Costa de Almeria 6 – 12 July 2023 Issue 1983

ENGLISH CABLE

THE Port Authority of Almeria (APA) has now adapted the timetable for visits to the English Cable for the summer months.

APA president, Rosario Soto, confirmed: “The Port Authority maintains the approach that all visitors have the possibility of free access to this iconic element of the city of Almeria, respecting the maximum capacity of 250 people at any one time.”

In order to avoid the central hours of the day where temperatures are higher, the new timetable is Monday to Sunday: 10.30am to 11.30am during the morning shift and 7.30pm until 8.30pm in the afternoons from Monday to Thursday, while Friday and Saturday a 9.30pm slot will be added.

According to the data extracted from the platform’s reports, 95,707 people had applied to visit the English Cable between April 4 and June 19.

The Cable Ingles is a loading pier that was used in the 20th century to transport iron from the train station to the cargo ships docked in the port of Almeria. The pier remained operational until it was closed down in 1973.

It is an important symbol of Spain’s industrial heritage and the mining and rail boom that marked the century in Europe.

This fascinating iron, steel and concrete pier runs through Playa de las Almadrabillas. It was built to connect the train station of Almeria directly to the port so cargo ships could be loaded with iron ore from the local mines.

The Cable Ingles is an important landmark and it was declared a Cultural Heritage Site. Preserving the pier is preserving an important part of the economic history of Andalucia and Spain.

Flags galore

ROQUETAS DE MAR has now received six Q flags recognising the quality and sustainability of its beaches and will once again proudly display the Q flags for quality and S for sustainability on its beaches.

The flags are awarded in recognition of the good condition and maintenance of the Roquetas de Mar coastline.

The councillor for Tourism and Beaches, Amalia Lopez Yelamos, confirmed: “The great work that the town hall is doing to make Roquetas de Mar a quality, sustainable and safe tourist destination has important challenges ahead.”

IMPORTANT LANDMARK: Has now been declared a Cultural Heritage Site.

Image: The Port Authority of Almeria

Summer Ball

Anna Ellis

AA Dog Rescue is proud to present its Summer Ball on Sunday, July 9, starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets for the event are priced at €20 and include a four-course dinner at Kubatin, Hostal Meson. Arboleas.

Enjoy raffles and spot prizes with live entertainment by Skyfall and great

DJing and presenting by Ricky Cross.

Tickets can be purchased from the AA Dog Rescue in Albox, CAT Services in La Alfoquia and Colin the Card at Longos in Albox.

For more information or to make a reservation email: gallery@gmail.com or call (+34) 679 937 753.

Expect a very entertain-

ing and special night of music and dance - smart casual attire is preferred.

The charity would like to thank you all for your support in advance and it trusts you will enjoy the special evening.

All of the servers are volunteering for the love of dogs - a tip would be really appreciated.

Only 12 wrong

THE Local Police of Vicar joined the special campaign of surveillance and control of the condition of vehicles, launched by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT).

A total of 97 vehicles were inspected while driving on municipal roads, of which only 12 were the subject of a penalty report.

The mayor of Vicar, Antonio Bonilla, who was delighted with the results confirmed the campaign: “Focused primarily on the proper maintenance and tuning

of the main elements of vehicle safety, ie tyres, brakes, lights and signalling, considered essential to combat the accident rate.”

Of the 12 reports issued by the officers, most of which corresponded to the lack of the mandatory MOT inspection. Some other reports were for the driver not having a Spanish driving licence or for lack of vehicle insurance, along with others for deficiencies in the vehicle’s lighting.

Beach bus

UNTIL August 31, Huercal­

Overa’s visitors and residents can enjoy a new bus service to the beach. The Huercal­Overa to San Juan de Los Terreros bus service is now available at the weekends and on bank holidays.

Happy Birthday

HAPPY birthday to both the Calar Alto Observatory in Almeria and the Michelin Experience Centre of Almeria who are celebrating 50 years of existence this year. Both establishments have left a significant mark in their respective fields.

Spare places

THE fall in the birth rate in Almeria means that thousands of places offered to three­year­olds will remain vacant for the next school year 2023/2024. According to a report published by the government of Spain, the population is expected to decline in the coming years.

Picasso Park

THE Picasso Park in Adra has reopened its doors after a comprehensive renovation of the safety floor for children. The works were carried out to reinforce safety in this play area which is one of the most used in the municipality by families from Adra.

Patron festivities

ROQUETAS DE MAR IS ready for the celebration of its patron saint festivities in honour of the Virgen del Mar to be held from July 5 to 9. Mayor, Gabriel Amat, has encouraged all residents, visitors and tourists to join in the fun.

Veteran football

MORE than 1,300 players in 54 teams participated in the Veteran Football Tournament on July 1. It is one of the two competitions that the Association of Veteran Footballers of the Province of Almeria celebrates throughout the year.

Boxing champ

ALMERIA has not been left empty ­ handed from the Spanish Elite Olympic Boxing Championship.

Natalia Sorroche, from Almeria, has now become the first female boxer to make the leap into the amateur boxing ring and was present at the sporting competition to demonstrate the potential she has learned over the years since she began practising this sport at the age of 12.

With her participation

YOUR EWN HAS

in the Andalucian Boxing Selection in the 54kg category, she has achieved great results, winning the bronze medal and becoming the only female boxer from Almeria to represent the city in a national event.

In addition, another of her successes is becoming champion at the level of the Andalucian Women’s National Team, so her career has only just begun in the discipline thanks to her effort and talent.

The Big Clean Unique pieces

HUERCAL­OVERA’S Teatro

Villa is proud to announce its exhibition entitled Plasticine: History of Science.

The exhibition is made up of 20 scenes made of plasticine that recreate milestones in the history of mankind, related to inventions and scientific discoveries.

The exhibition can be visited until July 28 from 9.00am until 2.00om.

From Isaac Newton to Benjamin Franklin, the inventor of the telegraph, Morse, Marie Curie and the discovery of DNA, are reflected in this exhibi ­

tion. All of the displays are made with unique pieces, created in plasticine.

History of Science is an entertaining journey through history, with science and its disciplines, discoveries and inventors as the main protagonists.

The councillor for Culture, Ana Martínez, has invited residents to visit the exhibition, encouraging them to do so as a family “with a fun, educational and very entertaining itinerary of different moments in the History of Science recreated in highquality plasticine pieces.”

Anna Ellis

ON, Saturday, July 2, Adra Town Council held a seabed and beach cleaning day.

The Big Clean initiative aims to help keep the coastline clean and protect the animals that live at the bottom of the ocean, as well as to raise awareness of the importance of avoiding all types of waste in our marine ecosystem.

The day was deemed to be a complete success and the first 26 participants to enrol were rewarded with an afternoon trip in the boat Blancazul along the coast of Abderita.

On the Streets

THE programme entitled: On the Streets, Pie de Calle, will offer more than 100 activities during July and August in Roquetas de Mar

The mayor, Gabriel Amat, pointed out that “We are very proud with the pogramme Pie de Calle because there are many good shows.

“We organise the event for the enjoyment of people who come on holiday to our town and for the residents of Roquetas. For years we have been doing events from Aguadulce to Playa Ser­

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Final stretch

THE works that will enable the reopening of Calle Depuradora are entering the final stretch.

The councillor for Agriculture and the Environment, Manuel Martínez, visited the site to supervise the progress of the works, which are focusing on the construction of a stone breakwater wall from the base of the hole to the level of the road to immobilise the slope.

Since 2017, 63 countries including Spain, both coastal and landlocked, have joined the Clean Seas Campaign with ambitious pledges and important commitments to prevent marine litter and plastic pollution.

Countries have pledged to reduce or eradicate singleuse plastics from their societies through stronger legislation and regulation; others have committed to invest more in national recycling facilities; while some signatories have promoted action plans to prevent harm to the coastal and marine environment.

The councillor confirmed that the project, which has a budget of €1.2 million, will serve to “increase the solidity of the area and protect the road from erosion caused by problems arising from the rising water table.”

In the coming weeks, all the necessary complementary works will be carried out so that the road can be put into use, such as paving, road markings, drainage and the installation of barriers.

ena, and the most important thing is that people are looking forward to them.”

The councillor for Culture, Daniel Salcedo, added: “A pie de calle is a leading and emblematic programme in the Roquetas de Mar Town Hall.

“The range of activities is very wide, with children’s theatre, cinema, magic and the seafaring and medieval markets. All the events are free of charge as we want culture to reach as many people as possible.”

WOMEN’S BOXING: First female to make the leap.

Want to be seen?

WOULD you like to see your adorable offspring’s face adorning a poster?

Adra Town Council has announced it is looking for models to enter its Poster Competition entitled Ladies and Gentlemen of the Fair and Festivities of 2023.

Children residing in Adra between the ages of eight and 12 may enter the competition to pose as either a Queen, King, Ladies of Honour or Knights of Honour for the festivities’ advertising posters.

A maximum of one queen and four ladies and one king and four knights

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

will be chosen from the entrants.

Registration must be made at Adra Town Hall before 1.00pm on July 10.

A recent photo and ID card or supporting documentation must be included in the application, as well as parents’ written permission along with a completed form from the town hall.

The election will take place on July 14 at 10.00pm in the amphitheatre of Pago del Lugar.

Adra’s Festivities will be held from September 6 to September 10 in honour of the Virgen del Mar and San Nicolas de Tolentino.

“Actions speak louder than words”

Means that what someone actually does means more than what they say they will do. This saying has been traced back to a sermon in 1200, first quoted by St Anthony of Padua.

Latest success

THE sports schools of Almeria continue to work for and promote the youth sports base.

From a very young age, sportsmen and women in different disciplines are trained by great professionals in order to acquire a wide projection in the sport they practice.

The latest success comes from the Mercapinturas Municipal Sports School, which is dedicated to badminton. The school is creating a pool of young people from Almeria who year after year decide to join the club.

The great news is that two

teenagers from the Mercapinturas Almeria Club have now been called up by the Spanish Badminton National Team.

Macarena Fernandez, who

LOS BANDIDOS began July with two races on the same day.

Just two Los Bandidos runners took on the sixth race in the Circuito de Carreras Populares Diputación de Almeria 2023 in Maria on Saturday, July 1.

It was a tough, two­lap, hilly 9.4k route on a hot and humid evening.

The winner finished at 36:28, with the first lady at 43:48. 121 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.

On the same evening, Los Bandidos runners took on the ninth Milla Portuaria de Carboneras, which compromised three events, a five­

ALMERIA Port Authority (APA)

has shown the capacity of its commercial dock at Breakbulk Europe 2023.

Breakbulk Europe is the most important European fair in bulk cargo, project cargo logistics and ro­ro and was held in Rotterdam from June 6 to 8.

With more than 600 exhibiting companies present, from more than 120 countries and close to 10,000 visitors, Breakbulk Europe was the perfect showcase for Spanish ports and logistics­port operators, including Almeria, to show attendees the possibilities for transporting any type of merchandise from Spain to the rest of the world.

The president of the APA, Rosario Soto, confirmed: “The Port of Almeria is a safe investment and future bet in the

recently won a gold medal at the Spanish School Age Championship with the Andalucian National Team, has been called up to take part in the European Under­17 Championship to be held in Lithuania from August 4 to 12.

Athlete Asier Torres has also fulfilled the goal of being present at the national U­15 concentration in Talavera de la Reina which is being held during the week of June 26 to 29.

The Sports Schools have confirmed that both talented players hold top positions in the National Ranking.

Los Bandidos

mile race, a competitive one­mile race and a non­competitive one­mile.

The winner finished at 28:03, with the first lady at 33:18. 99 runners crossed the finish line. All runners received a commemorative tshirt and post­race beer!

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.

Safe investment

EUROPEAN

Important for bulk cargo.

Mediterranean Sea. In addition to providing excellent port services it has infrastructures that open up great possibilities in the Mediterranean, especially for deep­draft ships.

“The Pechina Dock, which is already in the process of expansion, will have 1,200 metres in length, 20 metres in depth and some 47 hectares of surface for the collection of merchandise. The outer dam will reach 1,450 metres in

length and 30 metres in depth.”

75.6 million visitors to Spain in 2022.

Asier Torres and Macarena Fernandez.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Almeria / Facebook

FAIR:

Image: Port of Almeria

WITHIN the framework of the CA VITY project, which is an ongoing legacy programme at Calar Alto in Almeria, researchers from the University of Granada show, for the first time, that galaxies located in cosmic voids assemble their

stars more slowly than galaxies in filaments, walls and clusters.

Galaxies are mass concentrations in which the gas from the Universe condenses under the action of gravity forming thousands of millions of stars.

Cosmic voids

Just like the bricks of a house, the galaxies are the fundamental building blocks that conform to the large-scale structure of the Universe.

These galaxies are distributed in a sponge-like web characterised by different large-scale structure environments: dense clusters, elongat -

ed filaments, sheet-like walls and low-density regions called cosmic voids.

Approximately 80 per cent of the volume of the Universe is occupied by these cosmic voids, that contain around 10 per cent of the total mass.

This makes the cosmic voids the least dense regions of the Universe.

In comparison, filaments, walls and clusters are much denser, occupying around 90 per cent of the mass of the Universe in only 20 per cent of the total volume.

Vibrant Vera Frightfully fishy

THE University of Almeria has adopted a total of 318 juvenile gilthead sea bream from the Aquarium Costa de Almeria in Roquetas de Mar.

The fish have an average weight of 65 grams and come from two research projects carried out by the academic institution, both linked to feeding for the production and fattening of this species, the Sparus Aurata, in controlled conditions in their own environment.

The first project looks at different methods of drying and degreasing insect meal to be used as a substitute for fishmeal in feed for sea bream.

The second project has researchers from the University of Almeria studying “how the method of insect sacrifice and the drying temperature of the insect meal affects

its nutritional value.”

The sea bream specimens are currently at Aquarium Costa de Almeria’s facilities in the quarantine tanks. They will remain there until the end of the summer when they will be transferred to the exhibition aquariums with the rest of the marine species.

VERA Town Council has now presented its Beach Plan for the summer offering a wide range of equipment and infrastructures.

The councillor for Beaches, Pedro Salas, confirmed: “More than 20 lifeguards distributed in eight towers and seven surveillance chairs will ensure the safety of Vera’s beaches.

“We also have two rapid intervention vehicles (4x4 and quad) and two rescue boats (jet ski and semi­rigid boat).”

The rescue, lifeguard and first aid service will also be responsible for meeting the needs of adapted bathing at the three Accessible Bathing points set up on the beaches of Las Marinas ­ Bolaga,

Puerto Rey and El Playazo.

At these points, users with disabilities can enjoy bathing with safe routes from the parking spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility to the sea. This is thanks to removable concrete walkways and

extensions with roll ­ up walkways to the bathing area. The adapted beaches are also equipped with crutches and amphibious chairs for both adults and children, as well as adapted toilets, showers and footbaths and shaded areas.

BEACH PLAN: More than 20 lifeguards will ensure safety.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Vera Facebook

SEA BREAM: Currrently in quarantine tanks.

Image: Aquarium Costa de Almeria / Facebook

Guten Tag

Anna Ellis

ALMERIA City Council and the Provincial Council have joined forces once again to launch a tourism promotion campaign for the Costa de Almeria destination in the German market.

The aim of the campaign is to encourage visitors by promoting existing air connections such as the Almeria to Dusseldorf flight route which began in May and will run until October.

Both Almeria City Council and the Provincial Council will each contribute €100,000 for the promotional side of the campaign.

The councillor for Tourism, Joaquin Perez de la Blanca, confirmed: “It is essential that the administrations work hand in hand to improve connectivity and attract travellers.”

The German market is one of the main issuers of visitors to Spain and is a tourist profile

THE Andalucian Federation of Mountain Sports, Climbing and Hiking has now approved Berja’s Lead Trail which is a circular route with its starting point next to the Castala lookout.

The trail is the longest approved distance within the Berja trail network and leads up to the high mountain on

Almeria’s mayor, María del Mar Vázquez, and councillor for Tourism, Joaquin Perez de la Blanca.

that tends to make long­term trips.

Their main reasons for travelling are leisure, staying overnight in hotels with an average stay of more than a week. Their main activities during their stay include enjoying the beach and nature, visiting monuments and shopping.

Top trail

the plains of Sabinar, one of the areas with the highest mining intensity in the region.

The route will also allow hikers to get to know enclaves as unique as the Lupion Well, the Berja Mine and areas loaded

with 100­year­old enclaves such as La Retumba.

Berja Council will continue to work on reinforcing active tourism and joining it to the mining identity to which Berja has been historically linked.

The offer of trails is also joined by Via Ferrata de Castala which opened last year.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Almeria / Facebook

Increasing Vicar

THE population census of Vícar shows that in the first half of the year, the population increased by 462 people.

Mayor of Vícar, Antonio Bonilla, said: “The figures confirm what we had already predicted, and that is that the upward trend in our population is continuing.

“This means that we are ever closer to reaching the figure of 30,000 inhabitants and reaffirms our objective of working towards the horizon of a large city of 50,000 inhabitants.”

On June 30, 2023, of the 28,726 registered persons, 15,552 were male and 13,174 were female.

The average age of the population of Vícar re ­

mains at around 30 years, one of the lowest in Andalucia, with almost half of the population under 40 years of age.

A total of 6,956 of the residents of Vícar are under 18, of whom 2,779 are male, and another

4,182 are over 65, of whom 1,347 are also male.

In addition, just over 66 per cent of the legal population is of Spanish nationality, while the rest is distributed among 68 other nationalities.

Cruise tourism

A FEW weeks ago it was the cruise ship Marella Voyager that called at the port for the first time. All her passengers and part of her crew spent a sensational day getting to know the city and different parts of the province.

Last week, another largescale cruise ship, Seven Seas Voyager, docked at the port of Almeria for the first time.

The councillor for Tourism, Joaquin Perez de la Blanca, welcomed the ships as is traditional every time a ship visits the city for the first time.

“The Seven Seas Voyager with more than 700 passengers and 450 crew members had a very important economic impact,” confirmed the councillor.

The ship is a luxury cruise operated by Regent Seven Cruises which is a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings, a company based in Miami, Florida. The company is considered one of the most innovative in the cruise sector, with a history of 51 years, breaking the limits of traditional cruises.

POPULATION: Figures confirm what was predicted.

FIRST VISIT: Seven Seas Voyager docked in Almeria.

Image: Arthimedes / Shutterstock.com

Image: Regent Seven Cruises

Spain continues to be a favourite destination for retired British expatriates and the lifestyle is very conducive to a healthy, happy retirement. Of course, like any country, there are some drawbacks and a key concern for many people is the local tax regime.

It is important to understand how being Spanish resident affects your tax position. Once you meet any of the criteria that make you tax resident here (you spend 183+ days in Spain, or your centre of economic or vital interests is here), you are liable for Spanish tax on your worldwide income, gains and wealth, and subject to the Spanish succession and gift tax regime.

Besides the income and capital gains taxes, Spain additionally imposes an annual wealth tax which generally affects individuals with net worldwide assets over €1,000,000.

We often come across people who would love to live in Spain but are too worried about how much tax they’ll pay to make the move. They are limited to spending short periods in their Spanish holiday home instead –which post Brexit is more of a minefield with the EU’s 90-day rule.

But you do not necessarily need to fear taxation in Spain – some people even find they improve their tax situation. While tax rates can look high,

Should you fear being tax resident in Spain?

Take personalised tax and wealth management advice from an adviser based locally in your region of Spain. They should start by getting clear picture of your circumstances, family situation, objectives, long-term plans and estate planning wishes in order to provide a strategic, tax-efficient, financial plan to achieve your aims. You may be surprised by how much tax you could save by restructuring your assets.

Less taxation for your heirs

By Jon Pemberton, Partner,

Franks

the Spanish tax regime does present tax mitigation opportunities – the way you hold your assets, and take income from them, can make a significant difference to how much tax you pay. Many British expatriates continue to hold the same arrangements they had in the UK, but this can be a very costly mistake.

The benefits of tax planning:

A reduced tax bill for you

Reducing your overall liability for income tax, capital gains tax and other taxes on your savings, investments, assets and pensions. If there is a more tax-efficient way to hold your capital and assets, shouldn’t you explore if it could work for you? Don’t miss out on structures available in Spain that can reduce your tax liability as well as providing other potential benefits.

The less tax you pay in your lifetime, the more you have to spend now or pass to your heirs. But with some investment structures you may also be able to lower the inheritance tax liability for your family. Ideally you want a solution that will limit inheritance taxes while also providing tax-efficient income and investment growth throughout your lifetime.

More estate planning flexibility

Strategic tax planning can also help make things easier for your family when you are gone. Many investment arrangements that provide tax efficiency also offer more estate planning flexibility and control.

Maximising real returns

Effective tax planning also plays a part in helping returns outpace the

cost of living. Ultimately, what counts when assessing the value of investments are actual returns – after tax, expenses and inflation are taken into account.

Everyone’s circumstances are different and the level of tax savings will vary, but it is certainly worth taking the time to take specialist advice and explore your options.

The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com.

Blevins

€300 for school trip Improving acoustics

ON Monday June 26, FC Los Amigos Walking Football presented a cheque for €300 to Colegio Maria Cacho in Turre from monies raised from two tournaments held recently.

The money will go towards a field trip, and was received by one of the mothers, Maria Luisa together with some of the children.

THE beautiful beaches of Roquetas de Mar are among the most soughtafter in the whole country.

According to a study by SEO Agency, Eskimoz, Roquetas beaches are highly demanded and thoroughly searched for on the internet coming just behind the famous beach of Las Cathedrals. This data confirm Roquetas is a real tourist

THE project to modernise the Municipal Theatre of El Ejido continues to move forward with the aim of turning the space into a more modern, sustainable, efficient and digital place aimed at promoting culture in the municipality.

The mayor of El Ejido, Francisco Gongora, together with the councillor of Urbanism, Alberto Gonzalez, visited the building to supervise the works.

In recent weeks the focus has been on finishing the in­

Victory for Vera

stallation of the new panelling that will improve acoustics and the inside image.

With a budget of €380,000, the refurbishment of the old theatre consists of the installation of the panelling in the stalls and corridors, changing the lighting to integrate LED technology, adapting the technical booth, adapting the toilets to accessibility regulations, optimising the electrical installation, replacing the floor, and changing the air conditioning duct.

Anna Ellis

LAST weekend in La Nucia, Alicante, the Spanish Under ­ 16 Sports Championship was held.

Vera’s athlete, Josef David Linthorst, climbed the podium and got the bronze medal in the high jump with a brilliant 1.94cm mark.

Congratulations to this extraordinary athlete who had a fantastic season. Josef adds this medal to his four gold and one silver medal he won at the Andalucian championships.

Throughout the season Josef has improved his personal marks considerably

Highly demanded

reference, thanks to its extensive beaches and a diverse offer of entertainment, sports and culture.

Roquetas de Mar, located to the west of the city of Almeria along the coast, occupies 16 km of the Almeria coastline, of which 15 km are magnifi ­

cent beaches with clean and transparent waters for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.

Beaches are of high environmental quality with all the necessary services. The water temperature also ensures a longer bathing season than in other geographi ­

cal areas.

With the exception of Cerrillos, all of Roquetas beaches are urban beaches with road access, daily cleaning service during the summer season, police surveillance, first aid posts and an ambulance exclusively used for the beach service.

and is now leading the Andalucian ranking and in the top five in the national ranking in several tests.

LAST year, Almeria Port Authority (APA) generated operating income amounting to €20.3 million, 33 per cent more than the previous year. This meant a positive result for the financial year of €2.2 million, which is 4,762 per cent higher than in 2021.

The Port of Almeria recovered passenger traffic, mainly thanks to the restarting of the Strait Crossing Operation, and increased gypsum traffic by 11.2 per cent.

Port plan

The income and expenditure agreed with Puertos del Estado will enable the Port Authority of Almeria to meet the challenges set out in the 20242027 Business Plan, with investments worth €57 million over the next four years. This plan contemplates initiatives with which to develop the potential of the ports of Almeria and Carboneras.

JOSEF: Another medal for his collection.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Vera / Facebook

Should be 5!

THIS summer the Municipality of Mojacar will have four Blue Flags flying on the El Cantal, Lance Nuevo, Marina de la Torre and Venta del BancalVentanicas beaches.

These four blue flags awarded to Mojacar are the recognition of the efforts of the locality’s Council, through its Tourism Department, not only on these beaches but also along the municipality’s 17 kilometres of coast

In reality, it is five Mojacar beaches that should have been awarded a Blue Flag as Venta del Bancal and Ventanicas are two different sectors.

The foundation only con­

siders four as the Venta del Bancal and Ventanicas beaches share the same water sampling point because they are designated in health as the same bathing area.

Equally, the beaches have the SICTED, Tourism Quality Commitment, distinction, which credits and recognises compliance with the quality requisites established by the Secretary of State for Tourism with the support of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, recognising efforts and the commitment to quality and to continuous improvement of tourist destinations.

MOJACAR’S popular ‘Strictly Line Dancing’ class has been strutting its stuff and making waves for over seven years. Led by the dynamic duo, Glynis Hurst and Mary Beth Hazeldine, this energetic collective is more than just a dance group; it’s a closely bonded community swaying to the beat of benevolence.

Last month, these dancers with a heart pulled off an impressive feat.

Anna Ellis

THE beaches of El Ejido are safe and accessible spaces for all bathers and visitors thanks to a wide range of technical, human and resource resources that will be available until September 10.

The lifeguard service has a staff of 42 lifeguards, as well as an emergency health technician. There are now 16 surveillance posts which have been completely renovated and distributed at strategic points along the coast.

The Local Police have specific patrols for beach surveil­

They donated a whopping total of €1,000 to support local charities. Their generous contribution was divided equally among the four following noble organisations, with each receiving a donation of €250: Trex Andalucia Sanctuary, Kim’s Animal Rescue, Turre Food Bank and Stepping Stones.

Every Friday, the Centro de Usos Multiples in Mojacar comes alive with music, as the dancers gather for a

three­hour session. It’s not just the dance or the melody that unites them; it’s their shared commitment to infusing entertainment with goodwill that truly sets their spirits soaring.

The ‘Strictly Line Dancing’ class is always keen to introduce more enthusiasts to their dancing family. The invitation is open to both novices and seasoned dancers to step in every Friday at 4pm.

Dancing for a good cause Beach ready

Pre-season fun

UD Almeria Football team will be reporting for the 2023/24 pre­season training on Sunday July 9 at the Power Horse Stadium, but before that, on July 7 and 8, all the squad members will be undergoing their fitness tests and medicals.

LIFEGUARD SERVICE: Now available until September 10.

lance, which provide service in all­terrain SUVs, quads, motorbikes, jet skis and a surveillance drone. This year the SUV vehicles have been replaced with

two new plug­in hybrid police vehicles which are more versatile and less polluting.

Also new this year, the Local Police will have a jet ski to guarantee safety in the bathing area by preventing motor boats from accessing it.

In addition, the Police Headquarters has designed an operation to reinforce security in the coastal areas throughout the summer, with units of 092 prevention.

This means that the amount of staff on duty will be considerably increased during concerts or mass events.

For the first two weeks, the Rojiblancos will carry out their training sessions in Almeria City at the Anexo ground and also in the Power Horse Stadium, where the team has a gym and other facilities.

The UD Almeria travelling squad will have a pre­season programme in Malaga for 10 days from July 21 under newly appointed head coach Vicente Moreno.

The team will stay and put in the off­season work at The Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa, a complex located in the town of Benahavis.

The team will also use the facilities of the Marbella Football Centre for training.

BLUE FLAGS: Awarded to the beaches of Mojacar.

Image: Mojacar Informa / Facebook

Image: Ayuntamiento de El Ejido / Facebook

Snapping turtle

A GIGANTIC turtle that was found in a small lake in the Toledo town of Méntrida last weekend turned out to be ‘potentially dangerous’.

It was rescued from the water with a large net by members of the Guardia Civil’s Seprona unit, assisted by the Madrid Safari team.

The large reptile was spotted by a group of teenagers who were in the area. They immediately alerted the animal rescue services and also shared video footage of the creature to enable them to possibly identify the animal.

On arrival at the location, the rescue teams quickly verified that the reptile was a ‘snapping turtle’, of the ‘Chelydra serpentina’ species.

He did not have a microchip, something which is mandatory in these species, so they proceeded to install an identification device on him, as reported by a news source.

As the name implies, the snapping turtle is a ‘potentially dangerous’ species. A post on social media from Safari Madrid explained: “Its aggressiveness and powerful bite are a danger to pets and children, as well as the native fauna of the area.”

Once the animal had been rescued, Safari

Madrid wanted to raise awareness of the: ‘responsibility of acquiring both domestic and exotic pets, in addition to the danger of releasing them in a habitat that is not theirs, since it is an invasive animal with a high capacity for adaptation’.

Toledo appears to be a haven for exotic creatures recently. Last month, a huge alligator was rescued by the same teams in the town of Yuclillos.

The animal was discovered swimming in a large irrigation pond on June 8 by the owners of a farm in the municipality. According to a news outlet, the Guardia Civil was notified and Seprona officers were deployed to deal with the reptile.

After its capture, the animal was identified as a four­year­old male that weighed three kilos.

TURTLE: Was found in a large pond.

New season Of Imserso trips

PENSIONERS in Spain have finally received the green light to apply for the new season of Imserso trips.

On Monday, June 26, Ione Belarra, from the Ministry of Social Rights, announced that applications were now being taken to participate in the new season's programme. A total of 886,269 places are available for the 2023­24 season which is scheduled to start in October and continue until June 2024.

These trips are available to apply for until July 25. Preference will be given to pensioners who have not experienced one of the trips before.

Access to the database can be made via the internet through the Imserso Electronic Office. Once the online application form is completed, it can be submitted via the program’s telematics or in a stamped envelope, not by registered mail, to the address of the Imserso Tourism Program, at PO Box 10.140, 28080 Madrid.

As specified by the Official State Gazette (BOE), anybody residing in Spain who meets the following requirements can apply for an Imserso trip.

These are:

• A retired pensioner or a widow pensioner aged 55 or more, or a pensioner for other reasons of the Spanish Social Security system or the recipient of unemployment benefits or subsidies, aged 60 years or more.

• Be insured or a beneficiary of the Spanish Social Security system, aged 65 years or more.

• Spaniards residing abroad will also be entitled to apply, as long as they are retirement pensioners of the Spanish Social Security system.

• Spaniards of emigrant origin who have since returned to Spain, provided they are pensioners of the public social security systems of the country or countries to which they emigrated.

Applicants may also be accompanied by their spouse or, where appropriate, by a common­law partner or person with whom a stable and cohabitation union is established.

They may also be accompanied by children with disabilities, provided they travel with their parents and stay in the same room or, where appropriate, pay the single room supplement.

Lost to scammer

A WOMAN from Granada has been scammed for thousands of Euros after she thought she was in a relationship with American film star Brad Pitt.

A story emerged on June 29, of how a middle­aged woman lost a huge sum of money after the fraudster, posing as the movie heart­throb, offered her a film part, according to a news source.

The resident of Granada filed a legal complaint after alleging she was the victim of a scam of at least €170,000 by a confidence trickster who pretended to be the American actor Brad Pitt.

The victim, who has reported the case, thought she was in a relationship with the actor. Following a promise to shoot a film with her, the scammer then started asking her for money.

According to the lawyer who is representing the middle­aged, childless woman, the victim genuinely believed she was in a relationship with him.

The series of events leading up to the theft began in early 2022, when through the social network Facebook, she contacted a fan club of the actor. Thus began a series of continuous interactions that led her to be­

lieve she had made direct contact with Brad Pitt himself. The lawyer said that over time the scammer gradually gained her trust. Things progressed to the point they became friends, leaving the woman convinced the actor had fallen in love with her, in a romantic online relationship. The person posing as the actor promised to come to

Spain and shoot a film together.

As the ruse continued the fraudster began to demand different amounts of money, in order to pay for the production costs.

Once the woman came to realise the truth, she sought legal help. Herlegal representative said that the amount of money swindled could be higher than initially estimated.

BRAD PITT: The scammer pretended to be the film star.

Inflation takes a dip

Betty Henderson

IN a remarkable twist, the tide has turned in favour of consumers as Spain’s inflation rate drops below the 2 per cent mark, becoming the first nation in the Eurozone to do so.

The latest data shows that June’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) is at a low of 1.9 per cent compared to the previous year. This is the first time since March 2021 that inflation has been this low.

The decrease in inflation is due to smaller increases in fuel, electricity, and food prices compared to last year. Although prices still went up by 0.6 per cent in June compared to May, it is much lower than the 1.9 per cent increase

TIDE HAS TURNED: The news will bring relief to consumers.

seen in June last year.

While the underlying inflation, which excludes energy and some food prices, remained at 5.9 per cent during June, it shows progress in controlling price increases across different parts of the economy.

This drop in inflation below 2 per cent has two positive effects. Firstly, it helps workers regain some of their purchasing power lost during the crisis. Secondly, it aligns with the European Central Bank’s goal of maintaining stable prices.

Solo living surge

IN a striking shift in Spanish living arrangements, the number of households in the country has rocketed, suggesting that more people are choosing to live alone.

The study, released on Friday, June 30, compared data collected in January 2021 with that of 2011. It found that the number of households in Spain soared to 18,539,223 by January 2021, an increase of 455,531 from 2011. This remarkable surge,

accounting for a 2.5 per cent rise in the total number of households, was revealed by the recent Census of Population and Housing report by the National Institute of Statistics.

Delving deeper into the statistics, 27 per cent of households are now occupied by people living alone, which equates to 5,001,166 people who live on their own.

This figure has seen a remarkable growth of

807,847 people in just a decade, showing a societal shift towards self ­ reliance and personal independence.

While the majority of Spain’s population of 47,400,798 still lives in conventional family homes, the census also sheds light on alternative living arrangements, including dwellings like caravans and communal establishments like barracks, prisons, and convents.

Little learners

SPAIN is celebrating a historic milestone in early years education, showing the success of the country’s work­family balance. Data on the last academic year, which just ended, was released on Thursday, June 29. The data revealed that a remarkable 45.6 per cent of children aged zero to three were enrolled in nursery schools and other pre­school education centres, a 6.8 per cent increase compared with the previous academic year.

Overall, 468,429 children between the ages of zero and three were enrolled in some form of pre ­ school education, 29,919 more than the previous year.

Enrolment rates were highest among three­year­olds, with 355,837 students. Notable, enrolments of two­year­olds in nurseries and pre­schools surged to more than 70 per cent of the total national population of two­year­olds, up from 64 per cent the year before.

The number of early education centres also rose by 6.5 per cent in the last year, a further 672 additional centres compared to 2022. The Ministry for Education is providing support with a €670 million grant over the next three years to create 65,000 public, free early childhood education spots.

Photo credit: Denys Kurbatov / Shutterstock

€852k of fake oil

ALL FAKE: Officers found warehouses where they bottled the oil.

AN investigation by police has uncovered a gang of fraudsters selling fake olive oil.

The Guardia Civil released a report on Friday, June 30 in which more than 143,000 litres of oil being sold as extra virgin in Sevilla had been seized, with eight of the scammers questioned by the investigators.

Operation ‘Giraoliva2se,’ was launched by police in which eight people were investigated for the alleged crimes of fraud, against the market and consumers, and industrial property. In addition, more than 143,000 litres of oil sold as extra virgin olive oil, but was, in fact, a mixture of seed oil and pomace oil, have been seized.

Last March the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), announced a health alert when they discovered a series of

irregularities owing to the lack of reliable traceability and health guarantees in some brands of oil.

An investigation began after it was found the oil was distributed with a label that had been removed and a bar code that did not correspond to it.

The oil was being marketed all under the guise of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), using different social and legitimate addresses, as well as prices which were significantly below the market price.

Investigating officers located two warehouses in which the oil could be bottled and labelled. During the searches, the officers also found two tanks containing seed oil, machinery for mixing and packaging, as well as a computer and a label printer.

Fried egg jellyfish

SPANISH authorities have warned about a distinct type of jellyfish that is becoming increasingly common along its coastline and beaches.

As the name suggests they look very similar to a fried egg and experts warn their appearance is becoming more frequent around Spain, according to a news source on Saturday, July 1.

There have been numerous warnings about sea creatures recently but this year there is an alert about this new type of jellyfish, which up until now has not populated the beaches of Spain in the same way.

With tourism being such an integral part of the Spanish economy, authorities are concerned about the proliferation of jellyfish. However, it is a wise move to get to know more about the ‘fried egg’ jellyfish and the area of Spain where they have arrived.

The term ‘fried egg jelly­

fish’ is used to describe the species Cotylorhiza tuberculata. These jellyfish are characterised by their large size and their striking similarity to a fried egg, complete with thin tentacles.

It has been reported that many bathers have been alarmed by their presence in the Mar Menor area, near Cartagena, where they are seen daily and in great quantity. The good news for locals and tourists is that they are not dangerous to humans, since unlike other species, they do not have stinging tentacles.

However, they are increasingly becoming a nui­

sance to bathers due to large numbers of them. Experts put this down to a combination of factors, including higher sea temperatures due to climate change and the transparency of the sea which makes them more visible.

250 different varieties of olive in Spain.

John Ensor

JELLYFISH: Are similar to fried eggs with thin tentacles.

THERE is no question that many people, especially those with holiday homes in Spain were very upset by Brexit, but there might just be a silver lining to what has been seen as a dark cloud.

Politicians in Spain, as well as several other European countries are quite happy to have their cake and eat it which means that whilst they

Spanish retirement dream

don’t want unemployed or unskilled Brits ignoring the rules and living under the tax radar, there is a section which is still welcome to come to settle.

For many white collar workers in the UK, a combination of State and Personal Pensions means that when compared to countries in Southern Europe, they are relatively well off and could become attractive settlers.

Australian couple Alison and Alastair not only moved to Spain but set up their own business https//movingto spain.com to offer a service to those thinking of taking their next big step and the couple have just published a new review of the best European countries for expats to retire in.

Southern Europe comes top of the list with Portugal in first place and close on its heels, Spain and Italy tying for second place.

The review analysed the cost of living, health care, average apartment prices, average annual sunshine hours, retirement visas, percentage of populations aged 65 and above, life expectancy, total

blue flag sites and global peace index scores across every European country in order to reveal the best countries in Europe for retirement.

The main difference which gives Portugal the edge is the overall cost of living and price of property per square foot, but with a higher average life expectancy as well as a much better Global Peace Index, Spain remains an attractive proposition.

So, if you can afford to live in Spain without working, you can apply for a Non­Lucrative

Visa which has an initial life of one year, but you can apply for two additional two­year renewals, so a total of five years is allowed.

Once you have completed five years then you are able to apply for permanent residency with the added bonus that you can then legally work in Spain if you want to.

For 2023 you must be able to show that the main person applying can show that they will have an annual income of €28,800 and that any dependent will also receive €7,200

and this may be from pensions, investments, rental income or even royalties.

In theory, if you own a property in Spain or intend to purchase one then that should assist in the application, although it tends to depend upon whichever officer is reviewing the application.

So, if you want to move away from the UK or indeed any other non­EU country to somewhere where it is warm, welcoming, friendly and much cheaper, Spain is certainly a really good option.

WARM AND WELCOMING: Spain is certainly a really good option.

Graham Norton to host old game show

ONE of British Television’s iconic shows is set to return to the screen after a 23­year break, with Graham Norton as its host.

It was announced on, June 27, that Graham Norton is to host TV favourite Wheel Of Fortune in eight episodes which will in clude two celebrity spe cials, according to ITV.

old Irish presen ter and comedian admitted he

was “beyond excited” to bring back the programme, an incredible 23 years after it was last seen in the UK.

Bafta award­winner Norton, whose real name is Graham Walker said: ‘“My first ever TV job was a game show on ITV

Ongoing issue

ly devised in the US and was later adapted for British viewers where it was first launched by ITV in 1998. It was last aired on in 2001.

Its past presenters included Nicky Campbell who first hosted the show, followed by Bradley Walsh, John Leslie and Paul Hendy.

Back in the day it featured ‘glamorous assistants,’ Angela Ekaette, Carol Smillie, Jenny Powell and Terri Seymour.

Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, Katie Rawcliffe, said: “We are thrilled to have the muchloved Graham Norton bringing this iconic game show to our viewers.”

The new Wheel Of Fortune is set to return to ITV and ITVX in 2024.

Graham Norton is beyond excited to present the show.

NEGOTIATIONS have been ongoing for a prolonged period of time now between the United Kingdom and Spain about who should control the borders of Gibraltar, even before the Brexit agreement was passed through, and that subsequent deal has seemingly made things a lot more difficult to discuss.

Gibraltar is indeed self­governed but the territory is owned by the United Kingdom, meaning that any defence required would be provided by the UK due to them having the overall control of the country.

Spain are still very keen on Gibraltar being returned to them as it is part of their territory, but with the United Kingdom having captured and conquered it for a long period of time, they are seemingly fighting a losing battle.

Negotiations regarding the status of Gibraltar have been in limbo since the Brexit agreement was passed as it meant the highly sought­after territory was no longer part of the European Union.

It appears the key sticking point in any sort of negotiations is centred around Gibraltar airport with the Spanish apparently demanding they can have control of it, something that is not even up for debate from the United Kingdom’s perspective.

Around 30,000 people are said to cross the Gibraltar­Spain border every single day, with 15,000 of them said to be workers that reside in Cadiz – which is Spanish territory –which has forced Madrid and Gibraltar to try and loosen restrictions and border control.

The Spanish are said to believe that for any sort of agreement on free movement to be found between Gibraltar and Spain, the latter should have the freedom to control both the port and airport, which would require Spanish border officers to be deployed into Gibraltar.

The Spanish government believes that the ball is firmly in the UK’s court, but despite both parties not wanting to make it more difficult to cross the border, nobody wants to give up any sort of territory.

AIRPORT: Has become the sticking point.

shutterstock

Timely operation

A 52-YEAR-OLD Italian woman who thought she was overweight had an ovarian cyst weighing more than five kilograms removed by surgeons. According to an article in the American Journal of Case Reports, the Italian woman paid no attention to her condition because she was under the impression that she was suffering from obesity.

Shooting stars

IN a groundbreaking achievement for the space tourism industry, Sir Richard Branson, the British tycoon, has etched his name among the stars as Virgin Galactic’s rocket plane, Unity, soared skywards with an all Italian selection of paying passengers including two colonels and an aerospace engineer at the end of June.

THE NETHERLANDS

Formal apology

A MOVING ceremony took place in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam on July 1 when King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands formally apologised for the country’s role in the slave trade. The king accepted that the wealth of the nation was effectively founded on the blood, sweat and toil of slaves from the Caribbean, Africa and Indonesia.

Had their chips

EVERYONE loves Dutch chips and mayonnaise but the Chinese are not too happy with a decision to make it more difficult to import chips of a different type. On June 30, a new law was approved ensuring that from September, Dutch companies making machines that produce advanced processor chips will need an export licence to sell their products overseas.

BELGIUM

Beating hurdles

BELGIAN shot putter Jolien Boumkwo discovered a new athletic talent at the European Athletics Team Championships in Poland. When a colleague racing in the 100-metre hurdles suffered an injury, the team faced disqualification and the loss of two vital championship points. Although built for comfort rather than speed, Jolien stepped up and took her place, unsurprisingly finishing last.

Silly moos

A HERD of cows in Belgium had decided that as the weather was so warm and the fence between their pasture and the River Uzer just happened to have fallen down, it would be a good idea for them to cool down. Only problem was they needed the local fire brigade to get them out!

PRESS EURO

DENMARK

Danish Jazz

MIRIAM MANDIPIRA, a powerful voice in the Jazz Festival, embraced the coldest place she'd ever known, finding solace and success. Her resilience and hard work paid off as she made Denmark her permanent home in 2007. Despite the cold, she fell in love with the Danish culture's unwavering spirit.

Miriam Mandipira's Melodic Journey in Denmark

Sudden loss

Passport change

THE Irish passport is to undergo a redesign, and authorities are seeking input from its citizens on what they think it should feature and Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs offered Irish passport holders the chance to have their say on its new design, with the focus being on the country’s iconic plants and animals.

Over budget

NEWS that the number of Ireland’s Gardaí force is in decline comes amid a report in which the month of May saw in excess of €30 million in overtime payments, and most of it was down to one man thanks to policing the State visit of US President Joe Biden in April.

Phosphate find

JO LINDNER, the world-famous bodybuilder, and influencer from Germany has passed away at the age of 30. Known to his 8.6 million online followers and fans as ‘Joesthetics’, he died suddenly in his bodybuilding girlfriend Nicha’s arms, after complaining about neck pains.

Saving trees

RESIDENTS of Berlin's Mitte district are being called upon to water street trees this summer in order to ensure that they survive the hot weather. Those who volunteer on a regular basis will be awarded the ‘golden watering can’ if they prove their activity by supplying photos.

GERMANY FRANCE

Cold heart

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron has come under scrutiny after being seen at an Elton John concert while his country is ravaged by riots. The British rocker was performing in the Accor Arena on the first night of the European leg of his huge farewell tour and it was considered uncaring for the President to attend.

Ram raid

A CAR was driven into the home of Vincent Jeanbrun, the mayor of the Paris suburb of L’Haÿ-les-Roses in Val-de-Marne, in the early hours of Sunday, July 2. The ‘ram-raid’ incident occurred at around 1.30am while the official was at the City Hall, ‘as he had been for the last three nights.’

Orxit

Crash diverted

GOOD news as a huge underground deposit of high-grade phosphate rock has been discovered in Norway which is believed to be the largest in the world and will be suitable demand for fertilisers, solar panels and electric car batteries for the next century according to the company controlling it.

AFTER Brexit, it seems that the tiny Scottish Island of Orkney is considering its own Orxit as its council leader believes that it could be better off reverting to its 15th century status as a dependency of Norway rather than continue to be ‘mistreated’ by Scottish and the UK politicians.

NORWAY FINLAND

Short notice

A NEWLY appointed minister in Finland has had to resign less than a week into the job after his controversial ‘neo-Nazi’ comments. On Friday, June 30, Vilhelm Junnila, resigned from his post as Finland’s minister for economic affairs, after his previous comments were likened to neo-Nazi rhetoric.

Best airport

THE international airport organisation ACI has selected Helsinki-Vantaa airport managed by Finnish company Finavia as the best European airport of 2023 in its size category. Criteria for the award were the airport's sustainability efforts, innovations, operational efficiency, resilience, and its ability to recover from the pandemic.

Free rooms

A QUICK-THINKING Ryanair pilot managed to stop what could have been a serious incident on the runway at Porto Airport. The Irish jet was due to land after its flight from Barcelona, but the pilot spotted there was already an aircraft about to take off, from the same runway.

THE problem of recruiting and retaining hotel staff in Europe may be resolved by copying a concept from Africa and Asia, whereby staff villages are created so that workers can enjoy good quality accommodation free of charge and this is being trialled at the Verdelago resort in Portugal.

IRELAND PORTUGAL SWEDEN

Backlash

THE Swedish government continues to feel the backlash from several Muslim countries after an Iraqi national set fire to the Koran in Stockholm, even though Swedish courts ruled that this action could not be stopped by the police nor prohibited by the government.

Sex bomb

THINGS have moved on from the days of middle aged fans throwing their knickers at performers like Tom Jones and the latest in a new craze of throwing objects at performers came in Stockholm when light footed American rapper Lil Nas X dodged what turned out to be a heavy sex toy.

Photo credit: Miriam Mandipira Facebook account

BUSINESS EXTRA

Booted out

EDINBURGH­BASED Hunter, maker of wellingtons worn by royalty, celebs and festival goers, went into administration with debts of more than £100 million (€115.8 million). Problems began after production moved to China, with devotees claiming that the quality and durability of the boots immediately plummeted.

Up and down

LOW productivity, a large external debt and public sector indebtedness were the Spanish economy’s principal weaknesses at present, the Spain’s General Council of Economists said. The country’s strengths included the competitiveness of the foreign sector and the “relative health” of the economy’s private sector, the experts said.

Not Brexit

COVID and not Brexit was to blame for the inflation crisis said Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, in a sideswipe at his predecessor Mark Carney’s theory. Bailey pinpointed the pandemic as the key problem, as workers who left the jobs market had apparently not returned, shrinking the UK’s labour force.

Legal drama

A BARCELONA court ordered the Ministry of Justice and Catalonia’s regional government to pay a court employee €46,581 in compensation for work­related stress. She had suffered for years owing to lack of coordination caused by ongoing confrontation between a judge and the clerk of the court, the tribunal ruled.

Stores closing

BOOTS will close 300 stores across the UK over the next year as conjecture grows regarding a possible break­up by its US owner. The retailer said it intends to reduce its stores from approximately 2,200 to around 1,900 although insiders said that the retailer did not foresee making any redundancies.

Linda Hall

JEREMY HUNT, Chancellor of the Exchequer, signed an agreement on financial services regulations with the EU’s Financial Services commissioner Mairead McGuinness on Tuesday June 27.

“This will help to establish a constructive, mutually beneficial relationship between the UK and the EU in financial services,” the Treasury announced.

The Memorandum of Understanding was an important step in post­Brexit relations as around 44 per cent of the £11 trillion (€12.7 trillion) of assets managed in the UK in 2020 related to international investors, including the EU.

Hunt’s was the first visit

STAT OF WEEK €1.67 billion

went to Endesa shareholders who received €1.6 per share pre-tax, although the largest dividend went to Italian power company Enel which owns 70 per cent of the company.

UK-EU turning point

jor financial sector partners including the US, Japan and Singapore.

“The UK and EU’s financial markets are deeply interconnected and building a constructive, voluntary relationship is mutually beneficial to us both,” Hunt said.

Dia deal hopes

DIA hopes to go ahead with plans to sell its Clarel perfumery business.

Last December, the supermarket chain announced a deal with private equity fund, C2 Private Capital, transferring 1,015 Clarel shops and three distribution centres in return for €60 million, including €10 million of net debt.

from a UK Chancellor in more than three years and McGuinness said Brussels and London had “turned a page” in their relationship.

Both sides will share information, work together towards meeting joint challenges and coordinate posi­

tions, where appropriate, on issues ahead of G7, G20 and other international meetings, the Treasury explained.

The memorandum adds to the UK’s growing number of regulatory cooperation arrangements with ma­

“The UK’s financial services sector is a true British success story,” the Chancellor added.

“Together with the related professional services sector it was worth £275 billion (€318.8 billion) last year, making up an estimated 12 per cent of the British economy.”

Orange-MasMovil concerns

THE European Commission announced its preliminary view that the OrangeMasMovil merger could reduce competition and lead to price increases.

Orange and MasMovil are Spain’s second and fourth­largest providers of retail mobile and fixed internet services in Spain, the Commission pointed out.

“There are four mobile network operators active in Spain: Telefónica, Vodafone, Orange, and MasMovil,” the statement continued. “There are also several mobile and virtual operators which use network operators’ infrastructure to offer services to consumers.”

The Commission opened an in­depth

Deep waters

THE UK government and water regulator Ofwat have drawn up contingency plans for the collapse of Thames Water.

Fears have grown that Britain’s biggest water company cannot survive owing to its £14 billion (€16.18 billion) debt.

Ministers and Ofwat discussed the possibility of placing Thames Water into a special administration regime (SAR) by taking the company into temporary public ownership.

In a statement to the stock market, Thames Water said it had received £500m (€577.8m) of an expected £1 billion (€1.15 billion) in new funding from shareholders in March. It continued to work constructively with them, it added.

investigation which included, amongst other issues, analysing internal documents provided by the two phone companies and gathering views from competitors, suppliers and customers.

Spain’s top 10

INDITEX is once again Spain’s best­respected company, according to corporate monitor Merco.

The multinational, which is headquartered in Arteixo (Galicia) and owns Zara amongst other labels, headed the list for 10 consecutive years until 2022 when it was overtaken by Mercadona.

The supermarket chain returns to second place, ahead of Grupo Social Once, the organisation for the blind, and Repsol, which rose two places to fourth position.

Insurance company Mapfre remains in fifth place, followed by Telefónica ­ fourth last year ­ but now sixth.

Coca Cola moves up one place to be ranked seventh, while Ikea goes down one place to eighth position.

Santander has now entered the top 10, moving up from 11th to ninth place, with new arrival Mahou San Miguel, now ranked 10th compared with 13th in 2022.

MasMovil and Orange announced their intention of merging in a 50­50 joint venture valued at €18.6 billion in July 2022. Both companies count on obtaining clearance from the Commission’s Competition authorities in the second half of 2023, launching the merged company between 24 and 42 months later.

The Commission announced at the end of June it was concerned that reducing the number of network operations in Spain would “eliminate a significant competitive constraint and innovative rival” in the Spanish retail markets for mobile telecommunications services.

Action plan

THE Financial Action Task Force (FATF) commented recently that Gibraltar continued to make headway on its action plan.

The global money­laundering and terrorist financing watchdog also called on Gibraltar’s government to address ‘strategic deficiencies’ in financial regulation.

In response, the government emphasised that it was working tirelessly to complete the action plan at the earliest opportunity.

“Only one substantive action point remains pending,” a government statement announced.

“The government is totally committed to this process, and all supervisory and other authorities continue to work with FATF to demonstrate our compliance,” the communique declared.

The agreement will have a €22.5 million negative impact on DIA’s income although chief executive Martin Tolcachir maintained the sale was a strategic move. “We want to focus on what we do best: local food distribution,” he said.

Speaking on June 27, Tolcachir said the transaction, was expected to be completed this year.

Fair shares

REVOLUTION BEAUTY, ‘affordable’ make ­ up brand, gave bosses 11 million shares although shareholders voted them out.

Chief executive Bob Holt, finance chief Elizabeth Lake and other senior executives will receive more than 11 million shares between them, worth almost £3 million (€3.4 million) based on the company’s share price on June 28.

The handout was the outcome of restoring the firm’s listing after an accounting scandal resulted in its suspension from the stock market.

Holt and Lake, together with chairman Derek Zissman ­ who was also sacked ­ have now been reinstated.

Sales growth

ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS (AFB), announced that sales rose by 16 per cent to £4.7 billion (€5.4 billion) in the three months ending on May 27.

The group, which owns Twinings and Ovaltine as well as Primark, said the fast fashion chain’s sales had increased by 13 per cent to almost £2 billion (€2.3 billion) during the same period.

Primark’s sales growth were “supported by higher average selling prices” as retailers continued to raise selling price owing to increased production and supply chain costs, AFB said.

IMPORTANT STEP: Jeremy Hunt and Mairead McGuinness sign Memorandum of Understanding.

ORANGE: One of Spain’s principal mobile operators.

Photo credit: HM Treasury

Photo credit: Orange Media

DOW JONES

Euro

EUR/GBP: Down from £0.87 to £0.86

EUR/USD: Up from $1.07 to $1.09

Trade in the euro was mixed over the past month. EUR exchange rates initially stumbled as a revision to Germany’s latest GDP figures showed the country slipped into a recession at the start of 2023.

The single currency then came under more pressure at the start of June after the Eurozone’s latest consumer price index reported inflation in the bloc cooled faster than expected in May.

EUR exchange rates remained suppressed as subsequent data showed that the Eurozone as a whole, fell into a recession in the first quarter.

The European Central Bank’s (ECB) latest rate decision then helped the Euro mount a recovery in mid-June. The ECB raised rates by 25bps and signalled another hike in July is ‘very likely’.

EUR exchange rates maintained a

CURRENCY OUTLOOK: POUND SOARS ON BOE RATE SPECULATION, EURO SUPPORTED BY ECB RATE HIKE

positive trajectory as we entered the second half of the month, supported by USD weakness.

The focus for EUR investors will now turn to the Eurozone’s latest inflation figures. June’s preliminary CPI figures could be key in gauging the ECB’s appetite for further hikes. Could another sharp drop-off in inflation push the bank to end its hiking cycle in July?

Pound

GBP/EUR: Up from €1.15 to €1.16

GBP/USD: Up from $1.24 to $1.27

The pound enjoyed strong support in recent weeks, with Sterling sentiment being underpinned by Bank of England (BoE) interest rate speculation.

Expectations for higher rates were turbocharged after UK inflation ran a lot hotter than expected in April. Particularly core inflation which unexpectedly rose to a new 31-year high.

The pound climbed to new multiyear highs against the euro and US dollar in mid-June after BoE rate hike bets were compounded by the UK’s latest jobs data, following a surprise drop in

unemployment and hotter-than-expected wage growth.

Sterling then came crashing back to earth on the eve of the BoE’s June rate decision. Another stubbornly high inflation print stoked speculation the BoE may raise rates as high as 6% and tip the UK into a recession.

These concerns kept a lid on GBP after the BoE surprised markets with a 50bps rate hike.

UK growth fear may continue to act as a headwind for the pound in the coming month, although any losses for the currency are likely to remain limit-

ed so long as BoE rate hike bets remain hawkish.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Down from £0.80 to $0.78

USD/EUR: Down from €0.92 to €0.90

The US dollar weakened over the past month. Demand for the currency faltered amid improving risk appetite and speculation regarding potential policy divergence between the Federal Reserve and other major central banks.

At the end of May, the US dollar

was still in a position of strength. Concerns over the US debt ceiling saw investors favour the safe-haven currency.

The passing of a deal at the start of June saw the US dollar stumble, before a stronger-than-expected US payroll print provide one last burst of support for the ‘greenback’.

USD exchange rates subsequently declined as a broadly upbeat market mood sapped demand for the safehaven currency.

The downturn in USD was also driven by speculation the Fed is close to ending its hiking cycle. While the Fed struck a hawkish tone following its decision to leave rates on hold at its June meeting, sharper-than-expected falls in inflation and signs of a weakening jobs market has led to speculation the Fed will stop raising rates before the ECB or BoE.

Looking ahead, upcoming US data releases could have a major impact on the US dollar as they may indicate how many more rate hikes the Fed may pursue.

EUR INVESTORS: The focus will now turn to the latest Eurozone figures.

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

THINK IT

I TRULY am becoming heartily peeved with people writing to remind me that I am ‘also an immigrant’. Usually these informants are new readers and, although I am delighted to welcome them to my scribbles, it also means they have not read a number of my past columns in which I have more than covered this particular subject. So to all the wags who still think they are being clever, and occasionally quite nasty in their observations, I am completely aware that I am ‘also an immigrant’. I am actually quite a proud immigrant.

Many years ago, due to personal reasons (well chronicled in my books), I left the UK and, after some years in the Middle East, moved to Spain where I have resided for the last 40 years.

This country has been good to me. It has educated four of my children, two of which have married Spanish locals, and my knowledge of the language is moderately passable.

I originally brought some £50,000 into the country (which in 1983 was

All be too late

no small sum!) and, through unfortunate timing and various business ventures, managed to lose most of it over the next two or three years.

During my time here, I have integrated to the best of my ability, helped support the local tourist industry and earned myself a Spanish pension. Although politically minded, I have never seriously involved myself in Spanish politics or tried to interfere with their culture or the running of the country. I feel that as an immigrant I have two choices.

Stay and accept all that my host country has to offer, or leave! Through it all, I have however remained a true British patriot. I am proud of my heritage. Proud also of the fact that both my Father and Grandfather, laid their lives on the line with millions of others to preserve Britain’s freedom and democracy. I am also disgusted by the way the country of my birth is slowly being brought to its knees by ungrateful foreign spongers, greedy billionaires and dubious immigrants, who take advantage of its hospitality

BREXIT BLUES OUR VIEW

and, under the guise of diversity, would destroy its culture altogether.

I am constantly enraged by deceitful, self ­ serving politicians, who either have some ulterior motive or are naïve almost beyond belief.

One thing I do try to avoid ­ although it is sometimes difficult ­ is hypocrisy. I do always endeavour to practise what I preach. I have nothing against immigration. In fact, run correctly, I believe it can often be a good thing. Providing the visitors retain the same attitude and respect toward their host country as I maintain myself. Unfortunately the majority of aliens that are pouring into Europe at this time appear to have a different agenda altogether.

I am fervently convinced that if our so­ called leaders don’t wake up soon it will all be too late. Sadly, I fear it already may be.

Love

MOST recent opinion polls show that there is growing support for Britian to rejoin the European Union, but currently there are no significant UK political parties promoting the concept.

Politicians are nothing if not fickle and with the next General Election due no later than the end of January 2025, a lot could still happen.

Currently, Britian has not reversed the bulk of laws created during its time as a member of the EU and to a great extent, any decision to reapply (and be accepted) would be down to the politics of the next 18 months rather than any legal difficulty. If the Conservatives use the time running up to the next election to reverse most of the above mentioned laws, then any decision to try to rejoin would be more difficult, but if things are left very much as they are then life would be much easier.

Under Article 49 of the EU Treaty, any prospective member must show that it respects the common values of the European Union including ‘human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law’.

In addition, it would have to demonstrate that it is a free and stable country supporting free speech and the concept of democracy.

As all of the existing member states have to unanimously agree to accept a new member and a majority in the European Parliament, there is little doubt that there would be some ‘penalty’ for leaving in the first place, perhaps a requirement to join Schengen or the Euro Zone, but in theory, following a positive referendum in the UK, membership could be obtained within three to five years.

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

Basking in the sun

SPAIN’S summer can be a real sizzler! Don’t fret though, there are clever ways to keep cool.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate ­ sip water, slurp gazpacho or nibble on juicy melons. Midday arrives and the sun glares; it’s time for a siesta, the Spanish way.

Seek a cool spot, shut your eyes and unwind. Dressing? Opt for airy cottons to beat the heat. As the day cools, seize the evening for leisurely strolls.

A hot Spanish summer can be challenging, but with these strategies, it becomes a charming part of the experience.

FOR men over 50, hair care goes beyond maintenance; it’s about embracing sophistication and style. Experiment with different haircuts that complement your face shape and lifestyle.

Use styling products like pomades or waxes to add texture and control to your hair. Embrace your

Styling with sophistication

natural hair type and work with it rather than against it.

Consider visiting a professional stylist who specialises in men’s hair to get personalised advice and recommendations. Additionally, regu­

Spain’s ageless glow

EMBRACING life over 50 in sunny Spain? Your skin can still have a healthy, youthful glow. Spanish staples like olive oil and tomatoes, rich in antioxidants, support skin health from within. Hydration is crucial; drink water and savour fresh, juicy fruits. Sun protection is non ­ nego ­

tiable ­ use a broadspectrum SPF daily. Lastly, adopt a siesta for a beauty rest, letting your skin rejuvenate. Indulge in local skincare rituals using natural ingredients, such as aloe vera. Age is just a number when your skin basks in the Spanish sun, healthily and happily.

lar scalp massages can stimulate blood circulation and promote hair health. With a little care and attention, you can confidently sport a stylish and sophisticated look that reflects your personality.

shutterstock

HYDRATE: Nibble on juicy melons to help you keep cool.

ALOE VERA: Indulge in local skincare rituals.

shutterstock

No disrespect but...

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

WHEN Susie Dent, the Countdown lexicographer/star, asked her Twitter followers which expressions they’d like banned, topping the list was ‘going forward’, ‘no disrespect but’, “I'm not gonna lie” and ‘like’ as a filler.

Corporate jargon included ‘reaching out’, ‘going offline’, ‘leaning in’, ‘circling back’ and considering the ‘optics’ of something. Plus the fillers: ‘basically’ and ‘so’.

‘So’, let’s consider the ‘optics’ of some of MY favourites:

We’re all on a journey, reaching out or leaning in, circling back or thinking outside the box. From the get­go, taking it offline, kicking the can down the

road going forward. So, it’s literally like so hard that, you know, my mental health suffers at this moment in time doing the heavy lifting. Basically, I’m not gonna lie, it is what it is. But at the end of the day, turning a blind eye to blue sky thinking to see the big picture might be better than putting the cart before the horse. That’s a win­win, right?

Reminds me of that ‘awesome’ line from ‘Yes, Prime Minister’: “But the man just spouts clichés. He’d talk in clichés until the cows come home.”

Clichés? Best avoid them like the plague. No disrespect. Simples. Just sayin’!

Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers (www.nora­john son.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

New €2 coin introduced

A NEW €2 coin will enter cir culation this month, de signed specifically to commemorate Spain assuming the rotating Presidency of the EU Council.

According to the Official Journal of the European Union, the coin has been in circu lation since July 1. It explained that a total of 1.5 million units will be minted and it will be distributed throughout all the countries belonging to the European Union.

It is the first coin to display the logo of the European Presidency of 2023 on its face. Among its other characteristics are the 12 stars of the European flag surrounding two legends which read ‘Spain 2023Spanish Presidency’ and ‘Council of the European Union’.

This is accompanied by an image of the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre ­ Real Casa de la Moneda, along with a crowned M. On the obverse face of the

coin, the features and value remain unchanged, as reported by a news source.

As detailed on the website of the European Central Bank (ECB), it is only allowed to mint €2 commemorative coins as long as they have the same legal value as the rest of the series in each country.

As a rule, each country that uses the euro can issue two commemorative coins each year. “These coins have the same characteristics, properties, and common face as the other €2 coins. What sets them apart is the commemorative motif that appears on their national face,” explained the ECB.

If a country intends to issue a €2 commemorative coin, it must inform the European Commission, but it does not have to report to the ECB.

The very first €2 commemorative coin was issued by Greece to celebrate the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

Sánchez visits Ukraine

IN the midst of his campaign for re­election, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez visited the Ukraine capital, Kyiv on Saturday July 1.

The timing is significant in that it will also serve to inaugurate the rotating presidency of the European Union, which fell to Spain on July 1.

The objective of the visit was to ‘make visible’ the Union's support for Ukraine led by President Zelensky.

President Sánchez made his first trip to Ukraine only a few weeks after the start of the invasion. This time he travelled ‘alone, together with his team’ and was expected to make a statement with Zelensky at the Kyiv presidential palace.

Sánchez’s last trip to Kyiv was made on the anniversary of the start of the war, in February of this year. At the time he promised to send up to 10 Leopard main battle tanks, six of which are already on Ukrainian soil.

In a further show of solidarity, sources close to

President Sánchez pointed out that his presence there this time aimed to show the ‘seamless support’ for Ukraine ‘in all fields: military, humanitarian and economic.’

Information from Moncloa, the president’s official residence, said that the initiative for the visit came from Sánchez himself. The date was seen as a good opportunity as it coincided with the beginning of the Spanish presidency of the EU Council.

President Zelensky expressed his hopes that the EU's support for Ukraine ‘will be maintained for as long as necessary,’ even if the conflict drags on.

Ukraine’s long­term plan is that before the end of this year, and therefore during the Spanish presidency of the Council, negotiations can be opened for the acceptance of Ukraine to the European Union.

Nora Johnson’s opinions are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

NORA’S LATEST THRILLER.

Credit: coin-database.com

€2 commemorative coin in Spain.

Climate activists attack golf courses

HOLES on 10 golf courses across Spain have been targeted by climate activists protesting about the use of water needed to maintain these sporting facilities.

In a video posted online on Sunday, July 2, members of Extinction Rebellion (XR) announced their latest campaign. This time their goal was to draw the public’s attention to the huge amount of water consumed by golf courses.

Describing golf as an ‘elitist leisure pursuit’, the activists highlighted the current drought conditions that are affecting large regions of Spain.

Alongside signs that read ‘Drought alert. Golf course closed for climate justice’, its members were shown in the footage plugging holes on a golf course with cement. They also planted seedlings on the green.

Among the courses hit by this direct action cam ­

paign were those in Ibiza, Navarra, the Basque Country, Valencia, Barcelona, and the capital, Madrid.

According to data from Ecologistas en Acción, maintaining just one hole on a golf course in Spain uses in excess of 100,000 litres of water each day.

They criticised the ‘irresponsibility and cynicism’ of continuing to allow this type of elitist leisure while Spain dries up. ‘In Spain, 437 golf courses are irri ­

gated every day’, they detailed.

When adding up the litres used by golf courses they indicated, to satisfy an activity that is enjoyed only by approximately 0.6 per cent of the population, more water is consumed than in the whole of Barcelona and Madrid.

The activists demanded that the government implements legislation on golf courses to restrict them from using so much water.

Fraudster caught

John Ensor

THE Guardia Civil has arrested a scammer based in Alicante who used a fake online presence to swindle thousands of euros from unsuspecting customers.

A report from the Guardia Civil on Thursday, June 29 revealed how the man managed to impersonate 61 people and seven companies and got away with more than €55,000.

The man, who had been on the run from justice for more than a decade, was arrested in Alicante where he ran his lucrative network of fake companies.

As part of Operation ‘ZENIGATA,’ the Guardia Civil arrested a man who defrauded unsuspecting clients under the guise of a well­known online buying and selling platform.

The suspect had evaded the law for over 10 years and has subsequently been charged with the alleged ongoing offences of fraud and usurpation of civil status, money laundering and infringement of industrial property.

Officers also located 180 bank accounts which were used to divert the

money from the scams.

Investigations began in January last 2022 when the Guardia Civil received a complaint from a person in Bizkaia, Basque Country, in which he claimed that he had been the victim of an alleged scam, having purchased a video game console over the Internet and never received the product.

Officers started an investigation and were later able to verify how the suspect was offering products through fraudulent websites simulating the name and logos of real businesses.

When the officers had accumulated enough evidence, they succeeded in locating the perpetrator's home.

GOLF COURSES: Were targeted throughout Spain.

Credit: Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock.com

ARRESTED: Man used a fake online presence.

Property of the week Villa de Los Sueños in La Alfoquia

NEW & EXCLUSIVE LISTING FOR VOSS HOMES

A modern, homely, beautifully maintained three bed, two bath villa with H&C air con, 8m x 3.5m swimming pool, full sized sunroof with conservatory and bbq area on a walled, landscaped low maintenance garden of 510m2. Walking distance to the shops, restaurants, doctors, vets, bakers, banks, bowling green etc in La Alfoquia.

Located on a corner plot with only one neighbour on the edge of a well kept development of villas on the edge of this popular Spanish village. Three mins drive to Zurgena village also with amenities including a Friday street market. Six mins drive to Arboleas and 12 mins drive to Huercal­Overa town with awardwinning hospital and numerous shops, restaurants, sporting and leisure facilities etc. The coast at Mojacar, Vera and Garrucha is a 25 to

30 mins drive away.

Villa de Los Sueños is a light and airy, nicely designed villa and is ideal if you like to entertain thanks to the full sized sun roof with conservatory area, built in bbq and all round village and country views.

To the front of the villa is a pedestrian gate with intercom entry into the private, landscaped garden. There is also a sliding gate at the front on to the covered, attractive,

imprinted concrete drive way which is large enough for one large car. There is also plenty of safe on road parking. To the left of the drive is a covered seating area and then comes the large side garden with attractive artificial grass, various plants and fruit trees and a large, quality built wooden summer house with electricity. On this side of the villa are the stairs leading up to the sun roof.

Ref. VH2157

€202,950 euros

To the left of the hallway is the living room and dining room with log burning fire. Here glazed, sliding doors lead into the conservatory which makes an ideal second living room / dining room and looks out and takes you out to the garden and pool area. From the conservatory a door also takes you in to the spacious fitted kitchen with new appliances and plenty of worktop and storage space which then takes you back in to the hallway.

Walking round the rear of the villa is the kidney shaped 8m x 3.5m swimming pool. Attached to the villa at the other side is a useful storage / utility room with doors leading to the rear garden and front drive way.

From the seating area at the front of the villa the front door leads into the hallway. To the right is the third bedroom with fitted wardrobes. This also makes an ideal study.

A passage way leads down to the family shower room, second guest bedroom with built in wardrobes, storage cupboard and main bedroom with fitted wardrobes, ensuite bathroom and glazed doors taking you out to the rear garden and pool area.

Voss Homes is a British family­run business with offices in this village of La Alfoquia (Zurgena) and the thriving, market town of Huercal­Overa.

VILLA DE LOS SUEÑOS: A nicely designed villa which is also ideal for entertaining.

Farmacia that serves beer

John Ensor

VISITORS to a ‘Farmacia’ in Granada often get a surprise when they enter, as the cures it offers aren’t what they expect.

For years the expression ‘purely medicinal’ referred to a humorous term for people to justify their drinking habits, now it seems a certain establishment in Granada has taken it one step further, according to a news source on Wednesday, June 28.

‘Farmacia’ in Granada is actually the name of a bar, a controversial idea dreamed up by the owner, that has been a huge success.

As expected, unsuspecting customers often go in, especially as the Farmacia logo is very similar to the real thing. Adding to the confusion too is its location: number 10 Calle San Pablo, next to the NeuroTraumatology and Rehabilitation Hospital.

As visitors often find out, this peculiar bar in Granada serves ‘breakfast and tapas’ but does not sell antibiotics or any medicine for that matter.

Despite visitor’s confusion it seems to be a successful business ploy. Its owner Juan Vicente, said “many people go in to buy some medicine and are surprised.” When they realise their mistake “they find it funny, and they stay anyway” to have a drink.

Advertising Feature Voss Homes

Fishing boat crew rescued

THE 15­man crew of a Galician fishing vessel had to be rescued on Sunday, July 2, after a fire broke out on board.

It started in 2018 when he decided to open this “different” bar. ‘“t coincided just when they brought the hospital back to where it was before. We wanted a slightly edgy name and, while we were renovating the premises, we thought of this one because of where it is,” Vicente recalls.

Since its opening, it has proved to be a success. Some of the regulars have even named their favourite tipple ‘cervecetamol.’ Vicente’s latest plan is to give pharmaceutical ­ inspired names to dishes on the menu.

‘Farmacia’ prides itself in local gastronomy with home­made meals : ‘Family cooking, that is, what one can prepare at home, that’s what we serve.’ From meat in sauce to fried fish. Visiting doctors often thank him for ‘making hospital stays more bearable.’

There were no reports of any injuries after the incident in the Gran Sol. The sailors from the Nuevo San Juan fishing boat based in the Lugo town of Burela were rescued by another fishing vessel, the Nuevo Confurco.

As soon as the blaze broke out the 15 crew members abandoned ship and took to the lifeboats. While they were rescued safe and sound, material possessions were regrettably lost in the incident. The longline trawler was 31.5 metres in length and specialised in fishing for hake.

Maritime Rescue confirmed it received a distress call at its centre in Fisterra from the Nuevo San Juan reporting a fire on board.

At the time of calling, the vessel was located in the British SAR zone they explained.

Using this information, Salvamento informed its counterpart in the United Kingdom, which diverted several vessels to the area.

Although it was too early to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire, initial indications pointed to a short circuit in the Galician ship’s wiring.

In statements to FARO, the manager of the Puerto de Burela Fishery Produc­

Property of the week

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The apartments are distributed on one floor with private access from the communal areas; large living­dining room partly open to the fully fitted kitchen and laundry room, three large bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, the master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, and two family bathrooms.

From the living ­ dining area and also from all three bedrooms there is access via patio doors to the southeast facing private terrace of 48m2 offering spectacular elevated views over the golf course and the whole San Juan de Los Terreros coastline. Included in the price of the property; garage parking space and a storeroom.

The urbanisation offers; Lift access to all areas, children’s play areas, paddle courts, and a fantastic saltwater swimming pool overlooking the sea. Reserve yours today KEY READY and move in within 45 days!

You

ers Organisation ­ to which the burned ship belongsassured that the fire occurred when the ship was en route from French to Irish waters, its last reported location.

According to reports, the fire on board the Nuevo San Juan was left to burn as no extinction work took place, it was a case of simply controlling the direction it was heading. The ship was likely to explode once the flames reached its fuel supply, unless it sank first.

Ref. SJPDAG22F

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don’t want to miss this property, contact us now to organise a viewing 950 466 112.

SPACIOUS APARTMENTS: Offering spectacular elevated views over the golf course and the San Juan de Los Terreros

FARMACIA: Visitors often are surprised.

ABLAZE: The Nuevo San Juan fishing boat on fire.

Credit: Twitter@oppburela

Stocks & Shares LETTERS

Having worked for the Financial Times for 33 years and retiring to Spain in 2006, I pay a special interest in this page.

However, I notice that the title does not live up to its name, JD Sports & Pearson shares are missing from the list of companies and I haven’t checked the whole list!!!

Pearson plc no longer own the Financial Times, so I do not see any reason to exclude them now.

I follow all the FTSE stocks and played a big part in setting up the Company FTSE, so would like to see all 100 companies in the list

Apart from that, I think the Euro Weekly paper is the best. Keep up the good work. Thank you, Gary Hayes

Good work

Hi Leapy

Recently back from our twice a year trip to Spain.

No respect ­ could not agree more. My teachers were always called Sir and even if we met after I had left ­ were always still called Sir (though they all had nicknames).

Re Harry & Megan Bet365 are getting back to me!

Keep up the good work.

Not factual

Hiya,

Best Regards Steve

I always enjoy reading local papers when on holiday, but this almost illiterate ‘Scotland stats’ published letter without any evidence or actual facts made me raise my phone and reply...

Right from the start this letter by Jamie JKL Swanson can’t be that accurate, he clearly can’t read. He’s made up stats and blurted them out...

Half educated? ­ Kids in Scotland leave school better or comparable with the UK.

Queen Nicola? ­ not yet.

Violent rapist choose to be gaoled in a women’s prison? Nope, didn’t happen, look into the facts. There was a rather important review to stop this happening.

Four times usual rate of post natal deaths? Are you serious? Nowhere near, the UK is bad in the EU table, well, before England and Wales voted us all out the EU, but you get the gist... This is an outright lie, and a particularly poor taste one.

Salmond bad...? Well as opinions go fair enough, but exonerated.

Humza crooked? Well you’ve got half of Westminster leadership literally getting done for parties during Covid lies, covering for lies, wasting billions during Covid, giving millions in contracts to their friends etc.. and Scotland’s FM has done nothing wrong to be called crooked... yet.

Jamie needs to look at his own life and get that chip off his shoulder.

Thanks Simon SD

Hello yet again

I just love reading your articles. Although it has been said that I am further right than Genghis Khan, I think I am towards middle of the road, which my life’s experience tells me most people are.

You constantly write what most people sit and say to each other: sane, intelligent people that is.

Of course trans people should not be allowed to compete against normal people. It is completely nuts. I am glad to see that homosexual people are trying to put a distance between LGB and the rest of the alphabet! Quite correct. Homosexuality has always existed.

My complaint is that, in recent years, those people are not happy just to be accepted, they seem to want to shout about what they are and tell us all that it is ‘better’, when it is obviously not, because if we were all homosexual the human race would disappear.

Don’t you think, Lee, that the current age will go down in history as the ‘whinging age’. Situations with which we coped and just ‘got on with it’ now need parliamentary discussion.

Our mortgages at one time went up to 18 per cent!!! We got on with it. In 1973/74 there was a three­day week because of lack of electricity, the generation of which was severely restricted owing to industrial action by coal miners and railway workers! We managed without extra help.

When I first married, we worked for six years without a holiday in order to save for a house. That house we lived in without carpet on the floors. I knitted the children’s jumpers; made dresses, darned socks, without complaining; and worked doing accounts at home at the same time. My husband was an employed butcher. We were ordinary people.

We did not have international holidays, expensive mobile phones, new cars, X­boxes, take­away food. We did not smoke or drink.

I now have a large house in Spain with a swimming pool. People tell me that I am lucky!!!

Nowadays we are supposed to cosset absolutely everybody who does not have whatever. Why can’t they just get on with it and work. The work ethic has disappeared.

And the latest I read was that a woman who was scammed out of life savings thinks that the banks should protect people’s money and it is ‘not our fault’. Why should the rest of us pay for stupidity.

You know, I think that is what I abhor most in life: stupidity.

Going on again ­ sorry

Hugs Jane

PETS

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IN a purr ­ fect blend of luxury and necessity, feline ­ focused entrepreneurs have uncovered a lucrative venture that is capturing the hearts (and wallets) of pet owners everywhere: cat hotels. This innovative concept has turned out to be an “economic activity with high demand,” according to the pioneers who have embraced this niche business the ‘Rural Miau’ in La Calabaza in Siero.

These establishments go above and beyond to cater to their guests’ every need. Alongside comfortable accommodation, they offer convenient home pet collection ser ­

Driving change

CAR anxiety is a common issue among pets that can make travelling a stressful experience for both the animal and its owner. However, with some effective strategies, you can help your furry friend overcome their fear and make car rides a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Start by introducing your pet to the car in a positive and relaxed manner. Allow them to explore the vehicle while it’s parked, using treats and praise to create a positive association.

Begin with short car rides to familiarise your pet with the sensation of movement. Keep the initial journeys calm and comfortable, using a favourite blanket or toy to provide a sense of security. Ensure your pet’s safe­

Feline retreat

of love and affection from their highly trained staff.

ty and comfort during car rides. Use a secure crate, harness, or carrier to prevent injury and reduce anxiety. Reward your pet with treats, praise, and affection for calm behaviour during car rides. Gradually increase the duration and distance of each trip while maintaining positive reinforcement.

Helping your pet over­

come car anxiety requires patience, consistency, and a gentle approach. By gradually exposing them to the car, creating a positive and comfortable environment, and using positive reinforcement, you can help alleviate their fear and make car rides a more enjoyable experience for both you and your furry companion.

vices and a comprehensive cat grooming service. They are not only committed to providing basic

care but also ensuring that each furry guest receives ample outdoor time and an abundance

While the Siero establishment stands as a pioneer in its town, it’s worth mentioning another notable contender in the Nora region, ‘Cuidamiau’ in Noreña. Laura Fonseca, a veterinary assistant, and certified animal carer established this delightful cat hotel, claiming the title of the region’s first legally recognised establishment of its kind. With a variety of options and services available, cat owners can now rest assured that their feline friends will be treated like royalty while they are away!

Photo credit:

Cruising towards a stress-free journey together.

Where luxury meets whiskerlicious comfort.

Photo credit: Shutterstock/Juancat

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Local Anglican (CofE) Church Services take place at Mojacar and Llanos del Peral (Zurgena) churches every Sunday 11am and at Aljambra Chapel (Albox) monthly. Dates and details of our services, including directions and contact details, can be found at www.almeria-anglican.com

Here you can also find information about funerals, baptisms and wedding blessings. We are an inclusive church. (10002)

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 -

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 tbuddyhhvisits@gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on 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 zurgenarblchair man@gmail.com - (253989)

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)

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

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

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

Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (303141)

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

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

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)

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)

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)

ABBOTT ELECTRICS . From a Light Fitting to a Full Rewire.

A Sound EV choice

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack

IT led the EV charge but the Leaf is not Nissan’s first electric vehicle. The company’s electric ambitions go back to the 1940s and finally reached series production with the Leaf in 2010. Since it debuted the Leaf’s range has gradually been extended and today there are two versions with 168 or 239 miles of range.

In the real world of course you would be lucky to reach that goal, but the Nissan has the potential to get reasonably close to its limit given the right driving situation. EVs don’t like motorways because there’s less braking which means less regeneration so the battery doesn’t get as much charge.

Move into an urban scenario and things change for the better. Having said all that the Leaf offers greater

journey length for its price than many EVs. It also provides practicality, seating for up to five people and a boot to match.

Prices start from a very competitive, for an EV, €33,716/£28,995 on the lead­in 39 kwh model with a range of 168 miles. My test e+ Tekna model €42,379/£36,445 has the arguably more practical 59 kwh battery with a 239 mile range.

Standard fare is good with even the entry level model and includes such items as auto lights and high beam assist, auto wipers, adaptive cruise control, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, DAB radio, Bluetooth, rear view camera and a plethora of safety kit.

There’s some impressive tech on the Leaf including e­Pedal that allows you to just use your right foot as when you ease off the throttle the car brakes. De­

pending how quickly you ease off decides on the level of braking, so it’s fairly easy to learn to feather the throttle. It’s one of those things where until you’ve experienced it you wonder what’s the point. Try it and you realise just how easy it makes the driving.

Add an Eco mode, along with increased regenerative braking, and there are plenty of opportunities to maximise range. Prices for the longer range 239­mile model start at €40,634/£34,945 and bring increased specification and performance.

The Leaf set the trend and continues to be a sound EV choice. In some areas it shows its age against more digital competitors but personally I’d rather have buttons than digital. If you want an affordable EV combining practicality and decent equipment levels then the Leaf is a hard act to beat.

British rider pips brother to line Wimbledon round up

WHEN the tournament started on Monday, July 3, last year’s beaten Wimbledon finalist announced that he was pulling out.

Australian star Nick Kyrgios posted on Instagram to inform his fans that a torn wrist ligament had caused him to withdraw.

‘Hey everyone, I’m really sad to say that I have to withdraw from Wimbledon this year. I tried my hardest to be ready after my surgery and to be able to step on the Wimbledon courts again’, he wrote.

He concluded: ‘I tried everything to be able to play and I am disappointed to say that I just didn’t have enough time to manage it before Wimbledon. I’ll be back, and as always, I appreciate the support from all my fans’.

Spain’s 20­year­old sensation Carlos Alcaraz went into the competition as the No 1 seed after his recent victory over Alex De Minaur in the final at Queen’s.

Alcaraz has already won the Australian and French Opens this year, but, is yet to fully adapt his game to playing on grass. However, it could be very foolish to bet against him winning his first Wimbledon title this July.

He is undoubtedly lined up to take over from the ‘big three’ of Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, of which, the Serb legend is the only one currently remaining.

Djokovic will be defending the title that he won in 2022, with the 36 ­ year ­ old looking to equal Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon men’s crowns.

After landing a record­breaking 24th Grand Slam title at the French Open in Roland Garros, he will surely be adequately fired up to take on all­comers.

At the age of 43, the legendary Venus Williams will make her 24th appearance in the tournament.

THE opening stage of the 2023 Tour de France got underway on Saturday July 1 and ended in a thrilling two ­ rider finish between two British riders on opposing teams.

Saturday saw an incredible first stage with two British riders, 30 year ­ old twin brothers Adam and Simon Yates, riding for opposing teams and sprinting to the line for the chance to pull on the iconic yellow jersey.

Saturday’s stage was a 182 metre round trip starting and fin ishing in Bilbao, in the Basque Country. It was one of the toughest opening stages for years with over 3,000 metres of climbing.

First across the line was Adam riding for UAE Team Emirates, with Simon (Jayco AlUla) a mere four seconds behind.

With three weeks of racing to go anything can happen, but Satur day’s finish puts Adam in a strong position. Tour favourite, and Adam’s co ­ team leader, Tadej Pogacar came in third and was elat ed to see his teammate claim victo

ry, raising his arms as he crossed the finish.

After the win, a modest Adam seemed to downplay his position as co ­ leader and insisted he was there to support

teammate

Adam said: “Being in the yellow jersey is no problem. It’s an honour and a privilege to have yellow. Over the next few weeks I’m gonna help Tadej try to win, he’s shown he’s the best in the world over the last couple of years in all disciplines and we’re gonna fight for every

another tough 209 kilometres from born Yates brothers are the first to achieve such a feat since Luxembourgers Andy and 2 on stage

ADAM YATES: Is now in a strong position in the 2023 Tour de France.