Axarquia 17 – 23 August 2023 Issue 1989

THIRD HEATWAVE

A SPATE of heatwaves stretching across southern Europe has pushed temperatures in parts of Spain to uncomfortable levels in recent weeks.

Meteorologists warned it could be the “most extreme of the summer” and triggered widespread weather alerts.

In the third heatwave in a matter of weeks, much of the southern part of the country was on orange alert and red alerts over the weekend, with temperatures expected to surge above 40 Celcius.

The heatwaves recorded in Spain this summer have also worsened a prolonged drought, lowering reservoir levels as water evaporation and consumption increase, prompting authorities in Catalonia to impose restrictions.

Although many may think that summer temperatures have always been high in Spain, the prolonged heat has usually been broken by summer storms, enabling the land and air temperatures to cool down to a more comfortable level.

Advice during heatwaves is to

keep out of the sun and stay in the shade. Traditionally, the Spanish close all of their shutters, keeping their homes in darkness during the daytime in order to keep the heat out of their homes.

One business, Jo’s Bar & Restaurant, located in Frigiliana, has noticed a decline in business.

“The weather has had an impact.

Perseidas rain

WERE you lucky enough to witness Perseida rain over the weekend of August 12 and 13?

The Perseids are a huge meteor shower that occurs each year in the planet’s northern hemisphere.

In Spain, the nickname for las Perseidas is ‘las Lágrimas de San Lorenzo’ which translates as the ‘Tears of San Lorenzo’ or ‘Tears of Saint Lawrence’.

when he was put to death.

It is possible to see the Perseids shooting stars throughout all of August, but the nights of August 12 and 13 are considered the optimal dates because those dates have the maximum concentration of shooting stars.

I have never closed in August before but this year, for the first time, I have closed for two weeks. People tend to be going out later, around 10.00 or 11.00 at night,” said the owner, Jo on Friday, August 11. “The beaches seem busy, but the beach bars not so much.”

Jo’s Bar & Restaurant will reopen on Tuesday August 22.

Calling all artists

BENAMOCARRA Town Hall has announced its 25th International Painting Competition 2023, with a total of €4,200 in prizes up for grabs.

All professional and amateur painters are eligible to participate, regardless of age, residence or nationality.

Only one painting per artist is allowed.

The theme and technique are free and the format must be between a minimum of 80cm and a maximum of 120cm on any of its sides.

Works submitted on paper must be protected with a non­breakable material (not glass).

All paintings must have an envelope attached containing the following information: title of the work; name and surname of the artist; address and

telephone numbers; technique used; dimensions; artistic curriculum; and two colour photos of other works by the artist.

The artist may include

the selling price of the work if desired.

The painting must be delivered to the Benamocarra Town Hall before September 4 from Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 2.30pm.

The winning works will become the property of the Benamocarra Town Hall and will become part of its artistic heritage, reserving the right to subsequent publications or exhibitions.

The selected works will be exhibited in the Benamocarra Exhibition Hall from September 4 until September 15.

For further information, call (+34) 952 509 534.

There are several stories about the origin of this spectacular phenomenon. One of them, of Catholic origin, says that these small and fleeting lights that appear in the sky each summer represent the tears of St Lawrence

Rincon de la Victoria was determined not to miss out and held an astronomical observation evening enjoying the sights of the night sky.

To add some pizzazz to the evening, in addition to the stunning views, the audience was able to enjoy a piano and violin concert entitled: Mythology and Observation.

Image: AShutterstock/fizkes

HOT SUMMER: Trying to cope with the heat.

Painting contest.

Image: Elena Efimova / Shutterstock.com

Image: Rincón de la Victoria / Facebook

NIGHT SKY: An astronomical observation evening.

Paradise of colours

IN celebration of its patron saint, the sky of Almuñecar lit up with fireworks on Tuesday August 15 creating a stunning paradise of colours putting a fantastic end to a week of fiesta fun.

Every year, between August 9 and 15, the Patron Saint festivities take place in honour of the Virgen de la Antigua.

This celebration has its origins in 1569 when the army of Felipe II managed to repel the troops of the Moorish gang Aben Humeya, who tried to seize the Castle of San Miguel from the Alpujarras.

BENAMOCARRA is a stunning white village overlooking the valley of the Velez River surrounded by a landscape of almond and olive trees.

It is a village in the Axarquia region, which makes up the Ruta del Sol y del Aguacate.

The municipality is situated approximately five kilometres from Velez­Malaga and 41 from Malaga, the provincial capital and has a population of approximately 3,000 residents.

Some may know Benamocarra as

Anna Ellis VELEZ ­ MALAGA has launched a new tourist bus which will visit some of the most emblematic places in Torre del Mar, Caleta de Velez and Velez­Malaga.

The bus promises to be an important tourist and cultural attraction for the municipality.

Departing and arriving from the Torre del Mar Lighthouse, the bus will travel through points in the Torreno enclave until it reaches Caleta de Vélez.

It will later return to Torre del Mar before heading towards Velez­Malaga, where

Tiny town

being the hometown of the famous composer Eduardo Ocon.

If you are in the area, the tiny town of Benamocarra is well worth a visit.

The urban physiognomy of Benamocarra presents the characteristic features of its Arab past as two squares order the urban landscape.

One of them, that of Calvario, in

the upper part of the town; and the other, of the Constitution, gives access to the parish church.

There is another square dedicated to the composer Eduardo Ocón. The beautiful church, where Santa Ana is worshipped, dates from the 16th century, although was extensively renovated in 1949.

New tourist bus

Caleta fish market, the old railway station, the Virgen de los Remedios hermitage, the Fortress, the centre of Velez and the old sugar factory.

it will finish the circular route. Some of the points of in­

terest that the new bus will visit in its 16 stops are the Paseo Larios, the Puerto de

The mayor of Velez­Malaga, Jesús Lupiañez, confirmed: “It is a new attractive and suggestive double­decker coach. With this new initiative, we continue to bet on smart tourism and create synergies between VelezMalaga and Torre del Mar.”

TOURIST BUS: An important cultural attraction.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Vélez-Málaga / Facebook

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 if 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 community group who would like to be featured

NIBS EXTRA

More taxis

IN a bid to help people get about, Nerja Town Council has awarded two new taxi licences, numbers 33 and 34. The taxis are both speciality adapted and suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Lope de Vega

THE councillor for Infrastructures of Velez­Malaga Town Council, Jesus Maria Claros, has confirmed the imminent start of work on Calle Lope de Vega. It is expected to be completed within six months at a cost of €467,007 co­financed with European Funds.

Fire-fire

IF you were stuck in traffic between km 935 and 948 on the A­7 motorway as it passes through Torrox on August 12 it was due to a lorry having caught on fire. The event occurred around 11.00am but was quickly resolved.

Hold the front page

in the programme.

Please contact us by calling 951 386 161 or emailing news desk@euroweeklynews. com 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 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.

Credit: Sky TV

Looking for land Crowds enjoy

THE Torrox Town Council is writing up a project to install a water deposit in El Morche to guarantee the water supply.

It is looking for land to accommodate an infrastructure of 5,000 cubic metres of capacity with an expected investment of €1.2 million.

Torrox Town Council is already working on the search for a rustic plot for the execution of a new regulating deposit to guarantee the supply to the population in this coastal environment, where several hotels and numerous apartments and houses are located.

The mayor of Torrox, Oscar Medina, confirmed: “The objective is to build a water reservoir with a capacity for up to 5,000 cubic metres of water which will be divided into two vessels.”

Anna Elis

THOUSANDS of people paid a visit to the El Morche fair during its opening day on Friday, August 11.

The crowds enjoyed a night full of activities. The mayor of Torrox, Oscar Medina, thanked “the support and work of neighbours, groups and associations when organising the fair.”

During his speech, the mayor took advantage of his time to announce the forthcoming recovery of the football

YOUR EWN HAS

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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

6 Steps

THE Almuñecar Town Hall has launched a new initiative entitled ‘6 Responsible Steps’.

tournament.

The tournament was traditionally held on the occasion of the fair and the mayor explained it would be back after the expansion of the amusement area and once the new Antonio Gonzalez field and sports complex is in use.

Around midnight, the lighting of the fairgrounds was inaugurated followed by fireworks, a musical parade and performances by the D’Vértigo orchestra and Pop FM pop group.

The initiative, aimed at the population in general and especially the town’s young people, is framed within the programme ‘Cities against Drugs’ of Almuñecar to promote the responsible use of alcohol and prevent risky behaviours associated with alcohol consumption.

The council said: “The aim of the campaign is to promote responsible consumption, raise awareness among the population and reduce the risks and damage resulting.”

Thousands visited the fair.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Torrox / Facebook

Josh and Nick are coming to Benidorm.

Image: Anna Luyre / Shutterstock.com

Anna Ellis

IF you are looking for some family fun in Almuñecar a trip to the ornithological park offers a day of great entertainment.

Inaugurated in May 1987 and with more than 3,000 visitors a year, the Loro Sexi Park is one of the essential visits to Almuñecar.

Nestled on the slope of Castillo San Miguel, it houses some 1,500 specimens of birds belonging to more than 100 different species.

The bird selection includes everything from the common pigeon to the spectacular peacock, passing through the striking

Birdy park Driving campaign

cated to the Botanical Garden.

Located at the foot of the walls of the Castle of San Miguel, visitors can walk the cobbled paths to enjoy the 47 plant species that make up the flora of the enclosure.

THE Local Police of VelezMalaga, following its commitment to Road Safety, is adhering to the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) campaign.

The campaign, which will run until August 20 will monitor the consumption of alcohol and/or drugs while driving.

cal analysis, 443, or 51.8 per cent of the total, gave positive results for alcohol, drugs of abuse and psychotropic drugs, either alone or in combination.

parrots, toucans, cockatoos, macaws, swans and ducks. A pretty cactus garden

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

completes the visit to the park.

The uppermost level of Loro Sexi is specially dedi­

“A jack of all trades is master of none.”

The Parque Ornitológico Loro Sexi is located at Calle Bikini s/n Plaza Abderramán CP 18690, Almuñecar.

For more information, email: reservasparqueszo ologicos@almunecar.es or call (+34) 958 635 617 or (+34) 615 321 462.

Being over the limit is one of the main risk factors in traffic accidents, according to the 2022 Report in Toxicological Findings in Traffic Accident Victims drawn up by the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences.

According to this document, of the 854 drivers who died in traffic accidents and underwent autopsy and toxicologi­

Noy the chatbot

Alcohol continues to be the substance most commonly used by drivers killed, followed by cocaine and cannabis, and in third place, psychotropic drugs.

In the case of pedestrians, of the 221 pedestrians killed in road traffic accidents and subjected to autopsy, 94 pedestrians tested positive for alcohol, drugs and/or psychotropic drugs, alone or in combination, which is equivalent to 42.5 per cent

Beer fun

BEER fans enjoyed a treat at the weekend as Rincon de la Victoria held its Craft Beer Festival, Birra & Art, from Saturday, August 12 to Tuesday August 15 in the Plaza Al­Andalus.

ALMUÑECAR Tourist Board is proud to offer Noy which is a chatbot for elderly tourists or those with vision problems.

The councillor for Tourism, Daniel Barbero, confirmed: “We have been committed to implementing technological solutions in our tourist services for more than four years. This is a line of work that has allowed us to be at the forefront of the digitisation of our tourist offices. We are a benchmark at a national level.”

The councillor added: “An important factor to take into account is the use of the chatbot’s natural language, avoiding robotic responses.

“This pilot beta version initially works in Spanish, at a later stage we will be able to incorporate its response capacity in other languages, as it is a multi­language chatbot.”

The chatbot called Noy can already be used in its beta version on the council’s web page www.visitalmunecar.es.

The event offered 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 (Sevilla), Paulaner Munchen (Germany), La Chouffe (Belgium), Hop House (Ireland), Foster’s (Australia).

There were also 24 stands with international gastronomy including German sausages, Latin food and Argentinian barbecue, to name a few.

80% of Spaniards live in urban areas

LORO SEXI PARK: Nestled below Castillo San Miguel.

A person with some knowledge of several fields (jack of all trades) can’t be a master in any of them. Source - In 1612, the phrase appeared in the book ‘Essays and Characters of a Prison’ by English writer Geffray Mynshul (Minshull), originally published in 1618.

NOY: For elderly tourists or those with vision problems.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Almuñécar y La Herradura Facebook Oficial

A great event

THE Frigiliana 3 Culturas Festival is celebrating its 16th anniversary this year and is promising to be a great event.

It will feature two pyro­musical shows, an artisan market with some 100 craft and food stalls, a tapa route with more than 16 establishments, and more than 40 parades, children’s shows and a circus.

It is set to be an amalgamation of colour and fantasy that will transform the town for four days.

This year, Frigiliana 3 Cul­

Geek Market

turas Festival will start on August 24 with the long­awaited pyro­musical show and a concert by the Moroccan band Tarwa N­Tiniri and their desert blues rhythms. On Friday, the central stage will host Colado Project, an Iberian folk group from La Mancha.

Saturday, pop on your dancing shoes and enjoy the fusion rock and ska rhythms of Eskorzo. Sunday will see the end of the festival with the flamenco singer Arcangel who will present his new work Heretic.

New headquarters

NERJA Civil Protection group are looking forward to moving into its new headquarters which will be located on Calle Neptuno.

The building is going to be built on a municipal plot of 3,000 square metres and its purpose is to house the new Civil Protection headquarters in order to provide this group of volunteers with facilities

that meet their needs.

The building will have two floors above ground and a total constructed area of 756.39 square metres.

The new facilities will have a large garage and storage space and another area that will house the administrative offices and changing rooms, etc. This project has a budget of €693,486.

Anna Ellis VELEZ ­ MALAGA is set to hold a charity Geek Market which will take place on Saturday August 19 in the San Francisco Market.

It is an event aimed at all ages and the proceeds will go to NGO Infancia Solidaria.

Lourdes Piña, the councillor for Youth, confirmed: “The event will start at five in the afternoon and will last until midnight. There will be different activities throughout the day such as children’s workshops, games, soft combat, cahoots and even soft archery.

“There will also be stalls where you can buy merchandising or enjoy the works of artists and craftsmen.”

NGO Infancia Solidaria is a foundation whose social work consists of bringing children with serious

heart disease or incurable diseases to Spain.

Thanks to agreements with different hospitals throughout Spain, this charity has been able to get children to lead healthy lives after their

Nerja bargain

DO you have a spare few million in the bank and are looking for property to invest in in Nerja?

If so, you might be pleased to hear there is currently an ongoing auction process for the liquidation of bankruptcy in Malaga.

On offer is a lot of 75 apartments, 81 garages and 79 storage rooms that are part of a residential complex of five buildings in the town of Nerja.

Its starting price is €7.17 million which is half of its market value, of about €14 million. The auction will remain open to bidders until August 24.

medical interventions.

The charity proudly says that the percentage of successful interventions is very high, having forever changed the lives of hundreds of children from all around the world.

The 75 homes, between 60 and 170 square metres in size, are part of the 11,423 square metre Residencial Mar de Nerja.

The buildings also have two basement floors for parking and storage.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Vélez-Málaga

CHARITY MARKET: Proceeds will go to NGO Infancia Solidaria.

TORRE DEL MAR celebrated Tourist Day on Friday, August 11 with a giant cake big enough to cater for more than 4,000 people.

The brave chef in charge of the cake, Roberto Soler from Torrena, proudly presented the cake and confirmed: “The cake was chosen to represent culture and tourism mixed with our customs and traditions.

“The cake was more than eight metres long and catered for over 4,000 servings.”

The chef added: “The cake was made up of 95 sheets of Genoese sponge cake, 50 litres of cinnamon and anise syrup, 250 litres of special vegetable cream for high temperatures and 80 kilograms of hazelnut cream.”

Tourist tart

The councillor for Tourism, Jesús Atencia, ended the day by thanking the chef for his collabora­

tion: “He is a benchmark in the kitchen thanks to his creativity and connection with local products.”

Flamenco nights

ALGARROBO is celebrating two Flamenco evenings.

The Mezquitilla Flamenco Evening will take place on Saturday, August 19, and the 25th Algarrobo Flamenco Night will be on Friday, September 1.

Both events are free to watch and will begin at 10.00pm.

More equipment

THE mayor of Velez­Malaga, Jesús Lupiáñez, made a recent visit to the Local Police headquarters to deliver 10 bullet and knife­proof vests.

He confirmed: “It is a responsibility to our neighbours and their safety to provide our officers with more means to be able to carry out their work with confidence and peace of mind in our streets, throughout our municipality.

“With these state­of­the­art bulletproof and antiknife vests it means that all the police officers have access to one at the Velez­Malaga Police Headquarters.

“With these vests, the officers will not only enjoy more confidence in the performance of their duties, but they will also have real security against statistically increasing threats with bladed weapons,” the mayor added.

“In the meantime, procedures are in place to employ five new Local Police officers.”

The councillor for Culture, Manuel Lopez, confirmed the council’s commitment to bring all kinds of cultural proposals to the province, in addition to supporting flamenco festivals as a fundamental element of Andalucian culture.

The councillor added: “Among the purposes of these flamenco events hosted by the municipality of Algarrobo is the possibility of hosting local and regional artists of great value.

“This year marks the ninth year that we have been holding Flamenco Nights which allows this art to be brought closer to visitors who are more concentrated on the coast during the summer.”

GIANT CAKE: Chosen to represent customs and traditions.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Vélez-Málaga / Facebook

The events are free to attend.

Image: Corrado Baratta / Shutterstock.com

THE mayor of Velez­Malaga, Jesus Lupianez, joined in the fun on Saturday August 12 on the sixth Night Route of the Perseids of Triana.

The mayor was joined by 150 eager participants.

The nocturnal route began from the Cafe­Teatro de Triana turning around at the Torre de La Atalaya, passing through the Buddhist Stupa.

In the Torre de La Atalaya, a talk by Carlos Castro was given entitled: An Interpretation of the Milky Way and the Stars.

Torre domination

TORRE DEL MAR is celebrating after its winning streak in the Provincial League of Boats of Jabega Grand Prix on Saturday August 12.

The beach of Torre del Mar became a magnificent showcase and offered an incomparable spectacle in this last scoring stage of the competition.

The hosts achieved a treble with victories in the women’s absolute, men’s veterans and cadets.

Night route

Perseids night.

Once the expedition party returned to Triana a series of raffles were carried out. The recently restored Civil

Protection Group was also present at the event, together with members of the Red Cross.

Art exhibition

SALA PLACITUELA is pleased to announce the opening of its exhibition entitled Evolution of Alvaro Marin Vicent which can be visited until Thursday August 31.

The artist, Alvaro Marin Vicent is from Malaga and specialises in hyperrealistic paintings.

Hyperrealism is a genre of painting and sculpture resembling a high­resolution photograph. Hyperrealism is considered an advancement of photorealism by the methods used to create the resulting paintings or sculptures.

Sala Placituela is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00am to 2.00pm.

For more information head to the Sala at Calle Real,80, in Frigiliana, or email: salareal98@gmail.com

Image: Ayuntamiento de Vélez-Málaga / Facebook

The complex case of David Hunter

IN a tragic and emotionally charged case, Cypriot prosecutors are appealing the manslaughter conviction of David Hunter, a British man who ended the life of his seriously ill wife. The

case highlights the complex legal and moral considerations around assisted death, mercy killing, and the boundaries of the law.

David Hunter, a 76year ­ old retired miner

from Northumberland found himself involved in a legal battle after being accused of murdering his 74­year­old wife Janice at their home in Cyprus in 2021. Janice was suffering from cancer and the prosecution alleged that David took her life intentionally. However, during the trial, David maintained that his wife begged him to end her suffering.

The trial concluded with a verdict of manslaughter rather than murder. The three judges that presided over the case ruled the act was not premeditated murder. He was immediately released from custody and he visited his wife’s grave the following day.

The Cypriot prosecutors’ decision to appeal both the verdict and the sentence introduces further complexity to an already heart ­ wrenching case. This appeal raises

the possibility of David facing charges of premeditated murder once again. This case draws attention to broader discussions around euthanasia and assisted death.

In Spain the law allows individuals with serious and incurable illnesses causing intolerable suffering to request aid in dying, subject to specific conditions. This includes being of legal age, having proper medical information, making repeated voluntary requests over a period of time, and having Spanish nationality or legal residence in Spain. Spain’s legislation underscores the complexities in striking a balance between an individual’s right to choose and the need to ensure proper safeguards and procedures.

Public sentiment regarding euthanasia varies across societies. In Spain, surveys show that 86 per

cent of the Spanish population supported the legalisation of euthanasia for terminally ill patients.

The opinion held by a resident of Murcia, Encarna Sánchez Moreno, said “Personally, I believe that legalising assisted dying is about giving people the choice and control they deserve at the end of their journey. When someone’s pain becomes too much, having the option to pass

away peacefully surrounded by loved ones is an act of empathy and understanding.”

A CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE: Exploring assisted dying’s ethical landscape.

91.1% of British residents: English is the first language

Currency concern

COINS are a very important part of almost everybody’s day­to­day activity in Spain. Of the ones in circulation, one­euro coins are arguably, one of the most commonly used. They are in circulation in greater quantity and are said to be the coins that move the most throughout Europe.

There is however thought to be a large number of counterfeit euro coins in circulation, a number that is said to be increasing every day and which must be stopped, hence this decision.

On June 22, 2023, an authorisation was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) for the Bank of Spain to withdraw some one ­ euro coins.

Specific guidelines were introduced that will help to decide which ones are withdrawn and which ones can continue in circulation. This new measure has been in force in Spain since July 1, with the clear objective of

avoiding possible scams and fighting against counterfeiting.

From now on, the Bank of Spain follows a new classification for the one­euro coins, with three different types:

• Suitable: Coins which can circulate without problem since there is nothing in them that makes one suspect that they may be false.

• Presumably counterfeit: Coins which in their shape, texture or design, show that they are not original.

• Unsuitable: Coins which

will be rejected in an authentication process, or that may have been altered. This includes deteriorated or badly damaged coins that cannot be determined to be authentic.

If you are unsure of a coin, take it to your bank where staff will check that the coin meets all the guidelines. It is also recommended that from now on, people should review all their one­euro coins, refusing to accept any that may be thought not to be suitable.

Check all one euro coins.

Food safety warning

John Ensor

ON Friday, August 11, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (Aesan) issued an alert regarding the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon of the brand JOALPESCA, with an expiration date of August 14, 2023, according to a news source.

The initial distribution was to the autonomous communities of Madrid, Castilla ­ La Mancha, Castilla y León, Catalonia, and Murcia, but other areas may also be affected.

“The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (Aesan) issued on Friday an alert on the presence of Listeria monocytogene in smoked salmon brand JOALPESCA with expiration date August 14, 2023,” Aesan announced. They learned of the situation through the Coordinated System for the Rapid Exchange of Information (SCIRI), follow­

ing an alert notification from the health authorities of the Community of Madrid.

The specific product in question is smoked salmon host c/p ­ e, of the Joalpesca brand, corresponding to lot E675C1528 three and weighing between 1kg and 1.5 kg.

The initial distribution was to the autonomous communities mentioned above, but redistribution to other areas is not ruled out.

Aesan advises against consuming the product. The information has been transferred to the competent authorities through the Coordinated System for the Rapid Exchange of Information (SCIRI), to ensure the withdrawal of the affected products. If you have consumed any of the products from the affected lots and are experiencing symptoms of listeriosis (vomiting, diarrhoea or fever), it is recommended to seek medical attention.

Anna Ellis

THE Special Scheme for the Self­Employed (RETA) closed the seventh month of the year with a monthly loss of 1,314 self­employed workers in Andalucia (­0.2 per cent), with Sevilla being the province with the largest loss (­0.6 per cent).

This decline was marked by the fall in enrolment in education (­4.6 per cent) and commerce (­0.2).

The total number of selfemployed workers has reached 3,344,562 self­employed workers in Spain and 570,615 in Andalucia.

The president of ATA Andalucia, Rafael Amor, confirmed: “The data known today on enrolment in Andalucia are within normality.

“Of the fall in self­employed workers, more than half are in education, a sector that tends to reduce its activity in the summer months.

“Nevertheless, we continue to be a leading region in terms of the number of self­employed, with more than 570,000.

“So far this year, one out of every three self­employed people who have registered in

Self-employed

Spain is Andalucian,” said Rafael Amor, who believes that the growth of the selfemployed in Andalucia is due to the fact that “Andalucia is a land of entrepreneurship and there are many facilities for starting up your own business.”

Comparing 2023 with 2022:

In the data on the self­employed, if we compare with July 2022, the Social Security data show that the communities with the greatest weight of tourism have increased their enrolment in Spain over the last year, while nine have lost self­employed workers, in addition to the two autonomous cities.

In other words, if we compare July 2022 with July 2023, the two archipelagos show an increase of 2.2 per cent in enrolment of the self­employed, and there is also a notable increase in the Autonomous Community of Valencia (+1.1 per cent), Madrid and Andalucia (0.6 per cent) and Catalonia (+0.2 per cent).

The average in Spain is an increase of 0.1 per cent of the self­employed, a total of 3,617 more self­employed.

Andalusia in this period added 3,404 self­employed workers, which demonstrates the strength of the community and its contribution to the positive data in Spain.

SELF-EMPLOYED: The numbers are decreasing.

Image:

SMOKED SALMON: Don’t consume this product.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Vegan beef

US vegan burger sales fell by approximately a third as Beyond Meat reduced its revenue forecast in a trend also noticed in the UK. After several years of brisk expansion boosted by private equity investment, meat substitutes have disappeared from many UK menus, with sales falling by 6 per cent last year.

Working week

ALMOST three ­ quarters of Spanish firms said the four­day week was “out of touch with reality.” A survey by human resources consultancy Adecco found that although companies had successfully adopted the 32­hour week, 73.5 per cent doubted its viability, while 60 per cent of the self­employed questioned the initiative.

Summer washout

UK retailers have slashed prices to tempt buyers as a cheerless summer and steadily­increasing interest rates discouraged consumer spending in July. Reports from the British Retail Consortium, consultants KPMG and Barclays noted that spending rose slightly in early July but fell once 7.9 per cent inflation entered the equation.

Yoghurt slump

DANONE registered a €10.8 million profit in 2022, 36.8 per cent less than in 2021 despite turnover of €768.9 million, a 9.6 per cent increase on 2021. The company attributed the dropoff to its Local First restructuring project that has given increased autonomy to each country’s Danone subdivision.

Home and dry

FASHION chain Superdry has secured fresh funding with restructuring and refinancing specialist Silco lending the clothing company £25 million (€28.98 million). The deal will provide Superdry with “improved liquidity to help accelerate a turnaround plan and cost­reduction programme”, a spokesperson said.

STAT OF WEEK €1.99 billion

turnover for La Liga, Spain’s top professional football division in 2022, 2.5 per cent more than the previous year, putting it in the black after three years of losses.

Britishvolt complications Open and shut cases

Linda Hall

THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has written to more than 20 UK banks, asking how many customer accounts they had recently closed, suspended or denied.

They were also asked to explain why they had withdrawn their services and were given until August 25 to respond. An FCA report is expected by mid­September.

Earlier, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had called on the FCA to step up its investigation into lenders’ large­scale “debanking” of clients for what he said were their “lawfully held political beliefs.”

Lenders will also be obliged to reveal how many complaints they have received from vetoed customers.

Although the practice is by no means new, it aroused public interest and outrage after Coutts debanked UK leader Nigel

SPAIN’S Ministry of Consumer Affairs announced fines for several airlines not providing a free­phone service for clients.

Even when this did exist, the unnamed airlines “put obstacles” in users’ way, the Ministry explained.

“This means they are not complying with their legal obligations to clients,” a Ministry statement said.

Regulations specify that an airlines' telephone should be accessible to all consumers and not linked to a special tariff or a certain area. It should be free and prefixed by 800 or 900, known technically as “automatic reversed charge.”

As air transport is a “basic service of interest”, companies were obliged to

Private talks

ACCORDING to reports in the Spanish media at the beginning of June, Elon Musk was in talks with the Valencia’s regional government to build a €4.5 billion gigafactory.

Sources close to the deal to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles explained that Tesla owner and chairman Elon Musk was allegedly “infuriated” after what he supposed was a “confidential negotiation” should have attracted so much media attention.

Two months later, the deal seems to be on once more and speeding up the compulsory purchase of land in Cheste (Valencia province).

Farage. The ensuing scandal prompted the resignation of Dame Alison Rose, chief executive of NatWest to which Coutts now belongs.

Farage, who has now launched a website to assist other people ousted by their banks, obtained Coutts documents which

showed that he had not met the bank’s “commercial criteria” for some time.

This requires customers to hold €1.16 million in investments or loans or savings of €3.48 million but the decision to close his accounts was also based on disquiet that Farage’s “views” endangered Coutts’ reputation.

The FCA said that closer monitoring by banks could be partly responsible for the recent increase in shutdowns. It is also suggested that banks have become too cautious and dependent on AI when investigating and flagging fraudulent behaviour.

Freephones not obstacles

introduced to protect consumers considered to be vulnerable.

Failure to observe these modifications will result in fines of between €150 and €10,000 for minor infractions and between €10,001 and €100,000 in cases deemed to be serious.

RECHARGE INDUSTRIES, the Australian company which rescued Britishvolt in February, failed to make the final payment on April 5. Although Britishvolt, based in Blyth (Northumberland), was worth £800 million (€926.18 million) before its collapse, Recharge Industries bought the business and its assets for £8.57 million (€9.92 million) in February.

“The final instalment remains unpaid and overdue. As a result, the buyer is in default of the business sale agreement,” Britishvolt’s administrators EY said.

“We dispute that we are in default,” declared Scale Facilitation, Recharge’s Manhattan­based parent company whose Australian offices were raided by police in June, following tax fraud allegations.

Lithium plans

CORNISH Lithium will extract an annual 8,000 tons of battery­grade lithium from a repurposed China clay pit at Trelavour Downs in Cornwall.

AIRLINES: Should provide freephone lines for customers, government said

make one of these lines available, the Ministry said.

This stipulation came into effect following modifications to the Consumers’ Defence Law during the last legislation,

Time to Zoom back

VIDEO communications platform Zoom, which made it possible to work remotely during the pandemic, wants its employees in the office.

At one stage the company said staff could work from home “indefinitely” but announced recently that it now believed a “structured hybrid approach” was more effective.

The US­based company will introduce the new policy in August and September, with staff living within 80 kilometres of their office working there at least twice a week.

In the US where Zoom is based, 12 per cent of workers were fully remote in July, while 29 per cent split their time between the home and the office.

Meanwhile, Stanford University researchers found that working from home is much more common in the US and English­speaking countries but less usual in Europe and Asia.

In cases where the benefits to an airline not providing a free­phone exceeded the amount of the fine, the sanction could be increased by between 200 and 400 per cent for minor infringements. When considered serious, the fine could be between 400 and 600 per cent higher.

Deal takes the biscuit

CEREALTO SIRO FOOD'S Palencia plant will remain open for another four years.

The Palencia installation was earmarked for closure last year in Madridbased Cerealto Siro Foods’cost­savings plans. The company has now reached agreement with 184 employees who agreed to a €130 per month pay cut in exchange for guaranteeing the immediate future of Siro's Venta de Baños factory.

Juan Manuel Gonzalez­Serna, founder of the indebted household name, sold a 75 per cent stake to Afendis Capital Management and Davidson Kempner Capital Management in 2022 for a reputed €80 million which included debt settlement, while he held the remaining shares.

The company is receiving £53 million (€61.36 million) in a funding package that has been provided by the UK Infrastructure Bank, the Energy & Minerals Group (EMG) and Cornish Lithium's largest shareholder, TechMet.

“The funding will help to support the development of the UK’s critical minerals supply chain and accelerate growth towards the commercial production of lithium, vital for the UK’s transition to netzero,” Treasury minister Andrew Griffith said.

The bright side

A EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK (BCE) survey revealed that the Spanish are generally more positive than other Eurozone citizens. They viewed with optimism their prospects regarding future earnings, property prices and economic growth, with consumer affairs the only area where they were more pessimistic. Spanish optimism regarding earnings increased by 3 per cent, compared with the 1.2 per cent Eurozone average, the BCE said. In the Netherlands, for instance, expectations regarding salaries shrank by 1.5 per cent but rose slightly in Germany by 1.2 per cent.

EXCLUSIVE: Coutts branch in Eton (Berkshire)

Photo credit: CC/Bill Boaden

Photo credit: Pexels/Victor Freitas

DOW JONES

Zielo sale

UBS is selling the upmarket

Zielo shopping centre, located in the affluent Pozuelo de Alarcon (Madrid) suburb which has Spain’s highest per capita income. The bank bought the shopping centre from real estate developers Hines in 2015 for approximately €70 million although market sources maintain that UBS now expects offers of around €60 million.

Next best thing

BUMPER sales for Next prompted a second profits upgrade in just over six weeks. After an exceptionally wet July did not dampen demand, the companywhich has around 550 stores in the UK and Ireland ­ said it expected £845 million (€978.6 million) in annual profits, £10 million (€11.6 million) more than it previously forecast.

Back to the paperchase

DIGITISING the health certificates required to export the UK’s fish and chilled foods to Europe would have saved £3 million (€3.48 million) in post­Brexit paperwork.

Now the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra, has told companies taking part in a 2022 pilot scheme that the trials will end.

The sector had welcomed the electronic certificates which would have reduced the paperwork involved, obliging lorryloads of chilled fish to pass through thirdcountry controls in Boulogne (France).

Grifols tightens its belt

THE Grifols family, which founded the multinational pharmaceuticals firms of the same name, saw their income dwindle by 97 per cent last year.

In 2021, the family­owned firm Deria, the laboratory’s principal shareholder, received €16.4 million in dividends.

In contrast, the company announced that there would be no shareout for 2022, owing to Grifols high level of indebtedness after

buying out German rival, Biotest, increasing its net debt to €9.42 billion by June 2023.

Deria, which has left 25 million shares as collateral with Banco Santander, received €454,784 in 2022, mainly from interest and providing services, but reported losses of €139, 177.

The company also revealed that some board members received €238,333 “in remunerations.”

Settling in

Producers had hoped that the digitised system would have been introduced first in the UK and subsequently in Ireland, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.

Salmon is Britain’s biggest food export and Defra had left companies with ongoing red tape costs, said Salmon Scotland, which represents the farm­raised sector.

“These have already been racking up for more than two and a half years,” Tavish Scott, Salmon Scotland’s chief executive.

“The salmon industry is worth £760 million (€881.41 million) to the economy,” Scott said. “Other sectors selling chilled food, including poultry and cheese, could have also benefited from the digital certification,” he added.

The organisation called on the government to act quickly, given the impact of the extra paperwork and inevitable delays on perishable goods.

SPANISH multinational infrastructure giant Ferrovial recently signed off its first quarterly accounts in Amsterdam after controversially moving its headquarters from Madrid. The company is now seeking new offices in the Dutch capital which will be more central than those that were until now the headquarters of its Netherlands subsidiary, Ferrovial International SE, in Kingsfordweg near the A10 ring­road.

Racing ahead

LOTUS produced a record number of sports cars in the first six months of 2023 as it prepares for a new electric SUV under Chinese owner Geely’s expansion plans. Lotus, founded 75 years ago, produced 2,200 vehicles between January and the end of June at its factory in a former Second World War bomber factory in Hethel (Norfolk).

FARMED SALMON: Britain’s biggest food export

Photo credit: CC/Tim Harrison

Sowing the seed of discontent

WHY is everyone still screaming that Britain needs more diversity? The UK is now recognised as one of the most diverse nations on the planet. Instead of wasting energy by constantly complaining, why don’t those affected welcome this situation with open arms and start acting with some positivity?

As Shakespeare observed; ‘Methinks thou doth protest too much’. I can’t help becoming even more convinced that those who continue to condemn British society actually thrive on animosity, refusing to accept the truth in case they are deprived of something to vent their hatred on! Let’s just have a brief look at these ‘lack of UK diversity’ accusations.

To date, with very few exceptions, almost every family based commercial on British TV depicts a mixed marriage. Practically all the ads that use a number of actors, portray an (often ludicrous) cross section of casts with ethnic backgrounds. Neither of these situations is a true re­

flection of life across the UK and is therefore either a minority appeaser, or some form of majority brainwashing ­ and is also by its very definition blatantly racist! A large number of major league football teams are partially, or in some cases predominately ethnic.

Athletes, particularly runners, are almost all from immigrant heritage and any accusation of racism (predominately aimed at the indigenous population) is dropped on by the law like a ton of bricks. The long suffering British population has bent over backwards to accept and encourage diversity into a country which, after recovering from two World Wars, became open and ready to accept many from other less fortunate cultures. But to see its generosity and welcome rewarded by ‘no go areas’, terrorism, religious fanaticism, culture attack and nothing but insults and ingratitude ­ is quite understandably getting large numbers of them the terrible hump!

The ‘far right’ was initially blamed as instigators of this UK dissent, and was quite rightly chastised for it. Unfortunately, with the blatant, unchecked reversed racism of so called ‘comedians’, plus some of the disgraceful racist material of

SHAGGY DOG STORY OUR VIEW

Rapper culture, exponents of the not­so far right are actually beginning to think those a bit ‘further over’ may have had a point. Almost every award presentation is criticised for not including enough diversity among the winners. Well, possibly there weren’t enough who were worthy of awards!

We cannot fall into the trap of favouring people simply because of their ethnic heritage or gender. If we do, we will not only lower our standards, but also be in real danger of provoking even further disquiet by denying recognition of those who may be far more deserving.

This whole diversity and ‘woke driven’ human rights situation is sowing seeds of discontent that, if unchecked, will continue to grow and flourish into a full scale civil conflict that could leave large sections of the UK’s major cities resembling Beirut. An example of which actually landed in London’s Oxford Street this week!

Exactly the warning I wrote in this column 20 years ago, originally considered ‘another Leapy rant’. Oh really!

MANY Spanish laws which seem a good idea in principle seem to fall at the first hurdle as they are often impossible to enforce except individually.

The latest is the pioneering Animal Welfare Law which comes into force in September and has two major and possibly contentious obligations for dog owners.

Firstly, every owner will be required to obtain third party insurance valid for the lifetime of their pet and the intention is that should their dog be responsible for any injury to another animal or person, there will be an insurance policy in place which will ensure that the victim doesn’t lose out financially. Certain parts of Spain including Madrid already require owners to have such an insurance which also covers the owner against claims alleging their culpability for misbehaviour by their pooch and cost is currently from around €25 to €100 per annum depending on value of cover purchased.

Introducing such a law and enforcing it are two different things and it seems hardly likely that police officers will stop owners walking their dogs and demand to see proof of insurance.

Even if they did, then lack of insurance basically results in a ticking off and only in the most blatant of offences where a third party is injured is there any likelihood of a fine.

Animal shelters are overflowing with abandoned dogs and now that the new law also requires new owners to pass a ‘dog ownership’ test it hardly seems likely that the number finding forever homes can do anything else but drop.

Many lonely elderly people find companionship thanks to a dog but this is just another cost to add to the ever spiralling expense of ownership.

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

I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM

PATIENCE and tolerance of frustrating situations have never been virtues I have developed. There are certain circumstances in which I feel agitated or even angry.

Standing in a queue in a windy tunnel waiting to board an aircraft is no longer an issue because I don´t fly any more. But I do still have to make phone calls. Recently I phoned HMRC in England concerning a tax refund. It took over five minutes to go through all the security procedures, a further forty minutes before I reached an operative. After answering many of the security questions again, I explained the purpose of my call. Another five minutes conversation before I was put on hold for another six minutes. Eventually we were getting close to a solution. Then the line was cut. I cursed. It has happened before.

I feel frustrated when stuck

in a traffic jam, even if I am not in a hurry. Am I not grateful to have a car in the first place?

I follow sport on television quite closely ­ especially tennis, football and Test cricket. Occasionally the connection is cut off ­ often at a critical point. I may have spent over two hours watching a thrilling two­and­ahalf hour movie when, ten minutes before the end, the screen

goes blank. The same can happen during the final set of a tennis match or in the eightyfifth minute of a crucial football encounter.

And I immediately feel cheated. It´s the same when power, water or the internet is cut off. I sometimes feel that at such moments the world is against me and that this is a serious problem. Then I try to put it in­

to proportion.

After all, I am fortunate to be able to watch television at all, and there are very rarely any technical problems. Billions of people can´t even dream of having a television. And if my water is occasionally cut off for a couple of hours? The same people may have difficulties finding any water fit to drink. And they don´t need electricity

because they don´t have refrigerators, fans, cookers or heaters. They can´t even switch on a light. They have no phones or computers and therefore no problems with the internet. And they don´t have the hassle of airports because the idea of travelling far beyond their immediate home is as inconceivable as having a car to drive.

On top of deprivation of the conveniences and comforts above, these billions of our fellow beings may be confronted with hunger, disease, persecution or war. They could have been enslaved or wrongfully imprisoned. Yet many of them accept their situation without even considering it a problem.

For me their life experience is a genuine problem. My own serious problem is that I allow myself to be irritated (and sometimes angered) by situations that, in the grander scheme, are fleeting trivial inconveniences.

Liberty Seguros resolves some queries about home insurance

Q. Is Home Insurance obligatory in Spain?

A. No, it is not obligatory, but it is certainly highly recommended. Nowadays, very few properties are without home insurance. However, every customer’s needs are different. This is why Liberty Seguros has created additional coverages to allow customers to tailor­make their home policy, from the most basic cover to a wide range of additional guaranties and services to make sure that you only pay for what you really need.

Q. Does Liberty Seguros Home Policy include Public Liability cover for me and my family?

A. Yes, as long as the property contents are insured in the home policy. The policy Includes a standard cover that can be extended up to €1 million.

Q. Does Liberty Seguros Home Insurance Cover Tenant Vandalism?

A. Yes, you can add an optional cover: ‘act of vandalism by tenants’ guarantee, with up to €3,000 cover, which will allow you to forget about any hassle and get a profitable rental income.

Q. Are my garden and its contents covered by my home insurance?

A. Yes, Liberty Home Insurance has a specific standard cover for garden and terrace furniture, that can be extended up to €12,000. Our policy also includes a garden reconstruction guaranty, including replanting of trees.

Q. What should I consider to calculate my home policy contents amount?

A. This will always depend on the size of the property, the property use, number of people living at the property, etc, but please make sure that you consider, at least, the following: Kitchen furniture and appliances, furniture and soft­fur­

nishings for every room, clothes and personal belongings.

Do not forget that jewellery and valuable objects are considered part of the contents cover, but you will need to consider the value of each item.

Q. What should I do in case of a home insurance claim?

A. Please make sure that you and any other person at home is safe and can move to a safe place. Then, take steps to minimise any damage and contact your Home Insurance Assistance Department to report the claim (Liberty’s 24/7 home assistance phone number is 900 556 000).

Make sure that you provide your insurance policy number and details of the claim; and inform about what, when and how it happened.

Please be aware that claims should usually be reported no later than seven days after the claim date.

For more information, simply call 913 422 549 or visit: quote.libertyexpatriates.es/en and ask for a quote.

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

Traffic jams test our patience but millions smile despite the difficulties in obtaining clean drinking water

Photo credits: HuffPost &ameyawdebrah.com

LETTERS

LAST week we discussed the latest figures surrounding the issue of 2.8 million television viewers who believe that they should not be required to pay the £159 annual charge for a TV licence as they no longer watch BBC channels or any kind of live television.

The rise of streaming services such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Paramount Plus have been giving traditional channels like BBC and ITV a run for their money over the past few years, with the above figure showing an increase of more than 360,000 people in the previous 12 months.

There’s been a significant uplift in the amount of people who watch live television through social media channels such as

Comments

Pay per view would sort out this antiquated policy, and then the BBC will see the exact figures willing to tune in to the channel.

YouTube. According to TV Licensing.co.uk, even if you’re watching live TV through YouTube indirectly, you are still required to have TV licence coverage to be compliant with the law.

Toby Young, the Founder and Director of the Free Speech Union told the Daily Mail: “These figures show that the TV licence fee is not a viable funding model for the BBC going forward.”

He added: “The obvious alternative is to become a subscription­based service like Netflix and Amazon Prime.”

Perhaps, times are changing and preferences are evolving. Will streaming services eventually render traditional live television as irrelevant and outdated?

M

I object to the BBC using the licence fee as their own bank account paying obscene wages such as £1.3 million to Gary Linaker for hosting a programme for one hour a week, and paying one of their news readers £350,000 for three days work and a total of 12 hours on radio which I never listen to.

William Hughes

Where have you seen these shows already? The licence is free for over 75s in receipt of Pension Credit. You’re on £52k a year so probably too rich to get pensions credit though.

Jase

The BBC has now become a game show channel and a repeat channel with nothing too exciting in the middle.

Les

The BBC send letters to intimidate people who don’t own a licence.

Anonymous

The BBC is a self serving and obsolete service. Yes, they have a few series that are good, but with over three billion from stealth enforcement of li ­

cence paying they should have! Why it still exists is beyond me and paying 44p is far to much for a generally mediocre service, that unless you want to be hounded by Television Licensing as if you were a criminal, you will pay under duress!

Rob

Why do we have to pay the BBC to watch all the other channels who pay their own way. Shocking.

John

Do away with the TV licence. We live in the 21st century, not the 20th century when BBC was created.

Stephen

Nield

It’s disgraceful that the BBC charge pensioners £159 for a TV licence. Shame on you.

John

Repeats and more of them. Then there are the quiz / game shows giving obscene amounts in prize money, that and the astronomical salaries paid to some of their presenters. My husband is over 80, I am in my 70s, the only reason we watch BBC is no adverts, we are not into streaming, so watch more DVDs than TV these days, but still we have to pay the licence fee. We have just over the limit in pension between us not to be able to get pension credits.

Jacqueline Drew

British turn to streaming as 2.8 million claim they no longer need to pay TV licence fee

PETS

Fancy pet-sitting as a way to travel?

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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!

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EVERY dog owner recognises that special sparkle in a pup’s eyes when a new toy is introduced. Among the various playthings, interactive puzzles have a unique place. For our beloved canine companions, these puzzles are like challenging games

Puppy puzzles

that stir their curiosity. Designed with thoughtfulness, these puzzles encourage dogs to think, strategise, and use their senses. Observing a pup deeply engrossed, paw ­

ing and nudging, trying to unveil the puzzle’s mystery is heartwarming. And when they succeed?

The treats that appear as rewards are delightful, but it’s their proud tail wags that truly capture the moment’s triumph. For those who adore dogs, providing these puzzles is more than just fun. It’s a heartfelt gesture to ensure our pets remain active, not just in body but also in mind, enriching their days with excitement and discovery.

THERE’S something uniquely captivating about the sound of hooves on Spanish cobblestones or the serene sight of a horse grazing in a sun­dappled meadow. In Spain, horses are more than just a cultural icon or a means of transportation. For many, they are cherished members of the family, loved and pampered as any pet would be. Imagine the bond one feels when a horse, with its soulful eyes, gently nuzzles up seeking affection, or the joy of watching it frolic with sheer delight. It’s not just about riding; it’s the conversations whispered between a horse and its owner during quiet moments, the shared sunsets, and the mutual trust.

Caring for a horse is undeniably demanding. It goes beyond providing shelter and food. It’s about understanding their emo­

tions, ensuring they have companions to play with, and tending to their health needs. Yet, ask any horse owner, and they’ll likely say the rewards far outweigh the efforts. Increasingly, city dwellers are finding ways to

bring horses into their lives, be it through weekend riding clubs or adopting retired racehorses. The trend underscores a simple truth: In Spain’s rhythm of life, the heartbeat often sounds like galloping hooves.

KEEPING pets cool during the hot Spanish summer is essential for their well­being, just like it is ours. Here are some strategies to ensure your animal companions stay comfortable:

Water availability: Always provide fresh, cool water. Consider adding ice cubes to keep it chilled.

Shady spaces : Create shaded areas where pets can escape the sun, either indoors or in a sheltered part of the yard.

Cooling products: Invest in cooling mats or bandanas specifically designed for pets.

Avoid hot surfaces: Walk pets during cooler parts of the day to prevent their paws from burning on hot pavements.

Air circulation : Keep air flowing with fans or air conditioning, especially if leaving pets indoors.

Paddling pools : Small pools can offer a fun way for pets to cool down.

Grooming: Regular grooming can help, as matted fur traps heat.

Remember, different pets have varying needs, so always observe them for signs of overheating and consult with a veterinarian for specific advice. Spanish summers can be enjoyable for pets too, with the proper care and attention.

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World Basketball Champions

IS it finally England’s time to shine on the world stage? The Lionesses have made history by reaching the Women’s World Cup final for the first time, defeating Australia 3­1.

On Wednesday, August 16, England triumphed over Australia at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, with goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, and Alessia Russo. The victory was a significant achievement against the Matildas, a team that had been a thorn in England’s side in recent years, according to a news source.

Facing a boisterous home crowd, England’s women showcased a masterful performance. Australia had been the only team to defeat Sarina Wiegman’s squad in the last 37 matches, but England’s clinical play ensured a spot in the final against Spain.

Toone’s 36th­minute goal was the opener, but it was equalised by Sam Kerr’s brilliant solo effort. However, Hemp and Russo’s goals sealed England’s passage to the final, displaying both skill and determination.

The match saw Wiegman stick with the same starting XI, while Australia’s star Kerr was fit to play. Alanna Kennedy, however, missed the game due to illness.

The first opportunity fell to Kerr, who

was stopped by England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps. England then missed a chance to lead when Georgia Stanway’s volley was saved by Mackenzie Arnold. England’s attack was in fine form, with Russo hitting the side netting and Australia struggling to contain their opponents. A moment of brilliance from Russo set up Toone’s goal, silencing the 75,784­strong crowd.

Australia’s energy increased after halftime, but England remained in control. A missed opportunity by Mille Bright was

Disaster at Real Madrid

LA LIGA giants Real Madrid suffered an enormous blow on the eve of a new season when Thibaut Courtois injured his knee in training. The Belgian international goalkeeper reportedly sustained a torn cruciate ligament during a recent session. In an official statement, the Spanish club confirmed: “After the tests carried out on our player Thibaut Courtois, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days.”

As the new season started in Spain on Friday August 11, the injury to 31­year­old Courtois leaves Carlo Ancelotti with a major headache. Such an injury and the recuperation after an operation could see him out for most of the season.

Real Madrid kicked off the new campaign on Saturday with a tricky away fixture against Athletic Bilbao in the Basque Country.

The Italian coach has his 24­year­old Ukrainian reserve goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who has been at the Bernabeu since June 2018, and has faced a difficult task in hoping to dislodge Courtois who has appeared 230 appearances in all competitions for Madrid.

Whether Ancelotti has confidence in the player’s ability to step up to the first team on a regular basis remains to be seen. The fact that he is reported to have contacted De Gea probably answers that question anyway. It has already been reported by several news outlets that Los Blancos have made an emergency call to David De Gea’s representatives, according to Melissa Reddy at Sky Sports.

She tweeted recently ‘Real Madrid exploring their options in light of Thibaut Courtois’ ACL injury. Contact made over David de Gea and checks being done on Kepa Arrizabalaga’s situation. The Chelsea keeper is Bayern’s top target between the sticks’.

The Spanish international keeper is currently unemployed and a free agent after quitting Manchester United when his contract expired at the end of June.

Melissa also commented on Chelsea’s Kepa Kepa Arrizabalaga. However, the Spanish international is thought to be a new target for Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich while they also continue their pursuit of Tottenham and England captain, Harry Kane.

punished by Kerr’s stunning 25­yard strike. England’s response was swift, with Lucy Bronze’s cross and Russo’s header threatening the Australian goal. A defensive error allowed Hemp to score, and the scrappy goal was a fitting testament to England’s journey to the final.

The Lionesses had to endure some late scares but continued to attack. A dazzling run from Hemp set up Russo’s goal in the 86th minute, securing England’s place in the first­ever Women’s World Cup final against Spain on Sunday.

England v Spain Final Football transfer shock

PSG and Brazil star Neymar Jr is re portedly considering a lucrative of fer to join a club in the Saudi Pro League.

Fabrizio Romano, the respected football transfer expert tweeted: ‘EXCLUSIVE: Al Hilal have present ed an important proposal to Ney mar Jr in the recent hours. Sources describe that as “huge bid” #AlHi lal Negotiations are underway to reach full agreement ­ Neymar, tempted by this possibility. Work in progress to part ways with PSG soon’.

Neymar has not hidden his desire to leave the French club recently, with his preferred destination of Barcelona. Conflicting reports from Camp Nou suggest that there is some sort of internal conflict surrounding the possibil ity of his return to the Catalan club.

The Brazilian was left out of Luis Enrique’s squad for PSG’s Ligue 1 season opener against Lorient on Saturday August 12. It is thought that they will not stand in his way should he decide to move, with a fee of around €80 million ru moured to be the asking price for the South American.

THE Spanish basketball team suffered a narrow defeat to the United States in the FEB Centenary Tournament in Malaga.

The two nations clashed in Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena on Sunday, August 13, with the US winning 88­98.

Sergio Scariolo’s players held their own for most of the game against the North Americans, who were the favourites on paper.

Despite the loss, this game served as a superb warm­up for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 which is being hosted jointly by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10.

Spain will be looking to retain the prestigious Naismith Trophy that they earned after defeating Argentina 75­95 in the 2019 tournament final that was hosted by China.

After a thumping 99­79 victory over Slovenia last Friday, the Spanish are hitting form at just the right time ahead of the tournament. They beat Venezuela in Madrid last week as well.

Willy and Juancho Hernangómez demonstrated their NBA quality on their first appearance back in Europe for a while. In only his third match in the national top, Aldama shone again, while Juan Núñez took another step forward.

The United States gave no quarter and demanded a perfect 40 minutes from Spain. They are desperate to reclaim the crown they lost in China four years ago. Spain fought to the very end under the direction of Juan Núñez, who once again demonstrated why Scariolo has not hesitated to include him in his final World Cup squad.

Although the challenge was enormous when facing the defender of the year, centre Jaren Jackson, Willy Hernángomez was the beacon of the Spanish attack.

The United States demands excellence and when it was not reached, the visitors opened the gap. As a result, Spain lost eight points with four minutes to go. This proved to be a distance that was already impossible to overcome despite a final attempt by the valiant Spanish players.

Should Neymar accept the offer then he would link up with Rúben Neves, the 26 ­ year ­ old Portuguese international midfielder who joined from Wolves.

The former Chelsea and Senegal defender, Kalidou Koulibaly, also accepted a lucrative offer from the Saudis, as did Sergej MilinkovicSavic, the 28 ­ year ­ old Serbian international midfielder who made the switch from Serie A giants Lazio.

Al ­ Hilal are also believed to have reignited their interest in Fulham’s Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovi ć . Previous bids were rejected by the Cottagers, leading to the player threatening to never play for the London again.

It was Romano again who broke this news when he posted: ‘Understand Al Hilal are also trying to re ­ activate Aleksandar Mitrovi ć deal while they negotiate final details of Neymar Jr deal #AlHilal Deal depends on Fulham as they always rejected Al Hilal proposal for Mitrovi ć with strong position ­ they still want to keep

THE LIONESSES: Through to the World Cup final for the first time.

Credit Lionesses - Twitter.com

Neymar considering lucrative offer.

Credit: Saudi Pro League/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0