Costa Blanca South 16 – 22 November 2023 Issue 2002

Costa Blanca • Issue No. 2002 • 16 - 22 November 2023

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ILMAINEN

GRATIS

GRATIS

GRATIS

VRIJ

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Anna Ellis GET ready to raise your beach umbrellas and clink glasses, as the beloved beach bars, chiringuitos, are making a tri­ umphant return to the sun­ soaked shores of the Costa Blanca.

After a year­long hiatus that left beachgoers longing for the familiar ambience of these seaside establishments, the latest beachside gems in Orihuela Costa have been carefully dismantled and stowed away, awaiting a fresh lease on life through a new tender.

The curtain fell on these popular chiringuitos on Jan­ uary 1, 2023, leaving a void in the coastal experience throughout the summer sea­ son.

As reported by a news source, the local government

Image: Ilia Matushkin / Shutterstock.com

BEACH BAR RETURN

CHIRINGUITOS: Promising a celebration of sun, sand and a sip of seaside joy.

is actively engaged in reshap­ ing expired contracts inherit­ ed from the previous admin­ istration, showcasing a commitment to revitalising this integral part of the coastal scene.

NO THANKS!

Image: Alicante City & Beach

A SIGNIFICANT milestone has been achieved for the tourism sector in Alicante as the councillor for Tourism, Ana Poquet, alongside several professional associations, partici­ pated in the signing of a crucial decree at the Palau de la Gen­ eralitat Valenciana.

This decree, spearheaded by President Carlos Mazon, marks the repeal of the tourist tax previously promoted by the Botanic government.

In the wake of this pivotal moment, Councillor Poquet ex­ pressed the importance of this decision for the Alicante tourism sector which has garnered widespread support from various sectors.

Poquet underlined President Mazon’s commitment to the sector, emphasising that this support is a sustained dedica­ tion that will persist throughout the legislative term.

CRUCIAL DECISION: Repeal of the tourist tax.

Breaking away from tradi­ tion, the Coastal Department plans to divide the future re­ placement contract for beach services across Orihuela Cos­ ta’s 11 beaches into five dis­ tinct parts, with a dedicated contract for nautical sports.

This innovative approach is a departure from the singular, overarching contracts of the past, a clause will limit bid­ ders to securing a maximum of two contracts out of the five on offer.

This strategic move en­ sures a diverse mix of opera­ tors, fostering healthy com­ petition and a rich tapestry of beachside offerings.

As the town hall fine­tunes

the fee structure for each contract, beach bars expect­ ed to draw larger crowds, such as those in La Zenia and Cabo Roig, will bear higher costs.

On the flip side, the hidden gems like Punta Prima or Aguamarina, which grace the coastline with a quieter charm, are poised to enjoy more affordable contractual fees.

Anticipation is building as the return of the much­loved chiringuitos to Orihuela Cos­ ta’s beaches is expected in time for Easter 2024 and promises to be a celebration of sun, sand, and a sip of sea­ side joy.

GRATUITO

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16 - 22 November 2023

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LOCAL NEWS

Record-breaking IN an impressive feat, the Alicante­Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport has recently cele­ brated its best October ever, welcoming a staggering 1,586,073 travellers.

This marks a remarkable 17 per cent in­ crease compared to the same month last year, showcasing the airport’s growing popu­ larity.

Out of this record­breaking figure, 1,584,276 were commercial passengers, with a notable surge in international travel.

A significant 17.9 per cent rise in interna­ tional flights was recorded, with 1,378,143 passengers 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 THERE has been a change in the schedule for the highly anticipated Santa Cecilia concert.

Set your calendars for November 25 at 7.00pm, and make your way to the Music School in Guardamar del Segura for an evening that promises to be filled with musical

travel landscape, the United Kingdom led the pack, contributing 536,480 travellers.

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

Not only did the airport experience a surge in passenger numbers, but it also witnessed an uptick in overall operations.

October saw a total of 9,939 flights, mark­ ing a 9.9 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2022.

Zooming out to a broader perspective, the airport’s success is not confined to a single month. From January to October, a whop­ ping 13,636,422 passengers passed through its gates, reflecting an impressive 19.1 per cent surge compared to the same period in 2022.

Schedule change brilliance.

Admission to this melod­ ic celebration is absolutely free, but don’t forget to se­ cure your invitation before­ hand.

Visit www.agenda guardamar.com to grab

your pass and ensure you don’t miss out on what is sure to be a captivating performance by the Guardamar Musical Group.

Mark the date, it’s an event you won’t want to miss!

LOCAL NEWS

NIBS EXTRA Significant leap THE Ministry of Health in Ali­ cante unveils Spain’s inaugu­ ral digital radiology room, pi­ oneering an AI­powered camera for automated test adjustments. Employing al­ gorithms and analysing pa­ tient parameters, the cam­ era tailors radiological shots based on real­time detection during tests, marking a signif­ icant leap in healthcare tech­ nology.

Change over THE iconic Hotel­Restaurant Patilla has changed hands as the Pérez­Selva family, pro­ prietors for over 50 years, of­ ficially transferred ownership at the notary’s office. The building now belongs to an investment group commit­ ted to preserving the estab­ lishment’s legacy, ensuring the continued tradition of Hotel­Restaurant Patilla.

Dutch goodbye IN La Marina urbanisation in San Fulgencio, Local Police detained a Dutch national with an active International Arrest Warrant. The arrest occurred during a vehicle check after inquiries about the individual’s location. The apprehended person is now in custody at Guardia Civil quarters in Guardamar del Segura, awaiting extradition.

Home grown NATIONAL POLICE cracked down on an illicit marihuana operation with 850 plants in an upscale Almoradi villa.

Two suspects caught at­ tempting a rooftop escape, face charges of drug traffick­ ing and electricity fraud for tapping into the public pow­ er grid.

Mobile MOT HONDON DE LAS NIEVES will conduct technical inspec­ tions for agricultural vehicles, air vehicles, and services (cat­ egory L) on November 24, 27, and 28, from 9.00am to 1.30pm in front of the me­ chanic workshop on Calle Al­ gibest. In La Canalosa, in­ spections will take place on November 23.

euroweeklynews.com George Cunningham EMBARKING on a transfor­ mative journey toward a digitally empowered fu­ ture, Santa Pola Council has given the green light to a ground­breaking project: the installation of Wi­Fi in­ frastructure in 11 key mu­ nicipal offices.

In the upcoming weeks, the town’s residents will witness a significant leap forward as Wi­Fi connectiv­ ity becomes available in strategic locations.

The carefully selected municipal offices include the headquarters of the Lo­ cal Police, the Local Devel­ opment Agency, the Civic and Social Centre, the House of Culture, Villa

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Digital future 112 Image: Tippapatt / Shutterstock.com

WI-FI: Now available in many strategic locations.

Adelaida, Aquarium, Chil­ dren’s Traffic Park, El Mon­ sa sports facilities, Muse­ um of the Sea, Casa

Romana, and the bus sta­ tion.

With this forward­think­ ing initiative, Santa Pola

proudly asserts itself as a modern, connected munic­ ipality.

The provision of Wi­Fi in crucial locations ensures that residents and visitors alike can seamlessly access the internet in key areas, fostering convenience and connectivity throughout the town.

This move not only aligns with the broader goals of digital transformation but also positions Santa Pola as a hub where technology and community converge for the benefit of all.

Clamp down Anna Ellis IN a determined effort to combat the blight of illegal fly­tipping, the vigilant Local Police of Orihuela Costa have escalated their campaign, sending a resounding message to those who disre­ gard public cleanliness laws.

In the past two weeks alone, they have wielded their authori­ ty, issuing a stern 25 complaints against individuals found in breach of local regulations.

This proactive initiative, which gained momentum earlier this year, has seen the Local Police harness modern technology, em­ ploying drones to capture evidence of fly­tipping and the im­ proper disposal of household waste on the pristine streets of Ori­ huela Costa. The initial days of the offensive yielded startling results, with drone surveillance pinpointing 10 instances of envi­ ronmental transgressions within the first four days.

Offenders were swiftly identified and reported for offences ranging from the careless dumping of garden waste to the aban­ donment of bulky furniture.

The use of cutting­edge technology not only enhances the effi­ ciency of their enforcement but also serves as a stark warning to those contemplating irresponsible disposal practices.

Pinoso poppy pride ON Sunday November 12, Pinoso commemorated the 105th an­ niversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War with a poignant service organised by the Royal British Legion.

The service, held at the San Pedro Apostol Parish Church, paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in war conflicts.

In a departure from the usual parade, the event was marked by a sombre yet heartfelt atmosphere.

The commemoration drew the presence of local authorities, in­ cluding Mayor Silvia Verdu, and several councillors.

Their attendance reflected the community’s solidarity with the international residents and their shared commitment to honour­ ing the sacrifices made in times of conflict.

Led by parish priest of Pinoso, Juan Bautista Llinares, and Vanes­ sa Aldred­Brooker, pastor of the Vine Church Pinoso, the religious service served as a poignant reminder of its historical significance.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Elche

TRIUMPHANT: The successful chefs.

Superchef Senior Bob Marquess IN a culinary showdown that celebrated the talents of Elche’s chefs, Manuel Bazan Contreras emerged tri­ umphant, claiming the top spot in the fifth edition of the ‘Superchef Senior’ contest.

His winning creation, ‘Monkfish casserole with clams and shrimp’, wowed the judges and showcased his culi­ nary prowess.

The competition, held over two days, saw a total of 23 par­ ticipants showcasing their culi­ nary skills.

However, only six con­ tenders earned the honour of advancing to the final round.

While Manuel Bazán Contr­ eras secured first prize with his exquisite monkfish creation, the competition was fierce.

‘Bollitori’ by Francisca Aguilar Lafuente and ‘Bacalao con nata’ by María Julieta De­ freitas Norega claimed second

and third prize, demonstrating the high level of talent dis­ played throughout the event.

The awards ceremony was attended by Aurora Rodil, the councillor for Family, who ex­ pressed satisfaction with the contest’s success.

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Now reality George Cunningham THE transformation of Torrevieja is now a vivid reality as the extensive works in the Torreta Florida urbanisation have reached completion.

The focal point of this urban rejuvenation is a large pond, brought to life through the creative vision of local artist Carlos Vera.

The pond serves a dual purpose, not only as a lamination area for the temporary storage of rainwater during heavy episodes, but also as a vi­ brant canvas that encap­ sulates the beauty of the Natural Park of the La Mata and Torrevieja la­ goons.

Beyond its functional role, the Torreta Florida lamination pond is set to become a multifaceted public space, seamlessly integrated into the sur­ roundings.

Its water storage ca­ pacity of approximately 9,000 m3 ensures effec­ tive rainwater manage­ ment.

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16 - 22 November 2023

Nora Shephard IN a groundbreaking devel­ opment, nursing profession­ als across Alicante are now authorised to prescribe medications for patients in both public and private healthcare settings.

This change marks a sig­ nificant shift from the previ­ ous practice, which limited prescription privileges to doctors and dentists.

The catalyst for this change is the Royal Decree 954/2015, a regulation that governs the indication, use, and authorisation of medi­ cation and healthcare prod­ ucts for human use by nurs­ es.

Prior to this decree, nurs­

Patient care Image: Alex Segre / Shutterstock.com

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PRESCRIPTIONS: A groundbreaking development.

es were permitted to pre­ scribe drugs in five specific areas where their expertise

is particularly valuable: wounds, diabetes, hyperten­ sion, burns, and ostomies.

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.

With 9,300 nursing profes­ sionals in the province, this new law heralds a momen­ tous expansion of their roles in patient care.

The measure is set to be gradually implemented in the Community, and its ef­ fects promise to alleviate the mounting pressure on the public Primary Care sys­ tem.

This pressure has forced doctors to double up on consultations in an effort to address delays, which have, at times, stretched to a month in the province of Ali­ cante.

These circumstances have left physicians with an im­ possible task, trying to pro­ vide quality care in just five minutes for each patient.

LOCAL NEWS

Race Against Cancer Bob Marquess ON Sunday, November 19, at 10am, Alicante’s Race against Pancreatic Cancer Alicante 2023 is set to take place.

The race, open to participants of all ages, aims to raise funds to support research in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

This year brings some exciting new features to the event.

One significant change is the relocation of the starting point to the Joaquin Villar Athletics Stadium in Alicante, sit­ uated in front of the Rico Perez stadium where participants will embark on a five­kilometre route.

Another noteworthy development is the expanding reach of the Cities Race against Pancreatic Cancer.

Apart from Alicante, several other cities within Spain, in­ cluding Vilamartín de Valdeorras (Ourense), Madrid, Tar­ ragona, Estepona (Malaga), and Barcelona, will host the race on different dates in November and December.

The Cities Race originated in 2015 as a local race between Sant Joan and Muchamiel with 800 participants.

Retail therapy Anna Ellis EXCITEMENT is building in Almoradi as the town coun­

cil and the Almoradi Mer­ chants Association join forces to bring a fresh and vi­ brant event to the Plaza de la Constitucion, to celebrate Black Friday.

From November 24 to 26, the Plaza de la Constitucion will transform into a shop­ per’s haven, featuring around 15 commercial firms eager to entice buyers with irresistible deals. The festivi­ ties kick off on Friday, the 24th, with stands open from 4.00pm until 9.00pm. On Saturday, the shopping ex­ travaganza continues, with doors open from 9.30am to 2.00pm and then again from 4.00pm to 10.00pm.

Cap off the weekend on Sunday, November 26, with shopping hours from 10.00am until 3.00pm. Al­ moradi’s mayor, Maria Gomez has emphasised the town’s commitment to bol­ stering local commerce, urg­ ing residents to seize the op­ portunity and indulge in some retail therapy on this special occasion.

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

LOCAL NEWS

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16 - 22 November 2023

Cat colonies In the USA

Image: IMG Stock Studio / Shutterstock.com

STRAY CATS: Now under a CSR programme.

IN Hondon de las Nieves, a group of dedicated volunteers is making a positive impact on the lives of cat colonies through a compassionate and proactive approach.

These volunteers have im­ plemented a Capture, Sterilise, and Release programme.

Authorised by the town hall, these volunteers not only pro­ vide food but also offer care to the cat colonies under their watchful eyes.

For local residents encoun­ tering stray cats, a helpful indi­ cator is a marked ear.

If a cat has one, it signifies that a dedicated volunteer is overseeing their well­being.

In such cases, it is advised not to offer leftovers to these cats as they are already receiv­ ing care. The town hall would also like to remind cat owners of their legal obligation to ster­ ilise their pets.

Furthermore, the town hall encourages community mem­ bers to report any instances of pet abandonment, neglect, abuse, food theft from cat colonies, or any interference to the Local Police.

IN a fusion of Spanish ar­ chitectural prowess and the subterranean allure of Washington DC, two masterpieces by Elche ar­ chitect Procoro Del Real, of RAS Arquitectos, are currently on display in the heart of the United States.

The Braided Valley of Elche, a concrete walk­ way gracefully adorning the slopes of Vinalopó, and the Mirador del Faro de Santa Pola, stand as proud representatives of Spanish innovation and design excellence.

These architectural wonders are part of an exclusive collection fea­ turing the 25 best pro­ jects executed in cities across Spain. The uncon­ ventional venue chosen for this exhibition is the Dupont Underground, a once­abandoned sub­ way station from the 1960s now reborn as a vibrant artistic and cul­ tural space.

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16 - 22 November 2023

Nora Shephard GREAT news for residents and visitors of Elche! The mayor of Elche, Pablo Ruz, has just un­ veiled an exciting new devel­ opment in the town’s public transport system.

You can now hop on a bus and pay your fare with your credit or debit card.

Mayor Ruz expressed his en­ thusiasm, saying, “This is a sig­ nificant step forward for Elche’s public transportation.

“Allowing card payments on our buses is essential for mak­ ing this mode of transportation more accessible to the people of our town.”

This move is part of the city’s ongoing commitment to re­ sponsible and convenient mo­ bility for all its residents.

Pay by card Legal help Image: Ayuntamiento de Elche

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NEW DEVELOPMENT: Hop on a bus and pay by card.

Mayor Ruz also shared a sneak peek of what’s on the horizon, saying, “In the near fu­ ture, we will be launching a dedicated transport app.

“This app will not only reveal

the precise location of each bus but will also enable you to top up your bus card, access real­time schedules, and pro­ vide detailed information about all our bus services.”

Bob Marquess BENIJOFAR is buzzing with fes­ tive excitement as the town gears up for the Super Christ­ mas Basket Raffle.

The magic has been officially set in motion with the distribu­ tion of ticket baskets to various participating establishments across town.

Here’s how you can be part

George Cunningham ARE you facing legal ques­ tions or concerns related to inheritances, mortgages, land clauses, separation or divorce, alimony, defaults, labour issues, or other legal matters?

The San Fulgencio Coun­ cil has a valuable recom­ mendation for you, the le­ gal advice service JUSTIPROP. JUSTIPROP offers legal consultations and guidance, providing assistance on a range of legal issues.

The service is convenient­

ly available every Tuesday at the offices of the Civic Centre in San Fulgencio from 4pm to 8pm, appoint­ ments are required.

To schedule an appoint­ ment, you can contact JUSTIPROP by phone on (+34) 966 794 201 or via WhatsaApp on (+34) 610 630 269.

This accessible and reli­ able legal advice service aims to support residents of San Fulgencio in navigating various legal matters, pro­ viding clarity and guidance when it is needed the most.

Christmas basket of the holiday cheer: Every pur­ chase over €10 in any Benijofar establishment qualifies you for a chance to win one of the su­ per Christmas baskets.

It’s as simple as writing your name and phone number on the receipt and placing it in the

designated ticket basket. The winner will be selected on De­ cember 17 at the Christmas market at ‘Casas Manuel’.

The Super Christmas Basket is a great way for the commu­ nity to come together and sup­ port local businesses.

LOCAL NEWS

Hasslefree NIE FOR the residents of Aspe, the process of obtaining or renewing your NIE (Nu­ mero de Identificacion de Extranjero) just got a whole lot easier.

You can now take care of this essential paper­ work comfortably at the Wagner Theatre.

To secure your appoint­ ment, simply call (+34) 966 919 900.

Please note that there’s a maximum limit of 120 appointments, so don’t wait too long to schedule yours.

On November 17, the National Police will be on­ site at the Wagner Theatre to assist you with the nec­ essary paperwork to ob­ tain or renew your NIE. On November 21, your NIE will be ready for collec­ tion at the same location.

The Wagner Theatre is located at Calle Castelar, 10, 03680 Aspe.

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Nora Shephard MARK your calendars for November 29 at 10.30am, because the highly­antici­ pated ‘Seniors on the Move’ project, known as ‘Mayores en Marcha’, is all set to kick off in Orihuela Costa.

This exciting initiative is all about promoting active age­ ing and fostering a sense of community among older residents in the municipality of Orihuela.

The councillor for Social Welfare, Agustina Rodriguez is enthusiastic about the project, saying, “We hope to see a large turnout of partic­ ipants who are eager to em­ brace an active and social lifestyle.”

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Active lifestyle Image: oneinchpunch / Shutterstock.com

LOCAL NEWS

EXCITING INITIATIVE: Promoting active ageing.

The event promises a de­ lightful two­kilometre march in the scenic sur­ roundings of Plaza de Cala Mosca, with an expected ca­ pacity for up to 400 seniors from Orihuela.

Following the invigorating

Anna Ellis ATTENTION, residents of Dolores!

The heartbeat of democracy is echoing through the town, and your participation is the key to shaping the future.

The Dolores Town Hall extends a friendly re­ minder: mark your calendars for the European Parliament elections on June 9, 2024.

This is more than just a date; it’s an oppor­ tunity for European Union nationals, and non­ Spanish residents living in Spain, who have sig­ nalled their intention to vote and are of legal voting age on the big day, to make their voices heard.

walk, participants will be treated to a well­deserved lunch. The rest of the day will be packed with a range of engaging sports activities, including dancing and yoga.

The event will conclude at 1.30pm.

Have your say You are an integral part of the current elec­ toral roll, and your participation is vital.

Expressing your willingness to vote has nev­ er been more accessible.

The Dolores Town Hall is embracing the dig­ ital age, allowing formal declarations to be made online for your convenience.

If the tactile sensation of paper and pen res­ onates with you, fret not! Postal mail remains a steadfast option. For those who prefer a per­ sonal touch, head over to the town hall.

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Anna Ellis SANTA POLA, get ready to deck the halls and light up the night because Christmas is around the corner.

Santa Pola has now un­ veiled details of a competition that’s sure to sprinkle festive joy across both commercial and residential corners of the municipality.

All businesses in Santa Pola and Gran Alacant, you are in­ vited to showcase your cre­ ativity in the grand Window Display Competition!

Entry is free but you need to register before December 1 at the town hall.

Decorate those windows with flair and maintain the

LOCAL NEWS

Festive magic Image: Pefkos / Shutterstock.com

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The best window display.

festive spirit between Decem­ ber 7 and January 6, 2024.

The jury will pay a visit on December 11 and 12, with re­ sults announced on Decem­ ber 17.

But that’s not all.

Residents, it’s your time to

Anna Ellis THE management shift of ITV by the Generalitat Valenciana in February 2023 brought about changes, but a particular concern has arisen in Aspe. Despite the Generalitat’s assumption of management, the annual mobile ITV service, which used to operate from October to Decem­ ber, was not included in the public management framework.

Currently, the only advice from the regional administration is for residents to await the new contract tender in 2024, leaving towns like Aspe without the essential service.

shine too!

If you’re on the padron, you can participate in the Residen­ tial Property Decoration Com­ petition Mark December 11 as the day to unveil your festive fa­ cades, keeping the magic alive until January 6, 2024.

The jury will be making their rounds on December 13 and 14, announcing the win­ ners alongside the commer­ cial results. Seven finalists will be chosen, with top honours for the two most magical dis­ plays and gifts for the remain­ ing five.

Aspe concern This predicament has rendered temporary mobile ITVs in the Valencian Community inac­ tive, as they are privately operated.

As a consequence, many communities, includ­ ing Aspe, find themselves without this service.

Faced with bureaucratic red tape and the obli­ gatory complaints to the Conselleria, the Aspe City Council has taken proactive measures.

In an attempt to address the situation, they reached out to the mobile ITV stations in Murcia.

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euroweeklynews.com George Cunningham THE Costa Blanca and the province of Alicante, renowned as one of Spain’s major real estate hubs for in­ ternational buyers, are now attracting attention from the United States, according to Al­ ibuilding, a prominent local developer.

Alibuilding, a part of the Ali­ grupo business holding led by Juan and Pedro Alcaraz, founders of Goldcar, has re­ cently finalised initial sales of its residential projects to American citizens.

Observing a rising trend, the developer notes a height­ ened interest from the United States market in its Costa

LOCAL NEWS

US attention Blanca developments.

While the percentage of to­ tal sales to US citizens remains modest, the inclusion of American homeowners in the early phases of Polop Hills (Polop), featuring 179 single­ family homes, signals a note­ worthy shift in market dy­ namics.

Despite the relatively small sales volume, the presence of American buyers underscores a growing appeal in contrast to the more conventional countries in the real estate sector, as explained by Jose

Image: J.Paredes / Shutterstock.com

REAL ESTATE: Attracting attention from the United States.

Antonio Izquierdo, the com­ pany’s general director.

“Our development is cur­ rently 74 per cent marketed, with the new four phases set to be completed by 2024 at 59 per cent.

“In these phases, though in an initial stage, we have seen sales to individuals from the United States materialise.”

The company director also noted a similar occurrence in Benidorm Beach.

Lest We Forget ON Saturday, November 11, at 11.00am, a poignant Remem­ brance Day commemorative event unfolded within the walls of the Archpriest Parish of the Immaculate Conception.

This meaningful gathering was organised by the Royal British Legion in collaboration with the Torrevieja City Council, reflecting a shared commitment to honouring the sacrifices made by the brave. The attendees included the mayor of Tor­ revieja, Eduardo Dolon, and the councillor for International Residents, Gitte Lund, underscoring the significance of this solemn occasion on the city’s calendar.

The commemorative mass, a pivotal element of this mo­ mentous day, was officiated by Father Richard Seabrook, the pastor of the Anglican Church in Torrevieja.

The echoes of prayers and reflections filled the air, paying homage to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in wars and acts of terrorism. The event culminated in a floral offering in the Plaza de la Constitucion. This symbolic gesture served as a collective tribute to the fallen heroes, a poignant reminder of the profound impact of their service on the course of history.

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LOCAL NEWS

50th Firauto Car Fair

FIRAUTO CAR FAIR: A wide range of offers on both cars and motorcycles.

IFA­FIRA Alacant is getting ready to host, from Novem­ ber 17 to 19, an exciting edi­ tion of the most prominent automotive fair in the province, filled with surprises and a wide range of offers on both cars and motorcycles.

The fair will celebrate the 50th edition of FIRAUTO, the New Car Fair, the 36th edi­ tion of EXPOCAR, the Used Car Show, and the 18th edi­ tion of SOBRE2RUEDAS, the Motorcycle Fair.

The two pavilions of IFA­Fi­ ra Alacant will bring togeth­ er, during the three days of the event, a wide variety of vehicles and brands to make it easier for consumers to

find the car or motorcycle that best suits their needs.

With all this, Firauto + Ex­ pocar & Sobre2ruedas will feature all the latest offer­ ings from leading market brands, as well as used cars, second­hand vehicles, zero­ kilometre options, and mo­ torcycle accessories.

The event will cover a total area of 29,400 square me­ tres and feature over 130 ve­ hicle brands, with an en­ hanced focus on motorcycles compared to previous fairs.

Additionally, during the event, visitors can take ad­ vantage of significant dis­ counts and exclusive prices on hundreds of mid­range

and high­end models. All of this makes Firauto + Expocar & Sobre2ruedas an essential event for those looking to ac­ quire a new vehicle.

The event hours are from 10.00am to 9.00pm.

Tickets can be purchased in advance on the IFA­Fira Alacant web ticket office for €4 or at the physical ticket office for €7. Children under 12 accompanied by an adult can access for free.

A discount voucher can al­ so be requested through the fair’s website.

The discount voucher is valid for up to four people and is not cumulative with other promotions.

Saving big cats

Nora Shephard RIO SAFARI ELCHE is not just a place for family outings and wildlife enthusiasts; it’s a crucial player in the preservation of a threat­ ened subspecies of leopard, both in its na­ tive habitat and across Europe through its management and breeding programme.

One of their most significant conservation endeavours has been their collaboration with the Wilderness and Wildlife Conserva­ tion Trust in Sri Lanka.

Together, they’ve been working tirelessly to safeguard one of the world’s most endan­ gered leopard subspecies, the Sri Lankan leopard.

Leopards are unique among big cats due to their extraordinary adaptability to a wide range of environments.

Unlike tigers, which thrive in dense jungles

and tropical forests, or lions that call the sa­ vannas their home, leopards have success­ fully colonised diverse terrains across a vast territory.

Their habitat ranges from nearly all of Asia to most of Africa, with the notable exception of the Sahara Desert.

What sets leopards apart is their remark­ able ability to subsist on a diverse array of prey, from large ungulates to smaller species.

This exceptional adaptability has allowed them to thrive in a multitude of ecosystems.

However, it also means that their survival is critically tied to the health of these various habitats.

With ever­increasing threats to their natu­ ral environments, leopards, including the Sri Lankan leopard, face a perilous future.

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16 - 22 November 2023

The British tourist

George Cunningham AH, the British tourists, the connoisseurs of Costa Blanca! These sun­seekers are a fascinating bunch, and their preferences paint a vivid picture of holiday bliss.

They are a jet­setting legion arriving on 21 dif­ ferent routes from every nook and cranny of the UK. In this grand mosaic of travel, Manchester emerges as the crowned champion, generously dispatching the largest contingent of holiday­ makers.

London comes in second spot.

But what truly sets these Brits apart is their un­ wavering loyalty to the Costa Blanca experience.

It’s not just a one­time affair; it’s a love story that keeps blossoming. Eighty per cent of them, like clockwork, planning to recreate the magic of Bob Marquess THE Animal Department of the San Fulgencio Town Coun­ cil is taking a proactive step to­ wards fostering responsible pet ownership and harmo­ nious community living.

This campaign serves a dual purpose: to enlighten pet owners about their rights and responsibilities and to update the pet census within the community.

The initial focus of this cam­

Image: IgorAleks /Shutterstock.com

LOCAL NEWS

A vivid picture of holiday bliss.

2023 in 2024. The results have been confirmed by sources from the tourism sector during the World Travel Market (WTM), the London Tourism Fair, where destinations and compa­ nies, with the help of Turisme Comunitat Valen­ ciana, went to test what the British want and what they are looking for.

Pet census paign is on owners of dogs, cats, and ferrets residing in San Fulgencio.

To participate in the munic­ ipal pet census, owners can visit the town hall between 9.00am and 2.00pm.

The required documenta­ tion includes a photocopy of the owner’s ID card, passport, or residence card, an applica­ tion for registration in the mu­

nicipal pet census, and a copy of the animal’s Health Card.

For those with potentially dangerous animals, additional steps are mandated. In such cases, owners must register their pets and obtain the obli­ gatory licence.

This campaign not only aims to create a comprehen­ sive and up­to­date pet reg­ istry but also seeks to foster a culture of responsible pet ownership.

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14 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

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LOCAL NEWS

George Cunningham STEP into the heart of Campov­ erde this Christmas as the Campoverde Church in the Community spreads the spirit of the season beyond its walls.

In a bid to reclaim the essence of Christmas from the clutches of commercialisation, the Church is introducing a unique and heartwarming competition, inviting local busi­

Image: Anneka / Shutterstock.com

Christian Christmas FESTIVE SPIRIT: A unique heartwarming competition.

nesses to infuse the true mean­ ing of Christmas into their fes­

Murder mysteries

THE Stagestruck Players are a small amateur dramatic group, known for performing comedy murder mysteries in local bars, with all proceeds raised from the performances donat­ ed to their chosen charity, the Torrevieja Alzheimer’s Associa­ tion. Recently the group made their annual donation of €5,000 bringing the total amount to €53,400 since 2015.

With original scripts written by their director, Leigh Humphries, The Stagestruck Players perform twice a month, performing a scenario that ends with one of them being mur­ dered. Their very own Inspector Clouseau, or Detective In­ spector Vera Stanhope, then makes an appearance and takes over the proceedings to hilarious effect. For December and January, they will be performing Christmas­themed scripts involving pantomime characters.

For information email leigh.humphries58@gmail.com.

tive decorations.

The competition, set to kick off in mid­November and ex­ tend until Christmas Eve, aims to serve as a reminder of the deeper meaning behind Christ­ mas.

The Church is offering a €100 prize for the best display in terms of the Christian mes­ sage. The winning business will have the honour of donating this prize to a charity of their choice, further extending the spirit of giving. Additionally, there’s a €50 donation for the runner­up.

For those eager to partici­ pate or want more informa­ tion, contact Maggie Dew on 623 016 231 or email maggie ruthdew@hotmail.com.

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

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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NEWS

Spanish gastronomy THE upward trend of culi­ nary tourism is a testament to the fact that, wherever they are in the world, every­ one loves trying new food.

Europe has long been the centre of diverse and quality cuisine and Spain is a leading gastronomic light in the con­ tinent.

Culinary tourism is grow­ ing increasingly popular, with the market worth €743 billion in 2022 and expected to exceed €872 billion by 2028, an increase of 17.44 per cent.

In an Internet age, for bet­ ter or worse, foodies rely heavily on rating apps and recommendations from So­ cial Media influencers, but the one recommendation that has held the heaviest weight for the last 100 years is that of the Michelin Guide and its star rating system.

A traditional view of Span­ ish cuisine is that it’s simple, cheap, simple food that’s wholesome and varied.

However, Spain holds the fifth most Michelin stars in

MICHELIN STARS: Spain ranks third in the world.

the world and its restaurants rank third in the world for the coveted three­star award.

The Basque Country town of San Sebastian holds the crown for the highest densi­ ty of Michelin­starred restaurants in Europe and is regularly named by many of the world’s top chefs as their favourite foodie destination.

In 2022 Spain boasted 226 one, two and three­starred restaurants, 38 Green Star

restaurants and 232 Bib Gourmand. In 2023 the number of Michelin­starred restaurants in Spain has risen to 248, demonstrating the rise of Spanish gastrono­ my on the world stage.

126 feet: the diameter of the world’s largest pizza.

NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

16 - 22 November 2023

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.

EWN 19

20 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com A BOY blissfully lying on a sofa, 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 ordinary.

All captured in a short video that ended up on social media on the after­ noon of Saturday Novem­ ber 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 violations.

Through the analysis of the images and after a brief investigation, the officers of the Borgo Ognina police station identified the owner of the car, a 43­year­old woman, and then traced it back to the driver of the car, her 41­ year­old husband.

According to what the police reconstructed, the 41­year­old, togeth­ er 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.

The driver, after justi­ fying himself by telling the officers that he,”did not realise he was carry­

NEWS

Photo: TikTok

LAID BACK: The driver was fined.

Easy rider ing a young man lying on the sofa,” (which the po­ lice obviously considered

implausible), was fined several hundred euros and several points were

deducted from his driving licence.

A few days ago, also in Catania, a 15­year­old boy was caught on video going around the city sit­ ting on a sofa mounted on an electric scooter.

Vampire grave THE remains of a child buried face down, held in place with an ‘anti­vampire’ triangular pad­ lock, were discovered near Pień in south­east­ ern Poland by researchers from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.

The 17th­century burial was found near the grave of the ‘vampire from Pniu’ discovered a year earlier ­ a woman buried with a sickle around her neck and a padlock locked on her toe.

Vampires were feared not only in popular fiction, but in real life by people living several centuries ago.

This is why those suspected of supernatural powers were often buried in very specific ways: with their faces downwards, 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 tri­ angular padlock on her left big toe and addi­ tionally pinned her neck to the ground with a sickle.

The bones were very quickly dubbed ‘vam­ pire’ 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 Institute of Archaeology.

I would treat these treatments more as ‘anti­ vampiric’ activities.

Maybe the woman had some kind of physi­ cal or mental defect, her fellow inhabitants 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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NEWS

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ICELAND has been bracing it­ self due to the high risk of a volcanic eruption, with many of its citizens now prepared to evacuate if need be. This fol­ lows a series of potent earth­ quakes on the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of the country.

Iceland’s Ministry of For­ eign Affairs announced on X/Twitter: “The Government of Iceland continues to moni­ tor the situation in close col­ laboration with the Depart­ ment of Civil Protection and Emergency Management and the Icelandic Meteorological Office,” later adding: “The De­ partment of Civil Protection and Emergency Management has declared an Emergency/Distress Phase on the Reykjanes peninsula, due to increased seismic activity.

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

Experts are closely monitor­ ing 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

THE Swedish Government confirmed on Sunday, November 12, that a poten­ tial bid for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is being taken very seriously.

Officials in Stockholm noti­ fied the Swedish Olympic Committee, the Swedish Par­ alympic Committee and the Swedish National Sports Confederation of their deci­ sion. Jakob Forssmed, the Minister of Social Affairs and Sports, explained: “We will now test the conditions for providing guarantees for the games. Financial guarantees, guarantees that the authori­

Credit: Nasa Public Domain/Creative Commons Attribution

Iceland volcano threat

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland in 2011.

three kilometres southwest of the quake’s epicentre, is on high alert. Approximately 4,000 residents are ready to evacuate if needed.

Late on Friday, two power­ ful tremors were felt, the largest measuring a magni­ tude of 5.2, affecting areas as far as Reykjavik some 40 kilo­ metres away. In light of the recent seismic activity, local authorities have taken pre­ cautionary measures. A key road to Grindavik was shut down after suffering damage from the earthquakes. The re­ gion has experienced over 24,000 tremors since late Oc­ tober. The Reykjanes penin­ sula has witnessed three

eruptions since 2021, occur­ ring in March 2021, August 2022, and July 2023. Each of these eruptions was safely distant from populated areas and critical infrastructure.

Iceland, with its 33 active volcanic systems, holds the record for the most in Europe.

The current threat is reminis­ cent of the events of 2010 in which a series of eruption in Eyjafjallajokull affected trav­ ellers around Europe and fur­ ther afield. The danger lay in the volcanic ash and its effect on jet engines, hence the clo­ sure of European airspace in what was the largest air­traf­ fic disruption since the Second World War.

Olympic interest

ties cooperate with the or­ ganisers, and guarantees for safety.” Asked how much the 2030 event could cost taxpayers, Forssmed told the news outlet: “It is not intend­ ed that the Swedish taxpay­ ers contribute money to the Olympic budget. The Olympics must stand on their own financial merits.”

He indicated: “We need games that take place in democratic countries, which can be based on economic and environmental sustain­ ability. “No showy construc­ tions, but rather that we use

what we have in a good and wise way and get Games that are more reasonable and something for the Swedish people to look for­ ward to,” Forssmed contin­ ued.

While Stockholm is planned as the main loca­ tion, other locations could in­ clude Falun, Åre and Öster­ sund. However, the politician suggested that some of the competitions could be staged in neighbouring coun­ tries. For example, ice skating in Norway, and bobsleigh, luge and skeleton in Latvia.

24 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

euroweeklynews.com

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.

NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

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 25

26 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

SOCIAL SCENE

ALONG the picturesque coast­ lines, where the sea meets the land, there’s more than just sand and surf to be dis­ covered.

Nowadays, coastal regions are teeming with new restau­ rants and bars that offer a wide array of experiences, making it crucial to venture out and try them. The reasons are many, ranging from di­ verse and delectable cuisines to captivating entertainment options, eclectic cocktails, and the opportunity to connect with the vibrant tapestry of new European residents.

Here’s why it’s important to make the effort and ex­ plore these coastal culinary gems.

1. Culinary Adventure: One of the primary reasons to ex­ plore new coastal restaurants and bars is the opportunity to embark on a culinary adven­ ture. These establishments of­ ten offer a diverse range of food options, from fresh seafood platters to exotic in­

Credit: PXHere

A Culinary and cultural adventure

Enjoy all that the beachfront has to offer.

ternational cuisines. Whether you’re a food enthusiast or someone looking to broaden their palate, trying these new establishments can be a de­ lightful journey of flavours and gastronomic discoveries.

2. Entertainment for All: Coastal restaurants and bars

don’t just serve food and drinks; they offer entertain­ ment that caters to a wide range of tastes and ages.

From live music performances spanning various genres to family­friendly activities and themed events, there’s some­ thing for everyone. These

venues have been trans­ formed into hubs of enter­ tainment where people can gather, socialise, and enjoy memorable experiences to­ gether.

3. Eclectic Cocktail Choices: For those who appreciate mixology, coastal bars are be­ Nora Shephard EXCITEMENT is building in Elche as the Canicross Race makes a return.

The event on Saturday, November 25, is offering par­ ticipants two options: a six­ kilometre race mode or a leisurely three­kilometre walk. The fun begins at 10.30am at the IFA fair­ grounds in Torrellano.

Inma Mora, the councillor for Animal Welfare, ex­ Anna Ellis NOVEMBER in Aspe is not just any month; it’s the month of Santa Cecilia, a celebration infused with music and cultural vibrancy.

The Wagner Theatre

coming known for their eclec­ tic cocktail menus. Talented bartenders are crafting inno­ vative and unique concoc­ tions, often featuring locally sourced ingredients and re­ gional influences. Exploring these bars allows you to savour creative and expertly crafted cocktails that are a far cry from your typical drink menu.

4. A Multicultural Experi­ ence: Coastal regions often at­ tract people from all around the world, including a growing number of new European res­ idents. By visiting these restaurants and bars, you have the opportunity to en­ gage with these newcomers and learn about the rich tapestry of their cultures. It’s a chance to foster cultural un­ derstanding and appreciation, all while enjoying delicious food and drink, from a wide range of different cultures.

5. Inclusivity for All Budgets: Another compelling reason to explore new coastal establish­

ments is their inclusivity.

Whether you’re on a tight budget or looking to indulge in a luxurious dining experi­ ence, you’ll find options to suit your financial constraints.

The range of eateries and bars along the coast ensures that everyone, regardless of their budget, can take part in the excitement and enjoy­ ment of these venues.

The coast isn’t just a place to bask in the sun and sea; it’s a dynamic and evolving culi­ nary and cultural landscape.

By making an effort to ex­ plore new restaurants and bars opening along the coast, you can embark on a thrilling journey of flavours, entertain­ ment, and cultural exchange.

So, the next time you find yourself by the shore, be sure to venture out and savour the myriad experiences that these coastal gems have to of­ fer. You’ll be rewarded with unforgettable memories and a deeper connection to the vi­ brant coastal communities.

Paws for Thought pressed her enthusiasm, stat­ ing, “Last year, we saw hun­ dreds of pet lovers and their four­legged friends come to­ gether for this event.”

Alejandro Morant, the di­ rector of IFA, added, “Our aim is to promote coexis­ tence and create a day of fun and bonding with our pets.”

This year, around 300 par­

ticipants are expected. Regis­ tration comes with a runner’s bag, prizes for the winners, a technical race t­shirt, and two free tickets to the Expo­ Mascotas Fair happening on December 2 and 3.

The registration fee is €10, and you can sign up on the website www.firalacant. com.

Music month takes centre stage, hosting a plethora of musical activi­ ties that are intricately wo­ ven into the cultural

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tapestry of November.

Mark your calendars for Saturday the 18th at 7.30pm, when the Maestro Gilabert Musical Athenaeum will take the au­ dience on a melodic journey and on November 26 at 7pm, they will gracefully bring the curtain down on the series of concerts paying homage to Santa Cecilia.

Expect a grand finale as this society, steeped in mu­ sical tradition, delivers a performance that will linger in the hearts of attendees.

30 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

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.

FEATURE

euroweeklynews.com

16 - 22 November 2023

Good Neighbour Award 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

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!

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!

EWN 31

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

32

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

34 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/la-zenia • Tel: +34 965 994 830

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 35

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.

36 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

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.

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

Christmas Day ritual

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.

38 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

Eight keys to health A N E W study to be pre­ sented at the American Heart Association’s Scien­ tific Sessions 2023, high­ lights eight healthy habits that can boost your car­ diovascular health and help reduce your rate of biological ageing.

Although the habits are perhaps unsurprising, the health gains for following them are quite remark­ able.

The habits include: ab­ staining from smoking, en­ gaging in regular physi­ cal activity, eating a healthy diet, maintain­ ing a healthy weight, having healthy blood sug­ ar and cholesterol levels, and keeping blood pres­ sure in the normal range.

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

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

categories of high, moder­ ate, or low cardiovascular health.

For the 6,500 adults who were involved in the

study, the researchers found that people with high cardiovascular health were physiologically younger than their age,

concluding that those with the highest score were, on average, six years younger in comparison to the peo­ ple with the lowest scores.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

The water of life A R EC E N T study pub­ lished in the journal eBioMedicine by the Na­ tional Institutes of Health (NIH) found that well­hydrated adults are less likely to develop chronic health condi­ tions, have a reduced risk of early death, and are generally healthier.

The research analysed health data from 11,255 adults over 30 years, fo­ cusing on serum sodium levels and other health indicators to determine how they correlated with biological ageing.

The study assessed in­ formation from five medical visits for each participant, with the first two visits occurring when participants were in their 50s and the last visit between 70 and 90 years old.

Results showed that adults with higher serum sodium levels within the normal range had a 10 to 15 per cent greater chance of being biologi­

cally older than their chronological age com­ pared to those in the mid­normal range.

Participants at greater risk of ageing more quickly also had a 64 per cent higher risk of devel­ oping chronic diseases, including stroke, heart failure, dementia, and diabetes.

Study author Natalia Dmitrieva, a researcher at the NIH’s Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regen­ erative Medicine at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), stated, “The re­ sults suggest that proper hydration may slow down ageing and pro­ long a disease­free life.”

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

A surprising study A NOVEL study suggests that a daytime coffee followed by an evening glass of wine could be a recipe for better sleep, challenging conven­ tional wisdom.

This six­week study involv­ ing 17 participants revealed an intriguing interaction be­ tween caffeine and alcohol.

While coffee is known to potentially disturb sleep, and

alcohol can lead to lower sleep quality, their combined effect appears to offset these individual drawbacks.

Researchers found that a daily cup of coffee reduced sleep by about 10 minutes, but adding an evening alco­ holic drink reduced this effect to only five minutes.

Lead researcher Frank Song from the University of Washington notes that while alcohol may induce sleepi­ ness, countering some of caf­ feine’s effects, the combina­ tion does not guarantee high­quality sleep.

Published in PLOS One, this research adds a new di­ mension to understanding how these widely consumed beverages might be used to manage sleep better, espe­ cially among busy profession­ als.

The study emphasises moderation and further re­ search, considering it relied on self­reported sleep pat­ terns and did not detail con­ sumption timings.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

euroweeklynews.com

FOR the sixth consecutive year, Finland has clinched the title of the world’s happiest country, and its recipe for happiness continues to captivate global at­ tention. A unique blend of societal factors con­ tributes to Finland’s consistent high ranking on the annual World Happiness Report.

Finland’s commitment to social equality, strong so­ cial support networks, and a robust healthcare sys­ tem are integral components of its happiness equa­ tion.

The country’s emphasis on education, with minimal stress on standardised testing and a focus on student

16 - 22 November 2023

Happiness streak well­being, fosters a positive environment from an early age.

Nature plays a pivotal role in Finland’s happiness narrative.

The country’s picturesque landscapes, abundant green spaces, and access to outdoor activities con­ tribute to a lifestyle that prioritizes a healthy work­ life balance.

Moreover, Finland’s progressive social policies, in­

Smoothies for smooth skin A DELICIOUS and nutri­ tious smoothie is not only a great way to start your morning and replenish your body but it can also do wonders for your skin.

Here are the top five ingre­ dients to include in your smoothie to ensure the cutest cutis.

1) Collagen: As we age, collagen production de­ creases, leading to signs of ageing like sagging skin and wrinkles. Adding collagen to your smoothie can help increase your intake.

NUTRITIOUS SMOOTHIES: A great way to start your day.

2) Coconut water clears up breakouts: Coconut wa­ ter is a popular smoothie ingredient that’s hydrating and antimicrobial, contain­ ing lauric acid, which can kill acne­causing bacteria.

3) Coconut oil hydrates dry skin: Coconut oil, a cooking staple and trendy

skincare ingredient, has an­ ti­inflammatory properties and helps moisture reten­ tion. A few drops in your smoothie can provide these advantages.

4) Matcha protects against sun damage: Matcha, a type of green tea, offers antioxidant pro­

tection against environ­ mental free radicals. It is al­ so rich in polyphenols, which protect skin from ultraviolet radia­ tion, potentially pre­ venting premature ageing.

5) Prebiotics soothe irri­ tated skin: Prebiotics, com­ pounds in certain foods that support digestion by nourishing beneficial gut bacteria, can also aid your skin. Prebiotics are avail­ able in powder form and are abundant in bananas, an essential for any smoothie.

EWN 39

cluding parental leave, gender equality, and overall societal trust, create an environment where citizens feel secure and supported. The Finnish culture’s em­ phasis on communal values and the importance of close­knit relationships also adds to the overall sense of contentment.

In essence, Finland’s consistent happiness ranking underscores the importance of prioritising factors be­ yond economic indicators. By placing emphasis on so­ cial welfare, education, nature, and societal trust, Finland continues to set a global benchmark for holis­ tic well­being and contentment.

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

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

53

42 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

EWN 43

44 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

Advertising Feature

Rare and valuable pocket watches ABRAHAM-LOUIS BREGUET was born 1747 in Switzerland. He was the leading French horologist of his time and was well known for his inventions and the style of his watch designs.

When Marie Antoinette was impris­ oned in France in 1774, she asked to have a watch. She obtained one from her trust­ ed watchmaker, Abraham­Louis Breguet.

It was the model recommended to the most well­known and influential people of France. She had been a loyal customer of Abraham­Louis Breguet, owning several of his models, which was a most welcome endorsement for his business.

That watch, however is not the most fa­ mous model Breguet made for Marie Antionette. That accolade belongs to Breguet’s model 160, now known as the ‘Marie­Antoinette’. It

was commissioned in 1783 by a mys­ terious admirer who wanted to give it to the Queen. It included the most advanced horological complications of the time. It was fashioned in gold, and it was tru­ ly spectacular. No expense was spared, and in fact the commis­ sion had no price or time limit.

Sadly, the queen never set eyes on the masterpiece named in her honour, as it was not com­ pleted until 1827(by Breguet’s son), more than three decades after she was executed.

The masterpiece, which has be­ come a real cult object due to its ex­ treme complexity, has fascinated col­ lectors and enthusiasts for over two centuries. It was stolen in 1983 from a Jerusalem museum. The famous Marie­ Antoinette with Breguet’s signature was only recovered in 2007, when it was val­ ued at $30 million.

Breguet’s Grand Complication ­ ‘The Marie­Antoinette’ We, FixingTime, were very privileged to be entrusted to restore a pocket watch made by the illustrious Abraham­ Louis Breguet. It was not of course the ‘Marie Antoinette’ but never­ theless it was an unexpected and probably unrepeatable experi­ ence.

The watch we handled was a

quarter repeating pocket watch. To a lay person this means that, at the push of a button on the outside of the case, the watch will indicate the hours, and the quarters by two small hammers striking two gongs inside the case ­ a neat feature

in the18th century if you wanted to know the time in the middle of the night. This kind of technology is known as a complica­ tion and would most certainly have been one of the complications in the ‘Marie An­ toinette’. The watch had some wear that required several parts to be hand made to bring it back to full working order, but nothing FixingTime could not handle.

It was a memorable day indeed, not only in relation to the Breguet watch.

Our customer roared up to our work­ shop in his very loud, bright red, 1960’s E ­Type Jag. I can honestly say you don’t get many Breguet pocket watches or E­ Type Jaguars where we lived in England.

To get both in one day was unusual, but then again if you own a Breguet pocket watch you are more likely to also own a vintage car ­ lucky fellow.

FixingTime relocated to Muchamiel near Alicante in 2020. We are a family of horologists, and we are rapidly building our business here in Spain. Jeff (Odowd) FBHI maintains his position as Chief Exam­ iner for the British Horological Institute (BHI), and you will find FixingTime listed in the BHI’s directory of recommended/ac­ credited repairers.

We are proud of our credentials. Impor­ tantly, we can not only help you with an­ tique and modern clocks and mechanical watches, but equally with modern high­ quality watches.

In three years of offering our services we have met many fabulous customers from all over Europe - many thanks and gratitude to everyone who has put their trust in us. If you can’t bring your cherished clock or watch to us, we will come to you. We cover Denia to Los Alcazares, and beyond by arrangement. If we can help you bring your family heirlooms or modern wristwatches back to their former glory we are waiting for your calls/ emails - Our workshop is open most of the time, so if we can help you give us a call, text, or email to arrange an appointment. Usually we can come to you if you can’t bring your item to us. All our quotes are free with no obligation. Contact us on 608 013 157 or info@fixingtime.eu, www.fixingtime.eu.

www.euroweeklynews.com • 16 - 22 November 2023

46

PETS

SPONSORED BY

Pet adoption surges AMIDST increasing aware­ ness of mental health, pet adoption rates have surged, highlighting pets’ significant role in providing companionship and emo­ tional support.

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

Veterinarians emphasise the mutual benefits, as pets not only receive a lov­ ing home but also positive­ ly impact their owners' well­being.

This rise in pet adoption underscores the growing recognition of the thera­ peutic value of pets in fos­ tering happiness and re­ ducing stress in people’s lives.

Pet-sitters care for your pets at home WE help to match pet­sitters with the pet owners for free safe pet care in the pet’s own home, for free!

Those of you familiar with us know that we have maintained good value for our customers in the last 10 years ­ Yes, we are nearly 10 years old! And in all that time we have only ever raised our prices once. Standard member­ ship is still only £69 per year! Not bad for free pet­sitting in your own home.

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!

A petsitter cares for your pets at home

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.

Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 / 5 Excellent Pure Joy ­ I have completed two house­sits so far so early days.

Both sits have been well suited to me and my dog.

Thoroughly enjoyable experi­ ences with beautiful homes and well­rounded animals. I’m looking for more!

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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

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 unheard of. easyJet has recently launched a pet­sitting ser­ vice, a Hyatt Regency in Japan offers pet rooms with 100 per cent occu­ pancy and the CEO of GCH Hotel Group, has noted that one call in 10 to his hotel chain is now related to pets, leading the com­ pany 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 en­ sure that our furry friends feel just as welcome and comfortable as their hu­ man counterparts.

This growing trend of pet­friendly hotels and ac­ commodations is a wel­ come development for pet owners and their four­ legged family members.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS POLICE/FIRE/AMBULANCE: 112 24-HOUR PHARMACY FARMACIA BERDAGUER MARBELLA: 952 773 187 CENTRAL FARMACIA LOS BOLICHES: 952 474 238 FARMACIA CAFFARENA MALAGA: 952 212 858 24-HOUR VETS CLINICA VETSUR FUENGIROLA: 952 660 596 CLINICA VETERINARIA MALAGA: 952 358 701

SERVICES

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AIR CONDITIONING

ALARMS

16 - 22 November 2023

EWN 47

AIR CONDITIONING

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

BALUSTRADES

ELECTRICIAN BLINDS

BUILDERS

BLINDS

48 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023 DRAINS

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REMOVALS & STORAGE

16 - 22 November 2023 PLUMBERS

PAINTERS/DECORATORS

POOLS

REMOVALS & STORAGE

EWN 49

TV & SATELLITE

50 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

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SERVICES

REMOVALS & STORAGE

SOLAR ENERGY

POOL MAINTENANCE

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16 - 22 November 2023

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WINDOW TINTING

EWN 51

CLASSIFIEDS ARCHITECT

BUILDING SERVICES J & J PAINTERS. Inside outside - clean - fast - low cost. Torrevieja - Orihuela Costa and surrounding areas. Tel: 650 363 159

BUY & SELL PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

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CHARITY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life damaging everything that is important to you. Englishspeaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aa-costablan ca.org (93323) CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer. Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 email aecc_campello@hotmail. com (95475) CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462) CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH Tel: 950 617 549 www.givinglight.com.(10006)

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FREEMASONRY. Are you aware that Freemasonry is thriving on the Costa Blanca?

There are various Lodges meeting up throughout the Valencia region. If you already are a Mason or simply wish to know more about Freemasonry in Spain please contact sec@glpvalencia. com Tel 600 841 064 (95477) HELP VEGA BAJA. We are a non-profit making organisation that helps and supports anyone, without prejudice, in times of need or crisis within the Vega Baja area. Our offices are based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega 46 (Tel 966 723 733), Torrevieja at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4 (Tel 965 704 282). We are online at www.helpvegabaja.com and also on Facebook. You

CHARITY

52

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Sunday morning Services at 11.00am. All nationalities welcome - Contact 966 752 543 / 966 799 273. For other church matters phone: 966 799 273 / /617 215 463 www.icatorre vieja.org (95476) LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English-speaking church. For more information, including details of our services, see our website www.lasiestaevangeli calchurch.org (10005) PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 693 287 614 for further information. (95459) PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, www.pilarchurch.org Reg No: 2009-SG/A (95463) ROYAL Air Force Association Costa Blanca Registered Members Group: The RAFA Costa Blanca RMG replaces the RAFA Costa Blanca Branch 1359 which is now closed. The RMG is a social group of caring people and remains affiliated to the parent Association. Contact with the Royal Air Force Association and the RMG can be made via the RAFA website rafa.org. uk. Tel:0044 800 018 2361.

(238593) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Why not make this year the year you volunteer? See how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Telephone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are housebound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyhhvisits@gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on

16 - 22 November 2023 • euroweeklynews.com the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, http://branches.britishlegion. org.uk/branches/orihuela-cos ta - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl.co.uk.

(95457) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch. For info, contact the branch Secretary at granala cant.secretary@rbl.community ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION (Costa Blanca) The aim of the Association is to bring together not just ex Royal Marines, but ex Service personnel with an affinity to the Royal Marines. For further details contact Hon Sec P S Wilkins Tel: 966 194 158 email: inkinspain@yahoo. co.uk (10004) ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION For information please contact Chairman Anthony Jenkins +34 693 866 709, Vice Chairman Dusty Miller +34 711 006 670, Secretary Mike Cockman +34 670 224 822, Treasurer Carl Louden +34 678 518 202, email rnatorre vieja@aol.com (95455) STROKE ASSOCIATION Spain (formally known as Torrevieja stroke support) Our aim is to help and support stroke survivors and their carers, with rehabilitation, speech therapy, OC therapy and a very active social group. For info please contact 653 588 475 English and 620 907 474 Spanish or email strokesupportgroup@ hotmail.com, website: torre viejastrokesupport.org. We are always looking for volunteers who have the skills and knowledge to support.

(95473) THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188. (95461) THE BAKER Foundation Spiritual Centre Playa Flamenca.

Calle Luis Gordillo, 1 Playa Flamenca Alicante 03189. You can join us on Facebook, The Baker Foundation spiritual centre. Or contact Linda Schug Tel. 606 990 665 for more details (95458) THE PATIENCE LODGE No 2177 of the R.A.O.B Please call Secretary Dave Tonge on 688 704 091 for further information. (253807)

THE SPIRITUALIST CENTRE, Benijofar meets at Hamilton’s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Sevrice at 11.30am.

For further information: www.spiritualistcentre-benijo far.com. Telephone 711 060 171.

Email martindrou te66@hotmail.com. Fiscal G54713789 MOVERS AND SHAKERS We are a non-profit organisation that supports people and their families with neurological diseases such as; HUNTINGTON’S, ATAXIA, MOTOR NEURONE, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS and PARKINSON’S. Our MOVERS AND SHAKERS CLUB held every Friday @ 1pm – 3pm, is a chance for members to meet up socially, for a drink and a chat on a full range of topics and to exchange ideas and information. The club is held at O’Briens Bar in El Raso, Guardamar del Segura (except July and August). For more details, contact Marion Smith on 711 008 250, or email: marion.smith@ams cb.org.es, or you can find us on Facebook : fb@movers and shakers www.amscb.org.es (295976)

ELECTRICIAN MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (293246)

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

GOLD WANTED

INSURANCE FED UP OF NOT BEING SENT YOUR RENEWAL? CUT YOUR INSURANCE COSTS AND STILL HAVE 100% COVER. YOU HAVE TRIED THE REST NOW TRY THE BEST WITH SOS INSURANCE. WE CAN EVEN INSURE YOU FOR UP TO A €1,000 OF WATERLOSS. CALL 686 116 297 (WHATSAPP TO) OR VISIT www.sosinsurancein spain.com or email tracey@sosinsurancein spain.com (304148) BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes.

Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@benefi cialinsuranceinspain.com or visit www.beneficialinsuran ceinspain.com for online quote. (304147) STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbey gateinsure.com

MASSAGE FRENCH, ELÉGANTE, slim, Sophie, 3 languages spoken.

Experienced in a large variety of full body massages. Villamartin apartment or can travel to all areas. 693 357 526 (302439) EXPERIENCE the best with a 1hr unique massage with Veronica. Shaving or permanent hair removal available.

For appointments call 679 292 678 (303170) ATTRACTIVE, Girlfriend, Professional Masseuse relaxing and therapeutic Masseuse.

Tel: 693 357 526 (303833) CLASSIC SPANISH LADY, Playa Flamenca area, private premises, all massage services from 40€. Ana 657 603 495

HEALTH & BEAUTY PERSONAL TRAINER, WEIGHT LOSS, TONING, RESULTS GUARANTEED. CERTIFIED WITH 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. FORMER US KICKBOX CHAMPION. CALL 747 438 225 (301319)

HOME IMPROVEMENTS BATHROOM & KITCHEN Conversions Costa Blanca, contact 698 320 434.

(294827)

If you can read it, so can your clients. Contact us and have your business grow at + 34 951 386 161

TORREVIEJA centre 5 Spanish and Colombian girlfriends, very affectionate and dominant masseuses 24 hours a day Call outs . 613668548 TORREVIEJA Miriam. Mature, gives relaxing body massage. Speaks English. Call 604 382 799 (304672) LOVELY slim lady, 46, offering a pleasant massage. Mil Palmeras. In your home or hotel. Contact leilapuss@yahoo. co.uk for more details (303843) TORREVIEJA Unique Massage Experience.

Slim Masseur. Relax for 1 hour and enjoy a distresful massage. My name is Tina FROM BRAZIL and I am Mulatto 44yrs and perfect body. Incalls & Outcalls - Tel. 603 301 635 (304805)

CLASSIFIEDS

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MEETING POINT COUPLE Male & Female recently moved to Santa Pola, seeking new friends for meeting up, drinks together or maybe a meal. Please call 622 706 247 (have WhatsApp) (304548) TORREVIEJA Miriam. Mature, gives relaxing body massage. Speak English. Call 604 382 799 (304750)

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

MOTORING

always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

MOTORHOMES MOTORHOME / Campervan wanted. Left or right hand drive. Cash waiting for right van. Tlf 650 722 905

MUSIC FOR SALE 2 brand new Grundig Hi-Fi speakers 50watt, 26 x 18cm. €25. 699 321 591 (304542)

MUSIC TUITION PIANO, Keyboard, Organ, Qualified Teacher. Please call 606 984 535 (302201)

OTHERS KAMAGRA Gold 100mg plus Kamagra Jellies. Collection or Delivery. ROY HAS A NEW TEL. - 613 584 915 (295447) tp

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has

EDS? We have the solution, Kamagra pills & jells, Cialis, Sidenafil, over 7 products for men & ladies, mixed trial packs.Available by mailorder. WhatsApp or call 603 117 394

16 - 22 November 2023 PERGOLAS TAILOR-MADE in durable canvas, pergola covers, sails, umbrella, spa and CAR COVERS. 10% off Cushions.

Mazarron to Costa Blanca. RETIRING SOON DON’ T MISS OUT Google: KrugerCanopies.com WhatsApp: 667 879 399 krugercanopies@ yahoo.co.uk (301216)

PETS BEAUTIFUL & Healthy BICHON FRISE puppy available from responsible breede r. C o n t a c t 6 5 3 7 5 7 7 6 8 (304679)

PET CHARITY EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE. We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easyhorse care.net www.easyhorsecare. net or call Sue 652 021 980 (95706) GATAMI ORGANISATION, to help kittens and cats, looking for good homes, also spaying wild cats in the community.

Kittens require adoption, fully vaccinated, de-wormed, deflead. volunteers to Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709)

P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOSTER HOMES URGENTLY NEEDED. By fostering an abandoned dog or spending a few hours each week on our telephone helpline, you could help save the lives of many animals. Please call: 650 304 746. For more information browse our website: www.pepaspain.com (95708) SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting rehoming.

Phone Gail 962 896 118. Visit our website for directions. www.spama.org and view our new blog at www.spama -safor.blog.com.es PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM (95707)

PET CTRANSPORT PETS BACK HOME Family pet transporters Spain/UK. Travel with your pets for free.

All air conditioned vehicles (no vans) www.petsbackhome. co.uk Removals also arranged in other vehicles Tel: UK (0044) 01256 244657 (302827)

PLUMBERS MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (293246)

SITUATIONS VACANT

POOL MAINTENANCE POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 965 725 565 / 676 945 360 www.pooltechspain.com (293105)

SITUATIONS VACANT ACCOUNTS PERSON. Full or part time person to help with accounts and bookwork in our busy office and shop. Training will be given but experience with accounts is important.

This is a fully legal contract position.

Send CV to info@costablancayachtser vices.com (304308) CHANDLERY ASSISTANT. Bright person required to help in our chandlery shop in Torrevieja. Must have English and Spanish, be computer literate.

A knowledge of boats would be an advantage, but full training can be given for the right person. Full time position with contract and salary commensurate with experience.

Send CV to info@costablan cayachtservices.com (304308)

REMOVALS & STORAGE COSTA LESS EXPRESS, small removals and deliveries.

Spain/UK budget prices. Urgent jobs undertaken www.costalessexpress.co.uk

EWN 53

Pet transport also arranged in our air conditioned pet/people carriers. Tel: UK (0044) 01256 244657 (302827)

SPAS & JACCUZZIS

54 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

MOTORING

Affordable electric motoring nailed!

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack I HAVE seen some interest­ ing names for cars over the 40 years of my writing career, but perhaps the strangest was sampled a few weeks back. Chinese manufacturers are very strong on producing electric cars and manufacturer BYD, Build Your Dreams (yes, real­ ly!), has launched the Dolphin and has a second model to be launched shortly called the Seal.

So what of the Dolphin? It’s billed as a city car with the po­ tential for longer runs if need­ ed, and if you can find decent public charging on your cho­ sen route here in the UK. Prices start at €29,968/ £26,195 for the lead­in model and estimated range varies from 310km/193 miles to 426km/265 miles depending on model and battery size.

Four trim levels ­ Active, Boost, Comfort and Design ­ offer standard equipment

DOLPHIN: Looks and feels classy for its price.

that includes LED lights, auto lights, high beam assist, adap­ tive cruise control, powered front seats, powered and heated door mirrors and plen­ ty of USB sockets. Move up the range and the already generous equipment moves up accordingly with such addi­ tions as a panoramic roof, wireless charging, heated seats and rear privacy glass.

In terms of overall size the Dolphin is a C­segment car, so think of Corolla and Golf to give you some idea of com­ parisons. It feels a well­bolted together car and although

there are the inevitable hard plastics inside the car it man­ ages to retain a look that doesn’t shout bargain base­ ment. The faux leather seats are comfortable and support­ ive with power adjustment on both front. Space is pretty good too, and although the top­of­the­range version with panoramic roof might feel a little tighter my very tall col­ league managed to easily en­ ter and exit the rear seats.

On the road the initial rather loud motor hum is a surprise and something I haven’t experienced on other EVs, but it does soon fade to a more usual whisper quiet

ride. There seems very little intrusion from wind and road noise to make the Dolphin a refined drive. As with, seem­ ingly, all new models it’s rather too techy even when more analogue solutions would prove easier. The air conditioning system is a case in point where physical buttons work far easier than a touch­ screen.

Overall though there’s little to criticise the Dolphin, it looks and feels classy for its price, has very generous equipment levels and drives well. If you want affordable electric motoring then the Dolphin may well have it nailed.

1889: the year the first electric car was built.

euroweeklynews.com

16 - 22 November 2023

DGT’s fine discounts Credit: thieury/Shutterstock.com

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.

EWN 55

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.

SOME fines imposed by Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) normally have a 50 per cent discount if paid before the deadline.

However, there are others that this does not apply to.

Traffic offences are divided into three levels by the DGT: minor, serious and very seri­ ous.

Except for certain of­ fences that the DGT stipu­ lates must be paid in full, most of them can benefit from the 50 per cent dis­ count for prompt payment during 20 days following the date of the fine.

Violations that forfeit the discount include: the use of a jammer or radar detector and the falsifying of a driv­ er’s identification. Similarly, drivers who cause damage to road infrastructure do not benefit from the discount ei­ ther.

Based on the Traffic and Road Safety Law, the DGT classifies up to 26 offences with this distinction, all of

Credit: Juan Carlos L. Ruiz/Shutterstock.com

MOTORING

DGT: Traffic offences divided into three levels.

which are included in Article 77 of the law.

Motorists committing one of these offences can re­ ceive a minimum fine of €500 along with the loss of points from their driving li­ cence.

Driving without a licence is also included, as are failing to comply with the rules re­ garding assistance on public roads, and throwing objects onto the road or its sur­ roundings that could cause fires or accidents.

As specified by the DGT, the procedure to appeal against a traffic fine is very

simple: an appeal can be submitted online, but the Cl@ve certificate is required.

Another way is to send it by post to the Provincial Traffic Headquarters or to the Automated Complaints Treatment Centre. Alterna­ tively, the claim can be pre­ sented in person at any Traf­ fic Office.

It should be noted that appeals can only be lodged within 20 days of being noti­ fied of the offence. Once this period has elapsed, it is only possible to lodge an appeal for review if there is an error in the fine.

56 EWN 16 - 22 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

SPORT

Image: Ayuntamiento de Dolores / Facebook

NEW SIGNINGS: Set to inject new vigour into the Pinoso football squad.

FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT: Expect thrilling matches.

line at www.tatosportevents. com or call (+34) 666 415 139.

In the spirit of giving during the festive season, attendees are encouraged to bring a soli­ darity toy to contribute to a good cause.

The Ateneas Cup Charity Football Tournament promis­ es not only thrilling matches, but also an opportunity for the community to come to­ gether in the name of sports­ manship and charity.

Walking football tournament ESQUINA PARK Rangers Walking Football club held their annual Tournament last week at Ro­ jales with 12 of the best teams involved from Costa Blanca, Costa Calida, Scotland, Wales and the Basque Country to name just a few. The event was held at the facilities of the Rojales Town Hall and over the two days 66 games

were played with some great football played by all the teams. The winners were Malaga with 24 points pipping Pollok Utd by one point.

In third place with 20 points was Red Lion from Fortuna. Anyone interested in trying the ever­ popular Walking Football please email, es quinaparkrangers2018@yahoo.com.

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

Shutterstock.com

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.

Dynamic trio George Cunningham PINOSO Football Club is gearing up for an exhilarating ride in the first FFCV category, unveiling a trio of dynamic signings set to inject new vigour into the squad.

Leading the charge is the formidable Colombian central defender, Juan Carlos Chavarre.

Joining the ranks are the skilled players from Elda, Alex Collados and Miralles. This dynamic duo, with their attacking flair, is set to ignite the goal­scoring front and weave their magic on the field, leaving

spectators in awe.

These strategic signings come at a piv­ otal moment as Pinoso Football Club seeks to climb the ranks and establish itself as a contender in the fiercely competitive cate­ gory.

Currently, Pinoso finds themselves in the tenth position, hungry for success with 10 points on the board.

The pursuit of glory sees them trailing the leader by six points, a gap they aim to bridge with their newfound reinforce­ ments.

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

Bob Marquess DOLORES Council is excited to announce the Ateneas Cup Charity Football Tournament, a spirited event that will take place in various modalities from December 6 to 9 at the La Alameda de Dolores Soccer Field.

This initiative is a celebra­ tion of solidarity, with football taking centre stage in a mixed tournament where both males and females are invited to participate in their respec­ tive categories.

Registration for the Ate­ neas Cup is open and entirely free.

Participants can register on­

Image: Pinoso CF

Charity football

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.