launched under the Interreg Europe programme one of Seville’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods The project not only supports school operations but also reduces energy costs for nearby households Energy poverty impacts millions of Europeans. An EU-funded cooperation project named POWERTY has been launched through the Interreg Europe programme in Torreblanca one of Seville’s most impoverished districts initiated an energy and education community focusing on solar energy adoption in collaboration with public schools solar panels have been installed in two primary schools Vélez de Guevara and Principe de Asturias They have generated 15 kilowatts of energy benefiting school activities and community households Not only public schools but also families taking part in the energy community noted a tangible alleviation in electricity costs through the initiative As noted by Marcos Sánchez López these solar panels are raising social awareness about energy conservation and climate change A crucial aspect of the project’s success lies in its cooperation aspect: the project encompassed cooperation between 5 European regions Through a European network of more than fifty shared best practices POWERTY exemplifies a successful European Union contribution in the fight against energy poverty The project's impact has been recognized with several international awards the project is predominantly funded by the EU Cohesion Policy https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/10/28/powerty-energising-communities-to-combat-poverty and mailings and dive into the most pressing foreign policy issues with insights from our experts I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here The Africa programme analyses the geopolitics of the Africa-Europe relationship the programme delves into relations between the African Union and the European Union to find creative foreign policy tools and strategies It also focuses on two regions that are particularly relevant for Europe: the Horn of Africa and the Sahel The Asia programme seeks to help Europe recalibrate its relationship with China and its Asian partners The programme analyses China’s domestic situation It also places a renewed emphasis on fostering Europe’s relationships with the Indo-Pacific The European Power programme is focused on helping Europeans develop sustainable policy solutions to the issues affecting the European Union’s capacity to act with unity on the global scene This includes analysing the path forward for enlargement The Middle East and North Africa programme seeks to support a coherent European agenda in pursuit of regional interests The programme works with European and regional governments and civil society to advance channels of dialogue as well as providing direct policy prescriptions to secure conflict de-escalation The US programme helps Europeans create policy responses to developments in US domestic politics and foreign policy The programme seeks to strengthen transatlantic relations by exploring the obstacles to a more balanced partnership and developing ideas to overcome them The Wider Europe programme aims to help the European Union defend its interests and values in the Western Balkans as well as the South Caucasus and central Asia The programme also supports EU decision-makers work on a unified and coherent policy to address the challenges resulting from Russia’s full scale-invasion of Ukraine The European Union has been called a digital empire it constitutes one of the three major models of digital governance to have emerged in the first quarter of the 21st century and especially during the EU’s last institutional term (2019-24) it has started to advance its model more confidently through its technology policies Yet Brussels still lacks something fundamental that Washington and Beijing possess: a way of grounding those policies not only in its socio-economic interests but in its geopolitical ones too whereby the EU’s regulations set global standards But prosperity and values are not the same thing as power the European model lags far behind its American and Chinese counterparts The EU therefore needs a digital grand strategy rooted in a theory of how technology and power interact in the emergent mid-21st century Such a strategy must combine three interlocking goals: maximising new research and breakthroughs; protecting relevant industries from external co-option; and spreading European technology policies and practices in the wider world the union should use its next institutional term (2024-29) to build and execute a strategy encompassing this trio of innovation This policy brief articulates a roadmap for a digital grand strategy orientated around those three goals It argues that each one confronts policymakers with challenging tensions and trade-offs innovation requires openness but can make markets and policies vulnerable to geopolitical or market rivals economic security is needed to protect European values and interests but can slow technological progress and alienate partners seeking global digital influence may lead to clashes with other countries also seeking that influence as well as with others that feel forced to choose between competing models of technology It insists that Europeans can successfully negotiate those three digital dilemmas andthat there are positive-sum games to be found This spirit of realism about the challenges creativity in seeking out the balances and solutions and ambition in fulfilling Europe’s potential as a full-fledged technological power should inform leaders over the next five years – especially those in the all-important roles in the new European Commission Our argument starts from an assessment of the achievements and shortcomings of the 2019-2024 term in these realms as well as the changing geopolitical landscape Then it surveys the three digital dilemmas in succession It concludes with a series of recommendations targeted especially at the 2024-2029 commission but also the other EU institutions and national governments across Europe These form a map for  navigating the dilemmas and building an innovative and influential digital model; not abandoning the Brussels effect and its achievements to date they will compound Europe’s digital lag and with it the continent’s wider loss of control over its place in the world If it wants a solid power base to be a relevant global actor over the coming decades committing $52.7 billion to semiconductor development The US has also restricted trade and investment ties with China under the “small yard high fence” doctrine of national security adviser Jake Sullivan which places restrictions on a small number of strategic technologies with military significance while maintaining trade relations in other areas Both the US and China understand critical technologies as a means to acquire and exercise power, and therefore approach them through long-term strategies encompassing industrial, trade, foreign, and security policies. This has turned the two superpowers into full-fledged “digital empires” has also applied it to the EU – and indeed Brussels is a peer to Washington and Beijing when it comes to standard-setting regulation and institutional and financial tools needed to replicate their comprehensive and whole-of-government approach across the wider sweep of technology policy The result is a narrow and siloed European approach to critical technologies often detached from — or at least insufficiently coordinated with —  the rest of its strategic objectives is falling behind and risks losing what strength and sovereignty it still has in the digital realm even despite the progress of recent years it needs to integrate its technological agenda with its foreign policy goals much more comprehensively The aim should be European global technological influence and leadership defined as the ability to advance the EU’s own values and interests in global technology governance but also in the spheres of power -– global security and politics -– where new digital breakthroughs in particular are being weaponised Meeting that aim demands a much larger European toolbox filling the policymaking gaps; its own all-of-government approach; and most of all its own answers to the trio of digital dilemmas that it faces Navigating the first two – the innovation and economic security dilemmas – begins at home The union must find a way of maximising technological progress to ensure more European breakthroughs generating growth and jobs At the same time it must protect its technological base against disruption or weaponised interdependence through market dominance or the political actions of third actors (such as sanctions and plot a global course that balances ambition and humility which includes strong commitments to boosting EU digital industries and technologies and developing a new economic foreign policy aimed at protecting the EU’s interests and this tended to be the less sophisticated end of the chip market Such tensions comprise Europe’s innovation dilemma Whereas prescriptive regulation can have a negative effect on innovation such as “general regulation” affecting the overall business environment can reduce transaction costs and decrease uncertainty thus stimulating innovation and investments the vast US lead over Europe in the development and growth of digital giants may reflect not recent regulatory developments such as the DMA but the high degree of market fragmentation within Europe Balancing Europe’s innovation dilemma will therefore largely depend on how digital regulations are applied. In May 2024, the Council of the EU took note of the significant number of these adopted in recent years and stressed the need for efficient implementation in the next institutional term For the EU to meet its targets in technological talent The potential election of Donald Trump as US president can become an opportunity for Europe to gain valuable talent Such examples point the way through Europe’s innovation dilemma Europe does not have to make a blunt choice between its distinctive model of regulation and greater dynamism Smart implementation of the rules it has already more integrated digital and financial markets and clear and ambitious leadership – from the top or from can-do bottom-up coalitions – constitute a smart middle way There is an alternative to expensive home-grown technological innovation: importing critical technologies at low prices from elsewhere and boosting relations with those partners in the process But this approach risks making Europe more dependent on outside players and vulnerable to disruptions in the flow of technological goods The trade-offs and tensions between the goals of faster progress and protecting the EU’s technological base comprise Europe’s economic security dilemma the restrictions were a stark illustration of the threats to the long-term resilience of its technological base the EU’s geoeconomic agenda is “far too narrow balancing Europe’s economic security dilemma requires an honest assessment of its alignment with the US in critical technologies which stopped exporting semiconductors to China following US pressure – illustrating Europe’s exposure to American demands it may well be in Europe’s interest to help the US slow down Chinese advances in such fields But it is also crucial that Europe be able to make these decisions on its own the EU can ensure that ties with the US remain mutually beneficial De-risking in order to balance the economic security dilemma does not mean pulling up the drawbridge it often means the opposite: forging strong partnerships with important countries involved in major value chains such cooperation is essential to guarantee access to the supply of cutting-edge technologies and ensure that efforts to insulate Europe from risks do not come at the cost of technological innovation It means initiatives such as the Minerals Security Partnership Forum launched by the EU and the US to boost international cooperation in critical raw materials The EU should pursue similar partnerships in AI If von der Leyen's 2019-2024 term was about being a ‘geopolitical Commission’, the 2024-2029 one will need to deliver a ‘geoeconomic Commission’ At its core must be an answer to Europe’s economic security dilemma; one combining deeper investments in European capacity de-risking measures tackling vulnerabilities and ambitious new global partnerships to deliver digital progress that is both fast and secure Paired with the innovation measures described in the previous section of this paper such an agenda can give Europe’s technology policies the geopolitical depth they have lacked until now But to constitute the grand strategy needed they must also be globally influential this effect is more an artefact of the recent past than a description of today’s realities technology has become starkly more geopolitical competition between powers has intensified and interdependencies have been weaponised Countries have become more aware of the strategic value of critical technologies All this is gradually limiting the EU’s reach Hence the global influence dilemma: how to ensure that Europe continues to set and maintain standards while adapting its model for this more contested and multipolar age One can start by surveying the global challenges to the Brussels effect. The EU’s AI Act, though a pioneering world-first, has not even been popular in the wider West. Instead, countries like such as US, the United Kingdom, and Japan have opted for different approaches in an effort to encourage innovation Further jurisdictions are likely to follow them either because they share that objective or because they lack the resources to enact EU-style complex regulations others may be leaning towards the Chinese model and accepting the human rights trade-offs implicit in the way China deploys technologies This resistance to the European way comes not only from other states but from the ‘big tech’ giants themselves. Some have paused the deployment of new products in Europe until they have a better picture of what EU regulations entail leading to fragmentation and a two-tier transatlantic digital market Firms have also pushed back against the EU’s two landmark digital industry regulations With other countries reluctant to follow its lead the union’s ability to define new global standards in this field looks newly doubtful While the EU also expects consumers and governments abroad to hold companies accountable for delivering lower standards on privacy a voluntary set of commitments later adopted by the G7 such as the Council of Europe Convention on AI and the EU’s support for UNESCO’s AI Recommendations speak of Europe’s new hard-nosed attempts to reach beyond its borders Rivalling China’s overseas digital investments is one thing; a still-missing common EU stance on China’s overall technology policies is another relying overly on the TTC to externalise EU technology policies may prove a mistake if the November 2024 US presidential election brings a change of leadership and a less cooperative partner in Washington essentially a San Francisco-based technology ambassador But while that role involves maintaining channels of communication with US big tech companies it is not deeply networked across the rest of the EU’s international technology relationships Such complementarities can enhance Europe’s ability to set standards both on its own and in cooperation with like-minded states Preserving the best of the Brussels effect one of the great recent successes of the European project while adapting to a world of more geopolitical technology is as much of a balancing act as the innovation and economic security dilemmas the EU can wield new influence through deeper alliances with partner countries support for their technological transitions and reforms to its existing digital diplomacy and wider foreign policy initiatives before companies transition to their chosen national stock exchanges a new institute established with funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers to increase the usage and adoption of AI technologies on a regional level Multiplying the quantity and quality of such partnerships is essential to ensure that the EU takes full advantage of new technological innovations in a way that is consistent with its openness and values As a collective of European technology firms rightly asserted in a recent joint manifesto “Europe needs to support innovators not just with rules but with concrete private and public investments and proactive strategies for technological development and transfer beyond national interests” the new European Commission should introduce a Critical Technology Industry Act within its first 100 days The legislation should facilitate and attract investments for the products and machinery necessary to produce critical technology Priority could be given to those goods on which the EU is overly dependent on external producers The act could be complemented by the new European Competitiveness Fund that von der Leyen pledged to create in her 2024-2029 guidelines This is expected to invest in strategic technologies though further details have not yet been released The EU could equip the fund with an advisory group of private sector actors to help align its objectives and resources with those of the private sector or by setting up a new instrument to fund dual-use R&D Seeking economic security should not be incompatible with keeping Europe open to trade Europe can pursue smart strategic interdependence that increases its sovereignty without promoting protectionism Based on its existing economic security strategy the EU should pursue the establishment of ‘Tech Clubs’ with other countries seeking partnerships to gain economic security or balance their dependencies on China or the US These might include like-minded democratic partners with which the EU shares political values but also other countries with which it has a strong alignment of interests The Tech Clubs should coordinate export controls in critical technologies and thus gradually construct a regime of plurilateral controls to ensure their lasting effectiveness and diplomatic viability They should also pursue a positive agenda of mutual pledges to ensure access to materials and products – thus strengthening trade and specialisation the Tech Clubs should encourage information and intelligence-sharing about the potential risks of disruption or weaponisation in the technological value chain The European Council should appoint a new EU ambassador-at-large for digital who would in turn lead the development and deployment of a new cohort of digital attachés in the EU’s delegations around the world Such institutional rewiring is essential to direct proper attention and resources to Europe’s technology diplomacy It would better enable the EU to provide its partners with assistance in developing and deploying safe more active way to project the EU’s regulatory power beyond its borders and support its partners’ digital transformation; on everything from the financing and rollout of infrastructure to the development of large language models and the diffusion of AI applications This new EU digital diplomatic service would go beyond narrow regulatory cooperation to work closely with local technology ecosystems and strive to create opportunities for mutual business and innovation benefits and tools of the EU’s digital diplomacy agenda Such a strategy should bring the EU’s efforts in this field into one coherent framework and under the leadership of the new ambassador-at-large for digital It would necessarily bring together multiple different commission portfolios: trade European Parliament committees should play a more developed and structured role in diffusing EU digital norms and engaging in regulatory dialogue with international partners – be this through the foreign affairs inter-parliamentary meetings with other regional or national parliaments or the establishment of a new inter-parliamentary forum on digital diplomacy The EU today is falling behind as a digital power Innovation gaps present for decades are growing wider Its reliance on others is becoming a greater strategic risk And the Brussels effect – the union’s ability to influence technological norms and standards globally – is becoming weaker By first confronting openly and then tackling proactively the three dilemmas – innovation and influence – it can harness its strengths and start to catch up Ignoring the policy trade-offs and tensions will not work both the American and  Chinese ‘digital empires’ show the value of being strategic and ambitious about upholding one’s values and interests in the contested digital realm They also show the importance of doing so in a world of rapid technological change and close interaction between those two phenomena in the form of ‘geopoliticised’ technology The next five years will decide whether the EU claims a seat at the world’s technological top table – or ends up on the menu José Ignacio Torreblanca is a senior policy fellow at ECFR and head of ECFR’s Madrid office He is also a professor of political science at Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia in Madrid Giorgos Verdi is a policy fellow with the European Power programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations His research focuses on the implications of critical and emerging technologies for the EU’s competitiveness The authors would like to thank the experts that contributed to this paper through research interviews and discussions We also want to thank all the participants of the closed-door Policy Salon on technology and the World Economic Forum’s High-Level Group on European Strategic Interdependence both of which were held on the sidelines of the ECFR Annual Council Meeting in July 2024 we also held interviews with officials from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks as well as with representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU we want to thank our colleagues in the European Power programme for their support throughout the process were essential for the completion of this project We also want to thank our colleagues Tobias Gehrke and Ángel Melguizo for providing us with invaluable feedback we want to give a special thanks to Jeremy Cliffe for an incredible job in editing this paper and making critical suggestions to improve it Be the first to know about our latest publications I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Content from video platforms and social media platforms is blocked by default displaying this content no longer requires manual consent Francisco "Paco" Torreblanca García was born in 1951 in Villena where he began his training in the world of pastry under the tutelage of Mr where he honed his aesthetic and creative sense he returned to Spain in 1979 and opened his first patisserie combining techniques learned in France with Iberian tradition quickly earned him recognition in the industry he was named the Best Master Pastry Chef in Spain he received the title of Best Pastry Chef in Europe Paco has dedicated part of his career to teaching and outreach he founded the Escuela Torreblanca in Alicante including Paco Torreblanca I and Paco Torreblanca II he has continued to receive recognition for his contributions: in 2020 he was awarded the International Gastronomy Award for Best Pastry Chef he was designated Ambassador of the Valencian Community by the Generalitat Valenciana Do you want to discover the latest news and recipes of the most renowned chefs and restaurants in the world La nostra società utilizza inoltre cookie funzionali per registrare informazioni sulle scelte dell’utente e per consentire una personalizzazione del Sito; ad esempio Questi cookie possono essere installati dalla nostra società o da Terze parti In caso di disabilitazione di questi cookie la qualità e l’esperienza di navigazione potrebbe non essere soddisfacente Questi cookie sono installati da social media per consentire la condivisione dei contenuti del presente Sito Essi sono in grado di monitorare la navigazione compiuta anche in altri siti e creano un profilo dell’utente sulla base dei suoi interessi Ciò potrebbe avere un impatto sul contenuto e messaggi visualizzati sugli altri siti visitati non sarà possibile utilizzare o visualizzare questi strumenti di condivisione per l’installazione e l’uso di tali cookie occorre il consenso dell’utente Per maggiori informazioni consulta la pagna cookies policy Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world 2024 at 7:19 AM ESTBookmarkSaveThe United Arab Emirates is weighing the introduction of a pollution-charging mechanism which would cement its position as a regional leader in the fight against climate change The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is considering options proposed by Abu Dhabi’s Environment Agency for a system that would incentivize companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions a director in the agency’s policy and planning division 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English Following the requests made by local residents Fuengirola town hall has begun the comprehensive remodelling of Calle Tomillo a street in a residential area located in the Torreblanca neighbourhood consists of the complete renovation of the infrastructure as well as the replacement of the pavement the streetlights will be replaced with low-consumption lamps while around a dozen new trees will be planted The project has a budget of more than 271,000 euros and a completion period of 68 days which is one month less than initially planned "We are talking about a purely residential street which has not had any improvements since it was first built We are sure that it will mean a substantial improvement in the quality of life of the residents," the mayor said when visiting the work earlier this week The work is part of the council’s “commitment” to improve roads public spaces and infrastructure in the municipality a project that Mula said “combines efficient resource management with responsibility” Comentar es una ventaja exclusiva para registrados I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here In his leaving speech on January 15th President Joe Biden warned that an “oligarchy […] of extreme wealth and influence” threatens American democracy His warning referred to the technology entrepreneurs surrounding president-elect Donald Trump: X’s Elon Musk and The tech oligarchs have the backing of Trump’s Republicans. During the US election campaign, vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance warned the EU that regulating X would be seen as an attack on freedom of expression incompatible with the democratic values of the Atlantic alliance He added that such actions would lead the US to drop its support for NATO The EU’s choice is stark: ignore digital service laws allowing Musk and Zuckerberg’s platforms free rein to propagate disinformation and political interference; or suffer substantial economic repercussions and security risks asserting that X and Meta better uphold free expression than the European Commission European leaders are reluctant to engage in a confrontation with the US Determining how much of this interference will actually convert into votes for the far right is no simple task Some policymakers may assume that its electoral impact will be negligible others that it will backfire if anti-far right voters are mobilised by the perception that democracy is in danger However, appeasing Trump could come at a significant cost. When far-right movements lose elections, they often challenge the results. This can culminate in violent protests, as in January 2021 in Washington and January 2023 in Brazil unchecked interference can polarise politics and poison public discourse If the US government protected or encouraged its companies to defy EU law it would violate the bloc’s sovereignty and risk reducing the EU into a digital colony governed by US dictates rather than its own Europe must decouple discussions about digital platform regulation from trade policy and security concerns. Should the US impose tariffs, the EU has tools to defend itself and should use them decisively If the US ties support for Ukraine to digital platform policies Europe should emphasise the shared strategic risks of a weakened Ukraine Ukraine’s weakness strengthens Russia and bolsters China Europe must clarify that this is not a confrontation between the US and Europe but between certain tech oligarchs and democratic governance The focus must remain on enforcing regulations against those who exploit their market dominance for economic gain and amass political influence to preserve those gains Europe does not have a free speech problem necessitating Musk’s or Zuckerberg’s intervention. The issue is not freedom of expression but whether the unchecked political power of tech billionaires undermines democracies. Musk’s support for the far-right Alternative for Germany on X is Other German parties would need to pay X a fortune in advertising to get the same level of exposure European election laws must recognise the influence of algorithmic amplification as a form of political activism and ensure electoral competition is fair European countries are not alone in this struggle. Other countries, including Brazil and the United Kingdom, are also resisting tech companies’ attempts to override national sovereignty This crisis offers the EU a chance to create a coalition for digital and technological sovereignty uniting democracies against interference that undermines social cohesion and amplifies hate-driven narratives The EU cannot afford to ignore threats that resemble blackmail from Trump Capitulation would not only set a perilous precedent but also signal the EU’s submission as a digital vassal of the US Europeans must stand firm and use the bloc’s legal and diplomatic tools to safeguard its democratic values and technological sovereignty it can ensure a fair digital environment that is resilient to external coercion and conducive to a thriving I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here A recent photo of Mercedes Torreblanca and her child with a December 2022 photo of Guadalupe Lupita Montalvo | Background photo of traditional memorial marigolds and bread by Roberto Cabrera/iStock/Getty Images Plus September 2023 photo at undisclosed location of Mercedes Torreblanca and her child | Photo via GoFundMe Mercedes Torreblanca and her husband Rodrigo Murillo at an undisclosed location in May 2023 | Photo via Facebook December 2022 photo at undisclosed location of Guadalupe Lupita Montalvo | Photo via GoFundMe GEORGE — The grief is still fresh for the families of Mercedes Torreblanca and Guadalupe Lupita Montalvo good friends who died in a vehicle rollover on Interstate 15 near the Arizona-Utah border last weekend The crash left a 2-month-old boy without a mother But in a cul-de-sac off Valley View Drive in St the families and friends of the two people who died will be having a celebration tamales and a car wash to help raise funds for the families and the child A flyer for the event – starting at 4 p.m., Friday at 1191 W. 220 North Circle near Shadow Mountain Park – describes it with the Spanish word “quermez.” Roughly translated it means a celebration carnival for the benefit of others said her last memories of both women are of them singing and dancing at celebrations in the last few weeks “My last memory of Lupe was at my son’s 11th birthday We were having a really good time singing oldies but goodies,” said Montalvo no relation to Lupita Montalvo but a family friend a “cousin of a cousin,” who made Montalvo’s niece’s sweet 16 birthday despite just giving birth to her first child “We were just having a really good time dancing and her taking pictures with her baby,” she said The two 21-year-old women who were good friends at Dixie High School died when the sports utility vehicle they were riding in on a trip to Las Vegas Saturday with five others rolled over on Interstate 15 near Cedar Pocket a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Transportation said the crash involving the one vehicle is still under investigation A GoFundMe page for Torreblanca describes her as a “diamond” who leaves behind a husband Other family members talked of her love of soccer as a player at Dixie High and growing up in St George to her most recent work as a Utah Tech student and an employee at Family Healthcare Montalvo, known to family and friends as “Lupe,” is mentioned by her older brother Barri Giovanni Tiburcio on a separate GoFundMe page as “a loving caring person and would always be there for her family and friends and as someone who meant “the world” to him The car wash and Mexican food street carnival Friday afternoon and going “whenever the food runs out” will be a celebration of both with funds raised to go to burial and services as well as to Torreblanca’s son There will be Venmo access but people are asked to bring cash A $20 donation will be needed if someone seeks to get their car a wash along with enjoying the food For more information, call 435-525-1223 Editor note: When making charitable contributions it is advisable to consult with professionals for tax advice and investment risks Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Receive Sunday Local Offers Coupons from St Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Fuengirola town hall has received during the first half of the year almost 1,200 complaints from residents in the area of Torreblanca and Carvajal through the Gecor application 'Juntos Fuengirola Avanza' This was announced by the councillor responsible for this part of the town and the councillor in charge of the coordination of the different neighbourhoods who encouraged residents to send them their ideas and needs through the email torreblancacarvajal@fuengirola.org The councillor also reminded residents that she visits the neighbourhood every Monday and Thursday afternoon and Friday morning to check the state of the public spaces and to meet the residents in person "We are proud of the good acceptance of the neighbours and the prompt response they get when they have any kind of demand in terms of cleaning repairing pavements or detecting any incident on the public road which makes it easier for us all to live in a better way," Moreno said Hernández pointed out that of the 1,200 reports received "which means that 85 per cent of these have already been resolved" "Many of the incidents that are brought to our attention cannot be dealt with directly by the town hall for example to the different companies such as Telefónica On other occasions they are reports that require more extensive action and we have to put them out to tender before acting." she called on residents to continue to report any deficiencies they detect on the public highway and to "continue to collaborate and avoid uncivic behaviour because many of these incidents could be avoided when a bag of rubbish is placed in a waste paper bin something we all know we should not do and which is also punishable." the most numerous incidents were related to the electricity service (341) road maintenance and intervention (243) and green areas (121) I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here Jose Ignacio Torreblanca talks to the American historian and expert on authoritarian populism about the recently published The Twilight of Democracy – a hard-hitting book on the collapse of a way of life based on reason and freedom Read the interview here I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here On 23 July, Spain will go to the polls. The conservative People’s Party (PP), led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, is likely to win The elections could result in a fast agreement between the PP and the radical right party Vox and a new government starting in office in September protracted negotiations between these two parties a disagreement between the PP and Vox or a consensus on preventing Vox from entering government could also allow for a coalition of all the other forces in parliament allowing the Socialist Party (PSOE) and prime minister Pedro Sánchez to stay in power Spain currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, but domestic uncertainty is unlikely to affect the day-to-day management of the EU. However, observers are predicting that the EU will move further to the right after the European Parliament elections next year Spain’s general election will help determine whether Spain will be part of that shift prompted Sánchez to bring forward the general election except for during its brief leadership crisis when Pablo Casado was replaced by Feijóo It benefitted from the demise of Ciudadanos the centrist party that emerged in the wake of the crisis in Catalonia and which has subsequently lost votes in every election since 2019 While the right competed in the 2019 election under three different brands (PP which further increases Feijóo’s chances of overtaking the PSOE in the elections winning the elections does not necessarily mean that Feijóo will be Spain’s next prime minister The PP would need to win 176 of the 350 seats in parliament to obtain an absolute majority and elect Feijóo as prime minister in the first round the prime minister can be elected by a relative majority in the second round Polls are divided about whether PP and Vox will win 176 seats or a number very close to that between them It is also unclear whether Vox will vote for the PP in the first or second round The PP and Vox are most likely to play chicken The PP will want Vox’s support for free insisting that the priority is to oust the PSOE Vox’s support will not come cheap; in return it will want to enter government and secure a strong commitment to implement policies favourable to its interests Letting Vox into government would present issues for the PP especially related to gender or the environment but also in presenting such a coalition to the population view it as an unacceptable governing partner The real challenge for Feijóo is therefore how much he can impose himself on or weaken Vox either at the ballot box or later in the negotiations he will need to capitalise on fears among right-wing voters that their divisions may help Sánchez stay in power which they consider too left-leaning due to its governing partner Unidas Podemos and which they think has relied excessively on Catalan independence parties or those born from movements associated with ETA terrorism in the Basque Country to pass its policies Some are also displeased with the management of certain cultural policies particularly those related to feminism and transgender people To mobilise his voters, Sánchez needs to emphasise the areas where his government has performed well: the economy and social policy. After a sluggish performance during and immediately after the pandemic, Spain’s economy is doing better in terms of growth and job creation than the average European one The government has also passed important social policies including a steady increase of the minimum wage a reduction in the number of temporary work contracts and social support measures during the pandemic and the inflationary crisis resulting from Russia’s war on Ukraine Sánchez needs to make it clear that a right-wing government including Vox will threaten key policies on gender equality and energy transition policies Sánchez’s success also depends on the performance of his coalition partners on the left the left’s division was another major contributing factor to the PP’s success The rival left-wing parties Unidas Podemos led by the deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz contended to occupy the political space to the left of the PSOE and participated separately in the municipal and regional elections As they fell short of the 5 per cent electoral threshold in many constituencies but after Unidas Podemos was humiliatingly absorbed into Sumar tensions remain and mean that Iglesias and his followers are not actively campaigning for Sumar The new party is therefore finding it difficult to maintain the levels of support which Unidas Podemos enjoyed in the past it is unlikely to harm Spain’s EU presidency This is a “golden presidency” (the last full presidency before the European Parliament elections in June 2024) There are therefore many important dossiers on the table three factors protect the EU from domestic turmoil the EU machinery is used to running on semi-automatic pilot despite the presidencies the PP and the PSOE agree on most foreign policy issues and both are deeply Atlanticist and pro-European comprising the State Secretary for the EU and the Permanent Representation in Madrid is well-oiled and can efficiently liaise between the European Council the PP would likely keep it away from foreign and EU policy much like Sánchez has with Unidas Podemos The outcome of the election is too close to call It might not affect Spain’s EU presidency but it could have consequences for the European Parliament elections next year where another blue tsunami is in the making A victory for Feijóo may add to this while a continuation of Sánchez could weaken it I consent to receiving the selected ECFR newsletters and to the analysis of open & click rates. I can revoke my consent later by clicking on the link at the end of every newsletter or by writing to [email protected]. More information on how we process personal data can be found here the concept of "zero-miles" or "locally sourced" was revered and praised by many numerous leading figures in the global gastronomy scene are distancing themselves from this concept especially when it's expressed in a dogmatic way If pursued in an orthodox and rigid manner the zero-miles philosophy can be much less sustainable than consuming products from regions best suited for their production This perspective is shared by Paco Torreblanca Crowned last year as the Best Pastry Chef in the World by his colleague Iginio Massari, with a long list of awards to his name, Torreblanca told ABC: "I don't tackle the topic of zero-miles because it seems absurd to me The important thing is to simply try to use the products from your region when you can let's forget the orthodox interpretation: it's just about trying to use products from your own country I don't feel the need to source the ones from Piedmont. And so on We also aim to ensure that all products are free from preservatives and artificial colors The concept is clear: many hospitality industry operators have embraced the zero-miles concept but often without thoroughly examining the topic or the working practices of their suppliers along with his son Jacob—his right-hand man—founded Escuela Torreblanca a decade ago (where he trains sixty students every year) wants to convey to his students the importance of adopting a healthy and reasonable approach to product selection for one of the world's most renowned pastry chefs to never lose sight of your identity and to have a solid understanding of raw ingredients I start from the basics: my son and I explain why everything is done a certain way and what the process and consequences are we move on to more advanced levels without ever losing sight of the essence of preparation because the most important thing is to never neglect flavor. I would sacrifice aesthetics for flavor You need to learn the basics to evolve," he continues.  Flavor prevailing over aesthetics is a fundamental concept for Torreblanca an approach that's clearly against the grain in an increasingly image-focused world Another topic close to the heart of this Alicante-born pastry chef is the idea of failure and those who experience a few failures often face great frustration Torreblanca wants his students to understand that this attitude is entirely misguided "Those who fall and get back up are winners Those who've always had it easy never face such situations and it's like they've skipped a part of the learning process," he explains It's the only way to ensure that lessons aren't lost I always say that my son and I have never really worked because we have a job we're passionate about We've even given courses for free to people who couldn't afford them but there are times when we make exceptions for a good cause," he continues This is a value Torreblanca has passed on to Jacob who is now working to establish scholarships for those who can't afford to attend their school Continuous learning is essential for him: he loves sharing everything he's learned throughout his life it's a source of pride to explore them further." Fuengirola town hall has announced that the site of the Roman baths in Torreblanca is now open to the public from Friday to Sunday between 10am and 2pm visitors can now enjoy a free tour of the hot springs and explanatory panels in Spanish and English The work has also involved the installation of lighting toilets and other elements that reinforce the embellishment of the enclosure The work had a budget of more than 267,000 euros and was made possible by a grant from the regional government The site has been municipal property since 2017 the council has worked together with the delegation of culture of the Junta de Andalucía to promote the improvement and conservation of the site The council and the regional authority will now study a second phase to reinforce the walls of this asset of cultural interest (BIC) which is part of the historical-heritage network of the municipality The archaeological site reveals that the baths were in operation until the fourth century CE they were reused for the manufacture of salted fish and dyes Later (fifth and sixth centuries) the settlement was used as a necropolis which is repeated in other Roman sites on the coast some thirty graves have been found on the estate in Torreblanca “We have been rescuing our valuable past for years and highlighting the archaeological remains that show that our municipality was the home of numerous civilizations the Torreblanca hot springs,” councillor for culture Rodrigo Romero said WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation signed a strategic research and commercialization alliance on Tuesday (Oct. 31) with the Universidad Nacional de San Agustin (UNSA) in the Arequipa region of Peru to accelerate the development of sustainable solutions to the linked socioeconomic and environmental challenges impacting use and supply systems for the region’s food Purdue looks for opportunities to make lasting impact on a large scale,” Purdue President Mitch Daniels said I hope that this will help UNSA create a happier The goal of the partnership is to make UNSA the premier location in Latin America for cutting-edge environmental sustainability research and innovation “We are thrilled to have found a strategic partner in Purdue and Discovery Park whose mission and themes dovetail seamlessly with the vision of UNSA,” said Rohel Sánchez Sánchez “The new alliance will draw on Purdue’s unique expertise solutions and economic prosperity locally and regionally.” which represents one of the largest collaborative international projects in Purdue’s history including the establishment of the Arequipa Nexus Institute for Food the focus will be on the development of the Nexus institute which will facilitate collaboration through targeted interdisciplinary projects addressing challenges and needs in the social sciences “We are confident this alliance will create a new era of knowledge discovery and innovation for UNSA and help solve some of the grand challenges facing Peru Latin America and the world,” said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia chief scientist and executive director of Discovery Park “The alliance will work to bring a convergence of transdisciplinary ideas to find transformative solutions to the challenges facing the region.” Purdue’s Center for the Environment (C4E) in Discovery Park will be the administrative and collaborative link to UNSA in establishing the Nexus Institute in Arequipa professor of geochemistry and soil science at Purdue University and interim director of C4E will co-direct the Nexus Institute’s scientific programs and partnerships together with his counterpart at UNSA professor and dean of the School of Process Engineering at UNSA “The institute’s long-term goal is to serve as the reference point for Latin American research on sustainable watershed management and agro-economic development through interdisciplinary research,” Filley said “Purdue’s broad scientific and engineering expertise cuts across these areas which has allowed us to develop a strong collaborative research network with UNSA colleagues.” More than 70 faculty and staff representing 23 departments and eight colleges at Purdue are already involved in the development of several initial research projects designed to partner with UNSA faculty and students to address the challenges facing Peru Purdue’s Polytechnic Institute is helping UNSA plan the Nexus Institute building Located in the Majes agricultural valley of Arequipa it will be equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation conference facilities and residential quarters for visiting scientists Discovery Park will also help UNSA create a technology park and commercialization hub similar to Purdue’s Foundry faculty and others work together to move entrepreneurial ideas to the marketplace Plans to set up a technology transfer program similar to Purdue Research Foundation’s Office of Technology Commercialization are also in discussion “Purdue is a world leader in creating new ideas and the Purdue Research Foundation is a world leader in how you translate those ideas to impact,” said Greg Deason senior vice president of the Purdue Research Foundation and director of innovation and entrepreneurship at Purdue’s Burton D Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship in Discovery Park “We look forward to working with UNSA officials on ways to take their ideas and have a greater impact.” Purdue became involved with UNSA after signing an agreement with the Core Foundation in 2016 agreeing to explore opportunities to provide solutions and economic innovations to help developing communities Core Foundation represents 15 universities in Peru with the mission to promote economic development through strategic partnerships between universities government and private companies in North and South America “Core Foundation is an organization that helps reach 15 of the 17 global goals made by the United Nations for sustainable development,” said Core Foundation President and CEO Ricardo Torreblanca “The impact of Core Foundation has been bigger than I have ever imagined and I can see that we are on the right track.” Purdue’s engagement in Peru also includes opportunities for Purdue students offered by the University of Technology and Engineering in Lima, Peru through the Purdue Polytechnic Institute.  Discovery Park is a place where Purdue researchers move beyond traditional boundaries collaborating across disciplines and with policymakers and business leaders to create solutions for a better world and those that lie at the nexus of sustainable energy water and the environment are the focus of researchers in Discovery Park The translation of discovery to impact is integrated into the fabric of Discovery Park through entrepreneurship programs and partnerships The mission of the Center for the Environment (C4E) in Discovery park is to promote proactive and engagement at Purdue addressing important environmental challenges C4E works with global partners to conduct use-inspired science to address humanity’s most pressing environmental and sustainability challenges The National University of San Agustín de Arequipa (UNSA) was founded on Nov Its mission is to train high-quality professionals to be competitive capable of being agents of change and development in society its mission is to solve problems that impact the environment of the region and the country of Peru Writer: Tom Coyne, 765-588-1044, tjcoyne@prf.org  Sources: Mitch Daniels, president@purdue.edu Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, 765-496-6625, tddlr@purdue.edu Tim Filley, 765-494-6581, filley@purdue.edu Greg Deason, 765-588-5254, gwdeason@prf.org Ricardo Torreblanca, 765-418-6988, rtorreblanca@coreworld.org © 2015-24 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by Office of Strategic Communications Trouble with this page? Disability-related accessibility issue? Please contact News Service at purduenews@purdue.edu — Purdue University and the Core Foundation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore opportunities to provide food solutions and economic innovations to help communities in poverty “Many countries in Latin America, such as Peru, face difficult environmental and technology issues,” said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, chief scientist and executive director of Purdue's Discovery Park “Through this agreement with the Core Foundation we hope to help bring to Peru some of Purdue’s most innovative ideas and faculty expertise to help solve environmental issues such as water quality and share best practices for technology innovation and commercialization.” “This Memorandum of Understanding with Discovery Park will open the doors to different technological projects that will bring economic development to the people of Peru and from there to Latin America At the same time we are thinking of Indiana we want to see Indiana technology and advances being used in Peru,” said Ricardo Torreblanca The Purdue-Core agreement lists seven areas of potential cooperation: research and development projects water pollution and cultivation of livestock.  Writer: Howard Hewitt, 765-494-9541, hhewitt@purdue.edu  Sources: Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, 765-496-6625, tddlr@purdue.edu Ricardo Torreblanca, rtorreblanca@coreworld.org  Purdue Research Park based company using ag technologies to help sustain communities, alpaca populations in South Americ Trouble with this page? Disability-related accessibility issue? Please contact News Service at purduenews@purdue.edu. An EU-funded project has built a combined pedestrian and cycle path between the coastal municipalities of Cabanes and Torreblanca in the province of Castellón, part of the Valencia autonomous community of Spain. Running through the El Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca natural park, the path – which takes the name of the park – has a total length of 12.8 km. The project included the adaptation of two 3.16 km-long footpaths. “With these works, the regional ministry will create a signposted cycle and pedestrian route in the coastal area of Cabanes and Torreblanca, fulfilling the objectives of promoting natural and cultural heritage and connecting people with natural spaces via accessible cycle paths.” The route is the first section of cycle path in the Valencia autonomous community to be integrated into the EuroVelo cycle network. It forms part of EuroVelo Route 8, which is known as the Mediterranean Route. The conception of the El Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca route as an integral part of a network of cycling and pedestrian routes rather than as an isolated local or municipal route is novel for the autonomous community. Several similar routes are scattered throughout its territory, but most of them are not connected. In the long term, the EuroVelo Mediterranean Route is being developed with the aim of creating a cycle route connecting Cádiz, in the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia, with Athens, the Turkish city of Izmir and Cyprus. As well as advancing the development of the Mediterranean Route, the El Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca path constitutes a northwards continuation of the cycle lane that runs between Benicàssim and Oropesa del Mar. By increasing the length of cycle paths in the area, it contributes to the creation of a regional network for non-motorised transport. Promoted by the Directorate-General of Public Works of the Valencian Regional Ministry of Housing, Public Works and Territorial Planning, the El Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca route has been built primarily to enable people to reach the area’s green spaces more easily by bicycle or on foot. More than 8 000 residents now have easy access to the region’s network of cycle paths and footpaths thanks to the project. Foremost among the local green spaces is the El Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca natural park, which is a site of great ecological significance. It is known for its numerous paths, which link a multitude of visitor attractions of a cultural, historical and scenic nature. Raising awareness of the natural and cultural heritage of the park and the surrounding area through the project has already generated new economic activity. As soon as the route opened, a number of local companies began offering cycle tourism services. Total investment for the project “El Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca natural park pedestrian-cycle route (Castellón)” is EUR 376 376, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 188 188 through the “Comunidad Valenciana” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency”. Subdirección General de Gestión del FEDER de la Dirección General de Fondos Comunitarios. Ministerio de Hacienda y Administraciones Publicas. Directorate General for Public Works, Transport And Sustainable Mobility S/ DE LA DEMOCRÀCIA, 77, CIUTAT ADVA 9 D'OCTUBRE, T1, P 9 Pachi Larrea, with two bakeries in Castelldefels, wins the Paco Torreblanca international award for best chocolate cake. It is not an exaggeration: the best chocolate cake in the world is prepared just 20 minutes from the center of Barcelona. Specifically, in Castelldefels, where Pachi Larrea, with two bakeries, bakes the cake that has won the first prize in the Paco Torreblanca International Award for Haute Patisserie, a contest that seeks to recognize excellence in pastry making worldwide . The award was presented this weekend at the VI Alicante Gastronomic Fair Alma Mediterránea, where 220 candidates from countries such as Italy, Chile, Colombia and Mexico participated, examined by a jury formed by personalities such as Jordi Roca, Oriol Balaguer, Albert Adriá, Jacob Torreblanca and Carlos Mampel, as well as renowned international chefs Iginio Massari (Italy) and Frédéric Bau (France). The other finalists in the competition were Alba Gracia Elipe (Spain), Andrea Zemi (Italy), Estefanía Aguilar (Costa Rica), Javier Naranjo (Colombia), Javiera Villegas (Chile); Juan Sarango (Ecuador) and Nathalia Escobar Rosales (Mexico). View this post on Instagram It was this jury that singled out the cake of Pachi Larrea Ecuadorian pastry chef based in Castelldefels with two bakeries (c/del Dr 2) and with more than 20 years of experience in places like the Ecuadorian embassy in China and in haute patisserie houses such as Oriol Balaguer the jury rated the recipe as one of the most innovative Larrea is not the only winner from Barcelona with his own pastry shop in Barcelona that defines itself as “the pastry shop of the chefs” (c/Còrsega a specialist in éclairs and natural pastries The contest was organized in collaboration with the International School of Pastry Arts as a tribute to the master Paco Torreblanca an iconic figure in national and international pastry This event not only seeks to find the best chocolate cake in the world but also to provide a platform for pastry chefs to demonstrate their skill and creativity in an expansion area for the municipalities of Benalmádena and Fuengirola a development of 396 homes is currently under construction In this case it is in the Torreblanca area of Fuengirola and this is the Med Hills real estate project Some 85 per cent of the development has already been sold according to the figures provided by its marketing company which puts the number of homes still to be put on the market at 63 The complex that is currently available "has a south-west orientation sea views and consists of the most exclusive homes" The flats have between two and three bedrooms and among them there are penthouses with terraces and ground floor duplexes with cellars that include a private garden Although the marketing company has not revealed the exact price of the properties that are now coming onto the market they explain that among those already sold most of which are two- and three-bedroom apartments the average price has been between 207,000 and 292,087 euros All of the properties are integrated in a residential complex of contemporary architecture distributed between two buildings of four and five floors car park and social club in its communal areas "Fuengirola continues to be a real estate enclave of the first magnitude as evidenced by the 11 per cent increase in prices in new housing during 2023 according to data from the ministry of housing and urban agenda A fact that confirms the growing demand from investors that allows it to align itself with such dynamic municipalities as Marbella Estepona or Malaga city," the real estate consultancy pointed out The investment in this housing development exceeds 60 million euros and "has contributed to the urban consolidation of Torreblanca del Sol in Fuengirola" The project is being developed by Amenábar and has the backing of Banco Santander The profile of the client who is interested in Med Hills is that of national investors from areas such as Madrid and as well as foreign buyers with medium-high purchasing power resident in the United Kingdom These are couples or families with older children looking for a second home close to the beach with a swimming pool and terrace accessibility to services such as supermarkets Fuengirola has announced that it has increased parking in the area of Torreblanca with the creation of 43 new car parking spaces The project is part of the town hall’s mobility and public service project which has so far created almost 100 new parking spaces in the town The latest parking area has been installed in Calle Gorriones claimed is one of the neighbourhoods with the highest population and urban growth in the municipality The initiative had an investment of almost 200,000 euros and included an area for motorcycle and bicycle parking the renovation of the pedestrian walkways and new steps leading to the residential area as well as the replacement of all infrastructure The project also consisted of the planting of trees such as cork oak and fig trees “added great ecological value” to the area “The objective is to improve the services and quality of life for all our residents Torreblanca is a magnificent residential area although a large part of its layout was designed in the 1960s when the urban planning legislation did not foresee the needs that we now consider essential,” Mula said Mula added that the town hall will continue to convert different spaces in Fuengirola into parking areas in order to meet the demands of both the local residents and visitors Fuengirola town hall has officially opened a new square on the Paseo Marítimo de Torreblanca an open space that will be used to host summer events and cultural activities located in the area of the recently demolished El Bote restaurant has included the installation of new paving tiles several pergolas and urban furniture to give continuity to the aesthetics of the Fuengirola promenade It is part of the town’s Beautification Plan 2021 also included the creation of 12 new parking spaces The old restaurant had been closed for several years and was demolished after the State coastal authorities decided not to extend its concession so the council decided to use the space to benefit local residents and visitors The new area was inaugurated by the town’s mayor who said: “The building had been unused for several years so the town hall tendered an action to generate a large space in which to organise activities of interest to residents and visitors We have created this space to bring more life to an area with an unparalleled environment.” March 2.- Cuba ensured that three of its freestyle gladiators reached the quota for the summer event in Paris on the concluding date of the American Olympic Wrestling Qualifier Geandry Garzón (74 kg) and Arturo Silot (97 kg) sealed their classification to the competition under the five rings; while Ibraín Torres (125 kg) and Yurieski Torreblanca (86 kg) champion at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile also the monarch in that continental multi-sport event one of them in the semifinals against Shannon Geran Hanna II whom he defeated with a wide difference of 11-0 due to technical superiority (ST) The Cuban debuted with a 10-0 success for ST against the Brazilian Matheus Da Luz and in his second fight he won 10-6 against the Argentine Agustín Destribats owner of three bronze medals and one silver in universal competitions debuted with a 14-4 victory for ST against Luis Barrios and in the semifinal phase he beat Julio Rafael Rodríguez 6-2 in his first outing on the mat he beat Canadian Nishan Preet 10-0 by ST and in his next fight he defeated Lacey Garita Maxwell according to the official site of the World Fighting Union who was successful in his debut with a 4-1 success against the Dominican Alison Adames could not guarantee Olympic qualification when he fell 0-11 to ST with Amarveer Dhesi Torreblanca was ahead 8-0 in his first fight against the Mexican Anthony Valencia but suffered a blow to the mattress and lost in an incredible way This pre-Olympic tournament awarded two places in each of the divisions to the summer event that will be hosted by Paris Radio Cadena Agramonte es una emisora radial de Cuba con noticias y audios de Camagüey y el mundo Fuengirola town hall has announced that the archaeological site of the Roman villa and baths in Torreblanca will open to the public at the end of January will offer a tour of the 4,000-square-metre complex where the archaeological remains will be displayed along with explanatory panels The council said that the site will become “one more space of tourist and cultural interest” among the many that the municipality already has to offer said that the objective of the project is to promote the improvement and conservation of the site due to its historical importance the works for the enhancement of the Torreblanca baths are progressing and advancing at a good pace It is an archaeologically relevant area where we have the possibility of preserving for prosperity this important Roman villa and the 30 tombs that have been discovered,” he said The baths date from the first century CE and were in operation until the fourth century they were then used for the manufacture of salted fish The project has a budget of more than 265,000 euros and is financed by the Ministry of Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía which listed the site as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) in 2005 Fuengirola town hall has announced that the long-awaited work for the installation of a new integral sanitation system in Paseo Rey de España which is financed by the regional government is intended to stop flooding in the area during times of extreme weather which will allow rainwater to be collected more effectively has been demanded for many years by residents and traders in the area who are regularly affected by floods caused during heavy rain The action was an electoral commitment of the town’s mayor and the plans have finally been given the green light by the Junta de Andalucía “We have been working for years to improve Fuengirola's infrastructure and we have managed to eliminate all the flood black spots in our urban fabric But the replacement of the current comprehensive sanitation and supply system was pending authorisation of the regional authorities,” Mula said The mayor explained that attempts were made to find temporary solutions such as the installation of more stormwater evacuation points Mula said that the “paradox” of the work to prevent flooding is that it will be carried out in the midst of an extreme drought The town hall has announced that if it does not rain soon, it will begin to enforce scheduled water cuts throughout the municipality. Fuengirola Castle was the centre of an authority stretching from Cabopino to Benalmádena the first royal act was the appointment of Álvaro de Mesa as Warden of the Castle and its lands In 1489 he was followed by Alonso de Mesa who would rule for two decades Alonso was controversial; he was denounced to the Council of Malaga for smuggling unfair land distribution and inhumane treatment of Moorish refugees His unacceptable behaviour eventually drew the opprobrium of church and state leaders from Mijas to Malaga who would end his reign By 1515 the authority of the Warden was confined to within his castle walls and its vast lands were placed under the administration of Mijas As Spain became larger and more powerful it acquired enemies eager to make violent attacks on its coast Berbers and private pirates were all encouraged to destroy property and kidnap people During the 1540s and 1550s the Turkish Ottoman Empire would visit with vast fleets of 100 galleons making violent raids on coastal towns as 'refuelling' stops transport and trade were dependent on defence Over the centuries budgets were created to defend the coast to maintain and extend the castle and build new watchtowers By the 1770s watchtowers identical to the one in La Cala (pictured) were built at Torreblanca and at 'Tarahal' the current site of the church in the Plaza de la Constitución France took control of the western Mediterranean ending the invasion threat and leaving the watchtowers redundant The Torreblanca watchtower was painted white becoming the white tower in the name Torre Blanca The watchtower at Tarahal became a shrine and over time a town emerged around it By the 1790s the population of hundreds was supported by livestock The halfway point between Malaga and Marbella this was the extraction port for marble and food For our 'ideal location' this was the beginning of over two centuries of growth The first property deeds were issued and wooden buildings were replaced with stone No longer needing the protection of the watchtowers the town had taken root and would soon seek control of its own direction Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain THE British co-owner of a cannabis club is wondering what he needs to do after being raided by the police.  who runs Cafe Rosa Verde Private Members Club on the seafront promenade (paseo maritimo) in the Fuengirola district of Torreblanca says he has been left scratching his head after being closed down for the second time in 15 months.  But in the end no charges have been made to stick.  Philip said: “We have every licence under the sun I know the law is a bit of a grey area on this but in other parts of Spain there are hundreds of these clubs – 500 in Barcelona and another 300 around Spain.”  He added: “There the clubs work with the authorities I do not know why it is different here.”  Philip explained that a cannabis club is strictly for members only “Everyone chips in to pay for the overheads and no one is permitted to come in from off the streets.  “We grow the cannabis for our members and provide a place for them to meet and chat – that’s it.”  He added: “People have some image of these clubs as being dens of criminals with a dark side talk through their problems and enjoy themselves.  But it would appear the police do not look at it the same way.  Philip said: “We had to go to court and the judge just threw the case out The police are trying to deprive me of my constitutional rights Then two weeks ago the club was raided again with Philip saying: “This time it didn’t even get past the police station My business partner was arrested and was then sent straight home by the police at the station I think they knew there was no chance of any sort of conviction.”  Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish Manuel Robles and Cristóbal Torreblanca have been mayors of their respective villages in the province of Malaga for 40 years without a break making them the longest serving mayors ever in the region Robles has governed Comares under the conservative Partido Popular (PP) and has stated his intention to continue standing for mayor in the municipal elections on 28 May is still considering whether or not to run again for mayor of Almogía for the PSOE Socialist party I am going to be the PP candidate again,” confirmed Robles during a phone interview with SUR it will be the eleventh consecutive time that this veteran of Malaga politics stands for election in the Axarquía municipality with six councillors compared to 3 from the PSOE he stated that he continues to have "vision" to develop projects for his people and that he wants to take advantage of the fact that "now the PP governs the Junta de Andalucía" Cristóbal Torreblanca continues to consider this option on whether to run again for mayor of Almogía (3,885 inhabitants) “Nothing can be ruled out," said the socialist councillor when asked by SUR became mayor when he was 28 years old and currently governs with an absolute majority with seven councillors compared to three from the PP and one seat held by Unidas Podemos During the last four decades he has always stood on the PSOE ticket when he repesented the Independent Association of Almogía (AIA) He has also had a seat on the provincial council in two terms: between 1995 and 1999 in the opposition and from 1999 to 2003 the PSOE's candidate would be Antonia García current deputy mayor and member of the provincial council By Stephanie BellWed 7 Sep 2016 at 08:55One of only two houses known to have been designed by famous Belfast architect Louis Adair Roche has just gone on the market on the outskirts of Laurelvale in Craigavon is a modernist home which stood out for its unique design when it was built in the 1960s - and still does today >>For more information on  Torre Blanca visit propertynews.com<< which is mentioned alongside historic cathedrals monuments and mansions in the book Buildings of Armagh features an unusual tower and a full-sized heated swimming pool Its name Torre Blanca (white tower) derives from the three storey square tower which is the centrepiece of the design Forward thinking architect Louis Adair Roche is most famous for his landmark yellow tower at Belfast City Hospital studied at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen and joined the leading Belfast architectural firm Munce and Kennedy in 1957 He moved to London to establish his own firm ISER but commuted regularly to an office in Belfast His legacy remains in the distinctive avant garde buildings he designed including this striking home at 65 Mullavilly Road It looks distinctive from the front with its unusual square tower and red roof but also from the back where the tower stands proud behind a striking glazed conservatory housing the swimming pool with an open plan design and extensive use of natural wood and floor to ceiling windows which are the preferred choice of contemporary architects today when en suites were unheard of and family bathrooms still a luxury Roche was already adding extra bathing facilities and the house boasts two en suites and two shower rooms Also inside is a spacious and bright drawing room a living room which opens to a dining area The magnificent heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi complex is encased in a striking glass room at the back of the property which has been modernised by the current owners with self-cleaning double glazed windows sits on a mature site with extensive gardens and a detached garage with a games room It is believed to occupy a site which was part of McGredy's Rose Garden - famous for supplying flowers for the Queen's Coronation He added: "We're delighted to have such a prestigious property on our listings." Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening Please check your inbox to verify your details The beauty of Fuengirola was lauded by poet Salvador Rueda a century ago when he dedicated a sonnet to the town At that time wealthy families who lived inland would spend the summers there; but they were few in number and their presence could not really be considered tourism in a village whose economy was based on agriculture and fishing Even in the mid-1960s writers who described Fuengirola said the Villa Blanca (White Town) was a model of town planning with no tall buildings Diego Vázquez Otero wrote: "One could say that the numerous farms hidden in the valleys or on the tops of the 100 hills that surround Fuengirola have served as a model for the modern buildings which still retain a traditional character Tourist guides usually referred to Fuengirola as a white town nestling between the Sierra de Mijas and the Mediterranean even told its readers what was grown in this small municipality: sugar cane successfully predicted its future: "Above all Fuengirola aims to become a comfortable place for all the Spanish and foreign visitors who come to enjoy its beauty and its climate." The care taken in keeping the town clean and well-maintained merited Fuengirola a top prize among the towns and villages of the province and its beaches were reputedly the best on the Malaga coast according to a sign placed beside the main road The arrival of tourism radically changed the local economy which The tourism boom resulted in numerous apartment blocks being constructed and a proliferation of businesses specifically aimed at the floating population apartments became the preferred residential format for long stays by middle-class visitors Fuengirola was much slower to build up this sector compared with other pioneering resorts such as Torremolinos and Marbella There were no hotels at all until the mid-1950s which were mentioned by local historian Cristóbal Vega: Sedeño This is where the few people who used to come to Fuengirola in the summers of the 1940s and early 1950s used to stay In the following years it was joined by La Concha in Los Boliches The inauguration of the 12-storey Stella Polaris in 1969 built by the Danish tour operator Tjaereborg marked the start of a frenzy in the opening of large hotels some in complexes with blocks of apartments Seven opened in Fuengirola between 1970 and 1974 a four-star with 320 rooms which boasted the first automatic door on the Costa del Sol It was followed by Las Palmeras and El Puerto when international tourism began to feel the effects of the oil crisis Fuengirola could boast an extensive range of hotels for middle-class tourists (three and four-star establishments) from Spain A guide from those years described Fuengirola as "a tourism centre with an ultra-modern urban landscape" The model of the Villa Blanca had been left behind