching to the and supervisory boards” Vodafone Ger­ would consider the bid. many network in It would comment after June 2024.

Photo credit: telefonica.com the full­offer document The company’s TELEFONICA: had been approved by share price fell by Multinational’s the financial services 18 per cent, which chairman Jose Maria regulator and pub­ resulted in a 7 per Alvarez wants lished, the company cent drop in the par­ Telefonica added. ent company’s shares.

Deutschland takeover.

Telefonica takes over

Mapfe in Turkey

Christmas cheer

Debanking rise

SPANISH company Mapfre is selling its Turkish life insurance division to Swiss group Zurich.

The Madrid­based firm headed

by Antonio Huerts will now cen­ tre its Turkish operation on the non­life segment, company sources told the financial daily, El Economista. “We aim to guar­ antee stable growth and main­ tain financial sustainability by concentrating on the long­term strategic areas where we will develop our activities,” said Ed­ inc Yurtseven, director general of Mapfre’s Turkish subsidiary, Mapfre Sigorta. The amount in­ volved in the Zurich sale has not been revealed and awaits ap­ proval from Turkey’s Regulatory and Supervisory Authority for Insurance and Private Pensions.

A SCIENCEDIRECT study used Spain’s Gor­ do de Navidad to gauge the impact of lot­ tery winnings on consumer sentiment and consumption.

Researchers found that residents in win­ ning towns or cities ­ even those who won nothing ­ were “significantly” more opti­ mistic about the Spanish economy than people elsewhere.

There are now 180 series of each num­ ber sold in the Christmas lottery and as the participants usually buy at least one Deci­ mo (10th), the distribution of the biggest prizes influences local spending. The Sci­ enceDirect article noted a 10­percentage point rise in the number of cars sold in mu­ nicipalities where a big prize had been sold, while unemployment dropped 0.3 of a percentage point. Both were linked less to an improvement in the region’s overall wealth than to increased optimism, the study’s authors concluded.

THE Nigel Farage debanking scandal has opened the door to a spate of complaints regarding unilateral ac­ count closures.

The GB news presenter and the Brexit party’s former president changed to Lloyds after Coutts, now owned by NatWest, closed his account for motives that ranged from his financial position to his po­ litical views.

Figures quoted in the UK media show that the Financial Ombuds­ man opened 1,613 cases linked to bank account closures between March and September alone.

With 2,708 debanking cases re­ ported throughout 2022, com­ plaints are likely to have risen by 20 per cent to approximately 3,200 by the end of 2023, Financial Ombuds­ man sources said.

Call for openness BANK OF ENGLAND governor An­ drew Bailey said on November 8 that Brexit had modified the UK economy’s “openness.”

Speaking at the Financial Sys­ tem Conference in Dublin, Bailey said that as a public official he took no position on Brexit, which had been the British population’s decision.

But he stressed that free trade required “strong regulation” based on agreements with for­ eign supervisory bodies.

He hoped to see further close regulatory cooperation with his counterparts in Ireland, Bailey said, to “minimise fragmentation of financial markets after Brexit.”

Bad loser AIRPORTS operator Aena said on November 8 that it hoped Iberia would not hinder the imminent changeover to new handling com­ panies.

Although it retains Madrid­ Barajas, Iberia Airport Services lost its licences for eight airports after the contracts were put out to tender. These have gone to Menzies, Aviapartner and Groundforce, a decision which Iberia has now appealed against to the Central Appeals Tribunal, (TACRC), attached to the Finance Ministry (Hacienda). The TACRC has now suspended the alloca­ tions while it investigates Iberia’s objections, a process which could take weeks to complete.

Chipping in PENNSYLVANIA­BASED Vishay Intertechnology paid $177 mil­ lion (€168.5 million) for the UK’s largest microchip factory in Newport (Wales). The sale ar­ rived after the UK government blocked a Chinese­backed takeover on national security grounds and ordered Dutch company Nexperia to sell New­ port Wafer Fab in November 2022. Nexperia, which is owned

by Chinese giant Wingtech, ap­ pealed against the order, but put the plant up for sale. The compa­ ny has done well out of the deal which doubled the worth of Newport Wafer Fab when Nex­ peria bought the 86p per cent that it did not own for £63 mil­ lion (€72.3 million) in 2021.

FINANCE

30 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

LONDON - FTSE 100

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

CLOSING PRICES 13 NOVEMBER

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

47,79K

InterContinental

288,85K

Intermediate Capital

5.944,40

84

1,43%

19,97K

1.390,50

3,5

0,25%

16,73K

Intertek

16,20K

3.822,00

15

0,39%

1,29%

293,00K

3,41K

ITV

59,82

0,08

0,13%

517,58K

8

0,62%

46,58K

J Sainsbury

268,1

1,1

0,41%

61,05K

4.979,00

53

1,08%

203,95K

Johnson Matthey

1.513,90

-26

-1,69%

53,18K

Associated Brit Foods

2.334,00

3

0,13%

75,26K

Land Securities

614,4

14,6

2,43%

222,80K

AstraZeneca

884,47K

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

3I Group

2.038,50

12

0,59%

Abrdn

165,6

-0,15

-0,09%

Admiral Group

2.559,30

9

0,35%

Anglo American

2.044,50

26

Antofagasta

1.307,00

Ashtead Group

NET VOL

1.1454

0.8729

Units per €

US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0690 Japan yen (JPY)........................................162.21 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9642 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4587 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.892

10.286,00

196

1,94%

244,65K

Legal & General

224,17

3,6

1,63%

Auto Trader Group Plc

690,2

8,2

1,20%

282,45K

Lloyds Banking

42,03

0,28

0,67%

7,12M

Aviva

409,5

5,2

1,29%

339,51K

London Stock Exchange 8.512,00

-42

-0,49%

55,84K

B&M European Value Ret SA 525,8

2

0,38%

197,67K

Melrose Industries

528,4

13,4

2,60%

186,60K

currenciesdirect.com/mojacar • Tel: +34 950 478 914

BAE Systems

1.109,59

6

0,54%

515,94K

Mondi

1.387,25

5

0,36%

47,65K

THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

Barclays

136,6

1,02

0,75%

3,02M

National Grid

990,3

6

0,61%

341,71K

Barratt Developments

446,5

2,3

0,52%

102,05K

NatWest Group

196,3

-0,65

-0,33%

1,27M

Berkeley

4.273,00

31

0,73%

5,51K

Next

7.434,00

52

0,70%

13,14K

BHP Group Ltd

2.395,50

34,5

1,46%

114,90K

Ocado

512,4

-2,2

-0,43%

118,45K

478,9

0,95

0,20%

2,04M

1.158,10

7,5

0,65%

61,15K

BP

Persimmon

British American Tobacco 2.519,50

42

1,70%

209,77K

Phoenix

497,6

33,1

7,13%

896,78K

British Land Company

331,1

17,4

5,55%

593,38K

Prudential

BT Group

122,95

1,45

1,19%

493,67K

Reckitt Benckiser

893,6

11,2

1,27%

151,50K

5.564,00

72

1,31%

Bunzl

2.936,00

15

0,51%

11,68K

Relx

66,77K

2.968,00

13

0,44%

192,27K

Burberry Group

1.678,30

-0,5

-0,03%

28,83K

Rentokil

452,4

5,9

1,32%

313,13K

Carnival

921,2

17,8

1,97%

31,61K

Centrica

152,2

0,05

0,03%

659,53K

Rightmove

485,12

3,7

0,77%

201,84K

Rio Tinto PLC

5.323,00

64

1,22%

Coca Cola HBC AG

2.096,00

11

0,53%

24,33K

155,55K

Rolls-Royce Holdings

237,6

5,6

2,41%

Compass

2.100,00

18

0,86%

2,09M

129,42K

Sage

993,2

-1

-0,10%

46,69K

CRH

4.841,00

27

Croda Intl

4.513,00

2

0,56%

50,03K

Samsung Electr DRC

1.338,00

0

0,00%

1,62K

0,04%

7,24K

Schroders

388,3

0,3

0,08%

32,68K

DCC

4.624,30

23

Diageo

2.852,00

2

0,50%

4,11K

Scottish Mortgage

691,71

6

0,88%

225,03K

0,07%

655,16K

Segro

774,8

0,8

0,10%

92,88K

DS Smith

297,6

EasyJet

400,5

3,3

1,12%

135,68K

Severn Trent

2.647,00

12

0,46%

23,13K

6,4

1,62%

134,33K 30,27K

Shell Smith & Nephew Smiths Group

2.632,50 1.010,00 1.638,50

3 21 5,5

0,11% 2,12% 0,34%

393,11K 222,54K 23,80K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 8.522,00 SSE 1.685,50 St. James’s Place 649,2 Standard Chartered 625,4 Taylor Wimpey 118,1 Tesco 279,5 Tui 449,93 Unilever 3.961,50 United Utilities 1.076,00 Vodafone Group PLC 77,18 Whitbread 3.278,00 WPP 702,6

-14 5,5 -1,6 3,6 1 1,7 5,6 12,5 7,5 0,77 14 1,8

-0,16% 0,33% -0,25% 0,58% 0,85% 0,61% 1,26% 0,32% 0,70% 1,01% 0,43% 0,26%

6,77K 162,23K 172,84K 212,86K 1,05M 531,88K 40,11K 207,55K 91,65K 3,98M 53,65K 71,56K

Experian

2.680,00

-3

-0,11%

Ferguson

13.030,00

60

0,46%

1,91K

Flutter Entertainment

12.415,00

260

2,14%

24,18K

518,4

1,8

0,35%

77,23K

Glencore

432,05

4,95

1,16%

1,48M

GSK plc

1.413,60

15,2

1,09%

262,76K

Halma

1.932,00

0,5

0,03%

64,86K

Hargreaves Lansdown

711,33

-1,8

-0,25%

82,78K

Hikma Pharma

1.758,50

5

0,28%

12,11K

HSBC

607,2

8,1

1,35%

1,84M

IAG

151,75

0,25

0,17%

1,94M

Imperial Brands

1.788,50

34

1,94%

390,64K

711

-0,8

-0,11%

159,39K

Fresnillo

Informa

DOW JONES CLOSING PRICES 13 NOVEMBER

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE

CHANGE% VOLUME(M)

3M American Express Amgen Apple Boeing Caterpillar Chevron Cisco Coca-Cola Dow Goldman Sachs Home Depot Honeywell IBM Intel J&J JPMorgan McDonald’s Merck&Co Microsoft Nike Procter&Gamble Salesforce Inc The Travelers UnitedHealth Verizon Visa A Walgreens Boots Walmart Walt Disney

92,81 154,38 267,31 186,4 196,65 239,68 142,95 52,59 56,72 49,48 325,51 291,59 186,71 149,02 38,86 147,25 146,43 267,79 101,39 369,67 106,11 151,41 213,63 169,96 541,21 35,71 245,25 20,76 166,19 88,27

+1,11 +2,01 +3,25 +4,23 +3,32 +5,53 +1,01 +0,59 +0,06 +1,12 +4,73 +3,72 +3,03 +2,4 +1,06 -0,17 +2,14 +0,88 -0,99 +8,98 -0,89 +1,06 +3,62 +1,37 +2,21 +0,09 +3,61 +0,31 +2,27 -2,07

+1,21% 2,39M +1,32% 2,02M +1,23% 2,02M +2,32% 64,87M +1,72% 4,76M +2,36% 2,51M +0,71% 11,36M +1,13% 17,00M +0,11% 11,66M +2,32% 3,80M +1,47% 1,56M +1,29% 3,55M +1,65% 2,13M +1,64% 3,17M +2,80% 37,58M -0,12% 6,92M +1,48% 7,38M +0,33% 2,60M -0,97% 7,19M +2,49% 26,85M -0,83% 8,89M +0,71% 5,23M +1,72% 3,90M +0,81% 880,68K +0,41% 2,46M +0,25% 12,78M +1,49% 4,04M +1,52% 8,55M +1,38% 4,75M -2,29% 25,04M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 13 NOVEMBER

COMPANY Most Advanced Doximity, Inc. James Hardie Industries plc Light & Wonder, Inc. Synaptics Incorporated AppLovin Corporation Onto Innovation Inc. Alarm.com Holdings, Inc. FormFactor, Inc. Stantec Inc. Palantir Technologies Inc. Isuzu Motors Limited

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+16.24% +15.77% +11.21% +10.75% +10.36% +10.14% +9.95% +9.91% +8.98% +7.66% +7.65%

8.462M 20,701 1.789M 944,585 5.643M 1.026M 545,569 776,132 304,294 92.956M 49,911

-19.79% -16.66% -11.72% -10.33% -9.77% -8.05% -7.95% -7.45% -6.90% -6.85% -6.64%

1.893M 42.502M 3.155M 5.549M 27.811M 9.077M 173,632 130,867 4.698M 36,27 7.239M

Most Declined MSP Recovery, Inc. The Trade Desk, Inc. Diageo plc RB Global, Inc. Affirm Holdings, Inc. Illumina, Inc. Shiseido Company, Limited Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd. Flowers Foods, Inc. Worldline SA TKO Group Holdings, Inc.

‘

FINANCE

euroweeklynews.com

BUSINESS EXTRA High rise Levi’s LEVI STRAUSS’S Spanish subsidiary reported sales of €45.5 million last year, 12 per cent more than in 2021 but still 9 per cent below the €49.9 million registered in 2019 before the pandemic hit. Spain accounted for 96 per cent of the company’s 2022 turnover, while Portugal’s 4 per cent was one per­ centage point more than in 2021.

PwC cuts ACCOUNTANCY firm PwC announced that it is prepar­ ing to lay off between 500 and 600 employees, explain­ ing that it finds itself over­ staffed owing to a reduced call on its services. The group will cut between 500 and 600 jobs via a voluntary re­ dundancy scheme, in a move affecting 2.4 per cent of its 25,000 employees in the UK..

16 - 22 November 2023

Food inflation slims down FOOD price inflation in the UK fell to single digits for the first time since July 2022.

According to data compa­ ny Kantar, inflation on gro­ ceries dipped to 9.7 per cent between October 1 and 29.

Describing the reduction as a “big milestone” for shoppers and retailers, Fras­ er McKevitt, who heads Kantar’s Retail and Con­ sumer Insight department, said people were still “feel­ ing the pinch.”

He also pointed out that

FOOD INFLATION: Supermarkets have cut some prices.

Madrid hotel venture BRITISH private equity investment firm Maya Capital is finalising the purchase of Hotel Mayorazgo in Madrid’s exclu­ sive Gran Via. According to sources quoted in the fi­ nancial daily Cinco Dia, Maya Capital made a formal offer of €60 million last August for the 200­room hotel, and at the same time requested a comprehen­ sive “due diligence” audit.

Normally completed with one or two months, this is taking longer than ex­ pected, the same sources said.

According to the latest accounts pre­ sented by the hotel’s owners, Salazar Hermanos, the hotel was back in the black last year, with a turnover of €8.62 million and a profit of €1.7 million, com­ pared with 2019’s record €8.01 million and €1.45 million.

year­on­year price reduc­ tions were limited to major staples like milk, butter and dried pasta.

Kantar found that Lidl was again the fastest­grow­ ing retailer, with sales over the quarter ending on Octo­ ber 29 up 14.7 per cent.

Aldi, where sales in­ creased by 13.2 per cent, at­ tracted 207,000 more cus­ tomers than during the same period in 2022. To­ gether with Waitrose, where sales rose by 5.4 per cent, it was the only super­ market which increased its number of shoppers year­ on­year. Aldi and Waitrose took 9.7 per cent and 4.6 per cent of the market.

Sainsbury’s was the fastest­growing traditional supermarket in October, and sales increased by 10.1 per cent over the previous quarter. Sainsbury’s also an­ nounced recently said that it had spent £118 million (€135.5 million) since March on trying to keep prices down.

EWN 31

Record results CAR component manufactur­ er Gestamp’s turnover grew by 17.9 per cent to €9 billion by the end of 2023’s third quarter with net profits of €225.3 million, up 23 per cent on the same period last year.

These were the best results since the Spanish multination­ al was floated on Madrid’s stock exchange six years ago.

Normalised METRO BANK deposits fell by 5 per cent from £16.4 billion to £15.6 bil­ lion (€18.8 billion to €17.9 billion) during the third quarter of this year. Cus­ tomer withdrawals have normalised after Octo­ ber’s emergency £325 million (€379.2 million) rescue deal from in­ vestors and bondholders plus £600 million (€688.4 million) in debt refinanc­ ing, the bank said.

34 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Eight keys to health A NEW study to be pre­ sented at the American Heart Association’s Sci­ entific Sessions 2023, highlights eight healthy habits that can boost your cardiovascular health and help reduce your rate of biological ageing.

Although the habits are perhaps unsurpris­ ing, the health gains for following them are quite remarkable.

The habits include: ab­ staining from smoking, engaging in regular phys­ ical activity, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, having healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and keeping blood pressure in the normal range.

To gauge people’s car­ diovascular health, the team of researchers looked at how well peo­ ple followed the eight measures and a score was used to place people

NEW STUDY: Highlights eight healthy habits that can boost your cardiovascular health.

in categories of high, moderate, or low cardio­ vascular health.

€3.75 trillion: the current value of the global wellness industry.

For the 6,500 adults who were involved in the study, the researchers found that people with high cardiovascular health were physiologi­ cally younger than their age, concluding that those with the highest score were, on average, six years younger in com­ parison to the people with the lowest scores.

36 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

Munich take-off STARTING in the summer of 2024, Lufthansa is planning to significantly expand its long­haul flight offerings at Munich Airport.

Currently, Lufthansa operates approximately 150 long­haul flights every week from Munich.

However, in the summer of 2024, the airline in­ tends to boost this number to over 190 flights per week, marking an unprecedented growth of more than 20 per cent.

Munich is the second­largest German airport and the second­largest Lufthansa location, after Frank­ furt.

As part of this expansion, Lufthansa will intro­ duce new intercontinental destinations from Mu­ nich.

Travellers can look forward to flights to Seattle, Hong Kong, and Johannesburg, along with a signifi­ cant increase in routes to North America and Asia.

The airline’s long­haul fleet includes the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the A380, some of which were previously mothballed.

Lufthansa plans to reactivate all eight of its A380s, with four already back in service and the re­ maining four set to return over the next two years.

Despite these positive developments, Lufthansa’s CEO expressed frustration with Munich Airport’s subpar rail connections.

In contrast to Frankfurt, there is no ICE (InterCity­ Express) connection, and the S­Bahn (suburban train) service in Munich is plagued by frequent breakdowns and delays.

euroweeklynews.com Anna Ellis PARIS’ bustling airports are set to experience a wave of flight cancellations in the early months of 2024 as France em­ barks on a critical mission to modernise its ageing air traffic control systems.

The current French air traffic control system, rooted in the 1970s and sometimes relying on old­school paper strips to manage incoming flights, is long overdue for a substantial makeover.

With the skies over France becoming increasingly crowd­ ed due to surging air traffic, a comprehensive overhaul is in the works, and it’s bound to create some hiccups for trav­ A 58-YEAR-OLD Por­ tuguese businessman previ­ ously convicted of fraud on the Algarve has been cap­ tured in Brazil.

Luís Estiveira was a fugi­ tive from the law after go­ ing on the run. He was re­ portedly detained in a restaurant in the city of João Pessoa in the state of Paraíba by Federal Police officers. The detainee was

NEWS/FEATURE

Cancellation deluge Image: Air France / Facebook

AIR FRANCE: Bearing the brunt of the disruptions.

ellers in the first two months of the year. With a staggering 2.5 million flights navigating French airspace each year, any disruptions have the potential to send ripples across the Euro­ pean travel landscape. During

this upgrade phase, approxi­ mately 16,500 flights are ex­ pected to be cancelled, as re­ ported by the ever­watchful business news channel, BFM. Airlines have been given a stern warning to scale back

Fugitive found wanted by Interpol and had an international arrest war­ rant against him.

While running a petrol station concession in Portu­ gal’s Algarve region, Es­ tiveira was subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison by a court in the

town of Portimão for nine crimes of aggravated docu­ ment forgery.

According to the court, he used false bank guaran­ tees to buy fuel from oil companies, on consign­ ment. He had previously al­ ready been convicted of

their operations at Paris’ major airports, including Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Le Bourget, and Beauvais, with a targeted re­ duction of 20 per cent from January 9 to February 14. All of this hustle and bustle stems from the need to put the new air traffic control system through its paces at the Athis­ Mons control centre, France’s largest, overseeing all air traffic in the Paris and Beauvais re­ gions. The effects are being felt by travellers, with Air France bearing the brunt of the dis­ ruptions. similar crimes in the town of Faro in the same south­ ern region of the country.

The fraudulent scheme, which Estiveira reportedly set up in 2010 and 2011, was eventually dismantled by the Polícia Judiciária in 2014.

The businessman will now be presented to the Brazilian authorities for ex­ tradition to Portugal.

INTERVIEW

Speaking European - Claudio Casal This week Euro Weekly News caught up with Claudio Casal from Switzerland.

CLAUDIO, aged 49, has been living in Estepona for the past year, after buying a property here in January 2022.

This smooth Swiss arrived to meet EWN on his limited-edition Harley Davidson, which he tells that he has embarked on many an Andalucian adventure with.

Claudio explained that “I was at a point in my life where I wanted to make a change, then I found the Costa del Sol and I thought, yes, this is it”.

When asked what his favourite thing about the coast was, he replied “well, apart from the fact that it changed my whole life, I would have to say the food, all the fresh produce. The culture of tapas too, to share, to talk, it’s like a mentality, like the coffee culture in Italy.”

He did however note that food tends to take a while to actually arrive at the table, which is something he was not used to in Switzerland.

Claudio smiled as he recounted this difference, then added “but the beauty

CLAUDIO CASAL: What a life!

of living somewhere new is acceptance.

To understand there will be differences but to accept this new way of life.”

As EWN said ciao for now to Claudio Casal, he swiftly mounted his motorbike and said he was off to the mountains. “I ride often, the landscape here is beautiful and the salty sea air, it’s just… wow.”

What a life!

FEATURE

euroweeklynews.com

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Whether it is setting up an operating sys­ tem, or trying to format a page, or simply to install programmes.

We have members at all levels of experi­ ence ­ even those who don’t yet have com­ puters should be able to come along and get sound advice on the best way and where to purchase a computer. We also spend some time chatting with each other about how to solve those niggling prob­ lems, where there are good deals on equip­ ment and consumables, and so on.

The idea is that we can all learn from our various experiences. There will always be someone around with a fair degree of ex­ perience, and you’ll soon find out who the ‘gurus’ are for the thing you want to know more about.

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We are always ready to welcome new members, whether experienced in com­ puter use, or a novice, looking for how to communicate with family and friends.

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16 - 22 November 2023

EWN 37

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45

40 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

COMMUNITY

COMMENTS

WHILST music is a force that often unites people who love a particular band or individual, it can also cause friction between those who love a type of music and those who don’t.

The Beatles are generally accepted as being one of the great musical forces of the 20th century but in a recent article entitled ‘Beatles Final Song Released: Now Can We Let It Be?’ our writer expressed her own personal opinion calling them ‘the drab four’.

She suggested that the releases of an until now overlooked last number Now and Then was really the thin end of the wedge and that contemporaries, the Rolling Stones were much more exciting and entertaining.

This certainly encouraged a number of responses from readers which you can read below and go to the Euro Weekly News website to read the original story and let us know if you agree or disagree.

“

Instant Karma’s gonna get you Gonna look you right in the face Better get yourself together darlin’ Join the human race Lyrics by John Lennon from the song ‘Instant Karma’!

John Zennon

‘… the Drab Four are possibly one of the most overrated bands in music history’. What an absurd piece of rubbish is this article - written by some nobody.

D Bath

I’m adding to this because the latest song, not album, in fact the last song is very poor. Like much of some of the other musicians mentioned here. It is sad because it gives the Beatle bashers leverage. All bands and musicians have bad songs. I’m not going into details but believe I could. My take is that the Beatles that are left did this as a kind of eulogy. Just leave it be. And please don’t pretend to be a music expert critic. I am very sad that so much nastiness comes out so easily.

Don’t we have enough problems?

I think this vitriol is out of order. A totally one-sided out pouring of negativity. And I guess you are going to praise the latest Rolling Stones album. A bit of balance please.

all over the world. It is still better for me to know that before girls were screaming for them and not taking drugs to go and see their preferred group of musicians.

And as the song ends you can hear these words ‘you’re welcome’. All the songs from The Beatles reflected positivity.

Ericoo

No, no and thrice no. If you want to hear regurgitation of Beatle-esque songs just go out and buy a couple of Liam Gallagher albums. Sorted. To coin a wellknown phrase, ‘Let it Be’.

Geoff Atkins

It certainly sounds like a Beatles song but is nothing special, just another pop song. I don't know why they did it, maybe just because the technology now allowed them to include Lennon? Most Beatles songs sound dated today although at the time they were superb.

Brian Wall

It is good Now and Then but Hey Jude and Imagine are better.

Tim McMahon

From a Beatles fan… it’s very dated.

Judy Breadmore

I heard it this afternoon and thought it was crap.

Most overrated band ever.

Richard Webb

Stephane de Leng

Unlike Emna Mitchell, who has obviously had a bad day, I’m looking forward to buying the Beatles’ last record, they have given a lot of pleasure over the years.

Its good, but… just a b-side.

Peter Mack

Definitely not needed.

Bill Shearer

S Ede

I can also assure you that several great composers have given their findings about the song, it would have been better that you did read them first before posting your negativity.

Respect is what this group has earned many years ago and still have from many fans but also performers

Fabulously written piece… but I guess you have stepped on a lot of toe.

Eleni Lolkema

Not the same just two of them.

Mark Free

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

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

FEATURE

euroweeklynews.com

16 - 22 November 2023

Kay Caldwell EWN in partnership with Age in Spain is launching the Good Neighbour Award this week and we’re looking for the best neighbour in Spain.

This doesn’t have to be your next­door neighbour, but someone who has gone out of their way to help you practically or of­ fered you emotional sup­ port when you’ve needed it. Or it could be someone you know who has done something special for your community.

The winner will receive a celebratory dinner for two, a certificate to frame, and congratulations from the UK Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott. And we’ll highlight their achieve­ ment here in EWN. But every person nomi­ nated will be acknowl­ edged by Age in Spain, so they’ll know their good deed has been appreciat­

Credit: Jeremy Bishop/Unsplash

Good Neighbour Award

Extending the hands of friendship.

ed. It’s a great way to say thank you to someone who has done you a favour.

The award scheme is open to anyone who lives in Spain. You have until December 12 to make your nomination and you can do that very easily by visiting the Age in Spain website at www.agein spain.org/goodneigh bouraward.

Just say who you’re nominating and what they’ve done to help you

or your community. An in­ ternational panel of judges will select the winner and runners up.

You don’t need to live in Spain, but your nominee does. Last year’s winner was a Spanish woman, nominated by her English­ speaking neighbours!

Age in Spain helps En­ glish speakers of all nation­ alities settle in Spain. We know there are some very neighbourly people out there and they want to hear about them!

EWN 41

42 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

SEVILLANAS became notice­ ably more popular during the early PSOE govern­ ments because so many of their ministers were from Andalucia.

Not that Sevillanas had ever been out of favour be­ cause learning to dance her way through their se­ quences was something that every young Spanish woman could do, just as a young woman in the UK once knew how to get through the Gay Gordons or the Dashing White Sergeant.

People, non­Spanish peo­ ple, often mistake Sevillanas for flamenco which it is not.

Now inseparably linked to Andalucia, Sevillanas proba­ bly evolved from the Seguidillas that were danced in Castilla as far back as the 15th century al­ though they were later in­ fluenced by flamenco in the 19th.

At the time my husband was growing up, Spanish working men regarded go­

Photo credit: usercontent.one

Things ain’t what they used to be: Sevillanas

SEVILLANAS: Strict rules that have to be learnt.

ing out at night ­ when they were in funds, that is ­ as a birthright. But after televi­ sion arrived, and especially once they could watch it in colour, they tended to stay in much more. Meanwhile, their wives managed to go out a little more, especially after a pre­weekend hair­

dresser’s session and when they had a fancy to drink Bailey’s or Licor 43 with Co­ ca Cola.

You would see them with their husbands, usually ac­ companied by at least one other couple so that the women could chat together and the men could talk to

the men. During the 80s they would often end up in places with names like Tri­ ana that were dedicated to Sevillanas, especially in re­ sorts like Benidorm where the hotel dances finished at midnight.

That’s when everyone would remember Sevillanas

and what was dismissed as too plebeian earlier that evening was suddenly more acceptable. Even if you did­ n’t want to participate it was still fun to watch as the dancers went through the set steps.

Sevillanas are strictly strict­tempo with rules that are meant to be kept but the dancers always look as though they are having a whale of a time. Having tak­ en Sevillanas classes and abandoned them, I suspect that really they are all just relieved to have got the hang of it at last.

Very late one Saturday night in the mid­80s my husband and I had suc­ cumbed to the strident siren call of Sevillanas when a bride and her party billowed in. Panniered and bustled, a­rustle with silk and tulle and embroideries, she was as magnificent as a ship in full sail.

A woman who was clear­ ly the mother of the bride looked stern and over­

wrought, but every other face softened as the daugh­ ter danced with her brand­ new husband while the oth­ er dancers drifted away .

“What’s the matter?” asked my husband.

“Nothing, nothing at all,” I assured him as I pressed a finger to my mascara and blinked away a tear in a ges­ ture repeated by every oth­ er woman in the room.

Then the newly­weds fin­ ished dancing, the groom trod on the bride’s train and she told him to watch where he put his feet.

Thirty­eight years later I wonder where she is now and if she remembers the night when she danced Sevillanas in her wedding dress as Saturday night wended its way towards Sunday morning.

551,232: the number of pieces in the biggest jigsaw.

www.euroweeklynews.com • 16 - 22 November 2023

43

PETS A round of appaws AS the importance of pets within modern society grows so too do the indus­ tries that serve their well­ being, providing goods and services that just a decade ago would have been un­ heard of. easyJet has re­ cently launched a pet­sit­ ting service, a Hyatt Regency in Japan offers pet rooms with 100 per cent occupancy and the CEO of GCH Hotel Group, has not­ ed that one call in 10 to his hotel chain is now related to pets, leading the compa­ ny to develop a pro­ gramme that includes dog walkers and other pet ser­ vices.

Within this changing landscape, specialised pet hotels are a relatively new phenomena, with a fore­ cast market growth of 6.0 per cent CAGR over the coming years according to the Europe Pet Boarding Market.

From welcome treats, grooming facilities and on­ site veterinary care, to be­ spoke walking services and special pet menus, these hotels are going above and beyond to ensure that our furry friends feel just as wel­ come and comfortable as their human counterparts.

At Arbre a Chats (Cats’ Tree) hotel in Paris, guests need to reserve well ahead, as all its 24 ‘contemporary and comfortable’ cubicles are fully booked. The hotel offers ‘a la carte’ services such as massage, brushing, and a transport service to pick up guests. As an extra, the hotel management sends owners a picture and a message twice a week about what their pets are eating and how they are.

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If you’re planning a trip in the next few months register now to find pet­sitters in time. Earlier is better than later. Whether your trip is short or long, you need to prepare. All pets in particular ben­ efit from staying at home, so they can follow their routines undis­ turbed. Join our pet and house­ sitting network, and the sitters come for free!

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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 (£69GB per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house 4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go away. Sit­ ters apply and you choose.

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our net­ work for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­ sitters see your advert, they re­ spond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

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Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch.com

Need a pet or housesitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and petsitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either housesitter or homeowner with a 20% discount using coupon code 20EWN – Reader exclusive offer.

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

Companions for elderly PET ownership can bring a host of benefits for seniors which is all the more impor­ tant for us here in Europe where the ageing population is growing. For many seniors, pets offer companionship, un­ conditional love, and a sense of purpose, helping to combat feelings of loneliness and iso­ lation that can be common in later life.

As well as this, pet owner­ ship helps people stay fit with daily exercise. Whether taking a dog for a walk, playing with a cat, or caring for a bird, pets encourage seniors to stay ac­ tive and engaged. This can help to improve cardiovascu­ lar health, maintain muscle strength, and enhance overall

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well­being. Additionally, pets can have a positive impact on mental health. Studies have shown that pet ownership can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, leading to im­ proved mood and a better quality of life. The compan­

ionship and affection that pets provide can also help to boost self­esteem and foster a sense of purpose and routine.

Furthermore, and perhaps not so obvious, pets can pro­ vide social opportunities for seniors.

Pet adoption surges AMIDST increasing awareness of mental health, pet adoption rates have surged, high­ lighting pets’ significant role in providing compan­ ionship and emotional support.

Animal shelters across the country report a re­ markable increase in adoptions, especially for dogs and cats.

Veterinarians empha­ sise the mutual benefits, as pets not only receive a loving home but also pos­ itively impact their own­ ers' well­being.

This rise in pet adop­ tion underscores the growing recognition of the therapeutic value of pets in fostering happi­ ness and reducing stress in people’s lives.

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DRAINAGE

16 - 22 November 2023 • euroweeklynews.com

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

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REMOVALS

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16 - 22 November 2023

REMOVALS & STORAGE

EWN 45

euroweeklynews.com

MOTORING

SEAT major safety check SPANISH automotive manufacturer SEAT has initiated a substantial review of thou­ sands of vehicles globally due to a potential safety defect.

This precautionary step is due to a detect­ ed airbag defect and concerns 300,000 vehi­ cles sold globally from 2012 to 2017, two thirds of which were sold throughout its Spanish network.

In a recent development, it was revealed that SEAT is set to inspect the airbag sys­ tems in more than 300,000 cars sold be­ tween 2012 and 2017, of those over 200,000 were sold through its Spanish deal­ erships.

This move is a result of identifying a flaw that might compromise the airbag’s perfor­ mance. The company, headquartered in Martorell, Barcelona, has urged vehicle owners to visit their local dealership for a safety check, highlighting the airbag’s crucial role in protecting passengers in the event of a collision.

SEAT’s priority safety recall involves five models ­ the Leon, Ibiza, Alhambra, Ateca, and Toledo ­ all manufactured within the 2012 to 2017 timeframe. The Spanish Con­ sumers and Users Organisation (OCU) has echoed this message in an official release, noting the total amount of cars requiring in­ spections in Spain is 208,992.

Credit: thieury/Shutterstock.com

46 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

AIRBAG: Seat set to inspect the system.

SEAT’s online service, which allows own­ ers to check if their vehicles are affected by entering their chassis number, has been particularly instrumental in streamlining the process to ascertain if their vehicle requires a checkup.

The airbag concern is linked to products

by Takata, a supplier for SEAT and other Volkswagen Group brands.

The concept of the airbag has its roots in military aviation, having been first trialed in the clothing of combat pilots. While John Hetrick, an American engineer, was the pio­ neer to patent the airbag for vehicles in 1952, it took over two decades for the tech­ nology to be adopted in the automotive sector.

In 1973 that Ford’s Oldsmobile Toronado became the first car to feature an airbag ­ a significant milestone in vehicle safety.

48 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

ACQUISITION: A takeover bid is being proposed.

investment vehicle, XXI Century Capital, based in Singapore and involved in both football and fashion, is set to make the propos­ al.

Despite the company lacking an online pres­ ence, Zilliacus remained tight­lipped about the identity of his backers and the team assisting with his acquisition ef­ forts.

When probed about the possibility of financial backing from the Gulf states, which have shown a growing interest in Eu­ ropean football, Zilliacus chose not to expand on the specifics. “I don’t want to get into such de­ tails,” he remarked, en­ suring only that “I’ve col­ lected capital from various places, that should be enough.”

SPAIN’S Carlos Alcaraz made a bad start in the ATP Finals 2023 in Turin by los­ ing the opening match against Alexander Zverev on Monday, November 13.

The young Spanish star was beaten 7­6, 3­6, 4­6 by the very impressive No 7­ seeded German who took revenge for the two de­ feats previously inflicted on him by Alcaraz in 2023.

Zverev capitalised on the very poor run of form that the 20­year­old El Palmar tennis player is currently going through after his re­ turn from injury last month.

A very close first set was won by the Spaniard but his 26­year­old opponent

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Alcaraz beaten in Turin

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Made a bad start in the ATP Finals.

was in no mood to roll over and fought back to take the next two sets with rela­ tive ease at the Pala Alpi­ tour.

Monday’s victory sent the two­time winner of the ATP season­ending tourna­ ment one step nearer the semi finals.

However, if he is also to progress, Alcaraz needs to beat both 2020 champion

Daniil Medvedev and An­ drey Rublev in the next two Red Group matches.

The two Russians play each other in Monday’s other match. Novak Djokovic, the tournament’s red­hot favourite, is look­ ing to clinch a record sev­ enth Finals title. Doing so would put him one ahead of his old rival Roger Feder­ er.

A MOVE back to the Premier League could be on the cards for the former Manchester City star Leroy Sané.

According to a tweet on Sunday, November 12, from the Turkish football expert Ekrem Konur, Manchester United are monitoring the 27­year­old German internation­ al. Sané now plays in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich following his de­ parture from the Etihad Stadium in July 2020.

Should the move materialise then City would receive 10 per cent of any profit made by the German club due to a clause inserted in his con­ tract when they sold him to the Ger­ mans.

During his spell under Pep Guardi­ ola, Sané won two Premier League titles, two Carabao Cups, one FA Cup and two Community Shields, scoring 39 goals in 135 appearances.

Erik ten Hag would probably be in­ terested in taking Sané to Old Traf­ ford if there was the possibility of a deal. His forward line has struggled to score goals this season despite the arrival of some new faces, and he lacks a quality winger.

Since his arrival from Ajax in Au­ gust 2022, Antony has not really

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German international monitored

LEROY SANÉ: A move on the cards?

lived up to the expectations that came with a record Eredivisie trans­ fer fee. The Brazilian was United’s third­highest transfer after Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku.

Jadon Sancho has been banished from first team activities following his spat with the Dutch coach and Mason Greenwood is now on loan in Spain’s LaLiga with Getafe.

Former LaLiga star dies aged 28 R A P H A E L DW A M E N A, who previously played in Spain’s LaLiga for Levante and Real Zaragoza tragical­ ly passed away on Satur­ day, November 11, aged only 28.

The former Ghana inter­ national striker reportedly collapsed on the football pitch in the 23rd minute while playing for KF Egna­ tia against Partizani Tirana in the Albanian Super League.

Dwamena’s death was confirmed by his club on social media.

The player was report­ edly rushed to a nearby hospital in the city of Kavaja after Egnatia’s medical team failed to re­ vive him. Sadly, he suf­ fered another heart attack on the way to hospital and passed away.

The star previously suf­

Credit: Werner100359/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

COULD a Finnish en­ trepreneur revive Inter Milan’s fortunes? Earlier this week a Finnish ty­ coon made known his in­ tentions to present an ac­ quisition proposal for the financially burdened Ital­ ian football club.

As reported on Mon­ day, November 6, by an Italian newspaper, 69­ year­old Thomas Zilliacus, who previously attempt­ ed to purchase Manch­ ester United, has amassed an investment of €2.5 billion. A portion of this fund is earmarked for his bid to take over Inter Milan from Chinese pro­ prietors, Suning Holdings Group.

Zilliacus stated: “I’m se­ rious. This week or next week at the very latest the Inter owners will re­ ceive a solid offer from me to buy the club.” His

Credit: DELBO ANDREA/Shutterstock.com

Finnish businessman targets Inter Milan

SPORT

RAPHAEL DWAMENA: Had numberous heart-related issues.

fered numerous heart­re­ lated issues. He was diag­ nosed with a heart defect in 2017. After collapsing in

an Austrian Cup match in 2021, Dwamena was fitted with an implantable car­ dioverter­defibrillator.