Page 5 - aruba-today-20221223

A5
WORLD NEWS Friday 23 december 2022

On a roll: Croatia set for new currency, borderless travel

By SABINA NIKSIC Serb-controlled Yugoslav
Associated Press army. “But what can we
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — do? Life goes on,”
More than nine years after Stela Roso, a Zagreb resi-
Croatia became the Euro- dent, agreed: “It is a bit sad
pean Union’s newest mem- that we will no longer use
ber, the country is on a roll the kuna because it was
to make the most of its sta- unique to our country, but
tus as the EU member in the in practical terms, (the cur-
Balkans. rency switch) will make no
Croatia is adopting the difference to me.”
EU’s common currency, Croatia joined the EU in
the euro, and joining the 2013, the last time the
Schengen Area, Europe’s country admitted a new
visa-free travel area, on member nation. To adopt
Jan. 1. Officials in the small the euro, the country had
nation of 4 million people to fulfill a set of strict eco-
predict the developments nomic conditions, includ-
will be remembered as ing having a stable ex-
one of the country’s big- change rate, controlled
gest achievements since it inflation and sound public
gained independence dur- spending. After EU finance
ing the breakup of Yugosla- New Croatian euro coin depicting scientist Nikola Tesla is showcased at the Croatian central bank ministers gave Croatia the
via 31 years ago. in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. green light in July to join
Adopting the euro offers Associated Press the eurozone, the country’s
economic benefits stem- “After 10 years of mem- the two goals one after an- which was introduced to central bank had to make
ming from deeper financial bership (in the EU), we in- other over a relatively short secure monetary autono- extensive preparations.
ties with the currency’s 19 tentionally and deservedly period of time, but none my after Croatia’s split from “We secured the (euro)
other users and with the Eu- reached the stage where achieved both on the the former Yugoslavia and banknotes for front-load-
ropean Central Bank. It also we would become the only same day,” he said, add- a 1991-95 war. ing and the full volume
means that the 340 million country in history to join the ing that the changes “will “The kuna was a symbol of needed for next year, and
people who live in the cur- Schengen and eurozones have a transformative im- Croatia’s independence. we are almost done mint-
rent eurozone no longer on the same day,” Croa- pact on our economy.” We were all attached to it, ing the needed 600 million
will need to exchange their tian Prime Minister Andrej But not all Croats are so so it will be a bit hard to get coins. around 93% of that
euros for Croatian kuna Plenkovic said at a recent excited by the upcoming over its disappearance,” number has already been
and can enter the country business conference on the changes, especially the Vladislav Studar, a veteran minted,” said Tihomir Ma-
known for its stunning Adri- upcoming integration mile- phasing out of their outgo- of the war between the vricek, the executive direc-
atic coastline without stop- stones. ing currency. Some are sen- forces of Croatia’s govern- tor of the Croatian National
ping at border controls. “Some countries achieved timental about the kuna, ment and those loyal to the Bank’s cash department.q

Spain kicks off festivities with ‘El Gordo’

bumper lottery

By CIARÁN GILES revealed she purchased ing and sharing tickets,
Associated Press the 20-euro ticket with the known in Spanish as “déci-
MADRID (AP) — Spain number 05490 that led to mos” (tenths) in the run-up
kicked off the winter holi- Thursday’s win in Spain’s to Christmas is a tradition
days with its huge Christ- northern Asturias region. among families, friends and
mas lottery known as “El “I felt (the prize) it would co-workers, and in bars and
Gordo,” and an unem- strike me here today,” she sports and social clubs.
ployed Peruvian woman told reporters excitedly For weeks beforehand
was among the winners of while standing beside her there are queues, even in
The Fat One’s top 400,000- two children. The woman the cold and rain, outside
euro ($425,000) prize Thurs- said she planned to use lottery offices, especially
day. The winning ticket her lottery proceeds, which those which have sold Two people in masks join a Christmas lottery tickets queue in
number was announced in amount to some 325,000 prize-winning tickets in the downtown Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Spain’s
Madrid’s Teatro Real opera euros after taxes, to buy past. Ticket sales begin bumper Christmas lottery draw known as El Gordo, or The Fat
theater, where the woman, an apartment in Madrid, months ahead - this year One will be held on Dec. 22.
who was identified only by where her children attend as early as July. The Dec. 22 Associated Press
her first name, Perla, was primary school and to lottery began in 1812. From drums. They sing out both richest for the total prize
immediately surrounded by make a donation to an un- the beginning, children figures with a rhythmic ca- money involved.
reporters during the nation- specified church. from Madrid’s San Ildefon- dence that is known to ev- Spain established its na-
ally televised event. The incredibly popular El so school have called out eryone in Spain. tional lottery as a charity
The woman said she lost Gordo dishes out a total the winning numbers. . Other lotteries have big- in 1763 during the reign of
her job at a café two years of 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 The children pick up balls ger individual top prizes but King Carlos III. Its objective
ago and had bought lot- billion) in prize money, showing ticket numbers Spain’s Christmas lottery, later became to shore up
tery tickets “everywhere I much of it in hundreds of and their corresponding held each year on Dec. state coffers. It also helps
have visited this year.” She smaller amounts. Purchas- prizes from two giant rolling 22, is ranked as the world’s several charities. q