Costa de Almeria 15 – 21 June 2023 Issue 1980

RAINING CATS AND DOGS

Anna Ellis

THE saying is raining cats and dogs, but PAWSPATAS are offering more than a trickle at their forthcoming events.

Make a note in your diary to come along and see some of the puppies and kittens currently looking for their furever homes.

PAWS ­ PATAS will be at their outlet in Turre on Saturday, July 1, from 10.30am until 1.30pm and at their outlet in Las Buganvillas on Saturday, July 22, from 10.30am until 1.30pm.

Not only will there be some gorgeous fluffy bundles of love to see but also tea, coffee, cakes and home ­ made preserves. Enjoy the various stalls and Tombola plus an amazing choice of fabulous summer clothing and more on offer in the outlets.

PAWS ­ PATAS animal shelter is brimming with happy, healthy pets but they would be feeling ecstatic if they were adopt ­

Dogs are also available.

ed into a loving, secure home.

However, fostering is also another option. PAWSPATAS relies heavily on the generosity of people who are prepared to offer a temporary home to one (or more) of the animals in their care.

If you are in a position whereby you are unable to adopt or foster, then just come along and talk to the volunteers about all the other areas you can get involved with such as

Alamar Festival

ALMERIA City Council has organised a new edition of the Alamar Festival to take place from June 15 to 17.

Three concerts with free admission (until full capacity is reached) are on offer.

The first concert will take place at 9.30pm in Alcazaba and the following days’ concerts will be held in the Plaza de la Constitucion.

walking the dogs and socialising with both cats and dogs and helping with vet runs or in the outlets.

If you want to get involved with this marvellous animal shelter who have been saving lives and finding homes since 1989, they look forward to welcoming you!

For further information about the animals, email: dogs@paws ­ patas.org or cats@paws ­ patas.org or visit their website at www.paws­patas.org.

The Councillor for Culture and Education, Diego Cruz, said: “This year we have the pleasure of watching three concerts, Gnawa music of Boudanga, the flamenco­rooted electronic music of Mëstiza, with Almerian DJ Re:Vood, and the mix of African rhythms and jazz of Carmen Souza.”

Image: PAWS-PATAS Facebook

Ready in September

WORKS are about to begin on the Parque de Las Berlingas in San Isidro, Nijar, and are expected to be completed by September.

The plan is to adapt the current viewpoint including the ramp as it currently does not comply with the accessibility regulations. There will be some work done on the three towers, two of which are located on the viewpoint and the other in the existing park.

Another free space is proposed in the viewpoint, with the supply, sanitation

and electricity connections, for the installation of a future kiosk and toilets.

A central area with a children’s play area and walking areas and an area of 3,600m2 for equipment for sports and adult games

have also been planned. All the free space will be filled with trees to create shaded areas.

There will also be benches and litter bins in the walking and children’s play areas.

Cycling Championship

HUERCAL-OVERA is excitedly preparing to host the Iberian Masters Cycling Championship-II Trofeo Villa de Huercal-Overa. The event is expected to bring together 600 Spanish and Portuguese cyclists in the town.

The Master 30 and Master 40 races will be 116 kilometres long, passing the finish line up to three times and climbing the Santa María de Nieva pass three times, as well as other points such as the Vía Verde and the San

Isidro bridge.

The Master 50 and Master 60 races will be 62 kilometres long.

Both races, which will be held on Saturday June 17, will start and finish in Calle Hernan Cortes next to Parque Reina Sofía.

On Sunday, June 18, the individual time trial will take place which is 17.6 kilometres long. The start is in Calle Doctor Jimenez Diaz with the finish line in Calle Hernan Cortes next to Parque Reina Sofía.

Plans for Parque de Las Berlingas.

Refunds given

MORE than 7.8 million taxpayers have already received a refund of €5,390M of Personal Income Tax for 2022. In the province of Almeria, a total of 245,074 Income Statements for 2022 have been filed up to the beginning of June.

Happy Birthday

BALANEGRA has just celebrated its eighth birthday as a municipality after separating from Berja. The new municipality of Balanegra has an area of 31.95 square kilometres which is 14.5 per cent of the original area of Berja.

Traffic fines

THE most common traffic fine in Almeria is for speeding. A total of 23,171 offences in 2022 were committed. Of these, 11,327 were imposed through mobile radar and 11,844 through fixed radars. The second most common is cars not having passed their ITV.

Flag fraud?

ECOLOGIST in Action Association has come out against the declaration of Blue Flags because of “the lack of rigour, solvency and criteria for awarding them, which makes us see them as a fraud.” They say: “Their only objective is to highlight the tourist attraction of the chosen beaches.”

Aromatic herbs

ALMERIA has ordered the imprisonment of a man who was driving a refrigerated lorry in which he was transporting up to 89 kilos of vacuum-sealed marihuana that he had tried to camouflage in a shipment of aromatic herbs.

Solidarity trail

ON June 11, Berja hosted the third Edition of the Solidarity Trail organised by the Red Cross which had to be postponed in May. The event started from the Castala Viewpoint with two routes.

Visiting Berja

Anna Ellis

BERJA welcomed 1,553 tourists in March which is 1.1 per cent less than in the same month of 2022, according to the Spanish Statistical Office (INE).

Tourists of international origin totalled 359, a 14.0 per cent increase that in the same month last year and the number of domestic tourists was 1,194, ­4.9 per cent less.

The number of tourists who visited the city of

Berja in the first quarter of 2023 rose to 4,373 people.

This statistical data rep­

resents a decrease of ­6.3 per cent compared to the same period of time a year ago. The total num ­

100

ber of tourists of national origin was 3,445, a decline of 6.4 per cent, and those of international origin rose to 928, a decrease of 5.8 per cent.

The citizens of the Netherlands monopolised the largest contingent with 42 per cent of the total. The second place in the ranking of destinations was occupied by the French tourist with 27.8 per cent of the total figures.

Skyrocketing Connecting Germany

ALMERIA City Council are looking to win back German tourism by promoting the city in Düsseldorf.

Mayor, Maria del Mar Vazquez, confirmed: “Almeria is a tourist destination with great potential, but it is seriously affected by seasonality and communications.

“The new campaign will focus especially on German tourism. This has suffered a sharp decline in the last decade due to the lack of direct flights to its main cities. In this regard, given the relevance of the city of Düsseldorf as it is one of the most important markets of origin, the need to launch a campaign to promote the city and province of Almeria in the German market has been agreed.

“We will make a connection between the city of Almeria with Düsseldorf, through air travel with flights to and from Almeria airport and Weeze airport. This will make it possible to attract the largest possible number of tourists and facilitates commercial exchange.”

WITH the tourist season almost upon us, reservations for holiday accommodation have begun to skyrocket.

According to a study prepared by Rentalia, the holiday platform, the coast of Almeria is showing higher numbers than in 2022, when the figures were already considerable, leaving behind all the problems derived from the pandemic.

According to the analysis of the availability calendars of apartments and

Trees for children

HUERCAL­OVERA Town Council commemorated World Environment Day with tree planting in the Calvario area for the children of the municipality born in 2022.

Almost 50 carob trees were planted in a family atmosphere that will be remembered, not only for the experience but also for the plaques that give the trees their names and bear the names of each of the children who have participated in this initiative along with the slogan: ‘We were born

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S

Ready in September

WORKS are about to begin on the Parque de Las Berlingas in San Isidro, Nijar, and are expected to be completed by September.

holiday homes carried out by Rentalia, the province of Almeria currently has (with two months to go until August, the date most in demand by tourists) 77 per cent of reservations for tourist accommodation booked which is three per cent more than in 2022.

The rise is significant and, in fact, it is the fourth Spanish province with the highest rise after Castellon (from 63 per cent to 72 per cent), Lanzarote (from 76 per cent to 85 per cent) and the Cantabrian coast (from 68 per cent to 72 per cent).

The plan is to adapt the current viewpoint including the ramp as it currently does not comply with the accessibility regulations. There will be some work done on the three towers, two of which are located on the viewpoint and the other in the existing park.

Another free space is proposed in the viewpoint, with the supply, sanitation and electricity connections, for the installation of a future kiosk and toilets.

A central area with a children’s play area and walking areas and an area for equipment for sports and adult games have also been planned. All the free space will be filled with trees to create shaded areas.

caring for and protecting the environment’.

The mayor, Domingo Fernández, confirmed: “The children have a new dream: to visit and care for their trees, which will grow with them.”

This planting is in addition to those already carried out in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 in which more than 200 trees were planted in the Calvario Park and around the Ermita de la Virgen del Río.

BERJA: Has seen an increase in tourists.

Local residents plant trees for children.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Huercal-Overa / Shutter -

Image: Berja Town Council Facebook

Substantial sum

ON the evening of June 9, the community choir All Aloud raised a substantial sum of money by performing a charity concert in aid of the Spanish cancer charity AECC.

The concert took place at the Kubatin Bar behind the Hostal Meson in Arboleas.

About 100 people rocked up intent on enjoying themselves and to hear a variety

of music and songs.

The sum raised has not been calculated as yet, but it appears to be substantial and will be added to in July when All Aloud performs their final concert of the year at the Convento in Vera on July 17 at 7.00pm.

The concert will be in support of the AECC and also supporting the art exhibition being held by local

artists. Head along and enjoy a combination of the arts in one place!

All Aloud is a group of local people who meet on Wednesday afternoons at 3.00pm in the Kubatin Bar in Arboleas, to sing and have fun.

It is more of a social group than a purely singing group and there are social events held throughout the year. Why not take a trip to meet the group?

THE municipal swimming pool of Huercal de Almeria is set to open its doors on June 25 until September 10.

The opening hours will be midday until 8.00pm from Monday to Friday and 11.00am until 8.00pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Access to the pool is exclusively for people registered in the municipality via vouchers which are issued at the Paco Navarro Municipal Sports Pavilion, between the hours 9.00am and 3.00pm.

To purchase vouchers you will need an ID card, your registration document and proof of payment.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

Doors open

Different prices have been established depending on the number of people and the duration of the vouchers which

“Many hands make light work”

Meaning people do things more quickly and easily when they work together.

A very ancient proverb known to both the Greeks and the Romans – it first appeared in English by John Heywood in 1546.

can be for seven days, 30 days or seasonal. Prices start at €5 and will increase depending on the number of people and days requested. Payments need to be made via bank transfer to ES42 3058 0044 1127 3200 0110.

Children pay from three years of age and the vouchers will not be valid when the capacity of the pool is full.

South Light

THE municipal Art Centre, La Fuente de Mojacar, has now inaugurated an exhibition of painting and sculpture under the name South Light Luz del Sur.

The exhibition includes more than 40 paintings and about a dozen sculptures belonging to the students of the Clemente Gerez painting school and the sculptor, Juan Alonso.

Feliz Clemente Gerez is a well­known painter in Almeria, with international projection and has exhibited all over the world. Despite having numerous awards and being claimed in many parts of the world, he does not leave the Mediterranean: neither Mojacar nor his native Garrucha, except on essential days for his exhibitions.

Luz del Sur will remain open to the public at the La Fuente Municipal Art Centre until June 30. Admission is free and you can visit from Tuesday to Sunday from 11.00am until 2.00pm.

14

territories

The number of overseas

the UK has across the globe

NIJAR closed the month of March with a total of 11,386 visitors, which represents 15.2 per cent more than in the same financial year of 2022.

International tourists amounted to 5,037 people, 26.4 per cent more than in the same month of 2022, while the number of national tourists was 6,349, which is equivalent to an increase of 7.6 per cent over the previous year.

The total number of tourists who have visited the town in the first three months of this year 2023, which are by far not the most touristy of the year, has risen to

Visiting Nijar Representing Almeria

32,687 people. This figure represents an increase of 9.4 per cent over the same period in 2022.

The total number of tourists of national

TYPICAL Mojacar costumes represent Almeria in an exhibition in the Museum of Arts and Customs in Sevilla.

This exhibition, which will remain open until Wednesday June 21, aims to value fashion and tourism in the autonomous community of Andalucia through a space dedicated to each of its provinces. This exhibition is the first that Andalucia is going to hold expressly dedicated to representing its identity through clothing and fashion as a vehicle to promote its culture and encourage tourism.

Mojacar Council confirmed: “It is a privilege for Mojacar to be able to represent the province of Almeria in this exhibition and present its typical costume, which is, at the same time, an important dissemination of this rich heritage value of the town.”

Visitors to the museum can expect to see two rooms full of fashion, with the purest Andalucian feeling and with the clear objective of showing national and international visitors and tourists folklore and the great diversity of fashion creators from southern Spain.

origin was 18,322 and those of international origin was 14,365, an increase of 24.5 per cent.

Níjar closed 2022 with good numbers. Between January and December, the number of tourists who visited the fourth most populated municipality in the province was 253,229. This figure gives a balance of 1.7 per cent increase compared to 2021.

Victorious return

TRIATHLON CLUB: Won a gold and a silver medal.

THE Adra Triathlon Club has returned from the fifth Malaga Aquathlon with a gold and a silver medal.

The Adra Triathlon Club travelled to Malaga to compete in the fifth Aquathlon, held on Sunday, June 11, at the Misericordia Beach and the Antonio Banderas Promenade.

The event brought together more than 300 athletes in various categories.

In the traditional championship, the Abderita club won two medals, a gold medal for the young Sara Souto Rodríguez, in the Alevín Femenino category; and a silver medal with second place for Rubén Sánchez González, in the Benjamín Masculino category.

A total of 11 triathletes from Adra took part in the event in practically all categories, obtaining great results.

ALMERIA will once again compete for a new Green Flag from Ecovidrio, which rewards the efforts in the correct waste management of hoteliers and coastal municipalities during the summer period.

Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, the Balearic Islands and Andalucia are participating in the fifth edition of Green Flags. In overall figures, Ecovidrio’s initiative is present in more than 15,300 catering establishments throughout Spain with 2,000 bins and 550 containers.

Green flag

The campaign, which will run from June to August, is aimed at both local councils and the hotel and catering trade.

Green Flags assesses the actions implemented in response to the significant increase in glass waste

EL EJIDO Town Council has approved the contract for the supply, installation, maintenance, removal and cleaning of the beacons on the beaches of El Ejido for the sum of €30,000, which this year will increase its area of action in the Balerma area.

The councillor for Finance and Contracting, Jose Francisco Rivera, confirmed: “This is a basic service for the beaches and guarantees the safety of users by delimiting the bathing area from the area set aside for boats.”

“The purpose of the beaconing is to prevent possible accidents.”

In 2023 the beaconing on the Piedra del Moro beach (Balerma straight) will be extended. This extension will consist of the installation of a coastal strip of buoyage over a distance of 2,900 metres, from the ‘Mar Azul’ campsite to the breakwater located at the

generation in coastal areas due to summer tourism.

Aspects such as the increase in the volume of selective collection of glass containers in the municipality, the percentage of local hotels and restaurants participating and their collaboration to achieve the objectives are taken into account.

As is the commitment made by the councils to promote the campaign among the hotel and catering industry and to publicise it among the public and visitors.

Buoy boost

eastern end of the beach.

Also, with respect to last year, the number of buoys to be installed on the beaches of El Ejido will be increased from 78 buoys in 2022 to 107 units this summer.

BEACONS: To be installed on the beaches.

Image: Gobierno de El Ejido / Facebook

Yellow card

ALMERIA’S footballers, Gonzalo Melero and Samu Costa, who were one booking away from missing the next fixture, were yellow carded for the fifth time on the last Matchday.

This means the suspension will have to be served in next season’s curtain opener.

While the Portuguese defensive midfielder will not be able to feature in the first match of the next term, the Madrid native midfielder will be able to earn a starting spot.

UD Almeria, after reading the booking written on the game card, appealed Gonzalo Melero’s sanction.

JUST EAT, the leading food delivery platform in Spain, and LUDA Partners have reached an agreement so that pharmacies in Almeria

The appeal has been successful and therefore, the 29-year-old midfielder will be able to start the new season clear of yellow cards, as well as striker Luis Suarez, after serving his two-game ban.

Melero was booked in the 89th minute for delaying putting the ball back in

play, looking to waste time. At that moment of the match, Gonzalo Melero was not on the pitch as he had been replaced. Since the match official did not specify that the player had already been benched when he was booked, the yellow card has been rescinded.

Online pharmacy

can sell and distribute their para-pharmacy products

through the app in the home delivery market.

The alliance began with the launch in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Andalusia, Alicante and Leon, and will soon be available to other LUDA member pharmacies that wish to join the project in the rest of the provinces.

Currently, more than 3,200 pharmacies throughout Spain can sell their para-pharmacy products online thanks to LUDA Partners.

This agreement in Spain is one of the first Just Eat Takeaway.com signed in Europe.

Operationally, the purchasing process is very simple. From the Just Eat app, users can consult the parapharmacy catalogue of the nearest pharmacy based on their location.

Once the purchase is formalised, the pharmacy puts the order in a bag and hands it over to the delivery person.

A wide range of first aid, baby food, hygiene and cosmetics products, among other categories of parapharmacy is now available to Just Eat customers through this new service

SUSPENSION: Will have to be served next season.

VICAR is expecting another new commercial establishment to join the existing Carrefour, Mercadona and Consum brands. Is there room in the municipality for another supermarket? Lidl certainly thinks so.

The works are expected

Hola Lidl

to begin this summer, and once complete, the new Lidl will be located in the south­

Canyoning champs

TWO brave chaps from Almeria, Juan Jesus Ruano and Francisco Jimenez, have accomplished a new achievement in the discipline of canyoning.

Canyoning is a type of mountaineering that involves travelling in canyons using a variety of techniques that may include other outdoor activities such as walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling (rappelling), and swimming.

Although non­technical descents such as hiking down a canyon (canyon hiking) are often referred to as canyoneering, the terms canyoning and canyoneering are more often associated with technical descents ­ those that require abseils (rappels) and ropework, technical climbing or down­climbing, technical jumps, and/or technical swims.

Canyoning is frequently done in remote and rugged settings and often requires navigational, route­finding, and other wilderness travel skills.

Last weekend the Andalucian Canyoning Championship was held in Ronda (Malaga) and both Almerians brought home a medal.

Juan Jesus Ruano was the fastest in history in this canyon with a time of 8’40”, taking home the title of Andalucian champion. He was followed by his teammate Francisco Jimenez who finished as runner­up of Andalucia with a time of 10’04”.

ern area of Puebla de Vícar on a plot of almost 6,000 square metres between Calles Socrates and Platon.

The investment is expected to be around €2 million.

The mayor, Antonio Bonilla, confirmed: “With the arrival of this new company, it is confirmed that Vícar continues to capture the attention of investors for the development of projects that generate employment in the municipality.”

The plans for the installation of the new Lidl in Vícar include an area for commercial use, a car park of 3,500 square metres for a total of 111 cars with space reserved for the disabled, motorcycles, and charging areas for electric vehicles.

Lidl is firm that has a network of more than 650 stores and 11 logistics platforms throughout Spain and that employs a workforce of more than 17,500 people.

Mini Hollywood

JUST four Los Bandidos runners took on the fourth race in the Circuito de Carreras Populares Diputacion de Almeria 2023 in Abla on Saturday, June 10.

Los Bandidos

In the Sub ­ 14 category, Guillermo Moscardo Cherel ran one kilometre and finished in fifth place (second male) at a time of 05:02.

A NEW film is currently being shot at Almeria’s Oasys MiniHollywood: Manuel Olaya’s ‘Two Bullets for the Devil’. The main character, Cavendish, who works as a barber in the troubled town of Dudson City, meets a rude and quarrelsome individual who arrives at his establishment. Cavendish plays along with him until an unexpected outcome occurs.

Enrique Durio, Pedro Lopez, Laura Felices and Antonio Olaya star in this new short film in which the director, Manuel Olaya, revives the

essence of the clas sic western, sup ported by a careful production design together with the most iconic environments of the genre.

The actions of this new short film take place in the film sets of Oasys MiniHollywood, the main sequence in the western barbershop, which has been decorated with all kinds of utensils that were available at that time.

The execution of the film shies away from the tradition­

and is based more on the great American westerns directed by John Ford.

The soundtrack is by Almeria­based composer Miralles which enhances the epic drama of the film.

Once again, Oasys MiniHollywood bets on young talents producing this short film by the famous director Manuel Olaya.

It was a tough, hilly, nine­ kilometre route on a hot and humid evening.

The winner finished in an impressive 34:54, with the first lady in 44:54. A total of 133 runners crossed the finish line. Trophies were awarded to first, second and third places in each age group as well as to the overall winners.

Los Bandidos’ Sarah Briggs completed at 53:16, Sharon Howlett at 1:00:55 and Corinne Cherel at 1:01:27.

IS El Ejido joining forces with the Netherlands’ Westland?

Westland is one of the largest protected cultivation areas in the Netherlands, with 4,500 hectares, of which 2,400 hectares are glass greenhouses.

El Ejido’s councillor for Tourism, Luisa Barranco, spent time with Els van Oosten and Arjen van Telligen, who are responsible for the municipal areas of Tourism of the Westland Town Council.

Los Bandidos was set up in June 2018 with a small group running the 5k Mojacar Paseo, and now the group includes road cycling, sea swimming and triathlon groups.

All ages, nationalities and speeds are welcome, whether permanent residents or holidaymakers.

They are very sociable and most sessions are followed by a post­activity coffee, cake or breakfast, depending on the time of day.

Dutch visit

Among the projects and common themes that are being worked on between the two municipalities are the use and production of energy, distribution and logistics and the sustainable use of water.

After several meetings, the Dutch delegation had time and a great deal of interest to get to know some of the tourist resources of the municipality of El Ejido.

The list of attractions vis­

ited included the Tower of Balerma; the 360º degree capsule of Balerma; the Castle of Guardias Viejas; the Archaeological Collection. They also visited the Pepe Moreno antique car museum; the golf course, marina; the sports centre of local windsurfer and world champion, Victor Fernandez; the botanical garden and the Paraje de Punta Entinas.

WORKING TOGETHER: Getting to know the area.

Image: Ayuntamiento de El Ejido / Facebook

New film is being shot.

Image: Oasys

Royal collections

Anna Ellis

SPAIN’S King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will inaugurate the Royal Collections Gallery at the opening ceremony on June 28.

Madrid boasts several world­renowned galleries, such as the Prado Museum, the ThyssenBornemisza, and the Reina Sofía. However, next month, Spain is poised to unveil one of Europe’s most anticipated cultural highlights of the year: The Royal Collections Gallery.

The new museum will showcase a remarkable assortment of paintings, tapestries, sculptures, decorative art pieces, and royal furniture accumulated by Spanish monarchs over a span

BY country, the UK continues to head the list of source countries for the tourist market to Spain with 1.4 million visitors in April. This represents a strong growth of 8.7 per cent compared to the same month in 2022.

France and Germany were the next countries with the most tourists visiting Spain, with more than one million visitors each. Tourist numbers from France grew in April by 26.9 per cent in the annual rate, and those from Germany by 2 per cent.

of five centuries, over the Hapsburg and Bourbon dynasties of the empire.

The exhibition will present 650 selected pieces out of the vast collection of over 150,000 artworks managed by Patrimonio Nacional.

Spain’s visitors

Among the other source countries, notable was the annual growth of tourists from the US (60.7 per cent more than in April 2022), which was the country with the highest growth that month, followed by Italy (29 per cent more than a year ago) and Portugal (29.6 per cent more).

In the first four months of the year, visitors from the US increased by 75.4 per cent, as the country of origin with the

highest growth in tourist arrivals compared to a year ago.

NEW EXHIBITION: Will open in Madrid.

Image: Patrimonio Nacional

1 in 4

adults read print newspapers every day in the UK.

Anna Ellis HOTELBEDS is seeing a notable rise in consumer demand for luxury travel with travellers around the world seeking more premium experiences than ever before.

The United States, Mexico and Europe are among the largest source markets for luxury travel for Hotelbeds, while travellers from India (109 per cent), Australia (216 per cent), China (78 per cent) and Spain (66 per cent) have been increasingly looking for a premium experience over the

Betty Henderson

66 per cent

“The post­Covid carpe diem mentality shows no sign of abating.”

past year versus the previous 12 months.

Nicolas Huss, Hotelbeds’ Chief Executive Officer, doesn’t see this momentum subsiding any time soon.

SPAIN continues to bask in the glory of international recognition as it adds another accolade for its tourism industry. The Spanish city of Bilbao was named as one of the best cultural destinations in Europe by European Best Destinations. The tourism industry portal revealed their top picks in their Traveller Review Awards 2023, released on Thursday, June 8. Bilbao emerged victorious in the ranking, leaving popular destinations across Europe trailing behind.

Bilbao was the only city in Spain to make the top 12 list which was created based on more than 500,000 votes from travellers from more than 178 countries globally.

The north city rose above the competition to

The CEO added: “Travellers want to make the most of every day and they don’t want to compromise. We’re seeing spending on travel remaining a top consumer priority with people actively seeking unforgettable trips and are willing to pay for a high­quality experience.”

Cultural crown

claim its spot among the world’s cultural elites thanks to its unique attractions. Bilbao’s charming old town, culinary delights, the iconic Guggenheim Museum, and its unusual spider sculpture helped to secure its well­deserved position on the European Best Destinations list.

These awards celebrate exceptional accommodations, transportation services, local experiences, in cities and regions and are highly regarded in the international community.

The incredible rating goes to show Bilbao’s cultural wealth and its opportunities for visitors.

Image: Antonio Guillem Shutterstock.com Luxu ry travel on increase.

Look Right, look Left

Linda Hall SPAIN, which was not due to hold a general election until December this year, will go to the polls on July 23.

Following dismal results for the governing PSOE and Unidas Podemos (UP) coalition in the May 28 local and regional elections, the president of Spain’s government, Pedro Sanchez, announced the new date the following morning.

Which way will the Spanish vote?

Partido Socialista Obrero Español (Spanish Workers’ Socialist Party) Written and referred to as PSOE (pronounced pay ­ soee) it is Spain’s oldest political, founded in 1879 by Pablo Iglesias.

Middle­of­the road un­radical socialism, although the party shies away from mentioning or laying claims to being a centrist party. It has been in government since June 1, 2018 after a no­confidence vote defeated Partido Popular president Mariano

Rajoy. In power thanks to an uneasy alliance between the PSOE and far­left UP, which itself is a coalition of the Izquierda Unida and Podemos parties.

Party logo: a fist clenched round a red rose.

Partido Popular (People’s Party) Written and referred to as PP (pronounced paypay), the Partido Popular dates back to 1989 as the result of a rebranded Alianza Popular, founded in 1977 to stand in Spain’s first democratic general elections.

Middle­of­the­road conservatism now headed by Alberto Nuñez Feijoo who was president of the Galicia region between 2009 and April 2022 when he took over as the PP’s president.

The PP was phenomenally successful in the May 28 municipal and regional elections, and now controls all but two of Spain’s regional governments and most of its important city halls.

Party log: a blue seagull.

As neither the PSOE nor the PP is likely to wake up on July 24 with an overall majority, Sanchez will have to look further to the Left and Feijoo to the Right if either is to form a government.

Sanchez already knows that he will have backing from

Sumar A coalition of 15 parties to the Left of the PSOE that was only registered on June 9. Created by minister of Labour Yolanda Diaz, who belongs to Izquierda Unida and consistently overtakes Pedro Sanchez in popularity polls.

Feijoo will have no problem in enlisting the help of Vox Formed in 2013 by Santiago Abascal, Vox entered the Spanish parliament in 2019. It is old­school, antiimmigration, anti­LGTB, antiabortion, anti­EU. Although he knows Vox’s cooperation will be forthcoming, Feijoo also realises this could cloud the PP’s centre­right reputation and ambitions.

British Embassy Cocktail Party

IT was with great pleasure that the proprietors of Euro Weekly News, Michel and Steven Euesden were invited to the Spring Cocktail Party at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Madrid on Tuesday June 6. It was a glorious day and there was a very large number of guests who took advantage of the large garden which gave them the opportunity to chat with friends old and new.

Temperatures were soaring in Madrid, a true reflection on the world of com ­

merce in the region and it seems that the after effects of Brexit and Covid now seem to be a distant memory.

Speaking to those present, Ambassador Hugh Elliott explained that interrelationships between Spain and the rest of the world have never seemed to have been in such a sturdy state.

The investments coming in from South America are most definitely making the economic recovery a far easier journey with regards

to the economic growth of Spain and the region and coincidentally there has been a massive hike in property prices in this region.

La Cámara, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce saw a change of PresidentHugh Elliott gave a massive thanks and round of applause to demonstrate his appreciation for all the work done by Aida Garciaand welcomed the opportunity to work with lawyer and long­standing member of the BCC, Ralph Smith.

The Ambassador was in excellent form on this occasion and Olaf Clayton was a wonderful networker and introducer which comes as no surprise given his role in the British Benevolent Fund, which is the oldest charity for foreigners in Spain today and Olaf is THE conduit of communication between a problem and a solution.

Be it a victim of domestic abuse ­ violence ­ dependency ­ when all help fails us the foreigner here in our adopted land ­ Olaf and his team somehow find the resources to offer a solution.

It was a superb evening of celebration and almost gaiety, although the tide of business attire did not reflect the optimism and excitement of times to come here in Spain

It is getting towards the

the past three Ambas sadors they do believe he has survived some hard times with aplomb.

He is very much like the IF character of Rudyard Kipling…

IF ­ you can keep your head when those around you are losing theirs … They were and he did!

Apart from the many people they met at the event, Michel and Steven were pleased to catch up would like to thank the Ambassador for such a su­

it was an

Olaf Clayton with Michel and Steven Euesden. Ambassador Elliott and Steven Euesden.

Guests at the event.

€500 note still legal

WHEN the concept of introducing a euro zone currency was first muted, each member state was invited to join and to confirm what denomination of coins and bank notes they wanted.

At that time Germany, supported by Austria didn’t want to see large notes disappear as many transactions in those two countries were carried out in cash and as Germany had a 500 Deutschmark note, it was agreed that there should be a €500 note.

As time passed and the membership expanded to 20, so did the fear that many countries had that a €500 note was ideal for money launderers and smugglers as well as counterfeiters.

It was calculated that if they wanted to move €1 million anywhere around the world, the weight when using €500 notes was 2.2 kilos as opposed to 20 kilos if using €50 notes and obvi­

ously the packages were much smaller as well.

When new bank note designs were being considered, the European Central Bank confirmed that with effect from the end of 2018, no new €500 bank notes would be printed, except in Austria and Germany where they would continue for a further three months.

Many people in Spain are of the opinion that the €500 note has been withdrawn completely, but in fact they are legal tender across the Euro Zone and

may be used legally for transactions in Spain, although there are rules concerning the amount of cash that may be tendered when settling an invoice.

1,900 Banco Santander branches in Spain

LEGAL TENDER: Real or fake?

Credit: Ivan Radic flickr

THERE is a long history of impersonators in the UK and the latest name to catch the attention is Danny Posthill who is a regular visitor to both the Costa del Sol and Mallorca.

Following a recent visit to see his aunt Sylvia who was celebrating her 90th birthday in her home in Fuengirola he was catching up with friend, popular local singer Mario Ross who asked if he would act as auctioneer at the Children with Cancer UK fundraiser at Villa Tiberio in Marbella on Sunday May 28.

After returning to the UK and then flying out to Cyprus for a show, Danny found time to speak exclusively with Euro Weekly News about his career and the way in which it has blossomed since reaching the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2015. Asked about how he discovered his talent for voices

Danny explained “I guess that most impressionists will tell you it dates back to schooldays, I wasn’t a great scholar but could make my friends laugh by mimicking

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: The bloke who does voices

the voices of various teachers.

“One day everyone was amused by my take on a science teacher and suddenly the room went quiet and I sensed a presence behind me and sure enough it was that very teacher.

“Soon after I moved to a new class and the joke was on me, because my new teacher had obviously heard about that discovery and simply refused to allow me into his class in case I did the same, before telling me he was winding me up.”

As it happened, he went on to win the school talent show and then decided to get into entertainment, firstly working in holiday camps, being in charge of competitions for the kids and then it was off to Mallorca, but times were hard and he end­

ed up sleeping in a hotel sauna because he couldn’t afford a room.

Things got better and as he honed his skill, he got a job on a cruise ship but always wanted to be a full time entertainer and in 2013 he got an agent and became a full time professional.

“It’s not really a proper job, and although sometimes it’s stressful and there is a lot of travelling, I’m doing what I love and it’s so nice that I can make people laugh.”

Quite surprisingly, Danny mimics a number of female celebrities because he recognises his vocal range and doesn’t stray out of it, although he suspects it may change as he gets older.

“Basically, I have a fairly high pitched voice which means that I can become Sarah Millican, Dianne Ab­

bott, Priti Patel and Nicola Sturgeon, although I have to admit that my two favourite impressions are Donald Trump and Michael Mcintyre.”

If you visit Danny’s website https://dannyposthillofficial.com/ you can arrange to have a personalised message from any of the above and many more to be sent to as a special greeting to a friend, family member or as a prank.

“I think it helps that my partner Aimee Cole is a dancer and choreographer so we both have to make allowances for the other’s working pattern and it certainly makes life easier for us both.”

From early days working at the Yaramar Hotel in Fuengirola, to his time in Mallorca (where he still performs regularly) and of course his aunt being here means that he is drawn back regularly and he and Aimee will be holidaying in Spain in September.

That is if a prospective script for a TV series which he has written doesn’t suddenly take off!

Credit: Dany Posthill Facebook

CELEB

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Dry spell

ON June 7 Denmark’s meteorological agency DMI announced that the country had seen no rainfall for more than two weeks, the longest dry period in 17 years. Episodes without precipitation could be related to climate change, they said, although this was an area of ongoing research.

THE NETHERLANDS

Night out

A COMPUTER outage disrupted rail travel in Amsterdam and also affected other parts of the Netherlands on June 4 and 5, the Dutch railway company NS said. Hundreds were stranded and 150 people spent the night at Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome concert hall, unable to return home after a Harry Styles concert.

BELGIUM

SpyING

BELGIUM’S public prosecution service launched an investigation following complaints from the BBTK union that ING had accessed the emails of around 2,000 of its employees. According to the union, the bank viewed email traffic following the dismissal of a BBTK member alleged to have leaked sensitive information.

GERMANY

More nurses

AS part of a bid to attract more skilled workers from non-EU countries to the German employment market, Germany and Brazil have signed a declaration of intent for “fair immigration.” The main focus is on nursing, a field in which Germany faces a growing shortage, Labour minister Hubertus Heil said.

FRANCE

Not trending

THE draft of a new law regulating the activities of social media influencers, approved by French politicians from all parties, will curb the promotion of dangerous products and trends with fines and even prison terms. “We can be proud of this unprecedented agreement,” declared senator Amel Gacquerre.

NORWAY

Helping hand

NORWAY’S emergency services rescued a Russian who needed medical assistance while on board a scientific vessel stuck in ice near the North Pole. The authorities dispatched a helicopter from Longyearbyen, which was 500 nautical miles (926 kilometres) away from the ship and only just within range.

FINLAND

Not safe

FIGURES released by the Finnish Crash Data Institute (OTI) revealed that half of the people who were killed in urban accidents between 2012 and 2021 were pedestrians or cyclists. The same figures showed that 44 per cent of the pedestrians who died in built-up areas were killed on zebra crossings.

IRELAND

New idea

SOME archaeologists are beginning to question the accepted theory that Ireland’s first human inhabitants arrived from Scotland. In prehistoric times the Irish and Welsh coastlines were much closer than they are now, they pointed out, suggesting they could have crossed from Pembrokeshire into southeast Ireland.

ITALY

Home again

LAST year the US authorities returned 58 looted antiquities worth $19 million (€17.7 million) to Italy. Very often stolen from archaeological sites and smuggled out of the country over the past 50 years, they included 27 items seized from the Met in New York and the collection of billionaire Michael Steinhardt.

PORTUGAL

Angola aid

ANGOLA and Portugal signed a new cooperation agreement covering 13 areas ranging from finance to legal issues which will be in force until 2027. “We have significantly increased our line of credit from €1.5 billion to €2 billion,” Portugal’s prime minister Antonio Costa announced while visiting Luanda.

UKRAINE

Looking ahead

THE World Bank will support Ukraine with a rapid assessment of damage and needs after the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. Anna Bjerde, the World Bank’s managing director for operations, estimated that it would cost $411 billion (€381.3 billion) to rebuild Ukraine’s economy after the Russian invasion.

SWEDEN

New route

UNPRECEDENTED confiscations of cocaine in Sweden in recent months highlighted the country’s increasing role as a gateway for cocaine from Latin America to the rest of Europe. Swedish customs seized 460 kilos of cocaine during their latest haul at Helsingborg port, according to a government statement.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Budget meltdown

WOKING Council is effectively bankrupt with debts of £2 billion (€2.3 billion) following predecessors’ risky investments involving skyscrapers and hotels. Its chief executive said the full impact on residents was not yet clear, but all spending for non ­ essential services had been halted after issuing a Section 114 notice.

Fully-owned

AFTER obtaining a 60 per cent stake in 2021 and increasing this to 62.5 per cent last year, Santander Bank bought the remaining 37.5 per cent of its Brazilian subsidiary Toro Investimentos. Santander did not reveal the sums involved on acquiring the online brokerage company, which has 1.3 million clients.

Sad loss

THE death was announced on June 7 of Sir Ivan Menezes (63), British ­ American long ­ time chief executive of Diageo, following a brief illness. He joined London­listed £75 billion (€87.2 billion) Diageo, now the world’s largest spirits manufacturer, after its formation following the 1997 merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan.

Nadal plans

FOLLOWING the success of Tatel in Madrid, and the Toto Italian restaurants, tennis ace Rafael Nadal and Baleares hoteliers, the Matutes family, intend to open similar restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There are also future plans for more eateries in Marbella, London, New York and Milan.

Tough times

CHALLENGING months lay ahead, the owner of the Simply Be and JD Williams home shopping companies warned after going into the red. Shares in N Brown Group, which also owns men’s clothing brand Jacamo, slumped after reporting annual losses of £71.1 million (€82.6 million) for the year ending on March 4.

Linda

Hall

SPAIN will ask Brussels for a total of €94 billion from the Next Generation’s Recovery and Resilience plan introduced to offset the after­effects of the pandemic.

“This will activate all the transfers and loans that have been assigned to Spain,” announced Nadia Calviño, who is the government’s principal vice­president as well as minister of Economic Affairs minister.

Addressing the June 6 Cabinet meeting, Calviño explained that Spain has also added a request for a further €10.3 billion to its initial recovery plan via the Next Generation fund. This will be used for 12

STAT OF WEEK €1.5 billion

plans to build Spain’s biggest shopping centres in Torremolinos and Valencia have been renewed by Eurofund Group following changes in the local governments after the May 28 elections.

More cash from Brussels

CALVIÑO: Spain has applied for all assigned EU cash, Economic Affairs minister said.

strategic projects that are already underway, she said.

The €84 million in ‘soft’ loans will provide Spain with a safety net which would permit ‘a strong rhythm’ of public and private investment for the future.

Calviño stressed that

CHIEF executives at companies linked to the UK’s soaring household bills have enjoyed multimillion paydays.

According to figures released on June 6, the National Grid, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer rewarded their top people with top earnings although all have been accused of profiteering from food inflation and the energy crisis resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

National Grid’s John Pettigrew received £7.2 million (€8.4m) for the last financial year, compared with £6.6 million (€7.7m) in 2021 according to the FTSE 100’s Power Networks Company. Pettigrew’s fixed pay fell although his variable pay, which included bonuses and long­term incentives, increased

Sandals in

PROFITS slid by 10 per cent for Dr Martens boots, the Northampton company’s most famous product. Sales fell 10 per cent in 2022 following errors in the US after the company concentrated on other items and battled problems at its Los Angeles warehouse.

Distribution in Latin America and China was also affected. In contrast, the footwear specialist said that sales of its sturdy sandals and shoes rose by approximately 50 per cent and represented approximately a third of total sales.

The ‘challenging consumer environment’ also produced a fall in demand in the US owing to high inflation, the company announced.

Best yet

These loans will be channelled through various financial vehicles, Calviño said, citing the Autonomous Communities’ Resilience Fund, which would be allocated €20 billion to finance sustainable investment projects.

MAHOU SAN MIGUEL reported a €1.7 billion turnover last year, 18.4 per cent more than in 2021 and the best figure in its history.

this did not imply an immediate increase in the country’s debt as there will be a 30 ­ year repayment period with an extra 10 years’ grace. The government calculates that this works out at around 35 basis points cheaper than raising the money through Treasury bonds.

The EU cash is to be handled in collaboration with the European Investment Bank, the vice­president said, although the Official Credit Institute would channel a further €22.5 billion to be used for business projects ­ particularly those involving green investment ­ with €1 billion set aside for tourism.

Payday bonanza

year and earned £4.9 million (€5.7m), overtaking his rival at Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket chain, after reaching profit, cashflow and personal targets.

The increase was partly due to a £2.3 million (€2.7m) long­term bonus, although Roberts also received a £1.7 million (€1.9m) annual bonus together with a 3.5 per cent rise that brought a £905,625 (€1.05m) salary.

Sales were boosted by higher consumption of beer and water, the company said, although net profits fell by 0.8 per cent to €102.1 million, affected by lower margins owing to higher costs.

These were not entirely passed on to consumers, while the company explained that it spent €499.2 million31 per cent more ­ on modernising factories, as well as a 6 per cent rise to reduce the impact of inflation on Mahou San Miguel’s 4,068 employees.

Good news

THE Organisation for Economic Co­operation and Development (OECD) increased Spain’s 2023 growth forecast from 1.7 to 2.1 per cent.

The OECD also increased its 2024 forecast from 1.7 to 1.9 per cent.

from £5.2 million (€6m) to nearly £6 million (approximately €7m).

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive received a 3.5 per cent rise last

Bank takes action

THE Daily and Sunday Telegraph will be auctioned off after their owners, the Barclay family, lost control of their two principal media assets.

Earlier, Lloyds Banking Group had threatened to put Press Acquisitions, which owns the newspapers’ parent company Telegraph Media Group (TMG), into administration after the breakdown of talks regarding loans that had accumulated over time.

On June 7, the UK media reported that Lloyds had appointed consultants AlixPartners as the official receiver for the Barclay family’s shares in the holding company which controls both newspapers and the Spectator magazine.

‘Multiple’ sources revealed that the bank, finally frustrated over repayment of a loan of ‘hundreds of millions’ of pounds, had decided to take action by removing Barclay family­appointed board members before auctioning the Telegraph titles and the Spectator magazine.

As sales and profits jumped, Stuart Machin, Marks & Spencer’s co­chief executive, received £2 million (€2.9m) last year, which included a £1 million (€1.16m) bonus.

Push off

UK banks will eventually have to refund all victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud within a week.

These scams occur when criminals trick victims into handing over a security code sent by their bank, allowing them to ransack their accounts.

Last year victims lost £485.2 million (€564.4 million) to this type of fraud, but banks are currently not obliged to refund them, although many have signed a voluntary agreement requiring them at least to consider cases.

In practice, however, banks refuse to pay around half of APP fraud refunds but Britain’s Payment Systems Regulator plans to introduce stringent rules for refunding customers in 2024.

The organisation placed Spain’s economic progress at the head of the eurozone, expecting growth of approximately 0.9 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent in 2024.

In the “challenging environment” caused the Ukraine war, the OECD predicted that inflation in Spain would fall more rapidly than anticipated, averaging 3.9 per cent both this year and in 2024.

CBI wins vote

THE Confederation of British Industry emerged unscathed from a confidence vote in London on Tuesday June 6.

Ninety­three per cent of the 371 members of Britain’s foremost business lobby group backed proposals to overhaul its ‘governance, culture, and purpose’ in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations. The result was “a really strong mandate from our members,” the CBI’s director general, Rain Newton ­ Smith said although leading companies including Aviva, BMW, BT, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and Rolls Royce, have either left or suspended their membership.

NADIA

NATIONAL GRID: Chief executive John Pettigrew received €8.4 million last year.

Photo credit: Pool Moncloa, Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Photo credit: Pexels/Jan van Bizar

- FTSE 100

DOW JONES

Turkish delight

STRUGGLING Asos shares rose by 7 per cent following reports in the Sunday Times that it had received a £1 billion (€1.16 billion) takeover bid from the Turkish online retailer Trendyol last December.

Asos, which owns Topshop and Miss Selfridge, was valued at between £10 and £12 (€11.64 and €13.96) a share by Trendyol.

Old favourite

LINGERIE and stockings

company Marie Claire, founded in 1907, is in talks with the unions, employees and clients that include El Corte Ingles to find a solution that will allow it to survive. If an answer cannot be found, the firm will be obliged to start insolvency proceedings involving the loss of 280 jobs.

Whistle-blowing pays

Linda Hall

THE UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is stepping up its enforcement work against illegal cartels. These are businesses which cheat customers by agreeing not to compete in order to keep prices high, stopping the public and other firms from getting a fair deal and also stifling competition.

People who tell the CMA about unlawful cartel activity they have witnessed can now claim a reward of up to £250,000 (€290,308), in ­

Domestic priorities

IBERIA’S domestic flights provide 1,852 jobs and contribute €130 million to Spain’s gross domestic product as well as €199 million to tourism. Spurred by France’s decision to eliminate routes that could be covered by train in two and a half hours, the airline, together with consultants PwC, analysed the consequences of introducing a similar measure in Spain.

Economic considerations apart, the study

also established that 40 per cent of passengers took domestic flights to connect with another flight.

Eradicating these flights would require between eight and 10 high speed trains, connecting travellers with Spain’s Adolfo Suárez­Madrid Barajas airport on an hourly basis.

“At present there are none,” pointed out Iberia’s Sales director Beatriz Guillén.

No win

creased from £100,000 (€116,134).

“Businesses that participate in cartels, knowing them to be illegal, often go to great lengths to keep the cartel hidden and secret,” the CMA said.

“This makes them difficult to detect and harder to bring eliminate.”

The CMA’s ‘Cheating or Competing’ campaign has advice for people and businesses to help them spot, report and deter illegal anticompetitive practices. It encourages those who have witnessed illegal activity to report it by protecting their anonymity as well as offering a reward.

Businesses found to have been involved in illegal cartels can be fined up to 10 per cent of their annual turnover. Individuals directly involved can face up to five years in prison, while company directors risk disqualification from holding directorial positions for up to 15 years.

CORREOS cancelled the fouryear, €67 million contract for telecommunications services that it signed with Telefonica in February.

The decision to cancel the deal followed an appeal from Telefonica’s rival Orange, previously barred from the tender for alleged breaches, after the French company complained that revealing Telefonica’s financial offer had put all the other competing companies at a disadvantage.

Playing safe

JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP, which experienced a third year of losses and axed the staff bonus for only the second time since 1953, is spending more than £1 million (€1.16 million) on revitalising its children’s range. Executive director for John Lewis, Naomi Simcock, said the business wanted to create “an immersive experience” and a destination, “not just a shop.”

ILLEGAL CARTELS: Britain’s CMA will pay for information

Photo credit: Pixabay/elbgau

Beer crisis

SMALL craft beer manufacturers are going out of business as consumers choose cheaper options due to the cost of living crisis. Forty­five breweries entered insolvency in the year ending March 31 compared with 15 in 2022, according to Insolvency Service statistics.

Bank on it

SPAIN’S BBVA and Santander banks are amongst those handling America Movil’s 130 billion peso (more than €7 billion) fiveyear bond issue. The phone company, which is Telefonica’s principal rival in Latin America, is also using the services of the HSBV, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan banks.

Cleaning up

MITIE, a UK professional services and outsourcing company, announced a record full­year £4.05 billion (€4.7 bn) compared to £4 billion (€4.6 bn) in 2022. Contract wins, renewals, acquisitions and inflationary contract repricing offset unrenewed contracts and the previous year’s benefits from shortterm Covid work.

Football fans

TURNER, a subsidiary of Spain’s ACS Group which is chaired by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, will build the €1.4 billion New Highmark Stadium, future home of the Buffalo Bills American football team. The installation, with a capacity for 63,000 people, is due to open in 2026.

Ash cash

WE SODA, the world’s largest producer of natural soda ash, will be 2023’s first major float in London. The Turkish chemicals giant announced that it would seek a stock market listing this year in a deal that could put a value of between £6 to £7 billion (€6.97 to €8.13 billion) on the company.

Brexit seen from afar

Linda Hall

BREXIT was a “historic economic error” that helped to fuel the UK’s high inflation, a former US Treasury chief declared.

Talking to the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, Larry Summers said Brexit and other policies meant Britain’s economic problems were more acute than those of most other major countries.

“The UK’s economic policy has been substantially flawed for some years,” Summers said.

“Brexit will be remembered as a historic economic error that reduced the competitiveness of the UK economy, put downward pressure on the pound and upward pressure on prices, limited imports

and the supply of labour,” he added.

This all combined to contribute to higher inflation, maintained the for­

Gigaplant

mer Secretary of the Treasury who had advised both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Summers also slated the Bank of England, saying it had kept interest rates too low for too long, while the UK’s higher levels of inflation were reinforced by “very ill­judged” monetary policies that were too expansionary for too long.

The Bank of England has raised rates 12 times since the end of 2021, taking it to 4.5 per cent in May, although Summers said the only option was to stay the course with base rate hikes, although this would inevitably hit activity and growth.

“I’d be very surprised if Britain avoids a recession in the next two years,” he told the BBC.

Breaking more records

INDITEX earned a record €1.2 billion during the first quarter of the company’s fiscal year, 54 per cent more than during the same period in 2022.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased by 14 per cent to €2.2 billion. Earnings before interest and taxes rose 43 per cent to €1.5 billion, while profits before tax rose by 52 per cent to €1.5 billion.

The Galicia ­ based clothing giant, which owns the Zara, Massimo Dutti and Bershka labels amongst others, pointed out that this year’s results were especially buoyant, bearing in mind that last year’s first quarter figures had included a €216 million provision for Russia and Ukraine.

“The Spring ­ Summer collections continue to be very well received by our customers,” the Inditex interim report revealed. “Store and online sales between May 1 and June 4 have also increased by 16 per cent compared with the same two months in 2022.”

The Board of Directors will propose a dividend of €1.20 per share for the 2022 fiscal year at

A MULTINATIONAL car manufacturer intends to build a €4.5 billion gigafactory in the Valencian Community. The news was initially reported in the regional daily Levante­EMV and subsequently the national publication, Cinco Dias.

The regional government has signed a confidentiality agreement with the company in question while negotiations are underway. Although no name has been revealed, Tesla was mentioned by sources close to the process. Should the project materialise, investment would top Volkswagen’s €3 billion plant producing battery cells for electric vehicles in Sagunto (Castellon), although this could increase to €4.5 billion by 2026 should annual production capacity increase from 40 gigawatts per hour to 60.

Pensions result

the Annual General Meeting to be held next July.

The first interim payment of €0.60 per share was made on May 2 this year and the final dividend payment will be paid on November 2, Inditex announced.

Looking elsewhere

BEFORE the Ukraine invasion, Spain imported Russian crude oil. Now it looks to Venezuela (258,000 tons during 2023’s first quarter), Ecuador (148,000 tons) and Trinidad and Tobago (101,000 tons).

Colombia exported 586,000 tons to Spain between January and April,

four times more than during the first quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, shipments from Brazil grew to slightly more than two million tons, compared to 1.5 million tons in the first four months of 2022. Mexico, which sold over 2.7 million tons to Spain between January and April ­ 46 per cent more

ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS (ABF) is buying dairy technology company National Milk Records (NMR).

The company, which owns Primark and Twinings, has struck the £48 million (€55.8 million) deal in a bid to strengthen its agrifoods division. ABF is paying 215p (€2.50) a share for the Chippenham­based firm, an 87 per cent premium on NMR’s closing price two days before the announcement.

The acquisition would “significantly” boost its agriculture food business, AB Agri, which currently works with over

than during the same period in 2022 ­ is now Spain’s principal supplier of crude oil, ahead of the 2.2 million tons imported from the US. In contrast, oil purchases from Africa fell by 26 per cent, while those from the Middle East, Europe and Eurasia dropped 14 per cent.

Milky way

2,000 dairy farms globally, ABF told its investors.

NMR, founded 80 years ago, was previously part of the Milk Marketing Board, which controlled the UK’s milk production and distribution and ensured a minimum price for dairy farmers.

The takeover will also improve farmers’ profits and productivity and accelerate NMR’s strategic objectives, ABF said.

THE second phase of Spain’s state pensions reform will boost the Social Security system’s income in line with Brussels’ call for improvements ensuring the scheme’s financial viability.

A Bank of Spain analysis of the government measures that was published on June 7 concluded that this is most likely to affect middle­aged, well­paid, highlyqualified employees who work for big companies. The Bank also calculated that this would raise Social Security revenue by 0.9 per cent of the gross domestic product in 2050, two­10ths of a percentage point below the government’s estimate.

Women losing out

A WOMAN’S private pension pot in the UK is usually worth 35 per cent less than a man’s on reaching 55. After analysing data for both sexes between 2018 and 2020, government researchers found that, on average, women will have accumulated just £65 (€75.5) for every £100 (€116) in men’s private pensions.

As a result, women risk losing out on thousands of pounds as a result of the greater numbers who work part­time, their lower overall earnings and more time off for childcare or other caring duties, the investigation concluded.

LARRY SUMMERS: Brexit ‘a big mistake’ according to the former Secretary of Treasury.

INDITEX: Earnings rose by 54 per cent during Zara owner’s first quarter.

AH well, where shall we start this week ­ what about with young Prince Harry? Firstly we can’t of course refer to the ginger whinger as ‘poor’ Harry. He is actually sitting on millions, or the wife is! This henpecked hustler is now using up his precious gift of time by endeavouring to get a whole corporation of journalists prosecuted for handing out publicity which made him feel uncomfortable when he was a teenager.

This, sadly pathetic individual, who has been brought up with no financial or real survival worries whatsoever, has now married a partner whose life has probably been positively riddled with obstacles.

This mixed race young actress, who, when you examine her friends and non­association with her own father, or her attitude toward British royalty, appears to rather dislike anyone bearing Caucasian originality, has now obviously succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. She has reached the staggering achievement of becoming a globally recognised

Fancy a bet?

Princess/Duchess, a Queen of Hollywood, a Royal sister ­ in ­ law and an advisor to the brother of the future king of England. Not bad apples. She obviously already rules the roost; in fact he’s actually just announced that he’s bringing the whole case just for her. That should get him a few cuddles! I’ll give ‘em a couple more years. Anyone fancy a bet?

Moving on. The conspiracy to bamboozle the public, particularly the youngsters, that the UK is a blissful society of mixed marriages and culturally entwined citizens is gaining ground by the day. Not only is the media now so full of misrepresentations and non­existent standards, it is guilty of committing enough false impressions to be up for prosecution. It has now been joined by the woke academics of the university of Cambridge, which is insisting to its students that Anglo Saxons actually didn’t exist as an ethnic group.

A further part of their conspiratorial efforts to undermine what they call the ‘myths of nationalism’. In other words they are now trying to

SAFER DRIVING OUR VIEW

maintain that our ancestors never truly existed.

This of course gives even more ammunition to the multi ­ culturist brigades who are intent on overpowering the rights of the millions of true Anglo Saxon descendants that still dominate the citizenship of the United Kingdom (85 per cent)! Are they winning? Well they may be under the impression that they are, but of course the true battle, which they are too full of their own importance to realise, is actually the ever growing threat of Artificial Intelligence.

When this takes over, which it will, all their bull…t attitudes and theories will disappear along with the rest of us firmly entrenched under the new rulers of our planet ­ the purveyors of Artificial Power. An outcome which will ultimately be impossible for any of us to compete with. Whatever colour or nationality you happen to be.

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon and Friday 1pm till 3pm.

IT must be assumed that speed limits in Spain are set with an eye to making it as safe on the road as possible for all parties.

However, it is not unusual to see drivers speeding and if the government really wanted to enforce the law and make a lot of money in fines, then speed cameras in every tunnel on every motorway would be the ideal option as few drivers seem able to drop from 120kph to the average 80kph which is the norm.

The Guardia Civil issue regular explanations about the proper use of lanes in roundabouts and considering how in Spain, roundabouts are almost national monuments with each being named and having special decorations, you would think that most drivers would understand the rules and follow them.

In the UK, drivers should stop if they see pedestrians waiting to move onto zebra crossings but pedestrians are taught to actually check the safety of the road whilst the Spanish seem to have a belief that they should just be able to walk straight onto the crossing expecting as a matter of fact that drivers will automatically stop for them even if the paint on the road is so indistinct that unless you know the area, you might not even be aware that the crossing exists. Perhaps one of the most dangerous habits in Spain is the fact that many drivers of school coaches simply don’t take any notice of the speed limits, especially on dual carriageways and whilst they are charged with delivering their charges safely to and from school, they not only speed but then stop wherever they feel like to drop the children off.

Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

Double-edged sword of AI: Saviour or destroyer?

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) is no longer a concept confined to science fiction. It’s become an integral part of our daily lives, from the voice assistants on our phones to selfdriving cars and medical diagnosis systems.

However, with great power comes great responsibility and as we increasingly rely on AI technology, it’s important to consider both its advantages and threats. One of its most significant benefits is its ability to increase efficiency in various industries. In healthcare, AIpowered diagnostic tools can analyse vast amounts of patient data much faster than doctors, not only saving time, but also reducing errors in diagnoses. In addition to improving efficiency, AI can also help us make better decisions by providing insights that humans may overlook due to cognitive biases or limited processing abilities. For instance, stock traders use algorithms that analyse market trends and predict future outcomes more accurately than any human could.

Another advantage of AI is its potential for

automation, improving productivity while reducing labour costs since machines don’t require breaks or wages ­ or go on strike!

Nonetheless, experts warn about the dangers posed by unchecked development of AI intelligence technology. One major concern is job displacement as machines replace human

I’m not doing this PC stuff anymore

but now I just put my headphones on either to watch a film on my laptop or listen to music.

workers across many industries leading to mass unemployment. Furthermore, it’s feared if left unregulated, the rapidly advancing capabilities of AIs may soon surpass those of even highly­trained professionals like lawyers or doctors. They could even become redundant and their livelihoods destroyed.

Those in creative industries worry too. ‘Succession’s’ Jeremy Strong claims AI can’t write ‘Succession’s’ ‘killer lines’. Similarly, Michelin star level chefs maintain only a human can distinguish between ‘different levels of flavour, depths... more nuances’.

Another threat posed by advanced AIs concerns ethical considerations when they’re used for tasks requiring moral judgement, empathy or compassion. They can tell you what you want, but not what you mean. For instance, asked how to reduce diabetes, one bot answered: ‘Kill all the obese’. Again, AI in the military can make decisions about who to target during a conflict without considering the ethical implications. Remember the recent USA ‘rogue AI drone’ that supposedly ‘killed’ its operator?

In addition to these concerns, there’s also the possibility that AIs could pose an existential threat to humanity if they were allowed unchecked access and control over critical in­

frastructure such as nuclear power plants or weapons systems. Such scenarios could lead to catastrophic consequences beyond our ability to comprehend.

AI technology has enormous potential for improving efficiency and productivity across all industries. However, it’s essential that policymakers regulate the use of AI technologies so that it balances benefits with risks. And so help ensure that humans remain firmly in control while reaping maximum benefit from these powerful new tools ­ and double­edged sword. And, finally, dear readers, did you know how certain earlier inventions came about? Did you know, for instance, that women’s corsets led to the invention of the modern umbrella? Or that the hovercraft emerged from an empty cat­food tin? Or how the Internet really came into existence? And do you think there’ll ever be an invention to cure men’s snoring or leaving dirty socks anywhere but the laundry basket?

No, I didn’t think so either…!

Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers (www.no ra­johnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

WHILE I was still in the USA and I know I have written about this place before, but I have to relate a couple of things that happened to me whilst I was there.

I went to see a doctor in Houston and then took a flight to Las Vegas on a small puddle jumper.

That is what they call the planes that fly the short trips. I get in my seat and buckle up ready for my flight. I’m in the window seat. I look up and coming down the aisle is a large man - a very large man! I’m talking omfg large!!

Now let me point out he is not fat ( I’m not even sure I can say that anymore). He is just a huge bloke and of course he manoeuvres into the middle seat next to me. Now I’m not a great chatter on a plane and never have been.

I’m not interested in striking up a conversation with a complete stranger who wants to know my life story. So as soon as I sit in my seat I make myself busy. It used to be reading all the stuff in the seat pocket, including what to do with the sick bag,

Anyway he sits down and within a few minutes he has his head back and is asleep, but he has the whole armrest and is now well into my seat too! So what do you do? Well I’m not well known for my ‘suffering in silence’ abilities so when the cabin crew lady with the trolley asks if I want anything out comes, “Yes a bigger seat please as I’m sharing mine with him”! He looks at me and says, “What’s the matter”? I tell him that he is invading my space ( I’m being American - it’s what they say)

There is no apology. Nothing. Just a big huffing noise and a horrified look from the air hostess. Well, I’m not doing this PC stuff anymore. He moves his arms so I can have my seat to myself. I really don’t get it. Why am I made to feel bad because he is a big guy?

The rest of the flight was OK but I don’t think I’m on his Christmas card list and it was interesting to see the reaction of other people that heard what was going on. What would you have done? I’d be interested to know.

Email me at mikesenker@gmail.com let me have your thoughts.

Nora Johnson’s

NORA’S LATEST THRILLER.

Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist.

Slim down with good fats

Linda Hall

SOME foods have the same effect as weight loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, an Australian nutritionist revealed.

Originally created to help diabetes patients control their blood sugar, both mimic the GLP ­ 1 hormone, telling the pancreas to make more insulin.

They also make us feel full but, although safe, side effects can include nausea, constipation and diarrhoea.

Dr Emma Beckett, a senior lecturer in Food Science and Human Nutri ­

tion believes that good fats present in avocado, nuts and eggs produce the same effects, along with foods high in fermentable fibres like vegetables and whole grains.

“The nutrients that trig­

ger GLP ­ 1 secretion are macronutrients,” Dr Beckett explained, writing in academic publication, The Conversation.

“This is why high fat, high fibre and high protein diets can all help you feel fuller for longer.”

No headaches with cava

PROSECCO could be the reason behind one in three migraine attacks in the UK.

Each year the British consume approximately 130 million bottles of the Italian sparkling wine, a third of the world’s total supply.

A survey of 500 migraine sufferers by Lloyds Pharmacy studied the link between the condition and diet, including food and lifestyle triggers.

Stress, caffeine and the additives used in some takeaways are all known triggers for the debilitating headaches, but this was the first time that they have been related to Prosecco.

Cava producers would probably point out that, unlike the Spanish fizz, prosecco is not made via the ‘methode champenoise’.

Instead, the secondary fermentation occurs inside a big steel tank instead of a bottle.

Run for fun

MARTINUS EVANS started running after a doctor told the 36 ­ year ­ old New Yorker that he was fat.

“Lose weight or die,” he warned Evans, who then weighed 300 pounds (136 kilos) told a New York Times interviewer that he immediately went out and bought a pair of trainers.

Although he lost 90 pounds (40.8 ki ­

los), he realised that he wasn’t 90 pounds happier, and decided to stop counting calories and run for fun.

He has since founded the Slow AF Run Club whose first rule is that members may not talk about their weight or weight loss.

Runners move forward however they can, Evans said, even if it requires “delusional self ­ belief.”

MIGRAINE: Linked to drinking prosecco in the UK.

Photo credit: Pexels/Mikhail Nilov

MACRONUTRIENTS: Lean protein like eggs trigger GLP-1.

Photo credit; Pixabay/Couleur

Ageless taurine?

NATURAL deodorants without aluminium are supposedly safer than those we have been using for decades.

Dermatologists, skin microbiome experts and even an oncologist said there was no definitive evidence linking regular deodorants or antiperspirants to Alzheimer’s disease or breast cancer.

Neither do they destroy ‘good’ bacteria living under your arms or prevent armpits from eliminating ‘harmful toxins’ that build up in lymph nodes as was once claimed.

And natural deodorants can still contain problematic ingredients or substances that irritate your skin, the experts pointed out.

FOLLOWING Australian research which concluded that moderate drinking wasn’t so bad after all, comes a warning that alcohol increases the risk of 60 diseases.

An Oxford University investigation, which analysed data from 500,000 Chinese males, pinpointed 33 illnesses not previously linked to alcohol, including cataracts, tuber ­

Early start

Linda Hall

LABORATORY mice given taurine, an ingredient added to energy drinks, lived an extra three to four months.

Columbia University scientists in the US also found that taurine slowed the ageing process, helping the mice to ward off age­related issues.

An essential amino acid considered vital for maintaining muscle function, eyesight and metabolism, research suggests that taurine supports the nervous and immune systems.

It is produced naturally in the body and is present in meat, seafood, dairy products and eggs.

Although the study did not demonstrate that taurine could improve human lifespans, but the researchers said they believed it had “potential.”

Give it up

culosis, gastric ulcers and certain fractures. Some of those links were appar ­

ent for low amounts of alcohol, even below the NHS guidelines, the researchers found.

IF you want to target ultra ­ processed foods, breakfast is the best time to start.

Eliminating habitual favourites like croissants, cereal and white toast, together with sweetened drinks, fruit juice or flavoured yoghurts, could cut your daily intake by more than a third, food expert Professor Tim Spector from King’s College London said.

“Substitute them with natural yoghurt and mixed nuts, mixed beans or mushrooms on sourdough bread, or make a spinach and cheese omelette,” the professor advised in a podcast.

TAURINE: Essential amino acid is added to energy drinks.

Unvarnished news LETTERS

I have recently taken on a new role with Euro Weekly News and am Editorial Consultant reviewing the type and style of articles that are published both in the seven weekly editions of the newspaper as well as the web page.

One story that we have been concentrating on, which appears to be ignored by much of the mainstream media, is the plight of some 104 followers of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light sect who have been arrested and allegedly tortured due to their beliefs in Turkey.

It has been quite incredible how many supporters of this peaceful faith community which follows many of the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed have read and responded to these articles thanking Euro Weekly News for reporting their case.

Many of the comments are in Arabic but EWN has arranged for them to be translated into English so that readers can understand their comments.

It is very heart­warming to know that the largest English language newspaper in Spain is reaching across the world and doing something, no mater how little, to spread the unvarnished news.

Visit https://euroweeklynews.com/ 2023/05/27/104­members­of­a­religiousminority­face­imprisonment­or­executionon­the­turkish­bulgarian­border/ to read the full story.

John Smith Editorial Consultant EWN

Tourism fight back

There is a Facebook group called ‘180 days in Spain’ trying to get the UK government to reach a bilateral agreement with the Spanish government giving UK citizens equal rights to those of EU citizens arriving in the UK, who can stay for six months without a visa. This would help UK citizens who own homes in Spain and allow for both Easter holidays and summer holidays.

David Candlish

To David Worboys

“Third, cats are discreet…”

And where do you think they poop? That’s right, they poop in the neighbour’s property! These selfish animals keep their home clean. That’s why they prefer the clean garden of the neighbour ­ very social!

Maybe people will get cats because they have the same mindset and traits ­ BRAVO! Sometimes your column is useful, but this time it was an ill­considered own goal...

Regards

Ralph / Torre del Mar

Hi Anna

Just a quick thank you for running our football donation article. It was a great advert for the club.

Regards Duncan

Leapy

You’re welcome Graham. Yours is the first page I turn to when the paper comes out every week. I like a person who speaks their mind, and I sometimes share your column with friends in Britain. Many say that wouldn’t be allowed over there, but like your honesty.

Keep up the good work.

Hi Lee

Regards

Colin

100% agree with your comments in EWN I presume that you have read ‘Brave New World’ by Aldous Huxley. Prescient is a word that comes to mind.

Have you looked at Reform Party? I reckon they deserve a chance.

Vids worth watching:

History debunked

Rotten Politics

Mahyar Tousi

...and in USA:

Crossroads with Joshua Philipp

Best regards and keep up the great work!! Max

Jumped ship

Well, I expect you have heard by now that Britain’s answer to Trump has resigned. Even in his resignation statement Boris Johnson can’t tell the truth. He isn’t being forced out anti democratically. His departure is a nail in the Brexit coffin, which I expect you will have a comment to make about. He’s looked at the report, he knows the damage it will create, so he is avoiding the humiliation. He jumped before he was pushed.

I expect you know that there are now eight ex PMs and they are entitled to public financial support which was established after Margaret Thatcher resigned. The PDCA allows a former prime minister to claim up to £115,000 a year paid for by the tax payer. Of course they can earn a lot more on top of that by travelling around the world making speeches, while the average British tax payer struggles to pay electricity, gas, water and food bills.

Trump and Johnson are both Americans, both born in New York, both got silly hair cuts, both lie. The only difference is Johnson hasn’t got a ginger face.

Regards

Colin

AT AQUAVERA THEY ARE READY FOR A FUN DAY OUT

AQUAVERA, the water park of Vera, has already opened its doors and is waiting for you to enjoy a day of adrenaline and fun.

In addition, this season 2023 they have a new attraction: Black Flash, a closed slide with more than 11 metres of slope and 482 metres long that has lighting effects inside that will WOW you. AquaVera is the perfect place to spend a day of water, sun and lots of fun! Its variety of attractions makes it the ideal place to visit with family and friends.

Aqualandia is the children’s area, which has slides adapted to children, and the Splash Cube, where litres of water fall all at once to entertain

both children and adults.

The wave pool or the Lagoon pool are two other attractions for the family to enjoy. Sliding down the Zig Zag Slides, the Black Hole or the Adventure River, is a non­stop laugh, but if what you want is a good adrenaline rush you can’t miss the Kamikaze, the Aquodrome or the Tsunami, only suitable for the bravest.

At AquaVera you will find a wide variety of options to enjoy a super tasty meal in their catering establishments. From complete and tasty menus, to any of the options on the menu where you can find hamburgers, sandwiches or salads, all prepared on the spot for all visitors.

Take your time to recharge your batteries and enjoy any of the food options in an ideal setting, in their restaurant or terrace or picnic area, under the wonderful shade of the pine trees.

To make your day a perfect day, you have at your

disposal a variety of services that will make your stay more comfortable. The cloakroom service has been refurbished with new lockers in two different sizes, so that you can store all your belongings safely and without waiting.

Vera playa - www.aquavera.com

GO LOCAL

WHEN YOU GO SHOPPING - GO LOCAL!

The shaded hammocks are a plus in AquaVera, where you can rest and relax between descents down the slides.

AquaVera for children and adults. You can book your ticket online or at the park and remember there are always special promotions for groups.

AQUAVERA: Guaranteed fun for children and adults.

HOUSE-SITTERS can play a vital role in the care of pet dogs, especially in the summer months when we tend to holiday away from home. Most of our house­sitters have dog care experience and know that keeping them cool and entertained and healthy while you are a way is vital. House­sitters can help you with that.

If you’re planning a trip, register now to find pet­sitters in time. Whether your trip is short or long, you’ll know that sometimes you must leave pets at home. Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying at home, so they can follow their routines undisturbed.

Join our pet and house­sitting network, and the sitters come for free!

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

House-sitters care for dogs

to take:

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSit Match.com

2. Choose a Standard account (£69 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. Sitters apply and you choose.

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build

your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 / 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesitmatch.com

I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent.

Tristram Cosgrave ­ Dog and cat owner, Malaga

How do you join?

Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch.com.

AIR CONDITIONING

CARS FOR SALE

TURRE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

We meet every Sunday at 10.30. For worship. We believe you’ll find us ‘relaxed’, welcoming’ and ‘informal’. Find us on Turre’s main street, towards the motorway at the far end on the left. To know more contact 617 914 156 (10021)

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION -

BUILDERS

ALMERIA BUILDERS : Fully Legal, Fully Insured, All Work Guaranteed. 659 685 133 www.almeriabuilders.com (253556)

ESTATE AGENT

OTHERS

SOLAR ENERGY

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

BUY & SELL CARAVANS

MOBILE homes & static caravans bought, sold and transported. +34 630 055 418 or elsyd7@hotmail.com (302142)

CHURCHES

LOCAL ANGLICAN (C of E) church services at Mojacar Los Llanos Del Peral and Alhambra. Communion every Sunday in Mojacar at 11am. Communion at Los Llanos every Sunday except the last Sunday in the month when there will be Prayer and Praise all at 11am. The services that were being held in the South American church Albox have now returned to the chapel and Communion is held on the second Thursday of the month at 11am. Priest in charge Rev Canon Alan Bennet telephone number 680 243 436. For further information, please go to The Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida web page. Or contact Tony Noble 950 069 103. (10002)

BEDS

INSURANCE

Why not make this year the year you volunteer? Call and 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 tbuddyhhvi sits@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 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, www.britishle gion.org.uk/counties/spain -north ZURGENA Branch meeting on the first Thursday, Coffee Morning on the third Thursday and Buffet & Quiz Night on the last Tuesday of the month all at La Parrilla Hotel Albox, for further details please email zurgenar blchairman@gmail.com(253989)

DRAINAGE

VOSS HOMES are a professional, British family-run Estate Agents with an office in Huercal-Overa town. They specialise in selling and renting properties in the HuercalOvera, La Alfoquia, Zurgena & Taberno area. Andy, Anna, Jess, Adele, Hannah, Amy & Karen look forward to helping you buy, sell or rent your ideal property. Please call 678 002 006 for more information (283824)

FOR SALE

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

INSURANCE

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

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbey gateinsure.com

LANGUAGE CLASSES

Male/Female viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly, mixed trial packs available, all areas mail order. 604 385 476. viagra4you19@gmail.com

PAINTERS & DECORATORS

SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 20 years installation experience. Established 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria.com (303112)

PETS

THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. Little dogs €7.75, medium dogs €8.50, big dogs €9.25, cats from €7.00 a day. 630 234 556 / the5bonehotel turre@gmail.com fiveboneho tel.com (301372)

PLUMBERS

KNOWLES PLUMBING No 1 for all plumbing jobs big or small. Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 606 807 797 or 684 143 560 (302581)

PROP FOR RENT WANTED

ELECTRICAL

Fitting to a Full Rewire. Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (303141)

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

MISCELLANEOUS MOTORING

FOR SALE

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an exce llent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

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

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

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

ABBOTT ELECTRICS . From a Light

MG3 - well priced, endearing and fun

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack

MG are making a bit of a name for themselves producing affordable EVs, and pitting themselves against more established makers charging a premium for their EVs. MG’s main models though are SUVs, understandable given their popularity, but the non ­ electric MG3 (available when MG started under its new Chinese owner) remains in the price lists.

This five ­ door hatchback is smart and equipment laden and by today’s standards a bit of a bargain. The two models start from €16,162/ £13,820 with standard equipment including powered and heated door mirrors, air conditioning, power windows, DAB sound system with Apple Car Play, Bluetooth, re ­

Facts at a Glance

• Model: MG3 Exclusive NAV

• Engine: 1.5-Litre, 4-cylinder, petrol

• Gears: 5-speed manual

• Performance: 0-100 kmh (62 mph) Petrol 10.4 secs

• Maximum Speed Petrol 173 kph (108 mph)

• Economy: Petrol 6.6 l/100km (43.3 mpg) WLTP

• Emissions: Petrol 147 g/km

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

mote steering wheel controls, eight ­ inch colour touchscreen, hill hold and auto door locking. The higher trim version at €18,151/£15,520 adds navigation, cruise control, parking camera and sports seats.

The Achilles heel of the MG3 is its engine, a fourcylinder, 1.5 ­ litre petrol

unit that is best described as old school technology. Mated to a manual fivespeed gearbox the combination is adequate, but lacks sufficient power and at cruising speed you always find yourself going for a sixth gear that isn’t there.

At 70mph the MG sits at around 3,200 rpm,

which makes things a tad busy where a more relaxed gearing pattern would help. The need to work the engine also doesn’t help the economy, my mainly local driving week saw a 7.2 l/100km (39mpg) average.

On cross country roads the MG comes alive with

decent steering and a slightly firm suspension set ­ up that keeps the car sitting quite flat through energetic cornering. The power is at the higher end of the engine’s rev range and with a nice gear change makes it a fun drive.

As an example the admittedly more adept and capable Vauxhall Corsa will still set you back €22,296/£19,085, that’s a

substantial difference. Of course, the Corsa will depreciate less, most likely prove as, if not more, durable on the quality front and overall feel more polished. Keep the MG for a longer time though and allied to that cheaper price tag it makes for an appealing proposition. Despite some misgivings the MG is an endearing car, it handles well, is good fun and very well priced. It’s comfortable with a good driving position and for those on a budget the cheapest way to get a new car that is a bit different to the normal mass of budget cars, and actually doesn’t look like a budget model.

End of an era as production ceases on iconic Ford Fiesta

WITH the spectre of electric cars hanging over it, a decision has been made to cease the production of the classic Ford Fiesta at the Almussafes plant in Valencia. Henry Ford II decided back in the 1970s that he wanted to locate one of his factories on Spanish soil. As a result, a car­manufacturing plant was constructed in the Ribera Baixa region of the Valencian Community.

A previous facility in Barcelona had closed down in 1930, but Almussafes became the new location for the multinational. Mass production commenced at the factory on October 18, 1976.

The world was first introduced to the small but trusty Ford Fiesta in 1973, just after the oil crisis. Ford believed that there was a hole in the European automobile market for a small, manageable car.

It is said that Henry Ford II was the person who personally christened his new car after various names had been thrown around for it.

At the time, their engines were quite a revolution, marketed as a 957 cubic centimetre petrol engine with 40 CV in the normal version and 45 CV in the luxury version. It was also Ford’s first frontwheel drive car.

One of the most exclu ­

Credit: Spanish Coches/Creative Commons

sive versions of the Fiesta was the 1.1 ­ litre with 53 CV. Some of the most significant features of this first version were the fourspeed manual gearbox, MacPherson suspension, front disc brakes, and rear drum.

The brand has lasted five decades, but now, at the end of this month, production of the iconic Fiesta will stop, at least at the Spanish plant, as reported by a local news source.

MG3: Smart, equipment laden and by today’s standards a bit of a bargain.

CLASSIC: Image of a Ford Fiesta L in 1980.

Electric classics

Catherine McGeer

THE electric car firm Lunaz

which is backed by David Beckham is a UK­based car restoration and electrification firm. The company’s profile is growing more and more as they upcycle and electrify stunning classic cars ‘to further the legacies of the most beautiful cars in the world’.

They have remastered some iconic cars like the Aston Martin DB6, Bentley, Jaguar, Range Rover, and even a Rolls ­ Royce. Lunaz works with some of

the rarest luxury cars on the planet like the 1961 Bentley S2 Continental and they believe that it is their mission to breathe new life into the most significant cars ever created.

The company was founded in 2018 and has its headquarters in Silverstone, England. David Beckham who purchased a 10 per cent stake in the company said “I was drawn to the company through their work restoring some of the most beautiful classic cars

DGT suspends plan to shorten driving licence renewal periods for over-65s in Spain

SPAIN’S Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) announced the suspension on Thursday, June 1, of its previous decision to shorten the licence renewal periods for drivers over 65 years of age.

to a news source.

The measure not only sought to shorten the licence renewal period but also to make the psychotechnical test more exhaustive.

controlled situation for those groups of older drivers.

through upcycling and electrification.”

The attention to detail can be seen on their website where they take you through each stage of the restoration process. It is clear to see this company’s dedication to classic cars and to a more sustainable world as they have partnered with Biffa, the UK’s leading sustainable waste management company. They plan to upcycle diesel refuse lorries rather than scrap them to create a zero­emissions fleet.

Initially, the DGT was seeking to reduce the renewal period from five to two years, but the suspension of the plenary session of Congress implied, among other things, the paralysation of all parliamentary procedures.

As a result, this measure, which sought to make drivers in this group take a clinical examination, has been put on ice for the time being.

This means that drivers aged 65 can relax for now about their licence renewal period, according

Modifying this aspect would allow the doctor conducting the test to have access to the person’s medical file.

Although it is true that the group of drivers over 65 years of age is not the one which records the most accidents, their age means that in the event of an accident, they could suffer more health problems.

Reflexes are not the same either in the older age groups, and the chances of suffering from illnesses are greater.

As a result, the DGT sought to provide a more

Now that the situation has been paralyzed until further notice, everything will depend on the result at the polls on July 23. Should Pedro Sánchez be re ­ elected then the measure could be carried out, but, in the event that another party is elected, the situation could change once again.

LUNAZ: The company is backed by David Beckham.

Photo credit: Lunaz website

4% the amount of time the average car is driven in UK.

England Ace off to Real Madrid Messi set for Inter Miami

AFTER much conjecture, the news is that Lionel Messi, arguably the world’s greatest football player, has finally made up his mind about his next team.

Lionel’s father Jorge has been very outspoken about his son’s future team and said that by Wednesday, June 7, a decision would be announced, according to a news source.

Although no official signing has taken place as yet, and despite strong offers from Barcelona and Saudi Arabia, the smart money is on Inter Miami, which is partly owned by David Beckham.

There was strong speculation that the seven­time Ballon d’Or winner would follow his heart and return to Barcelona. A decision that was also his wife Antonella’s preferred choice. Sadly, a return to the Spanish club isn’t likely, partly because of a persistent lack of trust with La Blaugrana president Joan Laporta.

Even Guillem Balague, Messi’s biographer was confident enough to post even a message early on Wednesday afternoon: ‘Messi has decided. His destination: Inter Miami. Leo Messi goes to Inter Milan.’

An extremely lucrative offer to play in Saudi Arabia wasn’t enough to turn the player’s head it seems, as Lionel and his wife reportedly do not see themselves and their three boys settling in the Gulf desert.

All of this leaves Inter Miami currently sitting in pole position. If Messi’s destination is indeed Florida, Barcelona fans’ disappointment may be short­lived, as talk of a much­anticipated loan spell at Barça could be on the cards.

Messi is expected to announce his decision in a statement on his social networks as soon as it becomes confirmed

ENGLAND’S rising star Jude Bellingham has signed a dream contract with Real Madrid at the tender age of 19. A €103 million deal has been agreed as reported on Wednesday, June 7.

Fabrizio Romano posted on Twitter saying: “Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid, here we go! Agreement in place with Borussia Dortmund. It’s a done deal. Fee: €100 million plus add­ons. Bellingham will sign six­year deal valid until June 2029 agreed in April. Medical tests already booked as Madrid wanted to get it done this week.”

His move from Borussia Dortmund will see the continued ascent of Bellingham, whose agreement could be worth closer to €130 million with add­ons.

Manchester City and Liverpool were amongst other suitors, but Real Madrid acted quickly and decisively to bag the England star who becomes football’s third

most expensive teenager af ter Kylian Mbappé and Joao Felix.

Bellingham was one of the stars of England’s last World Cup campaign and also Bundesliga player of the year and is set to become Real Madrid’s second most expensive signing after Eden Hazard.

The move will see Bellingham join a team that could help him become one of the world’s top players. Of

course, his future is still very much down to his drive and determination as Hazard

failed to deliver to his po tential when he arrived at Madrid from Chelsea in 2019.

Jude Bellingham’s true worth may be determined at this juncture in his career, but if he can continue to grow with a super­successful club like Real Madrid backing him, England may have a generational talent on their hands in what we all hope will be a win ­ win situation.

1,872 golf courses in England, the largest number in Europe.

Bellingham has signed a dream contract.