Axarquia 10 – 16 August 2023 Issue 1988

SPECTACULAR DEBUT

ALMUNECAR very proudly paid tribute to local cyclist, Carlos Rodriguez Cano, for his spectacular performance in the Tour de France where he finished fifth overall in his debut in this event at just 22 years old.

Major celebrations took place in the municipality on August 3 for its most outstanding cyclist after having completed another milestone in his brilliant sporting career.

Proud mayor, Juan Jose Ruiz Joya, confirmed: "I had the honour of receiving Carlos in our beloved city. His arrival at the Town Hall balcony was a moment filled with joy and pride for all of us."

"I handed the cyclist the city's gold medal which is a symbol of our gratitude, Carlos is a prime example of constancy and overcoming and his humility left a mark on all present."

The mayor added: "On behalf of the entire government team and the citizens of Almunecar, I want to express my sincere congratulations to Carlos for his sporting achievements and for carrying the name of our city with so much pride."

"I want to encourage all the children

and young people of Almunecar to follow the example of Carlos, to be strong and constant in the pursuit of their goals.”

“With his effort, he has shown that

Pesca tourism

SEAFOOD tourism otherwise known as pescatourism is set to increase its turnover this summer as projects to turn tourists into fishermen for a day are growing at a "double­digit" rate on the coasts.

The digital booking platform, Pescaturismo, which brings together businesses throughout the country dedicated to offering trips on board or other activities with fishermen or shellfish gatherers, has registered a 10 per cent increase in visitors and turnover in 2023, according to its CEO, Pepe Martínez.

Amongst tourists, foreign bookings stand out, the origin is generally European, al­

though there is also demand from American clients.

Fish tourism consists of enrolling tourists who adapt to the outings of the fishing fleet and marine tourism covers activities, routes or tastings that are more tailored to the visitor.

They in turn offer a source of extra income for the fishermen and in this line of diversification, there are possibilities of financing with European Union funds.

The president of the National Federation of Fishermen's Guilds, Basilio Otero, confirmed that this type of tourism can contribute to bringing the sea closer to the people.

he can go very far and take the name of our beloved people to the highest."

"Thank you, Carlos, for being an Almunecar ambassador and for inspiring us.”

Use water wisely

OSCAR Medina, the mayor of Torrox, , has publicly pleaded for a "rational use of water" and asks for "understanding" in the face of the occasional difficulties that may occur in the supply.

The mayor added that during August the population has quadrupled in the municipality due

to the boost in tourism, so the demand for supply is also very high.

He said: "I would like to ask for understanding and hope that it rains soon to alleviate the extreme drought situation, because, if not, next autumn Malaga and Axarquia will have a real water problem.”

Image: Ayuntamiento de Almuñécar y La Herradura / Facebook

An amazing performance in the Tour de France

Cautious closure

IT HAS been decided to temporarily close the access to the river Chillar, as a precautionary measure for as long as the high risk of forest fire continues.

This measure will take effect from Thursday, August, 10.

The Nature Protection Service of the Guardia Civil (SEPRONA) has warned of “high risk” of fires and has suggested the area be closed. The Councillor for the Environment for Nerja, Javier Rodríguez, added that this measure is taken, above all, "to protect people".

BEER fans need to look no further than Rincon de la Victoria as it is set to hold its Craft Beer Festival, Birra & Art, from Saturday, August 12 to Tuesday 15 in the Plaza Al­Andalus.

The event will offer a wide variety with 45 different types of beer supplied by nine national and international breweries: Spanish craft breweries such as La Cibeles (Madrid), Blanca y Verde (Cádiz), Segral (Granada), INSITU and Tablada (Seville), Paulaner Munchen (Germany), La Chouffe (Belgium), Hop House (Ireland), Foster's (Australia).

UNSTOPPABLE against ALS brought together more than 1,000 athletes on Saturday, August 5.

The event which took place in Torre del Mar over 24 hours created an epicentre in the fight against ALS.

ALS patients and their families joined more than 1,000 sportsmen and women who carried out all kinds of challenges over 24 hours in an original event called "Sports Demonstration" which began on Friday, August 4, and continued until Saturday, August 5. There were incredible challenges such as 24h "non­stop" running, cycling, kayaking,

Boozy bash

There will also be 24 stands offering international gastronomy including German sausages, Latin food and Argentinean barbecue, to name a few. There will also be handicraft stalls as well as live concerts.

The Councillor for Tourism, Antonio Jose Martin, confirmed: "This is an event that attracts a large audience and

sells more than 2,000 litres of craft beer throughout the festival.”

The Festival programme includes live Pop Rock concerts daily, all concerts are free of charge and start at 9:30.PM. Beers can be sampled for the price of €3.

The festival will open to the public on Saturday 12 August at 7:00.PM.

Non stop support

swimming and triathlon.

Hundreds of athletes brought challenges of all kinds and of different magnitudes,

there were runners, cyclists, triathletes, swimmers, and even a beach volleyball tournament.

But, it was not just the individual challenges that created the party atmosphere, participants also dressed in pink and created a pink tide, determined to fight together for ALS sufferers and help in the search for a cure. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis known as ALS, is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes loss of muscle control, and is a devastating and debilitating fatal disease.

24 hr non-stop sports demonstrations were held

NIBS EXTRA

Grapes galore

On Saturday, August 5, the municipality of Iznate celebrated the day of the Moscatel Grape Day. At the event, a whopping 1,000 kilos of grapes and 200 litres of Muscatel wine was distributed among residents and visitors.

Chess champ

BENAMOCARRA was the location for the XXIX Provincial Chess event on Saturday, August 5. The tournament had the participation of 96 players, beating the participation record of previous years.

Beautiful space

THE Arrabal urbanization in the Añoreta now has an original colourful playground designed by the artist from Malaga, Víctor García. The colourful specialist has created a unique design, transforming a 160square­meter space into a vibrant children's play area.

Fully booked

NERJA´s Municipal School of Music and Dance has closed its enrollment period with a historic figure in terms of the number of students starting the next academic year 2023/2024 enrolled in each of the specialities taught at the centre.

Hold the front page

EURO WEEKLY NEWS is thrilled to announce that our newspaper and website will feature in a TV programme to be filmed in Benidorm.

Hold the Front Page is a programme following two of the UK’s favourite comedians, Josh Widdicombe and Nish Kumar, as they embark on a journey as trainee local journalists attempting to get a story on the front page. Now they are coming to Spain for their training.

Josh and Nick are coming to Benidorm to receive editorial tasks from managing

director Michel Euesden, who is the driving force behind Spain's biggest free English language newspaper group. They will then be accompanied on a sales drive to see what they can achieve in the world of fastpaced journalism.

Exploring some incredible regions through their local papers, the series is a warm celebration of the world of local journalism besides the people and communities the papers serve.

Being a people’s paper, Euro Weekly News is looking for a charity or commu­

nity group who would like to be featured in the programme. Please contact us to tell us about your needs.

The series is broadcast on Sky Max, a flagship channel in the UK and Ireland, and can be enjoyed on demand on Now TV too.

Series one of the Sky Original show was watched nearly two million times.

Josh and Nish also have a strong and engaged social following of their own on Instagram and Twitter, through which they promote the programme to their combined audience of

Squad call Without a hitch

NERJA is delighted to announce that following the great results obtained by the young sportsmen and women in the last Spanish Athletics U20 Championship that took place in Soria on July 22 and 23, three athletes from the municipality have been called by the Spanish national team.

The plan is for the three athletes from Nerja to compete in the European Athletics Championship which will take place in Jerusalem from August 7.

Manuel Alonso Jurado will take part in the 110­metre sprint, Mario Esparraga Velasco in the 3000­metre obstacle race and Juan Francisco Lozano Jimenez in the triple jump.

YOUR EWN HAS

1.6 million.

CPL Productions, a Red Arrow Studios company, is one of the most successful TV, radio and podcast production companies in the UK. The company creates and produces engaging, modern entertainment, factual formats and scripted television.

From primetime entertainment to comedy, drama and factual entertainment, CPL’s impressive roster of shows feature some of the UK’s best talent for broadcasters including Netflix, Sky, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and E4.

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Sea state

Anna Ellis

THE Torrox Town Hall now incorporates graphic information in various languages on the state of the sea in the tourist offices of the municipality.

THE festivities and fairs of La Cala del Moral, Rincon de la Victoria and Torre de Benagalbon which received thousands of visitors throughout June and July have passed without any major incidences.

The mayor of Rincon de la Victoria, Francisco Salado, was delighted to report the news saying: “These summer fairs which were enjoyed by thousands of residents, visitors and tourists were overseen by the Local Police who guaranteed the safety and tranquillity of citizens.”

The Local Police had the presence of a total of 78 officers to cover the extra security and surveillance needed at the three fairs.

On the downside, the mayor confirmed: “A total of 48 reports were received regarding the consumption of al­

coholic beverages on public roads and one report made for the sale of alcohol outside the permitted hours.”

“Two arrests were made for disobedience and two arrests for non ­ compliance with the Immigration Law."

Finally, the mayor thanked “the commitment and professionalism of the local police in ensuring the maintenance of public order.”

In this way, bathers will be able to consult the information and find out details such as if bathing is allowed due to good sea conditions or if bathing is allowed but with caution or if bathing is prohibited.

It is the same information that, through the system of green, yellow and red flags, is used in the surveillance and lifeguard turrets scattered along the entire coast.

The Councillor for Beaches of the Torrox City Council, Vanessa Lopez, confirmed: "All the Tourist Information Offices will be able to report on the quality of maritime bathing waters in real time and this information will be available to members of the public who wish to consult it."

Good behaviour

Image: Policia Local Rincon de la Victoria / Facebook

Anna Ellis

THE Sala Mare Nostrum in La Cala del Moral is proud to host the watercolour exhibition entitled Naya Gitana.

The exhibition which has free entry will remain open to the public until September 3 at the Sala Mare Nostrum in La Cala del Moral (Paseo Blas Infante, 20.)

Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00.AM to 1:30.PM then 6:30.PM to 10:00.PM. Sundays from 11:00.AM to 1:30.PM.

The Cordovan artist, Candi Castro, is presenting a selection of 28 works painted in different styles

Watercolour exhibition

including the Ronda bridge and the Nasrid bridge of Canete la Real in the exhibition."

Candi Castro Sinoga is an artist from Cordoba who loves nature, painting, opera and music in general.

Historic July

TORROX is absolutely delighted to announce that the month of July has been historic with an unemployment rate of just over 5 per cent of the total population.

2022. The mayor also pointed out that the unemployment rate is now sitting at 5.3 per cent, which is one point less than in July 2022, when it stood at 6.29 per cent.

belonging to a series of bridges that the artist has visited during her travels.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

The artist confirmed: “I wanted to give a nod to the province of Malaga by

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

A self ­ taught social activist, she began painting as part of her daily work at the end of the 90s. Between 1998 and 1999 she participated in the Salon de Otono de Huelva, in the Salon Nacional de Ayamonte and in various group exhibitions.

SEXITANO City Council have been busy renewing and updating the signage on the beaches of Almunecar and La Herradura.

The Mayor, Oscar Medina, confirmed that the municipality is experiencing an extraordinary situation of growth at all levels.

"Unemployment is down compared to the same month in 2022 and the population of Torrox continues to grow."

July closed its doors with only 1,151 registered unemployed, compared to the figure of 1,250 in the same month of

In 2015, the percentage of unemployed people over the number of inhabitants was 9 per cent, the highest historically up to that time.

Since 2015 unemployment has progressively decreased in Torrox except for the year 2020 coinciding with the Covid pandemic when in July the percentage rose from 6.63 per cent in 2019 to 9.31 per cent in 2020.

Beach signage

The Councillor for Beaches, Lucia Gonzalez, confirmed: "The new signage is necessary

to update the services offered to users by each of the beaches of Almunecar and La Herradura."

"Other information has also be updated such as numbers of interest and digital information."

The councillor added: "Depending on the size of the beach, between one and four signs have been distributed with all the necessary information."

732 movie theatres in Spain

Image: Área de Cultura, Ferias y Fiestas. Ayuntamiento de Rincón de la Victoria / Facebook

THE Department of Culture of the Rincon de la Victoria City Council has now officially announced the dates of the long­awaited Zarzuela Festival.

On August 25 and 26, the outdoor dance floor of CEIP Manuel Laza Palacio will become the setting for two extraordinary productions: Pharaoh's Court and La Revoltosa, presented by the prestigious Andalusian Lyric Theatre Company.

The Councillor for Culture, Mari Paz Couto, revealed that this cultural event promises to delight attendees with its artistic and musical splendour.

"The talent of more than fifty people, including performers, orchestra, choir, production, costumes and lighting, will come together to give life to these musical jewels."

Each performance will

Zarzuela festival

Musical masterpieces

have an approximate duration of one and half hours and will commence at 10:00.PM.

Tickets for the Zarzuela Festival are already on sale at Calasur Travel which is located at Calle Granada, 10, Rincon de la Victoria.

Those who purchase their

tickets in advance will be able to enjoy a special price of €16.

There will also be tickets available at the box office on the days of the events for €18.

For more information or to reserve seats call: (+34) 951501097/8.

Picasso style flamenco

RINCON DE LA VICTORIA is proud to announce its exhibition entitled And Picasso Remembered Flamenco.

The exhibition, which presents a collection of more than twenty drawings in homage to the painter from Malaga, is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Picasso's death.

For those Picasso fans that are interested, the exhibition is being held until September 10 at the Casta

Fuerte Bezmilian in Rincon de La Victoria and offers

free admission.

The artist Emmanuel Lafont and Francis Mármol created the exhibition as a tribute to the late painter.

The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00.AM to 1:30.PM then from 6:30.PM to 10:00.PM.

On Sundays, the opening hours are 11:00.AM until 1:30.PM at La Casa Fuerte de Bezmiliana, Avenida del Mediterráneo number 149, Rincon de la Victoria.

Centre upgrade Joy of Summer

ALMUNECAR is set to carry out a technological transformation of the Social Services Centre with an investment exceeding €100,000.

The Councillor of Social Services, Maria del Carmen Reinoso, confirmed: "A project is being prepared to transform the information technology equipment of the Social Services Centres."

"The new equipment will help us to carry out more agile management and enable us to respond to the demands of users from all areas of Social Services faster."

The councillor added: "We will soon have the equipment needed to provide training.”

“We will equip ourselves with a network that guarantees networking for all professionals with a renewal of the Wi ­ Fi system providing new computer equipment, scanners and printers, among other materials."

THE Joy of Summer exhibition can be enjoyed in the La Galeria Exhibition Hall of Almunecar, Calle Velez 1, next to the Plaza Constitucion.

The works exhibited are mostly oil paintings, each with a very different theme. The artists involved are all part of the South Art Association of Almunecar.

The exhibition is open to the public until August 15 and can be visited every day between 8:00.PM to 10:30.PM.

Image: Rincon de La Victoria / Facebook

Picasso remembered Flamenco

Image: Ayuntamiento de Rincon de la Victoria

Deadline fast approaching

ON March 15 2023, the UK and Spain reached an agreement on driving licence exchange, which enabled UK licence holders living in Spain to swap their UK licence for a Spanish one without needing to take a practical or theory test.

The agreement gave existing residents who had not yet exchanged their UK licences for a Spanish one six months (until September 15) to do so, during which time they could continue to drive on their UK licences. As for newly arrived residents, the agreement gave them six months from the date they acquired their residency documents to exchange their UK licence. Licences can be exchanged after the six month period, but will no longer be considered valid for driving in Spain.

The British Embassy has been urging UK licence

holders to make the exchange by September 15.

The Embassy has advised that anyone struggling to get an appointment at their local Dirección General de Tráfico Office go to their neighbouring one instead.

Last week, the British Embassy announced a resolution had been found to an issue which some holders of expired UK licences (typically those over 70) had been experiencing when trying to exchange their licences. Those affected should follow the established process for exchange, requesting their check code via gov.uk.

His Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott said,“It is very important that UK licence holders who lived in Spain prior to March 15 2023 and want to drive here exchange their licences on or before September 15. We want

this message to reach as many UK licence holders as possible, so please spread the word and refer to our Facebook page and the Living In Spain Guide on gov.uk for more information.”

UK licence holders who moved to Spain before March 16, 2023 and fail to make the exchange by September 15 will no longer be able to drive on their UK licence.

The process for completing the exchange is run by Spain’s Dirección General de Tráfico (see their website for more information.)

32,688 the population of Gibraltar

SOME lucky folk have swimming pools they can dip in and out of and air­con to keep them cool. But for the not­solucky out there, here are a few tips that might help keep you cool during the soaring temperatures.

Most of us keep our curtains and blinds closed on sunny windows to stop the sun from breaking in too much. Lots of

Hot Stuff

houses have shutters but if your windows are shutter­less cardboard can be just as effective. Though you may be inclined to cool down with a tall glass of iced tea, ice cream or watermelon on a sweltering

summer's day, the effect is wonderful but doesn’t last long and before you know it you are back where you started – a little bit too hot under the collar! This is due to your internal temperature. When it is cooled too rapidly your body ends up compensating by raising your temperature and the result is you feel hotter.

Have you ever lay awake at night wondering why some cultures in the hottest locations on earth enjoy hot and spicy foods?

These people have a trick up their sleeves! Spicy foods actually make you sweat and in turn, this helps to cool you down faster. Eating spicy foods works differently as it raises your internal temperature to match the temperature outside.

Some people sweat from the face ­ the lips, forehead, nose, and scalp ­ after eating hot and spicy foods. This causes your blood circulation to increase and you start sweating,

once the moisture has evaporated you have cooled off.

Whilst some might not fancy eating hot food on a scorching hot summer day it may be worth it to cool down. What do you think? Will you be rustling up a spicy chilli or vindaloo to see if it works?

If spicy foods aren’t your thing, try popping your feet into a bowl of ice cubes and water. The shockingly cold temperature will cool you off quickly and reset your body's temperature so you feel comfortable even a few hours later.

The soles of your feet are especially sensitive to tempera­

ture changes, so the ice­cold foot bath could be all it takes to cool down. In the sweltering country of Morocco in North Africa, they battle the midday heat by sipping on sweetened mint tea and have been doing so in the desert for thousands of years. Mint has natural cooling properties that make it fresh and cooling on the nasal passages.

It can be difficult to sleep in hot weather. If it's too hot or too cold your internal body temperature may be affected disrupting your ability to drop off and stay asleep.

The best plan is to sleep in the lowest level of your home

as the heat rises. Also, make sure all electrical items are turned off and not in standby mode as this still creates heat Some who struggle terribly with the heat resort to taking sheets and bedding straight out of the washing machine and sleeping in a damp bed. But, keeping things damp need not just be a night time resort as a damp cotton tshirt can provide some relief during the day.

Heat escapes through the skin, which is the largest organ in the body. So, the more skin you can cool down, the better.

If you'd rather not walk around in wet clothing, you can buy a cooling spray, or have a cool shower. Wrists and ankles have lots of pulse points where blood vessels are close to the skin, so you will cool down quicker.

Have we missed out your fool proof way to staying cool in the summer months? Send us your tips!

Is the heat keeping you awake at night and making you feel lousy during the day?

Ethics of euthanasia

ASSISTED DYING a polarising and difficult conversation has once again captured the attention of the world. With cases like David Hunter’s who was released recently from prison for the death of his terminally ill wife and the retired nurse who allegedly sent ‘white powder’ to peers in an attempt to influence them to support the assisted dying bill in the UK have ignited the conversation yet again. Debate rages about the ethics of assisted dying, euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Spain made the pivotal decision to decriminalise euthanasia on June 25, 2021, and in the year following that decision 180 euthanasia were carried out. Traditionally, assisted dying laws focused on terminal illnesses and unbearable suffering. However, some jurisdictions have begun to include nonterminal conditions like mental health disorders as grounds for assisted dying. In Canada and the Netherlands,

psychological suffering and an ‘accumulation of old age disorders’ are now considered valid reasons for assisted dying.

This expansion of eligibility criteria introduces an ethical dilemma. Critics warn of a slippery slope, where the line blurs between compassionate end­of­life care and the potential exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The question arises: How far can the boundaries of assisted dying be stretched without compromising morality and legality?

Across the globe, several

countries have embraced euthanasia, including Colombia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Canada. New Zealand voted by public referendum to approve euthanasia. Starting November 6, 2023, individuals above 18 years old can seek euthanasia with two doctors' endorsement.

In a world where medical possibilities collide with ethical uncertainties, striking a balance between personal autonomy, medical ethics, and safeguarding vulnerable populations remains an intricate challenge.

Compassionate end of life care or potential exploitation.

Saving Water

HOW can municipalities effectively combat the challenges of a prolonged drought without compromising essential services?

Amidst the persistent drought plaguing municipalities in Spain, many municipalities have taken significant strides to address the water scarcity issue.

Typical measures include cutting off the water supply to beach showers, reducing potable water usage for park and garden irrigation by half, cutting back on watering of golf courses and temporarily closing water parks.

While the actual water consumption from beach showers is minimal, councils aims to use this measure as a means to raise awareness among the public about the responsible use of resources.

Traditional Spanish Methods Of Saving Water

RAINWATER harvesting: A common practice is to collect rainwater for various household tasks, such as watering plants, mopping floors, and cleaning things. This can be done by installing rainwater harvesting systems on the roof or in open areas of the home.

When preparing to take a shower take a bucket along. Instead of letting cold water run away while it gets up to temperature, use a bucket to collect it. This way, water can be collected that would normally go to waste, where it could be used for other household tasks.

Turning off the tap while washing dishes and brushing teeth. This helps save a significant amount of water that would otherwise be wasted if the tap remained open throughout the process.

Homespun Methods Of Water Conservation

FOR more ideas here are some methods gathered from residents in a Euro Weekly News survey.

• 'I have a tank and water is expensive, so if I have bath, I leave it in and use the water to wash my plates. I add soap! I also filled the toilet with bricks, so it only makes a little [flush] and saves 5 litres,' Judith van Trump, Benissa, Alicante.

• Another resident, Michael Santos, commented: 'Living in a small community of just eight properties, the most expensive cost we have is water for both the pool and gardens. We have cut the length of time that each garden receives communal water. . . reduced from 10 minutes to 3 minutes.'

• Another tipster said: 'Always use a dishwasher as it is far more environmentallyfriendly than washing by hand as it uses less water.' It is estimated that hand­washing dish es uses up to 3.5 times more water than a dishwasher.

• When visiting the toilet is it always necessary to flush? Without going into too much detail there is the well known phrase: 'If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down,' a memorable contribution from Mayor Ed Koch, who reportedly urged New Yorkers to take up the practice during a water shortage.

• Although it seems sensible to run eco modes on both dishwashers

and washing machines in actual fact whilst they may use less electricity it is possible that more water is used is this longer cycle, so consider changing to quick more as it may cost more but could save precious water.

• Also, if you use a water softener do check whether it’s metered or unmetered as if unmetered, it automatically regenerates on a timer whether it needs to or not, thus using a lot of unnecessary water.

• The metered option regenerates only when it needs to and therefore uses less water says Angela Wright from Benidorm

• Animal lovers, if you are running the hot water tap, fill the dog’s bowl whilst the water is still cold so it doesn’t just disappear down the drain. Paul Chalmers Estepona

• An anonymous reader contributed, Save water – drink wine.

In Conclusion

BY taking decisive steps to conserve water resources, actions already taken have created an example for other municipalities facing similar drought challenges.

What we all hope to see shortly is some monsoon type weather lasting long enough to top up the aquifers (underground water catchment areas) and reservoirs in the short term and the creation of more desalination plants by the coasts in the long term.

Have a bucket in the shower to collect any excess water, before or during your shower.

Beach showers to be cut off

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Fuelled up

ASDA became Britain’s first retailer to publish diesel and petrol prices charged at its local forecourts online after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that the chain’s fuel prices had tripled since before the pandemic. The sector had increased these to unnecessarily high levels, the CMA said.

Nicely played

CASILLAS WORLD, founded eight years ago by Iker Casillas, former goalkeeper for both Real Madrid and Spain’s national side, earned €350,287 euros in 2022, 88 per cent more than in 2022. The company, based in the leafy Madrid suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcon, handles the footballer’s image rights.

New face

SARAH BREEDEN was named the Bank of England’s deputy governor and will also serve on the Monetary Policy and the Financial Policy committees. A senior executive, she led Bank’s response to the Northern Rock crisis in 2007 and takes over from Sir Jon Cunliffe, who has held this role since 2013.

Not you

EL CORTE INGLES sold its holding in the Only You hotel chain and will instead focus on its future hotel in Madrid’s Goya district, leaving the Matutes family’s Palladium Hotel Group as Only You’s sole shareholder. The sale went through in July 2022 but was not made public until early August.

Downsizing

HOUSE OF FRASER revealed that it could close more stores, after shutting eight in the past year. Michael Murray, the chief executive of Mike Ashley’s retail empire, which rescued the chain in 2018, said its department store portfolio was “continually under review” and some outlets were “still too big.”

STAT OF WEEK €8.9 billion

in revenues for the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) bottling plant during the first half of this year, an 8.4 per cent increase on the same period in 2022.

Government does its duty Membership scam alert

DON’T find yourself up the creek without a paddle by falling into the trap of a phony Amazon scam.

The online e­commerce and digital streaming multinational recently alerted to the dangers of being fooled by unexpected calls, texts or emails that claim to refer to a costly membership fee or other membership issue.

These will ask you to confirm or cancel the charge, Amazon warned.

“Scammers will try to convince you to provide payment or bank account information in order to reinstate a membership,” the company said.

Amazon would never ask

you to provide payment information for products or services over the phone, a recent statement stressed. Never pay over the phone, it added.

“Visit the Message Centre on the Amazon website or on our app to review authentic emails from Ama­

THE UK government announced plans to grant hundreds of new oil and gas licences.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed on July 31 that the government would continue to back the North Sea oil and gas industry in its drive to make Britain more energy­independent.

Adopting a more flexible application process, licences could also be offered near currently licensed areas, he said. This would unlock vital reserves due to existing infrastructure and previous assessments, Sunak explained while visiting Aberdeen’s Shell gas terminal.

The independent Climate Change Committee predicted that approximately a quarter of the UK’s energy demands would still be met by oil and gas

TV turn off

ITV’S earnings fell 52 per cent to £152 million (€176.5 million) during the first six months of this year.

Total advertising revenues dropped by 11 per cent to £811 million (€940 million) between January and the end of June, compared with the same period in 2022.

The broadcaster admitted that it was enduring its worst advertising downturn since the 2008 financial crisis although chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said that although advertisers were cautious, ITV had not experienced any difficulty in attracting sponsors for its programmes.

zon. To verify your Prime Membership status or to make payments, log into your Amazon account, and go to the Your Account section.”

Amazon also recommended always going through the Amazon mobile app or website when

Licensed to drill

seeking customer service, tech support, or to make changes to an account.

“Be wary whenever someone tries to convince you that you must act now,” the company said.

“Go directly to our website when seeking help with Amazon devices, services or orders.

“If you receive communications — a call, text or email — that you think may not be from Amazon, please report it to us,” the company said.

For more information on how to stay safe online, visit Security & Privacy on the Amazon Customer Service page.

tensive to ship oil and gas from abroad, he said.

The government was taking steps to slow the rapid decline in domestic production of oil and gas, securing the UK’s domestic energy supply and reducing reliance on hostile states.

“We have all witnessed how Putin has manipulated and weaponised energy, disrupting supply and stalling growth in countries around the world,” Sunak pointed out.

DUTY on pub drinks will be up to 11p lower than at UK supermarkets.

The changes would help pubs compete on equal terms, explained Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

“British pubs are the beating heart of our communities and as they face rising costs, we’re doing all we can to help them,” Hunt said. “Through our Brexit Pubs Guarantee, we’re protecting the price of a pint.”

Taxing drinks by strength for the first time reflected the popularity of low alcohol drinks, the Chancellor added.

Small Producer Relief would also help small businesses and start­ups create new drinks, innovate and grow, he said.

Go like the wind

IBERDROLA’S US subsidiary, Avangrid, has completed construction of an electricity substation off the Massachusetts coast.

Iberdrola has, through Avangrid, a 50 per cent stake in the €2.5 billion Vineyard Wind undertaking, together with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).

when the UK reached net zero in 2050. More licences were compatible with net zero commitments, the prime minister insisted. Bearing in mind the anticipated part­reliance on fossil fuels for years to come, it was more carbon­in­

Penalty imposed

TELEFONICA must pay €5 million for breaching its €725 million contract with DTS on acquiring the digital channel in 2015.

At the time, Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) required Telefonica to make concessions preserving market competition by maintaining DTS’s existing contracts.

Telefonica was also obliged to make available wholesale offers of premium channels ­ with access to major sporting events ­ to other television operators.

Despite this proviso, Telefonica reached an agreement giving sports streaming service DAZN exclusive rights to broadcast the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Formula 1 seasons. The deal also allowed Telefonica to access all DAZN content.

This fine is the latest from the merger, including a €6 million CNMC sanction last March for preventing client transfers.

As well as easing the need for higheremission imports, granting further licences would protect more than 200,000 jobs, and expand the UK economy, Sunak added. It would also provide the next generation of skilled apprentices.

Unicaja movements

UK hedge fund Oceanwood announced the sale of up to 117 million of its Unicaja shares.

Oceanwood has assigned the Bank of America (BofA) to manage the €124 million sale, equal to 4.4 per cent of its 7.4 per cent holding, according to a filing with Spain’s National Securities Market Commission (CNMV).

If the sale materialises, Oceanwood would no longer have a sufficient stake to justify Unicaja board membership, with the likelihood that its representative, David Vaamonde Juanatey, will resign as director.

News of the sale came a day after the Unicaja board announced that Isidro Rubiales was to substitute its chief executive Manuel Menendez.

The substation’s high voltage cables connecting the Vineyard Wind I’s 62 turbines to the onshore network are key to the project’s viability, Iberdrola explained.

Located 24 kilometres south of Martha's Vineyard and 55 kilometres south of the Cape Cod peninsula, this is the Spanish multinational's first and largest windfarm in the US and will meet the energy needs of more than 400,000 homes.

War pays

ARMS multinational BAE Systems increased its profit forecast as military spending soared.

The London­based company posted half ­ year underlying earnings of £1.3 billion (€1.5 billion), a 10 per cent increase on last year, plus £21.1 billion €25.5 billion) in orders including 246 infantry fighting vehicles from the Czech Republic. It now has a record backlog of £66.2 billion (€76.9 billion).

BAE said that 2023 earnings per share would grow between 10 to 12 per cent, compared with the rise of between 5 and 7 per cent that it forecast in February.

AMAZON HEADQUARTERS: Advice on avoiding scams

ABERDEEN VISIT: Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak at the Shell refinery

Photo credit: Flickr/GoToVan

Photo credit: 10 Downing Street

DOW JONES

Sad song

SINGER, composer and poet Joaquin Sabina must pay Hacienda €2.5 million in back taxes after Spain’s Supreme Court turned down his appeal against an April 2022 High Court decision that ruled in favour of a 2019 claim. He must now pay tax due on royalties ceded to family­owned companies in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

By the book

DEMAND for English language learning in the first half of 2023 boosted sales and profits for publishing and education company Pearson. Sales rose 5 per cent to £1.8 billion (€2.09 billion) during this period while pre­tax profits rose by 24 per cent to £236 million (€274.3 million), with Pearson expecting to meet full­year targets.

A paler shade of green

BRITAIN’S Business secretary Kemi Badenoch suggested that electric vehicle directives could hinder UK investment and even result in job losses.

According to UK media reports, Badenoch passed on “major concerns” to her colleagues in the Cabinet regarding plans to fine manufacturers who fail to meet electric vehicle production quotas.

This has been interpreted as a sign that the government could be wavering on another green pledge.

The

Clarel deal off

SUPERMARKET chain Dia cancelled a €60 million operation to sell its Clarel perfumery subsidiary to the C2 private equity fund.

Dia told Spain’s National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) on August 1 that the deal was off after C2 failed to comply with all the terms of the agreement to buy 1,015 Clarel stores, three distribution centres and other assets.

Conditions included the CNMV’s approval, which was confirmed in May, but Dia announced that since C2 had not financially secured the Clarel merchandise before July 31, it had automatically rescinded the contract.

Meanwhile, C2 denied Dia’s allegations and said that it reserved the right to take legal action over the “unilateral” breach of the agreement.

Small mercies

et regarding rules which comes into effect in January and oblige manufacturers to ensure that at least 22 per cent of new sales in Britain are emissions­free models, increasing annually to reach 80 per cent by 2030.

Manufacturers will be fined £15,000 (€17,431) for every polluting car they sell over the limit, unless they can buy extra allowances from other companies.

“If major car companies employing thousands of people are saying that there’s a problem, then it’s her job to look at ways of easing that problem,” a Badenoch spokesperson told Politico magazine.

The UK ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is due in 2030 despite widespread concerns that Britain does not have sufficient infrastructure and capacity for the growth of electric vehicles.

THE UK’s national debt reached 101 per cent of its gross domestic product in the last quarter of 2022, compared with 84.4 per cent in 2020’s pre ­ pandemic first quarter. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) also revealed that Britain’s £2.5 trillion (€2.9 trillion) debt improved in the first quarter of 2023, falling to 100.5 per cent of GDP.

On track

SPAIN’S passenger rail service Renfe will pay rolling stock manufacturer Talgo €181 million to maintain its fleet of high­speed AVE trains until 2027, an extension of their existing contract. Talgo obtained a net profit of €7 million during this year’s first half, a 31.7 per cent increase on the same period in 2022, thanks to increased industrial activity.

Business secretary referred to industry disqui­

KEMI BADENOCH: Business secretary said electric vehicle directives could hinder investment

credit: UK Government

A diverse dilemma

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

PLEASANTLY, but not unexpectedly surprised at the large number of readers who have contacted me to agree with my views on the excessive use of nonwhite actors on British TV. According to a couple of correspondents the UK is not the only country experiencing this.

Apparently Holland and Denmark are also witnessing the phenomena. One of the readers actually sent me a set of photographs announcing species that have become extinct. These included Wooly Mammoths, Saber toothed Tigers, Dodo birds and adverts featuring undiversified white families. Oddly, this somewhat light hearted observation actually made some sense. In fact just 7% of British people are in a marital relationship with people of the same ethnic group. If the vast majority of actors depicting UK families in ads are actually non­white, it gives the impression that the advertising mafia is pushing some agenda known only to them. It rather smells like leftie missions

to normalise inter racial relationships; an exercise called social engineering, which unfortunately, because members of the white populace are petrified to give opinions or utilize their freedom of speech, is actually working. Personally I will endeavor to use my own freedom of speech until I face prosecution, a situation I would actually welcome. Putting someone in the dock for exercising their legal right to express a perfectly legitimate opinion is exactly what is needed to bring the whole conspiracy brigade out into the open. Wouldn’t you just love to hear the prosecution attempt to heap guilt on a white member of the public who stated publically and correctly that despite making up only 13% of London’s total population, black Londoners account for45% of the city’s knife murder victims, 61% of knife murder perpetrators and 53% of knife crime perpetrators? It would also be interesting to see if they would even consider prosecuting the guest who declared on national television that there were ‘too many whites on the Buckingham palace balcony’? Somehow I don’t think so. This practice is a sordid attempt to undermine and frighten the majority of UK

ENTER THE ROBOT OUR VIEW

citizens into surrendering their hard fought country to one of destabilized diversity. When this prevails and the majority realise they have been duped into relinquishing their whole ancestral existence, the street riots and warfare will ensue. This will then give the conspirators the opportunity to send the army and riot police into the UK towns and cities. When the mayhem and body count brings the fighting to an end, the schemers will have gained control and presented the opportunity to bring about a complete restructuring of the rules and laws of our once great country. These people don’t really care about ethnicities; they merely want to create chaos, martial law and curfews. Once the young have been utterly brainwashed into the new order, they will happily and thankfully fall into the wishes and propaganda of the new leaders. Bit like China! Another Leapy rant? Strange how many in past columns have actually materialized! Keep the faith. Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com

Mon. Fri. 1am till 4.

PART of the enjoyment of a meal out is the relationship that you have with the serving staff and their ability to advise you on the food and drink on the menu. The occasion can also be ruined if the waiter or waitress is in a bad mood, is surly, unhelpful, or simply keeps you waiting. Although unemployment, especially amongst the young, in Spain is still very high, it seems that many restaurants find it hard to recruit and keep staff and whereas years ago Spanish and Portuguese staff tended to head off to the UK and other parts of Europe to work, now restaurateurs are starting to rely on staff from Eastern Europe. There’s a lot of cost involved in employing staff on a contract, especially when the current (although who knows for how long?) government has enacted several laws to protect the rights and benefits of workers.

So, enter the robot! It has been possible for some years to obtain robot serving staff offering different grades of service from simply delivery of plates to a full service including ordering from a digital menu and there are even robot chefs who can be programmed to create a range of dishes.

Science Fiction films have for decades imaged sophisticated robots, often made to look like humans, who can cater to every diners needs but now Spain is beginning to see more robots entering the scene.

They are not widespread as yet but as staff become more difficult and expensive to obtain and robots get cheaper to rent (plus they don’t need holidays, social security payments or keep tips) expect to see then becoming more widespread.

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

DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD

During my lifetime the population of our planet has grown from 2.2 billion to 8 billion and is clearly out of control. It has been reduced by natural disasters and human actions (wars) but, in the past 252 million years, never really controlled. It seems inevitable that, in the future, at least one catastrophic event or development will occur in order to reduce the population drastically. But when?

First, why should this be necessary? There seems to be adequate space for many times our present population. But how much of this space is truly habitable? Conditions in Myanmar, Sudan and Yemen alone point the way. Even without war, the relentless heat, abject poverty, lethal insects and diseases in so many countries are unimaginable to us here in Spain. Millions have inadequate food and

POPULATION CONTROL

water, no medicine, no refrigerators, no fans and certainly no air­conditioning. If left undisturbed, nature has always provided enough food for all of us yet millions starve to death. It may be possible to help everybody to forage and to fish; to grow, conserve and distribute food, but the terrain is becoming more arid and the oceans more polluted. Drought and floods play havoc with agriculture, leading to climate migration.

Second, the human race faces correction. In addition to neglect of the environment, increasing violence, decline of moral standards and serious health issues, social interaction is disappearing in large parts of the world as the computer, phone and conference calls replace face­to­face dialogue. The “solution” could come from several sources, some more immediate than others. A global nuclear war could break out at any time. Unstable dicta­

tors need to be cleansed in the great correction; and they may be the ones to activate it. Hundreds of millions could be killed.

Artificial Intelligence could go badly wrong. Assuming that individuals or nations may soon be able to misuse it to control sections of humanity, it couldintentionally or accidentallyeliminate many of us; maybe hundreds of millions. This could well happen before we are all destroyed by

global warming which is a more gradual process. This could lead to starvation, heat­strokes and other fatal diseases, again causing the death of hundreds of millions. But, as the population declines so should the number of cars, flights, cattle, forest destroyers, factories, plastic and most of the causes of climate change.

An end to intensive farming could reduce methane emissions while, at the same time, reducing our dependence on meat, which should result in improvements in health ­ and ironically a further increase in population!

The long term and more gradual depletion (or demise) of the population could be the recent phenomena of transgender and confusion over sex. If the distinction between men and women continues to become more blurred, the already declining interest in sex could threaten future human procreation. We could have a new form of birth control ­ yet another example of man(kind) interfering with nature.

Richard is in his 50’s, a retired forensic accountant from Scotland. After falling into an alcoholic coma, following a binge, he knew he had a choice, keep drinking and die, or stop and live. Here is his story…

“I started drinking aged 15. The sensation was amazing, I loved the feeling, was immediately hooked, and wanted more. I come from a big family, and a culture that promotes the use of alcohol. It wasn’t frowned upon, and for many years my behaviour wasn’t unusual.

I had a senior position in a prominent role and managed to keep a lid on my alcohol use. It became a chronic problem when I retired from work – that is when I became a daily drinker (morning, noon, and night). Gambling could have become a problem, but I needed the money for alcohol. Eating became a chore. Relationships became a thing of the past. Alcohol always came first.

My rock bottom was probably

in the period leading up to my hospitalisation. By then I was depressed, lonely and I had no interest in people, places, or things. Alcohol had become my life, and I would have been happy to go into a blackout and never wake up.

Then I was told by my GP that I had cirrhosis of the liver and if I continued drinking my lifespan was 3­5 years. I reacted by going on a four ­ week long drinking binge. The result was me ending up in an alcoholic coma.

At this point realisation hit, I

knew I had a choice and that I had to do something; keep drinking and die or stop drinking; but I just couldn’t fathom how that would be possible.

I was full of fear at the prospect of my first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. I hoped that I would hate it and that would justify never going back. However, what I found was love and understanding; and a realisation that there were many other people just like me.

Life now? I believe that I have

found (as we say in the fellowship) a “bridge to normal living”. I have new relationships, family support and have rediscovered sports. Impatience and intolerance are managed. I am human, and my character defects will always be there; but with the help of the fellowship of AA, they are shared and understood by other alcoholics.

My advice? Try it and see. It’s free, if you don’t like it there is no obligation to return but the door will always be open. Get to meetings and listen. Obtain phone

numbers, and call when you need help. I recommend for any newcomer, the Alcoholics Anonymous book called Living Sober. It’s easy to read; and contains advice on everything you will experience as you begin a sober journey. “

There are meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, with friendly people who will understand, held daily, throughout the Costa del Sol. Meetings are free to attend, and anyone who thinks they may have a problem with alcohol is welcome.

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

Austria's Tirol has enough space for the world´s population. But it doesn´t work like that.

Photo credits: David WorboysDavid Worboys

LETTERS

Holiday bookings: A summer decline

LAST week we shared a report from GMTV that revealed UK bookings to Southern Europe have experienced a notable dip of 10 per cent, while autumn bookings also showed a 3 per cent decline.

The article then goes on to explain that there could be several reasons for this including the formidable heat with recordbreaking temperatures that we’ve experienced we will continue to experience this summer. Another is the rising cost of living in the UK, for many such as 27 ­ year old Lauren Pugh from Bournemouth, a holiday abroad is a luxury that she just cannot af­

Comments

‘The main problem is British tourists have had a close connection with Spain since the 1950’s under General F Franco, and because of this fact the infrastructure was built up all along Spains coasts to accommodate this fact, and it is now suffering. In addition, this offered much employment for Spain. As a result the hospitality is suffering with tourism and more importantly the revenue that this created has been impacted. This problem has now come to a head with various autonomous regions lobbying Madrid to end the 90 day rule and move along the line of the UK with the 180 days, which will help in the main holiday periods for Spain and it’s future revenue shortfalls.’, M

‘Nothing could have hit tourism as much as Brexit did, let the Spanish drag their feet, they have every right to do whatever they want … the English seem to think it’s their right to anything….. perhaps the people who voted to leave the EU should have looked at the benefits of being in it rather than finding fault and reasons to leave it.’

Alan

‘Yes some of the factors are true, however It is obvious by it omission, any none EU Tourists e.g British Tourists who travelled to EU country’s at Easter time are barred from a summer holiday, due to Spain dragging it’s heels over the 90 day rule despite their

ford ­ especially with mortgage rates increasing by £550 a month. Coupled with this are the extra costs of going away during the peak summer season. Holiday firms are reporting a shift towards autumn bookings as more and more people look to take advantage of the lower prices and travel out of season.

Perhaps, times are changing and preferences are evolving. Millennials are increasingly seeking more immersive experiences, exploring adventure tourism, cultural heritage and the hidden gems found off­thebeaten­path.

luke warm attempt to alter this. It hurts Tourists and Tourism alike and until bureaucrats get their selfs together the problem will fester.’ M

‘Unfortunately, holidays will just be out of people’s grasp soon.’

Theresa Marie

‘Cost of living. Another interest rate rise this week for UK Mortgages. Got to realise people do not have a money tree in the garden. Increase in Hotels and Flights. I know people not holidaying this year. They cant afford it.’

Andy Aris

‘Andy Aris Have you seen the prices for Air B&B & Booking.com @ €100 plus per night just for one bedroom apartment.’

‘Strange our transfer bookings are way up this year.’ Costa Blanca TRANSFERS

‘Because people don’t have the money’,

Brian Rae

‘Because of the scaremongering about the heat’, Archie

Rainier

‘Archie Rainier you mean it’s not been hot?’,

Emma Monks

‘Emma Monks not as hot as last year no about 6­ 8 degrees cooler in fact’, Archie

Rainier

Find pet sitters now for your trip

MANY of our pet owners in Spain choose checked pet sitters from our listings. Our HousesitMatch sitters are checked, they are pet lovers and they won’t charge you a cent for the house or pet sitting 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.

PETS Run rabbit run

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 petcare. These are the steps to take:

1. Register as a Homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

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

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

4. Post an advert for the dates when you

If you’re planning travel later this year don’t delay, Find your petsitters now with HouseSit Match

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

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

How do you join?

Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch.com

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

Spain's adoption culture

ONCE notorious for its high population of stray dogs and cats, Spain has been witnessing a heartening transformation in its approach to pet ownership. More Spaniards are opting to adopt pets, promoting the belief that every animal deserves the comfort

of a loving home. This shift is not merely a trend; it signifies a changing perspective towards a more compassionate, animal loving culture. The adoption ethos has reduced the number of strays and cultivated a sense of responsibility among pet owners.

Animal shelters, particularly in urban areas, report higher adoption rates and significant improvement in animal welfare. Moreover, the trend has led to a rise in community based initiatives promoting adoption. Public awareness campaigns and regular adoption drives by welfare organisations are further contributing to the culture. The concept of 'Adopt, don't shop' is becoming ingrained in Spanish society, enhancing the lives of countless animals. This shift towards adoption and away from buying pets signifies a significant milestone for Spain's animal rights movement, and a beacon of hope for stray animals.

WHEN it comes to ensuring your rabbit lives a comfortable, healthy life indoors, creating the right environment is of paramount importance. As most rabbit owners will agree, rabbits are sociable creatures that require ample space and stimulation to thrive.

First and foremost, size matters. A rabbit’s habitat should ideally be as spacious as possible, allowing room for the rabbit to hop, play, and explore. The minimum size should be at least three times your rabbit's length, though bigger is always better. Next, consider the flooring. While wire­bottomed cages are often promoted in pet stores, they can cause discomfort and even injuries to your rabbit's feet. Instead, opt for a solid floor lined with absorbent, soft materials like hay or recycled paper bedding.

Rabbits are intelligent and curious animals. Provide toys, tunnels, and hiding spots to cater to their inquisitive nature. Chew toys, in particular, are vital, as they help keep your rabbit’s teeth healthy. Temperature and lighting are two other key considerations. Rabbits fare best in temperatures between 1020°C, so avoid placing their habitat in direct sunlight or near heat sources. More­

over, ensure the cage is situated in a well­lit, quiet, and peaceful area to mimic their natural environment.

Lastly, cleanliness is paramount. Regularly clean the rabbit's living area to maintain hygiene levels and keep your furry friend happy. Remember, a well­designed habitat can greatly enhance your rabbit's quality of life, contributing to their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Exploring exotic pets

STEPPING into the world of exotic pets can be a journey filled with unique encounters and newfound understanding. From the spiky charm of hedgehogs to the awe­inspiring allure of tarantulas, these unconventional companions offer a pet ownership experience quite unlike any other.

Hedgehogs, with their distinctive spiny coats and nocturnal habits, are rapidly becoming popular among pet enthusiasts. These little creatures require a specific habitat, diet, and handling, but their endearing nature makes the effort worthwhile. Owners are often fascinated by their self­

anointing behaviour ­ an unusual spectacle where hedgehogs lick to create a frothy saliva, then spread it on their spines!

On the other end of the spectrum, tarantulas, although not everyone's first choice, offer a different kind of companionship. Contrary to popular belief, most tarantulas are not dangerous to humans. Their incredible diversity, spanning various sizes, shapes, and colours, can spark a fascination for nature's marvels. However, they do require intricate care in

terms of habitat and diet, with some species living up to 20 years.

Ownership of exotic pets requires a commitment to understand their unique needs and behaviours. Careful research and preparation are crucial to provide these extraordinary creatures with a suitable environment and proper care. Delving into the world of exotic pets can indeed be rewarding, but prospective owners should remember that respect for these animals and their natural habitats is paramount.

Rabbits like to hop, play and explore

Exotic pets are becoming more popular

SOLAR BLINDS ES Ideal for large glazed areas to reflect heat / glare and stop furniture fading and still keep the view.

SAVE HEAT IN THE WINTER to improve your living environment. ian@solarshadetinting. com Tel Ian 958 496 571 / 644 546 176 (287972)

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

New Life Church Whether you live in Nerja or are visiting our area, you are very welcome to come and join us at our Sunday gathering. Join us

for a time of Holy Spirit led worship and experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During this time of uncertainty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our service lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards. Sunday Service 11.00am; Prayer Meetings Wednesdays 11.00am; Pasaje San Miguel, Nerja, 29780

Email: info@nlcnerja.com

Website: www.nlcnerja.com Facebook:www.facebook.com/ nlcnerj

CHARITY Shop Pocapecunia we need things for the house/kitchen, decoration, vases, plates, cups, saucers, kitchen tools, paintings, pottery pots and pans etc. Prolongacion Avd. Rodgriguez Acosta, Nr the Parador Roundabout, opposite café Trébol, Nerja (294373)

THE ANGLICAN Chaplaincy of Nerja & Almunecar. Every Sunday there is a Holy Communion service at midday in San Miguel church in Nerja. Every Wednesday morning at 9.30 we have an online ‘Zoom’ HC service - please contact Fr

Nigel with an e-mail address if you would like to join us. Priest in Charge, Father Nigel Thomas. Tel: Church House951 815 736, Mobile: 608 695 756, e-mail: cofenerja@gmail. com

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

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbey gateinsure.com (2887610)

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

FOR SALE

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

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

MALE /Female viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly all areas. Mixed trial packs available. Delivery or mail order available 604 385 476. viagra4you19@ gmail.com

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS wanted for Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical. One day per week. Must be legal to work in Spain, have own transport, know the areas and be reliable. Please send CV with covering letter to Martyn by email distribution@demondistribution.com (292475)

SOLAR

SOLAR BLINDS ES Ideal for Large Glazed Areas to Reflect Heat / Glare and Stop Furniture Fading and Still Keep The View. Save Heat in the Winter to Improve Your Living Environment. ian@solarshadetint ing.com Tel Ian 958 496 571 / 644 546 176 (258409)

WINDOW

MOBILE SERVICE. ITV Legal. Solar Reflective tint for glass curtains, balconies, yachts. Stop fading, heat & glare. 958 496 571 - 644 546 176 ian@solarshadetinting. com (287972)

MEETING

SOLAR

Silverware shootout

IT was a victory that needed a penalty shootout to decide the winner between Arsenal and Manchester City after a 1­1 draw in open play, on Sunday August 6, at a Wembley Stadium that unveiled its new state­of­the­art pitch.

Incredibly, two of City's biggest players missed penalties, first Kevin De Bruyne crashed his kick against the bar and then Rodri saw his rather feeble spot­kick saved with ease by England keeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Although this annual battle for the first piece of silverware of a new season is not held in the highest of esteem, today's win will serve as a psychological boost to Mikel Arteta and his men as they look to go one better this season in the title race.

Arteta gave starts to his three big summer signings, with Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber all making their competitive debuts for the Londoners. The German was guilty of wasting two golden opportunities in the first half.

The match looked to be heading towards an all too similar conclusion

after Cole Palmer's magnificent strike in the 70th minute. On as a sub, the youngster curled a stunning shot beyond the Arsenal goalkeeper to make it 1­0.

A clash of heads between Kyle Walker and Thomas Partey in the 92nd minute saw play halted for a substantial period. The game resumed with 12 added minutes.

It was Leandro Trossard who put

Lionesses roar

THE England women's football team has been showcasing exceptional form in their recent matches, emerging as one of the prominent contenders in the World Cup which is being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

With a blend of experience and youthful energy, the Lionesses have managed to secure victories in key games, against Haiti, Denmark, China and Nigeria.

Fans are eagerly awaiting their next World Cup fixture against either Colombia or Jamaica, scheduled for Saturday August 12, at the Australia stadium in Sydney. England's recent performances have instilled confidence, and supporters are optimistic about their chances in this crucial game.

The upcoming fixture will undoubtedly be a defining moment in their World Cup journey.

his team level, in the 101st minute. His shot was deflected in off Manuel Akanji's thigh beyond a wrong­footed Stefan Ortega to send the noise levels inside Wembley through the roof.

Pep Guardiola now has the task of inspiring his players for their UEFA Super Cup clash against Sevilla next Wednesday 9, in the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis in Piraeus, Greece.

Arsenal winning the Community Shield 2023.

Credit: Twitter@Arsenal

The starting lineup for the match against Nigeria

Credit: englandfootball.com