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SPAIN

Feijóo (PP) will propose to Sánchez (PSOE) an agreement for the “general interest” of the country so that it is not influenced by “radicals”: {Translation, summary}
– The president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, will present this Wednesday in his meeting with the secretary general of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez, an agreement for the “general interest” of Spain so that the future of the country is not “mediatized” by “independentists” or by “radicals”.
– This has been advanced by the deputy secretary of Culture of the Popular Party, Borja Sémper, in which he has also criticized the “marketing” of seats carried out by the Socialists in Congress and Senate so that Junts and ERC have their own group. “It would be convenient to explore the possibility, at least explore it, that the PSOE and the PP overcome our acronyms to meet at a point of understanding that thinks exclusively in the general interests of all Spaniards,” explained Sémper. In this sense, the ‘popular’ leader has claimed the need to transfer to the socialists the idea that “it is convenient” that the future of Spain is not “mediatized by the independentists or by the radicals”. In his opinion, Spanish politics has been “too long anchored in radicalism, in confrontation, in the trench” and it would be convenient for PP and PSOE to make an “exercise of generosity”. “There are many politicians in Spain but there are few statesmen”, added Sémper. Source, Spanish: https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-feijoo-planteara-sanchez-pacto-interes-general-pais-no-mediatizado-radicales-20230829175718.html

AXARQUIA

Ajoblanco Festival in Almáchar- A Celebration of Tradition and Flavour:
– Saturday, 2 September, Almáchar in the Axarquia region. The local community transforms into an open-air museum. What truly makes the festival a sight to behold is the creation of life-sized dolls that portray various characters in everyday scenarios, such as farming and shepherding. Some families even participate by dressing up and acting out these scenes in the most charming corners of the town.
– The festive atmosphere is accompanied by the melodies of Verdiales and flamenco music groups, as well as the harmonious voices of Rocio choirs. Ajoblanco, a chilled soup made from almonds, is the star of the show. Full article: https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/08/28/ajoblanco-festival-in-almachar-a-celebration-of-tradition-and-flavour/ 

MALAGA PROVINCE

Malaga agricultural sector joins in protest before the European Ministers of Agriculture: {Translation, summary}
– The agricultural sector of Malaga, in its entirety – Asaja, COAG, UPA and Cooperatives Asaja, COAG, UPA and Agro-food Cooperatives -, joins the protest called in Cordoba on September 5, framed in the meeting of European Ministers of Agriculture.
– Through a press release sent by Asaja Malaga, it is noted that this protest is based “in defense of the social and professional model of agriculture, threatened by EU policies and to demand coherent policy solutions on climate change and food security, and in response to the weakening of agriculture and livestock Andalusian as a result of rising production costs, drought, lack of profitability and increasing unfair competition from third countries. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/sector-agrario-Malaga-protesta-ministros-europeos_0_1825018697.html 

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Will it rain over the weekend in Malaga & Andalucia?: {Translation, summary}
– The Aemet indicates that the first showers could arrive at noon on Saturday, September 2 , although the probabilities will not exceed 50%, depending on the area of the province. In the city of Malaga, for example, there is a 65% chance that it will rain on Saturday.
– It is from early Sunday morning when Meteorology predicts that it may start to rain in the province of Malaga. These precipitations are expected to fall more intensely in the eastern part of the province. So if the forecasts come true, both in the Axarquía and in the Antequera region it will rain throughout Sunday, September 3. The wind will blow from the south or southeast, turning to the north component starting in the afternoon.
– Specifically, for Sunday in the Axarquía the chances of rain are around 80%, being higher in the inland municipalities; while in the case of the Antequera region these are 70-75%. It could continue to rain on Monday, although with less intensity.
– The Aemet forecasts indicate that it will rain from noon on Saturday in practically all of Andalusia, with the exception of points located in the western part of the province of Huelva. The intensity of the rainfall may vary depending on the area, but in the northeast of Almería (Vélez-Rubio, Albox) and the north of Granada (Huéscar) it is expected that there may be storms. According to the forecasts, on Sunday, September 3, it will dawn with rain in a large part of the eastern half of Andalusia, which may also be felt in the north of Seville and the province of Cádiz. These precipitations may extend to the entire region during the central hours of the day, while it is expected that they will cease around 6:00 p.m., although the clouds will persist in the Andalusian sky. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/Llovera-fin-semana-Malaga_0_1825018592.html

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The six most expensive houses for sale in Spain are in Malaga: {Translation}
– The six most expensive houses currently for sale in Spain are located in the province of Malaga, placing in first place a mansion in Las Lomas, in Marbella, with a cost of 35 million euros and a plot of 8,800 square meters.
– Villa in Marbella, located in the second position, occupies a plot of 4,700 square meters in the Malaga urbanization of Cascada de Camojan and has a price of 29.5 million euros.
– Closing the podium is a mansion in Marbella’s Golden Mile, with a cost of 29 million euros and divided into 6 bedrooms, plus a wine cellar, a gym or a games room.
– They are followed by the Peace Palace and the Mansion, both in Marbella and available for 28 million euros.
– The sixth place is also for a house located in the municipality of Marbella, which comes on the market for 25 million euros. The seventh and eighth most expensive homes on the Spanish market are located in the Balearic Islands and cost 24.9 and 24 million euros, respectively.
– The table is rounded off by two properties in the Andalusian municipality of Benahavís, with a price of 23 million euros, in the case of the ninth most valued property, and 20 million euros for the tenth.
– By autonomous communities, Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Madrid, Catalonia and the Canary Islands have the most expensive properties. Source, Spanish: https://andaluciainformacion.es/malaga/1339246/las-cinco-casas-a-la-venta-mas-caras-de-espana-estan-en-malaga/

ALMUÑÉCAR

Almuñécar town hall in Andalucía’s Granada province will be turning the taps off on its beach showers from this Friday 1 September: The move comes as the drought situation worsens across the region and as a show of support to the area’s farmers, who are experiencing restrictions. The showers on the beaches are normally operational until later in September. Photo: 1960 Playa de Almuñécar, Town Archive. Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/costa-tropical/showers-turned-off-costa-tropical-beaches-20230829165740-nt.html 

VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA

Residents of two Costa del Sol villages resume fight to get back their beaches: Mezquitilla and Lagos, which belong to Vélez-Málaga, lost part of their coastline when a fishing harbour was built in neighbouring Caleta de Vélez at the end of the 1970s. The residents have formed an association to draw up a technical plan which they will present to the competent public administrations. The move comes after the ‘brick-beach’ project, which planned to restore the beaches with recycled construction rubble, was shelved. Full article: https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/axarquia/residents-two-costa-sol-villages-resume-fight-20230829140816-nt.html

MARBELLA

The popular band ‘Europe’ will perform in Marbella as part of the Solheim Cup 2023 Concert Festival (18 to 24 Sep): {Translation, summary}
– Marbella Arena will be the official venue of the Swing and Sun Fan Fest, a program of musical performances that is part of the activities organized within the Solheim Cup 2023, and that will bring to the stage of the Marbella venue international artists such as the legendary rock band Europe and their ‘The Final Countdown’ on September 22.
– The Solheim Cup is the world’s most important competition in women’s golf and is held for the first time in Spain, it takes place from 18 to 24 September at Finca Cortesin.
– The musical program covers a varied repertoire of musical genres ranging from classical, rock, flamenco, electronic, indie pop or Latin rhythms.
*Musical program*
– The musical performances will kick off on Tuesday, September 19 with Candlelight, a performance of classics illuminated by candlelight and interpreted by live musicians.
– On Wednesday 20 will be “Más que flamenco”, a performance led by the dancer and choreographer David Morales that covers the most important styles in a tribute to legends of this genre as Paco de Lucía, Camarón, Antonio Gades or Carmen Amay. This day will close with the innovative proposal of Mestiza, which combines electronic music and flamenco, fusing folklore, aesthetics and fashion.
– On Thursday 21, after the opening ceremony also held at Marbella Arena, it will be the turn of Queen Forever Tribute, while DJ Victor Santana, of underground electronic culture, will offer a later session along with various live musicians.
– Europe will take the stage of the Marbella Arena on Friday 22nd, together with Spanish pop rock tribute band Apache.
– On Saturday 23rd the British ‘London Grammar and Birdy’ will take the stage of the Marbella Arena with indie pop sounds, and as a finale and end of the party, the musical program will close on Sunday September 24th with Ritmo Latino, a tribute festival to Latin American culture. Source & photo, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/marbella/banda-Europe-Marbella-conciertos-Solheim-Cup-2023_0_1825019071.html 

EUROPE

Putin’s star presenter who called for “burning Madrid” reloads against Spain- “It is the evil of the world”: {Translation}
– The presenter of the Russian television Rossiya 1, Vladimir Solovyov, one of the most popular faces in Russia and a well-known propagandist of Vladimir Putin, has harshly charged against Spain and against the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell. Josep Borrell Fontelles is a Spanish politician serving as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy since 1 December 2019.
– In his nightly program, in which he usually defends the Russian invasion of Ukraine and attacks anyone he considers an enemy of the Kremlin, Solovyov has launched harsh criticism against Borrell, whom he blames for blocking the peace agreements and for provoking “the death of thousands of Ukrainians”.
– “I want to recall that the idiot, Borrell, the enemy of the Russian people, the enemy of the Slavs,” Solovyov states in a speech in which he also calls the Spanish politician “spawn of Satan” and assures that on his grave should be put that “here rests the enemy of the Russian people and of humanity.”
– He also accuses him of acting as a “minister of war” of the European Union and holds him responsible for the war in Ukraine: “He is personally to blame for the death of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians because madmen like him did everything possible so that there would be no agreements in Istanbul.
– But Solovyov, who is known in Russia as ‘Putin’s voice’, goes further in his criticism of Borrell and extends it to Spain: “Borrell, who supports the destruction of Orthodox culture in Ukraine, is a representative of a colonizing country. Bearer of the same guilt as Spain, which is the evil of the world, which for centuries bore the crown of the evil of the world”.
– It is not the first time that this peculiar presenter attacks Spain, since last January he already encouraged the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to “burn Madrid” and other European capitals, in retaliation for the sending of Western armament to Ukraine. On that occasion, Solovyov blamed the US, France, Germany, Spain and the UK for the war in Ukraine for sending heavy weapons “to kill Russian soldiers”. “They have blown up our oil pipelines… they are delivering heavy tanks. Berlin, Paris, Madrid, London, Washington should be in flames. “Why wasn’t Kiev wiped off the face of the earth?” he said. Full article: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5167938/0/presentador-estrella-putin-quemar-madrid-espana-mal-mundo-vladimir-solovyov/ 

PRODUCT ALERT

Extra virgin olive oil reaches ten euros per liter in the main brands: {Translation, summary}
– Olive oil continues to set record prices, especially in the extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) category, which now exceeds an average of 10 euros per liter in supermarkets, with some brands around 12 euros, almost twice as much as a year ago.  In all categories, the price of olive oil continues to rise, with an increase of 5% between last June and July, which brings the cumulative increase in the last year to 38.8%, according to data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the National Statistics Institute (INE). Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/economia/aceite-oliva-virgen-supera-alguno_0_1824718799.html 

SPACE

Get ready for Wednesday’s Blue Super Moon:
– On August 30, a cosmic confluence of events will impact the Full Moon. Step outside after sunset and you’ll notice a big, bright Blue Super Moon. The next Blue Moon won’t occur until May 2026.
– The Moon reaches perigee at 11:54 A.M. EDT Wednesday morning. Perigee is a term for the closest point to Earth in our satellite’s orbit, which is not perfectly circular. So, it sometimes sits closer to Earth than others. (Apogee is the opposite term, for the farthest the Moon is from Earth each orbit.) At that time, Luna will sit just 221,942 miles (357,181 kilometers) away – nearly 17,000 miles (2,736 km) closer than its average distance of 238,855 miles (384,400 km).
– The Moon reaches Full at 9:36 P.M. EDT. This is the crucial moment, as this Full Moon is special for two reasons. First, because the Full phase occurs so closely after the Moon reaches perigee, it is considered a Super Moon. By “closely,” astronomers require the Full Moon to occur within 90 percent of perigee, so a Super Moon can be either shortly before or shortly after perigee. And second, because this is the second Full Moon within a single month – the last Full Moon occurred August 1, called a Sturgeon Moon – this Full Moon is called a Blue Moon. This term is used for any second Full Moon to take place in a calendar month. Full article: https://www.astronomy.com/observing/get-ready-for-wednesdays-blue-super-moon/ 

TRAVEL NEWS

UK Air traffic control review ordered with flight disruptions ‘to last for days’:
– Travel disruption could last for days after flights were cancelled leaving thousands of passengers stranded during a technical fault in the UK’s air traffic control (ATC) system. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said it was the worst incident of its kind in “nearly a decade” and announced an “independent review” will be carried out.
– The issue started on Monday after a technical glitch meant flight plans had to be input manually by controllers, causing more than a quarter of departures and arrivals to be axed.
The disruption continued into Tuesday with flights cancelled and delayed as many aircraft and crews are out of position.
At Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, at least 32 departures and 31 arrivals were cancelled, plus at least 23 departures and 51 arrivals cancelled at Gatwick. Full article: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/air-traffic-control-review-ordered-with-flight-disruptions-to-last-for-days/a824101870.html