Costa de Almeria 13 – 19 July 2023 Issue 1984

FIFTEEN-YEAR LOW

Anna Ellis

IN great news for the economy it has been confirmed that unemployment fell in Almeria by 408 people during the month of June, coinciding with the start of the summer season.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, 8,955 Almerians ceased to be unemployed in the province. Almeria is one of the three Andalucian provinces where hiring rose during June, with 727 people signing an agreement to work during the 30 days of the month.

With respect to June 2022, the province joins the nega­

tive trend in Andalucia, with a 22 per cent drop in the last 12 months.

The trend in the province reflects what has happened at the national level, with unemployment levels at a 15­year low, coinciding with

the onset of the crisis in 2008.

In June, 2,688,842 people were still on the unemployment rolls, with 20.8 million people registered with Social Security.

Six out of every 10 con ­

tracts signed in the region were temporary, a total of 169,674, while the remaining 108,969 were permanent.

By sex, unemployment among women stands out, who were the main ones affected by the lack of work at regional level, with 427,804 people looking for work, almost twice as many as men.

GOOD NEWS: Unemployment fell in the month of June.

Image: SEPE

Los Bandidos

Anna Ellis

FIFTEEN Los Bandidos runners took on Vera 4k, 11k and Half Marathon starting and finishing at Club Deportivo in Puerto Rey on Saturday, July 8.

It was a very hot and humid evening but the event was extremely well organised and there were plenty of water stations, as well as lots of Los Bandidos support out on the route encouraging all the runners.

All the runners who finished received a commemorative medal, a race t ­ shirt and bag, as well as lettuce and cherry

tomatoes! There was also food and drinks, including beer, at the finish!

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

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

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

Shuttle-less

THE shuttle bus that took health professionals, patients and relatives free of charge from the Torrecardenas University Hospital to the shopping centre of the same name, and vice versa, has temporarily suspended its service.

According to the hospital, the bus will stop running on July 15, but will be back after the summer season on October 1.

The shuttle bus was launched almost a

year ago, coinciding with the closure of the hospital’s cafeteria­restaurant and was a free means of transport not only for those who came to the hospital and could not find a place to park their car, but also for patients, relatives and professionals who had nowhere to eat.

The quickest and cheapest alternative was the shopping centre, with parking and eating facilities in its numerous restaurants.

Red shrimp

THE mayor of Almeria, Maria del Mar Vazquez, has valued the red shrimp of Almeria as a “tourist attraction and hallmark of the capital and the province.” She confirmed: “We must ensure that when someone talks about red shrimp, they automatically think of Almeria.”

Scooting trouble

IN the past four years, the Provincial Traffic Office of Almeria has processed a total of 277 complaints against scooters and personal mobility vehicles for driving on interurban roads. If caught, fines for this offence can be up to €200.

Pulpi trial

THE Provincial Court of Almeria is now hosting the trial against two men accused of participating in bringing 282 kilos of hashish on the beach of San Juan de los Terreros in Pulpi during the early morning in September last year.

Seagull struggle

SEAGULLA that have settled in the city of Almeria have been increasing since 2019. It is a problem that has increased during July and is beginning to generate discomfort among city residents.

Plaza upgrades

ALMERIA City Council has awarded the first phase of the redevelopment works of Plaza Azucena and Plaza Acequieros and their surroundings in the Barrio Alto for an amount of €614,405. The works are expected to take around seven months.

International Centre

IT has been announced that Torrecardenas University Hospital will be an International Vaccination Centre. The Junta de Andalucia has signed an agreement confirming the hospital will exercise the functions of foreign health in matters of international vaccinations.

Going for Gold

Anna Ellis ALMERIA’S Women’s Football Club forward, Jessica Higueras and her Spain Soccer Beach teammates, have been crowned European champions at the 2023 European Games that was held in Krakow (Poland).

Spain knocked out other rivals on the road to progress into the final against Ukraine.

It was expected to be quite a tough game and it was not until the penalty shootout that it was decided who would win the gold

medal. The two national teams scored the goals in the last

minutes of the last part of playing time. From there, the Ukrainians took the lead

YOUR EWN HAS

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with just over a minute to go, however, Spain did not give up and thanks to an equaliser by link ­ up duo Jesssica and Lorena with 30 seconds to go, extra time was reached.

When Spain could have been able to clinch the victory with a goal in extra time their attempt crashed into the post which led to a penalty shootout.

After the penalty shootout, Jessica and her teammates became champs to get the gold medal of the 2023 European Games.

Tapas Route prizes Beach delays

THE new mayor of Nijar, Jose Francisco Garrido, has apologised for the lack of management and foresight of the previous socialist government as he blames them for causing delays in launching beach services.

He explained: “ I took on office as mayor on June 17 and have found a bogged down town hall, with uncontracted services which for a tourist town like ours, are fundamental.

“The enormous irresponsibility and lack of work of the previous mayor and her government team is shameful,” he

added.

The mayor confirmed that his government were “working tirelessly to solve the colossal inability of the previous PSOE executive.”

Finally, the mayor added: “Despite the disastrous socialist legacy, the Níjar Town Hall is now in good hands, and the people of Níjar can rest assured, that there is now a serious and responsible government team working from dawn to dusk to reverse this situation of neglect and lack of efficiency in municipal management.”

ALMERIA’S Tapas Route which began on May 25 and ended on June 18 involved almost 60 establishments.

Most of the bars and restaurants were in the city but neighbouring towns such as Huercal de Almeria, Roquetas de Mar, Caboneras and Mojacar also joined in the fun.

ASHAL is a hotel business organisation that brings together hotel associations and companies from Almería capital and province and, just a few days

Yoga Moments

CALLING all yoga fans. Have you ever fancied doing a spot of yoga in the great outdoors? If so, Yoga Moments is the perfect hobby for you. Yoga classes are set to take place over the summer in various corners of Berja. The first event took place on July 7 at the Plaza Federico Moreno and had a great response. The next Yoga Moments event is set to take place on July 14 at the Mill of Perrillo starting at 7.00pm.

Put a note in your diary for the follow­up Yoga Moments: Castala on July 21 starting at 8.00pm, Paseo de Cervantes on August 11 at 8.00pm, CEIP Celia Vinas on August 18

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Good show

ALMERIA has obtained good results in the Spanish Base Artistic Gymnastics Championship.

It is a national event in which Almeria has been represented by one of the athletes from the municipal gymnastics sports schools, the EDM Club A D La Salle.

ago, they held a raffle picking names from more than 1,200 ballots posted by customers on the route. The lucky winners will receive their prizes over the next few days.

The councillor for Agri ­ Food Promotion, Maria Luisa Cruz, confirmed: “These routes have become an important showcase for putting Almeria’s gastronomy on the front page. We want to encourage consumption in the different participating establishments.”

Under the organisation of the Spanish Gymnastics Federation, this large ­ scale event was held in Lanzarote and brought together more than 900 athletes and 200 coaches, as well as representatives of different federations.

The gymnast of the club and municipal school, A D La Salle, Nina Pace, was present at the event from June 22 to 24.

In this championship, Nina did herself proud by putting on a sterling performance and climbing the podium leaving the name of Almeria very high with a silver medal.

at 8.00pm and, finally, in the Plaza de Constitucion on August 25 at 8.00pm.

Everyone is welcome at this free event. Registration is not needed, just grab your mat and join in the fun.

that way.

BEACH SOCCER: Spain has been crowned champions.

Image: UD Almeria

YOGA CLASSES: Take place in summer.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Berja / Facebook

Filled with colour

ALMERIA has been painted in colour with a total of eight murals calling for an end to gender violence.

The murals can be seen in Plaza 1 de Mayo, Plaza Santa Isabel, the access ramp and the Pescadería Sports Pavilion, two transformer stations in Calle Argentinita and in two other transformer stations in the Generalife Park.

The councillor for Family, Inclusion and Equality, Paola Laynez, explained that “these murals aim to make gender violence visible and contribute to eradicating a social scourge that unfortunately we continue to suffer today.”

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

The murals are the work of Almerian artist, Daniel Fernandez, who has been developing his artistic career since 1995 and as a professional since 2008.

He has participated in numerous competitions, contests, and international exhibitions of urban culture at an individual and associative level.

In addition, he has organised workshops and festivals throughout the province of Almeria, where a good part of his works can be found on multiple supports and installations, the main environment being the public space, the largest existing gallery, a gift and way of bringing art closer to all citizens.

New mayor for Mojacar

CROWDS gathered outside the council offices in Mojacar Pueblo on Friday evening. Gusts of wind blew around the village: there was a change in the air, waiters ran out of the bars and restaurants to hold down the parasols.

While two men rushed to support the large video screen setup outside the Mojacar Council offices that was soon to broadcast the investiture of Francisco Garcia.

Inside the council chambers were families of both parties: PP and POSE waiting patiently for the ceremony to begin, while crowds of locals and tourists alike had gathered

ence. Formalities proceeded with each of the new councillors taking oaths, the PP having the majority of eight councillors compared to five from the PSOE.

Rosa Maria Cano now becoming the deputy mayor and handing over the ‘Keys to the City’ to Francisco Garcia.

it.

outside, filling the bars and restaurants to watch on the ‘big screen’.

As 8.30 came and went, the ceremony began with Rosa Maria Cano also from the Party Popular: ‘PP’ (the past mayor) giving a short speech to the attentive audi­

THE four Blue Flags that have been awarded by the European Foundation for Environmental Education are already flying on the beaches of Mojacar, which, since 1987, distinguishes beaches and ports that meet a series of rigid environmental conditions and facilities.

This year the beaches of El Cantal, Lance Nuevo, Marina de la Torre and Venta del Bancal ­ Ventanicas have been responsible for renewing this distinction.

Mojacar has 17 kilometres of magnificent coastline.

In addition to these double awardwinning and best ­ known beaches, you

Francisco Garcia took the baton with loud applause from the families within the chambers and cheers from the gathered crowds outside. Thus appointed until 2027: the new mayor, Francisco Garcia took office here in Mojacar on Friday July 7 at approximately 8.45pm.

Four flags

can also enjoy protected beaches on the outskirts of urban centres such as El Sombrerico and La Granatilla, which are smaller and although they do not have services, they have the charm of being in an environment natural.

Mojacar Council feel it is important to highlight the effort of all the departments involved in maintaining and improving all the beaches of Mojacar, as well as the effort made by the business tourism sector with whom the council collaborates with all year round.

Charity race

GRAB a torch and your running shoes as the city of Almeria is set to host its seventh Night Charity Race Against Cancer.

Sport and solidarity merge once again all for a good cause in Almeria on Saturday July 15 in the historic centre of the capital.

It is a race whose objective is to raise funds to fight against and will cover a distance of five kilometres.

With a starting time of 9.30pm, the starting point is at the gate of La Alcazaba and the finish line is set to be in the Plaza Vieja.

It will be a sporting event that will continue to demonstrate the solidarity that so characterises the people of Almeria as, has been proven in previous years, a high participation is expected.

Registration is open and can be completed through www.cruzandolameta.com.

30 Species of dolphin found in Spanish waters.

Mayor Francisco Garcia.

Image: VII Carrera Nocturna Contra El Cancer Ciudad De Almeria / Facebook

“It takes two to tango.”

This means that both parties involved in a situation or argument are equally responsible for

The phrase refers to the South American dance tango which requires two partners to perform. It originated in a song written by AL Hoffman and Dick Manning in 1952.

The seventh Night Race.

Anna Ellis

RENFE is set to increase the Intercity train service between Madrid and Almeria with 3,000 additional seats at the weekend from mid-July to the end of August.

This increase in train seats between the Spanish capital and Almeria aims to meet the increase in demand that occurs during the summer season.

From July 14 to August 27, the Intercity

Almeria to Madrid

train on Fridays departing from Madrid at 8.17am and the one on Sundays returning from Almeria at 7.32am will run in double composition, that is to say, with double the usual number of seats.

According to Renfe, this will increase

Wow, just wow!

ARBOLEAS Walk for Life would like to say an enormous thank you to everyone who took part in the walk in April.

A big thank you to those who organised, entertained, watched, participated in any way and mostly to those who walked and the wonderful, generous people who sponsored them.

After costs, Walk for Life raised a whopping €21,667.76.

Walk for Life is a voluntary group committed to helping people with cancer. It obtained Charitable Status on March 14, 2014.

The charity is located in Ar­

boleas and has been operating for the past 10 years.

The Walk for Life committee meets regularly and remains in constant touch with each other to ensure they administer to the needs of their client base.

All of the people the charity help are dealt with in the

strictest of confidence. Walk for Life has a data protection policy in line with legislation.

To volunteer email: claire.walk4life@gmail.com or telephone (+34) 644 602 249.

For help email: irenewalk4 life@icloud.com or telephone (+34) 643 638 177.

bums on seats by 33 per cent in comparison to the usual weekend offer.

Tickets are now available through the usual sales channels: www.renfe.com, (+34) 912 320 320 , ticket offices and travel agencies.

Qfor Quality

NIJAR has proudly raised its Q for Quality flag on its award­winning beach.

Whilst the blue flag rating is the most widely known, there are other highly prestigious, demanding systems also in place. These include the Q for Quality distinction, awarded by the Spanish Tourism Quality Institute (ICTE).

When this award was created it was a pioneering innovation at world level. It is different from other standards in that it focuses especially on the tourism sector, with specific emphasis placed on the needs

of the end user.

Q for Quality does not only mean that the beach in question meets the necessary quality requirements, but also that its facilities and services are in constant search of improvement and customer satisfaction.

Once a beach has earned the Q for Quality award it must pass an annual review to maintain it.

Environmental education, leisure services, removal of architectural barriers and assistance to disabled persons are some of the aspects taken into account.

BUS users in Almeria who use the Metropolitan Transport Consortium card will be pleased to hear that the 60 per cent discount promotion is receiving an extension on multi ­ trip tickets.

The councillor for Development, Carmen Belen Lopez Zapata, confirmed: “The Network of Transport Consortiums of Andalucia already have permanent discounts implemented, from which more than 2.5 million passengers benefit.”

The councillor added: “There are already more than 110,000 Andalucian young people who currently enjoy the new Youth Card with a minimum bonus of 50 per cent and, in the case of large families, with a bonus of up to 100 per cent.”

WALK FOR LIFE: Committed to helping people with cancer.

Image: Mike Holliday

Now open

TO celebrate the opening on July 5, Almeria’s new IKEA offered €5,000 in gift cards for the first 1,000 customers, as well as a free breakfast for the first 100 visitors.

The new IKEA store has 14,000 m2, of which 7,950 m2 are commercial areas, offers a complete IKEA experience with more than 5,000 products from all areas of the home available to buy and take away on the spot.

However, 100 per cent of the assortment can be accessed within 24 hours through the Click & Collect and Order & Collect services.

Although the facilities consist of two floors, the ground floor is used for internal spaces and parking, while the entire store area is distributed on a single floor that has a large entrance hall with natural

lighting.

It also has an outdoor terrace and, in fact, one of its particularities is the number of open spaces with natural light that have been designed with Almeria and the local lifestyle in mind.

It also has a restaurant area attached to the Swedish Food Store called

Swedish Deli.

Its other peculiarity compared to other stores is that it includes a ‘hub’ to plan and design the different rooms in the home.

In addition, digital information points have been installed so that other models of an article, colours or assortment availability can be consulted.

Ikea celebrated opening.

Image: FAAM / Facebook

21 Remnants of Almeria

THE Espacio 2 Art Museum is now hosting the exhibition entitled: 21 Remnants of Almeria by the artist Restituto Lopez.

The councillor for Tourism Joaquin Perez de la Blanca, confirmed: “The exhibition alternates botanical themes treated analytically, landscape and daily reality expressed in interiors and still lives.”

The coordinator of the Perceval Room of the museum where the exhibition is on display, Alejandro Zamora, added: “The artist who, despite being from Alicante and living in Madrid, is a regular visitor to our province and has been since the 80s.

“The artist knows our landscape and our native flora well, which is the theme of this exhibition.”

The artist, Restituto Lopez, said: “I have been coming to Almeria in summer for more than 40 years and I have made

hundreds of drawings of Almeria, especially its coast, and these drawings have been translated into engravings, some of them from 30 years ago as you can see in this museum space.

“Despite not being from Almería, I have to say that I feel very Almerian because I have been coming to this magnificent city for more than four decades.”

The exhibition is on display until Sunday July 23.

Entrepreneurship and opportunities

THE president of the Andalucian Association of Self ­ Employed Workers (ATA), Rafael Amor, has valued the growth of self ­ employed workers in the Andalusian community, but has warned of “a difficult year at a national level.”

Almeria is the third province with the highest growth in the number of self ­ employed,

with a rise of 0.4 per cent, only surpassed by Cadiz and Malaga.

In June, 257 people became self ­ employed, a trend that stands out in a national panorama where Amor denounces that the situation is “stagnating at 0 per cent” and the loss of this type of employees in provinces such as Sevilla and Jaen.

The main lines of business at a regional level are in agriculture, where in the last year 864 selfemployed workers have been incorporated, a figure that contrasts with the collapse of the data in trade, which loses 3,858 employees, and industry, with a fall of 399 people.

ATA defends that the Andalucian Government is “reducing obstacles and eliminating obstacles for the self ­ employed.

“We are going to work together with the government to make Andalucia a land of entrepreneurship, opportunities, job creation and wealth,” Amor confirmed.

EXHIBITION: Drawings translated into engravings.

Image: Turismo de Almeria

Special fiesta Mobile MOT unit

Anna Ellis

MOTORCYLE owners needing an MOT, ITV, will be pleased to hear that the mobile ITV unit for motorcycles will visit Berja on Thursday July 20 from 8.45am until 12.30pm.

The unit will be located at C/ Juan Rodriguez, in front of the Multipurpose Centre.

To help your motorcycle or moped pass its ITV, the ITV Centre recommend that you check the main elements, such as front and rear lighting, tyres, licence plate, all handlebars, seat, fluid leaks, fenders, suspension, chain protector, and any other parts of your structure that may be damaged.

They suggest you ensure that the frame has not undergone any modification which is an essential check to pass the ITV.

The ITV Centre recommends you ensure that the exhaust is original or approved for that ve­

THE Port Authority of Almeria (APA) is inviting local residents and tourists to enjoy the sunset from the Lighthouse of Almeria.

From July 14 and every Thursday until September 13 the Port Authority is set to organise free excursions for people to enjoy the sunset in the port enclave which is where a great panoramic view of the city can also be seen.

For the Sunset at the Lighthouse events, the councillor for Tourism, Joaquin Perez de la Blanca, has confirmed the council will put on free

hicle model. The exhaust pipe is an essential part of the roadworthiness test, as noise and gas emission levels depend on it. If it is not the original, ask the exhaust manufacturer for the approval form.

Finally, they suggest you perform routine maintenance of the vehicle and always ensure that it is in good condition so there will be no surprises.

AGUADULCE in Roqeutas de Mar will enjoy its fiestas which honour the Virgen del Carmen from Friday, July 14 until Sunday, July 16.

The mayor of Roquetas de Mar, Gabriel Amat, has once again expressed his excitement about enjoying the popular traditional festivities and religious devotion in honour of the Virgen del Carmen.

“These are special festivities for the inhabitants of coastal municipalities such as Roquetas de Mar, as well as for fishermen

Charity success

A THOROUGHLY enjoyable evening was had by those who attend the AA Dog Rescue Charity ball on Sunday July 9.

The charity based in Albox raised a whopping €1,306 to help doggies.

AA Charity would like to thank everyone who helped and attended the event to make it the great success it was.

and sailors who over the weekend will honour the Patron Saint of the Sea,” the mayor confirmed.

Enjoy the sunset

transfer buses from the Muelle de Levante to the lighthouse.

The president of the APA, Rosario Soto, confirmed: “To liven up every Thursday afternoon during sunset at the lighthouse of Almeria and in a bid to encourage younger visitors, the trip will

be enlivened with live music by the Orquesta Joven de Almeria (OJAL).”

Those interested in joining in the fun with Sunset at the Lighthouse must obtain their free ticket in the form of a QR code which will be sent to their email address once they have registered via

For more information about the charity, head to the website: aadogres cue.org.uk , email: aadr spain@aadogrescue.org.u k or call (+44) 7779 588735.

the cultural agenda website of the Port Authority of Almeria.

Places are limited to 200 people each day given the capacity of the buses.

The buses will leave every Thursday at 7.30pm from the Muelle de Levante, in the area that will be marked out next to the Port Authority building.

Rosario Soto also indicated that at least one Thursday evening will be available for people with reduced mobility, depending on demand.

MOT TIME: Bring along your motorcycles.

Honouring Virgen del Carmen.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Roquetas de Mar

PAWS PEOPLE Port access

AN opportunity, an experience, is it you or someone you know? Want to make a difference? Become a volunteer and join the PAWS­PATAS animal shelter team in Spain!

The PAWS­PATAS animal shelter situated near a small town called Turre in Costa Almeria, Andalucia now enters its 35th year. Their mission statement is to provide temporary shelter to abandoned kittens, cats, puppies and dogs. Their purpose is to find permanent homes and support and educate a healthy pet community and responsible pet ownership.

The animal charity receives no government funding and are totally supported by public donations, organisation membership, local fundraising events, auctions plus their four outlets in Mojacar, Turre and Las Buganvillas. PAWS­PATAS also relies heavily on teams of passionate volunteers. There are local people who come to the shelter during the week but there is, thankfully, also a constant stream of overseas volunteers from all over Europe who come and stay for a period of time; often returning on an annual basis. Some volunteers are undertaking an internship; others are students or mature folk wishing to experience a new adventure.

WHAT DO YOU NEED? A love of dogs and basic skills in animal care. Not afraid to get dirty and have lots of ‘furry cuddles’. Can ex­

press yourself in English and are fit for physical work. WHAT DO YOU DO? General daily care with feeding, cleaning kennels and playing areas, socialising, training and dog walking. FOR HOW LONG? Minimum stay is two weeks but you can stay longer. There are two mobile homes and two studios which have all recently been renovated. A small fee is charged to cover water and electricity costs plus a deposit of €25 is reserved for cleaning the accommodation when you depart. HOW DO I GET THERE? Fly to Almeria or Alicante and transfer to Vera bus station. Drive your own car and park at the shelter. Whatever your circumstances, PAWS­PATAS will do their utmost to accommodate you which includes other volunteers transporting you to local towns for shopping or a day on the beach!

More questions? More information?

Please email: antoinette@paws­patas.org.

Adoptions and Fostering: Email: dogs@paws­patas.org or cats@pawspatas.org.

For all other details visit their website: www.paws­patas.org.

The cattery desperately needs helping hands... email: teresa@paws­patas.org.

VOLUNTEERS DON’T GET PAID, NOT BECAUSE THEY’RE WORTHLESS... BUT BECAUSE THEY’RE PRICELESS!

SPAIN’S Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (MITMA) has approved the preliminary study analysis of the need and alternatives to improve access to the Port of Almeria.

The preliminary study consists broadly of; the doubling of the carriageway of the AL14 road, between junction 790 with the A­7 motorway and the junction with the N340 road.

In the direction of Almeria, this involves the construction of a new two­lane road. In the direction of Malaga, a new tunnel will be built with three lanes in each direction and 220 metres long.

The junction of the AL­14 with the N­340a will be remodelled to accommodate the doubling of the carriageway to provide access to the port. The N­340a, between the junction mentioned in the previous point and Almería,

Big time winner

A VERY lucky Almerian resident won a whopping €535,000 on the ONCE lottery game entitled ELEVEN.

Emilio Carrion who sold the

winning ticket has just been awarded Salesman of the Year for the ELEVEN lottery game in the provinces of Almeria, Granada and Jaen.

Since 2018 Emilio has been bringing luck to the Almerian neighbourhood of Retamar.

The seller confirmed: “The truth is that I’m a lucky seller and the excitement is the same every time a prize is given out.

“The key to being a good seller of the ELEVEN lies in kindness, humility, and the steadfastness of being there day to day,” Emilio added.

which is currently a multi­lane road, will maintain its configuration, but will be freed from port traffic. The integration of pedestrian and cycle mobility on the N­340a is envisaged through the creation of a footbridge over the road.

Pride ends

A MASSIVE rainbow flag (and plenty of smaller ones) filled the streets of Almeria which hosted its final celebration of the LGTBIQ+ Pride March on July 8.

The march began from Puerta de Purchena to the Parque de las Almadrabillas under the slogan: Diversity has no age.

The march marked the closure of the different activities that celebrated Pride Week which began on June 28.

ALMERIA PORT: Access is to be improved.

Image: Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda

To speak or not to speakthat was the question!

AFTER five years in Spain, my Spanish is much better than the few words I could tentatively utter upon landing with four suitcases and no clue what we were doing.

Looking back, those first weeks of fumbling our way through the simplest of tasks is cringe­worthy. We were a curiosity in our building, and our neighbours, thankfully, barely acknowledged the odd American newcomers. They thought we were holidaymakers renting the apartment during Valencia’s biggest party of the year, Fallas. But the month of March came and went, and we were still there. We tried not to stand

out, whispering in hushed tones to avoid drawing attention to ourselvesridiculous in one of the loudest countries in the world, where everyone speaks at volume. Our incessant muttering marked us strangers more than if we shouted at each other in the lobby. Avoiding eye contact so as not to invite conversations we knew we couldn’t hold, convinced it made us invisible. After a few months, there were terse chin nods directed our way. Upon entering and exiting our elevator, we might receive a Buenos dias. Jeff and I celebrated these moments with high fives and more whispers.

“Did you hear that?”

It called for a celebratory glass of wine at the local café. We ordered the same thing every day. The owner stopped coming to the table to ask ­ she just brought it out. After a few months, the accompanying snack went from potato chips to empanadas. We learned the better the customer, the better the snack.

Today, I can carry on conversations in español. And I know what people are saying in every context. Yes, we are still strange. That will never change. But I wouldn’t go back to those fumbling early days for all the empanadas in the world.

Kelli Field is an American expat writer/blogger living in rural Galicia, and a volunteer for Age in Spain.

of her other writing about moving to and living in Spain can be

What’s it all about?

SPAIN goes to the polls on July 23, five months earlier than expected.

Pedro Sanchez, president of the Spanish government, decided to cut his losses by announcing a snap poll after the PSOE’s disastrous results in the May 28 municipal and regional elections.

As well as Sanchez’s face, the posters and billboards on Spain’s streets and squares also show Alberto Nuñez Feijoo (PP), Santiago Abascal (Vox) and Yolanda Diaz (Sumar). The PP is conservative and Vox is further to its right. The PSOE are socialists while Sumar, a 17­party coalition, is further to its left.

Neither the PP nor the PSOE is likely to obtain an overall majority of at least 176 MPs, so Feijoo must turn to Vox, whose parliamentary seats would allow him to form a government.

The PSOE and Sumar will form a similar alliance.

Although there are other parties, mainly nationalist, the next government will inevitably be a PP­Vox or PSOESumar tandem.

The PP promises a tax reform, will eradicate sexist violence and improve the education system. It is determined to eliminate Sanchismo, Feijoo’s term for Sanchez’s policies, laws and actions which the PP considers “erroneous and anti­constitutional.”

Vox wants a “fiscal revolution” and will repeal the abortion and euthanasia laws. Abascal would centralise a future government with far less

power for the autonomous regions, while making it harder for immigrants to acquire Spanish nationality. The PSOE intends to “consolidate the welfare state”, shorten hospital and specialist waiting lists, provide free transport for the under­24s and free further education for students who consistently pass their exams. Sumar will build two million homes with affordable rents, pay a children’s allowance of €200 per child up to the age of 18, introduce higher taxes for the rich and help with mortgages for the less welloff.

SPANISH PARLIAMENT: Change due after July 23.

Photo credit: Pool Moncloa, Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

New beach flags

John Ensor AUTHORITIES at a beach in Galicia have gone one step further in inclusivity by adopting flags for people suffering from colour blindness.

It was announced that from Wednesday, July 5, the municipality of Sanxenxo, near Pontevedra in Galicia, has introduced lifeguard flags adapted for people with colour blindness onto its beaches.

The flags are a well­known sight on Spanish beaches which combine colours and symbols that inform bathers about the condition of the sea.

The flags use the awardwinning ‘ColorADD’, a system which was developed by a Portuguese graphic designer and a university professor. It remains the only language in the world adapted to people with colour blindness.

According to statistics from ColorADD, there are 350 million colour­blind people worldwide, with one in 12 males and one in 200 females.

The Sanxenxo Council issued a statement: “This makes

the beaches more inclusive, as people with colour blindness will be able to access the information on the flags independently.”

It is worth remembering that the most frequent variant of colour blindness makes it difficult to distinguish between the colours red and green, which are two of the main colours used in any code related to risk and safety.

Therefore, the red, yellow and green flags are accompanied by a new symbolism. Specifically, the red flag has a

triangle, the yellow flag has a diagonal stripe and the green flag has a diagonal line and a triangle.

The authorities at Sanxenxo have again decided not to place showers on its beaches in order to save water.

They also took the decision not to place litter bins on the beaches. Bathers will throw their rubbish into a container when they leave the beach.

This is to avoid bathers having to lie next to smelly litter bins and also to avoid seagulls picking up the waste.

New flags to be installed for the colour blind.

Photo credit: Denys Kurbatov / Shutterstock

€2 Cinema tickets

NOWADAYS, almost everyone uses streaming services, whether it’s Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime or another platform, and trips to the cinema are becoming less and less common.

In a bid to boost cinema attendance, the Spanish government has launched an initiative with the participation of 420 cinemas including Kinépolis, Yelmo and Cinesa to bring audiences back to the cinema.

Those over 65 will be able to get cinema tickets priced at only €2 on Tuesdays at 3,000 cinemas in Spain, starting from July 11.

According to data from the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual

Arts (ICAA), an estimated 9.5 million people over 65 will be able to benefit from this discount, as one of the sectors of society most affected by the pandemic.

After the Covid ­ 19 pandemic, cinema attendance has slumped, however, those aged 65 or older are the age group that has shown the most reluctance to return to the cinema.

The average cinema ticket costs around €8 in Spain.

Ione Belarra, a politician in the Podemos party, is urging Sanchez to extend this offer to the unemployed, disabled and young people between the age of 15 and 29.

Rental increase

Fiesta of flavour

SPAIN places third in the European Union in terms of its number of quality labels like the Geographical Indications (IGPs) and Protected Designations of Origin (DOPs). The European Commission recently published its list of unmissable Spanish food and drinks this summer.

It’s no secret that Spain boasts a wide array of gastronomic treasures, from the diverse landscapes of the Balearic Islands to its vast, world­renowned wine regions.

Anna Ellis

THE price of housing rental in Spain increased by 9.2 per cent over the last 12 months, according to a report published by the property management company, idealista.

At the end of June 2023, renting a property in our country had a cost of €11.8 per square metre.

Francisco Inareta, spokesperson for idealista, confirmed: “As long as the available supply does not increase, there will be no way to contain prices.

“Neither the limits established in the Housing Law nor the promises of future developments seem to be able to contain the escalation of rents, which is getting worse for Span ­

ish families every day.”

Prices reached record highs in 25 capitals, including Alicante, Palma, Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona.

The price increased in all regions over the last 12 months.

The largest increases were in the Balearic Islands (27.3 per cent), Valencia (15.7 per cent), the Canary Islands (14.6 per cent), Andalucia (12.4 per cent) and Cantabria (12.4 per cent).

In Catalonia they rose by 10.8 per cent, while in Madrid they grew by 9.2 per cent. The Basque Country recorded the lowest increase (4.1 per cent), followed by Aragon (4.2 per cent) and Navarre (4.3 per cent).

This summer, the European Commission invites visitors to indulge in products including the DOP Mahón ­ Menorca cheese, sobrasada, and ensaimadas from Mallorca, and to savour the unique taste of the IPGcertified Ibiza olive oil while in the Balearic Islands.

While in mainland Spain, the European Commission says guests should treat their taste buds to the finest varieties of jamon including Teruel, Serón, Trevélez, and Jabugo, which all boast distinguished IPGs. And, naturally, they also invite guests to relish the distinctive flavours of DOP wines like Rioja, Rueda, and Rias Baixas.

PROPERTY RENTAL: Prices have reached record highs.

Image: fizkes / Shutterstock.com

Valencian Estate Agents

THE role of the Estate Agent is a very important one in Spain, especially in areas where there are large numbers of tourists, some of whom are looking to purchase a second home or to settle in Spain.

For many years, especially in the boom or bust times, it was very easy to set up as an estate agent and there is little doubt that whilst the majority have always been decent and above board, there have been more than a few ‘bad apples’.

Now the Valencian Community has decided it’s time to ensure that those wishing to enter the profession are not only qualified to do so, but also are regulated in the same way they are in much of Europe and the USA. A new law which came in to effect in July ensures that agents will have to demonstrate

they have a proper knowledge of the profession and take responsibility for their actions.

There will be a register of recognised estate agents operating in the region which will ensure that any ‘cowboys’ will be weeded out.

This law will therefore lead to an improvement in service guarantees and quality of service and better protection for home buyers.

Agents will have to have a physical location in Valencia even if they only trade online, they will have to undertake recognised training and pass exams in order to be able to display their right to practise in the profession.

To be able to offer their services, any company will need to be able to demonstrate it has insurances and other guarantees in place to cover its liability for any damage caused by its actions.

NEW LAW: Buy or sell with confidence in Valencia.

Credit: Gerd Altmann Pixabay

DENMARK

Allowance declined

PRINCE CHRISTIAN OF DENMARK, the future king, has decided to decline his governmentfunded royal allowance upon turning 18. He aims to prioritise his education instead. This decision reflects the Danish royal family’s ongoing efforts to modernise the monarchy. Breaking with tradition effective from October he marks a notable departure from conventional expectations.

Airport CEO

THOMAS WOLDBYE , the former CEO of Copenhagen’s Kastrup International Airport has been appointed as the new CEO of London Heathrow Airport. After 10 years in charge of Britain's busiest travel hub, John HollandKaye steps down later this year, at which point, the keys will be handed to Woldbye.

THE NETHERLANDS

Government falls

AFTER just 18 months in office, Mark Rutte's coalition government collapsed on Friday, July 7. According to media sources in the Netherlands, the dramatic moment came after the four political parties involved in the coalition failed to reach an agreement on measures to curb the flow of migrants therefore a General Election will need to be held.

Ancient row

IT was in 2013 that museums in Ukraine agreed to lend 535 ancient Scythian artifacts for display to museums in Germany and Amsterdam. Finally, after nearly 10 years of wrangling, a Dutch Court of Appeal has ruled that they belong to Ukraine not Russian Crimea and will be returned eventually.

ITALY

Eating fine

VISITORS to Sant’Antioco in Sardinia need to be on guard as the town’s mayor has introduced some unusual new beach restrictions. There are now a staggering 23 activities that have been prohibited on its beach, anyone caught eating could face a fine of up to €500. The council hopes to put an end to large gatherings and to reduce litter.

Career move

LONDON-BORN actor, Ray Winstone, 66, is currently living high in the Sicilian mountains. The Sexy Beast star reveals he has taken on labouring work as the Hollywood writer’s strike has had an impact on available acting roles. He said: “I’ve been doing a bit of labouring out here, a bit of graft. I hurt my back a couple of years ago, so I’ve been building my back up a little bit.”

PRESS EURO

BELGIUM

Bicycle hearses

RECYLING takes on a whole new meaning when the concept of ecological friendly funerals is considered and in many European countries bicycle hearses are all the rage, but not in Belgium as yet. There is however a move afoot to change legislation to allow an eco-friendly farewell to loved ones.

A bicycle hearse can be ecofriendly and dignified

Mastodon surges

Back operation

A SPOKESPERSON has confirmed that the Irish president will cut back on his work schedule as a result of a medical procedure booked for next week. In an official statement on Sunday July 9 it was announced: ‘President Michael D Higgins, 82, on Tuesday, 11 July, will undergo an elective medical procedure to relieve back pain.

Double tragedy

TWO classmates have died in separate incidents while on holiday on the Greek Island of Ios. The two former students of St Michael’s College in Dublin, have been named as 18-yearolds Andrew O’Donnell and Max Wall. Last month the teenagers completed their Leaving Certificate exams and were pictured together on the college’s Facebook page.

Free transport

THE German alternative to Twitter Mastodon is experiencing a significant boost in its user base, thanks to the recent restrictions implemented by Twitter. With Twitter's limited visibility of user posts causing turmoil, Mastodon's userdriven structure has attracted an impressive surge of 110,000 new active users!

Contract terminated

BAYERN MUNICH FC has terminated its sponsorship agreement with Qatar Airways following mounting criticism from fans and external sources. The club announced the end of the controversial deal, which lasted for five years, stating that it was a mutual decision. Bayern Munich will no longer display the Qatar Airways logo on their sleeves or anywhere else.

GERMANY FRANCE

Emergency law

PRESIDENT MACRON has promised to approve an emergency law to help 'rebuild much faster' after the Paris riots. After a week of riots following the death of a 17-year-old boy in Nanterre, Macron invited the mayors of the municipalities most affected by the recent violence to a meeting at the Elysée Palace to reaffirm his support.

Mobile snooping

A MEASURE discussed by lawmakers in France could allow the police to remotely activate mobile phone cameras, microphones and GPS of potential suspects in order to spy on them. This latest attempt to reform the justice bill in France was met with disdain by members of both the right and left in the Assemblée Nationale. They described the action as an 'authoritarian snoopers’ charter'.

MONDAY, July 3 marked the inauguration of free public transport in Stavanger, Norway delighting morning commuters. The initiative encountered minor hiccups, but overall, the reception was positive. Citizens eagerly embraced the convenience and affordability of this new transportation paradigm, making their daily journeys smoother and more accessible!

Unusual preparation

NORWAY’S Casper Ruud made headlines by skipping traditional grass-court events and playing golf instead as his preparation for Wimbledon. Despite doubts about his commitment, Ruud started the tournament with a victory, showcasing his talent. Unfortunately, Liam Broady ousted Ruud, the world number four in the second round.

NORWAY FINLAND

Novelist dies

ON Wednesday July 5, Miki Liukkonen, one of Finland’s most promising writers suddenly passed away at the age of 33. The publisher of one of Finland’s most promising literary prospects, announced his death. During his all-too-brief career, Liukkonen had already produced five novels, three poetry collections and a picture book for adults.

Presidential visit

FOLLOWING a summit for the leaders of NATO, American President, Joe Biden was scheduled to visit Finland on Thursday, July 13. Finnish President, Sauli Niinistö will host the visit of the US President and a US-Nordic Leaders’ Summit in Helsinki. The summit will also be attended by the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

President faints

PORTUGUESE President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was discharged from hospital after fainting on Wednesday, July 5. The incident occurred while he attended an event in Caparica, Setúbal. He was taken by ambulance to the Hospital de Santa Cruz, in Oeiras. He was subsequently given a device to check his blood pressure and was due to visit his cardiologist.

Jellyfish warning

ALGARVE beachgoers have been warned to watch out for drum jellyfish. They have been sighted more than 120 times on many beaches recently from Lagos to Vila Real de Santo António. The Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) said it is a large jellyfish, whose bell can reach 60cm in diameter. People were warned not to touch them.

IRELAND PORTUGAL SWEDEN

Disobedient Greta

SWEDISH climate activist Greta Thunberg has been charged with disobedience to law enforcement after an incident in the oil port in Malmö last June. Along with other activists, she blocked tankers from driving out of the harbour by standing in front of them. According to the indictment, she refused to leave the scene when the police ordered her to.

Deep freeze

A 55-YEAR-OLD man was charged in Sweden on Thursday, July 6, with several different crimes in connection with keeping his dead partner in the freezer for several years. He is charged with a breach of civil peace, a serious breach of civil peace, serious fraud, and falsification of documents, after he was found to have been claiming her pension.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Good for you

DIAGEO has invested £21 million (€24.6 million) in an extension to its St James’s Gate brewery in Dublin to meet a surge in demand for alcoholfree Guinness. The addition will house equipment capable of producing 500,000 ­ hectolitres of the non­alcoholic Guinness, equivalent to approximately 90 million pints.

Making plans

THE Circulo de Empresarios business association called on whichever government is elected on July 23 to set the voluntary retirement age at 68 or even 72. This would help people to decide when to retire and what income deferral they wanted, enabling them to plan for the future, the Circulo said.

Two stories

PRIVATE bank Coutts reportedly closed Nigel Farage’s account with them after he fell below the elite lender’s wealth requirements. This questions the former Ukip and Brexit party leader’s assertions that Coutts had targeted him owing to his political views and his status as a “politically exposed person.”

Naturgy CEO

IGNACIO GUTIERREZ­ORRAN­

TIA will be the new chief executive of Naturgy, formerly Gas Natural Fenosa, with the approval of the chairman, Francisco Reynes. According to media reports, shareholders are in agreement and the board of directors will approve the appointment at Naturgy’s next ordinary meeting.

Cost-cutting

MORRISONS is closing a fruitpacking plant in Bradford, putting 450 jobs at risk. The cash­strapped supermarket chain, taken over in October 2021 by US private equity group Clayton Dubilier & Rice, will be moving operations to Thrapston (Northamptonshire) and Wakefield (Yorkshire) in the second half of this year.

Linda Hall IN just over a fortnight, the UK’s Alcohol Duty system will become much simpler.

On August 1, alcoholic drinks will be taxed according to their alcohol by volume (ABV), the government announced as it introduces the widest­ranging duty changes in 140 years.

This replaces the current system’s four separate taxes covering beer, cider, spirits, wine and made­wine.

“It makes the system fairer and more responsive to new products entering the market as consumer tastes evolve,” Gareth Davies, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said.

“Because we left the EU, we can now make sure our

STAT OF WEEK 1.88 billion

turnover for Samsung Iberia in 2022, an 11 per cent increase on the previous year, with a net profit that increased by 7 per cent to €36.8 million.

Better deal for pubs

with an ABV of less than 8.5 per cent will be eligible for reduced rates if they produce less than 4,500 hectolitres per year, Davis said.

Recognising pubs’ vital community role, Draught Relief will reduce Alcohol

Red to black

AO WORLD returned to profit thanks to an economy drive, prompting the electrical retailer to predict a return to sales growth in the coming year.

The Bolton­based company, listed on the London Stock Exchange, now operates in the UK after previously operating in Germany and the Netherlands.

alcohol duty system works for us,” Davies said.

After listening to feedback from industry, economists, public health groups and business owners, the new Alcohol Duty system based on taxing alcoholic products by strength ensures consistency for the

first time.

Six standardised alcohol duty bands across all types of alcoholic products apply to all UK individuals and businesses involved in making, distributing, holding and selling alcohol.

All small businesses producing alcoholic products

Duty on qualifying beer and cider by 9.2 per cent and by 23 per cent on qualifying wine­based, spirits­based and other fermented products sold in pubs and restaurants.

Every pint in every pub across the UK will pay less duty than their supermarket equivalent, in line with the government’s Brexit Pubs Guarantee.

No changes for Endesa

ITALIAN energy company Enel, which owns 70 per cent of Endesa, rejected out of hand rumours that it was planning to sell the Spanish electricity provider.

It had no intention of divesting itself of its Endesa stake “neither now nor in the future,” Enel said, responding to a report in a Spanish newspaper.

On the contrary, it viewed Endesa as ‘key’ to Enel’s future strategy and a company statement dismissed the reports as ‘totally unfounded’ on July 5, putting an end to speculation that any

Windfall tax

SPAIN’S banks and energy companies are on edge regarding the next government’s stance on the current windfall tax introduced to beat the costof­living crisis. The Partido Popular’s presidential candidate Alberto Nuñez Feijoo has revealed that he will maintain the temporary tax if he presides the next government.

While the banking sector is said to be resigned to paying the windfall tax, Spain’s energy companies are less reconciled and are asking to be taxed on their profits, rather than on their income. Should there be no change in government, however, both sectors suspect that the tax could be extended beyond 2023.

kind of operation was afoot.

The unprecedented profits of the Spanish electricity company in 2022, which allowed Enel to pocket a historic dividend of almost €1.1 billion in 2023,

Dove of peace (not)

UKRAINE recently named Unilever, still operating in Russia, as an “international sponsor of war.”

The London­based company which owns Marmite, Dove and Domestos amongst other brands, has been put on the International Sponsors of War list along with Procter & Gamble (P&G), and French group Leroy Merlin.

The Moral Rating Agency, which estimates that the London­based giant contributes £579 million (€675.4 million) to the Russian economy each year, also accused the firm of facilitating Russia’s invasion.

Companies like Apple, Levi’s and Spain’s Inditex have abandoned their Russian operations, although Unilever insisted it sold only essential food and hygiene products.

“Exiting is not straightforward,” a spokesperson told the BBC.

“If Unilever were to abandon its brands in Russia they would be appropriated and then operated by the Russian state,” they added.

made this even more unlikely, insiders said.

A day earlier, the news source maintained that the president of Repsol, Antonio Brufau, had spoken to Endesa’s former chief executive Borja Prado. They allegedly discussed the possibility of merging both groups, given the likelihood that the Partido Popular’s Alberto Nuñez Feijoo would win the July 23 general election.

“There has been no meeting, not between Enel and Repsol executives, nor with Borja Prado,” the statement said.

Lower inflation

FOOD inflation is starting to fall, according to Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts.

Shoppers were beginning to put more items in their trolleys now that the supermarket chain had cut prices on some basics, he explained. With household budgets under more pressure than ever, Sainsbury’s was putting all its energy and focus into battling inflation, the chief executive added.

“We have zero complacency on this issue,” he declared, citing the chain’s Aldi price­matching tactic together with specific price cuts for members of its Nectar loyaltyscheme.

“Inflation is still going to be a challenge and customers need to be assured we are really on their side.”

It posted a pre ­ tax profit of £7.6 million (€8.9 million) for the year ending on March 31, compared with a £10.5 million (€12.28 million) loss the previous year.

At the same time, diminishing demand for white goods and weak shopper confidence resulted in turnover slumping 17 per cent to £1.4 billion (€1.6 billion).

Correos woes

CORREOS lost €217.2 million in 2022, more than double its 2021 losses of €105.6 million.

Only 2020, the pandemic year, was worse, when the publicly ­ owned postal service plunged €264 million into the red.

Postal and parcel operations contributed €1.57 billion, 79 per cent of the group’s total, down 6.7 per cent on 2021, while Correos Express reported a €412.2 million turnover, 0.3 per cent more than in 2021.

The last time Correos made a profit was in 2019, albeit after an interlude of five years, with earnings of €14.8 million.

Stellar work

VEHICLE manufacturer Stellantis España closed the 2022 financial year with a €289.7 million profit.

This was almost five times more ­ and a 380 per cent increase ­ on its €60.5 million result in 2021, following the creation of Stellantis España after Opel España’s takeover of PSAG Automoviles Comercial España and Peugeot Citroën Automoviles España.

Stellantis España’s turnover increased by 268 per cent to €14.37 billion, of which 98.5 per cent originated from sales (€14.150 billion).

The remaining €219.8 million came with the company’s services division.

ALCOHOL DUTY: UK government has simplified the existing system.

ENDESA: 70 per cent stakeholder Enel has no intention of selling.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Skitterphoto

Photo credit: Endesa

DOW JONES

BUSINESS EXTRA Watching the gatekeepers

CAF contract

BASQUE rolling stock company CA, which builds environmentally sustainable transport, was awarded a contract worth more than €150 million to supply electric trams, trains and buses for Cagliari, Naples and Palermo in Italy. The 98 Cagliari buses will be built by CAF’s Polish subsidiary, Solaris, with the first deliveries due to arrive in 2024.

Dress stress

VAMPIRE’S WIFE fashion label worn by the Princess of Wales received a ‘winding­up petition’ allowing the courts to close the firm for failing to settle outstanding debts. The company expects £6.6 million (€7.7 million) in sales this year, 38 per cent up from 2021 when it lost £2.1 million (€2.5 million) during the pandemic.

SEVEN companies have informed the EU that they are affected by new anti­competitive practices regulations.

These affect companies valued at more than €75 billion on the stock market, with European sales exceeding €7.5 billion, at least 45 million active end­users and 10,000 business users inside the EU.

On July 4, the European Commission named the companies as Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Meta (Facebook), Apple and Microsoft, plus Samsung and ByteDance, the Chinese

JOHN LEWIS intends to build and rent out 11,000 properties as it makes plans to generate 40 per cent of its profits from outside retail by 2030.

The group, which owns Waitrose supermarkets as well as department stores, has made planning applications for projects in west and south­east London, while preparing to manage apartments built by other developers.

This, sources said, would enable the Part­

Branching out

nership to try out services and ideas for its own sites.

“We are absolutely committed to this,” Nina Bhatia, Strategy director at John Lewis, said. “At a time when there is a housing crisis and people want homes to buy or rent we are making a huge contribution,” she insisted.

Tax-free

owner of the social network TikTok.

After years of fruitlessly pursuing transgressions resulting in never­ending legal proceedings, the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) gives the Commission the power to impose regulations which the big hitters must comply with or pay huge fines.

The goal is to take action before abusive behaviour destroys competition, the Commission explained.

Only gatekeepers ­ companies which cannot be ignored because of their standing in online sales, search engines, social networks and operating systems ­ will face DMA bans and obligations.

Gatekeepers had until July 3 to notify the Commission once the DMA came into effect in early May. The Commission is now drawing up a list of all potential gatekeepers who will be given six months to comply with the DMA, the Commission said.

THIERRY ANDRETTA, chief executive of luxury leather goods firm Mulberry, declared that scrapping taxfree shopping for tourists was affecting UK sales. Andretta and other retailers contradicted Treasury claims that eliminating the tourist tax would cost an annual £2 billion (€2.35 billion) a year and maintained that there would be a net gain of around £350 million (€410.4 billion).

Not so sweet

FERRERO IBERICA, Spanish subsidiary of the Italian group Ferrero which owns Nutella, Kinder and Ferrero Rocher, improved sales by more than €17 million to approximately €289 million last year. The increase was the result of higher overheads caused by inflation and the Spanish company, whose margins were reduced, earned €5.7 million, 3 per cent less than in 2021.

THIERRY BRETON: Internal Market commissioner outlines the DMA.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: New legislation prevents anticompetitive practices.

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

THERE are now so many brainwashing racial overtones in the offerings of the British media that laws should be introduced to ban the faceless omnipresent mob who are consistently using their public positions to change the nature of British society and its ancestral heritage forever. These devious conspirators are now hell bent on initially convincing UK citizens, particularly the young, that at the moment the whole country is now a happy bubbling pot of mixed diversive cultures, which is of course ridiculous.

The bias of their TV reporting and in particular their advertising has now become deplorable and completely unacceptable. To give viewers the impression that non­whites and immigrants are the least of the country’s problems, they involve and present as many as possible in commendable actions and situations, including quiz shows, newscasts and documentaries. Subsequently keeping any reports or accusations of crime involvement and anti­social behaviour at an absolute minimum.

So far this year eight black teenagers have been shot or stabbed to death in London alone. On May 5 two were mur­

British media

dered within seven hours of each other. Notice any amount of extra TV coverage appertaining to any of these terrible events? Of course you didn’t. Almost unbelievably two black machete gangs clashed a week ago, terrorising London’s famous and generally peaceful Hyde Park. Personally I only noticed two TV news reports on this incident, which was completely dropped the following day.

A recent finding showed that nine out of 10 suspected UK gang members are from minority ethnic groups. Recently the Stephen Lawrence case has been saturating news and documentary programmes with reports against the police and those white perpetrators involved in the case which occurred some 30 years ago. This was a tragic event, but then so was the cold blooded murder of Lee Rigby by the two black terrorists, which has hardly received any publicity whatsoever for the last 13 years.

On a recent popular TV programme, they were interviewing some London residents who call themselves ‘Black Seeders’. These people were advocating that certain areas of London should be inhabited by black businesses and resi­

OCTOPUS FARM OUR VIEW

dents only. Can you imagine the outcry if this was a suggestion by residents of the white culture? If the media presentation happens to cover a pessimistic subject, particularly concerning an organisation like the NHS, they will invariably interview and reproach predominately white coordinators.

Whatever you may think of this whole worrying situation, have no doubt someone or some organisation somewhere are making these decisions, they are most certainly not arrived at by chance. Personally I have nothing against different cultures existing peacefully together, but refuse to stand by and watch our colleagues and ancestors undermined and made to feel inadequate. A path that could culminate in civil violence, bringing the voters and country to its knees.

Personally I believe this is the result some New World organisation somewhere is almost certainly looking for! They’ve already stirred it up in France! Keep the Faith Love Leapy. leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon. and Fri.

WE have all become used to the concept of fish farming around the world and although there have been some problems in the past with poor hygiene and unfortunate outbreaks of disease, they are generally accepted.

If we are to try to conserve fish stocks in the seas and maintain the marine balance, then it is relatively clear that these farms are not only here to stay but will increase in both size and the species that are produced.

One of the first of the fish farms featured salmon but since then expansion has seen oysters, mussels, crustaceans and even sturgeon here in Spain, as there is a never ending desire for fresh fruits de mer.

According to several scientists and the pressure group Anima Naturalis, the latest development in Las Palmas, Canary Islands may however be a step too far.

The first ever octopus farm has now been opened and environmentalists are strongly opposed on a number of grounds, foremost being that the octopus is actually a very intelligent and sentient creature as exemplified by the Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher and therefore deserves much better treatment.

Even renowned Ape specialist Dr Jane Goodall has joined in the criticism, not only speaking up for the mental health of the estimated 300,000 cephalopods that will be slaughtered in the farm annually, but also due to the possible damage done as sea currents distribute the chemicals and antibiotics used in the farm.

There is always a balance that must be found between the needs of humans and the protection of the environment, but this latest development may just be too much.

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

Yoga for over 50s

YOGA is an excellent practice for those over 50, offering numerous physical and mental benefits. It enhances flexibility, combating agerelated stiffness. Regular yoga improves balance, a critical aspect for preventing falls in older age. It’s also a gentle way to build strength, supporting bone health and overall fitness. Yoga aids in maintaining a healthy weight, critical for heart health and diabetes prevention. Beyond the physical, yoga promotes mental wellness. It’s a stress­reliever, helping manage age­related anxieties.

Its meditative aspects can boost memory and concentration, potentially delaying cognitive decline. Plus, it’s a social activity, fostering community and reducing feelings of loneliness. For over­50s, yoga is more than exercise; it’s a lifestyle for holistic well­being. It’s never too late to start ­ yoga embraces all ages.

Honey :

Nature’s beauty secret

FROM the hive to your vanity, honey is a potent beauty ally. Packed with antioxidants, honey neutralises ageing free radicals, promoting a youthful glow. Its natural antibacterial properties battle acne, while its humectant nature ensures skin stays moisturised.

For a soft, supple pout, it works as a gentle lip exfoliator. Honey is also a saviour for damaged hair, acting as a moisturising hair mask. Remember, always patch test before trying any new skincare product, even natural ones.

Honey, your sweet route to natural beauty, is just a cupboard away.

Laughter’s healing power

LAUGHTER, a natural antidote to life’s stressors, holds a remarkable healing power. Initially, it’s an excellent stress­buster, releasing endorphins that promote a sense of well­being and reduce stress hormones.

Furthermore, it enhances our immune system, with studies indicating that laughter triggers immune responses, potentially helping to fight off disease.

painkillers, helping to ease discomfort. Plus, the social bond created by shared laughter contributes to overall well ­ being. So, remember to laugh ­ it’s not only the best medicine, but the most joyful one.

HONEY: Will help to promote a youthful glow.

Spains 2023 beauty triumphs

SPAIN’S 2023 beauty scene blends tradition with innovation. ‘La Roche ­ Posay’s Anthelios Sunscreen’ leads the charge, highlighting the importance of sun protection. Close behind is ‘Natura Bissé’s Diamond Cream’, renowned for revitalising skin. An unex ­

pected favourite is ‘Zara’s Emotions Perfume Collection’, developed with British perfumer Jo Malone. Its variety and affordability make it a hit. Spanishborn ‘ISDIN’s Fusion Water’, a unique waterbased sunscreen, showcases national pride

and innovation in skin protection. Lastly, ‘Gisèle Denis’ Eye Contour Gel’ rules skincare, reflecting Spain’s preference for targeted, quality treatments. These bestsellers embody Spain’s dynamic beauty market, where luxury, quality, and value harmoniously blend.

Moreover, laughter acts like a mini workout for the heart, boosting blood vessel function and heart rate, akin to the benefits of a light exercise session. It also stimulates the production of the body’s natural

60 billion pounds total healthcare spend in UK 2022.

Property of the week

Country house for sale in La Judea, Arboleas

EXCLUSIVE TO NEXT HOUSE ALMERIA... six bedroom, two bathroom beautifully reformed cortijo in an elevated position with one bed annex, swimming pool and breathtaking panoramic views... walking distance to the village of Arboleas.

Arriving at the property, you have a generously sized garage with ample space for parking and storage. There are iron gates which open on to a lovely marble terraced area with spectacular panoramic views of Arboleas and the surrounding mountains. One entrance to the property leads to the spacious and bright living room with a feature wood burning fireplace. There is also a storage room which backs on to the garage. A couple of steps lead to the huge open plan kitchen/dining room with beautiful finishings throughout.

To the left of the kitchen you have a large and bright double bedroom and off the dining area there is a modern bathroom fitted with a shower and next to this a small courtyard area. On the other side of the kitchen, a hallway gives access to four more rooms. The first room is currently used as a breakfast room and additional kitchen storage, to the left there is a ‘secret room’ used as a studio space. Down the

hall there are two good sized and bright bedrooms. At the end of the hallway there is another entrance to the house which leads to a front terrace, positioned perfectly to be able to appreciate the views.

Back to the lounge you have the staircase leading to the second floor, where you will find the impressive master suite. There is a large open space used as a dressing room which opens on to a fully fitted bathroom. To the right is a second living area with a cosy fireplace and juliette style balcony and to the right is the bedroom area. Off the dressing room area there is a huge roof terrace with panoramic views.

In the front patio area you will find a variety

of areas to explore and enjoy. To the right you have a charming bar with a chill out zone and to the left a fantastic BBQ area, ideal for cooking outdoors most of the year!

Below the chill out area you will find the tiled swimming pool (5x3m2) with an infinity style effect. Steps lead to another terrace which houses the one bedroom annex with an independent kitchen, living, dining room and private terrace (there is also space to put a bathroom). This annex also has its own access via a seperate staircase. On this level you have another charming outbuilding which has been restored and would make a great playroom for kids or pool storage room.

The land is planted with a variety of trees

€235.000 euros

and plants. The garden areas are designed perfectly making them very easy to maintain.

The reform was done carefully, maintaining the original features as much as possible. This property is ready for moving straight into. Ideal for a B&B in a very desirable area.

Access is entirely via tarmac roads, a couple of minutes’ drive from the village of Arboleas where you will find a variety of amenities. Excellent links to the motorways and 10 minutes away from the larger towns of Albox and Huercal Overa. The closest airport is approx one hour away.

So look no further and book your visit to this charming place now! This can be your Next House in Almeria!

BEAUTIFUL CORTIJO: Completely reformed with private swimming pool and breathtaking panoramic views.

BROADCOM, the technological giant, has chosen Spain as the location for its sole semiconductor manufacturing plant in Europe. The multinational company has earmarked the country for a major investment of around €900 million.

The President of Broadcom, Charlie Kawwas, took to social media on Friday, July 7 to an­

Chipping in

nounce the company’s decision to “invest in Spain’s semiconductor ecosystem” within the framework of the Perte Chip initiative launched by the government. The initiative was created to align with the princi­

ples of the European Chips Act.

In a tweet, Kawwas shared his excitement, thanking President Pedro Sánchez for his support and commitment to building a more resilient global semiconductor chain.

Although specific details regarding the plant’s location and job opportunities remain undisclosed, the project is expected to invest around €900 million in Spain, and to create thousands of jobs.

Historic tourism

ACCORDING to Frontur and Egatur data published by the National Statistics Institute, in the first five months of 2023, Spain received 29 million tourists which is 28 per cent more than in the same period of 2022.

Spain was visited by 8.2 million international tourists in May, 18 per cent more than in the same period of 2022, and 4 per cent more than in May 2019.

Once again and for the second consecutive month, these figures are all­time records in terms of both the number of visitors and the volume of spending: €9.723m, 21 per cent more than a year ago and 19 per cent more than the best pre­pandemic figure.

In the first third of the year, total spending was €35.4 million, 32 per cent more than in the same period last year, and 16 per cent higher than in 2019.

Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Hector Gomez, confirmed: “The summer season is expected to be historic for tourism in our country.”

Vernon Reid of Living Colour fame

MANY people don’t realise that there are two Emerald Isles in the world, the second being the UK Overseas Territory of Montserrat.

Part of the Windrush Generation, the parents of guitarist Vernon Reid, named one of the top 100 guitar players of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine took advantage of the offer of work and moved to the UK.

Unfortunately for them, it was the time of landladies supposedly placing ‘No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs’ signs in their windows and the couple found that Britain was not the ‘promised land’ that they expected.

Vernon was born in North London in 1958 but by 1959, the family had emigrated to the USA and settled in New York, which was also experiencing the arrival of migrants from the southern States who found the north much less racially biased.

As a musician, Vernon Reid found, as he was growing up, that he could mix with other musicians of different races with different backgrounds and musical styles.

Probably best known for forming the band Living Colour in 1984, whose biggest hit Cult of Personality, won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990, he has played with some of the top names in music.

The names he has been associated with as a musician span the decades and include Jack Bruce, BB King, Mariah Carey, Tracey Chapman and Lady Gaga, whilst he has produced numerous blues and jazz albums for some significant musicians.

His first mentor however was Carlos Santana who gave him a great deal of advice and he has also recorded with Santana’s second wife, percussionist

He was also heavily involved in the formation of the Black Rock Coalition with the late Greg Tate which not only fought for more exposure for black artists, but he was ‘honoured and humbled to be part of the Afrofuturism exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’ earlier this year.

Speaking to Euro Weekly News, Vernon said “We have got Living Colour back together again as our 40th anniversary is coming up and we are currently about to record some new tracks before setting off on a South American tour with Extreme.”

Many will remember Extreme for their huge hit More Than Words Can Say and Vernon has nothing but praise for guitarist Nuno Bettencourt of whom he said “Nuno is a great guy and an amazing guitar player and we are really looking forward to touring with the band and getting in front of live audiences again.”

Like many musicians Vernon Reid suffered during the lockdown, but he formed an association with DJ Logic who is credited with introducing the sounds of jazz into hip­hop and together they formed the Yohimbe Brothers.

As soon as they could escape from the USA, they headed for Mallorca for a special concert and Vernon explained “It was so great to visit that beautiful island where we were well received and we had the added bonus of being able to enjoy viewing artwork by its incredible adopted son, the artist Joan Miró.”

Apart from performing, Vernon is also very proud of his radio show An Underground Railroad of the Mind which is soon likely to become a podcast where he plays some favourites from his vinyl record collection.

Cindy Blackman.

The multi-talented Vernon Reid.

Credit: Vernon Reid Facebook

Prescription for disaster: The NHS on life support at 75

just needs more money ­ it’d just continue getting lost in the black hole.

THE NHS and its model of taxpayer­funded provision is crumbling before our very eyes. Investing extra billions of pounds won’t trans form the system because of its intrinsic inefficiencies and epic wastefulness. Politicians must stop treating it as a sacred cow and undertake a radical shakeup of the way it’s structured and financed.

The problem is that the British public has been hoodwinked by politicians for decades into believing that

(a) ‘the NHS is the envy of the world’ ­ it isn’t;

(b) it’s ‘free’ ­ it isn’t; (c) its problems can be cured by reorganisations ­ they only create more chaos; (d) it

The UK fails to learn from overseas health systems with far superior patient outcomes, all achievable without changing the basic tenets of the NHS. But politicians won’t entertain a no­taboos review for a new era because only WE know best!

The NHS is like a giant tanker: you tell the captain something’s wrong with the ship and by the time the entire crew get behind it and change course it’s too late...

“Time and tide wait for none”­ as Chaucer more or less said.

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

the EU.

ON

Monday July 3, the UK and Spain completed the signing of a UK­Spain bilateral agreement on cooperation in matters of education and access to university and other higher education institutions. This follows the close collaboration between Spain’s Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and Ministry of Universities in Spain and the UK Department for Education and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The agreement was signed by the British Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, on behalf of the UK, and the Spanish Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Pilar Alegría, and the Spanish Minister of Universities, Joan Subirats, on behalf of Spain, and will enter into force on August 2, 2023.

This agreement enables students with UK qualifications (including A­levels and equivalents) to access universities in Spain without the need for the Spanish general university entrance exam. Additional entry requirements will only be necessary for certain competitive courses, as was the case prior to the UK’s withdrawal from

Education links

Students from the Spanish education system are able to continue to access UK universities and other higher education institutions with additional legal certainty.

The agreement also establishes a framework to increase cooperation between the UK

and Spain in the field of education and is symbolic of our desire to build on our strong education links. The UK is grateful for the support of its Spanish partners in reaching this agreement and looks forward to continue expanding the UK­Spain bilateral relationship.

Tourism employment

NATIONAL Insurance contributors in Spain linked to tourism activities increased 5.5 per cent in May compared to the same month the previous year to stand at 2,752,872.

The year 2023 has had the best May since records began, according to data published by Turespana.

Tourism employment now accounts for 13.3 per cent of the total number of contributors in all sectors of the Spanish economy.

The Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Hector Gomez, confirmed: “These figures are extraordinary news to start off a summer that will also be historic in terms of both the number of tourists and spending.

“Employment is growing and, even better news, the quality of employment is growing.

“The figures show that the tourism sector has not only recovered quantitatively but that qualitatively it is making a great effort to improve levels of care, service and categorisation, while at the same time professionals in the sector enjoy greater social protection and guaranteed labour rights.”

Cannabis study

THE University of Huelva is searching for young people between the ages of 18 and 25 who have used cannabis in the last year, according to a news source Saturday, July 1.

The university’s Department of Clinical and Experimental Psychology has launched the ‘Psicocann’ project which aims ‘to analyse what people who consume do to minimise the damage’.

The campaign has seen posters displayed both in Huelva and in Sevilla which advertise how to participate in a questionnaire. It comes with a prize: an Amazon voucher worth €15.

When asked about the monetary prize, researcher Fermín Fernández Calderón, said that without an incentive

it’s very difficult to get enough people to participate.

He added “But it’s very common for us to compensate participants for spending their time with us.”

Willing volunteers could receive €35 in total, ‘€15 for each face­to­face meeting, of which there are two. And later, another €5 after a last online participation.’

The ‘Psicocann’ project is financed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the team that is working on it published a preliminary report in May of this year.

So far, a total of 466 people have already taken part in the first questionnaire. The researchers are hoping for around 605 participants in total.

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

NORA’S LATEST THRILLER.

UNIVERSITY ACCESS: The UK and Spain have signed a bilateral agreement.

Leapy Lee LETTERS

Hi, Enjoy your column and certainly agree with most of it. With the recent controversy re diversity in the RAF, do you reckon the head of the RAF has a revised version of Churchill’s famous speech on show prominently in their office...

“Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few white trash.”

As you usually say, you couldn’t make it up.

Bob Stein Orihuela Costa

Not accurate

Sir/Madam

David Worboy’s recent article stated ... UK has “rampant inflation (the worst in Europe).”

These are the June 14, 2023 rates:

Hungary... 25.6%

Latvia... 17.2%

Czechia... 16.5%

Estonia... 15.6%

Serbia ... 15.5%

Poland... 15.2%

Slovenia... 13.8% etc etc etc

UK ... 8.7%

Perhaps he would be so kind as to apologise for misinforming us readers.

Tourism up

In the subtitle : ‘others think it’, where you probably mean : millions.

To keep it short, a few of your words are not understood by many : respect, host, culture; on the other hand, however (worldwide) politicians well know greed and hypocricy.

I never ever had racist thoughts, and believe and hope I never will as I like to explore and experience cultures, but, seeing the recent ‘troubles’ in France and Brussels where many of them were not even teenagers, with over 3,000 cars on fire, shops robbed ( the Nike’s first) and set on fire, some can no longer share my sympathy.

Should I drop a cigarette on the street, a fine of at least €100 ­ would be sent. (lucky me, I am not a smoker, nor a user of cola or 7­up in can).

One thing I do not agree with is your statement : our ‘so­called leaders have to wake up...’ . They are awake but impotent and never take responsibilty.

When you say, keep the faith, then I confirm, at the age of 72, I meanwhile lost almost all faith in the avarage politician, whether in Belgian or European parliament.

With kind regards,

Great article again

Dirk

Cheers Tony

North

Your Headline: Tourism Up was an interesting read. However it did not mention how much business the Orihuela Costa would lose by not having any chiringuitos or toilets on the beaches this summer.

This criminal behaviour by the relevant authority should be cause enough for them all to be sacked.

Regards Patrick

Thank you

Dear Editor

The Committee and members of SAMM, Sailing Association Mar Menor, would like to express their thanks for the support you have given by publishing the various articles and photographs we have sent you on our activities.

We are sure they help attract new members who sail or want to sail as a hobby.

Best regards

Terry Chapman

I agree

Dear Leapy Lee,

Being non resident but spending regular time in Andalucia for over 35 years, I read your column (for the first time) and fully agree on your comments:

Leapy, the column next to yours ­ Brexit blues states to rejoin we would have to prove free speech and democracy so that puts an end to that then, thank god.

Keep going ,

Steve Branford

More praise

Hi Leapy, Your write up this week is fantastic. Keep it up.

Regards

Natural remedy

Roishin Keating

I stopped most of my Parkinson’s disease medications due to severe side effects and I started on herbal treatments. The treatment has made a very huge difference for me. My symptoms including body weakness and swallowing difficulties disappeared after a few months on the treatment. I am getting active again since starting this treatment.

David Wisner

Passenger habits

She needs to experience international flights . I have never had a trip to the Philippines without every Filipino passenger clapping the instant the wheels touch down in their home country, it’s been that way for 40 years to my knowledge, probably longer.

David Alan

Save on pet care for multiple pets

YOU may be planning a trip and thinking about how to find dog­sitters who come to your home. Well, we can help. We have dog­sitters and house­sitters who love to come to Spain to care for your pets as part of their working holiday in exchange for free accommodation. And what’s more our house­sitters are for free!

If you’re planning a trip register now as a member of our network to find an affordable home and pet care solution. Whether your trip is short or long, you’ll know that sometimes you must leave pets at home. Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying at home, so they can follow their routines undisturbed. Join our pet and house­sitting network, and the sitters come for free!

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

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSit Match.com

2. Choose a Standard account (£69 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed

3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house

4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go away. Sitters apply and you choose.

Caring for multiple pets is expensive. Housesitters look after your pets and home.

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

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

I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent. Tristram Cosgrave ­ Dog and cat owner, Malaga How do you join?

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

Need a pet or housesitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and petsitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either housesitter or homeowner with a 20% discount using coupon code 20EWN –Reader exclusive offer.

To find a house pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com

Golden years

AS our beloved pets grow older, they require extra care and attention to ensure they are comfortable and happy. Senior pets have unique needs that, when addressed, can significantly improve their quality of life. Ensure your senior pet receives regular veterinary check­ups. Discuss any agerelated concerns, such as arthritis, dental health, or weight management. Adjust their diet to suit their changing requirements.

Make your home seniorpet­friendly by providing comfortable bedding, easy access to food and water, and eliminating potential hazards. Keep the living area warm and draught­free.

While senior pets may have reduced energy levels, regular exercise is crucial. Tailor activities to their abilities, including short walks, gentle play sessions, or interactive

Keep your pets safe this summer

MOST people enjoy high summer temperatures, although care must be taken when temperatures soar. However, pets can suffer so much more, so it is essential to think about them and their well­being.

For that reason, the National Police posted a Twitter message for all pet owners to ensure animals do not get hurt. And the test they said only takes five seconds.

They advised: ‘For those of you who have pets, it is important you know this advice with high temperatures.

‘Put the back of your hand on the ground and if you can’t stand the heat for five seconds, your dog won’t be able to.’

The pads of a dog’s paws are very sensitive and susceptible to cuts, wounds, and burns. In addition, it is the part of the body where the dog perspires, so taking care is most important.

When walking your dog,

look for a shady spot or grassy place instead. It may be safer to go for a gentle walk very early or late in the evening when the temperature has dropped.

Make sure you have a bottle of water and a bowl for them to drink from.

Also, heatstroke in a dog can be fatal. Signs include: Heavy panting, lethargy,

confusion or loss of coordination, drooling or foaming at the mouth, vomiting or diarrhoea, shaking or weakness and seizures.

If you think your dog has heatstroke, act fast: Move the dog to a cool area, use a wet towel or the breeze of a fan, allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water and pour some over the dog’s feet, ears and head.

Never use ice or very cold water as this can cause shock.

Regular grooming will keep your dog’s coat clean and can even help them keep cool.

toys that stimulate their minds. Puzzle toys can keep them mentally engaged and prevent cognitive decline.

Monitor your pet for signs of discomfort, such as difficulty standing, climbing stairs, or reluctance to move. Maintain social interactions and engage in activities that your senior pet enjoys. Arrange playdates with other gentle pets, and visit pet­friendly

parks. Maintain a consistent routine to provide stability and reduce anxiety.

Spend quality time with your senior pet, giving them love, attention, and reassurance. Offer gentle grooming sessions, massages, or cuddle time to strengthen the bond between you. Ensure they have a quiet, comfortable space where they can retreat for relaxation and solitude.

QUICK TEST: Can you stand the heat for five seconds?

Photo credit: Shutterstock/photo by jaja

AGING BLISS: Senior pet care.

CLASSIFIEDS 44

AIR CONDITIONING

CHURCHES

BUILDERS

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

BUY & SELL

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

CARAVANS

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

CARS FOR SALE

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 LE -

you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, www.britishlegion.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 zurgenarblchairman @gmail.com - (253989)

DRAINAGE

INSURANCE

MOTOR INSURANCE .

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

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

LANGUAGE CLASSES

PLUMBERS

KNOWLES PLUMBING

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

PROP FOR RENT WANTED

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

BEDS

GION - 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

ELECTRICAL

ABBOTT ELECTRICS

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

SPORTS

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 Huercal-Overa, 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)

ESTATE AGENT FOR SALE

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

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

GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek

Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

MISCELLANEOUS MOTORING

FOR SALE

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

OTHERS

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

PETS

THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. Little dogs €7.75, medium dogs €8.50, big dogs €9.25, cats from €7.00 a day. 630 234 556 / the5bonehotelturre@ gmail.com fivebonehotel. com (303395)

BADMINTON PLAYERS wanted. Zurgena Area. Contact 620 112 193 (304049)

SOLAR ENERGY

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@suner gyalmeria.com (303112)

UPHOLSTERY

Subaru Forester - versatile & spacious

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack

THE Subaru Forester has been a familiar sight on the roads for more than 20 years and over that period has been revised and improved several times, gradually transforming from a versatile fourwheel ­ drive estate to a smart family SUV which still retains formidable offroad ability. It competes in a crowded SUV sector but has a distinct edge over main rivals with its impressive tough ­ terrain performance, able to tackle rough roads, mud, snow and ice with relative ease. Forester comes in three versions and the entry level XE costs €44,464/ £37,990 and features symmetrical four­wheel­drive, CVT automatic transmission, cruise control, climate, power adjustable and heated front seats,

keyless entry and start, power fold door mirrors, auto lights and wipers, high beam assist, Apple Car Play and Android Au to, auto dimming rear view mirror and steer ing headlights.

The XE Premium Lineartronic which I recently tested costs €47,975/£40,990 and adds other features including sunroof, heated rear seats, naviga tion, powered tail gate, leather seating, and privacy glass.

Facts at a Glance

• Model: Subaru Forester XE Premium Lineartronic

Engine: 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder, petrol

Transmission: CVT Automatic

Performance: 0-100 kph 11.8 seconds, top speed 188 kph/117 mph

Economy: 8.07 l/100 km/35 mpg

Emissions: 185 g/km

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

driver’s seat to get an ideal position. All­round visibility is very good, with the added advantage of a reversing camera.

Out and about, the Forester is light and easy to drive and corners with reassuring composure. The ride quality is on the firm side but still comfortable and on smooth roads, where it is likely to spend most of its time, it is extremely car ­ like to drive and in its handling charac­

With good head and leg room, five adults can be easily accommodated, and there is ample bootspace with a flat load area to make loading easier and the rear seats fold to like capacity for larger items. The Forester may not be cheapest famisize SUV in its class, but it is one of the most versatile and few can match its road capability and its tough build quality.

Tyre-iffic tech

Parking payments

NEARLY one ­ in ­ five UK drivers (19 per cent) say their local authority has either scrapped parking payment machines or is consulting on doing so, forcing them to use mobile phones to pay instead, new RAC research reveals.

PLANS are underway to establish the UK’s first pyrolysis plant for recycling end­of­life tyres. This innovative facility will employ patented technology to extract reusable components from scrap tyres. Pyrolysis is a process that utilises extreme heat without oxygen to break down organic compounds. This technology will effectively separate the tyres into their raw materials, including oil, carbon black, and pyrolysis gas.

SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, the company behind the

project, explains that the carbon black can be reused in manufacturing new tyres, the oil can be recycled into new products, and the pyrolysis gas can be utilised to power the plant. The implementation of Pyrum’s patented pyrolysis reactor technology is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 72 per cent compared to current recycling methods.

The UK faces a staggering annual disposal of 50 million worn­out tyres, with approximately 13.4 million being used

as an alternative fuel. Additionally, the Tyre Recovery Association estimates that around 36,000 tyres are burned daily in the country. These discarded tyres are often broken down and serve as an energy­rich alternative to coal. Some are shredded and ground into crumbs for various purposes, including playgrounds, sports pitches, and road construction.

Dumping used tyres at landfill sites has been prohibited by an EU directive since the early 2000s.

Low-cost fuel stations

INFLATION in Spain has seen the price of fuel go up and up, with cheaper fuel stations becoming ever­more popular. However, evidence suggests that cheaper might actually be more expensive in the long run, according to a recent report.

While it is true that fuel prices are not quite as high as they once were, the cost is still much higher than it was a few years ago, hence the popularity of cheaper fuel stations. Despite being easier on the pocket, drivers are encouraged to weigh up the pros and cons of buying cheaper fuel.

Public opinion is somewhat divided on the subject. There are considerable savings to be made by filling up at low­cost petrol stations. However, people think this type of fuel could be harmful to their vehicles, which is why many motorists continue to use the more traditional petrol station.

All fuels in Spain are subject to regulations. The Hydrocarbons Law demands specific quality standards and protocols. This basically means that all diesel and petrol are practically the same no matter

where you choose to go.

There is however one factor in which low­cost fuel differs from regular fuel, and that is the additives. As a rule, higherpriced petrol stations generally do put additives in the fuel they supply, whereas low­cost petrol stations may not. Clearly, this will have an effect on your car.

Running your car on fuel without additives will not damage the engine or cause a significant breakdown, but it may cause changes in the behaviour of the vehicle, and it is likely to consume more fuel.

However, there are certain things that can help save money at the fuel station. One recommendation is to fill up on the day when it is cheapest to do so (Mondays).

Another little­known one is to avoid squeezing the hose handle to the maximum, as the pressure of the fuel will be lower. This will avoid producing as much vapour and the actual filling of the tank will correspond more accurately to what you are charged per litre.

The survey of 1,900 UK drivers found that one­in10 (11 per cent) reported some or all parking payment machines had already been removed by their local councils with an extra 8 per cent saying their local authority was consulting on doing so.

Drivers in London were most likely to say payment machines had already gone or were due to be going (44 per cent of respondents in the capital), followed by those in the east of England (23 per cent) and East Midlands (22 per cent).

The RAC’s findings are being driven by the fact

that many councils are getting rid of machines for taking payment for parking as a result of many older machines relying on 3G mobile phone signals to function, which telecoms operators are switching off.

This means councils either have to spend large sums on replacing machines with more modern ones or get rid of machines altogether, in turn

262 miles Tesla on a single charge.

REVVING RECYCLING: Tackling tyre waste.

Photo credit: Shutterstock/Maksim Safaniuk

making drivers use a mobile phone to pay for parking.

TICKET MACHINES: Are gradually being phased out.

England win Under-21 Championship

ENGLAND lifted the European Under­21 Championship trophy on Saturday, July 8, in the Georgian port city of Batumi.

Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford was the hero of the day for Lee Carsley’s side against Spain after pulling off a dramatic double save from a lastminute penalty.

He faced Abel Ruiz ­ who plays club football in Portugal for Braga ­ in the ninth minute of second­half stoppage time. Not only did the 20­year­old keeper manage to save the kick, but he also kept the rebound out of the net.

The Young Lions completed the six matches of the tournament without conceding a single goal. At the other end of the pitch, they produced an incredible display of attacking talent that can only be good for the future of the men’s full national side.

Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon gave Spain their first fright, forcing Arnau Tenas into an early save. The Magpies youngster was again involved when he set up Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs­White. Only a timely interception from Jon Pacheco stopped England from taking the lead.

Villarreal’s Alex Baena tested Trafford as he curled a shot around the post. He

then came close to scoring after latching onto a bad pass from Gibbs­White, but his mis­hit effort went wide.

Cole Palmer provided a beautiful ball into the box which was met by Levi Colwill. However, the Chelsea defender’s header was foiled by the crossbar.

The Man City striker was again involved when his free­kick was deflected beyond Tenas by Liverpool’s Curtis Jones to give Engald a 1­0 lead.

Palmer’s subsequent celebration led to a clash between the benches of both teams. This resulted in Ashley Cole and Spain’s fitness coach Carlos Rivera being ordered to the stands.

Honouring Luis Suárez

VERY rarely does the word legend really ring true, but the death on Sunday July 9 of footballer and coach Luis Suárez Miramontes aged 88, does in truth see the passing of a legend.

Many believe that he was one of the greatest footballers to be produced in Spain and certainly he is the only Spanish player to have won the coveted Ballon d’Or, an annual football award presented by French news magazine France Football since 1956 to the ‘best’ player of each season.

His two main teams were FC Barcelona where he spent seven seasons and then Inter Milan in Italy where the honours just kept piling on.

He actually started his playing career in the city of his birth when he was recruited by Deportivo de La Coruña but he soon moved to Barcelona and was in the team that won two leagues, two Generalissimo Cups and two Fairs Cups.

Spain had the ball in the net in the second half when a Baena cross was headed home by Ruiz, only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside. The Braga forward had another chance from six yards but his header went wide of the post.

The drama was not over as both Gibbs­White and Antonio Blanco saw red cards in the dying seconds as the match threatened to boil over. A total of nine yellows and four reds were dished out by the ref during the game.

Trafford’s dramatic penalty save in the 99th minute was enough to give England their first victory in this tournament for almost 40 years.

One of the first Spanish players to be signed by a foreign club, he was at the time of his transfer in 1961 to Inter Milan the most expensive player in the history of football.

He certainly repaid the Italian team’s investment and steered them to two European Cups and three national championships over nine seasons before finishing his playing career at UC Sampdoria, retiring as a player aged 38.

He was capped 32 times for Spain and was part of the team that won the 1964 European Championship.

Never far away from football, he became coach (in those days manager) of several Italian and Spanish clubs before being made manager of the Spanish National team which he took to the World Cup Finals in 1990.

To add to his footballing honours, he was awarded Spain’s Royal Order of Sport’s Merit and now, both Barcelona and Inter Milan have expressed their condolences at the loss of this true footballing legend.

FIRST VICTORY: England winning the Under-21s trophy in Georgia.