A View from the Mountains

The Ronda Valley Hotel (known to us locals as the Hotel Don Benito) shut suddenly the other day without notice. Nobody seemed to know why. We knew it was going to close on January 15th for reasons which weren't quite clear, but why all of a sudden in early December? Something must be afoot …..

[Atrapalo]    

What's going on?

Rumours abounded:

• the current tenants' lease had been cancelled unilaterally;
• the lease was up for grabs;
• the hotel was for sale;
• the kitchen had failed its hygiene check;
• the building had been condemned and it was to be demolished.

[OTYPO]    
 

For many locals, Spanish and foreign alike, this was a disaster. We had been spending time and money there for years, and now ….. ? What would we do? Where would we go?

Other hostelries nearby don't currently fit the bill.

• Hotel Molino del Puente is shut for three months.
• Hotel Perla Blanca - we don't even know if it's functioning at the moment.
• Venta El Puente only opens half the week.
• Venta La Vega only does breakfast and lunch and shuts on Thursdays.
• Venta El Polvorilla only serves breakfast and lunch.
• Venta El Pelistre isn't always open either. 
• Hotel Molino del Arco is only  open for residents.

    El  Polvorilla [www.sluurpy.es]     

And next?

If my informant is telling the truth (I think he is - he's the new owner!)

Anyway, I know what's happening, from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

The new owner, DG, has already been to the notary and the hotel is his from December 15th.

He wants to do some work, but hopes to open before Christmas, in order to benefit from hotel room bookings, bar takings, tapas and meals, etc.

    Mural in the public bar [Expedia]

DG intends to visit local homes and businesses to introduce himself and to invite the locals to the grand re-opening night to enjoy free drinks and tapas.

I look forward to that.

Action Plan for the Don Benito

I had a few ideas about what could be done to improve the "offer", which I discussed with DG. He agrees.

• give the bedrooms a makeover. They are a bit dated, basic and shabby. Once the renovation is  completed the hotel could "up" its prices. 30 € a night for a double room off-season is way too cheap.

[Central de Reservas]    

• adjust the horario of the restaurant. 7.00 - 10.30 would be welcomed by the very many hotel guests from Northern Europe, USA and Canada.
• introduce tapas at the bar.
• hold a monthly live music event on the terrace or in the function room.

[Instagram]    

In the meantime ..... ?

On Thursday night Rita and I tried out the new Las Maravillas in Ronda.

Just as good, if not better than the larger and original version on Calle La Bola.

The original Las Maravillas [Trip Advisor]    

The next couple of nights I went to Venta El Puente. 

On Friday night, the whole crowd from the Ronda Valley Hotel was there.

Last night I sat with Liz and Rob and their two-year-old little girl. Hadn't seen them for a while, so we had a good catch-up.

    [Photo by Karl Smallman]

Tonight, Sunday,  I'm going to stay in.

As for the RVH, or the Don Benito, or whatever it will be called in the future, I await its re-opening with bated breath .....

Links:

Another - new – Ronda Valley

"HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY" - Help me, Ronda

Only Joe King

Ronda, Happiest Town in Spain - Help me, Ronda

Ronda Valley Hotel to close? F**k! - Help me, Ronda

©  Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

Atrapalo, Central de Reservas, Expedia, Instagram, Karl Smallman, OTYPO, Secret Serrania, Trip Advisor, www.sluurpy.es

Thanks:

David Garcia, Las Maravillas, Paul Whitelock, Venta El Puente

Tags:

Atrapalo, bar takings, Central de Reservas, Expedia, Hotel Don Benito, Hotel Molino del Arco, Hotel Molino del Puente, Hotel Perla Blanca, Instagram, Karl Smallman, meals, Only Joe King, open before Christmas, OTYPO, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Valley Hotel, room bookings, Secret Serrania, tapas, Trip Advisor, Venta El Pelistre, Venta El Polvorilla, Venta El Puente, Venta La Vega, www.sluurpy.es

The presidente del gobierno (the Spanish prime minister) Pedro Sánchez Pérez - Castejón has been under fire recently from all sides - Feijóo (PP); Abascal (VOX); Noguera (Junts); the predominantly right-wing Press - and he is "riding low" in the opinion polls.

He has been accused of corruption, of nepotism and of other dodgy practices.

    [Facebook]

So, arguably the best prime minister Spain has had since democracy was restored in 1978, decided to submit himself to a live interview/interrogation by TVE, the national TV broadcaster.

That was yesterday and this story has dominated the airwaves in Spain ever since.

Entrevista con el Presidente del Gobierno, Tuesday November 2nd, 2025

I watched the whole thing live and found it gripping. The interviewer, Gemma Nierga, in her programme "Cafè d'Idees", "pulled no punches" and was persistent and probing. Sánchez looked every inch the statesman that he is. Young, handsome, clean-cut (no ear-ring, no tattoos, and no pony tail), articulate and totally believable.

He remained calm throughout and projected an image of quiet authority.

The topics covered in this 30-minute interview, which took place in a private salón at the Moncloa Palace, the official residence of the Spanish prime minister (think Number 10 Downing Street in the UK) were predictable:

    [RTVE.es]

the Cataluña problem, Puigdemont and Junts; the "dana" in Valencia and the Carlos Mazón situation; the publication of a memoir by the former king, Juan Carlos I, and a subsequent interview broadcast on Spanish TV;  the accusations about his wife, Begoña Gómez, and his brother, David Sánchez; alleged corrupt practices by Sánchez  and the calls for his resignation; el Franquismo and the youth vote.

    Puigdemont [EL PAIS]                                   Feijoo [Cadena SER]                                               

    Abascal [Democrata]                                 Mazon [elDiario.es]

He dealt with each in turn in a calm and logical manner. He confirmed for me that he is the best and most effective prime minister Spain has had since the end of Franco's dictatorship, the restoration of the monarchy and the reintroduction of a parliamentary democracy.

Reaction

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, president of the conservative People's Party (PP), was predictable in his reaction. Attack, attack, attack! No alternative policies offered, just negativity. Feijóo will never be prime minister of Spain. He's far too dull and ineffective.

Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right VOX, had nothing of value to say. Just a "nazi-style" rant.

A day later, today Wednesday November 3rd, Miriam Nogueras, the spokesperson for Junts per Catalunya, the separatist group in the north-east region, called a Roda de Premsa (press conference) in Barcelona.

Speaking in Catalan, with a simultaneous translation into Spanish, she presented the Junts reaction to Sánchez's interview the day before.

[ABC]    

Speaking in Catalan (Why? She knew that most of the reporters present and the TV audience don't speak Catalan. What point was she trying to make? All she does is alienate the rest of Spain) she declared that all the fault for the breach with Madrid lies with Sánchez. Nothing really new.

The exiled leader of Junts, Carles Puigdemont, is the "elephant in the room", the cause of the standstill.

Theirs is clearly a lost cause. According to opinion polls, the Catalans have no great wish to secede from Spain. The party only has seven seats, although these are crucial to Sánchez's coalition.

Later, Nogueras was interviewed by the political discussion programme "La Hora" (TVE) and guess what? She speaks fluent castellano!

She kept banging on about broken promises by the Madrid government. And she re-iterated that in Cataluña, Junts decides.

    [ABC]

Conclusion

What a fascinating couple of days for keen followers of the political situation in Spain. People like me.

A slightly left-of-centre person by instinct (I was a Liberal voter, later Lib-Dem, and ultimately, the Labour Party of Tony Blair) until I moved to Spain.

Here I am disenfranchised and may only vote in local elections. If I could vote in regional and national elections, my votes would go to PSOE, a centre-left socialist party.

I am more than happy with Pedro Sánchez. He has presided over Spain's recent economic success, the erasing of Franco from the torrid history of this country and Spain being a leading member state of the European Union.

Tony Blair's election victory in 1997 [The Guardian]    

With his fluent English Pedro Sánchez is front and centre in Brussels, something no previous Spanish prime minister managed, largely because none of the rest could speak English. 

If Spain can address and solve the problem of young people turning en masse towards el franquismo, and possibly voting for VOX, the future of the country is assured.

Links:

DIRECTO | PEDRO SÁNCHEZ ENTREVISTADO POR GEMMA NIERGA | RTVE

Feijóo, sobre la entrevista de Sánchez: "Es el presidente menos creíble de la democracia"

DIRECTO: MIRIAM NOGUERAS, portavoz de JUNTS responde a SÁNCHEZ | RTVE

RECONCILIACIÓN | Juan Carlos I | Casa del Libro - Editorial Planeta  ISBN 9788408296225

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

ABC, Cadena SER, Democrata, elDiario.es, EL PAIS, Facebook, RTVE.es, The Guardian, 

Thanks:

ABC, elDiario.es, Facebook, MSN, RNE, RTVE, Wikipedia

Tags: 

10 Downing Street, 1975, 1978, 1997, 7 seats, ABC, Abascal, Cadena SER, "Cafè d'Idees", Democrata, Editorial Planeta, elDiario.es, EL PAIS, European Union, Facebook, Feijoo, Franco, Gemma Nierga, Juan Carlos I, Junts, Junts per Catalunya, Mazon, MSN, Miriam Nogueras, Moncloa, PSOE, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, presidente del gobierno, prime minister, Puigdemont, RNE, RTVE, RTVE.es, "RECONCILIACION",  Rey Emerito, Roda de Premsa, The Guardian, Tony Blair, VOX

All drivers fear receiving a traffic fine, whether for speeding, not stopping at a red traffic light, or driving under the influence of alcohol. In short, any violation listed in the Reglamento General de Trafico (General Traffic Regulations) can result in a penalty.

Guardia Civil at a roadblock [Photo: La Verdad]    

Yet, it is often thought that these penalties only apply to the driver. WRONG! The truth is that passengers can also be fined for certain things.

In fact, there are fines that are aimed specifically at the occupants of the vehicle, even if they are not driving. In other words, the rules must be followed by both the driver and the passengers, since the aim is to guarantee road safety.

[Drivalia]    

Not wearing a seat belt:

All vehicle occupants are required to wear their seat belt properly fastened. The fine for not wearing it is 200 euros, without this resulting in a loss of points on the driving licence, as stated in Article 117 of the RGC. This measure aims to reduce the risk of serious injuries in the event of a collision, regardless of the passenger's position in the vehicle.

    [Academia del Transportista]

Throwing objects out of the window:

Throwing cigarette ends, containers, or any other object out of the window is strictly prohibited. This action not only constitutes a lack of civility but can also cause accidents or fires, especially in forested areas. The penalty for a passenger who commits this offense is 500 euros. If the driver does it, in addition to the fine, 6 points will be deducted from their license, as stated in Article 6 of the RGC.

    [Expansion Politica]

Maintaining an incorrect sitting position in the vehicle:

Adopting dangerous positions, such as resting your feet on the dashboard or sticking part of your body out of the window, is considered an offence. Even if the behaviour is committed by a passenger, the fine falls on the driver, who is responsible for ensuring that all occupants travel seated correctly. Penalties range from 80 to 100 euros, depending on the severity of the case, according to Article 18 of the RGC.

    [SlashGear]

Dangerous use of electronic devices:

Reckless use of mobile phones or electronic devices by passengers can create dangerous distractions for the driver.

Although the law does not specify a penalty for this behaviour, if it is shown that their actions affected the driver’s attention, the driver could be penalised for negligent driving or lack of attention.

    [Freepik]

Showing disrespect towards law enforcement officers:

Any disrespectful behaviour or defiant attitude towards law enforcement officers can result in a direct penalty for the passenger.

Disrespect, disobedience, or refusal to cooperate with traffic controls are considered offences and can lead to fines depending on the severity of the case, even if the offender is not the one driving.

    [Police 1]

Last Word:

These are the most common delictos, but they are not the only ones. If we look at the Código General de Circulación (General Traffic Code), we see that there are also cases where the responsibility does not fall directly on the passenger.

For example, if the offender is a minor, their parents or guardians will be the ones to get the fine, especially if the child is not wearing a seatbelt or using a child restraint system.

Additionally, when more people are travelling than allowed by the vehicle, the fine, which can range from 80 to 500 euros, is directed solely at the driver, as it is s/he who is responsible for the excess number of occupants.

    An agent of Guardia Civil Tráfico [20Minutos]

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

20Minutos, Academia de Transportista, Drivalia, Expansion Politica, Freepik, La Verdad, Police 1, SlashGear,  

With thanks to:

Paul Whitelock (Translations)

CGT, DGT, Francisco Miralles, NoticiasTrabajo, Reglamento General de Trafico, Wikipedia (Sources) 

Tags:

20Minutos, Academia del Transportista, CGT, delicto, DGT, Drivalia, Expansion Politica, fine, Francisco Miralles, Freepik, guardia civil, La Verdad, NoticiasTrabajo, Paul Whitelock, penalty, police, Police 1, Reglamento General de Trafico, SlashGear, Trafico, Wikipedia

Pedro Sanchez has been criticised in the past for not joining the "coalition of the willing" to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia in their ongoing war, yet this week he has announced a significant aid package for the beleaguered country.

Pedro Sanchez [El Mundo]    

The Spanish Press has reported extensively on this, although I've seen nothing in the UK, USA nor German media, the three countries where I get most of my news.

Pedro Sánchez announces the movement of 817 million euros to arm Ukraine and help with its re-construction
 

By Raúl Piña 

Of the total sum, only 200 million euros in financial instruments, loans, to rebuild Ukraine, and two million to provide heating to a village, are newly allocated.

615 million euros are part of the 1,000 million already committed.

    [Freepik]

Volodymyr Zelensky has made a third visit to Spain but this time, off the record. 

The bombs and missiles launched by Russia persist.

While he was in Spain the Ukraine leader made visits to the Congress, the Zarzuela, the Reina Sofía Museum to see the Guernica – at the Ukrainian's request – and to La Moncloa.

[Freepik]    

It seems to have been worthwhile. 

Spain is going to mobilise 817 million euros for defence equipment and aid for the re-construction of Ukraine. Of that amount, however, 615 million euros are already budgeted within the bilateral security agreement signed between the two countries in 2024, which provides for allocating 1,000 million euros annually to Ukraine – Sánchez already anticipated in February that the same amount would be allocated in 2025 – and 202 million euros are newly designated.

    [La Razon]

Sánchez's commitment to Zelensky is to mobilise those 615 million "over the next month."

The breakdown of this amount is as follows: shipment of new defensive equipment worth approximately 300 million euros; the transfer of 100 million euros to NATO's PURL program (Ukraine's Prioritized Requirements List) to urgently purchase air defense systems from the US and send them to Ukraine; and the transfer of 215 million euros through the European Union's SAFE Instrument to fund the production of anti-drone systems, surveillance and air radar systems, many of them developed by Spanish companies.

anti-drone systems [elEconomista.es]    

Participation of companies in the re-construction

The 202 million euros of new allocation corresponds to a new financial support instrument, coordinated by the new Office for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which will serve to boost reconstruction, and other projects to the tune of nearly two million euros.

The background of that 200 million in funding for reconstruction is to activate an instrument that allows Spanish companies to participate directly and competitively in the re-construction, modernisation, and expansion of damaged infrastructure, with a special emphasis on sectors such as energy, transport, and water management.

"In these very difficult times, you always remember the friends who helped you and brought clarity to the situation," Zelensky said in a joint appearance with Sánchez at La Moncloa.

Sánchez justified the aid to Ukraine "out of solidarity, coherence, and responsibility. The war it is fighting against Putin's neo-imperialism is a war that seeks to weaken the European project for which we have worked so hard in Spain."

During his stay in Spain, Zelensky met at Indra’s headquarters with a dozen companies from the Spanish defence industry. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles.

According to the Ukrainian leader posting on his social media, the Spanish manufacturers presented their developments in areas such as anti-drone systems, turrets, aerial and ground drones, long-range radars, and ammunition, amongst other things. 

"Estamos en 2002, pero parece que estamos en 1937 cuando se bombardeó Guernica". Zelenski hizo de este cuadro un símbolo de la guerra en la que estaba inmerso.

Within the framework of this meeting, Zelensky explained that Spain is starting a project to supply long-range radars. "This Spanish manufacturing is unique and could strengthen us greatly. We will try to test it in the one we are suffering."

Detail of Guernica by Picasso [BBC]    

The Ukrainian president has shown his willingness to work with Spanish industry for the "joint production of high-precision weaponry."

Earlier in the afternoon, Sánchez and Zelensky took part in a private visit to the Reina Sofía Museum, at the request of the Ukrainian leader, where both were able to admire and pose next to Guernica, painted by Pablo Picasso.

In April 2022, the Ukrainian president delivered an address to the Congress of Deputies via videoconference to denounce the Russian invasion and present the situation in his country. At that time, he compared the situation his nation was going through with the Civil War that took place in Spain: "We are in 2002, but it feels like we are in 1937 when Guernica was bombed." Zelensky said.

During his visit, the President of Ukraine held a meeting at the Zarzuela Palace with Felipe VI, in which the King, according to sources from the Royal Household, expressed Spanish support in all areas - diplomatic, financial, and military - for as long as the Ukrainian people need it. He also confirmed Spain's support for Ukraine's process of joining the European Union.

[Photo courtesy of Onda Cero]    

© Paul Whitelock

Images:

BBC, elEconomista.es, El Mundo, Freepik, La Razon, Onda Cero, Wikipedia 

Acknowledgements:

BBC, elEconomista.es, El Mundo, Freepik, La Razon, Onda Cero, Paul Whitelock, Raúl Piña, Wikipedia 

Tags:

BBC, coalition of the willing, elEconomista.es, El Mundo, Enrique VI, Freepik, La Razon, Madrid, Malaga, Onda Cero, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, Raúl Piña, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, Wikipedia 

The "burning season" has opened in Andalucia. In order to burn garden waste, scrub and clippings you need a permit obtainable free of charge from your local town hall.

The start date was November 1st, so I made sure I applied for my licencia in good time.

[Photo courtesy of ABC de Sevilla]    

My Story

My home is in Fuente de la Higuera, a pedania in the campo just outside Ronda (Malaga) where I have lived for the last 14 years. It's right across the road from the Foreign Legion barracks.

My finca has a large garden and a 10,000 m2 field. Over the last 12 months I have accumulated a lot of material for burning.

Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda [Photo: Wikiloc]    

My gardener, who used to take care of the burning, has been conspicuous by his absence lately, so it was down to me for the first time in 14 years; in actual fact the first time ever in my life!

November 1st, 2025

This day is a fiesta nacional in Spain - Dia de todos los Santos (All Saints Day) - and none of my neighbours lit fires, but the following day, Sunday, they all did.

Taking my lead from them, I lit several small bonfires after meticulous preparation, with hosepipe at the ready, just in case.   

[Video courtesy of RTVE.es]    

Come Monday, there were smoke plumes all over the area. "A good idea to burn some more  of my garden waste," I thought. So I lit a few small fires, which burned quickly and then went dormant.

Then I turned my attention to a larger pile of waste. I checked out the surroundings and judged it to be safe. There was a good metre gap between my pile and some scrub next door.

So I lit the fire and up it went.

Before you could say "¡Ay, caramba!" the flames started racing through the wet stubble at a great pace. I managed to stop it reaching the rear of my neighbours' gardens, by using the hosepipe. But, it was spreading in other directions too, into my field, all stubble, and into my neighbours' properties to the east.

My hosepipes weren't long enough, so I drove round to their properties, but nobody was there. They had gone to lunch.

I did my best with what was there, but their hosepipes wern't long enough either.

When a palm tree caught fire I knew I needed professional help, so I rang 112, the emergency number. The nice lady who answered was in Madrid, so obviously didn't know our area, but she took details.

First, "Where's the fire?" I told her. Then she asked me more detailed questions about the terrain. "Is it flat? Are houses in danger? Has anyone been hurt?" and so on. 

Then within minutes I could hear sirens. The fire brigade were in the vicinity in 5 minutes. I met them and led the way to the scene of the fire and they got to work.

Within a very short time, with their high pressure hoses, they had quelled the flames and stopped them spreading further.

Amazing!

    [Photo: Pablo de Ronda]

Meanwhile the fire had taken off across the fields. They needed better access, so I led the way. This is the campo, so there are few roads; they are mostly tracks.

Long story short, the bomberos were there for four hours damping down. Two fire engines, an Infoca engine, the policia local and the patrulla verde.

    [Above photos by Pablo de Ronda]

Aftermath

The policia local officers were polite yet very strict. They made it clear to me that I was at fault. The man from the patrulla verde was less intimidating. His role was to assess the damage. Fortunately I was able to show them my valid permit.

I should be covered by my house insurance for damage caused to third parties, but I am expecting a multa (fine) from the policia local for failing to control the fire. 

    [Grupo SIPSE]

In mitigation, my neighbours, Hotel La Perla Blanca and Bodega Badman, had failed to cut down the metre-high grass and scrub on their land, despite being obliged to do so by law, precisely because of the risk of fire.

I am also told I will get a bill from the fire brigade. I hope my insurance also covers that.

I guess I may need a lawyer to help sort this out .....

I'll keep you posted!

STOP PRESS:

My instinct as a buen vecino was to talk to the neighbours who had been affected, but I was advised not to for fear of compromising any action I or the authorities may chose to take to apportion a significant part of the blame to said neighbours, Hotel La Perla Blanca and Bodegas Badman.

This, for their failure to keep their land scrub-free by cutting down the metre-high weeds and and dried grass to hinder/prevent such fires from speading so easily. A legal requirement throughout the region.

    Hotel La Perla Blanca [Trip Advisor]                    Bodegas Badman [Facebook]

POSTSCRIPT:

Interestingly, in the two days since the fire, hardly anybody in the area has been burning!

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

ABC de Sevilla, Facebook, Grupo SISE, Pablo de Ronda, RTVE.es, Trip Advisor, Wikiloc, 

Thanks:

085, 112, Bomberos de Ronda, Infoca

Tags:

085, 112, ABC de Sevilla, All Saints Day, Bodegas Badman, Bomberos de Ronda, burning season, Dia de todos los Santos, Facebook, fiesta nacional, Fuente de la Higuera, Grupo SISE, Hotel La Perla Blanca, Infoca, Pablo de Ronda, pedania, permit, policia local, RTVE.es, Ronda, Trip Advisor, Wikiloc

I suppose this should be a letter to the editor, but I don't know where to do that, so I shall place it here, on a thread which aims to provide news about Spain and elsewhere to English-speaking immigrants and visitors.

Why, I ask, do articles about important matters in Spain, which affect us all, rarely appear in The Weekly Digest?

What do I mean?

Important stories about Sanchez' stance on Europe, on Russia and the Middle East are not featured. Bad weather; corruption allegations against Sanchez, his wife and several colleagues; restrictions against non-EU citizens - all missing.

Flooding in Valencia [Sky News]    

ç

The evidence

In this week's digest, there are four advertisements (Why is that?), and other articles about nice places to visit in Spain, including one from me about tourism, but NO IMPORTANT NEWS!

There was one article about how difficult it's likely to become to enter Spain from a non-EU country, but that's not really news!

[Image courtesy of The Olive Press]    

Last week there were also a number of advertisements; some very interesting articles; but NOTHING NEWSWORTHY! An article of mine was featured about Ronda wines, but that's NOT NEWS!

The week before, the only article which might be classed as NEWS, was mine about Storm Amy, which devastated areas of Europe and Spain. I also had a post about tourism: National Geographic Spain No. 306.

So?

Maybe somebody from Eye on Spain would like to explain this failure to keep us abreast of major news.

Whilst most of the other posts on Eye on Spain are interesting, I still question why blatant publicity is featured in The Weekly Digest.

Do they pay for the privilege?

    [Image courtesy of Sound Cloud]

Links:

El Valle del Genal - La Serrania de Ronda

Ronda Wines - Are they any good?

Amy causes chaos

National Geographic Spain No. 306

[Front cover courtesy of Tienda RBA]    

© The Curmudgeon

Pictures:

Eye on Spain, Paul Whitelock, Sky News, Sound Cloud, The Olive Press, Tienda RBA

Thanks:

Eye on Spàin, National Geographic Spain, Paul Whitelock, Sky News, The Curmudgeon, The Olive Press, The Weekly Digest 

Tags:

Amy causes chaos, El Valle del Genal - La Serrania de Ronda, Eye on Spàin, National Geographic Spain No. 306, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Wines - Are they any good?, Sky News, Sound Cloud, The Curmudgeon, The Olive Press, The Weekly Digest, Tienda RBA

As widely predicted, Donald Trump did not win this year's prize.

He wasn't even on the shortlist of nominees.

He is reported to be livid!

"Serves the arrogant b*****d right", I say.

Trump loses his cool! [Red Bubble]    

Nobel Peace Prize 2025

The winner was announced yesterday, 10 October 2025, in Oslo, Norway. The honour was awarded to a brave and committed champion of peace – to a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.

Maria Corina Machado

Maria Corina Machado, leader of the democracy movement in Venezuela, works tirelessly to promote democratic rights for the people of Venezuela in her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. 

[Photo of Ms Machado courtesy of El Confidencial]    

Background

Venezuela has evolved from a relatively democratic and prosperous country to a brutal, authoritarian state that is now suffering a humanitarian and economic crisis. 

Most Venezuelans live in deep poverty, as the few at the top enrich themselves. The violent machinery of the state is directed against the country’s own citizens. 

As a result nearly 8 million Venezuelans have left the country. The opposition has been systematically suppressed by means of election rigging, illegal prosecution and imprisonment.

As a founder of Súmate, an organisation devoted to democratic development, Ms Machado stood up for free and fair elections more than 20 years ago.

As she said: “It was a choice of ballots over bullets.” 

In political office and in her service to organisations since then, Ms Machado has spoken out for judicial independence, human rights and popular representation. She has spent years working for the freedom of the Venezuelan people.

[Logo courtesy of YouTube]    

Ahead of the election of 2024, Ms Machado was the opposition’s presidential candidate, but the regime blocked her candidacy.

She then backed the representative of a different party, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, in the election. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers mobilised across political divides. 

They were trained as election observers to ensure a transparent and fair election. Despite the risk of harassment, arrest and torture, citizens across the country held watch over the polling stations. They made sure the final tallies were documented before the regime could destroy ballots and lie about the outcome.

The efforts of the collective opposition, both before and during the election, were innovative and brave, peaceful and democratic. The opposition received international support when its leaders publicised the vote counts that had been collected from the country’s election districts, showing that the opposition had won by a clear margin.

But the regime of Nicolás Maduro refused to accept the election result, and clung to power.

The Venezuelan regime’s rigid hold on power and its repression of the population are not unique in the world. We see the same trends globally: rule of law abused by those in control, free media silenced, critics imprisoned, and societies pushed towards authoritarian rule and militarisation. 

In 2024, more elections were held than ever before, but fewer and fewer are free and fair.

    Nicolás Maduro [Wikipedia]

In its long history, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has honoured brave women and men who have stood up to repression, who have carried the hope of freedom in prison cells, on the streets and in public squares, and who have shown by their actions that peaceful resistance can change the world.

In the past year, Ms Machado has been forced to live in hiding. Despite serious threats against her life she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions of people.

    [Image courtesy of Facebook]

Democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent, who dare to step forward despite grave risk, and who remind us that freedom must never be taken for granted, but must always be defended – with words, with courage and with determination.

Maria Corina Machado meets all three criteria stated in Alfred Nobel’s will for the selection of a Peace Prize laureate. She has brought her country’s opposition together. She has never wavered in resisting the militarisation of Venezuelan society. She has been steadfast in her support for a peaceful transition to democracy.

    [Photo of Alfred Nobel by Amazon]

STOP PRESS: It is reported that Ms Machado has been gaoled. Let us hope she is safe. The question is: Will she be allowed to attend the presentation ceremony in Oslo in December?

And Trump?

Some commentators think he might be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize next year, if the ceasefire in the Middle East holds.

If he achieves that it will be "a wonderful thing" (Trump's own words), but what about some of his other actions in the past and the present?

I don't think so ..... !

[Cartoon courtesy of Shutterstock]    

©  Paul Whitelock

Sources:

BBC News

Nobel Peace Prize 2025 - Press release - NobelPrize.org - with special thanks

Sky News International

Wikipedia

Images:

Amazon, El Confidencial, Facebook, Red Bubble, Shutterstock, Wikipedia, YouTube

Tags:

Amazon, democracy, Donald Trump, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, El Confidencial, Facebook, Maria Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize 2025, Norway, Oslo, Paul Whitelock, Red Bubble, Shutterstock, Súmate, Venezuela, Wikipedia, YouTube

So, what's new? No, being serious, this is not about my daughter Amy causing chaos at home (apparently that was me!).

It's about Storm Amy which arrived a few days ago from the Atlantic Ocean hitting Ireland first and then parts of Scotland, North West England and Wales, and moving further east to affect France and the Netherlands and Scandinavia. That was this weekend just gone.

    Storm Amy [The Weather Network]

What happened?

With winds approaching 100 mph (140 kph) hundreds of trees have been blown down, taking power lines with them. Heavy and persistent rain has caused widespread flooding.

Authorities in Ireland reported a man died in north west Ireland in a weather-related incident, while in France, at least two people were reportedly killed by the storm, local officials said.

      Satellite image of Storm Amy [BBC]

Weather conditions began to slightly improve across northern Europe on Sunday after the storm impacted critical infrastructure and disrupted power for tens of thousands of people.

In the Netherlands Amy led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and ferry services.

In Scotland, authorities restored power to some 67,000 homes two days after the storm brought damage and disruption.

Restoring power [Photo: BBC]    

Road, rail, and sea travel faced major disruption as the storm walloped the UK and Scandinavia on Saturday with heavy rain and high winds.

London’s Royal Parks shut their gates as Britain’s Met Office gave updates on the weather after it recorded a gust of 154 kph on Friday on the island of Tiree off Scotland’s west coast. 

More than 200,000 homes in Ireland and Northern Ireland had been left without power, while in Scotland, many ferry services were suspended, and roads and railway lines were blocked by fallen trees.

    [Photo: The Mirror]

France

On Saturday afternoon, Storm Amy's powerful gusts, which claimed two lives in France, prompted parts of Northern France to issue an orange alert.

"Storm Amy is moving across the British Isles, causing strong gusts of wind in the departments near the English Channel coast and in the northern inland departments of the country," French weather service Meteo France said.

France's northern coast recorded its strongest winds since the beginning of the week, with gusts reaching 131 kilometres and up to 110 kph inland.

[Photo: The Guardian]    

Up to 5,000 Normandy homes were without power on Saturday morning due to the storm. According to power supplier Enedis, the number decreased to 2,000 by noon, but since then, more outages have been reported.

Belgium

In Belgium, Storm Amy was also clearly felt, causing some damage with strong winds of speeds reaching over 100 kilometres per hour. As a result, authorities declared a Code Orange weather warning for the entire country on Friday.

As a precaution, the breakwaters in Ostend were closed for the entire weekend, and telephone number 1722 for non-urgent requests for assistance from the fire brigade had been activated.

Scandinavia

    People struggled against the wind and rain in Malmö, Sweden [Johan Nilsson/TT]

Storm Amy also wreaked havoc on Sweden, Denmark, and Norway from late Friday into Saturday. Tens of thousands of homes lost power as strong gusts brought down trees and power lines throughout Scandinavia, as heavy rainfall and high tides pummeled the coastal areas.

Norway

Roofs were blown off houses, trees fell, and over a hundred roads were closed in Norway, where rainfall was extremely heavy.

Sweden
Strong winds and heavy rain were recorded on Saturday across southern and central Sweden. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) issued orange alerts for the West Coast, the southern coast of Skåne, and the Skagerrak area.

[Photo: Sky News]    

Out at sea off northern Halland, hurricane-force gusts were recorded. In addition, several yellow warnings were put in place for large parts of the country.

Why Storm Amy?

Storms with the potential to cause serious disruption or damage are given names jointly by the UK, Irish, and Dutch weather agencies.

The current storm, called Amy, is the remnant of Hurricane Humberto, which formed over the Atlantic Ocean last week.

Amy Whitelock Gibbs

Returning to my daughter Amy, she graduated from Oxford University with a First Class Honours degree in English and German. She then gained a MSc in European Public Policy from UCL, did placements at the European Parliament in Brussels and at the House of Commons, London.

Amy was a Labour Councillor in Tower Hamlets, London, for eight years whilst pursuing a career in the charity sector. She has worked for MIND, Amnesty International and Birthrights, where she was CEO. Amy is currently CEO of Tutors United, an educational charity, and Chair of the Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition.

She is the mother of two boys, aged eight and five and lives in Stratford, East London, overlooking the 2012 Olympic Village.

"Storm Amy" [Photo: Tutors United]    

© Pablo de Ronda (aka Paul Whitelock)

Sources:

BBC, Daily Mail, euroNews, Mirror Group, SKY News

Pictures:

BBC, Johan Nilsson, The Guardian, The Mirror, The Weather Network, TT, Tutors United

Links:

(10) Amy Whitelock Gibbs | LinkedIn

Death in the afternoon… and in the morning - a personal memoire - Eye on Spain

Journey to the East - Help me, Ronda

Tutors United - Enabling every child to succeed.

Tags:

Amy Whitelock Gibbs, BBC, Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition, Daily Mail, Death in the afternoon ..... and in the morning, euroNews, Eye on Spain, Johann Nilsson, Journey to the East, LinkedIn, Mirror, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, SKY News, The Guardian, The Mirror, The Weather Network, Tutors United, TT, www.help-me-ronda.com 

Two rather conflicting reports published in the last couple of days have left me rather non-plussed.

According to the INE (the Spanish National Statistics Institute), Spain is the most economically successful country in Europe, as reported online by Microsoft News (MSN) and also covered by The Olive Press newspaper, for the sixth quarter on the trot. Annual growth is set at 3.6% against a previous forecast of just 0.6%.

[Image courtesy of Marketing Teacher]    

Yet the headline on this week's SUR in English tells readers:

"Costa del Sol bars and restaurants see sales slump over summer".

(Please click on hyperlink below)

    [Sur in English]

Preamble

Not exactly contradictory, I suppose, but rather two different sides of the same coin.

And all summer we have seen anti-tourism demonstrations in major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga and also in Mallorca, Tenerife, Sevilla and Cadiz. These are protests against the lack of supply of long-term rental accommodation for local workers, because owners prefer the more lucrative option of renting to tourists for greater financial gain.

[Photo courtesy of The Daily Express]    

A recent report about Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia and endpoint of the pilgrimage routes known as the Camino de Santiago, has suffered a similar fate, in that residents the old town have been priced out of the area and local shops like butchers, bakers and greengrocers have closed to be replaced by souvenir shops, ice-cream parlours and off-licences.

    Overcrowded Santiago [Travel Industry Today]

What next?

Barcelona has gone so far as to ban AirBnb, booking.com and the like from 2026. But they have important industries other than tourism, such as ship-building and car manufacturing.

Madrid also has heavy industry round about.

But Valencia and Malaga and island cities rely heavily on tourism. Without the income from foreign visitors they will gradually wither and die.

STOP PRESS:

Another set of figures has been published today, also from the INE, which adds to the confusion. A report in the right-wing Spanish daily, El Mundo, proclaims that inflation is about to rise again to 2.9% because of the increased cost of petrol and electricity.

El Mundo : La inflación en España vuelve a subir hasta el 2,9% en septiembre por la gasolina y la electricidad.

Por Alejandra Olcese

https://www.msn.com/es-es/dinero/economia/la-inflaci%C3%B3n-en-espa%C3%B1a-vuelve-a-subir-hasta-el-2-9-en-septiembre-por-la-gasolina-y-la-electricidad/ar-AA1Nv7xe?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=e5693de4303e4531abd2e93bb6ed0d90&ei=9

© Paul Whitelock

Links:

Costa del Sol hospitality industry closes summer with decline in consumption | Sur in English

Boost for Pedro Sanchez as Spain’s GDP grows 0.8% in second quarter of 2025  - Olive Press News Spain

Pictures:

Marketing Teacher, The Daily Express, Travel Industry Today, Trip Advisor,

Thanks:

Alejandra Olcese, El Mundo, INE, Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, MSN, Microsoft News, Paul Whitelock, SUR in English, The Olive Press

Tags:

2026, AirBnb, Alejandra Olcese, booking.com, bakers, Barcelona, butchers, Cadiz, Camino de Santiago, car manufacturing, "Costa del Sol bars and restaurants see sales slump over summer", El Mundo, greengrocers, ice-cream parlours, INE, long-term rental accommodation, Madrid,  Malaga, Mallorca, Marketing Teacher, MSN, Microsoft News, most economically successful country in Europe, National Statistics Institute, off-licences, pilgrimage route, renting to tourists, Santiago de Compostela, Sevilla, Spain,  souvenir shops, SUR in English, ship-building, Tenerife, The Daily Express, tourism, Travel Industry Today, Trip Advisor, Valencia,

Following an investigation by the government's ethics adviser, Angela Rayner has resigned from all her roles in government, including that of deputy PM.

She is no longer Housing Secretary nor Justice Secretary.

    [BBC]    

This has prompted a major reshuffle.

David Lammy, the foreign secretary, becomes Deputy PM, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary.

Yvette Cooper moves from Home Secretary to Foreign Secretary.

Shabana Mahmood is the new Home Secretary.

Jonathan Reynolds has been moved from Business Secretary to Chief Whip, and his former role has been given to Peter Kyle.

The Housing brief held by Rayner has gone to Steve Reed.

Opportunity? Or sign of weakness?

That depends on which paper you read.

©  Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

BBC, SKY News, The Guardian

Tags:

Angela Rayner, BBC, Business Secretary, Chief Whip, David Lammy, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, Paul Whitelock, Peter Kyle, Shabana Mahmood, SKY News, Steve Reed, The Guardian, Yvette Cooper,