Costa Calida 30 July – 5 Aug 2026 Issue 2143

Resident life savers

Community run emergency response team

RURAL LIVING offers peace, but isolated locations often mean delayed ambulance responses. At Sierra Golf, a development of around 570 villas near Murcia, residents have taken action to protect themselves during sudden cardiac emergencies.

In 2017, former club members launched the Sierra Golf First Aid Group after noting how slowly emergency vehicles reached the spreadout site. Survival rates during sudden cardiac arrest fall by up to ten per cent for every minute without treatment. To address this risk, volunteers spent more than two years overcoming legal hurdles and raising neces-

sary funds.

By September 2021, the group purchased two automated external defibrillators (AEDs). They have since ad-

ded a third unit and a CPR training dummy through local donations.

Today, a core team of ten to twelve volunteers ope-

rates the service. Members possess military, civil service and medical backgrounds. Responders completed full retraining through FAST, a professional volunteer organisation based on the nearby Camposol estate.

When a resident calls the central emergency line, a digital system contacts trained volunteers until someone answers. Two responders attend the patient while a third waits at the main entrance to direct incoming ambulances. The group also provides shared mobility aids for residents. This community-led initiative has successfully created a vital safety net for local residents.

Reduced waiting lists

Medical delays, seeing signs of improvement

After years of long delays, patients across the Region of Murcia are finally seeing signs of improvement, with specialist waiting times falling and thousands fewer people waiting for their first hospital appointment. The latest figures from the regional health service show the average wait for a first outpatient consultation has dropped from 83 days to 70 days over the past year. The overall backlog has also shrunk, meaning more patients are being assessed sooner than they were just 12 months ago. The reduction is expected to speed up diagnoses and treatment,

while easing pressure on hospitals that have struggled with growing demand and post-pandemic bac -

klogs. Despite the progress, challenges remain. More than 83,000 patients are still waiting longer than the maximum time limits set by the regional government for outpatient appointments, highlighting the scale of the task still facing the health service. Health officials say reducing delays remains a priority as they continue working to improve access to specialist care without compromising treatment quality.

While few patients would describe current waiting times as ideal, the latest figures point to steady progress.

Music Uniting Murcia

Thousands gather for festival

While thousands flocked to Los Alcázares for the music, the real success of Fan Futura Fest may have been what it gave back to the local community. The festival’s sixth edition attracted around 20,000 people, once again turning the Mar Menor town into one of Murcia’s busiest summer destinations.

Beyond the headline acts, Fan Futura has built a reputation for supporting home-grown talent. This year’s line-up featured Murcian artists including Walls, Soge Culebra, Julia Cry, Rata and Javi Zapata, while local band Matraca secured a place on stage after winning the festival’s first Band Competition, created to showcase emerging musicians from the region. The event also delivered a welcome boost for local hotels, restaurants, cafés and shops, with thousands of visitors contributing to the town’s economy while helping establish Los Alcázares as more than just a seaside resort.

Fan Futura continues to stand out for its commitment to sustainability, remaining the Region of Murcia’s only certified sustainable music festival. Organisers also work alongside the University of Murcia and the Technical University of Cartagena on environmental initiatives designed to reduce the festival’s impact.

As the festival grows, so does its importance to the region. More than simply a weekend of live music, Fan Futura has become a showcase for Murcian talent, local businesses and community pride, proving that some of Spain’s most successful festivals are helping smaller towns shine on the national stage.

Holidays in peace

THE Holidays in Peace programme has once again brought smiles to children from the Sahrawi refugee camps, as Cartagena welcomed a new group to spend the summer with local host families.

The initiative, organised in collaboration with local associations and the City Council, gives children the chance to escape the intense desert heat, where summer temperatures can exceed 50°C. During their stay in Spain, they receive medical and dental check-ups, enjoy nutritious meals and take part in a wide range of educational, cultural and recreational activities.

The youngsters were o cially welcomed at Cartagena City Hall, where councillors thanked the host families for opening their homes and highlighted the importance of solidarity and international

cooperation. For many of the children, the programme o ers experiences that would otherwise be out of reach, from visiting the beach and swimming pools to exploring the city's museums and parks.

As well as providing a memorable summer, Holidays in Peace helps strengthen the long-standing bond between Cartagena and the Sahrawi community. The scheme also raises awareness of the humanitarian situation faced by thousands of refugees living in camps in south-west Algeria.

For the host families, the programme is equally rewarding, creating lasting friendships and o ering children a safe, caring environment while they enjoy a summer lled with new opportunities and unforgettable memories.

Fewer Cars

EVERY summer, La Manga faces the same problem: crowded beaches, packed restaurants and tra c queues stretching along the Gran Vía. Now, local business leaders and community groups are questioning whether the resort’s future should involve fewer cars and a di erent way of moving around.

Representatives from La Manga and Cabo de Palos recently met with Spanish MEP Marcos Ros to discuss how the area could develop over the next 20 to 30 years. No o cial plan has been approved, but the debate has focused on reducing dependence on private vehicles, improving public transport, expanding pedestrian areas and creating better conditions for cyclists.

Supporters argue that La Manga’s popularity has outgrown its infrastructu-

re, leaving roads, parking spaces and public areas under enormous pressure during peak season. The proposal could involve cooperation between local authorities, urban planners and the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena to create a long-term strategy capable of attracting European funding.

For anyone visiting in

July or August, the problem is familiar. Short journeys can become long battles with congestion, while pedestrians compete with vehicles for limited space. The future of La Manga remains undecided, but one question has now entered the conversation: should the resort make room for more cars, or more people?

Swimming Pool Side Hustle

FOR most homeowners, a swimming pool is one of the biggest expenses of summer. For one man in Murcia, it has become an unexpected source of income. Silvestre López has turned his private pool into a pro table side

business by renting it out through an online platform that allows homeowners to o er hourly access to their pools and gardens. On busy days, he says he can return home to nd around €400 in bookings.

The idea is simple. Instead of renting an entire property, owners make their pool available for a few hours, giving families and groups a private alternative to crowded beaches and public swimming pools. Spain has more than a million private pools, many of which sit unused for much of the day while owners are at work. With maintenance costs continuing to rise, some homeowners are beginning to see them as assets rather than expenses.

Renting out a pool does come with responsibilities. Owners must maintain safe water quality, comply with insurance and local regulations, and decide when their facilities are available. As demand for private outdoor spaces grows during Spain's increasingly hot summers, hourly pool rentals are becoming a growing business, helping some homeowners o set maintenance costs while o ering visitors a quieter place to cool o .

Balcony noise risk

QUIET HOURS MATTER

A WASHING machine on a balcony is not illegal in Spain, but if it creates excessive noise it could lead to complaints and, in some cases, fines of up to €3,000. Several municipalities are reminding homeowners and tenants that household appliances must comply with local noise regulations, particularly during night-time quiet hours.

Many homes in Spain have washing machines on balconies or enclosed terraces to save space. The location is not the issue. What matters is the level of noise and whether it exceeds

limits set by the local council.

During the spin cycle, some machines, particularly older or poorly installed models, can produce around 70 decibels. If vibrations or noise travel through walls or the building’s structure and disturb neighbours, the appliance could breach municipal rules.

A neighbour’s complaint alone is not usually enough to trigger a fine. Local police or the relevant authority must normally verify the disturbance and measure the noise before any penalty is imposed.

EYES ON CHILDREN

FAMILIES are being reminded that swimming pools may pose a greater risk to young children than the sea, despite many parents naturally focusing on beaches. Water safety experts say the pool’s calm, familiar environment can create a false sense of security, leading adults to lower their guard when children need constant supervision.

The warning comes after more than 200 people have died from drowning in Spain so far in 2026, with over half of the fatalities occurring at sea. However, specialists stress that private, hotel and community pools are often where young children are most vulnerable because adults become distracted or assume someone else is watching.

Experts say drowning is usually quick and almost silent, unlike scenes in films. A child can get

Quiet hours vary by municipality. In Madrid they usually run from 11pm to 7am, while in Valencia and Bilbao they generally begin at 10pm. Barcelona applies restrictions from 9pm until 8am. Running a noisy machine during these periods may be treated as a more serious offence, particularly if complaints are repeated.

Authorities advise residents to ensure washing machines are properly installed, on a stable surface and do not create excessive vibrations to help avoid disputes or possible sanctions.

Summer energy advice

The air-con temperature myth

Setting your air-con to lower temperatures doesn’t mean faster cooling times.

WALKING into a hot home and turning the air conditioning down to 19°C may feel like the quickest route to relief, but the lower number will not make the room cool any faster.

The temperature shown on the remote is a target, not a speed control. Selecting 19°C simply tells the appliance to keep working until the room becomes much colder, potentially consuming more electricity than necessary.

Spain’s Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving says 26°C or above can provide sufficient comfort when suitable summer clothing is worn. Consumer organisation OCU recommends setting domestic air conditioning between 24°C and 26°C.

OCU estimates that each additional degree of cooling can add around 10 per cent to the appliance’s running cost, although the actual difference depends on the unit, insulation, room size and temperature outside. Closing blinds before direct sunlight enters, ventilating early in the morning and cleaning filters can also reduce the work required from the system.

During periods of extreme heat, however, keeping the home safe remains more important than reaching a precise money-saving setting.

For most homes, beginning at around 24°C to 26°C offers a more economical route to comfort than immediately pressing 19°C.

Pool safety warning euroweeklynews.com

into difficulty while parents are chatting, preparing food, checking their phones or briefly stepping away.

Water safety organisations recommend that one adult should be solely responsible for supervising children near water and urge parents not to use mobile phones while doing so. For homes and holiday villas, specialists advise installing pool safety barriers, self-closing gates and secure access points. They also remind families that inflatable armbands and floating toys are not lifesaving devices and should never replace direct adult supervision.

Obeying lifeguard flags, avoiding dangerous conditions and maintaining constant supervision remain the most effective ways to stay safe.

ART lovers and curious visitors alike have a unique opportunity this summer as “The Prado in the Streets” transforms Mazarron into an open-air gallery. Having opened on July 24, the exhibition has already begun attracting residents and holidaymakers keen to experience some of Spain’s greatest masterpieces without travelling to Madrid.

Located in the Plaza de las Comunidades Autonomas, the free exhibition features 50 life-size photographic reproductions of iconic works from the Museo Nacional del Prado. Visitors can admire paintings by celebrated artists including Velazquez, Goya,

Open air exhibit

Rubens, Rembrandt, Titian, Caravaggio, Bosch and Sorolla, with each piece accompanied by easy-to-read information explaining its historical and artistic significance.

Bilingual panels and QR codes provide even more

insight, making the exhibition accessible for all ages and nationalities.

Mazarron is the final stop on the exhibition’s tour of the Region of Murcia, bringing a successful cultural initiative to a fitting close.

Organised by the Museo Nacional del Prado and Fundacion Iberdrola España, the project aims to make world-class art available to everyone in welcoming public spaces.

The exhibition remains in Mazarron until September 6, offering plenty of time to enjoy an inspiring stroll through centuries of European art beneath the Mediterranean sky.

Making a difference

THE XVI Cabo de Palos Cross Country race has once again shown that community spirit can be just as important as sporting success, with organisers donating €3,000 to local charities ahead of this year’s popular event.

The funds, raised through race entries and the support of participants and sponsors, will be shared between several charitable organisations, reinforcing the race’s reputation for giving back to the local community.

While the scenic coastal race is one of the highlights of the Region of Murcia’s summer running calendar, its charitable contribution has become an equally important tradition. Year after year, the event combines competitive athletics with fundraising, ensuring the benefits

extend well beyond the finish line.

On the sporting front, Víctor Alejandro Requena successfully defended his men’s title, completing the challenging 6.5km course in 20 minutes and 10 seconds. María Martínez claimed victory in the women’s race with a winning time of 23:46, producing an impressive performance around the picturesque route through Cabo de Palos. Hundreds of runners of all ages also took part in the various races, creating a lively atmosphere as spectators lined the streets to cheer them on. With another successful edition complete, the Cross de Cabo de Palos has once again proved that its greatest achievement is not only celebrating athletic excellence, but also making a meaningful difference to the local community.

Waiting to Cross

CROSSING the road in Murcia is about to become a little less stressful, especially for older people and those struggling in the summer heat. As temperatures continue to soar across the Region of Murcia, local authorities have begun increasing the time pedestrians have to cross at selected traffic lights, recognising that extreme heat can slow walking speeds and make crossing busy roads more difficult.

The measure is aimed at improving safety for vulnerable groups, including elderly residents, people with reduced mobility, families with young children and anyone affected by the high temperatures gripping southern Spain. Officials say prolonged heat can cause fatigue, dizziness and dehydration, increasing the risk of accidents if pedestrians feel pressured to cross before the lights change.

The initiative comes amid further efforts to adapt urban areas to increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves linked to climate change. By allowing extra time at crossings, authorities hope to create safer, more accessible streets while reducing stress for those who need longer to cross.

With Murcia regularly experiencing some of

Spain’s highest summer temperatures, the changes have been welcomed as a practical response to extreme weather. As cities across Europe look for ways to adapt to rising temperatures, Murcia’s decision shows that even small changes, like a few extra seconds at a pedestrian crossing, can make everyday life safer during the hottest months of the year.

Plants for Pergolas

A FAMILIAR Cartagena waterfront scene is about to change as the city prepares to fight one of the Mediterranean’s biggest summer challenges: extreme heat. More than 600 new plants are being introduced along the harbour’s pergolas, transforming one of the city’s busiest public spaces into a greener and cooler area for residents, tourists and cruise passengers seeking relief from soaring temperatures.

With Murcia regularly experiencing summer temperatures above 30C, shaded spaces have become increasingly important. The project aims not only to improve the appearance of the waterfront but also to create more comfortable areas where people can stop, walk and enjoy views across the marina without being exposed to constant sunshine.

The chosen plants, including Incienso Variegata and Russelia equisetiformis, known as Cupid’s tears, have been selected for their ability to survive Murcia’s dry Mediterranean climate. As they grow, they will climb across the pergolas to create natural green canopies. The council has also upgraded the irrigation system with additional watering lines to help the plants establish themselves during the region’s long, hot summers. The transformation reflects a wider challenge facing cities across southern Spain: adapting public spaces to a hotter climate while creating greener, more sustainable environments. For Cartagena, the goal is simple, a waterfront that looks better, feels cooler and remains welcoming even during the harshest months of summer.

3 Years Waiting

AN animal welfare centre struggling with limited space has become the focus of a political battle in Molina de Segura, with accusations that abandoned animals and those caring for them are paying the price of years of delays. The PSOE has accused the local PP-VOX government of failing to move forward with the promised expansion of the municipality’s Animal Welfare Centre, claiming the project has remained stalled for three years.

The opposition says the current facilities are alre-

ady operating at full capacity as more stray, abandoned and surrendered animals require care. It warns that sta and volunteers are being forced to cope with increasing pressure while waiting for improvements that were promised. The PSOE is demanding that the council publish a clear timetable explaining when work will begin and when the expansion is expected to be completed.

Animal welfare centres provide essential care for vulnerable animals before they are returned to their

owners or adopted, but overcrowded facilities can make it harder to respond when new cases arrive. The local government had not publicly responded to the speci c accusations at the time of the statement. The future of the centre is under scrutiny, with campaigners and residents waiting to see whether the council announces new plans or provides answers for the delay. For those caring for abandoned animals, the message is simple: compassion needs space, and time is running out.

The Missing Melons

A watermelon eld may not look like the scene of a major crime operation, but this summer in Lorca, police are keeping a close eye on one of Murcia’s most valuable seasonal crops. With harvesting underway, Policía Local de Lorca has increased surveillance around agricultural areas to prevent theft and protect farmers who have spent months preparing their crops.

O cers carried out 33 targeted controls linked to farming zones, identifying 261 people as part of the security operation. For consumers, a stolen watermelon may seem like a small loss. For farmers, every missing fruit represents time, money and months of work lost before harvest. Growing watermelons requires careful preparation, irrigation and protection before the crop is ready

to reach markets. When thefts happen repeatedly, the nancial impact can quickly add up.

The watermelon operation forms part of increased rural checks across Lorca, where police monitor agricultural areas during important harvesting periods. During the same period, o cers carried out more than 100 controls across the municipality, resulting in seven arrests and other public safety actions. The unusual sight of police watching over elds has attracted attention, but for farmers the message is serious.

This summer, Lorca’s watermelons are being protected from a di erent kind of threat, thieves looking for an easy harvest. The fruit may be a symbol of summer, but behind every melon is a farmer’s livelihood.

Freedom of Speech

A Facebook comment has landed a Murcia resident in legal trouble after Local Police in La Unión reported him for allegedly insulting officers online, in a case highlighting that social media posts can carry real-world consequences. Police say the complaint relates to comments they considered disrespectful towards officers. If upheld under Spain’s Citizen Security Law, the resident could face an administrative fine of up to €600.

The case has reignited debate over where freedom of expression ends and behaviour deemed insulting towards public officials begins. Under Spanish law, criticism of the police is not automatically an offence. However, authorities can issue sanctions for what the legislation describes as a “lack of respect and consideration” towards officers carrying out their duties.

The complaint will now follow the administrative process, giving the resident an opportunity to respond before any final decision is taken. The incident also serves as a reminder that comments posted on Facebook and other social media platforms are not beyond the reach of the law. Police forces increasingly monitor online activity, and public posts can be used as evidence in administrative or criminal proceedings.

While some argue officers deserve protection from abuse, others believe people should be free to criticise public authorities without risking financial penalties. For now, the message is clear: what is written online can have consequences offline.

The tastiest trophy Spain’s cheating bears

BROWN BEARS in northern Spain have been caught exaggerating their size to intimidate rivals. Researchers from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales spent four years studying 164 brown bears in the Cantabrian mountains, reviewing 117,000 hours of camera-trap footage filmed between 2021 and 2024. Results published in the Journal of Mammalogy revealed that roughly one in 20 bears actively cheated the system.

Normally, male bears leave scent signals and scratch marks at the highest point reachable while standing on their hind legs, typically around two metres above the ground. This height usually provides an accurate indication of an animal’s size and physical strength. However, several clever males climbed trees or stood on natural ledges to place

their marks up to three metres high.

To test the theory, scientists set up artificial wooden platforms beside regular marking trees. Certain bears climbed onto these structures to deposit scent marks higher than their natural reach allowed.

Lead researcher Vincenzo Penteriani stated that whilst exceptional, this is the first

documented instance of such deceptive behaviour in bears, proving their communication is far more complex than previously understood. Experts believe smaller or younger males use the tactic to deter larger rivals without engaging in physical fights, whilst also potentially improving their appeal to females during mating season.

MOST footballers dream of lifting the World Cup, celebrating with millions of adoring fans and adding another glittering medal to the trophy cabinet. Few, however, probably imagine the next stop on their victory tour involves receiving their own bodyweight in tomatoes.

But in southern Spain, that’s exactly what happened.

Fresh from helping the nation become world champions for the second time, midfield stars Fabián Ruiz and Gavi returned to their hometown of Los Palacios y Villafranca, where they were greeted not with champagne, luxury watches or the keys to the city, but with tons of the town’s famous tomatoes.

The unusual celebration is a long-standing

tradition. Whenever one of its footballing heroes wins a major international title, they receive tomatoes matching their body weight. The tradition began after Spain’s 2010 World Cup victory, when hometown hero Jesús Navas received the same distinctive reward. Ruiz, who weighs around 84kg, was presented with approximately 84 kilograms of tomatoes, while Gavi received around 68 kilograms.

This year, the celebrations also included plans for a monument honouring Ruiz, Gavi and Navas, while two local football grounds have been renamed after the current stars. Despite their phenomenal success, it shows that even World Cup heroes shouldn’t forget their (tomato) roots.

Tanks to remain empty Royals show support

KING FELIPE VI and Queen Letizia interrupted their summer programme in Mallorca to visit families forced from their homes by Spain’s devastating wildfire crisis.

The royal couple travelled to the La Chopera sports centre in Villamanta, where evacuees from communities including Villa del Prado and Aldea del Fresno are being sheltered after fast-moving fires swept across parts of central Spain.

King Felipe travelled from Mallorca to Madrid after the visit was added to the Royal Household’s agenda as the emergency escalated. Before meeting residents, he received a briefing from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME), having also joined the State Emergency Coordination Committee by videolink from Mallorca earlier in the week.

During the visit, the

King and Queen spoke with displaced families and thanked Civil Protection volunteers, Red Cross staff and emergency workers supporting those affected. Queen Letizia also listened to residents’ concerns.

Speaking afterwards, King Felipe praised the coordination of the emergency response, describing the work of the ser-

vices as “exemplary”.

Over the last few weeks Spain has battled some of its largest wildfire emergencies in recent history.

Tens of thousands of hectares have burned, while more than 100,000 people had been evacuated from affected areas in Madrid, Ávila and neighbouring provinces. Thousands are still unable to return home.

AFTER five years of applications and arguments, Nueva Pescanova has withdrawn its plan to build what was intended to be the world’s first commercial octopus farm at Las Palmas port.

On July 23, the company formally abandoned the concession application submitted in May 2021. The Las Palmas Port Authority will now archive the file, bringing the Gran Canaria project to an end.

Nueva Pescanova said new administrative requirements and the need for a fuller environmental assessment had substantially changed the project’s scope, timetable and regulatory demands.

At full production, the farm was expected to supply approximately 3,000 tonnes of octopus each year. That scale turned a familiar Spanish dish into a much larger ethical question: should an animal known for solving problems, learning from experience and feeling pain be raised intensively in tanks?

The documentary My Octopus Teacher released in 2020 also brought the

BREAKFAST patrons at a roadside café in northern Catalonia received an unexpected visitor when a 900-kilogram bull wandered through the front door.

The incident occurred around ten o’clock in the morning at Bar Gusi in Ribes de Freser, Girona. Local farmers frequently move

debate to a much wider audience. Some viewers say it stopped them eating octopus altogether and put the animal’s intelligence and debate on whether they should be caught into the limelight.

Campaigners have welcomed the withdrawal, but it is not a national ban on commercial farming. Proposed legislation remains before Congress, while Nueva Pescanova has not ruled out different technology or another location.

For Las Palmas, however, the project is now over before a single commercial tank was built.

Bull at the bar

cattle down the main road to reach grazing pastures, where the animals hold right of way. However, owner David Torrecillas remarked that in 30 years of trading, nothing similar had ever occurred.

Separated from its herd, the young bull walked straight into the dining room, where roughly 20 customers and staff were gathered. CCTV footage captured the moment the massive animal pushed past tables, startling locals and holidaymakers.

Disaster was averted thanks to the composure of a waiter named Samuel who stood calmly before the beast, making no sudden gestures. The bull turned around and departed safely after just 20 seconds, knocking over a few tables on its way out.

Samuel later joked online that the unbooked guest had simply heard excellent reviews about their food.

PEOPLE living in or vi-

siting Brussels are being urged to be aware that an indefinite firefighters’ strike is continuing, with some emergency responses likely to be affected while the dispute remains unresolved.

Fire crews are still responding to life-threatening emergencies, including

Fire service strike

major fires, serious road traffic collisions and other incidents where lives are at risk. However, authorities have warned that some non-urgent call-outs and routine services may face delays as industrial action continues.

The dispute centres on

working conditions, staffing levels and concerns about the future of the Brussels fire service. Firefighters say increasing pressure on crews has left the service overstretched and call for improvements.

Talks between unions and regional authorities have so far failed to reach an agreement, meaning the strike has now entered an indefinite phase with no confirmed end date.

Officials have stressed that Brussels is not without fire protection and have reassured residents that emergency cover remains in place for the most serious incidents. However, the public is being encouraged to use emergency services responsibly and only call emergency numbers when genuinely necessary.

The strike comes during a busy summer period for the Belgian capital, when large numbers of tourists join the city’s residents and daily commuters. Authorities continue to monitor the situation.

Louvre gallery reopened

PARIS’S Louvre Museum welcomed visitors back into its famed Apollo Gallery on Wednesday, July 22, nine months after a daylight raid stunned the global art community. However, the space looks drastically different from before the theft, which occurred in October 2025.

Instead of glittering gems, guests now view empty glass cases. Four thieves used a lorry-mounted platform to break into the room, escaping with an estimated €88 million (£76m) worth of Napoleon-era jewellery in under eight minutes. Only Empress Eugenie’s diamond-and-emerald crown was recovered after being dropped during the getaway.

Museum restorers used the closure to highlight the hall’s striking architecture, including Charles Le Brun’s seventeen-

th-century ceiling and Eugene Delacroix’s masterwork, Apollo Slaying the Serpent Python. Remaining pieces from the collection will not return to the gallery; officials are constructing a windowless strongroom elsewhere in the building to house them securely.

The gallery’s reopening follows months of criticism regarding security lapses, including revelations that the CCTV system’s password was simply “Louvre”. The scandal led to the departure of the museum’s president and prompted nationwide pledges to upgrade security across French cultural institutions. Despite the missing treasures, Louvre director Christophe Leribault framed the reopening as a fresh start, ensuring tourists can still admire the gallery’s timeless artistic heritage.

Italy’s digital addiction

FLORENCE has plans to open Italy’s first specialist centre for digital addiction and responsible technology use, in a project aimed at helping young people before screen habits become harder to manage.

Discover, short for Discover - Fuori dal guscio, is being created by local health services, the City of Florence and the ReteSviluppo cooperative. Rather than operating as a medical clinic, it will

serve as a prevention and education space for families, schools and young people.

The centre will mainly support those aged 10 to 25. Parents and educators are also expected to be involved. ReteSviluppo will run the project, drawing on more than a decade of experience in schools. The first phase is due to last until December 2026. Planned activities include guidance sessions, a listening desk and wor

kshops on media education and healthier social interaction. Board games, manual activities and group work are also part of the offer. A smartphone-free area will give young people time in a less formal setting. The project is expected to open after the summer in the Chiarugi library spaces at San Salvi. While this may be a local story, it is a wider concern faced by many families across the world.

Annual inflation in the euro area was down 2.8 per cent in June 2026, according to Eurostat.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Trading app

NEXT year, the London Stock Exchange will launch LSE 24, an online platform allowing for almost continuous trading. During the week, the service will be operational from 5pm to 7.50am. Working around the London Stock Exchange’s traditional trading hours, experts believe this will strengthen London as a financial hub.

Aer Lingus cuts

RISING industry costs and increased competition has forced Aer Lingus to restructure. After posting first quarter losses of €103 million, the Irish airline will be cutting its flight capacity by 6 per cent, and reducing its workforce by 500 jobs, including pilots, cabin crew and head office employees.

Sustainable living

ACCORDING to a survey by Fotocasa, 78 per cent of home buyers in Spain are willing to pay more for a sustainable property. Energy efficiency has become a priority amenity, along with natural ventilation, especially as the frequency and ferocity of heatwaves increase annually.

Corporate sales

AMAZON BUSINESS, the division for corporate customers, achieved €20 billion in sales in the second quarter or 2026. Those with an account reportedly saved a combined €800 million in reduced costs. In that time, 1.8 million new businesses signed up, increasing Amazon Business’ customer base to 11 million worldwide.

Pay gap

THE gap between employers and their employees has widened. Analysis found that the bosses of the UK’s biggest companies earned 130 times the salary of the average full-time worker. The median salary for UK workers is £39,000. Meanwhile, FTSE 100 firms paid top executives a combined £857 million.

Victory pays off

SPAIN’S triumph over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final was a major win for the country, boosting morale and the national team’s reputation. In addition to the coveted gold trophy, Spain’s football team will reportedly earn €43.7 million euros in prize money, the highest cash prize in the tournament’s history. But what does the win mean for Spain’s economy?

According to a 2024 study by economist Marco Mello, winning the World Cup doesn’t create much of an economic impact. At most, the winning nation’s GDP grows around 0.48 per cent. This is generated largely through exports, as the prestige of being the reigning World Cup champions acts as a global advertising tool for goods and services.

When Spain won the World Cup in 2010, the country saw little economic benefit, although at the time

around 20 per cent of the country was facing unemployment, double the current 10 per cent rate. This time around, Spain is expected to see a €4 billion boost.

Spanish authorities will collect around €6 million by taxing the 17 resident squad members. However, according to Polymarket, the IRS (the USA’s federal tax agency)

could also tax Spain’s cash prize. Under US law, payments to non-resident foreign athletes are subject to a 30 per cent federal withholding. Similar laws were in place in previous host countries, but FIFA negotiated a tax relief for participating teams. It is unclear whether a similar agreement was in place for the 2026 edition.

Sick leave surge

ABSENTEEISM in Spain has become a major point of contention as of late. Staff absences reportedly reached a daily average of 1,789,369 in 2025, most of which were due to sickness. The absences cost the economy €59.1 billion, an 11.7 per cent increase compared to 2024. This is a trend that is on track to be repeated in 2026.

The majority of sick leave absences only lasted a few days, but that’s part of the problem. An employee being off sick comes at a high price for employers and the Social Security system. The short but frequent absences have a large cumulative economic impact.

Looking closer at absenteeism figures, recent reports have revealed that public sector employees request 12.5 per cent more sick leave compared to private sector workers. This disparity is potentially due to several

Eclipse economy

SUMMER in Spain is always busy, but the Spanish government estimates an additional 446,000 visitors will arrive in August, travelling to witness the total solar eclipse. The eclipse has prompted a 7.9 per cent increase in flight bookings, and 17.8 per cent increase in hotel bookings in provinces along the path of totality. This will generate an estimated economic impact of €347.6 million - €247.29 million from international visitors, €94.9 million from Spanish residents.

factors, including an ageing workforce, longer healthcare wait times, a higher burnout rate and stronger sick pay incentives.

Petrol revenue Winter relief

SO far in 2026, petrol stations in Spain have experienced a 15 per cent increase. More than €11.2 billion in revenue has been generated in the first half of 2026, compared to €9.7 billion during the same period in 2015. More specifically, sales have reached €62.3 million per day, reaching an average peak of €69.5 million in April. These high revenue figures do not translate to profit. Petrol stations around the world have been squeezed by the high cost of crude oil, which has hovered close to $100 (€87.6) a barrel since January.

IN his first move as Prime Minister, Andry Burnham announced plans to cut VAT on electricity. Downing Street revealed, from October, electricity bills will be reduced by an average of £45 a year, offering households some relief during the winter months. This move will come at a cost of £850 million a year, and is said to be funded by the scrapped Digital ID programme, which is due to save £1.8 billion over three years. Cutting electricity on VAT is a strong example of how Burnham plans to lead a “cost of living government” during his time in Number 10.

Melia leaves

Cuba

AFTER more than 30 years, the Spanish hotel chain, Melia, has ceased operations in Cuba, as US sanctions made it impossible to maintain stability. Melia was one of the first Spanish hotel groups to establish itself in Cuba in the 1990’s and amassed a network of 14,000 rooms. While the company has said it will do what it can to facilitate an easy transition for staff, suppliers, and clients, the closures will hit Cuba’s collapsing economy hard.

Holiday expenses

SINCE 2020, prices of holiday accommodations have increased by almost 40 per cent especially in Andalucia where the average weekly price of a beachfront property is €1,270 in August. According to the 2025 Coastal Rental report, Puerto Banus, Marbella, was the most expensive place to stay, with the average rent reaching €3,700 per week. Meanwhile, the cheapest destination for accommodation was on the Torrenueva Costa, Granada, where a week in an 80m2 apartment costs around €800.

Finnish expansion

SPANISH energy company

Iberdrola has agreed to acquire an 80 per cent stake in Finland’s largest electricity distribution operator, Caruna, in a deal valuing the business at around €5 billion, including debt. The acquisition strengthens Iberdrola’s regulated networks business and expands its presence in a stable, highly rated market with strong electrification potential. Caruna serves 740,000 customers through 89,300 km of network. The transaction is expected to be completed by late 2026 or early 2027.

3I Group 2.775,00 2.802,88 2.736,00 400,23K

Admiral Group 3.590,0 3.609,8 3.576,0 35,05K

Airtel Africa 346,20 346,60 337,00 408,96K

Anglo American 3.701,0 3.792,0 3.698,0 506,34K

Antofagasta 3.638,00 3.719,00 3.634,00 103,67K

Associated British Foods 2.001,0 2.019,0 1.992,5 54,6K

AstraZeneca 12.871,7 12.934,0 12.660,0 522,08K

Auto Trader Group Plc 502,40 503,80 496,90 399,58K

Aviva 693,80 698,80 692,00 1,14M

B M European Value Retail 217,20 218,00 212,88 475,85K

BAE Systems 1.965,00 1.998,00 1.952,00 625,2K

Barclays 536,10 536,40 528,79 12,84M

Barratt Redrow 295,71 300,25 293,70 4,01M

Beazley 1.291,50 1.294,00 1.290,50 354,08K

Berkeley 3.442,0 3.482,0 3.422,0 13,43K

BP 529,50 533,20 525,50 8,74M

British American Tobacco 4.547,0 4.600,0 4.537,0 180,2K

BT Group 197,38 197,45 193,90 2,03M

Bunzl 2.754,0 2.770,0 2.744,0 80,5K

Centrica 160,75 163,79 159,05 4,29M

Coca Cola HBC AG 4.850,0 4.914,0 4.834,0 43,95K

Compass 30,55 30,90 30,54 375,89K

ConvaTec Group 218,80 221,04 217,40 562,74K

Croda Intl 2.947,0 2.990,0 2.919,0 43,84K DCC 6.365,0 6.375,0 6.330,0 513,92K Diageo 1.579,0 1.581,5 1.560,9 409,73K Diploma 7.585,00 7.602,87 7.535,00 29,56K

626,60 633,44 623,80 684,52K

563,84 570,00 555,00 371,39K

2.795,0 2.806,0 2.765,0

BUSINESS EXTRA

Wind farm win

SCOTLAND recently approved construction of two wind farms that could power two million homes. Ocean Winds has invested £1.7 billion into the project, which will consist of 140 turbines across 429 kilometres in the Moray Firth. The next step will include obtaining ministerial approval for environmental mitigation plans.

Nestle sale

NESTLE is negotiating the sale of a 50 per cent stake in its European water business to Platinum Equity, valued at around €5 billion. The proposed joint venture includes brands such as Perrier and San Pellegrino and forms part of Nestle’s strategy to streamline operations and focus on core businesses.

Borrowed for basics

HIGH cost of living and stagnating wages is forcing many Spaniards to take out loans. The outstanding balance on credit loans has reached almost €200 billion. With 35.9 per cent of consumers anticipating having to take out a loan in the next six months, this balance is expected to climb higher. Such an increase is partly due to the ease in which a small loan can be obtained nowadays. Not only has the interest rate

Fair pay

THE French Open became the first grand slam to offer its players a share of the event’s revenue, marking a major step in the ongoing dispute over fair pay. Players want all grand slam tournaments to guarantee 16 per cent of revenue will be contributed to the prize fund, with that increasing to 22 per cent by 2030.

No agreement has yet been made, but the announcement puts considerable pressure on other tournaments, namely the upcoming US Open. If the US Open follows previous precedent of increasing the prize money by 20 per cent, players could be competing for a share of a $100 million (€87.6 million) prize pot.

dropped from 8 per cent in 2023 to 6.7 per cent, but many services now offer instalment plans for all kinds of purchases. With the help of ‘buy now, pay later’ (BNPL) services, people aren’t just financing major purchases like household appliances or a car, but smaller everyday essentials. Struggling households are increasingly paying for their groceries in weekly instalments, because food prices have risen at such a rate they can no longer afford to pay upfront.

BNPL services can offer a major relief to those whose budgets can only stretch so far. However, BNPL’s are relatively new and largely unregulated. Experts warn consumers not to become too dependent on these services to avoid overspending and racking up uncontrollable debt.

Profit drop

WITH summer in full swing, Ryanair should be flying high. However, the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict is continuing to affect the budget airline. Consumer reluctance forced Ryanair to cut fares by around 6 per cent to stimulate demand, leading to pre-tax profit dropping 34 per cent to €593 million in the second quarter of 2026.

Summer distractions

HOMES in the UK aren’t selling. According to Rightmove’s latest house price index, summer house sales dropped by 1 per cent in July, much higher than the average 0.2 per cent summer lull. Rightmove claims the World Cup and summer heat has “distracted” buyers, forcing sellers to reduce their asking price to attract interest.

Sweet revenge

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS

THINK IT

REVENGE! Not being a particularly vengeful person, this so called ‘sweet’ act of retribution is not particularly high on my ‘to do’ list. However, there are exceptions, and one example I heard recently certainly fits the bill.

Our hero in this intrepid Irish tale was on the verge of getting married. He was a nurse by profession and most of his friends worked with him at the local hospital. Just before the wedding, his colleagues organised a boozy stag do. The night was a rip-roaring success and the future groom, utterly and completely inebriated, was taken home and finally passed out on his own sofa. And this is when our devilish plot begins to thicken.

In a pre-determined plan, one of his ‘friends’ had raided hospital supplies and brought along all the paraphernalia needed to plaster up broken bones. With our hero duly out for the count, the party goers began their devious work. Careful not to disturb his

drunken slumber, they proceeded to plaster up one of his arms. And what a job they did of it. Not only did they cover his whole arm, but they fitted one of those wire affairs that keeps the arm bent at the elbow and away from the body. They then all left, leaving him still out for the count and snoring peacefully.

Early the next morning, his closest friend received a hysterical phone call. It was our (naturally) panic-stricken hero, pleading to know what had occurred the night before. After calming him down, the ‘friend’ then managed to convince him that toward the end of the evening, when he was blind drunk, he had fallen over and broken his arm. They had visited the local hospital, had him X-rayed and subsequently plastered up. He was to go back in six weeks to have it removed.

With their victim hardly able to remember anything at all, he finally accepted the story. Having no other choice, he then proceeded to carry on with the plans for his wedding the following day. Thinking it was all still a great joke, the stag party jesters still didn’t let on.

On the morning of the wedding, still no one had owned up. Subsequently they were then treated to our hero, walking up the aisle with his blushing bride on one arm and the other still uncomfortably stuck out in front of him! And still not one of the instigators said a word. Almost unbelievably, they actually let him, still blissfully unaware, have his reception and ultimately leave on his honeymoon. It wasn’t ‘til he returned that they finally let the cat out of the bag. Naturally our beleaguered bridegroom went totally ape. Well, you would, wouldn’t you? For some weeks he didn’t even bother talking.

As time went on however, he appeared to put it all behind him. They all then began to look forward to the next big event. The marriage of his closest friend; the one who had been the ringleader of the stag night plastering ‘joke’! And on that juicy note, we’ll have to leave it all till next week. Don’t forget to tune in. The sweetest of revenge awaits.

Keep the faith, Love Leapy leapylee@gmail.com

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

THREE-TIME world pizza champion Aymeric Provence has helped break a Guinness World Record by producing 12,800 pizzas in nine hours. The 44-yearold from Cheval-Blanc in the Vaucluse region joined a 50-strong international crew of pizza makers in Naples on Tuesday, June 30. The team comfortably

Mad about pizza

beat the previous record of 12,000 pizzas made over a twelve-hour period.

Official adjudicators enforced strict quality standards for the attempt. Every pie had to be round, roughly 30 cm in diameter, free of tears, and the

correct weight. Defective items were discarded immediately. High temperatures tested the team as the warm conditions made the dough difficult to stretch. Working continuously without breaks or food, the crew maintained a relentless pace until organisers

Hidden evolution

SPAIN’S humble wild rabbit has surprised scientists with a secret two million years in the making. Researchers have discovered that the Iberian rabbit, found only in Spain and Portugal, followed its own evolutionary path after becoming isolated on the Iberian Peninsula around two million years ago. The findings show that what many assumed was simply another European rabbit is, in fact, a genetically distinct lineage found nowhere else on Earth.

The study, led by scientists from the University of Oviedo, the University of Porto and Spain’s National Research Council (CSIC), was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). It suggests the peninsula acted as a natural refuge, allowing rabbit populations to evolve separately over millions of years.

The discovery has important conservation implications. The Iberian rabbit is a keystone species, providing food for more than 40 predators, including the endangered Iberian lynx and the Spanish imperial eagle.

Scientists say protecting its unique genetic diversity is more important than ever because rabbit populations elsewhere in Europe could never replace what has evolved naturally on the peninsula.

Fake crash, real theft

plans to mentor two tra inees at the event before retiring from competitive cooking to focus entirely on teaching.

A SMALL knock against your car can seem like an unlucky moment on an otherwise ordinary drive. For dozens of victims, it has emptied their bank accounts.

Portugal’s Public Security Police (PSP) have flagged a new twist on the fake accident scam, after more than 50 complaints in a single month reported losses exceeding €200,000. Criminals stage a minor collision on purpose, then turn hostile, accusing the driver of causing the crash. Loud, aggressive behaviour is used to fluster victims, who are warned they face losing licence points or a lengthy insurance dispute. Most reported cases have occurred in Greater Lisbon.

A quick resolution is then offered: pay a

small sum on a portable card reader and the matter disappears. But as the victim enters their PIN, an accomplice swaps the genuine card for a fake one. Scammers then withdraw large sums before the theft is noticed. Drivers aged 70 to 90, travelling alone, make up most of the recorded cases. Police believe criminals are deliberately targeting older motorists. Officers insist a bank card should never be handed to anyone, whatever the circumstances. Anyone approached should call the police immediately rather than pay. Victims are urged to note the suspects’ appearance, vehicle and registration, then report the incident straight away. Families are encouraged to warn elderly relatives.

TOPTrending

Ride or DiePrime Video

Prime Video’s newest series is an action-packed romp that proves best friends stick with each other through thick and thin, even if one of them is a trained assassin with a target on their back. The focus on women in their mid-50s was a welcome change, and added an extra layer to the already compelling story. And if there’s one actress

you’d believe to be an international assassin, it’s the almost 6-foot tall

Hannah Waddingham whose cheekbones are almost as sharp as her wit.

Enola Holmes 3

Enola Holmes has never followed the rules, only ever her own whims and the clues from whichever case she’s investigating. That remains the case in this third instalment of the franchise. In this sequel, Enola Holmes is no longer a precocious child but a determined woman, set to marry her beloved partner in crime, Tewksbury. That is until her brother Sherlock’s abduction prevents her from walking down the

aisle. Funny, intriguing and surprisingly tender, if this is the final chapter, it’s a good way to end Enola’s story.

Gibraltar’s rock-solid reset!

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

SUSPENSE AND CRIME THRILLERS AND A FREELANCE JOURNALIST.

AT last! When much of the world is busy putting up borders, Gibraltar and Spain knocked one down. As midnight struck on July 14, frontier checks disappeared, sparking celebrations on both sides - as recently reported in these pages.

With a landmark EU-UK treaty dismantling police and customs posts, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez hailed this as “the last wall in continental Europe” to fall. More than a Brexit clean-up, the agreement could also boost defence co-operation between two NATO allies guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean.

Life beneath the Rock always depended on Spain. Over 10,000 workers cross daily from La Linea, while

IN Greece, there’s one region where cars must be equipped with both airbags and life jackets as residents regularly cross a collapsed bridge, barely suspended over the Pineios River.

Palaiopyrgos Bridge, which connects the towns of Palaiopyrgos and Alexandrini in Larissa, has slowly been losing its fight with gravity since 2023, when Storm Daniel tore through Greece and other surrounding countries causing billions of euros worth of damage. The concrete bridge has been buckling ever since.

Drive or dive

Three years on and the bridge still hasn’t been fixed. But that doesn’t mean the residents have stopped using it. Going an alternate route would add around 40 miles there-and-back to residents’ daily commutes, and who’s got the time, or the money, for that?

Local news outlet Larissanet recently posted a video to social media showing the extent of the damage and exactly how locals have adapted. The Youtube video

shows one single truck drive cautiously over the broken bridge, which has dropped so significantly it touches the top of the water.

While drivers have evidently learnt to live with the risky obstacle, the concern now is that one bad storm could either wipe out the bridge and cut off residents only direct exit route, or alternatively, act as a damn, backing up the Pineios River and flooding surrounding villages.

many Gibraltarians own homes across the border. With so much at stake, it’s hardly surprising 96 per cent voted to remain in the EU.

After five years of negotiations, Gibraltar effectively joins the Schengen travel area and EU customs union for goods. British arrivals clear Spanish passport control, while new taxes and duties bring Gibraltar closer to EU rules, ending its “bargain-booze” reputation...

The deal parks the sovereignty dispute, replacing confrontation with co-operation. Supporters believe greater certainty will attract investment and encourage more European flights to Gibraltar. Political arguments will continue, but it’s hoped that as well as resolving unfinished Brexit business, this landmark deal could signal a more pragmatic UK-EU reset.

But with a new UK PM in office, only time will tell...

Thanks for emails to my website below. Thrilled you enjoy my column –and novels!

Nora Johnson’s 14 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers, including the latest ‘The House of Secrets’ (www.nora-johnson. net), all available online at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

Costa del Sol

Famous walk gets WhatsApp

VISITORS heading to Malaga’s Caminito del Rey can now receive real-time updates after the famous walkway launched an official WhatsApp channel. The free service will notify followers about temporary closures, weather-related disruptions, ticket releases and other important announcements before they travel. It joins the attraction’s existing website, social media and Telegram service, giving visitors another convenient way to stay informed. Safety is the main reason for the new channel. Conditions in the Gaitanes Gorge can change quickly, particularly during strong winds or severe weather. Subscribers will also receive information about ticket availability, operational changes and special announcements, which could prove especially useful during busy periods when entry slots sell out well in advance.

Axarquia

David Guetta does Dreambeach

DREAMBEACH is set to launch a new era in Velez-Malaga, bringing one of Spain’s biggest electronic music festivals to the new area.

Running on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, 2026, the event moves from its long-time home in Almería to a purpose-built venue expected to attract tens of thousands of music fans. More than 90,000 people attended the 2025 edition, and organisers hope the new location will build on that success. Four stages will feature techno, house, drum and bass, hardstyle, melodic techno and urban electronic music.

David Guetta tops the bill with his exclusive Special Monolith Show, featuring spectacular visuals and production. Day tickets start from €49, while two-day passes cost from €89.

Mallorca

A legend performs

FOR anyone who still knows every word to True and Gold, one of Britain’s most recognisable voices is heading to Mallorca this summer.

Tony Hadley, the legendary former frontman of Spandau Ballet, will perform at Port Adriano on Saturday, August 1, as part of the marina’s annual music festival, bringing with him a set packed with some of the biggest hits of the 1980s. Hadley helped define the New Romantic era as the lead singer of Spandau Ballet, whose string of international chart successes included True, Gold, Only When You Leave and Through the Barricades. Since launching his solo career, Hadley has continued touring internationally.

Tickets are available from €50.

Costa Blanca South Seaside Ride

MORE than 1.5 million people travel to Alicante’s beaches by bus every summer, and the popular BeachBus campaign is back to make getting to the coast easier than ever.

A total of 10 bus routes connect Alicante’s neighbourhoods and nearby towns with the coastline. Seven urban services, operated by Vectalia, carried more than 1.3 million passengers last summer, while three interurban routes transported almost 263,000 more.

The network provides easy access to Alicante’s main beaches. During the busiest weeks of summer, several routes will operate more frequently, with buses displaying the BeachBus logo to make them easier to spot.

Passengers can check routes, timetables and live updates through the Alicante se Mueve app, the city council’s mobility website or Vectalia’s website.

Almeria

Albox scouts home safe

A VILLAGE brass band became an unlikely distraction for 73 Albox youngsters after a wildfire forced them from summer camp in Granada.

Members of Grupo Scout 106 del Saliente and their adult leaders were evacuated from ValleScout near Restábal on Saturday July 25, as flames spread close to the Béznar reservoir. Around 100 people left the site as a precaution and luckily no one at the camp was hurt. They were later moved to Restábal school, where the council provided food and temporary shelter. With the village fiestas coincidentally under way, music from a charanga (street marching band) helped lower the tension and keep the youngsters entertained while crews tackled the blaze. The fire was declared controlled at around 10pm on Sunday July 26.

Costa Blanca North

Joe Jonas in Javea

AMERICAN pop star Joe Jonas has chosen Jávea for his latest Mediterranean holiday, sharing snapshots of the Costa Blanca town with millions of followers on social media. The Jonas Brothers singer posted a series of Instagram Stories showing him relaxing aboard a boat off the coast, including views of the iconic Cap de la Nau cliffs. According to local reports, Jonas spent part of his stay exploring Jávea’s crystal-clear waters by boat. Joe Jonas first found global fame alongside brothers Kevin and Nick as part of the Jonas Brothers, one of the biggest pop acts of the late 2000s. Jávea has become an increasingly popular retreat for high-profile visitors thanks to its picturesque coves, dramatic cliffs and relaxed atmosphere.

Can you care for Seve as a Dog sitter?

SEVE adores the sea

One of the things you need to know about Seve the red Labrador is that he loves company, dog sitters in particular, and dog sitters who like the beach he loves even more. He loves nothing more than messing around on the beach, playing catch and just being in the water.

He is very well behaved, has excellent recall and his owners say like likes meeting new people. So could you dog sit for Seve? Or perhaps another pet might take your fancy. Check out our Housesit Match listings.

How It Works: Your Next Step to Adventure

Joining our network is simple, secure, and collaborative:

1. Register at HouseSitMatch.com.

2. Create Your Profile with photos highlighting your property features and pets

3. Match & Explore with your perfect housesitter partner and

start planning your next trip! For a small annual registration fee (and zero “per-sit” fees), you access a secure, vibrant

community. Pets get to stay at home, routines intact, properties remain secure, and you get a budget-friendly way to travel. Why HouseSit Match Works

We’re more than a platform — we’re a community.

• Checked Members — We verify both homeowners and sitters to keep the whole network safe.

• Human Support — Our team is on hand to guide you, answer questions, and help you.

• Easy Video Tools — Use our secure video call features to meet sitters before confirming the match.

“This site is definitely the best... Lamia and her team provide such a personal approach and will talk you through any problems.” — Kay Lattimore Claim Your Exclusive Reader Discount Register today at HouseSitMatch.com and use code WELCOME25 to receive 25% off your first year.

Dog’s beach day

A DAY at the beach may be every dog’s dream, but veterinarians warn it can quickly become a medical emergency if owners aren’t careful. As Spain’s summer temperatures continue to soar, vets are reminding pet owners that heatstroke, hot sand, seawater and even ordinary beach games can pose serious risks to dogs enjoying the coast.

Heatstroke remains the biggest concern. Unlike humans, dogs struggle to regulate their body temperature, making them especially vulnerable after running across hot sand or spending too long in direct sunlight. Experts recommend visiting beaches during cooler parts of the day, providing constant access to fresh water and ensuring pets have plenty of shade. Another overlooked danger is sand ingestion. Dogs often swallow sand while chasing balls or chewing toys, which can lead to painful intestinal blockages requiring urgent veterinary treatment.

Owners are also warned

against allowing dogs to drink seawater, which can cause dehydration, vomiting and serious complications linked to excessive salt intake. Meanwhile, scorching sand, broken shells, fishing hooks and hidden debris can all result in painful injuries. Veterinary experts say most beach-related emergencies are

SHEDDING is a natural part of a cat’s life, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept fur on every piece of furniture. While no cat can be made to stop shedding completely, a few simple habits can help keep loose hair under control.

Regular brushing is one of the most effective ways to reduce shedding. It removes loose fur before it ends up around your home and helps distribute the skin’s natural oils, keeping the coat healthy and shiny. Long-haired cats usually need brushing several times a week, while short-haired breeds also benefit from regular grooming.

A balanced diet plays an important role too. Hi-

gh-quality food rich in essential nutrients helps support healthy skin and a strong coat, which can reduce excessive hair loss. Making sure your cat always has access to fresh water also helps maintain healthy skin. Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature can make a difference, as indoor heating may contribute to dry skin. If you notice sudden or unusually heavy shedding, along with bald patches or irritated skin, it is worth consulting a vet to rule out any underlying health problems. With consistent grooming, good nutrition and proper care, you can minimise shedding and keep both your cat and your home looking their best.

entirely preventable with sensible planning and supervision. The message is simple: Spain’s beaches should create happy summer memories, not emergency trips to the vet. A few simple precautions could make the difference between a perfect day by the sea and a life-threatening ordeal.

CHARITY

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life - damaging everything that is important to you. English-speaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aa-costablanca.org CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

MOTORS FOR SALE

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Skoda Superb Estate Superb by name, superb by nature

By Mark Slack ROAD TEST

ADMITTEDLY we all have our different views and opinions but if ever there’s a car that’s perfectly named it’s Skoda’s Superb. They are beloved by taxi drivers for their space, comfort and high mileage reliability.

If you think that makes it a somewhat downmarket choice, then think again.

Mercedes Benz is liked by taxi drivers across the world and it doesn’t exactly seem to have harmed their reputation. Skoda is also a favourite choice of the emergency services, an arguably more prestigious purchaser, for the same reasons of reliability and comfort, not to mention performance.

In its current guise the Superb is offered in both hatch and estate, the latter an increasing rarity these days as SUVs continue their dominance of the showroom floor. Petrol, diesel, mild hybrid, plug-in

hybrid and all-wheel-drive are offered within four trim trims - SE, SE L, Sportline and Laurin and Kle ment.

Standard fare on the lead-in model includes a 33cm/13-inch touchscreen, navigation, front and rear parking sensors with rear camera, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, LED lights, privacy glass, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated folding and dimming door mirrors and keyless start/stop.

Being a Superb, and the estate, it has one of the most commodious load areas ever and is equally generous for the occupants too. The rear seat passengers have enough space to hold a dance!

The lead-in petrol 1.5 TSi engine comes with mild hybrid assistance, there’s a more powerful version of this engine with plug-in hybrid, a 2.0-litre TSi petrol, a couple of 2.0-litre diesel units and some power choices with all-wheel-drive. There is no manual option now on the Superb, it’s a DSG automatic gearbox on all engines. In entry-level SE form the Superb is

Solar eclipse safety

SPAIN will witness an incredible solar event on Wednesday, August 12, when the moon completely covers the sun. The near-total eclipse is set to be incredible, but the traffic on the roads before and after the event… not so much.

Traffic is expected to be heavily congested on the day of the solar event, as people travel to and from viewpoints. To avoid incident, the DGT recommends setting off well in advance, and wai-

ting to return until after the eclipse peak so as to not overwhelm the roads.

In the Basque Country, all heavy-goods vehicles except public transport will be prohibited from circulating between midnight and 11pm. Close to the date, temporary signage will be posted to offer alternate routes.

While the Basque Country is the first to implement this rule, more regions where the path of totality will cross are expected to follow suit.

The eclipse is expected to occur between 8.26pm and 8.33pm, according to the National Geographic Institute. Those still driving during this time are warned to drive with caution.

Don’t record or take photos while driving, turn car lights on during both the partial and full phase, and don’t stop on the hard shoulder - not only is this punishable by a €200 fine, but it’s incredibly dangerous to passengers and other drivers on the road.

re standard equipment is concerned, and there’s the typically Skoda touch of an umbrella hidden in the driver’s door.

On the road my SE test model, with 1.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid and 204PS, made relatively short work of the 0 to 62mph sprint in a whisker over eight seconds. Equally impressive economy and emissions of just 33g/km promise low running costs. It smooths out rough roads impressively well and, despite its size, handles rather tidily too.

The interior is a very nice place to be, with premium looking and tactile materials, a solid feel to the build quality and although there’s a touchscreen there are also proper buttons. Hurrah! Comfortable, spacious, well equipped and reasonably priced, there must be something amiss surely? Actually, no! It really is a five-star car.

Facts at a Glance

• Model: Skoda Superb Estate SE

iV Plug-in Hybrid

• Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol with plug-in hybrid assistance developing 204PS

• Gears: 6-speed DSG automatic

• Price: €48,731/£41,580 (Range from €44,697/£38.135)

• Performance: 0 – 100kph/62mph 8.1 seconds/Max speed 218kph/136 mph

• Economy: Combined realworld circa 4.71 to 4.04 litres per 100km/60-70mpg depending on driving conditions

• Emissions: 33 g/km

Model tested was UKspecification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets

€4,500

SPANISH ministers have approved Plan Auto+, a €400 million scheme offering direct grants of up to €4,500 for electric vehicle buyers. Running from Thursday January 1, 2026, the initiative replaces the previous Moves III programme and backdates discounts for recent purchases.

To qualify for the full €4,500 subsidy, a vehicle must meet three ‘EEE’ criteria: pure battery-electric power, a pre-tax invoice price under €35,000, and assembly within the European Union, including battery production. Plug-in hybrids receive up to €3,375. Vehicles priced between €35,000 and €45,000 receive smaller payouts, whilst those over €45,000 are ineligible. Light commercial vehicles can claim up to €5,000. Showrooms must also provide an additional discount of at least €1,000.

Chinese-built electric cars remain eligible for partial funding but miss out on the European manufacturing

bonus. Private individuals can claim one grant, self-employed workers three, and companies up to 10. Foreign residents with a valid NIE stand in the same queue as Spanish nationals.

Applications will open on an online government platform, though dealers can manage the paperwork and deduct discounts at the point of sale. Industry groups warn funds could run out by autumn, although government ministers insist the budget will cover the whole year. Detailed regulations will appear in the Boletin Oficial de Estado.