The Car’s the Star (but start saving now)

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is a big day for the Catholic church, and as such is celebrated as a national holiday in Spain, a “red day” to you and me. Most shops will still be open, though not all, so best to check if you’re running low on bread and milk, but businesses will close their doors. Some of them will be closed today, as a “bridging day”, of course there are also those who are closed for the whole of the month, so it’s a bit of a pick-n-mix, but either way, it’s recognised as a holiday.

In the ongoing saga that is the Spanish elections, it is once again possible things may become a little clearer this week, as at ten o´clock in the morning of Thursday 17 August, the Congress and the Senate are constituted simultaneously, each one in its headquarters. It is the day in which the parliamentarians elect the presidents and the Tables of the Chambers and promise or swear the Constitution.

The next key date is the week of the 21 August, next week, when, after being informed of the composition of Congress, it is foreseeable that the Head of State will convene in Zarzuela, the Royal Palace, the representatives of all the formations with a presence in Congress to decide who is in charge of undergoing the Investiture Session.

Aside from Spanish politics, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the brand, Lamborghini has confirmed that it will present the first prototype of what will be its first fully electric car this week. Yes, there will be an electric Lamborghini. You might want to wait to see the features the car boasts before dashing down to your local dealer to place an order though, especially as they won’t actually produce it until 2028. They already have electric cars by the way, but this new one will be fully electric. Oh, and the 2019 Lamborghini Sián would set you back the best part of 3.5 million euro, but at least you’ll have 5 years to save your pennies. The British Motor Show is on this week, by the way.

In the UK, many people are away on holiday, so they may well miss two reports published this week, which may, or may not, give a more positive (or negative) outlook on the current financial and work situation in the country. On Tuesday, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will publish the labour market data for the three months to June which, after last month’s unexpected rise in unemployment, will be closely watched for further signs that inflationary pressures are taking hold in the jobs market and the continuing impact of higher prices on wages.

A day later, on Wednesday, the CPI index for July will show whether the Bank of England’s efforts are starting to have the desired effect or if we are indeed entering a 1970s-style period of stagflation. This information, by the way, is also used to calculate the train fare increase in January, so it will give an indication of how much more commuters will be paying for their already over-inflated trips to try and earn a living.

In the world of sport, the FIFA Women’s World Cup is about to reach its conclusion, after record viewing figures, and the first semi-final sees Sweden face Spain on Tuesday. There’s more Spanish football of interest to some on Wednesday when the UEFA Super Cup sees Manchester City take on Sevilla. The World Athletics Championships open in Budapest at the weekend too.

A tense time for some students might be expected this week too in the UK, as A Level results are released on Thursday.

It may also be a tense time for those seemingly running down the NHS, as, in the midst of medics striking and complaining about the lack of investment in the healthcare system over the last decade, NHS Digital update on primary care workforce data is made public.

On the roads of Spain, as well as the special operation running through Tuesday, there is also an alcohol and drugs clampdown this week.

Local holidays on Wednesday in Bigastro, Callosa de Segura, Guadalest (also on Thursday), and Denia. And the Brilla Torrevieja festival comes to an end at the weekend.

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