Dep. Legal A PM 42-2025 - 140 - 2004 - ISSN - ISSN 3015-1309 2488-1686
Mallorca I No. 2146 I 20 - 26 August 2026 I FREE Newspaper
Sweeney sets sail Sant Roc traditions Music and festivities bring community together
Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock
AS one celebrity departs the island, another arrives, with actress Sydney Sweeney swapping the busy streets of Los Angeles for the calm waters of the Mediterranean. Sweeney rose to fame as Cassie Howard in the award-winning series Euphoria, and recently experienced box-office success when she starred opposite Amanda Seyfried in The Housemaid, a thriller about a live-in housemaid that was almost immediately greenlit for a sequel. The Emmy-nominated star was spotted arriving in Mallorca with her boyfriend and music executive, Scooter Braun. Romance rumours between the two first stirred last summer, when the pair were spotted together at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish Italian wedding. Despite their relationship becoming more serious, the two kept their romance mostly
The Rising Sun / Credit- Lürssen/Facebook.jpeg
Sydney Sweeney takes a break from filming in Mallorca
Actress Sydney Sweeney boards The Rising Sun.
private until mid-2026 when Braun publicly supported Sweeney at the Euphoria Season Three premiere. Upon arrival, the Hollywood stars headed to Puerto Andratx where the Rising Sun, a 138-metre superyacht was waiting for them. They boarded and set sail for several days, cruising around the island. This Mediterranean ge-
taway comes as a much-needed break for Sweeney, who spent the first half of the summer in Australia, filming for her latest project. She certainly kicked into holiday mode once aboard. Sweeney was spotted tanning in a blue bikini and diving into the sea to cool down. Meanwhile, Braun entertained himself by racing through the water on
jet skis. After several days aboard the Rising Sun, Sweeney and Braun disembarked at Cala Gamba and returned to Palma Airport. Sweeney’s autumn is set to be just as busy as her summer, with production on The Housemaid’s Secret expected to begin in a matter of months, and several more major projects lined up.
ALQUERIA BLANCA in Santanyi celebrated Sant Roc with a lively day of tradition, music and community spirit. Festivities began with a solemn Mass at the parish church before celebrations moved to the streets. There the Xeremiers del Terme provided the soundtrack for the much-loved dance of the cabezudos, a highlight for both children and adults. Cabezudos, meaning ‘big heads’, refers to the oversized human or animal heads worn by performers. The characters interact with crowds, bringing extra colour and joy to local festivities. In Mallorca, they form an important part of local celebrations and help keep local traditions alive. This year, their festivities continued beyond the village streets. Accompanied by the Xeremiers del Terme, the cabezudos paid a special visit to the local day centre, where music and dancing brought smiles to the residents. The visit also offered a chance to see the centre’s handmade creations and, most importantly, share local traditions with every member of the community. Credit: Ayuntamiento de Santanyi
Dance of the cabezudos.
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20 - 26 August 2026
LOCAL NEWS
Sixth Dark Iron Challenge complete the route in as few kilometres possible, putting their strategy and navigation skills to the test. The challenge is open to all types of motorcycles, with categories for male riders, female riders and pillion passengers. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Organised by Media Milla, with support from the Palma City Hall, the event adds another distinctive date to Mallorca’s busy 2026 motorcycling calendar. For riders looking to explore the island while testing their sense of direction and stamina, the Dark Iron Motard offers a demanding test of navigation and endurance across the island. Credit: Velimir Zeland / Shutterstock
PALMA is getting ready to welcome motorcycle enthusiasts for the sixth Dark Iron Motard, with the event once again incorporating the City of Palma Motorcycle Touring Trophy. The latest edition was presented at Palma City Hall, highlighting the city’s continued support for moto-tourism and its growing community of riders. Taking place on Saturday, August 22, at 6pm, the event promises a very different kind of motorcycle challenge. Rather than simply racing from A to B, participants will tackle four stages covering around 300 kilometres over approximately seven hours. Riders decide their own itinerary in attempt to
Palma’s Dark Iron Motard returns for a sixth edition.
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Island protests BEACHGOERS in Calvia may notice a lack of red and neon-yellow patrolling the waters on Sunday, August 23. Following the Calvia Lifeguards’ Union call for a strike, lifeguards will be swapping their watch-towers for the picket line. The Union has said the strike is a result of the town council’s “disregard” for lifeguards’ working conditions. Lack of lifeguard stations, watch towers in disrepair and the fact lifeguard services have not been extended to meet demand have all been cited as core reasons for the strike. Lifeguards claim all of this hinders their ability and, consequently, puts thousands of beachgoers at risk. Calvia Town Council has criticised the decision to hold a strike during peak tourist season. Beaches are expected to be
AFTER careful consideration and lengthy debate, the jury for the 2026 Rei En Jaum Awards have selected the final 15 works in both the Photography and Painting categories. Now celebrating its 24th edition, the Rei En Jaum Awards have a long history of celebrating art and culture. Jury members had a challenge on their hands to whittle down the fina-
Lifeguards strike on Calvia on Sunday 23.
busier than ever on Sunday, yet there may be too few lifeguards on duty. On the other side of the island in Port de Pollensa, another protest is scheduled for Sunday, August 23. The marine conservation association, Arrels Marines, is expected to be out in force on the Voramar beach promenade.
Calvia art awards lists. This year, there was an incredible turnout of talent as 108 entries were submitted to the competition - 52 paintings, 56 photographs. Six photographs and nine paintings were chosen to progress to the final round. Each will be included in the Calvia Town Hall exhibit, set to open to
Under the slogan “We want to swim at the pier again,” the group will be demanding a major environmental restoration. The protest will have a fun twist to it, with float races and beach games being central to the day’s programme. But the main protesting action, however, will be the human chain along the shore.
the public on Wednesday, August 26, to coincide with the start of the Rei en Jaume Festival, which marks the 797th anniversary of the landing of Jaume I’s troops on the coast of Santa Ponsa. The 2026 Rei En Jaum Awards will culminate at the end of October with the annual awards ceremony where a winning work from each category will be selected.
NEWS
20 - 26 August 2026
Wilfire awareness SPAIN ISSUES ADVICE
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Incoming number change Cold callers get labelled
Credit: Bomberos
Credit: Lazy_Bear / Shutterstock
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From October, Spain’s sales calls will carry a number that cannot be rung back.
Wildfire near Valencia.
A SERIES of recent wildfires across Spain has rocked local communities and prompted concern among nearby residents and holidaymakers. While much of the country remains unaffected and open for the summer season, all are advised to stay vigilant, especially during peak fire season. Official advice from local governments emphasises vigilance. Anyone spotting smoke or flames should contact the 112 emergency line immediate-
ly with accurate location details. If a fire approaches, individuals should move towards clear ground with minimal vegetation, heading downhill and against the wind. Already-burned patches of land offer safe temporary refuge. Drivers encountering smoke should shut windows, turn on headlights, and turn back; vehicles should only be abandoned if flames force the decision. To protect accommodation, occupants must seal windows, doors, and
shutters, blocking gaps with damp towels. Gas supplies should be turned off, and baths filled with water. If an evacuation order is given by local authorities, residents must leave instantly via designated safe routes, carrying only essential items such as passports, medication, and phone chargers. Monitor daily fire-risk updates from Spain’s weather agency, AEMET, maintain a full fuel tank, and prepare a small bag with critical supplies.
SALES calls in Spain are about to start announcing themselves. From Saturday October 17, any company ringing to sell something must do it from a nine-digit number beginning 400, and operators have to block commercial calls made from any other number. The logic is simple. A number that starts with the same three digits every time can be recognised at a glance, and phone companies are allowed to offer customers the option of switching off the whole range in one go. There is a catch. Numbers in the 400 range only make calls, they cannot receive them, so a missed one cannot be rung back. The association representing Spain’s contact centre industry has taken the rule to the Audiencia Nacional over exactly that, warning that a customer could miss a call about a suspicious bank transaction or a hospital appointment and have no way of returning it. The court has admitted the case but has not suspended the measure. Not every caller is covered though. The obligation applies to essential service providers and firms with more than 250 employees or €50 million in turnover, so smaller operations and charities stay on ordinary numbers.
Credit: Me dia - Shutterstock
Changing habits DEPOSIT SCHEME BEGINS SPAIN launched a nationwide drinks container deposit scheme on Wednesday, August 12, adding a 10-cent refundable charge to single-use bottles and cans. Known as the SDDR, the initiative aims to boost recycling by encouraging consumers to return empty drinks packaging to authorised collection points to recover their deposit. However, assigning monetary value to everyday waste could alter public behaviour in urban areas, nightspots and coastal resorts. Similar schemes in Germany and Ireland demonstrate that small deposit values reduce litter while creating informal collection economies. In Germany, citizens routinely gather discarded containers from public spaces or leave them beside public bins for others to collect. Meanwhile, Ireland recorded a near-50
per cent reduction in drinks container litter within its first year, supported by schools and community organisations collecting empties for fundraising. Local councils may also witness reduced volumes of recyclable material in municipal rubbish bins as individuals and groups collect containers before council refuse lorries arrive. For automated return machines to issue refunds, returned packaging must remain undamaged with legible barcodes, meaning heavily crushed cans will lose their value. Ultimately, the system transforms abandoned packaging from environmental waste into accessible currency, altering how residents and tourists manage everyday rubbish across Spanish towns and beaches.
Things that the everyday folks leave behind.
euroweeklynews.com The information on this page is intended for general guidance only, and should not be considered legal advice.
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LOCAL NEWS WHAT makes a city beautiful? Is it the aesthetic architecture or natural panoramic views? Does it depend less about a city’s physical attributes and more on the people and the culture that thrives between the city walls? Is beauty simply in the eye of the beholder or, in this case, the seasoned traveller? Determined to put together a unbiased list of the most beautiful cities in the world, hotel chain Premiere Inn enlisted the help of science and technology. Test subjects were shown 60 pictures of popular summer cities while eye-tracking technology analysed which pictures people’s eyes lingered on the longest. Finally, Premiere Inn had an answer to where in the world has the most beautiful summer cities. And Palma made the list, scoring a 79.7 Mallorca’s Palma ranked the 6th most beautiful city in the world, trai-
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Palma’s beauty shines
Palma ranked 6th most beautiful city in the world.
ling behind: Banff, Canada; Mykonos, Greece; Bruges, Belgium; and most surprisingly to everyone except Bristolians, Bristol, England. Palma has long been considered the jewel of Spain. Sequestered away from the mainland, Palma is a popular holiday hotspot year-round.
Elaborate Gothic cathedrals stand tall over the city, a short walking distance from pristine beaches and crystal blue waters. The island capital is packed with old-school charm, lots of personality and a certain level of prestige that makes any outing feel like a luxury experience.
Comic countdown
Credit: ComicNostrum / Facebook
GRAB your collectibles, Mallorca’s biggest comic book festival is returning with a weekend long programme more action packed than some of the graphic novels on display. Mallorca International Comic Festival, or Comic-
ComicNostrum returns.
Nostrum, is set to take place between October 14 and 15. Inca will serve as the festival’s base, but Palma will also play a prominent role in the weekend’s festivities. Above anything else, Co-
micNostrum is a celebration of the unique storytelling form of comic books, graphic novels and manga. Each year, true legends of the industry attend, authors and illustrators who have
worked on some of the biggest Marvel and DC projects, for example. Ana Miralles, Spanish author and key contributor to the Djinn comic series, and Craig Thomson, an American graphic novel writer, are among the first confirmed attendees for the 2026 edition. For anyone interested in breaking into the comic book industry, the festival serves a great way to network and learn. Writers and illustrators hosts regular panels and workshops, sharing tips of the trade, and key members of top publishing houses will also be on hand, helping aspiring creatives learn about the commercial side of the business. In addition to Meet and Greets, author panels, and live-drawings the festival will host exhibitions which, this year, map 25 years of comic book evolution.
20 - 26 August 2026
LOCAL NEWS
MALLORCA is busier than ever, with hundreds of visitors arriving each day, filling the streets and beaches. And yet despite the summer influx, shopkeepers aren’t seeing any of the benefits. The Federation of Business Associations of the Balearic Islands has registered a decline in turnover between 10 per cent and 15 per cent this summer. Traders in Palma suspect shoppers may be put off by the heat. No shopper wants to traipse around town in near 40C weather, not when there’s a pool or beach nearby to keep them cool. Business owners have thus urged the local city council to install shades along the capital’s busiest shopping streets, protecting shoppers from the worst of the sun’s heat and encouraging spending.
An unforgettable island moment
Credit: Kirk Fisher / Shutterstock
Summer sales fall
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Credit: EuroWeeklyNews
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Crowds broke into cheers as day turned to night.
Shops in Mallorca don’t feel the benefit of summer tourism.
Bars and restaurants on the island aren’t faring much better. A 2025 Delectatech report showed the hospitality sector was suffering from a “prolonged rise in prices” leading to losses of 4.2 per cent. For the service industry, it’s not that there’s less people, but rather a lower average spend per customer. Smaller
cheques paired with higher operational costs are proving to be a problem. Tourism is one of Spain’s main economic drivers. This is doubly true for holiday hotpots like Mallorca, but business owners may feel this is hardly worth it if only hotel chains benefit from the presence of tourists.
MALLORCA erupted in cheers on the evening of August 12, as the total solar eclipse plunged parts of the island into darkness, delivering a celestial spectacle that thousands had travelled from around the world to experience. After months of international hype, families, friends and dedicated eclipse-chasers gathered along beaches and open spaces, while the island’s famous visitors included Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Sir Richard Branson was also linked to the event from his Son Bunyola estate, while the arrival of a Qatar Amiri Flight Boeing 747-8 had fuelled speculation over royal visitors. Euro Weekly News joined crowds in Santa Ponsa, where the atmosphere was electric but peaceful. Families settled on the beach and groups of friends gathered along the
seafront as anticipation grew. Guardia Civil officers discreetly directed traffic and managed the crowds as the final minutes approached. Then daylight faded, darkness swept across the resort and cheers and applause broke out. Santa Ponsa was among nine official viewing areas designated across Mallorca, alongside Circuit de Son Matamoros, Playa de Palma, Ronda de Porreres, Algaida football ground, Pina football ground, the Maioris-Tolleric coastal stretch, the MA3220 parking area and Maioris. Within moments, daylight began to return, bringing Mallorca’s long-awaited eclipse to an end. For thousands who experienced it together, however, it was an extraordinary summer evening unlikely ever to be forgotten.
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FEATURE
20 - 26 August 2026
euroweeklynews.com
ADVERTISING FEATURE
When the Mediterranean became the ultimate seat for the eclipse WHILE people across Mallorca gathered to watch the solar eclipse, our guests on board SV Iron Monkey had the chance to experience it from the water during a private evening charter in the Bay of Palma. We left Palma in the afternoon and headed out into the Mediterranean, away from the crowds and with a clear view towards the western horizon. With drinks on deck and plenty of space to relax, we waited for the eclipse to begin. As the Moon gradually moved across the Sun, the light over Mallorca started to change. The temperature dropped, the colours became noticeably different and, for a few minutes around the peak of the eclipse, the whole atmosphere on the water felt quite unusual. It was impressive to watch, but what made the evening particularly enjoya-
ble was simply the setting: being out at sea with friends, Mallorca behind us and an uninterrupted horizon ahead.
For SV Iron Monkey, charters like this are a good example of what we enjoy doing most.
Of course, most days don’t involve a solar eclipse. But a day aboard Iron Monkey can be whatever our guests want it to be - sailing along the Mallorcan coast, swimming in a quiet bay, enjoying lunch and a few drinks on deck, trying some of the watersports equipment, or heading out for a sunset cruise. We also enjoy putting together private charters for special occasions and unusual events. Sometimes the best days on the water are the ones that are slightly different from the usual itinerary. This particular evening will certainly be difficult to repeat. And when someone eventually asks our guests where they watched the 2026 eclipse, they have a pretty good answer: “From the Mediterranean, aboard SV Iron Monkey.”
SV Iron Monkey. La Lonja Marina, Palma de Mallorca. Tel: +34 689 573 660 Email: info@svironmonkey.nl - Web: svironmonkey.nl
Candlelight concert
Credit: Face
book/David
GomezPian
o
ONE piano, 200 flickering candles and a centuries-old tree will provide the magical setting for one of Mallorca’s most atmospheric summer A cclaim concerts on Sunday, Au- Sineu ed 1 Piano & 200 Cand les experien . ce comes to gust 23. Pianist and composer on the music, candlelight and David Gómez will bring his beach clubs of the island’s natural surroundings. acclaimed 1 Piano & 200 coastal resorts. The unusual format has Candles experience to Finca The August 23 performanbecome a signature expeCa’s Pianista in Sineu, with ce follows a series of candlerience for Gómez, who has the open-air performance lit concerts at the finca throuperformed his candlelit conbeginning at 10pm. The conghout the summer. certs in distinctive locations cept is beautifully simple. For anyone looking for designed to create a closer Gómez performs at his piano a different way to spend a connection between the aubeneath an ancient tree while warm August evening in Madience, music and setting. hundreds of candles illumillorca, the combination of live Sineu provides an espenate the surrounding Mallorpiano, hundreds of candles cially fitting backdrop. Situacan countryside as darkness and music beneath the stars ted in Mallorca’s rural heartfalls. Rather than the bright promises a memorable night. land, the historic town feels a lights, screens and elaboraThe concert begins at world away from the packed te staging of a conventional 10pm at Finca Ca’s Pianista. promenades and bustling concert, the focus is firmly
MALLORCA
Cinema under the stars PALMA’S summer nights are being transformed into a giant outdoor cinema as the popular Cinema a la Fresca returns with free films beneath the stars. The annual programme is running until September 2, offering residents and visitors the chance to enjoy everything from family favourites and recent releases to Spanish cinema and screen classics. Most screenings take place at Parc de les Estacions and begin at 9pm, with free admission making the event an easy summer night out in the heart of Palma. Expect an eclectic mix of films. Silent movie landmark The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari will be screened on Monday, August 24, followed by Oscar-winning animated adventure Flow on Tuesday, August 25, and Las chicas de la estación on Wednesday, August 26. For the final three evenings, Cinema a la Fresca will move to Plaza Francesc García i Orell in Pere Garau.
Credit: Ajuntamentdepalma
Free films this summer. Es Gegant des Vedrà will be shown on Monday, August 31, followed by Un like de Bob Trevino on Tuesday, September 1. The summer programme will draw to a close on Wednesday, September 2, with Buster Keaton’s legendary silent comedy The General, marking 100 years since the classic was released and bringing another season of openair cinema in Palma to a fitting finale
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20 - 26 August 2026
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Summer fiesta finale Night markets return ES PLA DE NA TESA is preparing to bring its summer celebrations to a lively close on Saturday, August 22, with an evening of live music, dancing and entertainment. The Marratxi village has been celebrating its annual Festes d’Estiu throughout August, with a packed programme bringing residents and visitors together for sport, food, children’s activities and traditional community events. Now attention turns to the final Saturday, when three musical acts will take to the stage for one last summer party. Salto Eléctrico, Bambols and Eugesh are all lined up to perform, promising a varied soundtrack as families, friends and fiesta-goers gather to see out this year’s festivities. The closing celebration offers visitors the chance to experience a different side of Mallorca’s
Credit: VisitMarratxi
Credit: AjuntamentdeManacor
Handmade goods, crafts and regional products.
Fiesta finale at Es Pla De Na Tesa in Marratxi on Saturday 22 summer nightlife. Rather than the island’s familiar beach clubs and resorts, Es Pla de na Tesa provides the atmosphere of a traditional local fiesta, where generations come together to celebrate in the warm evening air. The village, part of the municipality of Marratxi and within easy reach of Palma, has hosted al-
most two weeks of activities. After days of community events, sporting activities, food and entertainment, Saturday is all about the music. With three acts performing and the Festes d’Estiu drawing to a close, Es Pla de na Tesa is gearing up for one final summer celebration.
MALLORCA’S summer nights are set to become even more colourful as two seaside resorts prepare to welcome the popular Fires Nocturnes, combining artisan shopping with a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere. The first of the remaining night markets will take place in s’Illot on Saturday, August 22, when stalls will welcome visitors from 7pm until midnight. Organised by Manacor Council, the event will bring together local artisans and producers, giving visitors the chance to browse handmade goods, crafts and regional products as the resort comes alive after dark. The evening setting means beachgoers can swap an afternoon beside the Mediterranean for a stroll around the market once
temperatures begin to cool, perhaps combining the visit with dinner or drinks nearby. One week later, the Fires Nocturnes will move to Cala Mendia on Saturday, August 29, with another evening dedicated to local products, crafts and Mallorca’s summer market culture. Beginning at 7pm, the Cala Mendia event will offer another picturesque coastal setting where residents and holidaymakers can browse stalls and enjoy the atmosphere. The markets are part of a series of summer events held along the Manacor coastline, including an earlier fair in Porto Cristo. Both upcoming events are free to attend, making them an easy addition to a late-August evening out on Mallorca’s east coast.
FEATURE/SPANISH NEWS
12 20 - 26 August 2026
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The perks of growing old Ibiza beaches half empty Credit: Martin SC Photo / Shutterstock
LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT GROWING old can often get a bad press, but at 87 I have discovered that it also comes with several advantages, apart from waking up every morning and finding that you are still here! First, there is the bus pass. You can travel all over the place for nothing, although by the time you qualify, you may have forgotten where you intended to go! There are free prescriptions too, which is just as well because the older you become, the more medicines people seem determined to give you. Then there is National Insurance. After paying it for most of your working life, you eventually reach an age when they stop taking it from your wages. It is almost worth getting old just to see something disappear from your payslip rather than another mysterious deduction being added. Airports are easier as well. Special assistance is a wonderful thing. So-
mebody collects you in a wheelchair, whisks you through the airport and often takes you straight to the front of the queue. I don’t really look old enough to need a walking stick yet, but I have a feeling that, eventually, one will be extremely useful, not only for walking, but for pointing at things, retrieving objects from under the bed and prodding anybody who gets in my way. There is less to worry about too. When you are young, you worry about what may happen over the next 50 years. At my age, I don’t have 50 years ahead of me, so that cuts the worrying down considerably. Life also becomes safer. Nobody looks at an 87-year-old man in a pub and thinks, ‘I’ll pick a fight with him.’ If they do, I can always pretend I haven’t heard them. I no longer need Grecian 2000. There is no point pretending the grey isn’t there when the eyebrows, ears and every other part of you have joined in. Nor do I have to keep up with fashion. I have spent years wearing tight trousers, elaborate shirts and shoes that looked marvellous but felt like instruments of torture. Now I choose
comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes. If anybody thinks I am unfashionable, they are welcome to suffer on my behalf. I have slowed down on the road too. I no longer get stopped by the police and even regularly waved on at checkpoints, perhaps because they assume I am doing my best. As for being over the limit, those days are behind me. I would rather enjoy a drink, leave the car where it is and let somebody else worry about the journey home. Best of all, age teaches you who your real friends are. The fair-weather ones gradually disappear, leaving the people who genuinely care about you and still laugh at your stories, even when they have heard them several times before. So, getting older isn’t entirely bad. You receive free travel, free prescriptions, comfortable shoes and permission to ignore fashion. And if you forget what you were complaining about, that is another advantage altogether. 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.
Ibiza’s beaches have been unusually quiet in peak season.
IBIZA’S beaches were strikingly empty in the second week of August, and the island’s own figures help explain why. A video filmed on Friday, August 7, along Playa d’en Bossa showed clear sand, half-speed beach clubs and sarong sellers outnumbering customers. “It is the first summer it has looked this empty,” the woman filming said. What was on the sand was not sunbathers. She panned across cool boxes, bags and people eating from plastic containers. “The tourist comes, and they are not in a hotel any more, they are staying directly on the beach,” she said. “This is the new tourist of Ibiza.” Ibiza and Formentera received 560,121 tourists in June, 28,000 fewer than a year earlier. Spending curiously went the other way, rising almost 6 per cent to more than €690 million, with spend per person up 11.21 per cent to €1,232.01, the highest in the Balearics. Island tourism director Juan Miguel Costa said higher hotel and flight prices may account for much of that, describing it as “a very flat season.” Restaurant owners also report visitors buying supermarket food rather than eating out.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Every journey matters: The story behind Happytrailz Pet Transport Ltd HAPPYTRAILZ Pet Transport is about so much more than simply moving pets from one place to another. It is about providing exceptional care, comfort, and reassurance for pets and their owners every mile of the journey. I started Happytrailz because I truly believe pets deserve to be treated with patience, kindness, and compassion when they travel. As a pet owner myself, I understand how important trust is when placing your animal in someone else’s care. That understanding is the foundation of everything I do. Every pet that travels with Happytrailz is cared for as if they were my own. Their comfort, well-being, and happiness always come first. From calm surroundings and attentive care to regular updates and personalised attention, I pride myself on offering a luxury VIP service where dedication and trust are paramount. My passion for animals has been li-
felong. I have worked with animals for over 35 years and come from a family deeply connected to animal care. My father and sister were dog groomers, my brother owned a pet shop, and I spent many years working as a trusted pet sitter before taking my Type 2 licence in both the EU and UK to provide professional, fully compliant pet trans-
port services. One thing that is extremely important to me is that I always travel with a second person. This not only assists with the driving, but also ensures every pet receives constant care, attention, monitoring, and comfort throughout the journey. Having two experienced people onboard means pets are never left wi-
thout support, reassurance, or supervision, giving owners even greater peace of mind. This experience has given me not only extensive knowledge of animal care, but also a genuine understanding of how to help pets feel relaxed and secure while travelling. Every animal is different, and I take the time to ensure each journey is tailored to their individual needs. The happiness of both pets and owners is something I take enormous pride in, and you only have to look at my Google reviews to see how much customers value the care and attention their pets receive with Happytrailz. At Happytrailz Pet Transport, luxury means more than comfortable travel, it means peace of mind, compassion, reliability, and knowing your pet is being cared for by someone who truly loves what they do. Because pets are family, and they deserve nothing less.
TEL: +44 (0) 7526 951821 EMAIL: julie@happytrailz.eu WEB: www.happytrailz.eu
FEATURE/SPANISH NEWS
ADVERTISING FEATURE
What is Home Insurance and why do I need it? HOME INSURANCE is a way to protect your home and belongings against fire, water damage, burglary or electrical damage, among others. In addition, you can have peace of mind with civil liability coverage for possible damage caused to third parties, protection against squatting or home assistance. Your home is one of your most valuable possessions so it makes sense to protect it against the risk of theft, damage and natural disasters. Home insurance can cover both buildings and contents. All home insurance policies are different. So please check the fine print to make sure you understand what’s covered, what your rights are and also your responsibilities should you need to make a claim. Línea Directa knows how important your home is, which is why it has created its new home insurance. NOW WITH THE NEW HOME INSURANCE, YOU PUT YOUR HOME INTO EASY MODE • Easy to understand what’s covered and what’s not. • Easy and fast in the service. • Easy to resolve any loss. What are the main advantages of Línea Directa Home Insurance? Because your peace of mind starts with having your home protected, here are some of the advantages we offer at Línea Directa.
20 - 26 August 2026
Citronella alert
COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION Covers both damage to the structure of the building (Building) and your belongings (Contents). • Water or electrical damage From a burst pipe to a power surge that damages your appliances, it would be covered. • Home assistance, such as the handyman service and maintenance We resolve your emergencies and minor household repairs. • Digital coverage in case of digital fraud and identity theft You can have 360-degree identity protection and comprehensive technology assistance. • Clean energy insured Your solar panels and electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid chargers are also protected. • Protection against squatting We support you throughout the process, with financial compensation and legal assistance. With Línea Directa you can adapt your Home Insurance whenever you need to, easily from the Customer Area or, if you prefer, by phone: increase or reduce sums insured, add optional coverages or update your personal details. If you renovate, move home or add new features such as solar panels or electric chargers for your electric or plug-in hybrid car, you can update the insurance to keep your home protected.
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Photo credit: Tetyana_Pidkaluyk/Shutterstock
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Citronella can still be used as part of general mosquito control.
A FAMILIAR summer defence against mosquitoes may be giving people a false sense of security, with Andalucia’s health authorities warning residents that citronella does not provide reliable protection against mosquito bites. The warning comes as West Nile virus continues to circulate in Andalucia, with six human cases confirmed by July 28. All were described as mild. Virus circulation has also been detected in mosquitoes across 15 municipalities classified as areas on alert, while mosquito numbers are increasing in several locations. Health centres are displaying advice recommending registered topical repellents rather than relying on citronella candles, plants or scented products. The Junta also advises covering exposed skin with light-coloured clothing, reducing standing water around ho-
mes and taking extra care around dawn and dusk, when mosquito activity can be higher. Citronella can still be used as part of general mosquito control, but the authorities stress that its smell should not be confused with protection equivalent to an authorised skin repellent. More than 200 mosquito traps are being used across Andalucia as health teams monitor virus circulation. Most people infected with West Nile virus develop no symptoms, but some become ill and a small proportion can suffer serious neurological complications. For people living in or visiting areas with high mosquito activity, the warning is straightforward: don’t assume a citronella candle is protecting exposed skin. Use a registered repellent and take additional steps to reduce bites.
SPANISH NEWS/FEATURE
14 20 - 26 August 2026
Trapped by Google Maps
Credit: @luzarcsan
Earthquake strikes
Granada shaken by several large quakes.
say they lack the technical staff to use it. Girona city did manage it once after Google kept sending tourists through its pedestrianised old
quarter, while Cataluña’s traffic authority has also become a Google partner this year to fix dangerous reroutes reported by councils.
THE PINK FLOYD CAVEMAN OF SPAIN! NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS
NORA IS THE AUTHOR OF POPULAR PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE AND CRIME THRILLERS AND A FREELANCE JOURNALIST.
SPAIN recently revealed what may be western Europe’s oldest face - and it has been hiding in plain sight for over a million years. Bone fragments recovered from the Sima del Elefante cave near Atapuerca, in Burgos province, belong to the left cheek and upper jaw of an adult human of an extinct species who lived up to 1.4m years ago. That makes it the earliest known human facial fossil in this part of the continent. The find suggests that Iberia was home to at least two different kinds of early human during the early Pleistocene, when the cave lay amid damp woodland threaded with rivers and bustling with wildlife. Hippos, bison
and deer wandered the meadows. Early humans left behind flint tools and butchered bones. The fossil is more primitive than the later Homo antecessor remains found nearby at Gran Dolina, but closely resembles Homo erectus - the species that first left Africa around 1.8 million years ago. Unsure quite where it fits, researchers have cautiously named it Homo affinis erectus. Unofficially, however, it goes by “Pink”, after Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon - a nod to the “hidden face” finally revealed. Yet another small but telling step towards understanding Europe’s earliest inhabitants - though more fossils will be needed before Pink’s place in the family album is completely settled! Finally, many thanks for all messages to my website below. Delighted you enjoy both my column - and novels!
Nora Johnson’s 15 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers, including the latest ‘The Girl in Red’ (www.nora-johnson.net), all available online at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.
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three people suffered light injuries, including a young girl who went to hospital. The emergency plan for seismic risk remains activated at operational level 1. Staff at the Alhambra emptied and closed the Nasrid Palaces and the Alcazaba as a precaution while specialists examine the historic structures. Visits to the Partal and Generalife gardens continue. Provincial authorities also closed administrative buildings, museums, and sports facilities for inspections. Officials urged maximum caution, advising residents to stay clear of balconies and damaged walls. Experts warned that further aftershocks remain possible in the coming days across the Granada region.
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My Life with the Walter Boys MY Life With The Walter Boys continues the trend of being incredibly addictive television with its third season, now streaming on Netflix. This season sees the love triangle at the centre of the show finally be decided. But just because Jackie has chosen between the Walter boys, doesn’t mean she’s in for a drama-free year. t: Netflix edi Cr
A car squeezes through a narrow Spanish village street, the kind Google Maps keeps routing drivers into.
GRANADA PROVINCE residents felt walls and ceilings shake for several seconds on Tuesday, August 18, when a powerful earthquake struck the city’s metropolitan area. Spain’s National Geographic Institute recorded the tremor at 10.37am local time with a provisional magnitude of 4.8 and an epicentre in Gojar. It is the strongest event since a seismic sequence began on Friday, August 14. Quick aftershocks followed, including a magnitude 4 tremor at 10.53am and a magnitude 4.2 at 11.34am. Emergency services received around 50 calls following the main shock. Building facades cracked, awnings collapsed, and vehicles suffered damage across the region. Regional emergencies minister Antonio Sanz confirmed
Like a layered birthday cake, the series can often feel like an over-indulgence, but its sweetness and fluffiness makes it hard to resist clicking ‘next episode’.
The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare IN its newest documentary, Netflix takes audiences back to November 13, 2022, to the night four University of Idaho students were murdered in their home. Piecing together evidence and tying it together with witness accounts, the documentary is a harrowing look into one of the most shocking true-crime cases of the decade. The details of the case can be difficult to watch at times, but above t: Netflix edi Cr
A SPANISH village has put up a sign accusing Google Maps of getting its own streets wrong, after cars and lorries kept getting stuck trying to follow the app into its historic centre. Santa Pau, in Girona province, has repeatedly asked Google to fix the route, which sends drivers along an alley that narrows so much some can’t even open their car doors. “The drivers would throw themselves into a well if Google Maps told them to,” said Mayor Cris Capó. The village is not alone though. In Etulain, Navarra, lorries have been diverted off a main road so often that a crane once had to free a stuck fruit lorry, closing the street for 24 hours. Correcting the routes is possible through a free Google scheme for councils, but small town halls
Credit: Laborant / Shutterstock
euroweeklynews.com
everything, the documentary ensures the four students lost that night are never forgotten.
FINANCE Nintendo win
THE Japanese gaming giant Nintendo has recorded a profit surge of 53.5 per cent in the second quarter. Strong demand for the Nintendo Switch 2, and the box office success of the Super Mario 2 film helped the company post a €810 million revenue, up from €530 million.
Gold soars
IN late January, gold hit a record high of €4,855.91 per ounce. Gold prices remained high throughout the first quarter, before eventually dropping 28 per cent. However, the start of August again saw gold increase in price, up 8 per cent to €3,789,82 per ounce.
Bankruptcy down
BANKRUPTCY filings in Spain fell for the second consecutive quarter, dropping 11.8 per cent to 14,608 cases, according to the College of Registrars. Individuals accounted for 90 per cent, however, company insolvencies rose 11.6 per cent, highlighting continued pressure on businesses despite falling bankruptcies.
Climate claims
PROPERTY damages caused by extreme weather events have skyrocketed insurance claims. In summer 2025, 8,800 cases were recorded, double 2024’s 4,274 during the same period. 29 per cent of damages were caused by rain, 24 per cent by wind. As climate change worsens, weather-related claims are expected to rise.
EasyJet sold
BUDGET airline EasyJet has agreed to a £5.7 billion deal from private equity firm Apollo. Castlelake was the first to propose a take-over offer, but ultimately backed down from the bidding war when Apollo presented a deal it could not match. Apollo will pay shareholders £7.15 per share.
euroweeklynews.com • 20 - 26 August 2026
STAT OF WEEK
1.7 %
The number of new businesses created in Spain increased by 1.7 per cent in June compared to the same month in 2025, according to INE.
Fast food evolution FAST-FOOD chains have been a cornerstone of the restaurant business for decades. A cheap and convenient indulgence that has racked up a European market value of €198.5 billion in 2025, and is estimated to be worth €289.9 billion by 2034. In Europe, the UK has consistently accounted for the largest share of the fast food market, increasing to 26.2 per cent in 2025. Chains like McDonalds, Burger King and KFC have been high-street staples for years, but the UK is now seeing an influx of new US chains like Wendy’s and Wingstop, potentially creating increased competition. Comparatively, Spain takes up a much smaller share of the market. Fast food makes up only 5 per cent of its restaurant sales, although this is growing, driven largely by tourism. Fast-food chains have always benefited from the need for convenience. Long work hours and
Fast-food market grows in Europe.
an endless to do list make ordering a Big Mac meal the easier option over preparing a quality meal at home. This convenience model has been further improved by food delivery apps. According to Statista, digital food delivery sales in Europe reached €45 billion in 2025. Chains themselves have implemented several measures
Heatwave losses THE summer of 2026 is on track to be the warmest on record in the UK. Consistently warm days and repeated heatwaves have taken their toll on daily life. Economic data shows the warm weather has also affected the UK economy, generating losses in the billions. Research by think tank Verdant indicates high temperatures have cost £4.4 billion, with £2.3 billion lost in June alone.
Property investment Credit: Tada Images / Shutterstock
BUSINESS EXTRA
15
Less worker productivity, equipment overheating, and forced closures due to temperatures all impact the bottom line. Estimates by Allianz Insurance suggest for every degree over 30C, workers output an hour declines by 3 per cent. This is unlikely to be the last record-breaking summer. As such, Verdant has called for much needed improvements to urban design to combat the heat.
to improve custom. There has been a notable shift towards “healthier” options following the long-held belief that to eat fast food meant to eat greasy junk food. This is especially true in the European market, with fastfood products adapting their menu to appeal to foreign consumers with different dietary preferences. Credit: Jamie McBean / Shutterstock
Heatwave affects UK economy.
Unions across the UK have also called for change, lobbying the government to adapt the maximum temperatures employees are expected to work in. The effects are being felt nationwide.
Fashion battle
Pension delays
EU grants
CURRENTLY operating 67 stores across Spain, Primark has been a staple of affordable fashion for 20 years. That is until Shein and Temu arrived on the market with their ultra-low prices. In July, however, Primark regained the fast-fashion crown. As of July 1, Shein and Temu sales were affected by the €3 surcharge applied to non-EU shipments. Taking advantage, Primark announced discounts on hundreds of items. Throughout July, textile sales remained stable, increasing by 0.3 per cent.
RULES around retirement are constantly changing. The biggest shift came 15 years ago with the 2011 pension reform which gradually increases the legal retirement age from 65 to 67 by 2027, and extends the contribution period. New research by Fedea, the Foundation for Applied Economic Studies, has analysed how big of an effect this has had on working Spaniards. Their report shows workers are retiring, on average, eight months later. Women’s retirement is postponed by 10 months as they often take time away from work for childcare.
BRUSSELS has approved Spain’s sixth and penultimate payment from the EU’s recovery fund, worth more than €6.23 billion. The package includes nearly €5 billion in grants and €1 billion in loans, bringing Spain’s total funding received to €61 billion in grants and €17 billion in loans. The payment also releases €265 million previously withheld over unmet commitments. However, three milestones remain outstanding, involving bilingual vocational training, telecare services and support for vulnerable groups and small businesses. Spain now has until September to request its final payment, potentially worth around €18 billion in grants and more than €5 billion in loans.
SPAIN’S property investment market is on track for a strong 2026, with €10.5 billion invested during the first half of the year. Cushman & Wakefield expects total investment to reach between €17 billion and €20 billion, well above the €15.4 billion recorded in 2025. Growth is broad, with hospitality and residential leading activity, while offices, logistics and retail are also recovering. Strong interest from both domestic and international investors is supporting the market’s momentum.
Heineken growth HEINEKEN is experiencing a strong 2026 with sales skyrocketing. The Dutchbrewer recorded €17.56 billion in global revenue in the first half of the year, 3.8 per cent higher than during the same period in 2025. Cruzcampo has been a big proponent of its success, with UK sales of the Spanish beer increasing 30 per cent year-on-year. Despite high gains, the company is still pursuing cost saving measures after recently cutting 3,000 roles for planned restructuring.
Electric car supply CHINESE electric vehicle sales in Europe reached a record high in the first five months of 2026, with Chinese brands accounting for 14.2 per cent of battery electric vehicle sales, up from 9.4 per cent. Some 171,800 vehicles were sold, driven by strong demand, competitive prices and lower tariffs. The rise has increased pressure on European manufacturers, while the EU considers further measures to protect its car industry from subsidised Chinese imports.
FINANCE
16 20 - 26 August 2026
euroweeklynews.com
LONDON - FTSE 100
DOW JONES
Closing Prices 17 August
Company
Price(p)
Maximum
Minimum
Closing Prices 17 August
Net
3I Group.....................................2.796,50............2.810,00......... 2.783,00......... 227,61K Admiral Group.............................3.894,0..............3.950,0........... 3.894,0........... 73,37K Airtel Africa................................. 325,80...............332,20............325,60.......... 150,54K Anglo American...........................3.914,0..............3.952,0........... 3.907,0.......... 267,74K Antofagasta................................3.631,00............3.705,73......... 3.628,00......... 143,78K Associated British Foods.............2.024,0..............2.057,0........... 2.024,0........... 53,06K AstraZeneca...............................11.556,0............11.690,0......... 11.546,0......... 475,38K Auto Trader Group Plc................ 536,20...............541,80............534,40.......... 260,53K Aviva........................................... 726,40...............735,89............725,40............1,12M B M European Value Retail.......... 230,00...............233,00............230,00.......... 485,46K BAE Systems..............................2.259,00............2.267,00......... 2.239,00......... 558,06K Barclays...................................... 517,10...............523,60............516,10............3,02M Barratt Redrow............................ 323,00...............326,00............322,15............1,08M Beazley.......................................1.293,00............1.293,50......... 1.292,00.......... 97,85K Berkeley......................................3.578,0..............3.604,0........... 3.518,0............. 4,3K BP............................................... 518,90...............524,20............516,70............4,16M British American Tobacco...........4.183,0..............4.218,7........... 4.173,0.......... 340,62K BT Group.................................... 198,27...............201,50............198,27............1,23M Bunzl...........................................2.744,0..............2.770,0........... 2.738,0........... 46,05K Centrica....................................... 156,45...............156,95............155,60.......... 979,55K Coca Cola HBC AG......................4.544,0..............4.596,0........... 4.538,0............ 86,9K Compass...................................... 31,87.................32,12..............31,65........... 115,08K ConvaTec Group......................... 229,80...............231,00............228,60.......... 469,44K Croda Intl....................................3.220,0..............3.271,0........... 3.220,0............ 59,5K DCC.............................................6.365,0..............6.370,0........... 6.365,0............ 5,07K Diageo.........................................1.739,1..............1.756,0........... 1.730,5.......... 550,08K Diploma.....................................7.361,75............7.415,00......... 7.305,00.......... 32,41K EasyJet........................................ 672,80...............674,40............671,00.......... 724,88K Entain.......................................... 569,20...............572,60............554,00.......... 431,14K Experian......................................2.876,0..............2.889,0........... 2.853,0.............276K F&C Invest.................................. 343,60...............346,40............343,40........... 341,6K Frasers........................................ 805,00...............824,00............799,50........... 11,27K Fresnillo.....................................2.923,00............2.952,03......... 2.908,00.......... 74,14K Glencore...................................... 555,60...............562,60............555,60............4,57M GSK plc......................................1.833,00............1.860,00......... 1.829,00......... 774,11K HALEON...................................... 351,40...............356,20............350,90............3,56M Halma..........................................3.698,0..............3.720,0........... 3.690,0........... 77,14K Hikma Pharma...........................1.637,00............1.652,00......... 1.635,00.......... 48,15K Hiscox........................................1.803,00............1.807,00......... 1.785,00.......... 70,94K Howden Joinery.......................... 808,00...............829,92............808,00........... 191,9K HSBC.........................................1.539,80............1.541,20......... 1.532,40...........2,71M IAG.............................................. 442,90...............446,46............442,60.......... 966,93K ICG PLC.....................................2.052,00............2.070,00......... 2.050,00.......... 49,21K IMI PLC......................................3.084,00............3.102,00......... 3.084,00........... 40,8K Imperial Brands..........................2.594,00............2.614,00......... 2.580,00......... 277,74K Informa....................................... 917,80...............927,00............917,80.......... 123,91K InterContinental........................... 160,1.................160,6..............158,8............ 16,95K Intertek........................................5.840,0..............5.845,0........... 5.840,0........... 53,14K
Company
Price(p)
Maximum
Minimum
Net
J Sainsbury................................. 337,41...............343,40............337,40.......... 927,19K JD Sports Fashion........................ 90,54.................92,22..............90,25.............3,42M Kingfisher.................................... 324,30...............327,40............323,30.......... 252,69K Land Securities........................... 704,00...............715,00............704,00.......... 215,32K Legal & General.......................... 303,66...............305,60............303,20............3,23M Lloyds Banking........................... 115,10...............116,05............114,95...........10,01M London Stock Exchange..............8.546,0..............8.576,0........... 8.492,0........... 100,9K Londonmetric Property............... 192,30...............194,50............192,10............1,68M M&G........................................... 356,80...............358,00............355,50.......... 672,76K Marks & Spencer........................ 376,80...............383,60............376,74............1,06M Melrose Industries...................... 495,62...............496,20............490,20........... 235,4K Mondi.......................................... 874,00...............880,20............869,80........... 74,43K National Grid..............................1.187,00............1.201,00......... 1.186,00......... 550,79K NatWest Group........................... 707,30...............711,00............705,90............1,29M Next...........................................15.150,0............15.315,0......... 15.140,0.......... 10,81K Pearson......................................1.198,00............1.201,50......... 1.190,00.......... 83,94K Pershing Square........................3.963,07............4.000,00......... 3.952,00.......... 35,68K Persimmon.................................1.175,0..............1.192,5........... 1.174,5.......... 364,91K Prudential...................................1.048,50............1.048,50......... 1.032,50......... 662,38K Reckitt Benckiser........................5.030,0..............5.176,0........... 5.030,0.......... 113,23K Relx............................................2.509,00............2.521,00......... 2.494,44......... 295,21K Rentokil....................................... 351,40...............352,40............348,30.......... 796,65K Rightmove.................................. 513,40...............514,20............506,60.......... 354,37K Rio Tinto PLC..............................7.131,0..............7.166,0........... 7.122,0.......... 310,04K Rolls-Royce Holdings................1.566,60............1.570,20......... 1.551,00...........1,84M Sage...........................................1.053,50............1.057,50......... 1.044,00......... 150,65K Schroders.................................... 583,0.................583,5..............582,5............ 14,11K Scottish Mortgage......................1.445,00............1.451,50......... 1.441,50......... 356,86K Segro.......................................... 955,60...............962,60............954,00.......... 271,04K Severn Trent...............................3.044,0..............3.108,0........... 3.044,0........... 42,95K Shell............................................3.312,5..............3.327,5........... 3.306,0.......... 488,54K Smith & Nephew........................1.090,50............1.096,50......... 1.088,00......... 230,03K Smiths Group.............................2.619,00............2.630,00......... 2.610,00.......... 52,33K Spirax-Sarco Engineering...........6.930,0..............7.040,0........... 6.890,0............ 24,4K SSE............................................2.405,00............2.427,00......... 2.402,00......... 133,42K Standard Chartered....................2.232,00............2.244,00......... 2.227,00...........1,38M Standard Life............................... 923,50...............930,00............922,00.......... 198,57K Taylor Wimpey............................. 85,24.................85,84..............85,14.............2,16M Tesco.......................................... 453,20...............460,10............452,80.......... 775,19K Unilever.......................................4.514,5..............4.561,0........... 4.514,5.......... 325,61K Unite........................................... 524,96...............531,50............524,00........... 82,03K United Utilities............................1.391,00............1.419,00......... 1.390,00......... 286,04K Vistry Group................................ 273,98...............283,20............270,75........... 644,1K Vodafone Group PLC................. 120,418.............121,600..........120,250...........3,54M Weir Group................................2.706,00............2.730,00......... 2.676,00.......... 78,64K Whitbread...................................2.465,0..............2.475,0........... 2.457,0........... 47,06K WPP............................................ 389,36...............397,40............388,50.......... 708,63K
Company
Price(p)
Maximum
Minimum
Net
3M.............................................. 182,65...............184,25............181,36............2,64M Amazon.com............................... 262,65...............265,81............262,42...........27,25M American Express....................... 342,48...............345,99............341,69............1,53M Amgen........................................ 415,21...............416,03............410,50............2,04M Apple........................................... 305,93...............307,49............304,30...........28,23M Boeing......................................... 231,67...............233,43............229,88............2,65M Caterpillar.................................... 856,57...............870,99............850,00............1,89M Chevron...................................... 200,00...............201,63............198,36............7,91M Cisco........................................... 111,68...............113,68............110,06...........29,42M Coca-Cola..................................... 87,71.................87,97..............87,20.............9,17M Goldman Sachs..........................1.039,42............1.043,74......... 1.029,58...........1,59M Home Depot................................ 338,86...............340,81............336,01............3,07M Honeywell................................... 233,96...............234,80............232,39............2,69M IBM............................................. 234,32...............239,15............233,73............4,52M J&J............................................. 260,35...............261,71............259,16.............. 5M JPMorgan................................... 362,84...............365,90............361,45............5,06M McDonald’s................................. 272,83...............275,34............271,27............2,74M Merck&Co................................... 135,84...............135,97............133,40............6,87M Microsoft.................................... 495,40...............500,01............493,92...........16,22M Nike.............................................. 40,73.................41,33..............40,71............23,64M NVIDIA........................................ 225,16...............227,49............224,50...........75,68M P&G............................................ 144,55...............144,91............143,42............7,25M Salesforce Inc............................. 196,21...............204,40............195,32............8,66M Sherwin-Williams........................ 359,10...............361,58............356,87............1,12M The Travelers.............................. 370,36...............371,62............368,01............1,22M UnitedHealth............................... 401,73...............403,18............396,56............3,48M Verizon......................................... 48,48.................48,61..............48,19............15,06M Visa A.......................................... 364,15...............366,80............362,76............8,11M Walmart...................................... 115,27...............116,45............114,64...........14,52M Walt Disney................................. 106,85...............107,11............104,91............8,18M M - Million Dollars
NASDAQ
Closing Prices 17 August
Company
Change Net / % Volume Most Advanced Wetour Robotics............................................. 127,70 %........................63,04M MDxHealth ADR............................................... 74,89 %........................326,59M Capricor Therapeutics...................................... 57,96 %.........................66,33M CBL International............................................. 55,92 %........................516,04K Harte Hanks..................................................... 53,02 %..........................4,67M VisionWave Holdings....................................... 44,72 %..........................25,3M Eton Pharmaceuticals...................................... 44,26 %..........................2,32M Digital Asset Acquisition.................................. 43,53 %........................114,72K Safe Pro........................................................... 37,72 %..........................7,37M AudioEye.......................................................... 37,52 %........................965,07K Heartflow......................................................... 35,70 %..........................9,91M Apollomics....................................................... 34,72 %.........................47,75K Evolution Metals Tech...................................... 34,07 %..........................3,56M Modular Medical.............................................. 33,16 %.........................176,2K Neonc Technologies Holdings.......................... 31,46 %........................646,95K China SXT Pharma........................................... 31,21 %.........................16,11M CDT Environmental Tech Investment Holdings.30,63 %..........................1,25M MindForge........................................................ 30,00 %..........................3,86M DEFSEC Tech................................................... 29,87 %........................... 27M M - Million Dollars
Company
Change Net / % Volume Most Declined Innventure........................................................-55,28 %.........................32,64M Blaize Holdings................................................-49,57 %..........................57,2M Microvision......................................................-40,72 %.........................13,65M CXApp..............................................................-36,97 %..........................43,4M YXT.Com Holding ADR....................................-36,81 %........................460,08K GaxosAI...........................................................-34,13 %.........................10,66M Amplitech.........................................................-33,31 %.........................10,36M OFA..................................................................-33,13 %..........................2,75M Super League Enterpris....................................-32,44 %........................433,26K Dare Bioscience...............................................-32,12 %..........................8,09M Healthcare Triangle..........................................-30,06 %..........................1,72M Dawson Geophysical........................................-29,93 %........................520,87K Generation.......................................................-29,35 %.........................34,92M Rocky Mountain Chocolate..............................-26,06 %..........................2,78M Intellicheck Mobilisa........................................-25,20 %..........................2,59M SoundThinking.................................................-25,03 %.........................876,1K Jianzhi Century Technology ADR.....................-24,90 %........................140,58K Our Bond,........................................................-23,52 %..........................2,01M Veritone...........................................................-22,82 %..........................9,19M M - Million Dollars
FINANCE
euroweeklynews.com
Rip offs
PRIME MINISTER Andy Burnham has announced plans to stop “rip off” business practices. Burnham will take steps to prohibit falsely advertised discounts, and aims to make cancelling a subscription less complicated. Overall, the crackdown is expected to benefit UK consumers by up to £400 million.
EA buyout
ELECTRONIC ARTS, the creator of FIFA and The Sims, recently sold to Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund for €47 billion. Despite being a market leader, EA’s annual revenue stagnated in recent years, generating around €6.5 billion annually. The deal is thought to be one of the largest leveraged buyouts, with significant purchasing funds financed by JPMorgan.
Euribor hits two-year high THE Euribor has climbed almost a full percentage point in a year, and mortgage holders in Spain are paying for it. The index that sets most variable mortgages reached 2.913 per cent on Tuesday, August 11, its highest since September 2024 and close to 3 per cent. A year earlier the monthly average was 2.114 per cent. On a €150,000 loan over 25 years at Euribor plus 1 per cent, an annual
Credit: mehaniq / Shutterstock
BUSINESS EXTRA
20 - 26 August 2026
Variable mortgage payments in Spain are rising again as the Euribor climbs.
Bezos buys into Liverpool THE world’s fourth richest man, Jeff Bezos, is looking to expand his portfolio. The Amazon Founder has invested in a variety of sectors since stepping down as CEO, from aerospace to artificial intelligence. Now he’s eyeing a stake in the prestigious Liverpool Football Club Bezos is reportedly part of a consortium that is in talks to purchase
a 30 per cent stake in the club for £1.4 billion. Liverpool’s current owners, the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) bought the club in 2010 for £300 million, when it was reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy. The club is now valued at £4.5 billion, it’s annual revenue totalling £703 million last year.
revision now lifts the payment from €845.24 to €909.65, a difference of more than €64 a month, or around €773 a year. Loans revised every six months rise by just under €56. The European Central Bank raised its key rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, June 11, the first increase since 2023, pointing to inflationary pressure from the war in the Middle East and higher energy costs. Rates were held on Thursday, July 23, but the Euribor has kept rising because markets expect another increase when it meets again on Thursday, September 10. Anyone facing a revision can renegotiate with their bank, move the loan elsewhere or switch to a fixed rate, though the costs have to be recovered from the saving.
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Project redirected A £430 MILLION power link between the UK and Ireland has been forcibly diverted, after obsessed Harry Potter fans fumed the cable would disturb a ‘memorial’ to Dobby the House Elf. Instead, the 125-mile cable will be rerouted close to the Bronze Age burial site, far from the fictional character’s grave.
Inditex expands SPANISH retail giant Inditex is expanding its presence in Mexico with the opening of new flagship stores for Zara, Massimo Dutti and Oysho. The openings strengthen its presence in South America, where it already operates across major cities. Inditex now has more than 400 stores and 6,600 employees.
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20 20 - 26 August 2026
FEATURE
euroweeklynews.com
• News from Our Other 6 Newspapers •
Costa del Sol
Costa Blanca South
Samuel cycles the world
Making waves
SAMUEL will set off from Malaga on November 15, to pedal 20,235 kilometres across 20 countries. Over 594 days, the 11-year-old plans to visit 56 animal shelters. At every location, he will film a single dog and share its story online, directing donations straight to that shelter’s official payment link. Samuel will be accompanied by his parents. The family chose standard touring bikes to ensure straightforward repairs and avoid airline battery restrictions, so Samuel cover the entire distance using his own pedal power, averaging 50 kilometres a day. His parents will oversee his education during the 19-month trip. Samuel speaks Dutch, English, and Spanish fluently, allowing him to communicate directly with local shelter staff from Morocco to Turkey. The family is currently gathering gear and seeking supporters to help cover equipment, visa, and living expenses.
GENERATIONS of sailors came together on the Costa Blanca for the 62nd Travesia Cabo Roig-Memorial Fernando Pedrera, combining one of the area’s longest-running sailing traditions with support for an important charity. Nearly 40 boats took part in the event, organised by the Real Club Nautico de Torrevieja, with crews racing from Torrevieja to Cabo Roig. The race dates back even further than the Real Club Nautico de Torrevieja itself. More than six decades after the first event, the annual crossing remains firmly established in the local sailing calendar. This year’s Travesia formed part of three days of activities alongside the first Torneo Las Ramblas Golf & Vela and the 12th Copa Astoria. Importantly, the programme also supported AESPANC, the Spanish Association of Pancreatology, helping to give greater visibility to its work.
Axarquia
Almeria
72-year-old lifeguard
Camino calling
GUILLERMO LACHICA PANDO is 72 years old, but his daily routine puts many younger people to shame. Spain’s oldest lifeguard starts his morning with a 10-kilometre cycle to work in Torrox Costa, followed by a one to two-kilometre swim before beginning a nine-hour shift. Born in Buenos Aires, Guillermo qualified with the Red Cross in 1977 after rigorous training in the South Atlantic. Although trained as an agricultural engineer, his passion always lay with the sea. He later became a yacht captain, tackled Mount Aconcagua, and competed in triathlons. His work requires constant vigilance, walking, and occasional rescues when swimmers encounter trouble. Guillermo regularly updates his maritime safety certificates and rescue qualifications. He remains a registered triathlete, and attributes his longevity to daily exercise, adequate rest, and avoiding junk food. Guillermo has no immediate plans for retirement, choosing instead to remain on duty.
SHAUN GARNER, best known as a member of the Spanish Property Choice team and a Sun Sea & Selling Houses favourite, will be embarking on an incredible cross-country challenge this September, walking over 100 kilometres along the Camino de Santiago. Shaun will be joined by his best friend Emily as they walk the length of Northern Spain, from Ferrol to Santiago. The challenge is about fundraising for a special cause: PAWS-PATAS Animal Shelter. Based in Los Gallardos, the dedicated volunteers at PAWS-PATAS Animal Shelter rescue, rehabilitate and rehome lost, abandoned and abused pets. Every cent raised will go towards food, medical supplies, veterinary care, shelter and adoption transportation for the animals in PAWS-PATAS’ care. Already, Shaun and Emily have already raised over €1,000 through the official GoFundMe page and they haven’t even left home yet. Shaun plans on documenting every step of the Camino on his social media pages, @shaungarnerofficial.
Costa Blanca North
Costa Calida
A magical performance
Pop in paradise
OLIVA’S Artistic Musical Band Association recently took centre stage at Disneyland Paris, opening the great parade and bringing the sound of Oliva’s musical traditions to the most magical place on Earth. Dressed in smart slacks and shirts, the band marched through the streets, each step perfectly in sync, each note perfectly in tune. Leading the parade was no small honour. With the park’s famous characters, colourful floats and thousands of visitors filling the streets, the band became part of one of Europe’s best-known entertainment experiences. The performance marks a significant achievement for the association and its musicians, who have spent decades establishing the organisation. After their performance, band members got a chance to explore the park without their instruments, making the most of everything Disneyland had to offer.
THE Cabo de Pop festival recently closed out its ninth edition after two incredible days of indie artist performances, nautical and water sports activities, and environmental initiatives, uniting nearly 7,000 people in the coastal area of Cabo de Palos. Residents and visitors in Cabo de Palos participated in concerts performed by emerging and popular independent artists, taking place near the idyllic and famed Cabo de Palos lighthouse. In addition to the concerts, visitors also participated in guided sessions of fun-filled, water-based activities, including scuba diving and snorkelling in the cool Mediterranean sea. Other visitors joined guided coastal routes, including paddle surfing and kayaking routes through the privileged scenic areas of Cabo de Palos’ shoreline. A programme of family-friendly, environmental activities also took place, aiming to take advantage of the beautiful areas in Cabo de Palos while also promoting knowledge and respect for its natural heritage.
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PETS
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Canine perception EVER wondered whether your dog can tell what you’re feeling? New research suggests they may be reading more from your face than we realised. Scientists at the University of Vienna used functional MRI scans to monitor dogs’ brain activity as they looked at photographs of people showing different facial expressions. The dogs were trained to remain still in the scanner while researchers recorded how their brains responded to happy, sad, fearful and angry faces. The results were striking. In one experiment, happy faces produced stronger activity in brain areas involved in visual processing, social information and reward. A second experiment found that dogs’ brains could distinguish happy faces from negative ones. They also showed different patterns of activity when viewing fearful faces compared with sad or angry faces, although they did not reliably distinguish sadness from anger. The research adds to growing evidence that dogs are highly attuned to human emotions. For dog owners, it offers another glimpse into just how closely our pets may be watching us. While it does not mean dogs understand emotions in exactly the same way we do, their ability to pick up subtle facial cues could help explain why they often seem to know when something is wrong, or when we’re ready for a bit of fun.
Credit: Stokkete / Shutterstock
Dogs know more about emotions than we think.
FACT
Snow-white puppies
DALMATIAN puppies are actually born completely white. Their famous spots are completely invisible at birth, hidden deep within their skin layers. The iconic black or liver-colored spots only begin to emerge on their snow-white fur when the puppies reach about two to three weeks of age.
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20 - 26 August 2026
SPORT
Sailing glory Credit: MAPFRE Copa del Rey
King Felipe VI presents trophies to the winners. THE 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE delivered a thrilling week of sailing in the Bay of Palma, with more than 100 boats battling for honours across six competitive classes. Held from August 1 to 8, the regatta once again brought together some of the biggest names in international sailing. The headline result came in the Abanca ORC 0 class, where the Italian team Vudu produced a remarkably consistent performance to take the title. The boat won three races and finished comfortably ahead of Hispania, skippered by King Felipe VI of Spain. For the Spanish king, the result meant another runner-up finish
after previously taking second place in 2023 and 2024. There was plenty for Spanish sailing to celebrate, however. Teatro del Soho San Miguel claimed the Uber ORC B title, while Nadir triumphed in the ClubSwan 42 class. Baleària also secured victory in the women’s category, with María Bover collecting her fourth Copa del Rey title. With fierce racing, changing fortunes and a strong international fleet, the 2026 Copa del Rey MAPFRE once again underlined why Palma remains one of the Mediterranean’s great sailing stages.
euroweeklynews.com
French star visits Credit: Federico Balear de Trot.
24 20 - 26 August 2026
FRENCH jockey Eric Raffin has swapped the racecourse for the tennis court recently, paying a visit to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, where he was welcomed by the academy’s founder, Rafael Nadal. Raffin, 44, is one of the biggest names in French trotting. The hugely successful jockey has recorded more than 5,300 victories Eric Griffin gifts Rafa Nadal a signed racing suit. during his career and has been named France’s leading driver for the past se- trious tennis academy, which has ven years, while also claiming the become a regular stop for sporting prestigious Sulky d’Or. stars and international personalities. During his visit, Raffin had the Only recently, tennis great Roger opportunity to explore the renowned Federer also stopped by for a visit. academy and meet Nadal, bringing With its reputation extending far together two champions from very beyond the tennis world, the Rafa different sporting worlds. The Fren- Nadal Academy continues to attract chman also presented Nadal with a elite athletes from across the sporsigned racing suit, adding a distinc- ting spectrum. Raffin’s visit offetive equestrian touch to the encoun- red another memorable meeting of ter. champions, with two hugely accomRaffin is just the latest famous face plished figures sharing the spotlight to make an appearance at the illus- in Manacor.
Coastal sports PLAYA DE PALMA is getting a fresh boost for beach sports, with the installation of three new permanent facilities designed to encourage active, outdoor recreation along the popular coastline. The Palma Town Hall has installed a new beach volleyball court alongside two beach football pitches, creating more opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy sport right by the sea. The new facilities are fixed installations, providing a dedicated space for games and training rather than relying on temporary set-ups. The project adds variety to the sporting offer in one of Palma’s busiest beach areas, giving both organised groups and casual players more space to get involved. Beach volleyball and
Credit: Ayuntamiento de Palma
New equipment encourages beach sports in Playa de Palma. beach football are particularly well suited to the setting, combining exercise with the relaxed atmosphere of the coast. The new pitches also have the potential to bring more sporting activity to Playa de Palma throughout the year, supporting local clubs, informal games and future events. For visitors, they offer
another reason to swap the sun lounger for a more energetic afternoon on the sand. With three new courts now available, Playa de Palma is strengthening its reputation as a place where beach time can mean more than simply swimming and sunbathing. It is an invitation to get active, grab a ball and play.