Mallorca 13 – 19 July 2023 Issue 1984

Strictly star moves to Mallorca

ONE of Strictly Come

Dancing’s most recognised professional dancers has announced that he and his family are moving to Mallorca ­ in a tent.

New Zealand ­ born Brendan Cole has revealed that he and his wife Zoe, along with their two children, are starting up a new life in Mallorca after leaving the UK, according to British media reports.

The 47­year­old LatinAmerican specialist will fulfil a lifelong dream to refurbish his house on the island, but admits that he will sleep in a tent until its completion.

Cole appeared in 15 series of the popular celebrity dance programme, partnered by such well­known stars as Anastacia, Sophie EllisBextor, Victoria Pendleton, Fiona Phillips, Lisa Snowdon, Kelly Brook and Lulu.

He married his wife Zoe Hobbs in 2010. Their first child, daughter Aurelia, was born on Christmas Day 2012, and in March 2018 they welcomed their son Danté into the world.

Cashing in MARGA PROHENS TAKES CHARGE

MALLORCA registered the highest ever tourist expenditure between January and May this year.

Figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) show that this has been the best start to the year since records began in terms of spending and arrivals of both national and international visitors.

According to the INE, visitors to the Balearic Islands spent nearly €4.6 billion over the first five months of the year ­ a 25 per cent increase with regards to the previous record, established in 2019.

More than 4.6 million visitors landed in the region between January and May, which is also the highest figure ever recorded.

MARGA PROHENS was sworn in as the new President of the Balearic Islands on Friday July 7.

She takes over from former Govern leader Francina Armengol (PSOE) following her victory in the regional elections held at the end of May.

In her first speech as president, Prohens (PP) vowed to “bring the change that the people have asked for” and to “govern for everyone and for the four islands, aware of our plural and diverse reality.

“I will stand up for this region and its people, and I aim to put the best men and women at its service,” added the new president.

However, her first decisions at the head of the Govern were met with controversy this week, as she eliminated the Environment department and announced that its functions would be shared out among other councillors.

Prohens explained that this move will save the regional coffers €1 million a year by bringing the number of government departments down from 11 to 10.

The presentation of her new executive also caused raised eyebrows as it features more men than women, doing away with the policy of equal representation of both genders.

In another highly controversial move, the new regional president scrapped the Linguistic Policy department and eliminated all references to protecting or promoting the Catalan language.

TAKING OVER: Marga Prohens being sworn in as new regional president.

Brendan Cole is fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Image by the Balearic Islands Government

Get wet for sclerosis

SEVERAL towns in Mallorca joined a national charity event to raise funds and awareness for multiple sclerosis on Sunday.

Mójate por la esclerosis multiple (Get wet for multiple sclerosis) takes place every July 9 and this year saw thousands of people all over Spain jumping into pools and the sea and purchasing t­shirts of

A BRITISH tourist has suffered horrific injuries while holidaying in Mallorca.

In the early hours of Monday July 10 a 31­oneyear­old British tourist fell from a height of around three metres while ‘balconing’ at the hotel where he was staying. This is reportedly the first case of balconing in Mallorca this year.

Balconing is the name given to climbing or leaping from one balcony to another, usually done by holiday­

the event.

Marratxí, Inca, Alcudia and Palma were among the towns and cities joining the campaign.

New regional president Marga Prohens attended the main event organised by the Balearic Islands Multiple Sclerosis Association (ABDEM) at the Club Náutico Sa Ràpita and vowed to launch “specif­

RAISING FUNDS: Marratxí Council gets wet for a good cause.

Brit tourist badly injured

makers whose judgement has been impaired by alcohol or drugs. The victim, who was to celebrate his birthday today, Thursday, was holidaying with a group of British friends who were in adjoining rooms and was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The strong impact resulted in a fractured femur, ankle and pelvis after he fell on his feet. Once stabilised,

he was transferred by ambulance in serious condition to Son Espases hospital.

Santa Margalida Local Police and the Guardia Civil also appeared on the scene and have launched an investigation into the incident, although they are treating it as an accidental fall as a result of carelessness and have ruled out the involvement of third parties.

ic itineraries” for patients, adding that “it is a marvellous gift that this should be the first act I attend as president.”

In Marratxí, Mayor Jaume Llompart jumped into Son Caulelles pool with several councillors and unveiled a banner showing their solidarity with the cause, declaring that “it is very important to

give visibility to the people who suffer this disease, which is perhaps not very well­known among the general population.”

In Inca a similar event took place at the Mateu Cañellas sports centre, while in Alcudia a gathering was held in the town square with members of the local council, ABDEM and volunteers.

Palma Paseo plea

RESIDENTS living on the Paseo Marítimo in Palma are begging for tourists to be ‘civicminded’ after scenes of drunken disorder were reported at the weekend.

A newly formed neighbourhood platform posted a video on social networks filmed at 4.30am showing large crowds of young people partying and making noise, many of them visibly under the influence of alcohol.

“Palma and the Paseo Marítimo are causing the degradation of the image of the island’s tourism,” sentenced the association.

Residents formed the platform after a meeting several weeks ago to combat the ‘degradation’ of the neighbourhood due to the nightlife.

Spokespeople report spending whole nights being unable to sleep due to bars and clubs that do not comply with closing time regulations and large groups of youngsters who continue the party on the street.

The residents add that the next morning the area is full of rubbish and mess, especially at weekends.

Image by Marratxí Town Hall

NIBS EXTRA

Drug bust

FIVE people were arrested in a drug bust in the Soledad neighbourhood in Palma on Tuesday. Officers searched several houses and seized significant quantities of different illicit substances after finding one of the suspects attempting to burn drugs and money in a barrel after seeing the police arrive.

Heatstroke death

A WORKER at the Megapark in Playa de Palma died on Sunday afternoon. It is thought the 47­ year ­ old man passed away from heatstroke as he suddenly collapsed at 2.20pm after helping to control the crowds leaving the venue, dying on the spot minutes later.

Property awards

A HOUSING development in Nou Llevant (Palma) has won three European architecture awards. The luxury housing project, designed by a local architect, obtained the top awards for Residential Architecture, Residential Development and Sustainable Development at the highly prestigious European Property Awards.

Towel police

A HOTEL employee in Cala Millor has become famous for taking ‘revenge’ on guests who leave their towels on sun loungers by the pool early in the morning to ‘reserve’ them. The worker was filmed by a guest removing the towels to general applause on social media.

Curtain up

ORGANISERS of s’Illo international theatre festival have launched an online crowdfunding campaign on www.verkami.com to help cover the costs of the 10th edition, taking place from the end of August to December. Companies will travel to Mallorca from Chile, Germany and other parts of Spain this year.

Inspection campaign

LABOUR authorities will perform nearly 1,000 checks in the Balearic Islands this summer to clamp down on potential cases of worker exploitation.

A team of 24 workplace inspectors from other parts of Spain will travel to the islands to reinforce the service during the high season, bringing the total number of professionals up to 84.

The issues targeted in the 960 inspections announced for July and Au ­

gust ­ 560 in Mallorca ­ include excessively long working hours, low wages that do not correspond with the work carried

out, fraudulent part­ time contracts, fake temporary contracts, and cases of employers not signing their employees on the

YOUR EWN HAS

Social Security.

According to acting Employment councillor Iago Negueruela, the main aim is to ensure that “people only work the hours stated in their contract so that they can then enjoy the rest of the day.”

The regional councillor added that the inspection campaign will also have positive results on youth employment and gender equality, as young people and women bear the brunt of workplace exploitation.

Take a break Turtle nest found

ANOTHER sea turtle nest was found on a beach in Mallorca this week.

The discovery on Cala Millor (Sant Llorenç) is the second such finding on the island in just one month.

Experts from the Balearic Islands Fauna Recovery Consortium (COFIB) and Palma Aquarium located the nest with 82 eggs after they were alerted on Sunday of the presence of a video on social networks showing a loggerhead sea turtle after presumably laying the eggs on Cala Millor beach.

After contacting the us­

er who had uploaded the video, the experts learned that the event had probably taken place the previous Friday.

They rushed to the scene and cordoned off the nest site, taking 10 of the eggs to an incubator and leaving the remaining 72 on the sand where they will be watched until they hatch in about two months’ time.

On June 8 a nest with 106 turtle eggs was discovered on Can Pere Antoni beach in Palma, the first recorded instance of turtle nesting on the island.

TRADES union Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) have announced plans to open their offices in Mallorca for people who are working outside to have somewhere cool to rest, access to fresh drinking water and a toilet. The special measure will begin on Monday July 17 and will continue until September 15.

The office on Calle Francesc de Borja Moll, 3 in Palma will be open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 2pm on Fridays.

The offer is open to everyone who works outside,

Women arrested

IN two separate incidents, two women have been arrested in Palma on suspicion of harassing two men in different circumstances.

One of the women made repeated advances to a man and sent multiple calls and messages to him, despite the fact her sentiments were not reciprocated. The situation became so bad the man had to change his address.

The other suspect allegedly slashed all four tyres of her ex­partner’s car and continued the harassment by sending him 70 messages in one day.

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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Illegal sales

PALMA Local Police at the weekend launched a campaign to clamp down on illegal street selling in the main tourist hotspots around the city.

Patrols focused on the Plaza Major, Sant Miquel, Parc de la Mar and La Seu to perform ‘deterrent control and eradication’ of the illicit practice.

such as street cleaners, car park employees, construction workers, riders, etc.

The union believe it will help workers deal with the high temperatures recorded over the summer and especially during heatwaves.

Spokespeople insist that it is ‘vital’ to plan regular rest periods when working outside to prevent heatstroke and that these periods should be increased at times of extreme heat.

CCOO also insist that institutions and companies should include heatwaves in their occupational risk prevention plans.

Palma Public Safety councillor Miquel Busquets announced that the police operation will continue “until the definitive eradication of this illegal activity that is so detrimental to businesses”.

He added that the controls will be reinforced with other types of actions as the aim is not only to stop the sellers setting up their stalls in the streets but also to clamp down on “the people and companies who supply the products to the sellers,” as quoted by a news source.

The councillor insisted that the aim is to “protect and defend” local businesses and legal vendors.

Both women were arrested under suspicion of harassment, with the second suspect also for the alleged crime of causing damage to property.

The first investigation came after a man filed a complaint against a woman with whom he had no relationship, but who repeatedly accosted him.

According to the plaintiff, the woman was a neighbour in the street where he lived. She continually approached him and told him she wanted to get to know him better, but not once did the man reciprocate.

Clamping down.

Image by Bogdanhoda/Shutterstock

Survey reveals worrying results

NEARLY 20 per cent of young men in Mallorca aged 15 to 34 do not believe that controlling their partner’s friends is a form of violence.

Mallorca stadium revamp

REAL MALLORCA

football

club’s new stadium will have one of the largest video scoreboards in Spain.

The newly revamped Son Moix ground, scheduled to be finished before the start of the 2024/25 season, will look completely different to now.

Major upgrades will include eliminating the athletics tracks that run around the pitch and placing the four modified grandstands much closer to the grass than they were originally, which will improve the experience for spectators.

But most spectacular of all will be the huge video scoreboard to be located at the north end of the stadium and measuring 22 metres wide by seven metres high, making it one of the largest in Spain. It will be mirrored in the south end by a smaller board

measuring 13 metres wide by seven metres high.

The digital transformation does not stop there, as a whopping 200 screens and monitors will be installed throughout the stadium thanks to a three­way collaboration deal signed between the club and technology and communications giants Telefónica and LG.

Several of these screens will reportedly be tactile, allowing direct interaction between attendants at matches, and a digital sign especially designed for outdoors will also offer different types of content in all light conditions.

Son Moix was originally built in 1999 with a total capacity for 20,500 spectators. When the new stand is built, the stadium will gain more than 3,000 extra seats.

This is the most worrying result of the Balearic Youth Survey published last week by the regional government, which also revealed that the percentage drops to less than 10 per cent in the case of young women in the same age range.

Other surprising figures, obtained by questioning 3,000 young people throughout the Balearic Islands, show that 12 per cent of men do not believe that emotional blackmail is serious, compared to 5 per cent of women.

The survey consisted of 192 questions aimed at ascertaining the views, concerns and de­

THE Reggaetón Beach Festival takes place in Can Picafort this weekend.

Billed as the largest event of its kind in Europe with stops at all major tourist destinations throughout Spain this summer, it is expected to draw up to 15,000 urban and Latin music fans for two full days on Saturday July 15 and Sunday 16. However, not everyone is looking forward to it.

mands of the islands’ youth in order to develop better public policies to improve their quality of life.

Topics included housing, violence, health, culture, language, leisure, immigration and sexuality.

Regarding housing, the study revealed that around 40 per cent of young men and

Image by Dario Rey/Shutterstock

women who still live with their parents on the islands explained that this was due to the lack of available housing for them.

Only 34 per cent of youngsters between 15 and 34 in the region are able to live away from home, although one third admits to having problems paying the rent or mortgage

and 70 per cent are forced to spend more than half their income on housing.

On the topic of immigration, the vast majority of those questioned do not believe that immigrant people have more privileges than those born in Spain, with less than 3.2 per cent believing that they have more facilities to find work or housing.

Regarding education and employment, the average age at which young people in the Balearics start working for a wage is 18.5 years old and mainly in the hospitality and commerce sectors.

On the issue of health, one in every three admit to drinking alcohol every week, but 65 per cent said they do not smoke cigarettes.

Facing the music

The event, which was held at Inca sports centre last year, has drawn a considerable amount of opposition since it was first announced, with hotel owners concerned about the noise that could disturb their guests and conservationists warning of possible damage to the environment in the protected Son Bauló area.

This week the mayor of San­

ta Margalida, Joan Monjo, insisted that the event “will not affect the environment at all,” explaining that it will not be held near the protected area.

Last month, the regional Environment department informed Santa Margalida Town Hall that the festival had to be submitted to an environmental impact assessment and that the council could not

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

grant the licence for it until the result was published.

Meanwhile, Can Picafort Hotelier Association called for the event to be cancelled also on environmental grounds.

On Tuesday, Joan Monjo said he was abstaining “due to legal causes” from any proceedings relating to the festival, with second deputy mayor Eugenio Garrido taking over.

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

YOUTH SURVEY: One in three youngsters in Mallorca drink alcohol every week.

Image by RCD Mallorca/Facebook

MAJOR UPGRADE: Workers in Son Moix stadium.

“It takes two to tango.”

30 Species of dolphin found in Spanish waters.

Road changes underway The final countdown

THE newly elected Island Council of Mallorca has launched the proceedings to eliminate the VAO bus lane and do away with the 80 kph speed limit on the Vía de Cintura main road.

New Consell President Llorenç Galmés this week announced that he has requested an urgent meeting with the national government delegate for the Balearic Islands and the national Traffic authorities to discuss both issues, as the VAO lane falls under the jurisdiction of the central government and the Consell does not have the authority to take the decision.

Galmés lamented that the move could take longer than they would like due to the upcoming general elec ­

tions on July 23, which could bring about important changes to the national political structure.

Scrapping the VAO and the speed limit on the Vía de Cintura were two of the PP party’s main promises for the local and regional elections at the end of May,

when they vowed to do so within their first 100 days in power.

The previous leftwing Island Council had defended both measures on safety grounds, insisting that the 80 kph speed limit had reduced accidents on the road by 40 per cent.

THE newly formed town council of Palma has switched off the electronic ‘tree counter’ in the Plaza España.

“We believe in real trees, not virtual ones” declared a spokesperson for the town hall as an explanation for the decision to turn off the screen that at its last count showed that there are currently 10,963 trees in the city.

The tree counter was installed by the previous council in March 2021 and immediately became the target of severe criticism on behalf of

the then­opposition PP party.

The new local executive led by Jaime Martínez has announced that the machine will soon be uninstalled as there is currently no company in charge of its maintenance, adding that “we have many other plans in the pipeline with regards to the

TREE COUNTER: Currently 10,963 trees in the city.

environment that are much more useful than a tree counter.”

The device was connected to the municipal website www.10000arbres.com that at the time of writing was still active, showing a map where the trees are planted, their species and how much carbon dioxide they capture.

Cake fight continues

THE ‘cake controversy’ has returned to Mallorca airport.

Nearly two months ago several airlines came under fire for charging passengers extra for carrying Mallorcan ensaimada pastries onboard, until the public outcry forced the companies to announce that passengers could now carry one or two without any extra cost.

However, on Monday three passengers on a flight from Mallorca to Barcelona reported that

the airline charged them €46 each for carrying ensaimadas through the boarding gate as they had only booked basic tariffs, and that if they could not fit the pastry into their hand luggage they counted as an extra item.

They decided to all put their ensaimadas into one bag so they only had to pay once, before filing a complaint with the airline and requesting meetings with the regional Tourism department and the Confectioners’ Guild.

New Island Council President Llorenç Galmés.

Image by the Island Council of Mallorca

Image by Palma Town Hall

Which is better?

IS Mallorca better than the UK to live?

Local British resident Tom Osman, who has lived on the island for the last year anda­half with his wife and four children, seems to think so.

Osman tweeted a list of 41 reasons why life on the Balearic island is better than back home, which was met with an avalanche of comments of all kinds.

Obviously, the sun and the beaches rank very highly on his list, but so do his praise of the regional public health service and the education offered at Mallorca schools.

Among the few negative points, the Twitter user mentions the high cost of renting or buying a house and the fact that any kind of official paperwork takes up to 10 times longer to sort out than in other parts of the world.

“Sunlight makes a great difference to our health,” “A great day can be as simple as going to the beach with a portable cooler and a towel,” “Children are happier when they are out in the fresh air” and “The closeness of the sea is good for the soul” are his main points referring to Mallorca’s most famous attractions.

“Eating well does not need to be complicated: simple ingredients well cooked,” “Processed food is out of control in the UK,”

Water reserves above average

THE freshwater reserves in the Balearic Islands stayed above 59 per cent in June.

“Health standards are much higher in Spain” and “Obesity is less tolerated here” are Mr Osman’s references to Mallorcan cuisine and the general health of the population. With regards to children and education, he states “Large families are appreciated and encouraged here,” “Children are the centre of the universe in Spain,” “Teachers hug, kiss and comfort children in school. It is ridiculous that this should not be allowed in the UK and other countries,” and “Learning languages at five years old is a game here.”

On the subject of language, the suddenly famous Twitter user states that “Trying to speak Spanish, even when you are an obvious beginner, is always well received.”

This is good news as it shows that the amount of drinking water stored in the region’s reservoirs was higher than at the same time last year going into the summer season, which is usually the most critical time of year due to the intense heat that evaporates stored water, the lack of rainfall and the fact that the islands’ population multiplies with the arrival of thousands of tourists.

In Mallorca, reserves actually dropped by 1 per cent compared to June 2022, but the figure for the region as a whole is well above the 53 per cent recorded last year.

The island is split into several different ‘Units of demand’ with regards to

stored drinking water, with the majority ­ Arta, Manacor­Felanitx, Palma­Alcudia, Tramuntana north and Tramuntana south ­ currently classed as being in a ‘normal’ situation and only Migjorn and the Pla classed as ‘pre­alert’.

Figures published by the State Weather Agency

(Aemet) show that June was wetter than normal with an average of 25 litres of rain falling per square metre compared to the historic average of 16.6 litres.

The total rainfall over the first six months of the year in Mallorca was 4 per cent higher than average, according to the Aemet.

Heatwave peaks in Mallorca

TEMPERATURES in Mallorca hit 41ºC on Tuesday as the first heatwave of the summer that affected most of Spain reached its peak.

Sa Pobla (41ºC), Palma (39ºC) and Lluc (38ºC) were among the towns that bore the brunt of the entrance of a mass of hot air from north Africa that led to the activation of an orange alert for intense heat ­ although the State Weather Agency (Aemet) warned that it could be increased to a red alert in areas such as es Raiguer or Pla de Mallorca.

But the high levels of humidity recorded on most of the island ­ up to 60 per cent in some areas ­ meant that the thermal sensation was

even higher.

In addition, thermometers were expected to reach up to 30ºC in the early hours of Wednesday morning, making it almost impossible to sleep in houses without air conditioning. Thankfully the Aemet predicted that a mass of cooler air from the north was due to arrive today, Thursday, which should bring temperatures back down to normal levels of between 30ºC and 35ºC.

But the excruciating heat was not seen as bad news for everyone, as electrical appliance shops sold out of fans and recorded much higher sales than in previous years.

GOOD NEWS: Gorg Blau reservoir has enough reserves.

Image by Naeblys/Shutterstock

Tom Osman praises the “simple ingredients” of Mallorcan cuisine.

Image by Ingehogenbijl/Shutterstock

Rental increase

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 Spanish fami­

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. Some of her other writing about moving to and living in Spain can be found at www.vivaespanamovingtospain.com.

If you’d like to get in touch with Age In Spain, we can be reached at info@ageinspain.org (+34 932 209 741)

lies 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).

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.

€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 Cinematogra­

phy 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.

This summer, the European Commission invites visitors to indulge in products including the DOP Mahón­Menorca 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

Port Adriano Festival

THE countdown has begun for the 11th Port Adriano Mallorca Festival.

Taking place over the first two weekends of August, this year PAM features two major international acts and two bands that pay tribute to such legends as Queen and Michael Jackson.

The event kicks off on Friday August 4 with a concert by Earth Wind and Fire by Al McKay. The guitarist reinterprets the power of the original formation and offers an astonishing demonstration of the power of life by upholding the high standard of excellence established by

the band.

The protagonist of the second date of the festival is Michael Jackson. Saturday August 5 sees the arrival of This is Michael, the biggest tribute show dedicated to the artist in the world.

Carmen in Porto Cristo

The Hole X

THIS is your last chance to witness a spectacular and unique performance that has captivated audiences throughout Spain and further afield.

The Hole X is the final chapter in a saga that combines theatre, circus and cabaret and which has wowed more than two million viewers in Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Mexico and Argentina.

The Gipsy Kings will take to the stage on Friday August 11. They remain the best ambassadors of gypsy culture and are still the biggest sellers of the genre. They have toured the world extensively and sold more than 20 million albums in a 35­year career.

Finally, on Saturday August 12 PAM presents God Save The Queen, a tribute to one of the most important rock icons in the history of music. The show is recognised as the best international tribute to the legendary British band.

For further information visit www.portadrianomusic.es.

PORTO CRISTO’S Carmen fiestas are in full swing with a packed programme of events for all the family until Sunday July 23.

Today, Thursday July 13 features a nocturnal race leaving from the Plaça de l’Aljub at 8pm and covering several streets until ending at the beach, followed by music and fun until 11pm.

Saturday July 15 is a big day. The fiesta tennis tournament kicks off at the municipal tennis courts from 9am to 1pm and again from 6pm to 10pm (it continues on July 16, 22 and 23).

From 9am to 1pm on the beach there will be environmental games and activities for children from three to 12 years old. From 9.30am to 12.30pm at the IES Porto Cristo sports centre there

is the fiesta badminton tournament, and from 6.30pm at the Passeig de la Sirena is the Carmen Martial Arts Festival.

At 9pm at the Coves del Drach there is a theatre performance and then from 9.30pm there will be music and dancing at the Passeig de la Sirena. The tennis tournament continues at 9am on Sunday July 16 followed by Mass, flower offering and maritime procession at Mare de Deu del Carme church.

On Monday July 17 there is Mass at Mare de Deu del Carme church at 8.30pm followed by a concert by Ars Antiqua at 9pm. On Tuesday July 18 there is fun with Diverbauxa at the Plaça del Sol i la Lluna from 6pm to 9pm.

For full programme visit www.manacor.org

ES JARDÍ music festival continues this weekend with performances by Mónica Naranjo, Abbey Road (The Beatles Show) and Bresh.

Mónica Naranjo will take to the stage of the Mallorca Live Festival in the old Aquapark in Calvia on Friday July 14. She is considered one of the most powerful voices on the world music scene and has sung with such giants as Luciano Pavarotti, Mina and Rocío Jurado, among others. She will present her latest album Mimétika (2022) in a show that will culminate with her timeless hit Sobreviviré.

Tickets start at €39.

The prestigious band Abbey Road, with a career spanning more than 30 years, will bring The Beatles Show to Es Jardí on Saturday July 15, combining technology with the essence of the Fab Four to offer

It is currently being staged at Trui Son Fusteret until August 13 as the last stop on its highly successful national tour.

According to organisers: “We’ve brought back the essence of the original The Hole, kept some of the most impressive numbers and iconic characters from the three editions, and added new texts and numbers to continue making it the perfect antidote for the hard times, the mental spa we need to get out of the hole. What are you waiting for?

“Entering The Hole goes beyond buying a ticket and sitting in a seat... The Hole X is not just a show, it’s an experience and a vital philosophy, it’s a reflection of the love of good vibes and carpe diem, and for everything to go smoothly, we need you to enjoy yourself to the full.”

For further information and tickets visit www. sonfusteret.com and www.theholeshow.com.

EsJardí

a trip back in time to relive all eras of The Beatles in a two­hour performance.

Tickets start at €18.

Bresh will land on Sunday July 16. Known as ‘the nicest party in the world’, Bresh was born in Argentina in 2016 with the mission to create a new nightlife scene that represents the values of the new generations and promotes an atmosphere of collective freedom. A great show with the best music including reggaeton, pop, cumbia, trap, electronic and almost any other genre to get everyone dancing.

Tickets start at €18.

For further information visit www.es jardimallorca.com

COUNTDOWN: International acts and tribute bands.

Image by Port Adriano/Facebook

FIESTA TIME: Includes a full programme of events.

Image by Manacor Town Hall

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.

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 Cindy Blackman.

He was also heavily involved in the

Summer Photography Competition

SPECSAVERS ÓPTICAS ’

Summer Photography

Competition offers prizes of a €100 Amazon voucher and a pair of designer sunglasses for the best photo.

On Monday July 3, Specsavers Ópticas launched a Summer Photography Competition to find an image which captures the essence of Spain. In doing so, they hope to shine a spotlight on all the wonderful aspects of Spain and find out what images encapsulate its very best elements.

They are asking local residents on the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Mallorca, to send in beautiful photographs to be in with a chance of winning a €100 Amazon voucher and a pair of designer sunglasses.

country, with incredible natural beauty, a vibrant culture of arts, music and dance and of course incredible food. This summer we are asking keen photographers living close to our stores to show us, through an image, what makes Spain so special to them.

“We are very excited to see these fantastic images and celebrate the talented photographers on the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Mallorca, where our nine stores are located.

The competition is open until September 1 and photographs can be submitted on social media by tagging @ SpecsaversOpticas on Facebook and @specsavers spain on Instagram, sending photos via Messenger or via email to spain.marketing@ specsavers.com

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.

Martin Blake from Specsavers Ópticas in Santa Ponça commented, “Spain is such a stunning and diverse

“The person who takes the best picture and best explains why this is the essence of Spain to them, will be rewarded with a

A jury formed of three Specsavers Ópticas store directors will judge the entries and shortlist the top five entries. These will then be posted on social media and the image with the most likes and comments will be declared the overall winner. Competition is open to residents of the provinces of Alicante and Malaga and the island of Mallorca and you must be aged 18 and above. The competition closes on Friday September 1, 2023. Terms and conditions apply, which can be found at www.specsavers.es/sorteo.

The multi-talented Vernon Reid.

Credit: Vernon Reid Facebook

€100 Amazon voucher and a pair of designer sunglasses worth up to €159.”

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 well ­ known sight on Spanish beaches which combine colours and symbols that inform bathers about the condition of the sea.

The flags use the award ­ winning ‘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.

‘Colour blind’ flags now introduced Where do you find the most jellyfish?

IT is a well­known fact that Spanish beaches are some of the most popular in Europe, but it’s also a fact that as the water temperature rises, so do the occurrence of jellyfish. It must be said that the jellyfish around Spain’s coast beaches of Spain are not really dangerous, but it’s good to know where to expect them and what to do if stung, wrote a news source on Thursday, July 6.

Despite some beaches having a higher presence of jellyfish, this does not mean these areas should

be avoided. The sensible advice is just to be careful and be informed of the conditions.

The report reveals the Spanish beaches with the highest number of sightings are in Andalucia, specifically in Huelva and Cadiz. Others include Bajadilla beach and Guainos Bajos beach in Almeria. Getares beach in Cadiz and the beaches of La Rada, Malaga and Calahonda in Granada.

Eastern Spain too was highlighted, Muchavista beach, Alicante;

Venecia beach, Gandia; Casetas beaches, Barcelona and Cala Fuster, Mallorca.

If you do get stung, it is important to first remove the tentacles if they have stuck to your skin. Never scratch or rub them, because more toxins can be released. They are best removed with tweezers, a card, or any flat, rigid object. Never touch them with your hands.

The next step is to wash the area with seawater, but do not rub, simply rinse the area. Never use fresh

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 waste from these bins and scattering it on the beach.

water as it could make matters worse!

Apply cold or heat to the affected area to relieve the pain. Both options can help reduce inflammation and itching.

Apply appropriate solutions to the sting area. One method is to apply baking soda mixed with seawater for five minutes. It will help prevent residual tentacle poisoning. If the pain persists, it is recommended that medical attention is sought.

Education links

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 equiva­

lents) 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 the EU.

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.

New flags to be installed.

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

Linda Hall

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

What’s it all about? Gold deposits buried in Spain

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 re­

peal 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. Following outraged reactions, sanctions for purveyors of fake news were dropped as soon as they were announced.

The winner ­ or winners ­ will then have a four­year parliamentary term to fulfil their election pledges and promises.

Why am I moaning?

AS I’ve said many times I love living in Spain and I try very hard not to cop the hump with the way certain things are dealt with, but sometimes it’s almost impossible.

Because of my misspent youth I now suffer for it in my old age and one of the many ailments I have is diabetes. I went to the doctor for a checkup and she said that my sugar levels were sky high and we needed to get it sorted so she referred me to the hospital to see a specialist as she couldn’t prescribe the necessary meds. Three months later I got to see the specialist and she very quickly told me that the doctor was correct, and I must say, was very thorough. So what have I got to moan about you may ask? Well are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.

The specialist said: “You need to go on insulin and there is a new slow release injection you can have. It’s very simple and very easy.” She then starts to write out all the prescriptions for my new kit which consists of a pre-loaded pen, a machine for testing my sugar level (that’s free) and the strips for that machine, plus some new pills and

that’s it. Simple. So I take the prescriptions to the pharmacy. First of all they don’t have the pen in stock because it’s so new. “OK so it will be here tomorrow, I’ll just have everything else then.” “Ah no you won’t.” “Why?” “Because the prescriptions for the strips that measure your sugar level have to be approved by the inspector.” “What inspector?” “Who? Clouseau? Maigret?” “The health inspector.” “Where do I find him?” “He visits the doctor’s surgery with a big stamp that approves stuff.” So off we go and Mrs S takes all the bits of paper that need approving to the doctors to see the stamper person. Mrs S always does this stuff as she speaks Spanish and basically ... I don’t!

The next day I go to get the pen and I ask the pharmacist to remind me how to use it. She explains and during the lesson says I have to change the needle every day. No problem. “How many needles do I get with the pen?” “None,” she says. “So how do I inject myself? Were they on one of the prescriptions?” “No, you have to get them from the nurse.” “What nurse?” “The nurse that works at the doctors that you went to today to get all your bits of paper stamped by the inspector!”

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! By now I’m in stage four grumpy mode and decide I’ll just buy the bloody needles. “Sorry we don’t stock them and nor do our suppliers because the insulin pen is so new.” So, three months, pne week and counting I still haven’t got my new diabetes meds.”

John Ensor

EUROPE’S largest gold reserves are located in northern Spain, but it appears that no one dares to touch it.

Gold has played an important role in history and to this day still exerts a strong influence on currencies around the world. Spain has the largest untapped gold reserves in Europe, located in Tapia de Casariego in Asturias, northern Spain, wrote a news source on Saturday, July 8.

It is estimated that under the Salave lagoons, there could be 30 tonnes of gold, a huge amount that would represent 10 per cent of the gold reserves held by the

Bank of Spain. And they have remained untouched for more than 2,000 years.

One company, Exploraciones Mineras del Cantábrico (EMC) has applied to exploit the deposit, assuring that there will be no impact on the environment. Although the first few months could be a little tricky, drilling will be ‘minimally invasive.’

A spokesperson for the company said: “The project is awaiting environmental assessment and now we have to wait and let the officials work. A completely different project has been presented that has solved the environmental impact problems detected in the past, such as the

one affecting the water.”

However, opinion is divided in the village as to whether it is a good idea to extract the gold. It has long been a bone of contention with the association ‘Oro No’ ( No Gold ) created almost two decades ago by those opposed to the idea.

One ‘Oro No’ spokesperson commented: “People live from livestock, fishing and tourism. With the exploitation of the mine, the heavy metals from the mine would affect all these sectors.”

On the other hand, ‘Idoa’ is in favour of the mine, arguing that it could create many jobs in the area and stimulate the local economy.

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 that 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 that they are in much of Europe and the USA. A new law which came in to effect in July of this year ensures that agents will have to demonstrate that 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 which will result in better protection for future 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 real estate profession.

To be able to offer their services in this area, any company will need to be able to demonstrate that it has insurances and other guarantees in place to cover its liability for any damage caused by its actions and there is deadline for registration at the end of August 2023.

This can only be a positive move to protect the public and should be welcomed not only by genuine real estate professionals but should also be considered a requirement throughout the nation.

SPANISH PARLIAMENT: Change due after July 23.

Photo credit: Pool Moncloa, Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Buy or sell with confidence in Valencia

Credit: Gerd Altmann Pixabay

THE BILLY-GOATS OF TENNIS

FOR just two weeks every year, the English take an interest in tennis and start making comparisons.

It is impossible to conclude who is the greatest tennis player of all time. We know that Steffi Graf had the measure of three other all­time greats, Navratilova, Seles and Williams, which suggests (but does not prove), that she was the greatest female player. We also know from all the statistics (apart from the number of Grand Slam triumphs) that she was unquestionably the greatest achieverthe Nanny­GOAT. This is not necessarily the same thing as the greatest player.

With the men it is more complicated. Four of the six front contenders were at their peak in the same era. Predictably, as soon as Djokovic overtook Nadal in Grand Slam (Major) titles, he was hailed as the greatest male player of all time (the GOAT). He was the same player the day before the

Roland Garros final. A day later, Nadal was no longer considered the greatest, simply because injury prevented him from competing in the French ­ which he probably would have won.

In fact, there are many factors, apart from the number of Major titles, that determine a player´s greatness. The number of weeks at world number 1, the number of year­ends finishing as number 1 (both Djokovic); the total number of singles titles and calendar Grand Slams (both Rod Laver), the number of Major titles as a ratio

of those contested (Sampras) …

And then there are circumstantial factors. Laver won the calendar year Grand Slam in 1962 and 1969. During the intermittent six years he was not eligible for the Majors because he had turned professional. He thus missed out on 24 Slams. Bearing in mind his dominance both before and after the ban, it is reasonable to assume that he would have won at least half of them to add to his tally of 11, giving a minimum total of 23.

Injuries have wrought havoc

Prescription for disaster: The NHS on life support at 75

getting lost in the black hole.

with statistical achievements. For a while, Andy Murray was outplaying Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. Then his career became hampered by persistent injuries, meaning that, despite being on a level with the other three GOATS, he won only four Majors. Likewise, Nadal has been denied several titles, including Roland Garros, through injury.

Djokovic overcame the ban from the Australian Open in 2022, an event he almost would certainly have won. At the time it seemed this would prevent him

catching Nadal but he returned and simply carried on winning.

The conclusion is that, significant as Grand Slam successes are, they only tell part of the story. I guess it becomes subjective. Isn’t the greatest player the one whose tennis we most like to watch? And this depends whether we like raw power or finesse; serve­and­volley or great rallies. We should be thankful for the Billy ­ GOATS such as Laver, Sampras, and the ‘Big Four’. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Alcaraz.

No resources, family or friends

THE NHS and its model of taxpayer­funded provision is crumbling before our very eyes. Investing extra billions of pounds won’t transform 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 just needs more money ­ it’d just continue

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 British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago to help Britons in Spain in extreme financial difficulties. People with no resources, and no family or friends’ network available.

The BBF works with partner charities from www.supportin spain.info and the British consular network to find solutions wherever possible. Many of these difficulties are often made worse by sudden illness.

A current case is a of a man who came to live in Spain some years ago but who hadn’t done his residency by the time of the Brexit withdrawal agreement and found himself without any medical or state support in the event that something would go wrong.

He had resources and savings and was confident that he would be able to fix the issue and be covered privately until the belated application form was processed.

However, things did not go according to plan.

He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and doctors gave him a small but

fighting chance of beating it.

Which he took ­ very quickly savings were depleted, and resources used to pay for private treatment which ate into everything he had.

He sold his car, downsized to a small apartment and made ends meet as best he could, but his world was getting smaller. He was soon on food banks and the Red Cross.

Then the private health insurance stopped.

Which is where the BBF came in with the local charity who had been supporting him. They were helping him with his residency application, and he would soon be eligible for a pension from the UK which would bring in much needed stability.

However, that wouldn’t pay the medical bills for the cancer

treatment which he is close to finishing. The BBF has decided to provide the funds for the medicine and treatment whilst the other charity will help with the residency so he can finally access health care.

If you would like to help him and many like him with a donation please visit www.britishbenevolentfund.o rg. Thank you on behalf of the many. Olaf Clayton Chair, BBF

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

Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

David Worboys’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors

It’s easy to determine the most successful female tennis player. With the men (billy-GOATS) it is more complicated.

Photo credits: Express & Star; Couriermail.com and New York Post

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.

Cheers Tony North

Tourism up

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:

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

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

PETS

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

THERAPY owls are bringing comfort and joy to hospice residents. The organisation ‘Falconers of the Heart’ visits hospices and palliative care institutions, using owls as therapy pets. The owls create a sense of happiness and peace for terminally ill patients in their final phase of life.

The owls’ visits have had a profound impact on the resi­

Hoot therapy

dents. They encourage conversation and trigger memories, even for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The owls are hand­raised and trained from an early age, allowing them to be comfortable with human interaction. The therapy owls

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

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.

Keep your pets safe this summer

bring a unique sense of calmness and serenity, distinguishing them from other therapy animals like dogs or alpacas.

The owls’ gentle presence allows for cuddling, stroking, and bonding, creating beautiful and memorable experiences.

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 en­

sure 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.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Photo credit: Shutterstock/photo by jaja

AGING BLISS: Senior pet care.

BUY & SELL

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MISCELLANEOUS

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MOTORING

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DRIVING SCHOOL FOR SALE/WANTED

OTHERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LEARN TO DRIVE IN MALLORCA . Scottish Driving Instructor now qualified to teach in Mallorca. Classes in English or Spanish. Obtain your Spanish licence easier or have refresher lessons and get behind that wheel. Interested? Call 648 133 929

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

INSURANCE

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

MASSAGE

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)

FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM TEL: 902 889 070 (2001)

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.

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.

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

TICKET MACHINES: Are gradually being phased out.

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

making drivers use a mobile phone to pay for parking.

262 miles Tesla on a single charge.

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.