Costa de Almería I No. 2147 I 27 Aug - 2 Sept 2026 I FREE Newspaper Dep. Legal MA 76-2025 - ISSN 2488-1732
Almeria’s festival fever BIGGER, BETTER AND MORE INCLUSIVE THAN EVER
COOLTURAL FEST wrapped up its four-day run in Almeria, drawing its biggest crowds yet to the Recinto Ferial for a weekend that organisers and festival-goers alike are calling the best edition so far. The festival, one of the busiest dates on the summer calendar, has grown steadily since it first launched back in 2019. One festival-goer who attended all three days, Paula Jiménez, 31, said this year’s turnout was noticeably bigger than last year’s, yet the festival never felt overwhelmed. The entrance and different facilities had been moved to new spots around the grounds, with more added closer to the secondary Cupra stage. “The toilets are now closer to the entrance, which was appreciated,” she said. Despite the bigger crowds, she said the reorganised layout also meant no long waits for food all
Credit- Cooltural Fest / FB
A more inclusive festival experience.
weekend, adding it was “not overwhelmed like I’ve seen at other festivals.” Cooltural Fest has also built a reputation as one of Europe’s most inclusive festi-
vals, working with the Fundación Music For All to place more than 50 people with disabilities in festival roles each year, including bar work, cleaning and access control. “We’re
proud that each year there continue to be advances in this area,” said Crash Music director Diego Ferrón, whose company organises the festival. Provincial equality
representative Lorena Nieto has called it “the most relevant inclusive cultural project in the province.” Paula said the improvements were visible on the ground this year too, with sign language interpreters and subtitled songs at concerts throughout the weekend. “I’ve seen more people with functional diversity here than at any other festival,” she said. The closing night belonged to David Bisbal, one of Spain’s bestknown pop singers, who returned to his home city to headline the final show. His set, which ran from around 11.15pm, leaned heavily on hits including Ave María, Bulería and Lloraré las penas, alongside tributes to
Camilo Sesto and Julio Iglesias, turning the audience into what was described as an enormous chorus. He shared Sunday’s bill with acts including Vera GRV and Nixon, ahead of the release of his new album, Eternos. Paula said Bisbal’s set was the most anticipated of the weekend, with “everyone” dancing and singing every song. But Bisbal was not the only highlight: Lori Meyers & La MODA brought allout indie and rock hits on Friday night, while Spanish pop/rock legends Hombres G took the main stage on Saturday by storm, playing to an audience ready to sing their hearts out as their city welcomed the start of its annual feria.
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LOCAL NEWS
Credit: Ernest Rose / Shutterstock
Credit: Nacho Such / Shutterstock
Vulture rescue in Garrucha
Record-high sea temperatures.
Garrucha’s own stranded visitor is now recovering at a specialist wildlife centre.
A GRIFFON vulture found stranded and too weak to fly on a street in Garrucha, has been saved after a rescue effort that pulled together the whole town. Residents spotted the disorientated bird on a rooftop before it came down onto Calle Mayor, the town’s main street, on the night of Wednesday, August 19. Passing traffic and a gathering crowd only added to its distress as it
struggled to stand. Rather than approach the bird of prey themselves, neighbours alerted Garrucha Town Hall, prompting Mayor Álvaro Ramos to help coordinate a response involving the animal charity Asociación Eleos, Protección Civil and Andalucia’s environment department. Eleos staff safely collected the exhausted vulture at around 10pm, before officials took
custody ahead of a veterinary check the next morning. Vets are investigating whether heat, dehydration or an injury from the fall left it grounded. The vulture was then earmarked for a specialist recovery centre, giving it a real chance of returning to the skies once it has recovered, and all thanks to the collective efforts of all the people involved from Garrucha.
Sea hits record heat THE sea off Cabo de Gata has just recorded its hottest temperature since records began, according to new data from Spain’s state ports authority. A buoy at Cabo de Gata measured the water at 28.84C on Wednesday afternoon, August 19, narrowly beating the previous record of 28.61C set two years ago. The reading stayed above 28C for around 17 hours before finally easing back overnight. It is the latest in a run of records set along this stretch of coast. Data going back to 2001 shows August sea temperatures barely changed for two dec-
ades, then jumped by more than a degree and a half over the last five years alone. A day earlier, the buoy at Malaga port reached 28.8C, a reading Spain’s weather agency Aemet called ‘incredible’. Aemet says sea temperatures along this coast are running well above normal for the time of year, with new monthly records logged almost every year since 2022 as the Mediterranean keeps warming. Scientists studying the data point to climate change as the main driver behind the long-term warming.
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NEWS
27 August - 2 September 2026
Electricity bills soar
Having your say Registering local resident votes
Air conditioning units working overtime.
ified households should also apply for the social discount scheme, which reduces bills by 25 to 40 per cent. Running high-consumption appliances during off-peak hours, such as
weekends or between midnight and 8 am, offers further savings. The consumer group continues to press the government to reform the pricing system for nuclear and hydro power.
Credit: Ayto de Alcobendas
Credit: José Hernández Camera 51 - Shutterstock
CONSUMER WARNING ISSUED HOUSEHOLDS in Spain on the regulated PVPC electricity tariff face a sharp cost increase in August. Consumer group FACUA calculates that the average bill will reach €101.23 if rates from the first half of August remain steady. This marks the first time an August bill has exceeded €100 since 2022, when the typical monthly charge reached €158.30. By comparison, last August saw an average bill of €80.71. The projected total represents an 8.1 per cent increase from July, which was previously the most expensive month of the year at €93.65. Prices in the first fortnight of August are 17.3 per cent higher than during the same period in 2025. FACUA bases its calculations on a household consuming 366 kWh monthly with 4.4 kW of contracted power. Off-peak rates alone have risen by more than a third year-on-year. To lower costs, FACUA advises residents to review their contracted power levels. Seven out of 10 Spanish homes pay for unnecessary capacity. Reducing excess kilowatts is free and can yield immediate savings. Qual-
Don’t be late for casting a vote.
EXPATRIATE residents must prepare if they wish to vote in the upcoming local elections on May 23, 2027. Under the post-Brexit bilateral agreement between the United Kingdom and Spain, UK nationals with three years of continuous legal residence can participate in municipal votes. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old on polling day, hold a valid TIE or residence permit, and appear on the local municipal register (padrón). Non-Spanish citizens remain excluded from regional and national elections. Registration for the foreign residents’ electoral census opens on December 1 and closes on January 15. Electoral authorities do not send automatic reminder letters. Voters should apply in person at their local town hall. Applicants need to present a valid passport, TIE, current padrón certificate, and documentation proving three years of residence. Applying early avoids processing delays. Missing the January deadline removes the opportunity to vote until the subsequent election cycle in 2031. Further details and verification tools are available on the Instituto Nacional de Estadística electronic portal and the Ministerio del Interior electoral pages. Credit: ahmad magdi / Shutterstock.com
Back to school bites PARENTS RETHINK SPENDING FAMILIES in Spain face an average back-toschool bill of a huge €505 per child in 2026, placing Spain among Europe’s most expensive countries for school equipment. Research by Idealo puts this year’s cost about 1 per cent higher than in 2025 and 19 per cent above 2022. Textbooks make up the largest share, while some everyday items have also become more expensive. Backpack prices have risen 11.25 per cent in a year and stationery by 5.26 per cent. Not everything costs more. Tracksuits are about 19 per cent cheaper, falling from roughly €26 to €21, while sports footwear has dropped by around 9 per cent. The rising bill is also causing debate over whether children really need new equipment
every year. A new uniform or pair of shoes may be necessary as children grow, but parents are increasingly questioning the pressure to replace perfectly usable bags, lunch boxes and stationery. Idealo advises families to check what they already have, distinguish essentials from wants, compare prices and consider second-hand textbooks, uniforms and equipment. Parents remain divided. Some see new school items as an important childhood tradition, while others say replacing good-quality belongings is wasteful. Some suggest children should pay for non-essential purchases themselves, turning the annual school shop into a lesson in budgeting.
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Fresh back to school bits.
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Cove dog rescued
From stranded on the rocks to safely aboard the rescue boat, Bergantín’s rescue in pictures.
him to safety. Rocío sheltered him, fed him and took him to a vet before he was placed in the care of SOS Perros de Adra, a shelter run by
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A night of candlelit poetry Credit: sosperrosdeadra / Instagram
ABANDONED and left to starve in a remote Almeria cove reachable only by boat, a dog has been rescued and is now searching for a new home. The animal, since named Bergantín after the isolated inlet near Las Negras where he was found, was discovered in July partially submerged in water and too weak to stand. A crew from boat tour company Los Ojos del Cabo spotted him during a routine trip and, with the help of local resident Rocío, got
LOCAL NEWS
Credit: Ayuntamiento de Vera / Facebook.
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just 12 volunteers with no government funding. His story has since spread across Spain, drawing interest from Madrid association Nueva Vida in a possible adoption. The shelter says it urgently needs adoptive families, volunteers, food and financial donations, and larger premises. Anyone able to help can contact sosperros deadra@hotmail.com or find the shelter on social media as @sosper rosdeadra.
Poets and musicians performed by candlelight in Vera’s Plaza de los Cuatro Caños.
CANDLES lit the walls of a square in Vera as poets and musicians took over for the fifth year running, in one of the town’s oldest and most recognisable corners. The Plaza de los Cuatro Caños, named after the 19th-century fountain with four spouts, once served as one of the town’s washing spots before residents had running water at home. On Wednesday, August 19, though, it hosted the Night of Poetry and Music by Candlelight, with poets reading from a small stage as musicians played guitar and violin close by.
Culture councillor Antonio Soler joined residents and visitors for the evening, which the Vera town council described as having a very welcoming and unhurried atmosphere. The tradition began in 2022, when a dozen poets and five musicians filled the square for its debut. A quick look at the history books would reveal that Vera’s current town centre was rebuilt after an earthquake destroyed the original hilltop settlement in 1518, with the fountain square that hosted the candlelit event among the many restored areas within the new walled town that followed.
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LOCAL NEWS
Credit: Fotomicar / Shutterstock
The Santuario del Saliente near Albox, reopening this weekend after seven years of restoration work.
THE Santuario Del Saliente, a hillside church near Albox, reopens on Sunday, September 6, after seven years of restoration. Bishop Antonio Gómez Cantero will preside over a formal reconsecration at 7.30pm, blessing a new altar carved from white Macael marble and new floors donated by Almeria stone company Cosentino. The centrepiece is a completed cycle of paintings and frescoes based on the Book of Revelation, created by local artist Andrés García Ibáñez since 2019 and including a large fresco inside the church’s dome. The finished scheme has been described as “unmatched by any other church in Christendom.” The sanctuary houses a small, centuries-old carving of the Virgin known as ‘La Pequeñica’, declared patron saint of Albox in 2019. Its reopening falls two days before the town’s annual pilgrimage to the site on September 8.
Credit: Concejalía de Cultura Garrucha
Hidden Sistine Chapel Garrucha revives western legacy
Guests at Garrucha’s Centro Cultural for the town’s western-themed film night on Saturday, August 22.
GARRUCHA’S Centro Cultural was packed out on Saturday, August 22, for a night celebrating the town’s western film heritage, two years after its only cinema closed for good. The Concejalía de Cultura hosted Noche de Cortometrajes del Oeste, built around Manuel Olaya’s feature debut Infortunio, a stagecoach-robbery western shot at the Oasys MiniHollywood film set in Tabernas. Guest of honour Pedro López, a Garrucha-born actor known from Isabel and Toy Boy, appears in the
film and was joined on stage by presenter Pablo Martínez. Councillor Luis José Fernández Cortés thanked the many collaborators behind the night, among them members of the Lakota American West Association and a British couple, Peter and Francesca Beale, who have lived on the Almeria coast for 60 years. Peter Beale once ran 20th Century Fox’s UK arm, where he green-lit Star Wars and Alien. The councillor said the night proved local culture and cinema “still have plenty to tell.”
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LOCAL NEWS
Wildfire forces evacuations near Las Tres Villas Credit: Plan INFOCA / X
Smoke billows over the hills above Las Tres Villas as Almería’s wildfire took hold on Monday evening.
FLAMES that broke out near the Almeria village of Las Tres Villas on Monday, August 24, had burned more than 300 hectares by Tuesday morning, forcing residents from their homes and halting rail services. The fire took hold shortly after 4pm close to a wind farm in the Doña Maria area before spreading towards the neighbouring municipality of Nacimiento. The Junta de Andalucia declared a Level 1 emergency as nearly 100 firefighters, seven helicopters and dozens of Guardia Civil officers were sent to the scene. Eight residents were confined to their homes and nine more were
moved away as a precaution, though officials said no properties were expected to be damaged. Rail services between Almeria and Linares-Baeza were suspended for several hours after flames reached the tracks, with passengers transferred to replacement buses. Overnight firefighting work brought favourable conditions, with lighter wind and cooler temperatures helping crews on Tuesday. Francisco Góngora, the regional government’s delegate in Almeria, praised the “enormous effort” of emergency teams, though the fire had not yet been declared stabilised and officials urged continued caution.
Kamikaze lorry driver Credit: Guardia Civil
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A lorry driver is under investigation for reversing 400m along a live lane.
A LORRY driver is under investigation after reversing for more than 400 metres along a live lane of Almeria’s A-7 motorway to dodge a traffic jam. Guardia Civil said the driver, caught in a tailback, chose to roll backwards rather than wait, hoping to reach an earlier exit and leave the motorway. The manoeuvre put him in the path of vehicles still travelling forward
in the same lane behind him. Fixed cameras run by Spain’s traffic authority picked up the footage, and officers from Guardia Civil’s Road Safety Investigation Unit traced the vehicle and its driver. He has not been arrested, but is being investigated for a crime carrying up to five years in prison, a fine of up to two years’ salary and a driving ban of up to a decade,
the same charge normally used against wrong-way ‘kamikaze’ drivers. The A-7 carries heavy summer traffic through Almeria, including many foreign residents and holidaymakers travelling along Spain’s southern coast. Guardia Civil said the manoeuvre put other drivers’ safety at high risk on a road built for busy traffic. The case remains open.
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LOCAL NEWS
ALMERIA’S Paseo de Almeria is hosting the city’s Feria for the first time since it was rebuilt into a largely car-free promenade, as the festival returns to the centre of the city until Saturday, August 29. The €11.2 million transformation, which removed 9,700 square metres of asphalt and left just a couple of restricted lanes open, kept the Feria off the Paseo while work was under way last year. For this year’s festivities, however, the revamped esplanade welcomes back decorations, activities and a week long list of events throughout. The historic fairground itself also
turns car-free every night between 6pm and 6am, and the city council has added eight new bus routes running into the early hours for a flat €1.30 fare. More than 300 police officers, firefighters and medics are deployed each day in a special Feria operation, backed by aerial drones and a newly formed mounted police unit. Almeria-born singer David Bisbal came home to give the traditional address to the Virgen del Mar on Friday, August 21, as the city marked 75 years since her canonical coronation, before the fair closes with a procession on Sunday, August 30. Credit: Euro Weekly News
CYCLISTS are preparing for one of the toughest days of the 2026 Vuelta a España in Almeria, as Stage 12 links the coastal town of Vera with a summit finish beside the Calar Alto observatory, one of Europe’s largest telescopes. The 167-kilometre mountain stage, on Thursday, September 3, crosses the Sierra de los Filabres via four categorised climbs before a final brutal ascent above 2,100 metres. The Diputación de Almeria has just finished a €340,000 resurfacing of the observatory’s access road, timed to make its debut carrying the race. Along the route, 20 towns including Antas, Zurgena, Albox and Tabernas, are bracing for road closures through the afternoon. Local leaders are treating the stage as
Alto. Credit: baranq / Shutterstock
From sea to summit Revamped paseo hosts Feria
Riders will battle it out for final position during the climb to Calar.
a rare shot at global exposure. Vera’s mayor, Alfonso García, said the race would help project the town to audiences who will discover its beaches, heritage and gastronomy, while Diputación President José Antonio García Alcaina called it proof of the province’s
contrast from coast to mountain. Race organisers have named the climb among the toughest of this year’s route, with a punishing final kilometre expected to shape the battle for overall victory among riders including favourite Tadej Pogačar.
Puerta de Purchena, where the newly pedestrian Paseo now leads straight into the Feria.
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LOCAL NEWS
THREE Almeria town halls have demanded emergency action on electricity supply within the space of a single week, as repeated power cuts hit homes, hotels and businesses during the region’s busiest tourist weeks. Mojacar’s mayor, Francisco García Cerdá, said residents needed reassurance that a basic service would not keep failing, after outages worsened with summer heat and the town’s seasonal population surge. Two days earlier, Ni-
Credit: Dronie_Spain / Shutterstock
Almeria’s power cut crisis
Mojacar, one of several Almeria coastal towns hit by repeated summer power cuts.
jar’s mayor, José Francisco Garrido, said outages across villages including San Jose, Las Negras and Agua Amarga were not a oneoff or isolated problem, after homes, hotels, restaurants and shops lost power repeatedly
through peak season. Almeria capital has already struck a deal with Endesa for five new transformation centres in neighbourhoods including Ciudad Jardin and El Zapillo, blaming grid saturation and illegal connections for the
disruption. All three councils are now demanding clear timelines, investment details and answers on why the electricity network keeps buckling under summer demand along one of the Costa’s busiest stretches of coastline.
2027’s eclipse price hike Credit: Jarvin Hernandez / Shutterstock
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A partial solar eclipse setting over the sea - Almeria’s 2027 event will bring full totality.
ALMERIA hotels and rental properties are already filling up for an event that will not happen until August 2027 - a total solar eclipse due to plunge 10 towns across the province into darkness for the first time this century. The eclipse is expected to reach its peak around 10.50am on Monday, August 2, 2027, with full totality falling on Almeria city, Adra, El Ejido,
Roquetas de Mar, Nijar and five other municipalities. The longest blackout, two minutes and 23 seconds, will be seen in Almerimar. Cabo de Gata’s clear skies and wide sea horizon are already being promoted as one of the best places to watch it. Rooms along the wider path of totality in Cadiz and Malaga are already changing hands for thousands of euros a night, and one Cadiz
hotelier said requests for next year’s event “have never happened” this early before. Hoteliers around Cabo de Gata are warning of similarly strong demand. Residents and second-home owners hoping to watch the eclipse, or to rent out a property for it, are advised to prepare now, more than a year out, before rooms and prices move out of reach.
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FEATURE
ADVERTISING FEATURE
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27 August - 2 September 2026
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Fully equipped p open p p plan kitchen working well withhe rest of the house.
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SPANISH NEWS
Spain refuses return Photo credit: Massimo Todaro/Shutterstock
Spain itself faces migration pressure.
SPAIN has refused to join several European countries preparing to return asylum seekers to Italy under the EU’s new migration rules, preferring transfers to be handled through wider European solidarity mechanisms. Sweden has confirmed it intends to return migrants to Italy when Rome is responsible for their asylum applications, following similar moves by Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Finland. The issue concerns migrants who entered the EU through Italy before travelling to another member state. Between 2023 and 2025, Italy received 109,427 transfer requests, according to Eurostat figures cited by Euronews. Under the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which came into force on
June 12, responsibility for asylum claims can fall on the country where a migrant first entered the bloc. Austria has already reported four transfers to Italy since the pact took effect. Italy suspended Dublin transfers at the end of 2022, citing pressure on its reception system. The European Commission has reported that Italy rejected 12 transfers between June 12 and July 7. Spain’s Interior Ministry says Madrid wants Dublin transfers managed through the EU’s solidarity mechanisms rather than through individual countries making bilateral arrangements. France has also taken a similar position. The dispute comes as Spain itself faces migration pressure following the mass arrivals in Ceuta.
Tomatina upgrades accessibility ORGANISERS in Buñol are finalising preparations for the 79th edition of La Tomatina, introducing major features to ensure disabled attendees enjoy the world-famous event. Town hall officials launched the ‘+ ACCESIBLE’ initiative to give participants equal opportunity to join the celebrations. Visitors registering through official municipal channels can request personalised assistance before arriving. Attendees collect an identification wristband, granting streamlined passage into both the main party zone and designated accessible spaces. Pictograms line key areas alongside easy-read guides and an accessible website, allowing visitors with cognitive or visual challenges to navigate
Credit:BearFotos/shutterstock
14 27 August - 2 September 2026
New accessible additions.
procedures smoothly. Local councillor Sergio Galarza highlighted that the true success of an international fiesta relies on offering a safe event where no participant is left behind. Participation is capped at 22,000 revellers, with tickets selling out for the third consecutive year. Visitors will arrive from across Spain alongside international guests from Canada, the US, Aus-
tralia, India, and the UK. Lorries loaded with 150,000 kilos of overripe tomatoes will roll through the streets on Wednesday, August 26, turning the town centre into a sea of red puree. These new accessibility features demonstrate how traditional Spanish events continue adapting for modern audiences. Full details on the festival measures are available on the official website.
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SPANISH NEWS
Credit: FabianIrwin - Shutterstock
A MAN posed as a corrupt Guardia Civil officer with the power to fix judicial property auctions, stealing more than €135,000 from three women he met on Facebook, Spanish police said. The 53-year-old, who has previous convictions and no genuine ties to the Guardia Civil, built close relationships with the women before offering to secure specific homes, cars and other property from court auctions in their favour, in exchange for cash. He carried a backpack bearing the Guardia Civil’s emblem, showed photographs of himself in uniform and held a fake badge to convince his victims, along with four mobile phones and six SIM cards to carry out his scams. The first victim paid €45,000 in August
Credit: PixelPainter / Shutterstock
Fake officer’s €135k scam Lion spotted in Spain
Lions in the centre of Spain?
The man told the woman he was a Guardia Civil officer willing to bend the rules for money.
2024 to secure a property, the second more than €43,000 plus gift cards in August 2025, and the third €47,000 in July 2026 for a van and auction properties. Each time, once the money changed hands, he claimed to receive a phone call and vanished. Officers finally ar-
rested him on Monday, August 10, as he stepped off a train from Murcia at ChamartínClara Campoamor station in Madrid, recovering just over €6,000 in cash. He has since been charged with fraud and embezzlement and has appeared before a judge.
THE Guardia Civil has launched a major search operation in central Spain after a delivery driver reported seeing a lion beside a mountain road. The alarm was raised on Wednesday, August 19, when a call to the 112 emergency service placed the big cat near the Convento del Piélago on the TO-1375 road, between El Real de San Vicente and Navamorcuende. Spain’s nature protection unit, SEPRONA, is leading the search across the Sierra de San Vicente mountains in Toledo. Officers are using foot patrols, a helicopter from Madrid, and drones to sweep the rural terrain. Checks at the local Zoo Safari Fauna Aventura in Hinojosa de San Vi-
cente and facilities across Madrid have yielded no reports of missing animals. Authorities continue to inspect private holdings, leaving investigators to determine whether the sighting was a case of mistaken identity or an unregistered captive animal. Town halls in surrounding villages have warned residents to take precautions. Officials advise members of the public to avoid searching for the creature and to contact emergency services immediately if they spot anything unusual. Until the search concludes, local walkers are being urged to remain vigilant. Exotic wildlife is everything a holidaymaker in Spain hopes to see. But, not this!
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SPANISH NEWS
MERCADONA is beginning a major redesign of its supermarkets that will bring more space for fresh food, new layouts and lower energy and water consumption, with €3.7 billion being invested in the transformation until 2033. The latest Tienda 9 opened in Guadalajara after a €2.9 million refurbishment of the Calle Capitán Arenas store. The 1,596-square-metre supermarket is the first of its kind in Castilla-La Mancha. The new format changes how stores are organised, moving away from separate business sections towards a process-based system intended to reduce unnecessary movement for employees and make shopping easier. Fresh food is a major focus. A new Obrador Central brings preparation, cooking and packaging together, freeing more shop-floor space
Photo credit: Veja/Shutterstock
Mercadona transformation Life among wolves
Credit: Paislobo Prensa / YouTube
18 27 August - 2 September 2026
A Spanish man raised by wild wolves has died aged 80.
Fresh food is a major focus.
for fresh products. Mercadona says the redesigned stores can cut energy consumption by up to 10 per cent and water use by up to 40 per cent. New refrigeration technology, including Aerofoil systems and CO2 refrigerants, is also being introduced. Customers will also notice smaller changes, including rest areas. The Guadalajara supermarket has 18 chairs.
Mercadona plans to have around 60 Tienda 9 stores operating by the end of 2026, before continuing the rollout across Spain until 2033. The first Madrid-region store opened in Valdemoro following a €6 million investment. For shoppers, the eventual changes will mean redesigned layouts, more fresh-food space and new technology as the format spreads across the country.
MARCOS RODRÍGUEZ PANTOJA, the man known as the Wolf Boy of Sierra Morena, has passed away aged 80 in Ourense. Born in Añora, Cordoba, Rodríguez Pantoja became stranded in the Sierra Morena mountains in Jaen in 1954 while working as a goatherd. His mother died in childbirth when he was three, and his father abandoned him after leaving with another woman. The goatherd who had been teaching him how to make fire, find food and water, and build tools either died or disappeared, leaving the boy alone in the mountains. He later said a female wolf fed him before accepting him into her pack, where he lived for around 12 years. In 1965, aged 19, he was found by the Guardia Civil wearing furs, barefoot
and communicating through grunts. Officers removed him from the mountains as he resisted by howling and biting. He was sent to an orphanage, where nuns taught him to speak again, walk upright and eat at a table. Rodríguez Pantoja later said returning to society after years of isolation was the most frightening experience of his life. He later lived and worked in Mallorca, completed military service, and worked as a shepherd and in hospitality, though he struggled to adapt. In a 2018 interview, he said he was disappointed in human nature and wished he could leave society. Rodríguez Pantoja spent his final years in the village of Rante, Ourense, where he passed away surrounded by friends and neighbours.
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FEATURE - SPANISH NEWS
Virus detection closes zoo
LEAPY LEE - SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT
Car takes charge
MY friend Barry arrived for lunch recently looking extremely pleased with himself. He is now the proud owner of a brand new and positively gleaming, all-electric motor car, or, as I prefer to call it, a computer on wheels. Apparently, it has something called ‘one-pedal driving.’ You press the accelerator to go forward, but when you take your foot off, the car starts braking. This sounds clever, but I have spent my entire life believing that one pedal makes you go and another makes you stop. At my age, I don’t want the car suddenly changing the rules. It also has designer lighting, heated seats and panels that warm your backside. It can recognise road signs, keep itself in the correct lane and tell him when he is too close to the car in front. In other words, it has become his wife! The car has cameras looking in every direction and can apparently park itself. Barry simply presses a button, takes his hands off the wheel and watches while the car glides neatly into a space. Very impressive, but what happens when it decides it prefers another space? You could press ‘Park’ outside Eroski and find yourself being driven into the garden centre next door. These things now respond to voice commands too. You can ask for directions, change the music or adjust the temperature without lifting a finger. Soon it will be answering back. The whole thing reminds me of Wallace
and Gromit’s Wrong Trousers. Everything works beautifully until the machinery develops a mind of its own. Imagine being trapped in your heated seat while the car announces, ‘I have reviewed your driving history and decided you are no longer qualified.’ Then we come to charging it. Barry tells me a public fast charger can give him another 40 or 50 kilometres in about half an hour. That’s fine, providing you can find one that is free and working. But what happens 50 miles later when there isn’t another charging point? Do you carry an enormously long extension lead and knock on somebody’s door? ‘Excuse me, madam. Could I plug my car into your bedroom for a couple of hours?’ Some drivers, I understand, go out late at night to charge it because there are fewer queues. When I was younger, men crept out after dark for romance, gambling or a secret drink. Now they sneak off at midnight hoping to find an available socket. I admit the car is beautiful, quiet, economical and astonishingly clever. But I’ll stick with my ordinary car for the moment. It may not park itself or warm my bottom, but at least it still goes where I tell it. On reflection, Barry hasn’t bought a car, he’s accidentally married one. Just jiving ya Barry, love the colour. Keep the faith. Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.com
Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
Credit:Ihor Bondarenko/shutterstock
Two birds died from West Nile Virus.
JEREZ’S Zoo was closed preventatively on August 19, following the deaths of an elderly golden eagle and a cassowary. Both birds tested positive for West Nile virus. Animal Protection delegate Carmen Pina described the cases as isolated and confirmed that response measures are being closely coordinated alongside the Junta de Andalucia’s agriculture and health authorities. Currently, no other animals at the facility have tested positive. Surveillance remains active, including routine monitoring of sentinel geese, which tested negative in recent sampling. The virus is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites. Because infected birds do not pose a direct transmission risk to zoo visitors, public health measures are focusing on mosquito control rather than direct animal contact. Following the positive cases, regional authorities declared Jerez an alert area for West Nile fever from August 19, until September 16. The city will remain under a high-risk classification, with joint response plans targeting mosquito larvae and adult populations. The zoo remains closed while health and veterinary responses continue.
26 27 August - 2 September 2026
www.euroweeklynews.com
EUROPRESS - FEATURE
Never ending delay Rhine’s swimming fines
Credit:Hadrian / Shutterstock.com
Bathing in the Rhine.
tragic drownings along busy navigation lanes, municipal authorities in cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Neuss issue fines reaching up to €1,000 for anyone entering the water. Swiss leaders chose a different path after a 1986 chemical warehouse fire, investing heavily in exit steps, showers, and real-time safety tracking to manage risk safely.
TOP Trending
Activists from the Swimmable Cities European Forum argue that urban river management must evolve. Campaigners in Berlin, Paris, and Rotterdam are now pushing to return historical waterways back to the public safely. Anyone fancying dipping their toes in and taking a refreshing dip should check before taking the plunge.
brought to you by Revolution Technology
Masters of the Universe FROM Saturday morning cartoons to the big-screen, and now the slightly smaller screen, as Masters of the Universe becomes available on Prime Video. Although, it might be better to stick to the original cartoon. The success of Barbie seemed to make Hollywood believe audiences wanted films about toys, when instead they want depth and tures Pic ny
Credit: Roman HRA - Shutterstock
SWELTERING summer heatwaves across Europe leave millions desperate for a refreshing cool dip, yet plunging into the Rhine can carry a heavy penalty depending on location. Picturesque scenes unfold in Basel, Switzerland, where workers drift downstream using colourful waterproof bags called Wickelfisch. Thousands gathered on Tuesday, August 18 for the annual mass river swim, floating two kilometres while commercial boat traffic paused. Cross into neighbouring German territory and the legal picture transforms instantly. Heavy commercial shipping dominates German stretches of the Rhine. Riverbed alterations created stone groynes sticking out from banks, generating invisible whirlpools that pull swimmers toward industrial barges. Following
Credi t: S o
HOLIDAYMAKERS heading from Vienna to Crete on a Ryanair jet faced a chaotic start to their break on Friday, August 22. The plane took off around 12.30 pm, but cabin crew turned the aircraft round and returned straight to Vienna Airport after oxygen masks dropped 30 minutes into the flight. Ground crews conducted technical checks, with passenger footage showing adhesive tape applied Ryanair flight at Vienna. to the affected area to stop the masks falling again. The pilot announced a rescheduled departure time of 3.40 pm, immediate attention from emergency leaving passengers waiting inside the medical crews. Paramedics treated him stationary cabin. for nearly an hour before taking the pair Tensions escalated during the delay away from the apron by bus. when a male passenger requested a free The police response forced the airline bottle of water, explaining that he felt un- to miss its departure slot, pushing takewell. A heated row broke out with a flight off back to 4.30 pm. attendant, resulting in police intervenTravellers spent over four hours tion. Seven officers boarded the aircraft trapped on board, with passenger acto remove the man and his partner from counts revealing that toilets were temthe flight. porarily out of service and passengers As officers escorted the passenger were forced to pay for drinks and reonto the tarmac, he collapsed, requiring freshments.
nuance, two things this film lacks. The characters look and act the part, but nostalgia only takes this film so far.
Furious
FURIOUS follows two fascinating female characters: a serial killer hunting rich and morally corrupt men, and the FBI agent hunting her. During the course of the investigation, Agent Alice Black soon realises her and the killer’s path may be diverging, drawing them together and blurring the line between right and wrong. Dark and gritty, the series relies on tropes and clichés, but despite its similarity
to other popular series, it manages to still be a harrowing story of its own.
FINANCE Bond yields
EUROPEAN bond yields surged to multi-year highs as the Iran war drove oil prices higher, intensifying inflation fears. France’s 10year yield reached a 17-year high, while Germany’s hit its highest since 2011. Investors are increasingly concerned that persistent inflation, rising government borrowing and geopolitical uncertainty could keep interest rates elevated.
Meta trial
META, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, is facing a €1.2 trillion fine after a 29 US state coalition accused the company of manipulating networks to entrap children in its algorithm. Should Meta lose, in addition to the fine, they would have to redesign child safety measures across all sites.
Industrial growth
SPAIN’S industrial turnover rose 9.2 per cent year-onyear in June, extending its annual growth streak to four months. The increase was driven by petroleum refining, computer and telecommunications equipment, and electrical equipment manufacturing. However, monthly turnover fell 0.5 per cent from May.
Unlawful prices
CMA, THE UK’s watchdog, has launched investigations against Virgin Atlantic and Trainline. Both are accused of concealing mandatory charges that customers should be made aware. The move is part of a broader crackdown against misleading “tiered pricing.”
Klarna financing
KLARNA’S revenue rose 27 per cent in the second quarter, supported by more merchants, financing and paying subscribers. Gross merchandise volume increased 18 per cent, while financing gross merchandise volumes surged 82 per cent.
euroweeklynews.com • 27 August - 2 September 2026
STAT OF WEEK
2.9 %
The euro area annual inflation rate was 2.9 per cent in July 2026, up from 2.8 per cent in June, according to Eurostat.
Young people at home YOUNG people across Europe are finding it harder to build independent lives, but nowhere has the situation deteriorated faster than in Spain. The share of Spaniards aged 18 to 34 who live independently without financial support from their families has fallen from 41 per cent in 2016 to just 31 per cent in 2025. Meanwhile, the European rate has remained broadly stable at around 50 per cent. The squeeze is particularly confusing because youth unemployment has fallen from almost 40 per cent in 2013 to 16 per cent, while temporary employment has dropped from 56 per cent in 2018 to 32 per cent. Yet rising housing costs are swallowing up those gains. The property market explains why grown adults are struggling to strike out on their own. The average first-time buyer in Europe is 31.3 years old. This matters because buying
Cost of living means adults still live at home with their parents.
a first home is often a major step towards financial independence. If young Spaniards are struggling even to leave the family home, reaching the property ladder can be pushed further out of reach. With rents and house prices rising, employment improvements alone are proving insufficient to help a generation establish homes and financial security
Wheat wars EACH month the food bill increases. The US-Israel war in the Middle East is largely responsible, with the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz driving oil prices. However, Russia’s escalating war in Ukraine is set to worsen food inflation. Ukraine is one of the world’s most important producers and exporters of wheat and grain. In 2025, Ukraine’s total grain production reached 60 million tonnes, but Russia’s contin-
Rental squeeze Credit: Goksi / Shutterstock
BUSINESS EXTRA
27
ued assault could shrink this year’s harvest, cutting a large portion of Ukraine’s GDP and inflating global food prices. Global food prices are expected to increase by 11.8 per cent in 2026 and 4.8 per cent in 2027, according to Oxford Economics. Wheat-based products will likely bear the brunt of the price hike, pushing up relatively cheap shelf staples like bread and pasta.
of its own. The pressure is particularly clear in the housing market. Property prices rose 9.5 per cent in 2025, reaching €2,284 per square metre, while rents rose 6.8 per cent in July to €15.3 per square metre. For young people without family support, these costs make both renting and buying increasingly difficult. Credit: BearFotos / Shutterstock
Wars and extreme weather force food prices sky-high.
Extreme heatwaves and severe droughts across Europe have compounded the issue, dropping the combined EU-UK harvest forecast to 286.6 million tonnes.
Pre-owned
CEO salary
Ice-cream sales
IKEA is stepping into the second-hand retail space, setting up a new site to rival eBay and Vinted. The resurgence of vintage clothing trends, a focus on sustainability, and money-saving habits has led to a thriving second-hand industry, which is currently valued at approximately €209.28 billion. Ikea’s platform will allow customers to buy and sell preowned Ikea items. Customers can trade for cash or be paid 15 per cent extra with an Ikea gift card.
THE average salary for a median Tesla employee is approximately €49,320. A new AFL-CIO study reveals that, while serving as CEO, Elon Musk earned 2.5 million times that. In 2025, Tesla paid the world’s first trillionaire €136 billion, an unprecedented amount even among the world’s elite. Excluding Musk, the average CEO salary in 2025 was €19.8 million, up from €16.2 million the year before, jumping to a 312 to 1 ratio. These figures show a sharp increase in CEO salaries, but if Musk’s earnings were considered, the average would increase to €262.7 million.
THE EU’s ice-cream market is showing no signs of cooling down. The industry has faced challenges due to inflation, but a shift to plant-based, low-sugar and lactose-free options diversified production and helped keep the market steady. According to Eurostat, the EU produced 3.44 litres of ice-cream in 2025, a 1.9 per cent increase compared with 2024. Germany led production with 603 litres, but Spain wasn’t far behind in fourth place with 458 million litres. The European ice-cream market was valued at €20.1 billion in 2025. Research and Markets predict it will reach €29.4 billion by 2034.
HOUSEHOLD budgets are being squeezed tighter than ever. A recent Idealista study reveals rent consumes 39 per cent of the average Spanish family income. This percentage is highest in Malaga, where 58 per cent of the family income goes towards rent. Comparatively, only 29 per cent of the average income is needed for a mortgage. However, this doesn’t account for the deposit needed to obtain a mortgage, which many families can’t save due, in part, to high rental costs.
Oil rises again OIL prices have climbed 15 per cent since the start of August, with Brent crude rising above €78 a barrel and reaching its highest level since late July. The latest gains reflect mounting tensions in the Middle East, particularly after the expiry of the 60day US-Iran ceasefire. Concerns over potential disruption to oil supplies and shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have increased market volatility and pushed prices higher.
Consumer confidence ACCORDING to S&P Global UK, consumer sentiment dropped to 42.9 in August, down from the 43.4 fourmonth high in July. Job security amongst UK citizens also dropped to 45.6, the lowest level since April 2023. Consumer sentiment measures the overall health of the UK economy. Readings below 50 are considered negative. Despite visible economic growth, households still feel financially insecure, largely due to high levels of inflation and stagnating wages.
28
FINANCE
27 August - 2 September 2026
euroweeklynews.com
LONDON - FTSE 100
DOW JONES
Closing Prices 24 August
Company
Price(p)
Maximum
Minimum
Closing Prices 24 August
Net
3I Group.....................................2.919,00............2.940,00......... 2.911,00......... 148,53K Admiral Group.............................3.970,0..............3.994,0........... 3.968,0........... 17,15K Airtel Africa................................. 334,60...............335,00............328,60.......... 272,83K Anglo American...........................4.141,0..............4.149,0........... 4.071,0.......... 229,76K Antofagasta................................3.963,00............3.970,00......... 3.891,00........... 85,3K Associated British Foods.............2.063,0..............2.067,0........... 2.051,0........... 34,44K AstraZeneca...............................12.115,1............12.204,0......... 12.101,0......... 130,51K Auto Trader Group Plc................ 540,80...............547,60............539,80........... 113,5K Aviva........................................... 721,44...............722,40............716,60........... 335,9K B M European Value Retail.......... 236,60...............237,80............234,40.......... 114,31K BAE Systems..............................2.121,00............2.130,00......... 2.102,00......... 195,26K Barclays...................................... 492,15...............493,60............488,95............1,99M Barratt Redrow............................ 311,40...............314,50............310,20.......... 288,56K Beazley.......................................1.295,68............1.296,50......... 1.295,50.......... 79,09K Berkeley......................................3.542,0..............3.572,0........... 3.498,0............ 3,97K BP............................................... 545,40...............547,80............544,20............1,75M British American Tobacco...........4.127,0..............4.146,0........... 4.111,0.............112K BT Group.................................... 205,00...............206,00............204,50.......... 775,27K Bunzl...........................................2.778,3..............2.792,0........... 2.748,0........... 24,72K Centrica....................................... 153,40...............154,00............152,80.......... 477,48K Coca Cola HBC AG......................4.560,0..............4.564,0........... 4.536,0........... 19,86K Compass...................................... 31,04.................31,13..............30,95............ 71,66K ConvaTec Group......................... 225,60...............226,60............225,00.......... 267,02K Croda Intl....................................3.401,0..............3.440,0........... 3.392,0........... 76,71K DCC.............................................6.370,0..............6.375,0........... 6.365,0........... 23,36K Diageo.........................................1.737,7..............1.745,0........... 1.726,5.......... 415,63K Diploma.....................................7.295,00............7.300,00......... 7.200,00.......... 36,56K EasyJet........................................ 672,73...............675,00............671,80.......... 384,04K Entain.......................................... 541,50...............546,40............539,40.......... 114,65K Experian......................................2.943,0..............2.969,0........... 2.927,9........... 85,32K F&C Invest.................................. 338,80...............340,60............338,59.......... 181,01K Frasers........................................ 826,00...............830,00............822,00............ 6,84K Fresnillo.....................................3.196,05............3.253,70......... 3.181,00......... 118,52K Glencore...................................... 599,20...............601,00............595,90.............2,3M GSK plc......................................1.907,50............1.921,61......... 1.906,23......... 320,35K HALEON...................................... 363,20...............364,50............362,50.......... 779,18K Halma..........................................3.550,0..............3.564,0........... 3.498,0........... 71,69K Hikma Pharma...........................1.626,00............1.633,00......... 1.620,00.......... 24,32K Hiscox........................................1.812,00............1.815,05......... 1.792,00.......... 43,42K Howden Joinery.......................... 799,50...............801,00............794,50........... 60,03K HSBC.........................................1.515,00............1.518,20......... 1.504,20...........3,46M IAG.............................................. 427,00...............428,20............423,00.......... 781,12K ICG PLC.....................................2.018,00............2.024,00......... 2.012,00.......... 14,09K IMI PLC......................................3.069,65............3.070,00......... 3.038,00.............18K Imperial Brands..........................2.498,00............2.506,00......... 2.488,00........... 65,6K Informa....................................... 901,40...............902,60............892,80.......... 102,22K InterContinental........................... 160,7.................161,2..............159,9............. 8,92K Intertek........................................5.845,0..............5.847,5........... 5.840,0........... 88,36K
Company
Price(p)
Maximum
Minimum
Net
J Sainsbury................................. 333,40...............334,71............332,70.......... 496,92K JD Sports Fashion........................ 84,74.................85,90..............84,52........... 772,28K Kingfisher.................................... 317,20...............321,80............316,40.......... 173,49K Land Securities........................... 691,50...............693,50............688,50.......... 189,92K Legal & General.......................... 284,06...............286,20............282,78............5,22M Lloyds Banking........................... 111,20...............111,55............110,85............5,43M London Stock Exchange..............8.660,0..............8.690,0........... 8.612,0........... 42,87K Londonmetric Property............... 193,40...............194,00............193,00.......... 342,68K M&G........................................... 348,10...............348,70............346,40.......... 283,04K Marks & Spencer........................ 383,70...............385,30............381,80.......... 153,36K Melrose Industries...................... 468,60...............468,90............465,50.......... 233,26K Mondi.......................................... 858,80...............867,60............852,40........... 48,26K National Grid..............................1.170,00............1.172,50......... 1.163,50......... 363,68K NatWest Group........................... 683,60...............686,20............681,00.......... 292,08K Next...........................................15.290,0............15.520,0......... 15.273,5........... 4,63K Pearson......................................1.208,00............1.208,00......... 1.197,50.......... 14,63K Pershing Square........................3.902,00............3.948,00......... 3.878,00.......... 11,83K Persimmon.................................1.146,5..............1.159,9........... 1.141,5........... 96,08K Prudential...................................1.032,77............1.035,50......... 1.029,00......... 204,85K Reckitt Benckiser........................5.152,0..............5.166,0........... 5.138,8........... 53,42K Relx............................................2.615,00............2.623,00......... 2.598,30......... 135,64K Rentokil....................................... 344,90...............345,20............342,00.......... 337,73K Rightmove.................................. 506,00...............513,60............505,20........... 79,43K Rio Tinto PLC..............................7.688,0..............7.708,0........... 7.625,0.......... 145,35K Rolls-Royce Holdings................1.514,80............1.515,80......... 1.497,80......... 507,83K Sage...........................................1.095,00............1.098,00......... 1.089,00.......... 64,57K Schroders.................................... 583,5.................584,0..............583,5........... 228,84K Scottish Mortgage......................1.452,48............1.461,00......... 1.450,94......... 147,01K Segro.......................................... 963,00...............964,40............960,80.......... 119,43K Severn Trent...............................3.126,0..............3.136,0........... 3.100,0........... 19,75K Shell............................................3.403,5..............3.414,0........... 3.401,0.......... 606,65K Smith & Nephew........................1.072,50............1.075,00......... 1.065,00......... 139,86K Smiths Group.............................2.614,00............2.621,00......... 2.595,00.......... 24,37K Spirax-Sarco Engineering...........7.081,5..............7.095,0........... 7.035,0............. 3,3K SSE............................................2.379,00............2.387,00......... 2.369,00.......... 68,61K Standard Chartered....................2.168,00............2.172,00......... 2.153,00......... 140,06K Standard Life............................... 920,00...............925,50............916,50.......... 183,84K Taylor Wimpey............................. 82,64.................83,50..............82,28........... 602,31K Tesco.......................................... 456,80...............458,89............455,70........... 416,1K Unilever.......................................4.708,5..............4.719,0........... 4.686,0.......... 150,44K Unite........................................... 524,50...............529,00............521,00........... 96,49K United Utilities............................1.430,00............1.435,00......... 1.419,00.......... 49,56K Vistry Group................................ 265,80...............267,20............263,68.......... 347,67K Vodafone Group PLC................. 116,850.............117,600..........116,608...........2,41M Weir Group................................2.840,00............2.852,00......... 2.816,00.......... 64,54K Whitbread...................................2.443,0..............2.450,0........... 2.400,0........... 24,52K WPP............................................ 392,80...............392,80............386,40.......... 180,47K
Company
Price(p)
Maximum
Minimum
Net
3M.............................................. 178,96...............181,03............178,02............2,59M Amazon.com............................... 258,63...............261,09............257,04...........35,72M American Express....................... 336,00...............337,16............333,42............2,62M Amgen........................................ 439,33...............440,51............429,38............2,11M Apple........................................... 309,35...............312,38............307,01...........46,88M Boeing......................................... 214,20...............216,46............212,75............6,24M Caterpillar.................................... 827,90...............832,00............812,34............2,47M Chevron...................................... 205,27...............207,82............205,01............7,36M Cisco........................................... 111,04...............112,19............110,45...........18,41M Coca-Cola..................................... 91,10.................91,20..............90,32.............15,6M Goldman Sachs..........................1.039,28............1.043,66......... 1.008,85...........2,75M Home Depot................................ 335,61...............338,58............333,00............3,42M Honeywell................................... 215,90...............219,83............215,78............3,47M IBM............................................. 235,68...............238,72............233,12............3,89M J&J............................................. 270,24...............272,65............267,00............6,19M JPMorgan................................... 351,58...............356,86............350,37............8,11M McDonald’s................................. 270,95...............271,25............268,11............3,78M Merck&Co................................... 152,55...............154,49............148,59...........15,98M Microsoft.................................... 483,24...............486,36............478,53...........22,51M Nike.............................................. 40,76.................41,13..............40,24............14,71M NVIDIA........................................ 214,72...............218,74............214,50...........98,87M P&G............................................ 144,68...............145,27............142,14............9,79M Salesforce Inc............................. 209,17...............211,07............204,73............9,69M Sherwin-Williams........................ 346,59...............350,02............345,71............1,69M The Travelers.............................. 363,58...............367,19............363,38............1,61M UnitedHealth............................... 390,11...............393,66............386,00............4,89M Verizon......................................... 49,45.................49,72..............49,17............15,08M Visa A.......................................... 371,04...............371,80............366,66............6,68M Walmart...................................... 103,70...............104,28............102,15...........44,45M Walt Disney................................. 107,78...............108,41............106,97............6,84M M - Million Dollars
NASDAQ
Closing Prices 24 August
Company
Change Net / % Volume Most Advanced RF Acquisition II............................................. 355,62 %.........................3,15M Werewolf Therapeutics................................... 102,04 %.......................296,73M Stablecoinx...................................................... 85,25 %.........................98,97M Sadot............................................................... 56,16 %.........................19,61M Aiai Holdings.................................................... 46,14 %.........................13,13M Exyn Tech........................................................ 39,87 %.........................16,07M Lisata Therapeutics.......................................... 38,39 %..........................7,12M AMC Robotics.................................................. 32,65 %........................223,44K The9 ADR......................................................... 32,57 %........................911,14K Datacentrex...................................................... 29,70 %..........................1,33M Sphere 3D........................................................ 29,21 %..........................3,08M The Hain Celestial............................................. 27,34 %............................ 2M Canaan............................................................. 27,25 %.........................96,52M Super X AI........................................................ 25,29 %........................578,14K PS International............................................... 25,11 %........................991,16K Vogenx............................................................. 24,82 %........................428,74K Zjk Industrial.................................................... 23,63 %..........................2,06M AIFU Inc DRC................................................... 23,33 %.........................47,97K Critical Metals Corp.......................................... 22,59 %.........................16,43M M - Million Dollars
Company
Change Net / % Volume Most Declined SU Holdings.....................................................-42,34 %.........................40,25M GD Culture.......................................................-37,35 %.........................11,03M CDT Environmental Tech Investment Holdings.-35,52 %.........................4,99M Jianzhi Century Technology ADR.....................-33,73 %..........................1,04M Lucas GC..........................................................-31,33 %........................123,37M Profusa............................................................-27,87 %........................647,69K Flux Power Holdings........................................-26,95 %..........................1,65M Professional Diversity......................................-26,05 %..........................10,8M iSpecimen........................................................-25,55 %..........................1,55M Singularity Future Tech....................................-25,29 %..........................1,37M Top Wealth Holding.........................................-25,00 %........................512,64K BTC Digital.......................................................-22,45 %.........................17,08M Treasure Global................................................-22,22 %........................249,94K Hennessy Capital Investment Corp VII.............-22,00 %........................110,39K Game Your Game.............................................-20,12 %..........................1,93M Zerostack.........................................................-20,03 %........................463,87K Xiao I ADR.......................................................-18,39 %........................915,12K Synergy CHC....................................................-17,20 %...........................2,7M Americas Car-Mart...........................................-15,90 %........................390,68K M - Million Dollars
DR MARCUS STEPHAN WHEN it comes to the skin spots we call moles, most of us barely give our moles a second thought - until one seems to change. While it’s sensible to keep an eye on your skin, the good news is that most moles are completely harmless. Knowing what to look for can help you separate normal changes from those that deserve medical attention. Take a close look at your skin and you’ll probably find a collection of moles scattered across your body. In fact, most adults have between 10 and 40 moles, and some people naturally have many more. Despite being so common, moles often spark anxiety, particularly when stories about skin cancer make the headlines. So, what exactly are they, why do they appear, and when should you actually be worried? A mole, or naevus as doctors call it, is simply a collection of pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. Normally these cells are spread evenly throughout the skin, giving it its colour. Sometimes
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Secret agents, skin spots, and breakwaters Credit: New Africa/Shutterstock
30 27 August - 2 September 2026
The number of moles you have is largely down to genetics.
however they gather together in one place, creating a visible mark. Some are flat, others are raised. They may be tan, brown, black, pink or even almost the same colour as your skin. Some are smooth, while others have a rough texture or even sprout a few hairs. Most develop during childhood or adolescence, although it’s perfectly normal to notice new ones appearing into your 30s. READ MORE
The information provided in this column is for educational and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. Read more at euroweeklynews.com/author/mstephan/
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Effortless everyday LOOKING polished doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours getting ready. Often, it’s the small details that make the biggest difference, turning a simple outfit and minimal makeup into a look that feels considered. Hair is a good place to start. A sleek ponytail, neat bun or softly styled waves can instantly make an outfit feel more finished. On busy mornings, a little dry shampoo can revive roots, while a claw clip or simple hairband adds an effortless finishing touch. Makeup doesn’t need to be complicated either. A touch of concealer, brushed brows, mascara and a little blush can bring life to your face without creating a heavy look. Add a tinted lip balm and you have an easy everyday combination.
Credit: KaterynaUKR / Shutterstock
It’s the small details that matter.
Then there’s clothing. Well-fitting, crease-free pieces will always look more polished, even when the outfit itself is simple. A favourite pair of trousers with a clean shirt or a smart jacket can create an instantly pulled-together silhouette. Accessories are often the final piece. Gold
or silver earrings, a structured handbag, sunglasses or a classic watch can elevate even the most basic outfit. The secret isn’t perfection. It’s knowing which details work for you and using them consistently. Sometimes, looking effortlessly polished really is that simple.
Germany’s invasive species issue.
IN April 1934, forestry workers opened two boxes beside the Edersee reservoir near Vohl, releasing two male and two female North American raccoons. Local officials hoped to enrich the native wildlife, acting before formal approval arrived. Despite popular urban legends blaming Nazi official Hermann Göring for the release, official records show the
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EUROPRESS
Raccoon invasion decision was strictly a local administrative matter. Those four original animals, combined with later escapes from farms and additional releases, sparked a population explosion. An estimated two million raccoons now inhabit Germany, and
Kassel has become the informal raccoon capital of Europe. These adaptable creatures frequently invade properties, causing extensive damage. Despite the European Union classifying the raccoon as an invasive species, population con-
trol efforts have failed. Hunters now cull over 250,000 annually, yet total numbers continue to rise. Conservationists debate whether they pose a threat to native populations. Over nine decades after their release, the creatures have permanently established themselves across the nation.
France legalises assisted dying FRANCE has signed assisted requests, including from British dying into law, becoming the latest nationals with legal residency. European country to allow it after Britain’s own version passed the Spain, five years after MPs in House of Commons in 2025 but London tried and failed to do the collapsed in the House of Lords same. President Emmanuel Macron in April this year, after opponents promulgated the law following a tabled more than 1,200 amendments final vote in the National Assembly and left it without enough in July and approval from France’s parliamentary time to pass. Constitutional Council in August. Adults with an incurable illness in its terminal or advanced stage, unbearable physical suffering and full mental capacity will be able to request the procedure, provided they are French nationals or settled residents. No one can actually use the new right yet. Health Ministry decrees setting out the practical rules are not expected before early 2027, and France’s national health authority still has to rule on which substances can be used. Spain has allowed a similar procedure since President Emmanuel Macron, who signed France’s 2021, granting assisted dying law. more than 2,000 Credit: Gints Ivuskans / Shutterstock
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32 27 August - 2 September 2026
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FEATURE
• News from Our Other 6 Newspapers •
Costa del Sol
Costa Blanca South
World surf champ
Helping home
MARBELLA surfer Sarah Almagro achieved victory in the adaptive category at the ABANCA Pantin Classic Galicia Pro 2026. Competing at Pantin Beach in Valdovino, A Coruña, Almagro scored 14.50 points to take the title. The current national, European, and world champion in the PS-P2 category finished well ahead of her opponents. Coach Nico Huercano and young Canarian bodyboarder Stephen Shaw supported Almagro throughout the competition. Nearly 50 athletes from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and Lithuania took part, setting an entry record for the adaptive event. The main ABANCA Pantin Classic Galicia Pro has regained WSL QS 6,000 ranking status this year, attracting surfers from over 20 countries. Festival activities also included music, skate contests, food stalls, children’s workshops, and environmental sessions. Almagro’s latest result keeps Marbella at the forefront of adaptive surfing.
EXPATRIATE golfers on the Costa Blanca have raised more than €2,000 for a local charity. Help at Home Costa Blanca was chosen as Euro Golf Society captain Duncan Roberts’ charity for the 2025/26 season, with members raising a total of €2,005.33. The latest €1,230.33, raised between January and June, was presented to the charity on August 19. Based in Playa Flamenca, Help at Home raises funds locally to provide support for people living across the Costa Blanca South, with volunteers helping residents of all ages when they need practical assistance or simply someone to turn to. Its services include taking people to hospital and medical appointments, befriending those who are lonely, helping residents access social services and providing interpreters. Much of the money needed to provide these services is generated through donated goods sold in the charity’s shops at Flamenca Beach Commercial Centre.
Axarquia
Costa Blanca North
A Torre del Mar thank you
Benidorm bound in banger
WHILE some Spanish holiday destinations complain about visitor numbers, Torre del Mar takes a different approach. The town shows its appreciation each summer by rolling out a massive free dessert, handing out more than 4,000 slices of cake. Chef Roberto Soler from Escuela de Cocina Sabores is behind the creation, a rectangular structure measuring nearly six square metres. Marking the eighth year of the event, the design draws inspiration from the town’s seafaring past and its historic lighthouses. To feed the crowds, Soler relies on impressive quantities. The cake uses 100 sheets of white sponge that would stretch 60 metres if laid end to end, 350 litres of plant-based cream, 50 litres of spiced syrup, and 60 kilos of speculoos biscuit cream. The filling includes 15 kilos of crushed speculoos biscuits, topped with 80 kilos of fondant forming oversized figures and an edible marine landscape.
FOUR British mates are preparing for a 1,300-mile dash from Chesterfield to Benidorm in a £400 Ford Focus nicknamed the ‘Wiener Wagon’. Josh, 38, David, 33, Tom, 40, and Sam, 34, will set off on September 7, heading to Dover before crossing to Dunkirk and driving through France and Spain. The Rat Run challenge is all about fun, but the biggest goal is raising money for Childhood Tumour Trust and Breast Cancer Research, two charities particularly close to their hearts after family members were affected by both illnesses. “We’re doing it for a bit of fun and adventure, but most importantly to raise money for Childhood Tumour Trust and Breast Cancer Research,” the group said. The biggest challenge could be keeping their bargain car moving. The Focus has already travelled 106,000 miles, although the friends have arranged breakdown cover. Fundraising remains ongoing, with donations helping support the two chosen charities.
Mallorca
Costa Calida
Meteotsunamis hit Mallorca
Staged spectacle
HOLIDAYMAKERS and residents were caught off guard as meteotsunamis hit parts of Mallorca, with unusual sea surges reported in Alcudia, Soller and Andratx. Meteotsunamis are caused by atmospheric disturbances, particularly sudden changes in air pressure, which can generate waves in the sea. These waves may become amplified as they reach shallower coastal waters, causing sea levels to rise or fall unexpectedly. For beachgoers, the sudden changes can be unsettling. British holidaymaker Stephen Looney, 39, was on the beach in Alcudia with his wife and daughters when the water began repeatedly pushing further up the shore. Speaking to Euro Weekly News, Stephen said: “It never got higher than ankle height, but just kept on coming. We grabbed the kids and ran back to the hotel.” Similar meteotsunami activity was reported in other parts of the island, including Soller and Andratx, with the unusual sea movements surprising witnesses along the coast.
SAN JAVIER recently celebrated its International Theatre, Music, and Dance Festival. For several weeks, this idyllic town in Murcia transformed into a premier cultural sanctuary, drawing thousands of theatergoers, music enthusiasts, and arts aficionados. At the centre of the festival was the Auditorio Parque Almansa, which hosted a succession of remarkable theatrical productions that spanned centuries of dramatic literature. Audiences were treated to performances of timeless masterpieces including Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Federico García Lorca’s La Barraca. The programme balanced these classics with contemporary interpretations by local talents. Dance and music were just as essential to the festival’s theme. A renowned local dancer, Rocío Molina, brought physical expression and raw flamenco energy to the stage. In music, the schedule reached a powerful high point during the headlining concert by the iconic Spanish singer Luz Casal.
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PETS
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Happy dog, clean house NO matter how much a person loves their dog, nobody enjoys the lingering ‘doggy’ odour that can quickly take over the whole house. Fortunately, you do not need to choose between having a happy dog and a fresh-smelling home. Start with your dog. Regular brushing removes loose fur, dirt and skin flakes before they end up on your carpets and furniture. Bathing can also help, but avoid overdoing it, as frequent washing may irritate the skin. Remember
Credit: Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock
You house doesn’t have to smell like dog all the time.
to wash their bedding regularly too, as it can trap plenty of odours. Next, tackle the places your dog spends the most time. Vacuum carpets, rugs and sofas frequently, paying particular attention
to corners and favourite sleeping spots. Wash blankets and removable covers, and mop hard floors regularly. If there has been an accident, clean it promptly with an enzymatic pet-safe cleaner to break
down the odour rather than simply masking it. Good ventilation can make a surprising difference, so open windows when possible and let fresh air circulate. Finally, do not ignore a sudden or unusually strong smell coming from your dog. Bad breath, smelly ears or skin odour can sometimes signal an underlying health problem, so speak to your vet if you notice a change. A cleaner home does not have to mean a less dog-friendly one.
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CHURCHES Local Anglican (CofE) Church Services take place every Sunday from July 5 at Mojacar Church (12pm) and Llanos del Peral (Zurgena) Church (9am), with services at Aljambra Chapel (Albox) held monthly. Dates and details of our services, including directions and contact details, can be found at www. almeria-anglican.com. Here you can also find information about funerals, baptisms and wedding blessings. We are an inclusive church. (10002) TURRE EVANGELICAL CHURCH We meet every Sunday at 10.30. For worship. We believe you’ll find us ‘relaxed’, welcoming’ and ‘informal’. Find us on Turre’s main street, towards the motorway at the far end on the left. To know more contact 711 086 162 (10021) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Zurgena Branch meetings are now held at Hostal Rosaleda opposite New Bar International in Arboleas. New and Existing Members Welcome Branch Meetings for existing and new
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ROAD TEST BY MARK SLACK
New IONIQ 3 electric hatchback pricing HYUNDAI has revealed the pricing, specification and technical information for the new IONIQ 3, a compact electric Aero Hatch, with prices starting from €25,955/£22,245. The Korean car maker says the IONIQ 3 has been developed as an affordable, efficient and practical compact electric car and offers fast DC charging, AC charging up to 11 kW and two battery options, with an expected driving range of up to 495km/308 miles. Hyundai’s new infotainment system based on Android Automotive OS makes its debut in the IONIQ 3. The system is available with a 32cm/12.9-inch or 37cm/14.6-inch display and supports vehicle functions, navigation and connectivity. Other key technologies include an integrated EV route planner and Memory Reverse Assist, which can memorise the last 50 metres of driving inputs to assist with subsequent manoeuvres such as reversing out of tight parking spaces. The lead-in Advance trim is available from €25,955/£22,245 and includes 40cm/16-inch alloy wheels, LED front headlamps and rear lamps, front and rear parking sensors, a 32cm/12.9-inch
infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear view monitor, smart key with push-button start and smart cruise control to name but a few. It is available with a 42kWh 147PS powertrain with an expected 342km/213 miles of range, or a 61kWh 135PS powertrain with an expected 308
miles of range from €30,043/£25,745. In Premium level, priced from €32,027/£27,445 it builds on the Advance model with 43cm/17-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, battery heating and pre-conditioning, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, electrically folding door mirrors and wireless smartphone charger.
The top-line Ultimate, priced from €34,942/£29,945 adds 46cm/18-inch alloy wheels, navigation, matrix LED headlamps, heated front seats, heated steering wheel and smart cruise control. Optional extras include the EV Pack with V2L and Heat Pump, the Design Pack offering Vision and Two-tone roof, and the Comfort Pack with an array of features from premium relaxation seats, heated front & rear seats, ventilated front seats, Bose Premium Audio and Digital Key 2.0. All Ultimate models use the 61kWh 135PS powertrain and offer an expected range of up to 483km/300 miles. The IONIQ 3 N Line Evo, priced from €37,274/£31,945 is the range-topping trim and adds N Line exterior design, 48cm/19-inch N Line alloy wheels, navigation and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, suede and cloth N Line seats, N Line interior design with red accents, surround view monitor, 360-degree parking sensors, remote smart parking assist and Memory Reverse Assist. All N Line Evo models use the 61kWh 135PS powertrain and offer an expected range of up to 426km/265 miles.
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Sport upgrades Credit: Ayuntamiento de Carboneras
Las Marinicas Sports Complex to get major upgrade.
CARBONERAS Town Council has awarded a €29,980 project to fully refurbish two paddle tennis courts at the Las Marinicas Municipal Sports Complex, with work scheduled to begin in September. The project, funded through a €30,000 grant from Almeria Provincial Council, will replace the courts’ metal enclosures with custom-made structures featuring anti-corrosion treatment and a powder-coated finish designed to withstand the effects of the nearby sea. The existing tempered glass panels, salvaged from the former courts and stored by the council, will be reused in the new structures. This will reduce costs while giving the materials a new lease of life. The courts will also receive 400 square
metres of specialist synthetic paddle turf, including UV-resistant 12mm polyethylene fibres. The upgrade will cover court markings, silica sand infill, galvanised welded mesh, new access doors and lighting supports. Mayor Salvador Hernandez described the project as the first step in a wider programme of improvements at the sports complex. The remaining two paddle courts are also set to be repaired, alongside damage to the turf, stands, lighting systems, changing rooms and other facilities. A further €200,000 secured from Spain’s Ministry for Territorial Policy will fund these additional works, helping restore a complex heavily affected by last winter’s storms.
SPORT
Wake Fest LUNAR CABLE PARK in Cuevas del Almanzora, is preparing for four days of high-energy board sports as Wake Fest returns for its third edition from Thursday, September 3, to Sunday, September 6. The festival promises plenty for riders and spectators alike, with wakeboarding, wakeskate, foil and skateboarding at the centre of the action. The programme also features live art, music, product demonstrations, workshops and pro shows, bringing different corners of board-sport culture together in one venue. For competitors, the event will combine serious riding with a more relaxed festival atmosphere. Jams, challenges and sessions will cater for different abilities, while visitors can watch
Credit: Lunar Cable Park
40 27 August - 2 September 2026
Wake Fest returns.
experienced riders push their skills on the water and wheels. Away from the action, the festival will offer live entertainment and food at Lunar’s chiringuito, giving spectators plenty of opportunity to refuel between sessions. An FMX show will add another burst of adrenaline
to an already packed programme. Entry to the venue is free, making Wake Fest an accessible option for anyone keen to experience the sport up close. Riding passes are available separately for those wanting to take part in competitions and activities.