Mallorca 2 July – 2 August 2023 Issue 1986

Green Flag Tragic passing FEARS OF A STRIKE

MORE than 400 hotel establishments in Palma are participating in the fourth edition of the #MovimientoBanderasVerdes, an initiative launched by Ecovidrio, the nonprofit entity in charge of managing the recycling of glass waste in Spain.

The campaign seeks to reward the commitment of municipalities and hotels towards recycling during the summer season. Palma is in competition with 28 other towns of the Balearic Islands.

The area manager of Ecovidrio for the Balearics, Roberto Fuentes said that “Palma is among the five provincial capitals that recycle the most, with an average of 26 kilos per inhabitant per year. The objective of this edition is to obtain the green flag, an achievement that just two of the municipalities of the Balearic Islands will receive.”

The Green Flag Movement encourages businesses to recycle.

HOLIDAYMAKERS travelling to Mallorca for their holidays next week might be better off packing towels and sheets before they leave, as launderette workers have threatened to strike from Tuesday, August 1. The strike is set to commence at 7am, unless a last minute agreement can be reached.

The union that represents launderette workers on the Balearic Islands has suggested that they could walk out indefinitely from the start of next month in a dispute over pay and conditions.

So far, launderette workers have been offered an increase

of around €20 a month, increasing their wages to around €1,103 per month.

A large number of small and medium hotels and larger chains have outsourced this service, and at the height of the season it will be a setback for the many tourists who are due to arrive.

Hotels will be the businesses that are hardest hit, because the CCOO Habitat Balearas union said launderettes will have to provide priority service to places such as hospitals, where this service is essential.

If the industrial action goes

ahead, it could be disastrous for tourism.

There are around 1,500 workers involved in the dispute. The workers have demanded two consecutive days off, night duty remuneration and a 30­minute break during working hours.

The increase offered by launderette owners has been rejected by the workers, considering it insufficient. “Their conditions are quite precarious and the increases put on the table are not up to the negotiations,” explained José Luis Garcia, general secretary of the CCOO in the Balearic Islands.

COCO, the beloved search dog of the Guardia Civil in Mallorca, passed away last week at the age of five due to a spinal cord infection. The daschund arrived in Mallorca when he was only two months old. At four months, his training began, and he was taught to search for money.

One of the first searches by Coco was during an operation in Algaida. The dachshund and his handler searched the headquarters of a real estate agency in Cala Major during an operation, and immediately pointed to where €20,000 had been hidden. He recovered over €400,000 during his short career.

The Guardia Civil are mourning the loss of their loyal little friend.

Credit:

Tania Dimas/Pixabay

MAJOR SETBACK: Hotels could have no fresh linen.

Councillor for the Environment, Llorenc Bauza.

Credit: Palma City Council

A Love Island connection

AN author from Albir has expressed her delight when her new romantic comedy novel, The Coach Trip, went straight to number one in the Amazon Kindle charts on Saturday, July 15. Jo Lyons is a local author originally from the North East of England. This is her third book, and it is also based in Albir.

It was at the same time of the release that her niece, Gabby, entered the Mallorcan Love Island villa as a Casa Amor bombshell. “Romance runs strong in our family,” said Jo. “We’re all hoping she finds the man of her dreams. It feels like an extreme way to go about it, but needs must! She’s a great girl and this is a fantastic opportunity for her to challenge herself. It must be nerve­racking but she’s han­

FIVE HUNDRED fake frozen pastries have been seized at Palma and Ibiza airports.

dling it all so well. I also packed her off with all three of my novels to get her in the mood. My new book is about a workaholic who finds love unexpect­

Creamed off

The ensaimadas were intercepted after the Ensaimada regulatory council of Mallorca filed a complaint with the government food inspection body, suspecting that an unknown company was preparing and freezing the product outside the islands and later transporting and selling it on the islands as fresh.

The ensaimadas were brought to the Balearic Islands frozen, something that contradicted their labelling,

edly, so you never know!”

‘The Coach Trip’, ‘Your Place or Mine?’, and ‘Benidorm’ are all available on Amazon.

which stated they were fresh. Both at Ibiza and Mallorca airports, cream ensaimadas were found with an eight­month shelf life, which could pose a health risk.

Following the complaint by the regulatory council, a series of inspections were carried out. The first took place at Palma airport on Monday, July 10, when 34 plain ensaimadas and 21 cream ensaimadas were intercepted. At Ibiza airport, the inspection took place on Thursday, July 20 and 328 plain ensaimadas and 135 angel hair ensaimadas were seized.

Joining forces

THE mayor of Palma, Jaime Martinez Llabres, met with the president of the council of Mallorca, Llorenc Galmes on Friday, July 21. During their first institutional contact, it was agreed on the ‘absolute need’ for coordination between different administration departments, especially decisions from Mallorca council that affect the city of Palma. “Carrying out coordinated policies will benefit all residents, this must be above any other interest,” the mayor said.

Mobility was one of the topics discussed during the meeting. Llabres told the mayor that the council is already identifying many of the aspects that need attention in this matter. With regard to illegal activities in tourist areas, the mayor recalled meetings held with residents, restaurateurs and businesses of Santa Catalina, Playa de Palma and the Passeig Maritime in order to provide solutions.

Llabres announced inspection plans which will be carried out in coordination with Mallorca council, given that unfair competition does “a lot of harm to the activity that is done well and it is important that the administrations get involved.”

LOVE ISLANDER: Gabby (left) with her aunt, Jo.

Jaime Martinez Llabres met with Llorenc Galmes.

Credit: Jo Lyons

Credit: Palma City Council

Swimmer blow

A 67-YEAR-OLD man was transferred to Manacor Hospital in a serious condition after suffering a blow from a large wave and almost drowning. The victim, a German national, was swimming in the sea at Sa Coma.

Tree mendous

THE Association of Industrialists of Mallorca (Asima) has mended nearly 70 tree pits (paved areas) in the Son Castelló and Can Valero industrial estates in one year, responding to requests from members of the ‘Sponsor a tree’ campaign.

Migrants saved

A TOTAL of 11 migrants of North African origin were rescued on Friday, July 21 in a boat located in the southeast of Mallorca. The incident occurred at 12.40pm, when the Provincial Maritime Rescue and Maritime Rescue intercepted the patera­type vessel. The migrants are in good health.

Unlucky thief

A MAN who was investigated for three petrol station robberies in Bunyola was found to have more than 30 tickets for the Once Summer Lottery Draw at his home stolen from a petrol station.

Whale attack

AN orca has attacked a participant in the Copa del Rey sailing regatta, which will take place off Mallorca from Sunday July 30. According to a tweet by the organisers of the regatta, Ignacio González Camacho’s boat ‘Kapote Tercero’ was attacked in the Mediterranean off Estepona.

Driving heat

THE mayor of Palma met with representatives of driving carriages last week. Considering the high temperatures, the current situation was discussed to guarantee the animal welfare of the horses. The mayor also took an interest in the welfare of the carriage drivers.

Help for firefighters

THE president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenc Galmes, visited the facilities of the Inca fire department on Monday, July 24.

Galmes announced a plan for Inca fire station to improve the facilities of the existing park and provide them with the necessary resources, both in terms of vehicles and equipment.

He also stated that the Migjorn fire station, located in Santanyi, will be built with a budget of €3,847,946.42.

During the visit to Inca,

the firefighters informed the president that the fa ­

cilities have become obsolete and small. Galmes ex­

pressed his commitment to improve them until the new station in Santanyi is ready. Galmes announced that they will adapt one of the adjoining plots to enable additional space and improve working conditions. Presently there are nine firefighters when the facilities are only for three.

Galmes committed to improving the working conditions of Mallorcan Firefighters.

Galmes concluded his visit by saying that it will be a priority to meet their requests.

Theatre agreement Ban bullfights, says group

THE Palma Theatre Foundation and the La Caixa (Caixabank) Foundation signed a joint agreement on Friday, July 21, which aims to facilitate access for enjoyment of the performing arts for people at risk of social exclusion

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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Skinny dipper fined

A FACEBOOK group, Mallorca Against Bullfighting, is asking people to stand together in support against animal cruelty. Natasha Retzmann, who runs the group, states on the page that “The unbelievable pure cruelty and unnecessary torture of multiple innocent bulls is legally still permitted.

“Many do not know what kind of pain the animals suffer during

the final minutes, hours and days of their life, not to mention their absolute fear. They are deafened, blinded and many more things we dare not publish days before the fight.” She has asked that those who are against the bullfight, which is due to be held on Sunday, July 30, in Inca, go to the Ajuntament d’Inca Facebook page and send them a message with their thoughts.

The ‘la Caixa’ Foundation will contribute €5,000 to the project, which will allow approximately 1,000 people to attend the different programmes of the theatre, an initiative that is part of the #PrincipalSocial project.

Thanks to this amount, beneficiaries will be able to attend shows at the theatre.

The #PrincipalSocial project plans include the adaptation of the theatre as an accessible space and as an environment for use for all groups and entities. One of the main objectives is to promote the social impact of music, theatre, dance and the circus, as well as encourage creators, managers, companies and artistic groups to collaborate with people at risk of social exclusion.

New name for sports centre

THE deputy mayor of Palma for Culture and Sports, Javier Bonet, attended an information event at the Azul Marino Viajes travel agency, located on Calle Bonaire on Friday, July 21. The event was to publicise the agreement reached in relation to the transfer of use of the municipal sports facility in Son Moix to Azul Marino Mallorca Palma, the women’s basketball team sponsored by the store.

During his speech, Bonet noted the “formidable contribution” of the Azul Marino Mallorca Palma team to

the promotion of women’s sports and basketball, and highlighted the fact that women’s participation in competitions “is increasingly important.”

As a result of the agreement that was made official on Friday, the players of Azul Marino Mallorca Palma will have the chance to play their matches in the Women’s Challenge League on the Son Moix grounds. The other teams that will also use the municipal premises this season include Palma Volleyball and Palma Football.

LOCAL POLICE fined a man for swimming naked on Playa de Palma beach. The incident happened on Monday, July 24 around 4pm. While all the other bathers spent their afternoon on the beach in swimwear, the man took it a little further and stripped off before entering the sea. This was probably a bitter pill to swallow for some of those present, because they called the police.

The officials summoned the naked man from the water and informed him that the section of beach was not approved for nudists, and they issued a fine of €100 for a public order offence. The man decided to pay the fine on the spot, which is why the fine was reduced to €80. He also quickly put on his swimming trunks.

IMPROVING FACILITIES: Galmes meets the firefighters.

Credit: Consell of Mallorca

FACEBOOK GROUP: Mallorca Against Bullfighting.

Credit: Mallorca Against Bullfighting

Music at Bellver Castle

KAMBRASS, a brass quintet, formed in Barcelona in 2017, will play at Bellver castle on Tuesday, August 16, at 8pm as part of the 100 per cent summer concert programme.

Curiosity and passion for chamber music are the incentives shared by the five friends to create this project.

Computer shop clash

NATIONAL POLICE officers arrested two men in Palma last Wednesday, after a serious fight broke out at a computer shop. The events occurred on Tuesday, July 18 in the Pere Garau area, when a client went to a computer shop to pick up a computer that he had left for repair.

It appears a misunderstanding occurred which led to a heated discussion. As the argument escalated, the client punched the shop worker in the face, then took a tablet and the monitor from the cash register and smashed them on the floor, breaking them. Immediately after, he left the establishment.

As soon as the client had left, the worker reported the incident to the police.The following day, the customer returned to the store but was denied entry by the worker.

In response, the client responded by violently hitting a display case, and proceeded once again to attack the worker. At this point, the worker picked up a metal bar and struck the customer on the arm.

Moments later, police appeared at the scene and, after clarifying what had happened, proceeded to arrest the two individuals. The client had to be transferred to the hospital after suffering a fractured arm.

During their career they have been awarded with several international awards and recognitions. In 2022 they won the 1st prize in the Philip Jones Brass Preis in Lucerne, the 2nd prize in the prestigious Anton Garcia Abril competition, from Baza, Granada, and the 2nd prize in the Cambra Romananica d’Andorra competition.

KamBrass was also nominated for the Prix Credit Suisse Jeunes Solistes 2022. This same year, they were selected by the Casals Quartet to participate in the 2nd Chamber Music Professional Training Conference in Vic and received scholarships from Joventuts Musical Internationals to be part of the Chamber Music Campus 2022 in Weikersheim, Germany.

They were awarded the prize for participation in the Hohenloher Kultursommer 2023 Festival.

ANYONE whose phone doesn’t automatically block spam calls can now breathe a sigh of relief.

The new Telecommunications Act came into force in Spain on Thursday, June 29. According to this, companies that offer goods and services are no longer allowed to make advertising calls (llamadas spam) without the explicit consent of the consumer.

With English mobile phone numbers, receiving Spanish spam calls were rather rare,

In 2021 they were awarded the American Brass Quintet Prize at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in the United States and were also semi­finalists in the renowned Juventudes Musicales de España competition.

In December 2020 they received 2nd prize at the Orpheus Swiss Chamber Music Competition and the Gold Star Award in the Emerging and Professional categories of the Music and Stars Awards online competition.

Tickets are €15 from www.tickettib.com

End of spam calls

but with Spanish numbers they were increasing each month. The law will take up to a year to take effect, but after that anyone who has a mobile or landline number in Spain should no longer be bothered with the calls.

In addition to explicit consent, according to the legal text there are also exceptional cases in which companies can still contact consumers with spam

Cleaner city centre

EMAYA, the municipal public company of Palma City Council, has incorporated seven new vehicles and employed 45 workers to enhance the cleaning and rubbish collection services of Palma.

On Monday, July 24, the councillor for the Environment and president of Emaya, Llorenc Bauza, accompanied by the manager of the municipal company, Lorenzo Morey, presented the new fleet of lorries and vehicles at the Son Pacs facilities, which will contribute to reinforcing the cleaning and collection service.

calls, namely if the “communication can be based on another basis of legitimation in accordance with Article 6.1 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the processing of personal data.” For example, company employees can still call if their concern is necessary to protect vital interests or to carry out a task in the public interest. If a company violates the new law, they could face a fine.

Bauza explained that the new fleet is made up of seven vehicles, some of them electric, “which falls within the line of action aimed at promoting sustainability and which will enter service throughout this week.”

The cost of the seven vehicles amounted to €775,000, of which €180,000 was subsidised by the Ministry of Transport.

176 seats

KAMBRASS: A passion for chamber music.

Image: Police

HEATED DISCUSSION: Police arrested two men.

Needed to control the Spanish parliament

Local products promoted Scooter crackdown

A TOTAL of 72 electric scooters riders were fined on Thursday, July 20, at a control point located in the El Terreno district of Palma.

As reported on Friday, July 21 by the Local Police in a statement, 18 cars were also stopped and 12 drivers fined, three of them for drug use, another three for driving with an expired ITV, four for driving without a seat belt and two for driving with an invalid driving licence.

Incapacity cases rise

ing to the company that rents the scooters in the area were removed.

A municipal decree regulating the use of electric scooters was approved in July 2019. This regulation prohibits scooters from circulating on pavements, squares, parks and spaces exclusively for pedestrians.

THE minister for economic promotion and local development for Mallorca, Pilar Amate, participated in the presentation of the new promotional campaign ‘Productes de sa nostra terra’ (Products of our land) by the Eroski Balears supermarkets, which was held in Campos on Thursday, July 20.

The minister showed her determined support for local products from Mallorca and expressed her commitment to pro­

mote and strengthen the entire network of local products and the local productive sectors of the island.

During the presentation, she mentioned the network “that brings together the entire value chain of the native product, from the origin to the final consumer and which energises the local economy.

“We want to value initiatives such as the one that this supermarket

chain has been carrying out for years, and which has been widely accepted, both by local producers, our farmers and fishermen, and by the consumer themself,” said the minister for economic promotion, Alvaro Roca.

Roca stressed the importance of supporting local products by carrying out promotional campaigns about the “extraordinary quality” of zero kilometre items.

In addition, in another crackdown on Wednesday, 17 electric scooters belong­

Scooters are also required to have a bell, brakes, lights and approved reflective devices so that they can be detected at a distance of 150 metres. Users must be at least 15 years old to ride one of these vehicles.

Porsche boss buys home

MALLORCA is one of the favourite destinations for holidays, but is also known as one of the most exclusive and beautiful islands in the world when it comes to purchasing luxury properties.

This is now the case of the billionaire owner of the luxury car company, Porsche AG. Eighty-year-old Wolfgang Heinz Porsche has purchased an imposing mansion in the southwest of the island, along with his new partner, Princess Gabriela of Leiningen, according to a local news source. Princess Gabriela is the ex-wife of the fourth Aga Khan, and became a Princess when she married the Russian Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen. Porsche is understood to have moved in with Princess Gabriele of Leiningen after the good friends enjoyed a holiday in the Maldives together

A GENERAL meeting of Mutua Balear, held last Thursday, July 20 in Palma unanimously approved the annual accounts for the year and the distribution of its results. This indicated that during 2022 it provided cover to 26,326 mutual companies, with a figure of 333,198 workers protected for professional incidents, and paid €180 million in social benefits for incapacitated workers on the Balearic Islands, which represented an increase of 20 per cent compared to 2021.

Of the 333,198 workers, 16.89 per cent were self-employed, which showed an increase of more than 10 per cent compared to the previous year.

PRODUCTS OF OUR LAND: Presentation of the campaign.

Credit: Consell of Mallorca

99%

Of the votes have been currently tallied.

PALMA theatre is searching for talented children and young adults to join its choir. Those between the ages of five and 22 and who speak Spanish can take part in the auditions, which will take place in September.

The theatre has three groups in its subsidiary choirs, which are Petitons, Infantile and youth.

Young singers wanted

The auditions will take place on two different days, either Saturday, September 23, from 10am to 1pm, or Saturday, September 30, from 10am to 1pm. The selection will take place in the choir hall

of the theatre, and the entrance is on Calle de la Costa del Teatre.

Applicants will only have to bring a passport photograph and they will be attended to in order of arrival. Pre­registration is not necessary.

The Petitons Choir is for children aged five to 10, the Infantile for children from 10 to 16 years old, and the Juvenile for young people from 16 to 22 years old. For more information you can email cors@teatreprinci pal.com.

Occupancy rate rises

OVERNIGHT stays in hotel establishments in the Balearic Islands reached 9,098,561 in June 2023, compared to 7,395,731 registered in May 2023 and 8,956,158 in June 2022.

The data was published Monday, July 24, by the National Statistics Institute (INE). In addition, of the total number of overnight stays recorded in June on the Islands, 906,912 were residents of Spain and 8,191,649 foreign visitors.

Considering their origins, the overnight stays of travellers who are inhabitants of Spain exceeded 12 million, which represents 33.3 per cent of the total. Non­resident visitors stood at over 24.1 million.

Regarding hotel occupancy, in June 63.4 per cent of available accommodation was used, representing an annual increase of 1.3 per cent, and the degree of occupancy at weekends decreased by 1.4 per cent and stood at 69.4 per cent.

Palma and Calvia had the highest occupancy rate for weekend stays (83.2 per cent).

122 seats

Currently held by Pedro Sanchez.

The Theatre Choir.

Credit: Consell of Mallorca

Spanish Elections: What’s Next?

by Lisa Zeffertt

ON Sunday night, July 23, in a tense and close election race, the results were finally in, but the results are no clearer after its conclusion.

No Clear Winner

The right­wing block made up of Partido Popular (PP), and Vox reached a maximum of 169 votes, while the leftwing bloc made up of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Sumar totalled 153 votes. Neither party obtained results from an absolute majority.

PP won with a higher number of votes in total, but this is not a clear path to victory. Now, the decision is down to pacts that the parties form, as both leading parties do not have sufficient votes to govern Spain as a single party.

PP Falls Short of 176 Votes

As PP has made clear that it did not want to rule with Vox, despite the two parties governing several regional governments together after the regional elections in May 2023, Alberto Núñez Feijóo does not have enough votes to be sworn in as Spain’s next leader, falling short of the threshold of 176 seats. In his speech, Feijóo said that he wants to claim his right to become the next leader of Spain since he won with a

majority of the popular vote.

PSOE’s Success Relies on Pro­Independence Parties

Meanwhile, the PSOE must form pacts with other parties and can govern with the support of Sumar, Catalan and Basque independence parties, the ERC, Bildu, PNV and BNG (other regional parties) despite not obtaining the highest votes.

The success of PSOE hangs heavily on the Junts party decision, led by Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan president who fled to Belgium after holding the referendum in October 2022 on Catalan independence, a move that sparked controversy and created fissures in Spain between the left and

SPAIN secured a prominent spot in the 2023 Henley Passport Index, updated on Thursday, July 20. The Spanish passport ranked as one of the world’s most powerful passports.

Based on official data from the International Air Transport Association, the index reveals which passports offer visa­free access to the most countries. Surprisingly, Japan, which held the top spot for five years, has now slipped to third place. Singapore claims the new title as the country with the most powerful passport, allowing its citizens visa­free access to an impressive 192 out of 227 recog­

right. Puidgdemont has already stated that he would neither support the PSOE nor PP and now his decision may have a significant impact.

Pedro Sánchez, the PSOE candidate and current Prime Minister, celebrated a victory, saying, “We have won more votes, more seats and a higher percentage than four years ago.”

Yolanda Diaz of Sumar said, “Many people were worried, and tonight, they will sleep more soundly,” regarding national and international concerns about a rightwing bloc forming between PP and Vox.

Meanwhile, the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, who lost popularity compared to

Globetrotter’s dream

nised countries or territories.

Spain shares second place with Germany and Italy, offering visa­free access to 190 destinations. Japan joins six other nations in third place, granting its passport holders access to 189 countries without visas.

Spain’s high ranking reflects the country’s open approach to international travel, providing its citizens with the freedom to explore a wide range of destinations without the need for visas.

the 2019 elections, criticised the PP government in his speech and warned that “Pedro Sánchez, even after losing the election, could still block the formation of a government.”

Record Voter Turnout

With a 70.33 per cent voter turnout that was four points higher than the 2019 elections, and despite scorching hot temperatures in the middle of July, in the peak of summer holidays, 24 million people cast their ballots, including by post in one of the record­breaking numbers of mail votes cast in Spain.

With such close results, a likely outcome may be a call for new elections, with Pedro Sánchez remaining in Moncloa as Prime Minister.

Leading EU growth

SPAIN has emerged as one of the star performers in the European Union in terms of inflation, according to the latest figures released on Wednesday, July 19. Eurostat’s latest data revealed that the overall inflation rate for the EU’s 27 member states dipped to 6.4 per cent in June, significantly lower than May’s 7.1 per cent and marking the lowest since January 2022. Standing tall among EU nations, Spain took the lead with the lowest impact from inflation, second only to Luxembourg. With an impressive 1.6 per cent inflation rate, Spain’s economic success has been attributed to its cautious measures. The nation’s strategic policies have placed it among the top economies, reporting a remarkable 4.2 per cent growth in GDP, the highest economic growth in the Eurozone.

While Spain’s inflation situation improves, other EU countries face challenges. Luxemburg boasts an extraordinary inflation rate of just 1 per cent, but some nations including Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland, are grappling with higher rates above 11 per cent. The President of the European Central Bank vowed to continue monitoring the situation.

PEDRO SANCHEZ: May remain in Moncloa as Prime Minster.

24 million Spaniards voted in person, 2.4m opted for mail-in voting

Liberty posts a 10.5% first half growth in expatriates

LIBERTY SEGUROS organised a brunch meeting in Malaga with its main brokers engaged in the Expatriates segment along the Costa del Sol, where the excellent results of the first half of the year were applauded and a very positive outlook for the second half of the year was discussed.

This meeting forms part of a round of meetings with its Expatriates insurance brokers throughout Spain, particularly in coastal areas such as Levante, Murcia and Almeria, Costa Brava, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.

The Expatriates segment encompasses foreign residents in Spain who are real estate owners, tenants or simply spend long and alternate periods in the country. Expatriates constitute one of the groups in which Liberty has a more solid and differential presence in the market that is not only built on a technology­driven, product and advice­based commercial model, but also sustained by a network of brokers who are consolidat­

ed and highly specialised in the needs of this group.

Liberty’s premium volume in this segment grew by 10.5 per cent between January and June 2023, standing at €42 million in car, home and miscellaneous premiums. This solid performance arose from new customers and renewals of existing policies.

Jesús Núñez, Executive Director of Distribution and Sales at Liberty Seguros in Europe, pointed out that

“this positive performance reflects the long­standing and trusting partnership between Liberty and its brokers” and also “a unique business model that provides brokers with Liberty’s digital and data analytics knowledge and capabilities so they can further develop their businesses.” On this point, Jesús Núñez reiterated his “absolute commitment to brokers,” who “are at the heart of offering customers a policy best suited to their needs.”

Rafael Nadales, Regional Director for the Expatriates segment, hailed the excellent results of the first half of the year, which he views as “proof of just how successful Liberty’s model can be combined with the support we give to brokers so they can respond quickly to customers' needs and develop their business through their knowledge and closeness with their customers.” He also explained

that “the Expatriates segment holds great growth potential, so we expect a second half of the year with plenty of opportunities.”

Specialised advice for Expatriates and digital nomads

Liberty Seguros carries a comprehensive range of flexible and modular insurance policies for foreigners working or temporarily residing in Spain. This group also includes digital nomads, who can work in Spain on temporary visas since the entry came into force last December of the Spanish Startup Ecosystem Promotion Act, known as the Startup Act.

Some of the modular insurance policies Liberty can offer to the Expatriates segment include car, home, life and accident policies, including options such as Europe­wide car insurance coverage, or coverage for theft at home or in a public place.

Liberty is a leading Expatriate insurance provider through the combination of business knowledge, the insurer’s technological capabilities and the experience of a broker network.

Geological wonders

Catherine McGeer SPAIN’S geological wonders are often overlooked. From the geode of Pulpi to the Gredas de Bolnuevo, here are five geological marvels in Spain that will leave you in awe.

Region of Murcia: Gredas de Bolnuevo (Mazarron). Located near the beach of Bolnuevo, the Gredas de Bolnuevo, also known as the Enchanted City of Bolnuevo, is a fascinating sight. Composed of yellowish sandy loams, sandstones, and micro conglomerates, these rocks have been sculpted by water and wind into shapes resembling gigantic mushrooms.

Extremadura: Los Pilones (Cabezuela del Valle, Cáceres). Nestled in the Jerte Valley, Los Pilones is a unique bathing area and geological marvel. The Garganta de los Infiernos, a granite gorge, features 13 enormous pools that have been sculpted by the flowing water, creating fantastic shapes and tex ­

tures.

The cascading waterfalls and natural pools offer visitors a refreshing escape during the hot summer months.

Region of Valencia: Els Arcs de Castell de Castells (Alicante). In the mountains of Alicante, the Els Arcs de Castell de Castells awaits with its colossal limestone arches. These natural arches frame a landscape that resembles an alpine paradise. The arches stand tall and majestic, offering a spectacular sight for hikers and nature lovers.

Catalonia : Congost de Mont­rebei (Lleida). Located in the Montsec massif, the Congost de Mont­rebei is a dramatic gorge carved by the Noguera Ribagorzana River.

Towering walls of orange limestone rise over 1,000 metres, creating a breathtaking and vertigo ­ inducing spectacle. Visitors can cross a narrow bridle path carved into the rock, pass over suspension bridges, and enjoy panoramic viewpoints that offer glimpses of the local wildlife

Andalucia : Giant geode from Pulpi (Almeria). On the eastern edge of Almeria, the giant geode from Pulpi was discovered in an old mine. This extraordinary geode is a cavern adorned with massive gypsum crystals, reminiscent of the legendary Fortress of Solitude. The sparkling crystals create a mesmerising display of natural beauty, captivating everyone.

If you need more information or would like a personalised quote, you can contact any of their brokers or agents or visit quote.libertyexpatriates.es and fill in a short form for a local agent in your area to contact you as soon as possible.

INSURANCE BROKERS: Celebrated excellent results in the first half year.

NATURE’S MASTERPIECES: Unveiling Spain’s Geological Wonders.

BUSINESS

EXTRA Linda Hall

Pret profit

COFFEE and sandwich chain

Pret a Manger reported profits of £50.6 million (€58.4 million) for 2022 after making losses of £225.9 million (€260.67 million) in 2021 owing to the pandemic. Sales during the first half of 2023 also rose by 20 per cent to £429.9 million (€496 million), the company said.

Lips sealed

A NATIONAL High Court judge in Madrid is keeping open an enquiry into producer and ventriloquist Jose Luis Moreno who allegedly headed a scheme to defraud banks and private investors of at least €50 million. The judge announced a sixmonth extension to examine all documentation seized during the investigation.

Not safe

AN Aberdeen court fined BP £650,000 (€750,075) following the death of a worker who suffered fatal injuries after falling through an open grating on the lower deck of company’s Unity North Sea oil platform in 2014. The oil company had breached health and safety regulations, the court ruled after an eightday trial.

Not going

MEMBERS of Spain’s Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE) have voted in favour of removing the existing restriction that limits presidents to serving two consecutive four ­ year terms. This clears the way for its current president, Antonio Garamendi, to continue at the head of the association for a third term.

Argos exit

ARGOS, owned by Sainsbury’s, which is shutting 100 stores between now and 2024, has already closed four stores in England with 34 planned for Ireland. The catalogue retailer confirmed that some will close next month, starting with the Grimsby centre which relocates to Sainsbury’s between August 9 and 10.

BRITAIN’S Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) saved consumers more than £2 billion (€2.3 billion) between April 2022 and March 2023.

According to the CMA’s Annual Report and Accounts, it generated £26 (€29.9) for every £1 (€1.15) it spent, up from the previous year’s £22.50 (€25.9). This was comfortably higher than the UK government’s £10 (€11.52) target and saved consumers around £8 billion (€9.2 bn) over the last three years.

Meanwhile, the watchdog has responded to major issues that included cost of living increases, while launching a project that focused on supermar­

STAT OF WEEK €300 million

Consumer savings

2 and blocking three owing to competition concerns.

The remaining Phase 2 mergers were either cleared after the CMA accepted remedies addressing its concerns or the deals were abandoned by the businesses involved.

SHAREHOLDERS in Avangrid, a leading US energy company which belongs to Iberdrola Group, approved all proposals at the 2023 Shareholders Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.

ket food pricing.

The CMA also commenced a new mediumterm strategy supporting people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair practices.

It is now outlining which issues to examine, ensuring

ABERTIS has put in a bid for the concession to run the Attiki Odos bypass and network of roads in metropolitan Athens. Its offer is believed to be in the region of €2 billion.

The Spanish multinational, owned by Italian holding company Mundys and ACS ­ the engineering and construction company chaired by Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid ­ specialises in toll road management.

Abertis has five rivals for the contract, in which the Australian asset manager Macquarie and Fincop Infrastructure consortium is the frontrunner.

The Greek government initially whittled the number of possibles down to eight, although Fininc, an associate of

Onion effect

SPANISH private equity firm Portobello Capital has entered the agri­foods sector.

The firm acquired Nazca’s 45 per cent stake in Eurocebollas, a leader in processed onions, in a €100 million operation.

At the end of last year, venture capital fund Nazca sounded out the possible sale of a minority stake in Eurocebollas or, possibly, the entire company.

In the event, Nazca divested itself of less than half of its holding and Eurocebolla’s founder, Francisco Alberola remains as majority shareholder and continues to head the company.

that it can achieve real impact for the UK public, particularly those people who most need help.

During the 2022­2023 period, the CMA has scrutinised approximately 700 mergers, investigating 43 at an initial Phase 1 stage, 13 at the more in­depth Phase

Actions included £60 million (€69.16 million) in fines for 10 construction firms who illegally colluded to rig bids for public and private sector projects.

There was also an investigation into whether fashion labels owned by ASOS, Boohoo and ASDA were misleading customers with their ‘green’ claims .

Toll road bid

Abertis is going it alone in its proposal to manage the 60­year­old Attiki Odos roads although it is allegedly sounding out possible partners in Greece should its bid be successful.

Addressing Avangrid’s shareholders, Iberdrola chairman Ignacio Galan ­ who also heads the US company ­ reaffirmed the group’s commitment to accelerating the energy transition, while moving towards decarbonisation.

Galan also reported that Avangrid had invested €2.5 billion in its networks and renewables in 2022. The company would continue to support “a stronger and more resilient grid” for its customers, while delivering “a clean energy future for all,” he said.

Outlook cloudy

OCADO’S association with Marks and Spencer has been disappointing, chief executive Tim Steiner confessed.

another Spanish multinational, Sacyr, has since dropped out. So too has a consortium between two French firms and the Dutch company, DIF.

Inflation falling

INFLATION in the UK fell to 7.9 per cent in June, down from 8.7 per cent in May.

This was its lowest since March 2022, when prices first began to rise following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Analysts had predicted a less noticeable reduction in the headline ratecovering fuel and energy prices as well as food ­ to 8.2 per cent. Underlying inflation calculated on items like processed food, clothing, restaurants and communications also eased although food inflation’s 17.3 per cent was higher than in June 2022.

June’s largely unexpected figures were the result of reductions in the price of petrol and diesel, which now cost 20 per cent less than a year ago.

In comparison, Spain’s inflation rate currently stands at 1.9 per cent, its lowest since March 2021.

Other contenders for the motorway contract include the Greek companies Aktor and Avax, which are currently managing the toll road until their contract comes to an end in 2024. On this occasion, they are forming an alliance with the French investment fund Meridiam substituting Ardian.

Big cash injection

TELEFONICA has injected €762 million in its Mexican subsidiary Pegaso via seven capital increases since 2021.

Pegaso belongs to Telefonica Hispanoamerica (Hispam) which underwent recapitalisation in January after Telefonica Peru lost its longstanding battle with the country’s tax authority.

Shareholders agreed at the time to a fully­subscribed capital increase of 2.3 billion Mexican pesos (€113 million), which was paid in cash by Hispam’s own holding company.

The company undertook several capital increases last year totalling two billion pesos (€98.18 million). Prior to that in 2021, Pegaso carried out capital increases in January, June, September and December, for 13.3 billion Mexican pesos, equivalent to €551 million.

When the £750 million (€866.2 million) joint venture was agreed in 2019, replacing a previous Ocado­Waitrose deal, both hailed the opportunity of creating a “profitable, scalable presence in the online grocery market.”

Marks and Spencer should pay Ocado a final instalment of £190.7 million (€220.2 million) by August 2024 if performance targets are met.

Instead, Ocado has reduced the ‘fair value’ of this payment to £78 million (€90 million), suggesting it suspects that there is less than a 50 per cent likelihood of getting the money.

Windfall worries

TWENTY per cent of savers are hoping for a substantial inheritance to maintain their quality of life.

A survey by Lime Solicitors found that many Britons rely on a legacy from their parents to guarantee a comfortable future. An increasing number would struggle in retirement if they were to inherit little, the law firm’s Debra Burton warned.

Even those who were left more would have to contend with inheritance tax, charged at 40 per cent above £325,000 (€375,296) or £500,0000 (€577,367) if a property went to children or grandchildren, she said.

will be spent by Seat on building a plant in Martorell (Barcelona) to assemble the battery cells that are produced for electric vehicles at Volkswagen’s gigafactory in Sagunto (Valencia).

CMA: Headquartered in Canary Wharf.

ATHENS MOTORWAYS: Spanish multinational Abertis bids to manage system.

Photo credit: competitionandmarkets.blog.gov.uk

Photo credit: Attiki Odos

LONDON - FTSE 100

DOW JONES

Off-the-grid

NATIONAL GRID has sold another 20 per cent of its National Gas holding to the existing majority owners, a consortium headed by Australia’s Macquarie Asset Management. National Grid said the sale would be ‘financially equivalent’ to the 60 per cent stake it sold for £9.6 billion (€11.5 billion) to the consortium in January.

Fine stuff

CATALONIA’S regional government, the Generalitat, is exploring the possibility of sanctioning Spain’s electricity supplier Endesa for allegedly infringing the rules that govern energy self­consumption. Using practices that imposed ‘unjustified conditions, difficulties or delays’ which hindered Catalonia residents’ access to individual energy autonomy could now bring a fine of between €600,000 and €6m.

Tata backs Britain

Linda Hall

TATA GROUP has chosen the UK as the location for its first gigafactory outside India.

One of the largest ­ ever investments in the UK automotive industry, which was officially announced on July 19, the plant will create up to 4,000 new direct jobs, and thousands more in the wider supply chain for battery materials and essential raw minerals.

At 40GWh, the £4 billion

(€4.6 billion) plant will be one of the biggest in Europe, while also guaran ­

teeing UK­ produced batteries for another Tata Sons investment, Jaguar

Grain deal apprehension

AS Russia suspended its grain agreement with Ukraine, Spain’s grain­based industrialists began to worry about future supplies.

“Spain is a major importer of cereal grains,” said Jose Manuel Alvarez, director of Spain’s Grains and Oilseeds Trade Association (Accoe).

“As Ukraine is one of our main sources we shall have to keep a close watch on future developments.”

Prices would inevitably rise, he said, although supplies were currently guaranteed, as the sector’s production campaign runs from July to July.

For the first six months of the year, grain comes from Latin America, principally Brazil, Alvarez explained, but during the second half it is imported from Ukraine.

“Problems could start in January next year,” Alvarez predicted.

Best yet

Land Rover cars, as well as other manufacturers throughout the UK and Europe.

“We can be incredibly proud that Britain has been chosen as home to Tata Group’s first gigafactory outside India, securing our place as one of the most attractive places to build electric vehicles,” Britain’s prime minister Rishi Sunak said.

Work on putting up the huge new factory in Bridgwater (Somerset) is likely to begin “very soon” according to local MP Ian Liddell­Grainger, who was quoted in Somerset Live.

“Our multi­billion­pound investment will bring state­of­the­art technology to the country, helping to power the automotive sector’s transition to electric mobility, anchored by our own business, Jaguar Land Rover,” Natajaran Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons chairman, said.

BANKINTER concluded the first half of 2023 with profits of €418 million, a 54 per cent increase on the same period last year and the bank’s best ­ ever figures for the period between January and the end of June.

This result also took into account the €77.5 million ‘windfall tax’ on last year’s profits which fell due in 2023.

Bank note

THE Bank of England paid out £25 million (€28.8 million) in staff bonuses despite warnings from its governor, Andrew Bailey, that employers needed to show ‘restraint’ over wage rises as inflation continued to rise.

The Bank confirmed that 429 employees were given annual bonuses of more than £10,000 (€11,514) in the past year, with some receiving £22,500 (€25,907).

JAGUAR-LANDROVER: Batteries assured for its electric vehicles.

Photo credit: Jaguar Land Rover

WILL something ever be done about these ludicrous UK ‘human rights?’ To be honest I hardly know what the phrase actually means. And there of course lies the true problem.

The more obscure and complicated any point of law can be, the more the money grabbing lawyers can exploit them ­ which of course make them the last people on earth who would want them clarified. In fact, complexity and confusion in matters of law is like money in the bank for this unscrupulous bunch of legal parasites.

The Rwanda fiasco poured yet more profits into their ever ambitious currency grabbing vaults. Lawyers (who else) stepped in and declared that a large number of these illegal immigrants shouldn’t be deported because their ‘uman rites’ had been denied.

This legal Mafia, no doubt once again riding high on tax payer’s money; subsequently presented their case and the British courts have now agreed. The whole expensive plan to export asylum seekers to Rwanda has now sunk under a sea of obscure laws and ‘uman rights. Not surprisingly this

Human rights

has created an ocean of opportunity that is now promoting a brand new source of riches for these privateer gannets. Floating accommodation, which will no doubt develop into their next legal piracy campaign. I dread to think of the numbers of them brushing up their life jackets and briefcases to scramble on board for their latest money grabbing cruise.

As usual the thing that once more emerges from the actions of these despicable con merchants is that they yet again find themselves in a win win situation. Lawyers of course never lose. Well it’s about time they were curbed. From their persecution of our brave servicemen, to getting murderers and rapists released back on the streets, most of these people are not interested in justice, all they are concerned with are their own self ­ centered ends ­ and the human rights laws are a licence for them to print (tax payers) money. Well I think that these ‘rights’ should be resolved during trial.

Judges should have the power to decree human rights ‘denied’ or ‘mini­

TAKING A TOLL OUR VIEW

mal’. Lawyers receiving legal aid remuneration from the public purse should also have their fees capped at a reasonable level. Weed out the ambulance chasers and those without any moral conscience whatsoever and their ill­gotten gains could be put toward the branches of law and order that put the law abiding public first. Not as a means for lawyers to buy another villa in the south of France!

Many thanks for all your recent letters. Particularly those of you who have sent such kind and caring messages concerning my recent accident which resulted in a broken shoulder. Wonderful attention from our local hospital services. Thank goodness it didn’t happen in the UK. Mix their NHS problems with their money grabbing union leaders and lawyers and I’d probably still be waiting for treatment.

Keep the faith.

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com

Mon. Fri. 1pm till 4.

THERE seems to have been a great deal of confusion and mind changing over the matter of the introduction of charges on certain currently toll free motorways in Spain.

The European Union is determined that every major Spanish motorway will charge drivers for their use by 2024 in a move to try to reduce the number of cars on the road and therefore the amount of pollution.

Euro Weekly News has its headquarters on the Costa del Sol where the main motorway, the AP7, not only charges but is allowed to increase the tolls charged at Easter and the summer.

Currently the inflated summer cost to travel from Fuengirola to Manilva is €17.25 which is a 76­kilometre journey.

You can travel on the A7 which is free and allows you to drive from Malaga City to Algeciras and part of the journey is shared with cars on the AP7.

The fact is many drivers choose not to pay to travel on the AP7 which means that the A7 is constantly backed up with traffic in both directions, with some guaranteed huge traffic jams which add rather than reduce the pollution generated by cars, lorries and of course the annual pilgrimage of workers from Spain, France and Italy heading for the ferries to Morocco and back.

The actual roads themselves are not in a good state of repair and it seems that little of the money generated from the tolls is actually diverted to ensuring that the highway is in good condition.

Regardless of which party or parties triumphed in last Sunday’s General Election, it seems more than likely that there will be an ongoing disagreement with the EU over the need to reintroduce tolls.

NEATER HEATER WANT ‘SQUIRRELS’ AS CUSTOMERS

RICHARD and Tony from NEATER HEATER are urging all our readers to start prepar ing for next winter now. “We really want people to imi tate SQUIRRELS,” said Tony “As we know; all the other woodland creatures just laze about in the summer, relaxing. So when the win ter comes they have to fu riously compete with each other for the scraps left over or hide ­ away and hi bernate, waiting for next summer. But not the squirrels! Squirrels plan for the winter by hoard ing nuts, berries and seeds in the summer, so when winter comes they are well prepared for it, and are able to enjoy themselves on

those nice bright winter days when the sun does come out. They are obviously the wisest creatures in the wood. And that is what we want our customers to be.”

“What Tony is trying to say,” interjected Richard, “is that when winter finally arrives in Spain, Northern Europe has been cold for months. This means that Chilly Czechs, Frozen Fins and Shivering Swedes have been stripping the shelves for months. Every year we have panicking customers calling us in December, desperate to have

heaters supplied and fitted by Christmas. Frequently these customers have to compromise on their choice, or be put at the back of a long queue. Every year we think to ourselves ­ ‘It’s a shame you didn’t order them in the summer when we had loads of them in stock and, equally as important, the time to process the orders’.”

NEATER HEATER is the sole Spanish distributor for BEHA and ADAX NEO convector heaters. We currently have more stock than ever before at various locations, just waiting for the ‘squirrels’. Please feel free to call us on 634 312 171 for more information, or visit our website www.neaterheater.es , or email info@neaterheater.es.

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

SQUIRRELS: Are well prepared for the winter during the summer and so should you be.

LETTERS

DGT indicates fines are possible

AT last, drivers in Spain can be fined up to €200 for not using their vehicles’ indicators when moving from one lane to another or making a turn.

There are some very good drivers on Spanish roads, but to those of us who learned to drive in other parts of Europe, especially the UK, the use of indicators was drummed in to us if we wanted to gain a licence.

It has taken the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), some time to decide that enough is enough and that there is

Comments

Lorry drivers are the absolute worst, not only do they hit the indicator as they turn the wheel, they just veer out without checking their mirrors! As they have so many blindspots, they should be constantly monitoring the traffic behind them. I’m aware of the blind­spot, so I always signal my intention to overtake, and pull over with plenty of distance so they can see me coming, but the problem is often they aren’t paying attention and just suddenly change lanes carelessly. Unfortunately, I have to drive hundreds of KM a week and many times I’ve almost been taken out by this particular action, or because they’re swerving all over the road, not staying in their lane. They cause so many accidents, deaths and complete chaos when they crash, or catch on fire. A lot more should be done to regulate them and educate them to:­ Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre! Concha

Spanish drivers are a complete law unto themselves. Once cocooned in their little tin box, the roads and all surroundings belong to them and them alone. They have to be the worst drivers in Europe! Of course, when a family member is not allowed to teach them and they have to attend a driving school which costs money, how many actually have a licence?

Ian Hannah

Was expecting a few thousand comments on this one, :):).

Driven in a lot of differing countries, but Spain is the worst for indicator use, or not as per norm. No realisation there is a degree of precognitive thought process required to carry out this action correctly.

DJH

It is time the authorities took this action. I have seen far too many ‘near misses’ because a driver has failed to indicate their intentions.

Spanish drivers are the worst I have encountered for not using their indicators. Do

no charge for using the indicator, but there could be a €200 charge for not using it.

According to the DGT, over the average life of a vehicle, the indicators can be used up to 200,000 times and they are there for a safety reason and need to be used with plenty of advance warning, not just at the last minute.

This thorny subject has been discussed by the readers of Euro Weekly News many times over the years and below, you will find the most recent.

they know what the little stick on the side of their steering column is for?

Mike Brister

Maybe they should show Spanish drivers where the indicators are on the steering column first.

John McLean

Maybe this piece should be in Spanish.

Eleni Lolkema

OMG well the police are going to be rolling in it lol what about using roundabouts correctly as well in fact how to learn to drive lol.

Kim Reilly

In the campo, where we live, the police could have a field day, as no one uses their indicators ­ you have to guess where they are going!!?

Angie Ellacott

Do the fines apply to the police? Can they give themselves tickets as most never use their indicators.

Sheree Ruiz

Funniest thing I’ve read in ages.

Andrew Weller

Should apply to all road users including cyclists and scooter riders.

David King

About time.

Michael Hunka

Yeah right! Let’s see how many take notice.

Lorna Button

Loadsamoney will be coming in not from the Brits. We know the right way to do things.

Gill Stevens

Thought Spanish cars only came with a horn .

Steven Barker

Dog-sitters care for your pets at home

GILLIAN loves her Westies, and likes for them to be cared for at home when she travels. She chooses HouseSitMatch because sitters are checked, and she is happy to exchange free accommodation for free pet and home care. It’s a win win! Her house­sitters are for free because she is part of the HouseSitMatch network.

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:

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Gillian prefers to have her pets cared for at home.

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THEY’VE served, protected, and now they’re ready to snuggle! Spain’s retired police dogs are trading their badges for comfortable beds in loving homes. After years of rigorous work, these canine heroes are seeking retirement amidst family warmth and affection.

Specially trained to fight crime, find missing persons, and detect drugs or explosives, these dogs have

dedicated their lives to keeping the community safe. Now that their service has ended, they’re ready for the next adventure: becoming family pets.

Various organisations in Spain, such as Fundación

ONCE del Perro Guía (FOPG), have taken the initiative to rehome these retired servants. They ensure that these dogs find families who can provide the love and care they’ve earned after years of duty. Officer Miguel Sanchez,

Shepherd named Bruno, said “Bruno has done his duty, and now deserves a peaceful life full of belly rubs and fetch games.”

Welcoming a retired police dog into your home is not just about adopting a pet. It’s an opportunity to show gratitude to these unsung heroes. These dogs, known for their discipline and training, make wonderful pets, offering a unique blend of companionship, loyalty, and courage. Retiring from service doesn’t

Bird ownership - a fluttering delight

FROM the melodic canary to the chatty African grey parrot, birds are perching themselves into the role of popular pets within UK homes. However, welcoming these airborne

companions requires more than just a cage and birdseed.

One of the main draws of birds as pets is their sociability and intelligence. Interaction is es ­

sential, from teaching your parrot to mimic human speech to providing your budgerigar with supervised time outside of its cage each day.

Additionally, their envi­

ronment should be peppered with suitable toys and perches to encourage mental and physical exercise during your absence.

Nutrition is key in maintaining a bird’s

health. A balanced diet should include fresh fruits, vegetables, and specially designed bird pellets to ensure your bird receives all essential nutrients.

Some birds, surprisingly, even enjoy a variety of cooked legumes and grains.

Prospective bird owners should consider the longevity of these feathered creatures. Many bird species, particularly parrots, live for several decades, making pet birds a long ­ term com ­

mitment.

Routine vet check ­ ups are crucial for early detection of potential health issues.

In conclusion, while owning a bird requires effort and dedication, it can provide an immensely rewarding experience.

Prospective owners should be prepared to meet their avian companions’ needs for diet, social interaction, and healthcare. It’s not just pet ownership; it’s a shared journey in companionship.

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POLICE DOGS: Make wonderful pets, offering companionship and loyalty.

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Harman wins British Open

AMERICAN golfer Brian Harman picked up a whopping $3 million at the Royal Liverpool Golf Course on Sunday, July 23, after winning the prestigious British Open 2023.

Despite horrendous weather conditions, Harman held onto the lead he entered the final day with to batter the rest of the field. He started with a fiveshot advantage and eventually won the tournament at Hoylake by an incredible six strokes.

As a result, the 36­year­old from Savannah, Georgia, picked up the first Major of his career, the iconic Claret Jug, which is presented annually to the winner of the oldest golf tournament in the world.

Rory McIlroy went into this 151st Open as one of the favourites after his victory last weekend in the Scottish Open. The North ern Irishman was without a Major win in nine years.

After birdies on the third, fourth and fifth holes, he looked to be in with a slight chance of catching Harman but, after spurn ing further opportunities, it was not to be.

Spain’s Jon Rahm started today on 6­under, with England’s Tommy Fleetwood close to him on 5under, but both players failed to capitalise and fell well short of the eventual South Korean’s Tom Kim, Sepp Straka from Austria, Aussie golfer Jason Day, and Argentina’s Emilliano Grillo all put in good rounds but Harman was not in the mood to allow any of them to catch him as he put daylight between him and the rest of his competition.

Cameron Young was Harman’s closet rival as play started but the 26­yearold New Yorker could only manage a final score of 5­under, recording a miserable 2­over for the day. In picking up the famous trophy, Brain Harman becomes only the third lefthanded golfer to win the British Open. He joins New Zealand legend Bob Charles who won back in 1963, and the 2013 winner, America’s Phil Mickelson, in that unique group of players.

Women’s World Cup shock

NEW ZEALAND pulled off the first shock of the Women’s World Cup 2023 in the very first match of the tournament.

The Football Ferns won their first game in 15 World Cup outings, roared on by a record number of 42,137 delirious fans at Auckland’s Eden Park on Thursday morning, July 20.

Not only did they win 1 ­ 0 thanks to a Hannah Wilkinson goal, but they did it against Norway, the 1995 world champions, and the favourites to progress as group winners.

If Ria Percival had converted her penalty in the 89th minute after Tuva Hansen was judged to have handled the ball then the result would have been even more emphatic. Instead, she only smashed her kick against the crossbar.

A goalless first half suddenly turned into a thrilling match after the 48th ­ minute cross from Jacqui Hand was steered into the Norwegian net by Wilkinson.

Eden Park erupted into a cauldron of noise as the 31 ­ year ­ old Melbourne City player celebrated scoring New Zealand’s first goal on home soil since 2015, which incidentally, was scored by the same player.

Frida Maanum had the chance to bring her side level only minutes later, but she spurned a golden opportunity, poking the ball wide of the post.

A diving save by Aurora Mikalsen prevented the home captain Ali Riley from doubling the lead for the home side as they pressed Hege Riise’s surprisingly very lacklustre Norwegian team.

Ten minutes of added time did nothing to help the nerves of the New Zealand players or fans, but as the final whistle blew, they had achieved a famous victory.

Brian Harman winning The Open 2023.

Credit: Twitter@TheOpen