Costa Blanca North 3 – 9 August 2023 Issue 1987

GOING GREEN

THE Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the engineering and technology group Sener have signed an agreement to develop a green hydrogen generation pilot plant.

It will be based on a disruptive technology developed by a team of researchers from the ITACA Institute of the UPV and the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ, CSIC­UPV).

After almost ten years of collaborative research, the technology developed by this team from the UPV and the CSIC makes it possible to generate green hydrogen using microwaves. This revolutionary advance is based on the phenomenon of microwave reduction of solid materials at unusually low temperatures compared to other technologies, and was published in 2020 in the journal Nature Energy.

The technology, protected internationally through patents, allows electrochemical processes to be carried out directly without the need for electrodes, which substantially simplifies and cheapens its practical application. This is achieved thanks to the free­

dom in the design of the device architecture and in the choice of operating conditions, mainly temperature.

The agreement, recently signed by the rector of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, José E. Capilla, the vice president of innovation and transfer of the CSIC, Ana Castro, and Sener's Energy business director, Juan Ivorra, will allow the development of a pilot plant to determine the costs of commercial exploitation of this technology, with a view to its possible industrial implementation.

“This achievement is a testament to the commitment of the UPV and the CSIC to in­

novation and cutting­edge scientific research. The technology developed for the generation of green hydrogen using microwaves has the potential to directly contribute to the decarbonisation of the energy industry, and this development project with Sener marks an important milestone on the road to its commercial implementation”,

said José E. Capilla, during the signing of the agreement.

Credit: Eco News

The signing of the agreement

MASYMAS supermarkets announced on Thursday, July 27, that it plans to buy a total of 350 tonnes of seasonal fruit from local producers in the Valencian Community.

Specifically, the chain has acquired cherries and lemons from the northern region of Alicante .

The products are classed as

Keeping It local

Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), and their purchase is expected to increase this summer.

Grapes, peaches, nectarines, apricots, watermelons, plums, oranges and figs are produced by farmers in

Breast support

the Valencian Community. Masymas is committed to local or zero kilometre fruits and vegetables, paying attention to quality, but also to its origin to promote the consumption and sale of local products, as well as helping to reduce environmental impact. Since its inception, Masymas has maintained its purchasing commitment with suppliers in the Valencian Community. The beginnings of Masymas date back to 1969 when its founder, Luis Piña Núñez, opened his first distribution warehouse. In 1974, he opened his first cash and carry called EuroCash, and in 1986 he opened the first Masymas.

THE research foundation of the clinical hospital of the Valencian community, INCLIVA, has received a contribution of €5,000 from the Teulada Moraira Association Against Cancer. The donation, collected through various initiatives and events carried out in recent months, will be applied to pioneering research in the field of triple negative breast cancer.

Triple­negative breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that does not have any of the receptors that are commonly found in breast cancer.

INCLIVA, through a letter, expressed its deep gratitude to the non­profit organisation, whose support for triple negative breast cancer research will have a significant impact on improving the quality of life and the survival rates of women affected by the disease.

INCLIVA manages the biomedical research at Valencia University hospital, as well as certain groups of scientific excellence from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Valencia and the Carlos Simon Foundation.

Happy birthday

THE Aircrew Association

Costa Blanca was delighted to acknowledge the 103rd Birthday of its oldest member, John Russell, on Tuesday July 25.

John, a resident of the Port in Javea, is a long serving Member of the Association and continues to participate actively in the life of the Association whenever possible. John deservedly received the award of the French Legion D’Honneur on June 16 2021, for his outstanding service in contributing to the liberation of France in the Second World War. He is a remarkably youthful centenarian and The Aircrew Association Costa Blanca send many congratulations on reaching his 103rd Birthday and look forward to celebrating many more.

Masymas will buy locally

Credit: Aline Ponce/Pixabay

Presentation of the cheque

Credit: Teulada Moraira Association Against Cancer

Pool vandalised

THE Guardia Civil has opened an investigation into vandalism that forced the closure of the Teulada public swimming pool three times in one week in the middle of July. It is believed youths have been jumping into the pool to defecate in it.

Benitachell tragedy

AN 84­year­old man died, and a woman was seriously injured in a tragic accident last Wednesday, July 26, when a car smashed through a petrol station shop in Benitachell. The driver, a British lady, was unharmed, and tested negative for alcohol.

Corona cases

THE Ministry of Health notified a total of 1,549 new cases of coronavirus confirmed by PCR test or through antigen tests since the last update on July 14. The new cases are 467 in Alicante and 927 in Valencia. 54 percent were over 60 years of age.

Flat fire

A fire broke out on Sunday, July 30, in an apartment block in Denia. The rapid intervention of the local fire brigade prevented the fire from spreading. The fire originated in the fuse box of the fourth floor apartment.

Migrants Arrive

A migrant boat with 17 people on board landed at a Benitachell cove on Monday, July 31. Another boat was intercepted in Albir with seven people on board. The migrants were transferred to Alicante port by the Guardia Civil.

Left brollies

IN an effort to maintain order on the beaches and coves of Denia, the Local Police have announced that they will remove umbrellas and chairs left unattended for hours, with a cost to the owners to retrieve them and maybe even a fine.

ON Monday July 24 the U3A Marina Baixas held their monthly meeting, with Diane Findlay­Craig, Chairperson of the Benidorm Branch of the Royal British Legion as guest speaker.

Diane provided information on the work of the RBL and the help they provide for families of ex ­ service men and women. She entertained the members with her bubbly personality and suggested members join the Benidorm Branch and/or their Facebook page.

Every month at the U3A meetings a raffle is always held to raise money for local charities and on Monday all the money raised was presented to Diane. Due to the hot weather and the holiday season, numbers in atten­

ALTEA council has unanimously authorised the transfer of two municipally owned vans to Caritas and the Red Cross. The proposal, during a council meeting on Thursday, July 27, was approved by all municipal groups.

Caritas will have their vehicle for activities such as collecting products from the food bank, which is located in Alicante. This same vehicle is the one that the Red Cross had been using to transport people, but it had be­

Helping the legion

lic to take part in their Services making donations to help fund them in the future.

dance was sadly very low but members dug deep in their pockets and raised over 138 euros. The Royal British Legion obviously relies heav­

Kind hearted

come unfit for this service due to its age, although it is in good condition for other uses. The van was donated in 2008 by the Caja Murcia Foundation.

At the same time, the council acquired another vehicle to cover the demand of the Red Cross that has now been donated to the charity to be used to transport people with specific needs.

Bowling success

TWELVE teams involving around 60 Benitachell Bowls Club members have enjoyed the weekly bowling and the heat during the last eleven weeks. It was tight at the top of the league with “Ms and Cs” winning the league with 19 points. Close behind were two teams on 16 points with “Space Invaders” taking second place on superior shot difference.

ily on donations to provide the excellent service they are renowned for and in October and November there will be opportunities for the pub­

There will be no monthly meeting in August so the next opportunity for you to join the Association will be on Monday September 25 at 11.00 am in the Casa de Cultura, Alfaz del Pi. So why not put a note in your diary to go along and find out more about what U3A Marina Baixa has to offer and also have the opportunity to book for the trip to the Marq Museum in Alicante to see the visiting exhibition of the Chinese Terracotta Warriors on October 20.

Big crowds

AROUND 20,000 people welcomed the Low Festival 2023 in Benidorm on Saturday, July 29. Over three days, the festival brought together 70 national and international bands and artists, and experienced its most sustainable edition.

Several hours after the doors opened, the mayor, Toni Pérez, together with the mayor of events, Jesús Carrobles, and the promoter of the festival, José Manuel Piñero, toured the venue, which increased in size this year.

Sustainability improvements were made by reducing the number of chemical toilets and replacing them with modular toilets in different parts of the venue.

In terms of music, the first day of the Low ended with the performance of more than 20 bands, artists and DJs on the four stages of the venue, which included Interpol, GusGus, Viva Suecia and Arde Bogotá. Ahead were another two days of music, including Placebo, Vetusta Morla, Deluxe, Iván Ferreiro, Second and Ladilla Rusa.

Tidying up Teulada

A new awareness campaign about the cleaning and care of public spaces was presented on Tuesday, July 25, under the slogan 'A clean Teulada Moraira is everyone's business'.

The aim is to reduce the accumulation of waste and dirt on the streets, especially what is left beside rubbish containers.

“The problems associated with the accumulation of waste directly affect the image of the municipality and our social coexistence. We are making all our means available to avoid unpleasant sit­

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Viva la vida

THE lead singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin, was spotted in Valencia last week. He flew to Spain for a few days to witness the performance of his son Moses in an open­air concert at the city of arts and sciences. Moses, aged 17, wants to follow in his father's footsteps, and during July he has been receiving tuition at one of the summer music courses offered by the Berklee College of Music Valencian campus.

Martin, who is touring Europe and who will resume performances in North America in September, witnessed his son's performance as he mingled into the audience.

Moses is the younger of the two children Chris Martin and ex­wife Gwyneth Paltrow had together. They also have a 19­year­old daughter, Apple. Since October 2017, Martin has been in a relationship with American actress Dakota Johnson. They reside in Malibu, California.

uations like the ones we see everyday, but people and businesses that misuse public spaces must also do their part”, said the councillor for general services, Mari Cantó.

The waste collection service alone represents a large expense as €2.5 million is allocated solely to cleaning.

“The new campaign is about strengthening coordination in order to keep the public spaces of the municipality clean, because a clean Teulada Moraira is everyone's business. It depends on everyone”, said the mayor, Raúl Llobell.

U3A Marina Baixas presenting the cheque.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

This

Celebrating History

SATURDAY, July 22, was a special day for the residents of Benitachell. It was the 325th anniversary of the official constitution of the town.

As stated by the historian Miquel Almenara, on January 4 and 5, 1698, El Poble Nou de Benitatxell was constituted as a legal entity and, therefore, as a formal town. The town inherited the roots

of two previous Andalusian farms that had been empty for many years, Benitatxell and l'Abiar.

Thus, it became a municipality. In the founding act it was given the name of Benitagell (in Valencian) and Benitachell (in Spanish), but the neighbouring towns began to call it El Poble Nou (the new town), and it then

remained as El Poble Nou de Benitatxell.

To celebrate the event, the council invited all the mayors, justices of the peace, and councillors from the history of the town to participate. They all gathered in Carrer Llebeig street, where the mayor, Miguel Ángel García, led a toast in honour of the town.

Sporting Grants

CALPE council has announced it will provide grants for the promotion of sport during the 2023 to 2024 season, for which an amount of €275,000 has been allocated, €65,000 more than last year.

ble expenses.

Clubs must submit their applications to the council before Friday, August 11.

• Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound Rx

• Clinical tests and serological tests, internal medicine, parasitology

• Soft Tissue Surgery and Traumatology

• Ethology, behavioural disorders and animal behaviour

• Physiotherapy, acupuncture, custom recovery and Healing touch

• Ophthalmology

• Dentistry and dental surgery & more

• Import - Export

The grants, aimed at local sports clubs and associations, are split into 2 types. The first is for participation in official sports competitions and promotion of local grassroots sports and the second is for the organisation of sporting events.

To obtain a subsidy of over €12,000, the sports entity will be required to prove that it has a minimum of 100 members, otherwise the subsidy will drop to 75 per cent. In grants of up to €12,000 euros, a minimum of 50 members will be required. If this figure is lower, the subsidy will be 75 per cent.

Travel to national competitions or those derived from the competition itself such as refereeing and sports equipment will be included as eligi­

420 Micro breweries in Spain.

Goodbye Campers

ON Friday, July 28, l'Alfas del Pi hosted the closing ceremony of the youth camp 'Lions Costa Blanca Camp', an initiative organised by the Lions Clubs of Benidorm, l'Alfas del Pi and TeuladaMoraira, in coordination with other clubs from Spain. L'Alfàs del Pi held the international camp, which celebrated its sixth edition this summer.

19 young people from 16 countries participated. It is an initiative that has given them the opportunity to get to know Spain from an internal point of view, and to be with young people from all over the world. People from Germany, Romania, Israel, Turkey, Poland, Finland, Serbia, Holland, France, Italy, Ukraine, Hungary, Algeria, Austria, Norway and Slovenia participated.

The Albir beach social centre hosted the closing ceremony, with local councilors proudly in attendance.

A Special Celebration

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

means that if something is working reasonably well, there is no need to change or replace it, just leave it alone. The expression originated in the USA in the 20th century, and is attributed to Thomas Bertram Lance (1931-2013), who was a close adviser to Jimmy Carter during his 1976 campaign.

Credit:

Benitachell Town Hall

Solar Savings In the red

BENIDORM city council is undertaking the placement of 548 solar panels on the roof of Benidorm sports hall.

The installation is covered under the Energy Efficiency Project which also covers three other municipal buildings and eight primary schools. At the same time, work is also being carried out to install solar panels on the town hall.

The project, which entails increasing the existing number of panels on the sports facility, will lead to significant savings in energy bills, in addition to significantly reducing CO2 emissions.

It has been calculated that the approximate savings on the bill "will be 50%", as specified by the councillor for public spaces, Francis Muñoz. Muñoz visited the facilities on Friday, July 28, and was accompanied by municipal technicians and managers of the installation

Employment rise

UNEMPLOYMENT in the Valencian Community decreased by 41,100 people during the second quarter of 2023 and the unemployment rate dropped to 12.20 per cent, reaching 311,300 unemployed.

The Valencian territory is the fourth autonomous community where unemployment dropped the most between April and June, according to the Active Population Survey published on Thursday, July 27, by the National Institute of Statistics.

Compared to the same period of the previous year, the number of unemployed in the region has decreased by 7,300 people. While the number of employed reached 2.24 million, which represents an increase of 1.55 per cent in quarter­on­quarter terms and 3.35 per cent when compared to the same period in 2022, there are now 72,700 more employed people.

The UGT Trade Union Action Secretary, Lola Ruiz, affirmed that the reduction in unemployment has benefitted the female sector and although it is low in general, more women have found jobs.

company.

Total production will be 351,572 kWh and the estimated annual savings will be 290,000 kWh. Concerning the energy bills, the savings calculated are around €32,500 per year, and the reduction in emissions will be 190 tonnes of CO2.

THE three parties that make up the new municipal government of Javea released a statement on Thursday, July, 27, indicating that the town is in severe financial trouble.

“We proceed to communicate the economic situation in which Javea council finds itself. Upon our arrival, we took over the government, whose municipal coffers are at a minimum, with an extended 2022 budget.

The items from the 2023 budget are exhausted and the 2022 budget has not yet been settled. This has the consequence that the remaining funding is blocked. The council is prevented from having the remainder of more than €50 million to cover the daily needs of the

municipality.

For this reason, activities planned by the previous government, which were only announced and lacked the corresponding administrative procedure and bud­

get allocation, are cancelled or postponed.

The town hall has not yet said what the rebound effects of losing a huge amount of funding will be, nor the amount involved.

Benidorm Sports Hall

Credit: Benidorm City Council

No Valencian Cereal

CEREAL cultivation in the Valencian Community threatens to disappear if urgent measures are not taken. The drought has caused the loss of entire crops this season and agricultural insurance only covers a minimum proportion of production. The lack of spring rains and the increase in temperatures caused serious problems in the vegetative development of cereal and fodder crops intended mainly for the production of raw material for livestock feed.

“While last season the production costs derived from the purchase of seeds, fertilizers and diesel were barely covered, this season the sector is facing millions in losses, as it cannot harvest or seeds to plant the next season” lamented the head of the cereal sector of the Valencian Association of Farmers (AVAASAJA), Antonio Miguel Álvaro Sebastián.

The Russian blockade of grain shipments from Ukraine added to the problem, as Spain is the main importing country of this grain that is used to manufacture livestock feed. "The price of straw is already double and the costs are increasing exponentially," said Miguel. For this reason, AVA­ASAJA, called on all public administrations to implement aid that encourages cereal growing, as well as the increase in agricultural insurance coverage for farm production.

School’s Out Sculpture Unveiled

RAILS, sleepers and train tracks from the old Alicante­Denia railway have been given a new life in the hands of the sculptor Viktor Ferrando, who, using more than five and a half tonnes of this waste material, has created Hemeroskopeion, the sculpture that now presides over the entrance to the tram station in Denia.

It was unveiled on Tuesday, July 25. The project was born from an idea of Ferrando's, supported from the beginning by the Rotary Club of Denia and Denia town hall.

DURING summer in l'Alfàs del Pi, many parents work and have no option of staying at home with their children, but gradually entertainment options have emerged to keep children entertained in the town. This summer, once schools had finished their term, the children from l'Alfàs del Pi were able to choose between a variety of summer schools ­ a mul ­

ti ­ sport campus, basketball campus, athletics campus, or the rhythmic gymnastics campus ­ which were recently visited by the councilors José Plaza and Carolina Solbes. The councillors were pleased that this year, the number of boys and girls who joined the extensive range of activities that the department of sports organises each summer had increased.

At the end of the summer, more than 500 boys and girls from l'Alfas del Pi will have participated in these activities thanks to the initiative of the department of sports. L'Alfas del Pi is willing to invest and provide the necessary facilities for holding these sports schools, which contribute to improving the skills of all those who attend.

The idea combines the importance of recycling and the recovery of historical heritage with a tribute to the most ancient history of the city.

Hemeroskopeion takes its name from the one that the first Greek colonists gave to Denia. It means “watchtower”, and this is what the sculpture is meant to symbolise.

The mayor, Vicent Grimalt, thanked the involvement of the Rotary Club Denia in the project and highlighted the close collaboration it maintains with Denia, especially in the field of social welfare.

Childrens summer school

Credit: L'Alfas del Pi Town Hall

New Opportunities

BENIDORM city council has announced it will be able to hire 8 unemployed people with disabilities for a duration of nine months.

In May, the town hall requested a grant from the Valencian Employment and Training Service, and has now been awarded a subsidy of €143,677.83 to pay for the workers' contracts.

The councillor for employment, Mónica Gómez, said that her department has, among its objectives, “to promote the employment of disadvantaged groups, as well as to contribute to the access of unemployed people to the labour market”.

In accordance with the requirements, a person with a disability is understood to be

that person affected by a recognised degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%.

The rules also establish that the contracts are full time and must have a duration of at least nine months. The contracts are scheduled to start on Friday, September 1 and end on May 31, 2024.

Market Modernisation

THE Mayoress of Oliva, Yolanda Pastor, together with other councillors, met on Tuesday, July 25, with traders from the municipal market to discuss its future.

The officials wanted to emphasise that the ‘Next Generation commercial improvement project’ will affect their economic activity as little as possible while the works are in progress.

The project to improve the municipal market and the entire commercial fabric of Oliva has a budget of €2,500,000. This amount corresponds to the sum of the €500,000 contribution from the Oliva City Council, and the

IN Benidorm, 5,000 litres of beer are sold daily in the 50 bars along Levante beach, one of the busiest areas of the city in high season. Throughout the city, the figure rises to 45,000 litres in a day in hospitality businesses, including bars, restaurants and hotels, according to figures provided by the Benidorm Association of

€2,000,000 grant from the Next Generation European funds.

Regarding the Municipal Market building, the improvement project will include the improvement of the electricity supply with the installation of solar panels, the improvement to the water supply, the renovation of the toilets, and the installation of a surface parking area.

The subsidy, the largest granted by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism for a project of this nature, was approved in March.

Boozy Benidorm

Bars, Restaurants, Cafes and

Nightlife

(Abreca).

These average quantities include pints, cans and bottles, and both alcoholic or non-alcoholic. On average, a bar will use a 50 litre barrel of beer each day.

The largest consumers of

beer are English tourists, although Spanish visitors are not far behind.

Water is also a favourite among residents and tourists. In the beachfront bars, 10,000 bottles of water are sold per day, an average of about 200 per bar. For Benidorm as a whole, the sales figure rises to 320,000 bottles a day.

Benidorm Town Hall

Credit: Benidorm City Council

Medals galore

CALPE council will award the annual "Jaume Pastor i Fluixà" prize to Calpe Guardia Civil in recognition of their work in the town.

The award for citizen merit is awarded to Andrés Ortolá Crespo, an outstanding member of the cultural, social and fiesta life of Calpe.

The Sports Merit Award has gone to the Basque swimmer based in Calpe, Iskander Sagarminaga Ateaga.

The prize for tourism merit is also awarded to Casa Pineda, one of the first tourist accommodation companies in the municipality, lo­

Learning about trams

FGV, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana, installed an information point in Denia on Thursday, July 27, in order to provide information to the public about the modernisation work carried out on Line 9 of the Alicante tram under the slogan 'You make the last TRAM'.

Councillors visited the Marques de Campo, where a marquee has been erected to inform people about timetables, discounts and advantages of using the tram.

cated on the Arenal ­ Bol beach promenade.

The medal of Cultural Merit is awarded to Joaquín Roselló Jorro, promoter of the recovery of the cultural traditions of the town.

The medal of Business Merit is awarded to La Jijonenca, the emblematic ice cream parlour.

This year's Youth Medal goes to Pere Molines Tur, a young trombonist and composer from Calpe.

The prizes are awarded during the festivity of Valencian Community Day, and whose main prize bears the name of the late Calpe historian, Jaume Pastor i Fluixà.

The campaign is financed through the European Regional Development Fund for the Valencian Community 20142020. The modernisation works have had an investment of more than €150 million, financed with contributions from the EU.

The technical improvements incorporated, new infrastructures built, as well as the new dual rolling stock will make it possible to maintain and improve the operating conditions, guaranteeing the regularity and quality of the service with standards similar to the rest of the Alicante tram network .

In Denia, there are now 2 new stops before reaching the main station, which are Bosc de Diana and Pedrera ­ Vessanes.

Bull scare

ON a day that promised to be one of celebration and joy in Gata de Gorgos for its patron saint festivities, the evening's excitement of Saturday, July 30 suddenly turned into sheer panic. As the children paraded in costume through the

streets, a communication failure seems to have triggered the premature departure of the bous al carrer (bulls in the street), who suddenly appeared running behind the hundreds of children. Luckily, every single child escaped injury

Nine bulls were accidentally released early. The town hall investigated the incident and reported that the parade commissions had delayed their passage until 7.20pm because of the parade. Due to a communication error, the bulls were released an hour earlier than expected, running straight towards the innocent crowd. The town hall released a statement.

“We want to apologise for the events that occurred at the bull festivities yesterday. We know that this incident caused distress to many people, and that affected the image of our festivals.

We inform you that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure that they do not happen again”.

Credit: Tiktok/yff98

Councillors choose winners

Credit: Calpe Town Hall

Inflation update and planning ahead to protect our savings

It has been two years now since inflation began to climb and we were soon noticing the higher cost of living. Prices peaked last autumn and the situation is improving now. Spain’s Consumer Price Index has returned to normal levels, but in the UK it only dropped below 8% in June.

EU and Spain inflation

After hitting 10.6% last October, overall EU inflation fell to 5.5% in June. Prices have been largely driven, both up then down, by energy costs.

The European Central Bank expects inflation to continue to improve as energy prices fall, food inflation moderates and supply bottlenecks ease, though under current projections it will remain about the bank’s 2% target through to 2025.

Spain’s Consumer Price Index returned to ‘normal’ levels (i.e. close to the 2% target) in June, falling from May’s 3.2% to just 1.9%. Transport and housing inflation are in negative territo

By Mathieu Edwards,

ing, remains high at 10.3% . Unless they are negative, falling inflation rates do not mean that prices are falling, they are just rising less slowly than 12 months previously.

UK inflation

The UK has endured persistently high inflation, but the Consumer Price

June 7.9% rate beating expectation. Though the lowest since March 2022, it’s still far above the 2% target and the highest in the G7. Fuel prices are falling but food inflation remains stubbornly high at 17.4%.

Earlier in July the Bank of England governor acknowledged consumer prices inflation still unacceptably high but should fall “markedly” over the rest of the year.

Inflation and your savings and retirement income

While falling inflation is very welcome news, we can’t become complacent about the inflation risk and how the rising cost of living affects us over time, particularly when retired.

While the impact of high inflation is quickly noticeable, low inflation is insidious. It seems harmless at the time, but slowly but surely, compounded over the longer-term, erodes the spending power of your savings and income.

As a basic illustration, if you have

growth, and inflation is 3% every year, after 10 years its value will have fallen to around €37,000. After 20 years it’s around €27,500 and after 30 just €20,555. That’s a 59% reduction in purchasing power.

Unless your savings grow each year, they will buy you considerably less as the years go by. You need to plan to protect our savings and future income from the rising cost of living – making sure your money lasts as long as you do should be an integral part of your financial planning for retirement.

You need to invest in assets that are usually expected to keep up with inflation over the medium to long term. While you may become more averse to investment risk in retirement, inflation is also a risk to your savings. Reduce investment risk by building a suitable welldiversified portfolio around your risk tolerance, circumstances and objectives.

Work with a wealth management adviser to follow a disciplined investment

• Establish your goals and time horizon and objectively calculate your attitude to risk.

• Construct a suitable, well-diversified portfolio to achieve your investment plan and objectives.

• Use quality investment managers.

• Review your portfolio annually to keep it on track.

• Be patient and stick with your plan – it is time in the market, not timing the market, that is likely to help you achieve your longer-term goals.

• Hold your investment portfolio within an arrangement that is tax efficient in Spain.

Seek advice from an advisory firm which provides holistic strategic financial planning advice to integrate your investment planning with your tax and estate planning.

CPI data as at 19 July 2023

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

Partner, Blevins Franks

Smart security

BENIDORM has installed the first two smart parking spaces for bicycles, which came into operation on Friday, July 28, for any user who wishes to park their bicycle with a maximum guarantee of security and protection.

The bicycle racks are located at the junction of Avenida Armada Española and Avenidas Moralet and Puerto RicoThe service is completely free and in order to use it, users must download the 'PVerde' app on their mobile phone and register.

Once registered, they receive a personal code with which they can open and close the compartment where they leave their bike each time they use it, regardless of whether or not they have their mobile phone with them. The smart bike racks are already installed and operational, although the forecast is to implement “at least a dozen in the city with the arrival of the Low Emission Zone”, said the councillor for mobility, Francis Muñoz. Each of the racks has ten spaces

AN accident in which several motorcycles were involved caused major traffic jams on the AP­7 motorway on Saturday, July 29.

The accident occurred at 11.15.

The Emergency Information and Coordination Center (CICU) was immediately alerted and mobilised two units of the Urgent Medical Care Service (SAMU) and a Basic

Council Worker Refunded

AN Alicante court has ruled that Denia council must continue paying a productivity supplement to an employee for carrying out more duties than usual, after she assumed the tasks of a colleague who had retired. According to the lawsuit filed by the Administration Employees Union (EMAD), the council had stopped paying the remuneration to the employee.

According to the statement sent by EMAD on Friday, July 28, in February 2021 the personnel department provisionally assigned both current and previous duties to the af­

fected worker, who had moved departments. She was paid a supplement for her extra duties.

According to the union's account, the council then stopped paying the productivity supplement and also proceeded to agree to its "cessation with retroactive effect, thus violating its own resolution and ignoring reports" reported EMAD. The court ruled in her favour with the right to receive reimbursement for the amounts approved and not received from July 16, 2021 to the current date. Denia council cannot appeal the ruling.

Traffic incident delay

Life Support (SVB) unit to the scene of the accident.

The long delays caused disruption to hundreds of drivers. The traffic jams extended in some cases up to 20 kilometres, the distance that separates Denia and Oliva.

Sweeping Changes

Paramedics assisted a 68­yearold woman who suffered multiple injuries in the accident. After initial care at the scene of the incident, the woman was taken to Denia hospital in one of the SAMU ambulances.

TEULADA council has acquired a new sweeper for cleaning the urban centres of Teulada and Moraira. The purchase price of the new machine was €156,574. This is added to the other three machines which serve the urbanisations of the municipality.

On a technical level, this type of machinery has a suction capacity of 2 cubic metres, with all the extras that can be found on the market.

The minimum sweeping width is 2 metres and it has two brushes to clean any type of public road, with lifting,

pressure and lowering devices, as well as air conditioning in the cabin and rear view camera.

Mari Cantó, the councillor for general services, highlighted the importance of continuing to update and improve the cleaning vehicles and their quality.

The mayor, Raúl Llobell, said the new acquisition was good news, which “will be accompanied by new service improvements that are already being worked on, as the image and cleanliness of Teulada Moraira is one of the main concerns of the current government”.

The New Sweeper

Credit: Teulada Moraira Council

Beach wars

THE mayor of Gandia, José Manuel Prieto, has informed the business sector that the plan to double the lanes of the CV-60 between Gandia and Palma de Gandia has a “favourable environmental impact statement”.

“We will request a meeting with the new council imminently, in order to be able to tender as soon as possible for the construction project

A wider load

of the CV-60”, added Prieto, who met with Juan Pablo Tur of the Gandia Business Association.

He also stated that the project will include “improvements such as including a cycling and pedestrian path on the carriageway”.

“We were the only council that

Foodies beware

SPANISH holidaymakers are unhappy after they were accused of hogging front line beach spots in Benidorm. At 6am it is common for many of the coveted spots to already be taken on Levante beach in the resort.

"I get up at 5.40am," said Poli González, a pensioner from Ciudad Real. "I come once a year in July and I like to have my front row," he said to Sur in English.

"Everyone lives their own holidays," said Francisco Pérez. "I've been a farmer all my life and it's not hard for me to get up early. I come here, put my chair down, take a walk and then go and have breakfast with my wife".

In the last few days, Benidorm's Levante beach has been in the spotlight after a report in a national newspaper, headlined "Hilarious moment when Benidorm locals are caught setting up their sunbeds in the middle of the night to beat the crowds of British tourists".

"If the police come and they remove the umbrella, you move away and leave, so you don't pay the fine," one Spanish early riser said, with a laugh.

SPECIALISTS from Denia Hospital stated that an increase in food poisoning cases are seen in the Summer, and have given advice on how to avoid it.

Food poisoning can be caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. This was explained by Dr. Antonio Valdivia, head of the preventive medicine service.

Valdivia said that, according to data from RENAVE (National Epidemiological Surveillance Network), “The most frequent outbreaks are those caused by salmonella, followed by

those caused by histamine or Norovirus, and the foods most frequently implicated are those that contain egg products”. The recommendation is to avoid eating foods such as undercooked meat in summer, unpasteurised dairy products or products that contain raw eggs. Care must also be taken with the intake of vegetables that are eaten raw and unpeeled, rice or other stews prepared in advance and not cooled correctly, or ready-to-eat foods from untrusted sources.

He stressed the importance of hygiene.

made good additions to a vital infrastructure, which will enrich the project and improve its connectivity”.

The improvement plan is estimated to amount to €65 million and will be “vital for the region of La Safor for the improvement of connectivity and for the economic and social development and competitiveness of our businesses”, he said.

Early risers taking the best places on the beach

Toxic grapefruits intercepted Music, painting and poetry

FOLLOWING the recent detection of a consignment of organic grapefruits from South Africa with residues of an active ingredient banned since 2018 in the European Union due to its danger, the Valencian Association of Farmers (AVAASAJA) has called on the European Commission to carry out greater control over the entry and labelling of foreign certified organic products that are sent to Europe.

The interception was notified by the authorities of the Netherlands on Tuesday, July 25, through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). The sample of the product analysed in the laboratory found a proportion of Glufosinate of 0.39; 0.51 milligrams/kilo (ppm), when its Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) allowed is set at 0.05 mg/kg. Glufosinate is an active substance used as a herbicide. The EU prohibited its use by European farmers more than five years ago.

AVA­ASAJA regretted that

a product that must travel more than 13,000 kilometers is classified as ecological. “It is even more alarming than a product that is imported as an organic product contains such a high level of herbicide residues, the use of which is prohibited in Europe due to its toxicity”, said the organisation.

THE aim of the Ithaca Cultural Foundation in Altea is to support musicians who have not been able to perform for several years because of Covid and to offer their audience what is becoming increasingly rare: beauty and culture.

The first concert of the twelfth edition of Ithaca's Poetic Evening Concerts will take place on Sunday, August 6, and will be, as always, a unique experience. The virtuoso flutist Maria Jose Clemente has fascinated the audience before, and also

during the benefit concert Music for Ukraine, which was held last year at the Palau of Altea. Among other works by Mozart, Saint ­ Saëns and Chapi, the flautist, together with the excellent pianist Jesus Maria Gomez, will undoubtedly fascinate lovers of classical music again.

There will also be an exhibition of paintings by the renowned artist Joan Castejon and a recital of some poems by Germain Droogenbroodt, who recently received the Fuente Vaque­

BENIDORM council will start the renovation of l'Horta's lighting, which in addition to including the change of the current light bulbs for more efficient ones, also plans to eliminate possible dark spots on the roads in the area, “especially at crossroads, junctions, and accesses to homes”.

This was explained on Friday, July 28 by the councillor for public space and mobility, Francis Muñoz.

The campaign, 'A pie de calle' (At the foot of the street), is included in the second phase of an energy efficiency project. It is fi­

ros International Poetry Prize (in her home town of LORCA).

The first of three events will undoubtedly be another exceptional experience that no music, painting or poetry lover will want to miss.

For further information and tickets, email elpoeta@point­editions.com

The venue is Partida Monte Molar, 78, Altea (La Olla)

Tickets are €16 each or €45 for the three concerts, and include snacks and drinks.

Seeing the Light

nanced 50 per cent each by the council and the Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving (IDAE).

“In addition to informing the residents of the scope of this action to change to LED lighting, the meeting has served to learn first­hand about those possible dark spots on the roads and the locations where it is convenient to strenthen the lighting”, said Muñoz.

The grapefruits were intercepted

Credit: SZ-Art_de/Pixabay

50 Different varieties of Flamenco.

ONE of the most frequent surprises that some of our clients encounter when they try to sell their property is finding out that their home is a so­called ‘vivienda de protección oficial’. That is, a type of public housing or council housing, partly fi­

nanced by government grants and subject to price control. In this week’s article we review the main features of this type of property. In addition, we explain the requirements and conditions that must be considered if you are trying to sell a

protected public house in the Valencia Region, without any trouble.

What is a Protected Public House (VPO)?

Subsidised housing or protected public housing are properties that, when being sold for the first time, have a lower price than the market price. So that they can be acquired by people with low income who would not otherwise have access to them.

What types of subsidised housing are there in Spain?

In Spain, ‘protected housing’ can be public or private, depending on the entity that promotes them: the public administration or a private/ cooperative entity. In both cases, the prices and characteristics are very similar.

Can I sale my property if it is a subsidised housing?

In order to know if you can sell a protected public house in the Valencian Region, you must consider three fundamental points. 1. The period of protection. 2. The maximum price. 3. The possible right of first refusal

of the administration.

What does the Protection Period consist of?

Social housing is always subject to a protection period (15, 30, 50 years) during which the property has a series of limitations. Renting it or transferring it to third parties (through a sale or donation) is usually prohibited. Although it can also occur that, in spite of being allowed, the price has a limitation. It will all depend on what is established in the Royal Decree that approved it. This period of protection is always counted from the date of definitive qualification.

What is the Maximum Price?

The maximum price is the limit that prevents a property from being sold or rented above

a certain amount. In order to calculate the maximum price, it is necessary to consider the useful surface area of the property, its protection regime, the municipality in which it is located, etc. Written confirmation of the maximum price of a social housing must be requested to the Valencian Government.

What does the administration’s right of first refusal consist of?

The right of first refusal is a preferential acquisition right that allows the administration to acquire a subsidised housing with preference to any other person. Always under the same conditions offered: same price, same type of payment, etc.

If your property is a subsidised home, you (as vendor) may be compelled to inform the administration of the operation, before and after signing the deed of sale at the Notary’s office. Failure to comply with this obligation is considered a seri­

ous infringement, with fines of up to €3,000 (among other penalties).

What is the deadline for the administration to confirm whether it exercises the right of first refusal?

The administration has up to 60 days to reply. Therefore, if you want to sell your property, it is essential to make this communication as soon as possible. This deadline must be considered when signing the ‘arras’ contract, setting the date to complete at the Notary’s office, etc.

Conclusions

At White­Baos Lawyers we are experts in Real Estate Law: sales and purchases, donations, rental contracts, etc. If you want to gift, buy or sell a protected public house, do not hesitate to contact us. We will study your case and offer you expert advice on the matter.

The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys information related to legal issues.

Is it possible to sell a protected public house? We explain everything you need to know. Right of first refusal. Maximum price. Valencian Region. Buying and selling a property.

POLICE have confiscated huge quantities of food across Spain, including Almeria, Alicante and Murcia, that was unfit for human consumption.

On Thursday, July 27, the Guardia Civil, gave details of Operation Potacar in which they collaborated with the veterinary services of the Provincial Health Department

of the Government of Aragon, Valencia and Andalucia, resulting in the seizure of more than 28 tonnes of foodstuffs.

The food was discovered in distribution warehouses located in the provinces of

Zaragoza, Valencia and Almeria. During the operation, eight people were arrested and 81 others are being investigated for alleged offences of fraud, public health, falsification of documents and belonging to a criminal group.

The first inspection took place at the premises of a company located in Cuarte de Huerva in Zaragoza.

Investigators seized 1,222 kilos of foodstuffs that were irregular because they had been relabelled with an extension of best­before date.

After analysing traceability, the investigators confirmed that various batches had been sold to other establishments with dates that had been exceeded.

In a second inspection of another company in Zaragoza, the Guardia Civil seized 1,708 kilos of products.

Investigators again found evidence of expired consumption dates, as well as food that should have been marketed as fresh produce, but which was frozen before its expiry date and subsequently put on sale with the date exceeded.

In addition to this compa­

Out-of-date food seized Police uncover match fixing

ny, 19 other establishments were inspected throughout Spain, where SEPRONA (Nature Protection Service, a division of the Guardia Civil) found irregularities.

In total, the officers seized 18,196 kilos of products unfit for human consumption.

A JOINT investigation involving the National Police, LaLiga and Europol, has uncovered a criminal organisation specialising in match­fixing.

A report from the National Police on Thursday, July 27 revealed how they investigated a criminal organisation dedicated to match­fixing within the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Together with LaLiga and Europol, officers of the National Police arrested a total of 17 people. In Melilla, 11 suspects were detained and six in Granada.

Among those arrested were officials and players of a third division RFEF football team, for allegedly committing the crimes of belonging to a criminal organisation, corruption between private individuals in the field of sport, fraud, money laundering and false documentation.

The investigation began last February when the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling, informed officers of several alerts re­

ceived from different online gambling platforms. Multiple bets had been placed from Melilla on specific results of football matches played by a team from the city.

Simultaneously, LaLiga reported an anonymous communication received through its whistleblower channel, in which they reported suspicious practices of the same football team.

Investigators soon uncovered a complex criminal network, showing that the president of the team himself, managed the rigging, by involving players he trusted. The players also used third parties to place the bets and thus avoid being linked to the bets placed and the matches played.

Police investigations also showed that the same sports club has been the beneficiary of subsidies which were used fraudulently to increase the amounts to be collected.

Seven football matches are still being investigated and further arrests have not been ruled out, and the total amount swindled from the bookmakers cannot yet be quantified.

PRODUCTS SEIZED: Unfit for human consumption.

ONE of Spain’s most iconic birds of prey, the Iberian Imperial Eagle is at risk of extinction due to the water shortage.

Also known as the Spanish Imperial Eagle, its survival could be at risk due to a lack of water in the protected Doñana area in Andalucia, according to a news source on Wednesday, July 26.

The large raptor is exclusive to the Iberian Peninsula and only lives and breeds in Spanish and Portuguese territory. But SEO/BirdLife has warned that the water shortage Doñana is currently undergoing is bringing one of the national park’s most

Threat to Iberian Imperial Eagle

iconic threatened birds of prey, the Iberian Imperial Eagle, closer to extinction.

In the 1960s the species was listed as ‘critically endangered,’ with only 30 pairs remaining, all located in Spain.

However, thanks to conservation efforts over the years its population in the peninsula as a whole revealed that there were 821 pairs found in Spain and 20 in Portugal in 2021 and 2022.

The conservation of this bird of prey has historically

been one of the priority objectives in the conservation of Doñana’s wildlife, although data from the latest breeding census in 2023 has pointed to a situation of decline.

Of the eight territories occupied in 2023, seven pairs have started breeding, but four of them have failed completely, and of the six chicks born this year, three have died in the nest for various reasons, meaning that only three Iberian Imperial Eagle chicks have fledged

Calls for help with gluten-free

A PETITION has been launched that calls on the Spanish government to help out with the price of glutenfree products, which are considerably higher than standard ones.

People who suffer from Coeliac disease can only eat products without gluten, but to do so they have to pay more for basic foodstuffs such as bread, writes Change.org.

Change.org is an internet platform that allows users to create and sign petitions in order to raise awareness and influence decision­makers.

Xavier Villegas from Barcelona has highlighted an issue which perhaps people who do not suffer from Coeliac disease are not aware of. In an appeal to the Spanish govern­

ment, the statement reads: ‘We are calling on the political forces in the Spanish Congress of Deputies to include an amendment in the State Budget to ensure that gluten­free products are taxed at 4 per cent VAT.

‘At present, these products are considerably more expensive, and we do not receive any kind of rebate or subsidy. We need financial support to address this excessive cost overrun, similar to what is offered in other European countries.

‘Help us to ensure that products essential to our diet are available to everyone affected by coeliac conditionyour signature can make a difference in defending the rights of people with coeliac condition!’

So far the petition has gathered over 2,700 signatures, with a little more help this can they hope to get to 5,000 and more, in order to present a compelling case.

this year in Doñana. Head of the SEO/BirdLife Technical Office in Doñana, Carlos Davila, said: “Doñana is suffering an unprecedented biodiversity crisis associated with the scarcity of rainfall and, above all, the

overexploitation of its water resources, and sci entific data are constantly alerting us to the urgency and seriousness of the situ ation.”

At risk of extinction.

Gluten-free products cost more than standard ones.

SUMMER is a good time to travel and to enjoy the remote and little ­ known places of Spain, but it can also be a period in which more driving offences are committed due to these trips.

These circumstances are also compounded by rising temperatures, a risk factor that, together with the recklessness of some people, can lead to a fire.

Throwing cigarette butts from a car window is the offence being pursued by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).

Despite the decrease in the number of smokers and the greater awareness of the population about fires, it still continues to be one of the serious dangers for forests and fields. A risk of fire is one of the dangers also posed when butts are thrown into roadside gutters full of dry leaves.

Poorly extinguished butts can pose a direct risk of fire, and the remains of glass can cause a “magnifying glass effect” that starts fire.

If throwing a cigarette butt causes a forest fire, the culprits can face a prison sentence of three to six years.

Such is the point of seriousness with which the DGT takes it, that the behaviour of throwing objects from moving cars, including butts, is punishable by fines of €200 and the withdrawal of 4 points from the driving li­

Throwing fines

cence.

On the other hand, the sanctions do not stop there. Leaving, pouring or throwing objects of any kind in a public area is a minor offence, according to current

legislation.

These acts will be punishable with amounts ranging from €198 to almost €3,800 with more serious incidents caused due to littering could incur fines ranging from

€3,800 to almost €9,800. If a car is not equipped with an ashtray, it is advisable for smokers to carry a plastic bottle half filled with water to be able to extinguish cigarettes effectively.

Watermelon worries

A HEALTH alert was issued in Spain after the detection of a high level of an unauthorised pesticide in a batch of watermelons being delivered from Morocco.

In a statement published on Monday, July 24, on its official Twitter account, FACUA­Consumers in Action reported: 'the detection at border control of a batch of watermelons from Morocco in which a high level of methomyl, an unauthorised pesticide'.

This warning was initially issued by RASFF, the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. It said the watermelons that came from Morocco allegedly contained traces of an insecticide in proportions that exceeded the limits established in Europe.

'Specifically, in a proportion of 0.38+/­0.19 mg/kg­ppm, when its Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) is established at 0.015 mg/kg­ppm', explained FACUA.

According to the consumer organisation, RASFF qualified the incident as 'serious', but does not know the origin from where the affected watermelons were distributed.

Methomyl is a substance that is used as a pesticide and can have serious consequences in some cases. The symptoms of poisoning by this substance are headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, tremors, muscle weakness and blurred vision.

Mixing methomyl with alcohol consumption can impact the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as cause kidney failure.

The Galician Stick

UPON entering the confines of rural Galicia, one of the first things that jumps out is the use of the stick. No, it’s not a cane. This stick doesn’t sport a brass or curved, crooked handle. It’s just a long stick ­ young or old; everyone has one.

Coming from a stickless society in the US, the need for one on a ramble down a country lane seemed off. Sure, all the pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago through Galicia use walking poles on their epic journeys. But the Galician stick bearers weren’t pilgrims. They are women in aprons or men in pullovers and flat caps. Like something

from another century. So, what’s with the stick, I wondered.

It turns out, sticks aren’t what they seem. They are often heirlooms handed down from a parent or grandparent to an adult child. Cherished. So the stick carried by our neighbour to herd her cows from one field to another might well be over 100 years old. And I’m pretty sure these wooden rods are filled with magic. Our neighbour stopped by to deliver vegetables. She had her stick, and we exchanged pleasantries. When she left, I noticed she had left her stick. Surely, I would see her later. I

put it into the umbrella stand and forgot about it. But there was a knock shortly ­ she was back.

“This was my Mother’s stick,” she told me. She wanted to make sure our dog didn’t get it.

We woke up one morning recently to a stick standing just inside our front door. It caught my eye, and I went over to examine it. The top had a knot smoothed over with years of use by some invisible hand.

But where had it come from? I asked my husband, Jeff, and he knew nothing about it.

It seems Galicia provided us with a stick, knowing we are here to stay.

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).

'Toxic Cloud' denounced Buy now

THE PRESENCE of a 'toxic cloud' in the Strait of Gibraltar has been denounced by Verdemar Ecologists in Action on Sunday, July 30.

According to the environmental organisation, ships passing through the corridor are responsible for these emissions. In a statement on social media, they claimed that levels are 'skyrocketing' in the Bay of Algeciras in Cadiz province. A similar problem exists in the North African enclave of Ceuta they added.

Despite the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma), deploying

drones to monitor the control of air polluting emissions from ships, the situation is still occurring they insisted.

This system of monitoring is carried out in collaboration with the European Maritime

Safety Agency (EMSA) and the General Directorate of the Merchant Navy.

Verdemar pointed out that 'apparently' the EMSA drone, called 'RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems)', has re­

turned to the Strait of Gibraltar for the second time to detect the level of sulphur oxide emissions, as reported by a national news outlet.

Ships can be seen emitting fumes most days claimed Verdemar

'It is easy to see the plumes of smoke coming from ships crossing the Strait of Gibraltar without control', they stated. These come from ships that 'pollute the air and, due to the action of the wind, this contamination spreads tens of kilometres inland, increasing local air quality problems', they added.

As a result of these emissions, the environmental organisation stressed that particles of pollutants such as soot, sulphur and nitrogen oxides 'harm human health, the environment, and the climate'.

The fumes could cause serious health problems such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including strokes and cancer, which can lead to premature death'.

17 Autonomous communities in Spain.

RENFE users can now purchase free tickets for Cercanías, Rodalies and Media Distancia, with tickets valid for journeys made between September 1 and December 31, 2023.

The purchase of these tickets is possible through the Cercanías Renfe application and in the case of Media Distancia tickets, this can be done through the renfe.com website and via the usual sales channels, (stations, vending machines, etc).

To do this, clients must be previously registered. For Avant rail services, the 50 per cent discount on season tickets is maintained.

This same discount is applied to other high ­ speed routes that have been declared a Public Service Obligation (OSP), which operate under the same conditions as an Avant Pass.

In order to purchase the subscription, although it is free, it is necessary to pay a deposit of €10 in the case of Cercanías and Rodalies, and €20 for each conventional Media Distancia service.

Payment by card will allow the automatic return of the deposit, once it is verified that the condition of having made 16 trips during these four months has been met.

For children aged under 14 without ID, a recurring subscription for Media Distancia services are now being offered.

This can also be purchased at renfe.com or through the Renfe app on a mobile device. A parent or guardian may acquire, through their NIF, NIE or passport, a maximum of four child passes for one origin and destination, during the period of validity.

Customers who have used the free commuter pass for Cercanías, Rodalies or Media Distancia in the first four ­ month period of 2023 will have their deposit returned, provided they have met the relevant conditions.

Image of fumes from a ship in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Credit: Twitter@Verdemar_EA

STATISTICS for Spain this year have shown that cases of drowning have skyrocketed among 60­year­olds.

According to the Ministry of Health, drowning in the water is more common from the age of 60 onwards. More than 35 per cent of those who die from drowning are people over 65, according to a news source on Thursday, July 27.

From January to June this year, 169 people died in Spain from drowning. The age group with the most victims was 65 to 74

Bathers over 60 high risk

years old, with 34 deaths, followed by 55 to 64, with 31.

Data from the Royal Spanish Federation of Rescue and Lifesaving reported that June 2023 was the second month with the most drownings since 2015, with a total of 57 deaths.

Francisco Cano, director of Prevention

Springsteen invited to Spain

and Safety at the Royal Spanish Lifeguard and Rescue Federation indicated there are several reasons for this.

The elderly are the ones who spend the most time on the beach, so they are more exposed to the dangers. “They go to the beach very early in the morning and then also in the afternoon, when the lifeguard ser­

vice finishes, which is used to remind them of the different regulations,” said Cano.

“Moreover, this is the group of people who pay the least attention to the rules, some don’t like to be told what to do, and many of them carry out activities in the water alone,” he added.

It is very important that the elderly always swim accompanied and in places where the lifeguard service can see them. The fact a person can swim does not mean they cannot drown.

ONE of the world’s biggest rock stars might be coming to these shores after an appeal by the US ambassador.

The US ambassador for Spain, Julissa Reynoso has issued a plea to the star to come to Spain, and the venue may come as a surprise, wrote a news source on Wednesday, July 26.

The request was for The Boss to come to a tiny corner of Spain called Peralejos de las Truchas, in Guadalajara. Don’t worry if the name doesn’t sound familiar, officially it only has 149

inhabitants.

The inhabitants of Peralejos de las Truchas all know each other, they are a big family who have named the American singer, as one of their favourite sons of the municipality.

The hope is that perhaps one day he will come to the village to visit them and who knows, maybe give a concert that would leave half the country and indeed the world gobsmacked.

The US ambassador to Spain, made the appeal on Twitter: ‘Hey Bruce! Julissa

Reynoso here, your ambassador in Spain. I was just wondering what are you up to in October? I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse, Mr Boss man. The beautiful village of Peralejos de las Truchas, here in Spain, is waiting for you.’

‘So from one American from New York to another greater American from New Jersey, from one little boss to the great Boss. Please come to Peralejos here in Spain.’

With her hands clasped together she concluded, ‘Let’s see if we can convince him.’

THE BOSS: The village hope that he will visit them.

It Takes Two Island Swim

AN ARGENTINE Tango group, La Porteña Tango, will celebrate its 15 years of experience with a very special concert to be held at Teulada auditorium on Sunday, August 27 at 8pm.The group has performed more than 800 productions in 22 countries, on four continents.

La Porteña offers a modern and renovated show where music, dance and stories are intertwined, ranging from the deepest emotions to mischief and humour.

The show that invites its audience to walk along a long and winding path that traces the history of a music, humbly born in the suburbs and ports of the Río de La Plata and transcended the world by its own force almost without even trying.

La Porteña Tango have released five albums with the legendary Melopea label from Argentina, and have presented their music and dance shows in numerous of the world's most famous theatres and festivals in the world, making them the group with the highest audience in Europe today. Tickets are €24, and can be purchased from www.instanticket.es.

ON SUNDAY, August 27, the XXI edition of the traditional L'Illa­Port de Benidorm Popular Swimming Tour will be held. Organised by the department of sports, it is one of the most anticipated events of the summer.

Competitors swim from Benidorm island back to the mainland.

Registration opened on Tuesday, August 1 and you can reserve your place at www.chiplevante.com. The registration fee is €24 and there are limited places available. Participants should arrive at 7am to board a trans­

fer boat to Benidorm island at 7.45am. The swimmers will depart at 8am. Participants will be obliged to use a location buoy.

Benidorm Island is a small nature reserve. The island sits approximately 3.5 kilometres from Benidorm.

Benidorm Island was once known as 'Peacock Island’ as it was once populated by peacocks. There are many fables regarding the island itself and how it got there, including how a giant kicked a rock out of the mountain in anger, which then landed in the sea.

LAST YEAR'S WINNER, MIGUEL BOU

Credit: Benidorm City Council

Party on

CALPE continues its fiestas this week, with the main event starting on Friday, August 4, the eve of the big party. A parade will showcase the queens and members of the 2023 Party Commission. They will gather in front of the town hall to attend the parish church, where the offering of flowers will be held.

For the second consecutive year, the queens and party presidents from previous years have been invited to attend the offering. At midnight there will be a nocturnal mascleta (loud fire cracker) and then the orchestra "La Tribu" will perform in the Plaza Mayor.

On Saturday, August 5, the feast of the Virgen de las Nieves, Patron Saint of Calpe, the events will begin with a warning ‘thunderclap’ and a parade by the festival committee. At midday a mass will be celebrat­

ed in honour of the patron saint, and at 2pm a mascleta will be fired in the Plaza Mayor. At 8pm the Holy mass will be celebrated and at the end there will be a procession through the streets of the municipality and will be followed by the well­known Castell a la Mar, an “aeroaquatic” fireworks display

from the jetty of Arenal­Bol beach. At 12:30am, the Plaza Mayor will once again be the meeting place with a performance by the “Nexus” orchestra.

On Sunday, August 6, San Salvador Day, there will be a traditional Valencian ball game on García Ortiz street and at 2pm the mascleta in the Plaza Mayor.

A TWEET from the mayor of La Nucia, Bernabé Cano, announced on Saturday, July 29, that from October 5 to 15 "the authentic and oldest Oktoberfest in the Valencian community" returns to the town, and will be held in the car park of the Camilo Cano olympic stadium. The popular beer festival, with live music and free admission, is now

Oktoberfest announced

in its thirty­fifth edition. It started to be held in La Nucia in 2021, after being moved from Calpe, where it had been held since the year 1987. A factor that prompted the change of location was the additional parking offered , in addition to the fact that the proximity to Benidorm would attract a much larger crowd.

THE GRAND FIREWORK DISPLAY

Credit: Calpe Town Hall

DENMARK

Globe trotter

DANISH man completes decade-long journey visiting every country without flying. Torbjørn Pedersen's trip started in October 2013 and lasted 3,512 days. He relied on buses, trains, boats, and walking to complete the epic journey and all with just a $20 daily budget. He arrived in the Maldives as his 203rd and final country, returning home on a container vessel.

Quran burning

DENMARK faces backlash after a Quran burning incident which lead to protests following the desecration of the holy book outside the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen. The act triggered widespread condemnation and raised concerns about freedom of expression versus respecting religious sensitivities. Danish authorities' handling of the situation, including the arrest of a woman trying to protect the Quran, drew criticism.

THE NETHERLANDS

Litter louts

GOING green can be costly as Amsterdam Council has found out since Holland imposed a refundable fee on buying products in cans and bottles. Many simply throw these away in rubbish bags which are ripped open by those looking to reclaim the deposits from shops leaving rubbish scattered throughout the city streets.

Geothermal heat

ICELAND has learned to live with its volcanoes and geothermal heat which helps to warm 90 per cent of its houses at vastly reduced financial and environmental cost. Now a group in Friesland in the north of The Netherlands, the Stogef Foundation wants to do the same using water from an underwater dormant volcano.

ITALY

Joint arrest

A joint collaboration between the police forces of Italy and Spain has led to the arrest in Madrid of a violent fugitive on Monday, July 24.

The Spanish National Police arrested the man who is wanted in Italy for drug trafficking, violence and money laundering offences.

Famous u-turn

Alessandra Mussolini, 60, the granddaughter of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and also niece to Sophia Loren, has performed a U-turn, from her infamous far-right homophobic comments to now advocating for LGBTQ+ rights

Ms Mussolini was previously a pop singer, playboy model and film actress before she took up politics.

PRESS EURO

FRANCE

Returning home

YUAN Meng, a six-year-old giant panda, the first of his species to ever be born in captivity in France, was emotionally sent on a journey from France to Chengdu in China on Tuesday, July 25. In 2012, his parents, Yuan Zi and Huan Huan were loaned to Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan by the Chinese authorities, the first time such an initiative had occurred.

Singer stable

The Pogues' legendary frontman, Shane MacGowan,65, has been treated in a Dublin hospital since late June for an unknown illness. MacGowan is married to 57-year-old Victoria Mary Clarke, who said: ‘He is still in hospital but he is doing well and being looked after. He is out of the ICU and doing well.’

Unfortunate mix up

A family from Tipperary, Ireland was left traumatised when a repatriation service delivered the body of a Frenchman, instead of their father, 83- year-old Michael Curley died of a heart attack while holidaying in Lanzarote. The Spanish-based funeral service and an English-based repatriation service recognised the error and quickly rectified it, enabling the late Mr Curley’s funeral to go ahead as planned.

Sentiment index rise

According to a recent survey by the GfK Institute, the way people feel about their financial situation and the economy is improving. They believe that inflation of the rising cost of goods and services will go down soon. This positive outlook on income helped the consumer sentiment index to rise to24.4.

Far-right fortress

The German far-right party, AfD, elected Maximilian Krah as its lead candidate for the European Parliament election. They aim to challenge the EU from within and create a strong anti-migrant stance, rejecting alliances with less radical right-wing parties. Krah received over 65% of the delegates' votes and expressed the party's increasingly popular

GERMANY BELGIUM

Tomorrow today

THE Tomorrowland festival, staged annually in the Belgian town of Boom near Antwerp, is one of the world’s most popular and spectacular live events for fans of electronic dance music. Working with sponsor BMW, Tomorrowland is this year giving music lovers the chance to generate their own dance hits with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

Forest deadline

The Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir had promised over 4,000 extra hectares of forest would be planted in Flanders by the end of 2024, although with just a year until the deadline not even a third (1,127 hectares) has been planted. The Flemish Green Party has stressed that the current efforts are not enough.

Cyber Attack

NORWAY’S government faced a significant cyber-attack on 12 ministries, raising concerns about national cybersecurity. The attack exploited a software vulnerability from a supplier, and its origin and perpetrators remain unknown. The incident highlights the need for robust cybersecurity protocols across all government entities.

Cycling Mayor

NORWEGIAN city mayor, Jonas Andersen Sayed, cycled from Sokndal to Zaliztsi in Ukraine, raising approximately US$14,500 for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The money funded the purchase of drones, computer equipment, tablets, a thermal imager, and a power generator. This was Andersen's fourth bike trip to Ukraine since the invasion, supporting the military.

NORWAY FINLAND

Slimming swim

54-year-old Patrik Kvikant raised €10,000 after a mammoth charity swim from Estonia, across the Gulf of Finland before he arrived nearly three days later on the shore of Helsinki According to Kvikant, he burned as many calories during the three-day swim as an adult male does over two weeks.

Happiest country

For years now Finland has been named as the world’s happiest country. According to a psychology expert, it can be summed up in one sentence: ‘Make yourself meaningful to others.’ Here are Finland’s five pillars of meaningful living. Follow your heart’s desire, share your knowledge, perform random acts of kindness, be a good neighbour and stay close to your loved ones.

Junior approval

INNOVATIVE drugs used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis have been approved for use in children between 6 and 11 years old in Portugal. Infarmed extended the use of Kaftrio and Kalydeco for treatment in the National Health Service, as confirmed by the Medicines and Health Products Authority. Previously, their use was authorised only for the treatment of those aged 12 years or older.

Fishy fears

MORE than half of the freshwater fish species in Portugal's rivers are threatened with extinction. This information was revealed in the 'Red Book of Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes' which stated that six of them were critically endangered. The study looked at 43 species of fish, and confirmed the extinction of the sturgeon in Portugal.

IRELAND PORTUGAL SWEDEN

On holiday

HUNGARY'S opposition party had requested that parliament be convened last Monday, July 31, to vote through Sweden’s NATO membership and other issues. However, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's spokesman said: 'We see no reason to rush, why can't we do this according to the usual agenda?'. The implied meaning seemed to be that Fidesz does not intend to vote on NATO until the parliament's summer recess is over this autumn.

Permit increase

Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, revealed that the police had received multiple applications for more permits to burn religious books. He voiced his concern that more burnings could only further escalate the already high tensions among Muslim nations.

Giant panda Yuan Meng.

Credit: Twitter@zoobeauval

Vote to settle regional differences

IS it dinner or tea? Which is better: Rugby Union or Rugby League? And what on earth is Sconegate?

These are just some of the burning issues that get Britons into a lather. A study commissioned by the managing director of Megabus, Mark Venables, to celebrate 20 years of bringing people together, also highlighted the differences of opinion up and down the UK.

A survey of 2,000 people was intended to set the records straight, but in reality, it just added more fuel to the debate.

Sconegate. One might think this relates to the pronunciation of ‘scone’ (scone or skon), but it actually re­

volves around the age­old debate of ‘jam or cream first’.

The study revealed there was a clear winner. Thirtythree per cent of those polled said they preferred a scone with jam first, the Cornwall way. A mere 18 per cent, said the correct way was clotted cream first with a topping of jam, known as the Devonshire version.

Other regional differences included whether an evening meal should be called ‘dinner’ or ‘tea’.

There were many different suggestions as to what was the proper name for a small round bread loaf. ‘Bap’ ranked highly for those living in the south east with, while

‘roll’ was the most common term of phrase for the Scots. However, East Midlanders prefer to use the word ‘cob’ and ‘barm’ is the most popular term for those living in the north east. Other suggestions included bread bun, bread cake and even tea cake.

Among other issues were, ketchup vs brown sauce and rugby union versus rugby league, English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea.

And if anyone was wondering where to find the best curry in the UK, the survey said Birmingham is the ‘curry capital’ with 24 per cent, followed by Bradford, 11 per cent and Manchester with 10 per cent.

Human meat factory

A DOCUMENTARY entitled ‘The British Miracle Meat’ saw TV personality Greg Wallace visit a human meat factory.

Viewers were horrified as they watched the programme hosted by Channel 4, which covered the controversial idea of harvesting human meat, wrote a news source on Monday, July 24.

It seems the UK’s cost of living crisis knows no bounds as a factory in Lincolnshire called Good Harvest pays human donors to contribute their cells in order to produce meat.

The TV investigation discovered that desperate donors could get ‘£250 for a single buttock, double is £400,’ from the processing plant which said it was about to launch a range of human meat extracted from children under the age of seven.

Fifty­eight­year­old Wallace, who introduced himself as ‘the bald bloke off the telly’, spoke to factory manager

Mick Ross, who went on to inform viewers that he had fed his family ‘human steak.’

It was then explained that anything you like from steaks to burgers, sausages can be harvested from ‘thin slices of human tissue’ in a ‘nutrient rix mich’ that causes cells to grow into what they called a cake.

The main point of the programmes was to show how much cheaper ‘human flesh’ is than the animal alternative. One steak can cost as little as 99p, giving hard­up families a chance of survival despite the difficult cost of living crisis many UK families are experiencing.

Of course, the programme was a scam, a mad idea with a sobering message. It was Channel 4’s satirical comment on the state of real families up and down the country who find themselves in dire straits. The show aimed to highlight how bad will things get before serious action is taken.

Is it ‘dinner’ or ‘tea’?

BUSINESS EXTRA

Cleaned out

BRITISH shoppers are buying less soap, according to Reapp, the supermarket retail app. Leading chains have reported a drop in sales of these items owing to the cost of living crisis, with soap sales falling by 48 per cent in the first six months of 2023 and handwash by 23 per cent.

Up and down

ENDESA registered an €879 million first­half net profit, 4 per cent less than the same period last year. Revenues of €13.12 billion fell 11.6 per cent due to this year’s lower electricity prices although earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation improved by 27 per cent to €2.48 billion.

More jobs

EL CORTE INGLES increased its workforce by 3.69 per cent last year and now has 81,434 employees ­ 50,674 of whom are women and 30,760 menin its stores, supermarkets and travel agencies. The increase in staff was mainly due to the chain’s acquisition of Logitravel, the company explained.

Not so bad

BRITAIN is on course to outperform Germany this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, after its gloomiest predictions for the UK economy did not materialise. The IMF foresees that the UK economy will grow by 0.4 per cent this year, confirming forecasts that were initially published last May.

Low-flying

HEATHROW AIRPORT did not return to profit in this year’s first half despite increased passenger numbers. The airport, which reported a £139 million (€162.8 million) adjusted pre­tax loss for the first half of 2023, blamed the Civil Aviation Authority, which capped the amount it could charge airlines for each passenger.

STAT OF WEEK €607 million

net profit for Spain’s state-owned airports management company Aena during the first six months of this year, compared with €559 million during the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

Record half-year for bank

Linda Hall BANCO SANTANDER’S

€5.241 billion first­half results were the best in the bank’s history and 7.1 per cent more than the same period in 2022. This would have risen to 11.7 per cent without the impact of the €224 million windfall tax charged on 2022’s profits and paid this year.

The January­June figures exceeded analysts’ estimates who predicted a €5.151 billion profit, and the markets responded with shares rising almost 2 per cent on July 26 when the figures were announced.

Continual increases in interest rates, introduced

over the last year by the European Central Bank (BCE) to combat inflation, boosted Santander’s performance in Europe.

“We are making good progress towards our goals of simplifying business procedures and making the most of our global

PUTIN’S expropriation of Danone and Carlsberg’s Russian assets could do his ambitions more harm than good.

“He is shooting himself in the foot because this will actually help the West to push back Putin by damaging the Russian economy,” reasoned Mark Dixon, founder of the Moral Rating Agency (MRA).

“It will bring Russia closer to a desert island economy,” he said. “The forced separation of democratic and undemocratic economies is critical for democracy to survive and prevail,” he declared, adding that the expropriated companies deserved their comeuppance.

“Danone and Carlsberg continued to profit from Russia after the invasion of

Still going

LEO MESSI’S Spanish companies had a €59.77 million turnover in 2021, the year he left FC Barcelona and moved to Paris San Germain.

Limecu España 2010, which handles Messi’s companies and image rights, made a €6 million profit in 2021, €550,000 less than the previous year, according to accounts recently published in Spain’s Registro Mercantil, equivalent to Companies House in the UK.

Limecu, which deals primarily with image rights, is administered by Rodrigo Martin Messi, the footballer’s brother who manages most of his business interests.

strengths,” Santander’s executive president Ana Botin said.

The bank’s gross income rose 11.5 per cent to €28.01 billion, bolstered by growth in net interest income, which rose 13.6 per cent to €20.92 billion. Net fees and commissions rose 4.3 per

cent to €6.103 billion.

It is on these two areas that government calculates its temporary windfall tax charged on banks’ activities inside Spain, which is Santander’s principal market. During the first half of the year, the domestic market accounted for €3.161 billion in net interest income and €1.413 billion in net fees and commissions.

Europe was the group’s principal driving force during the first six months. Spain, whose customer base increased by 362,000, contributed €1.132 billion, displacing Brazil as the bank’s traditional source of non­Spanish earnings.

A desert island economy

leave Russia and ironically they have now been forced out by the very dictator they were propping up.”

Corporate watchdog MRA was created to remove Russia from Ukraine, using this momentum to help pro­democracy Russians get Putin and his regime out of the country.

NEW government procedures targeting promoters of tax avoidance schemes fall short, recruitment experts maintained.

“Holding responsible the directors of companies involved in promoting tax avoidance is something we called for and welcome,” Tania Bowers, Global Policy Director at the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), said. Businesses knowingly involved in fraud were unlikely to be swayed by additional criminal charges. Instead, their access to recruitment should be cut off, Bowers suggested.

“Complete transparency is required to ensure no firm inadvertently partners with a non­compliant business due to lack of information,” she added.

Good figures

STELLANTIS reported recordbreaking first­half earnings of €10.92 billion, a 37 per cent increase on 2022.

With a €98.37 billion turnover, the global group attributed its success to increased demand and stabilised supply chains, although earnings benefited from higher vehicle prices, chief financial officer Natalie Knight said.

Ukraine and have therefore supported the Russian economy, which pays for that invasion,” he said.

“They have resisted our pressures to

Keeping afloat

THE UK government plans to boost sales of British­made ships with £500 million (€583.46 million) in credit guarantees.

The Department of Trade will assist borrowers who wish to buy UK­built vessels in a bid to boost Britain’s languishing yards.

Shipbuilders working for the defence sector are helped by longstanding orders from the Royal Navy, but the civilian industry has a hard time competing with cheaper yards overseas, including Spain.

Companies in the running to profit from the new scheme include Harland & Wolff, a name forever associated with the Belfast shipyard where the Titanic was built, and Cammell Laird, which produced the €200 million (€233.3 million) polar research vessel that a public poll wanted to call Boaty McBoatface. Wight Shipyard, which builds the Thames Clipper river buses, could also benefit.

The latest expropriations would actually help the West by damaging the Russian economy, the organisation said, describing it as a “positive” development.

“Putin’s behaviour is reprehensible, but he is unwittingly harming Russia,” Dixon added.

Package deal

A UK government scheme obliging packaging manufacturers to meet the cost of recycling their products has been deferred from October 2024 to 2025.

The decision was the result of wideranging talks with the industry and taking into account consumers and businesses’ problems in the current economic context, environment minister Rebecca Pow explained.

The additional year will be used to discuss the scheme’s design with industry, reducing the cost of implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) wherever possible.

“Producers are already beginning to use less packaging and adopt easier­torecycle formats,” Pow said.

“We expect this to continue, ensuring that costs are not passed onto households later on.”

The group, the world’s third most­important vehicle manufacturer which owns Peugeot, Fiat and Jeep, produces approximately 850,000 cars annually in Vigo, Zaragoza and Madrid.

Chief executive Carlos Tavares described the first six months of 2023 as “impressive” but admitted that Stellantis would have to cut costs to maintain profitability.

Moving up

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased its growth outlook for Spain to 2.5 per cent.

This is one percentage point above the IMF’s original prediction and half a percentage point above the Spanish government’s own forecast.

“In general, instability is never good for the economy,” the IMF’s chief economist Pierre Gourinchas said on July 25.

“I believe that we need to wait and see how the process ends and where Spain’s population wants to go with the results of these elections,” Gourinchas said in reference to the July 23 poll.

ANA BOTIN: Bank making good progress, executive chairwoman announced.

CARLSBERG: Head office in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Photo credit: Ana Botin

Tougher measures call

Photo credit: carlsberggroup.com

DOW JONES

Euro

EUR/GBP: Up from £0.85 to £0.86

EUR/USD: Up from $1.09 to $1.11

The euro wavered in the last week of June as European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate expectations fluctuated in response to hawkish comments from ECB President Christine Lagarde and weaker-than-expected Eurozone inflation.

EUR exchange rates continued to trade sideways at the start of July amid some lacklustre Eurozone data releases.

The euro found its footing again in the middle of the month, with the single currency being bolstered by its negative correlation with the US dollar. The resulting movement even carried EUR/USD to a new 15-month high.

However, the single currency then faltered again in the second half of July, amid a lack of notable Eurozone data and a resurgent US dollar.

CURRENCY OUTLOOK: POUND ROCKED BY FLUCTUATING BOE RATE BETS, US DOLLAR STRIKES MULTI-MONTH LOWS

Unsurprisingly, the ECB’s next interest rate decision will be the primary focus for EUR investors over the next month. While a 25bps hike is widely expected, the euro could face some headwinds if the ECB appears more cautious regarding the potential for further increases.

Pound

GBP/EUR: Down from €1.16 to €1.15

GBP/USD: Up from $1.27 to $1.28

Trade in the pound was highly erratic over the past month, amid speculation regarding future Bank of England (BoE) interest rate hikes.

At the end of June, Sterling was still being pressured by fears the BoE may tighten the UK into a recession to bring inflation under control.

However, these fears began to fade as we entered July, with GBP exchange rates being buoyed by speculation the BoE may deliver another 50bps rate hike in August. Expectations for which were compounded by

a record increase in UK wage growth. Sterling subsequently plummeted as we entered the second half of the month. The publication of weakerthan-expected UK inflation figures triggered a correction in the pound as GBP investors repriced their bets for the BoE’s next rate decision.

Looking ahead, it looks unlikely the pound will be able to retest its recent highs in the near future. In addition to the BoE likely delivering a more modest 25bps rate hike next month, the bank may hail June’s CPI figures as a ‘turning point’ in its fight

against inflation.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Down from $0.78 to $0.77

USD/EUR: Down from €0.91 to €0.89

The US dollar was supported in late June by some hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. In which he hinted the bank could deliver another couple of rate hikes by the end of 2023.

However, these Fed rate hike bets were quickly dampened by the publi-

cation of weaker-than-expected US payroll figures.

The US dollar then plummeted to a 15-month low against both the euro and the pound in the middle of July. The plunge came as US inflation cooled at a faster-than-expected pace and further undermined Fed rate hike bets.

The ‘greenback’ subsequently rebounded as we entered the second half of the month as demand for the safe-haven currency was strengthened by risk-off flows.

The Fed will deliver its latest interest rate decision in the last week of July. Another 25bps rate hike if expected, but if the Fed signals its hiking cycle has run its course the US dollar is likely to tumble.

Currencies Direct have helped over 425,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency transfers.

POUND TRADING: Was highly erratic over the past month.

When does humour become not funny?

BUYING GOODS ONLINE OUR VIEW

I have always been convinced that the British sense of humour has been one of our most commendable and enduring assets. Through the horror of two World Wars and all the disasters and conflicts that have beset us over the years, the Brits have always managed to find some way to raise a smile out of even the most tragic circumstances.

The skill of our comedians and cartoonists is such that their humour never sets out to undermine these situations, merely eases their seriousness by lightening the mood and in doing so allows those affected to hopefully surmount their problems more easily.

The British sense of humour, sometimes indefinable and unique, has always been a bit of a mystery to the rest of the world and often something that most foreigners simply can't get their heads around. Some years ago, I wrote that whatever the

terrorist or our enemies can throw at us nothing will ever rob us of our most commendable and enduring gift, our humour. Well I was wrong. At the time of writing that particular piece we weren't being strangled by the despicable, destructive, and downright traitorous yolk of the PC brigade.

Not content with changing their fellow citizens from a nation that prided and flourished through its policies of oratory freedom into a herd of sheep, watching every word they say and almost frightened to open their mouths in case they offend somebody, this utterly superfluous bunch of time and woke wasters have finally managed to turn their attack on one of the most dearly loved jewels of our culture, our purveyors of comedy.

Subsequently most comedians are simply not funny anymore. Jokes that retain reference to classism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, xenophobia or Islamophobia are just not allowed on public platforms.

For the new breed its ok to repeat appalling swear words, or even un­

dermine white culture, but step out of line against a minority and you can bid your career goodbye.

One TV channel I tune into actually presents (with a large cautionary notice) a wonderful selection of early brilliant British comedy shows. ‘Benny Hill’ ‘Till Death do Us Part’ ‘Hale and Pace’ to name but a few. Many contain racist humour but they are glaringly non ­ contemptuous, simply frivolously humorous. What I find truly disturbing about this whole PC farce is just how far this Orwellian situation is allowed to go.

Another bunch of them have now issued guidelines instructing schools that eight­year olds be taught that all genders can have periods ­ to avoid...... wait for it. ‘Offending girls who identify as boys’! Well, frankly if I had my way, I would prosecute these morons for child abuse. Unfortunately, as a member of a majority, nobody is allowed to listen to me!

Keep

DURING lockdown, few of us were able to go shopping in person and ended up buying large amounts of product online.

This activity made many large businesses upgrade their websites to offer a wider and faster range of services and many of us still buy a great deal of material online.

There has certainly been some return to personal shopping although it is telling that Amazon have recently closed two of their self­service, cashless physical supermarkets as it would appear that they were not proving popular.

It can be difficult to buy online from the UK because of Brexit and unless the store you are purchasing from has registered for European VAT and is shipping goods below a certain value, there is often a delay and the possibility of the purchaser having to pay customs duties.

Online stores situated within the European Union can supply goods to any other EU State which means that local online sellers should in theory become more competitive.

One of Spain’s largest fashion giants has until recently used Correos for delivery and the Spanish Post Office has generally been very efficient but now they have changed and are using other couriers who presumably offer a cheaper service.

We have readers who complain that despite paying for home delivery, couriers simply state that they have tried to deliver and couldn’t so have left the goods at a central point for collection which may be several kilometres away. If the purchaser doesn’t collect the goods, then they are returned to the seller and refund can take anything up to a month which is no good for anyone.

Lee’s

Flamenco workout

UNLEASH your inner dancer with the vibrant Flamenco workout! Inspired by the traditional Spanish dance, this fitness trend blends rhythmic footwork, graceful arm movements, and passionate expressions.

Engaging your entire body, the Flamenco workout improves flexibility, stamina, and cardiovascular health. Say adios to monotonous routines and immerse in the infectious energy of Flamenco music.

This dynamic workout promises to sculpt your physique while invigorating your soul. Embrace the essence of Spain and dance your way to a healthier, fitter you.

Dance your way to a healthier, fitter you.

By Clinica Britannia

Express Service for denture repairs

LIVING with missing teeth is not a viable option for most people, as it causes them embarrassment when smiling or talking, inhibits the basic daily activities, and unfortunately negatively affects how others perceive them.

You may think you can hide a missing molar, but a missing front tooth is impossible. But also, importantly if a gap is left, the other teeth will shift position causing them to become misaligned, changing the natural shape of your face.

At Clinica Britannia we make custom made high quality partial or full dentures, giving your smile a full and natural look. With proper fitting dentures you will have no problems chewing food,

talking, or smiling confidently.

Did you know that a completely new set of dentures can now be made within four days, allowing you to enjoy your new smile within record time, you could even have them made without interrupting your vacation.

We are also happy to offer our existing and

new patients an Express Service for the repair of any type of Dental prosthesis (denture) within as little as one hour, due to our onsite laboratory and technicians.

If you already have existing dentures and want them to look like new again, then why not have them cleaned and polished, we can make that happen whilst you wait.

Beauty on a budget

LOOKING fabulous doesn’t have to break the bank. With a few savvy tips, you can boost your beauty budget and still achieve that radiant glow. First, consider multi­purpose products that offer multiple benefits in one. Embrace DIY beauty treatments using natural ingredients

from your kitchen. Explore affordable drugstore brands known for their quality. Don’t forget to shop during sales and take advantage of loyalty programmes. By making smart choices and being resourceful, you can enhance your beauty routine without overspending.

DENTURES: Cleaned and polished while you wait.3

1% Spanish beauty sector grew in 2022.

Navigating healthcare in Spain

FOR expats over 50 in Spain, understanding the healthcare system is crucial to ensure well­being in your new home.

Spain boasts a comprehensive public healthcare system, available to residents and contributing expats.

To access public healthcare, obtain a health card (tarjeta sanitaria ) from the local health centre. Private health insurance is also popular, providing faster access to specialists and English ­ speaking medical services. Pharmacies are abundant and can provide over ­ thecounter remedies, but prescription medicines may require a doctor’s visit. Expats should familiarise themselves with local hospitals and clinics, ensuring they receive the care and support they need to enjoy their Spanish adventure with peace of mind.

Mature make-up

IN Spain, women over 50 are redefining beauty standards, and the cosmetics industry is taking note. Spanish brands are championing make­up that enhances natural beauty while also catering to the specific needs of mature skin. Hydrating foundations, luminous blushes and subtle eye make­up that flatter rather than cover are gaining popularity. Sunscreen, a must in sunny Spain, is seamlessly incorporated into daily make­up routines.

Nourishing lip colours, fighting dryness while

adding a vibrant pop, are a favourite. Additionally, make­up lessons focusing on techniques for mature skin are offered at beauty academies and cosmetics counters alike. The emphasis is not on concealing age, but on celebrating it. After all, confidence is the best beauty secret.

Women over 50 are showing the world that age is just another facet of their radiant beauty.

By Clinica Britannia

Familiarise yourself with the health service. Age is just another facet of beauty.

Certain cholesterol is good for you

MYTH: All cholesterol is bad for you.

Fact: Certain types of cholesterol are essential for good health. Our body needs cholesterol to perform important tasks, such as aiding in the production of sex hormones, acting as a building block for human tissues and assisting in the bile production of the liver.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in our blood and cells, with our liver making most of it in the body. The rest comes from the foods we eat and travels in our blood bundled up in packets called lipoproteins and comes in two main forms LDL and HDL.

Low­density lipoprotein (LDL) is the unhealthy cholesterol, it can build up in our arteries and form fatty, waxy deposits called plaques. Over time LDL can damage your arteries, contribute to heart disease, and strokes. This can be easily diagnosed with a carotid ultrasound.

High­density lipoprotein (HDL) is the

healthy kind of cholesterol, it transports excess cholesterol out of your arteries to your liver, excreting it from your body.

Triglycerides are the main type of fat in our body and are measured together with cholesterol by a blood test and are linked to being overweight or eating foods that are high in fat and sugar. High levels also increase our risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Make an appointment now at Clinica Britannia for your cholesterol check as prevention is always a better option than cure.

LETTERS

Spanish culture shocks

OVER the weekend we shared a funny TikTok video created by Patry Ruiz, expressing some of the main culture shocks that people endure when getting used to Spanish culture.

Amongst these are the common misconception for the afilador as the ice cream van, the late Spanish dinner time of 10 PM, and the custom to throw nap ­

Comments

“How time has no consequence.”

Steve

Busby

“Going all the way round a roundabout in the outside lane.”

Jill

“Car indicators ­ lack of use.”

Fred

kins and toothpicks on the floor at certain cafes or bars. Our honorable mention went to the conundrum that is successfully handling Spanish roundabouts. We had a scroll through the comments section of this post on our Facebook page to see if our readers related to this comedic video as much as we did.

Stevens

Harding

“When boarding a ferry in Barcelona for the Canaries in 1976, even though you were first in the queue having slept half the night outside the ticket office one get's shouted at (in Spanish so not a clue!) by the ferry boarding lady for apparently boarding before all the old ladies all wearing black, hauled out and told to stand over there, again, not a clue why, until everyone had boarded, the doors closed and ferry boarding lady just walked off without saying a word!!! I was both perplexed and fuming mad!!!”

Richard J Dodds

“Throw napkins on the floor??? Not everywhere in Spain! That's weird!” I lived in Granada for a while (I'm from Galicia), and used to visit a bar before lunch, the floor was covered in peanut shells and napkins, I was in shock, they said this was done because it gave the impression that it was a busy venue I have no idea if that was the real reason, I had never seen it before”.

Blanca Hermida

“Blanca Hermida I still don’t get it and I’ve been here 20 years! Someone still has to pick them up!”

Gordon

O'Keeffe

“Roundabouts are way better than busy signaled intersections…we need more of em in the US, especially when multiple streets come together at different angles and ramps for freeways”.

Paz Arboleda

“Malaga is clean, no napkins on the floor or streets”.

Vivian Bolboreta

“no, 10 is not dinner time….”

Paulo Leitao

“Nothing ‘strange’, I’m in their country”,

Jimmy

Simmons

“Think, why the roundabouts would have many lanes if you only can use the exterior one?”, Maximiliano Solórzano (with an attached article from the DGT)

“Maximiliano Solórzano don’t need to use only the external lane, but you can only exit from this lane. So think how to do it”

Vicen Jimenez

“Vicen Jimenez of course external lane must be used for enter and exit… but here is used always…even if you need to do a U turning..”,

Maximiliano Solórzano

“Maximiliano Solórzano and? The law says everytime you can travel and the right line you must. On any Road. Roundabout or not. It’s obligatory.”

“Paulo Leitao sure it is. Have your first beer and tapa at 8 and the last at 12… that averages out ”

Ben Merghart

“Maria Cruz I live in Granada and they do this as it shows it is busy (like you said). You are spot on.”,

Stephen Proctor

“Steve Busby Time has a different consequence from the one you’re used to.”

Liz Read

PETS

House-sitting with free pet-sitting

MANY of our pet owners in Spain choose checked pet­sitters from our listings. Our House sitMatch sitters are checked, they are pet lovers and they won’t charge you a cent for the house or pet­sitting services. Instead, they offer a fair exchange, free accommodation for free pet care. It’s a win win! The housesitters are for free when you are a member 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:

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

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

Do you have pets to care for when you are away? With mulitple pets it petcare can be expensive.

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

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

How does it work?

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

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

Tropical fish

TROPICAL fish, with their vivid colours and graceful movements, offer a unique pet­owning experience. They turn home aquariums into underwater kingdoms, full of activity and stunning natural beauty.

Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9

/ 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesit match.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.

However, keeping these aquatic jewels requires particular care and a steady commitment. Unlike more traditional pets, fish require a carefully controlled environment. The water in their tanks must be kept clean and at the right temperature and pH level. Equipment such as heaters, filters, and sometimes air pumps are crucial to maintaining these conditions.

The diet of tropical fish varies widely, with some species requiring live food and others subsisting on flakes or pellets.

Understanding each

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

species’ dietary needs is vital to ensure their health and vitality. Tropical fish also have specific social behaviours. While some fish are peaceful and thrive in a community tank, others might be aggressive or territorial.

Thorough research before purchasing can prevent potential conflicts and stress within your aquarium.

One significant aspect of fish ownership often overlooked is their potential lifespan. With proper care, some tropical fish species can live for over a decade. They are a long­term commitment and should be treated as such.

In conclusion, while maintaining an aquarium may seem daunting, the rewards are manifold.

Caring for hairless cats

HAIRLESS cats, with their striking appearance and enchanting personalities, are increasingly catching the fancy of pet lovers across the UK. While these unusual felines share many characteristics with their fur­covered counterparts, they require specific care.

Notably, without a fur coat, hairless cats, such as the Sphynx, are vulnerable to temperature changes. They seek warmth during colder months and can easily get sunburnt in the summer. It’s critical to ensure they have access to cosy spots in the house and are protected from excessive sun exposure.

Their lack of fur also means more frequent baths are needed. Dirt and oils, which would normally be absorbed by fur, can

build up on their skin. However, bathing should be balanced with the risk of skin dryness. Feeding hairless cats a balanced diet is paramount.

Like all cats, they are obligate carnivores, requiring a high ­ protein diet. However, due to their higher metabolism, hairless cats may require more frequent feedings. Hairless cats are known for their sociability and playful nature. Plenty of interactive toys and stimulating playtime are essential for their well­being.

Despite the extra care required, owners of hairless cats will attest to the unique bond they share with these extraordinary pets. The joy of sharing your home with a hairless cat is truly a unique experience, filled with countless rewards.

Turn aquariums into underwater kingdoms.

PLUMBERS

PLUMBING

APP REPAIRS ARCHITECTS

WASHING MACHINE BROKEN? Call Bluesky Repairs for ALL your domestic appliance repairs. 626 430 671 (WhatsApp) (303487)

I BUY RECORDS 50s to the 90s. Best prices for good records. Tel: 622 750 117 / 962 851 809 (303212)

ALL USED / SECOND HAND HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE URGENTLY REQUIRED. COLLECT 50KM RADIUS FROM BENISSA: 711 02 92 41 (302974)

BUGGY TOURS

BUSINESS OPP

LOOKING FOR Silent Business Partner for small Private Care Home. Invest 10K and get 20K back in 14 months. 747 438 225 (304048)

BUY & SELL

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

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

BEDDING

CAMPING

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

CARAVANS CARS FOR SALE CHARITY

El Campello Christian Community - Life and Family Sunday Service at 11am Bilingual (English and Spanish) at C/ San Bartolome, 35 (Bajo No. 6), El Campello. For more information visit www.elcampellochristiancommunity.org , email campellocc@ gmail.com or call Juan Zúñiga686 203 183 (Spanish) or Sue Bishop - 610 639 426 (English) (233602)

THE SALVATION ARMY English Speaking Church of Denia Worship Service. Sunday 10.30am followed by a time of Fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Come as you are! For more information: Dieter Zimmerer +34 698 609 658 or Barbara Zimmerer +34 652 319 810 Email dieterzimmerer@ hotmail.com, www.cen trosaron.com (10008) www.helpbenidorm.org and on Facebook VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, particularly if you speak Spanish, and have a car (although this is not essential). Tel President 607 387 040. We are an English-speaking charity that assists residents and tourists of all nationalities in times of crisis. We meet every Thursday at 11am in Jose Llorca Social Centre C. Goya s/n. Benidorm. We loan out mobility and medical equipment including oxygen concentrators on a short-term basis. (288658)

THE AIRCREW ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA This association, formed in 1988, exists to foster comradeship amongst those who, having been awarded an official flying badge, have qualified to operate military aircraft and are serving or have served, as military aircrew in the armed forces of the United Kingdom or those nations which are allies of the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THIS POPULAR ASSOCIATION, CALL the Secretary on 966 495 228. (295990)

ELECTRICIAN

MB ELECTRICS. Approved electrician. Any electrical repair. Iberdrola paperwork. Affordable prices. Miquel 655 282 175 www.mbelectrics.es (302561)

FOR SALE/WANTED

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel678 716 693 (288662)

GENERAL MAITENANCE

ALL METAL WORK AND MOBILE WELDING. +44 7787 585 714 (302963)

GOLD WANTED

HEALTH & BEAUTY

WIGS

WWW.WIGS-R-US.ES Iindoor market, Rincon De Loix Benidorm. Monday to Friday 10 -4pm Sat 10 – 3pm scrunchies, ponytails, toppers, fascinators, headwear etc. Private appts after 3 pm 681 049 502 (302420)

INSURANCE

FED UP OF NOT BEING SENT YOUR RENEWAL? CUT YOUR INSURANCE COSTS AND STILL HAVE 100% COVER. YOU HAVE TRIED THE REST NOW TRY THE BEST WITH SOS INSURANCE. WE CAN EVEN INSURE YOU FOR UP TO A €1,000 OF WATERLOSS. CALL 686 116 297 (WHATSAPP TOO) OR VISIT www.sosinsuranceinspain. com or email tracey@sosin suranceinspain.com (303525)

BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@beneficialinsuranceinspain.com or visit www.beneficialinsuranceinspain.com for online quote. (303574)

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

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

LEGAL SERVICES

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, Solicitor, Debt Collections, Bad Tenants. 747 438 225 (304048)

LOCKSMITHS/ELECTRICIANS

ALBIR , ALTEA, MORAIRA, 24 HOUR EMERGENCY. 686 513 510 (294632)

MASSAGE

FRENCH, ELÉGANTE , SLIM

SOPHIE, 3 languages spoken. Experienced in a large variety of full body massages. Villamartin apartment or can travel to all areas. 693 357 526 (302810)

RELAX CENTRE in BENIDORM - Excellent atmosphere. Expert Masseuses. 24/7 Outcalls - Tel: 603 324 564 (290194)

NATURIST male gives relaxing massage. Half price 1st time offer €25. For men and women. Private premises in Jávea, WhatsApp Rob on 613 831 380 (304057)

QUALIFIED MASSAGE THERAPIST, INTUITIVE, RELAXING, HEALING with Teya in beautiful studio Denia Centre. Whatsapp +34 692450679. (302934)

METAL WORKS

MOBILE WELDER: GATES, RAILINGS AND GRILLS. ALL REPAIRS. +44 7787 585 714 / +44 7470 059 469 (302924)

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)

INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon. VHF and Radar Courses. 626 245 098 (303717)

MISCELLANOUS MORTGAGES

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

GUARANTEED MORTGAGE

100%. Acceptance. EX Pat Mortgages. Non Resident Mortgages. Spanish Resident Mortgages. Highest LTV in Spain. Call Damian today on: 655 141 092 (302913)

MOTORIBKES

PETER ZWAAN MOTORBIKES, A+ Occasions Showroom, Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 cc,yr 2007, 9.000 kms, Euro 7.600, = CostaBlancaMotorbikes.co m (290148)

MOTORING

AUTO BASTIAN mobile mechanic. Tel 608 860 725. (301133)

CAR BODY REPAIRS AND MECHANIC. ORBA AND SURROUNDING LOCAL AREAS.

CALL TONY: 669 633 257 (302957)

WE are currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home

VIAGRA / KAMAGRA / CIALIS. BEST PRICES. FREE DISCREET DELIVERY. ALL AREAS COVERED. TEL: PETER 644 139 274 (303521)

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

DECORATORS W.D. GILMOUR. Painter & Decorator. Established 35 years in Moraira. ESTIMATES FREE. Call William on 609 691 776 or 966 490 602 (303340)

PAINTER & DECORATOR. WINDOW CLEANER / MAINTENANCE. CALL NEIL ON +34 642 577 442 OR +44 753 586 6419 (302909)

NEED YOUR PETS TAKEN CARE OF? Not kennels, just a friendly home. Large fenced area. 699 790 080 Altea (294597)

PETS BACK HOME Family pet transporters Spain/UK. Travel with your pets for free. All air conditioned vehicles (no vans) www.petsbackhome.co.uk Removals also arranged in other vehicles Tel: UK (0044) 01256 244657 (302827)

POWER WASHING

M-POWER Commercial and Domestic Pressure Washing Services. Professionally cleaned and restored. 633 061 946 (302966)

LOVELY WINTER RENTAL APARTMENT DENIA. 750€ per month + charges. +34 607 733 998. patriciabuigues@ gmail.com 302962

PROPERTY TO LET PROPERTY WANTED

RETIRED couple looking for long term rental in La Marina Baixa - prefer two beds. Needed urgently - call Janice on 0044 7736 251 800 (279523)

APARTMENT REQUIRED FOR WINTER LET. OCT/NOV/DEC. 400€ - 500€ PM. ALBIR & SURROUNDING AREAS. +44 7787 585 714 (302964)

REMOVALS/STORAGE

BENIDORM and surrounding areas. Two-man removal. 622 658 992 (301436)

COSTA LESS EXPRESS, small removals and deliveries.Spain /UK budget prices. Urgent jobs undertaken www.costalessexpress.co.uk Pet transport also arranged in our air conditioned pet/people carriers. Tel: UK (0044) 01256 244657 (302827)

MAN & VAN for hire, cheap & reliable. Jalon Valley & surrounding area. Call/Whatsapp 636 100 873 (303571)

ROLLER SHUTTERS

ROLLER SHUTTER REPAIRS, awnings, motors, mosquito blinds. Calpe + 50 kms. 659 464 992 www.toldosalchemy. com (1296178)

JAVEA SKIP HIRE. CALPE TO DENIA. 2.5M AND 3.5M SKIPS. GARDEN OR RUBBLE.TEL:692 588 088. (302905)

STRUCTURAL SURVEYS INSURANCE

MARK PADDON BSc Hons. MCIOB, CAAT – for buyer’s survey & defects advice. Tel: 653 733 066 / 962 807 247 www.costablancasurveyors.com (293633)

Cupra Born – style and substance

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack

ORIGINALLY the sporting model within the SEAT line­up Cupra has become

a brand in its own right and proving very popular with the Formentor but also the company’s first electric vehicle, the Born. Although it takes much from VW Group’s ID mod­

els the Born is very much its own car and stands well enough alone to be some thing rather different and rather good actually.

Prices start from €42,490/£36,475 and there are two battery sizes – 58kwh and 77kwh – with the smaller battery having a predicted maxi mum range is 427km/264 miles. As ever the range is dependent on many factors including the type of driving, whether it’s summer or winter and such things as wheel size. The 58kwh model has a mileage range worse scenario of probably just sub320km/200 miles in winter, best scenario 362km/225 miles in summer. The higher power model has a predicted maximum range of 548km/341 miles.

Standard equipment across all Born models includes LED lights, naviga ­

tion, smartphone integration, rear view camera and adaptive cruise control. Inside there are terrifically comfortable, sporting and good looking front seats. As with all Cupra models the Born features copper highlights and has a rather low and sporting stance with a particularly good side profile.

On the road it’s not a fast car compared to some but is an enjoyable drive with even the lower pow­

ered model reaching the benchmark 100kph/62mph in just 7.3 seconds. You can specify an optional e ­ Boost that lops over half a second off that time. Whilst the Born is a firmer ride it’s far from uncomfortable and has sharp enough handling to make driving more twisting roads a bit more fun. It soaks up the bumps relatively well too.

There’s little whine from the Born’s electrics and

only when at motorway speed do you notice some road and wind noise, but it’s far from intrusive. The quality of the Born is excellent and it feels classy and has a nice mix of materials which add to that feeling. The main central display is nice and clear and although the driver display is small it has excellent clarity.

The one thing that lets everything down in an otherwise super interior is a lack of proper buttons. Otherwise it’s a stylish and, for an EV, practical choice that has lots of equipment and a sporting feel. Considering it’s essentially a VW ID under the skin it has a classier and upmarket feel with a more sporting drive.

The quality of the Cupra Born is excellent and feels classy, An upmarket feel with a more sporting drive.

Football fixture delight

THE phenomenal return of Wrexham to the Football League will continue on October 11 when the Welsh men's national team host Gibraltar at the Racecourse Ground.

American acting stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased the club back in February 2021 when it was languishing in non­league football. What can only be described as a Hollywood fairytale ensued.

Although their League Two stadium is currently under renovation, the new 5,500­seat 'Kop' terrace will not be finished in time for the 'International Challenge Match' on October 11. Once completed, it will boost the capacity to around 15,600.

Wales have previously played a total of 94 international matches at the tiny North Wales football ground but the Gibraltar game will be the first one to be staged at the Racecourse Ground since 2019.

Wrexham's stadium is the world's oldest to be still in use for international football. It first staged a Wales game in 1877 and subsequently hosted every home match involving the national side until 1890.

October's match will take place just four days after Rob Page's side takes on Latvia away in a Euro 2024 qualifier.

In a statement released by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) its president Steve Williams said: 'I’m hopeful this opens the door for further matches to take place in Wrexham across all our national

teams and age groups, including our UEFA U19 Euro finals bid for 2026 to celebrate our 150th anniversary'.

Williams spoke of his delight at the announcement. 'Being born and bred in the Wrexham area, I am incredibly proud to see Cymru returning to the oldest international football stadium in the world', he rejoiced.

Wrexham's Racecourse Ground Stadium.

Credit: Twitter@Wrexham_AFC

Moving from the blues

RIYAD Mahrez has completed his move from treble­winners Manchester City to Al­Alhi in the Saudi Pro League.

The Algerian international striker and captain sealed a £30m deal last Friday, July 28, according to the respected football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano.

He tweeted: 'Official, confirmed. Riyad Mahrez joins Al Ahli on permanent transfer from Man City for £30m fee #AlAhli Contract until June 2027, agreed days

of 236 appearances in all competitions, with 59 assists thrown in for good measure.

He accumulated a stunning array of 11 medals, including winning the Premier League four times, two FA Cups, three Carabao Cups, the Community Shield once, and the highlight, the Champions League last season.

Mahrez arrived at the Etihad Stadium in a £60m switch from Leicester City, making him the most expensive African footballer in history. He had already won the Premiership at the King Power Stadium with the

His departure comes after City captain Ilkay Gundogan left to join La Liga giants Barcelona in Spain. Pep Guardiola has a habit of allowing top players to leave the club, as he proved when Raheem Sterling joined Chelsea.

Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus and the versatile Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko both left last Summer to join Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

Doubt still remains about the future of Portuguese star Bernardo Silva, who is being chased by several clubs. England back Kyle Walker is also known to be on the radar of Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich.

In the meantime, Guardiola has so far only brought in the Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea in the latest transfer window.

Unstoppable Verstappen

DUTCH F1 champion Max Verstappen is simply unbeatable this season as he proved by winning the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps on Sunday, July 30.

As a result, he enters the summer break an astonishing 125 points ahead of his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez. Sundays victory ­ starting from 6th on the grid ­ was Verstappen's eighth consecutive chequered flag of the season and Red Bull's 12th out of the 12 races staged so far.

After the teams reassemble to continue the campaign, Verstappen faces what will undoubtedly be chaotic 'orange' scenes as he enters his home race in Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix.

A win on home soil at the end of August will draw him level with another Red Bull legend, Sebastian Vettel, who previously racked up nine wins in a row on his way to a world title.

Sergio Perez crossed the finishing line in second to earn Red Bull yet another one ­ two and to consolidate his place behind Verstappen in the table. The rest of this season now is really just a case of who will finish second.

Charles LeClerc restored some glory to Ferrari by claiming the remaining spot on the podium, albeit some 10 seconds distant from Perez.

Lewis Hamilton had the consolation of recording the fastest lap in his Mercedes while finishing fourth, some 17 seconds behind the Frenchman. He remains one point behind Spain's Fernando Alonso in the driver's table, who placed fifth this afternoon.

Another British driver, Lando Norris, clinched seventh in the McLaren, continuing the good form he showed in Hungary last time out.

Manchester City flag.