Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 4 - 10 February 2021 Issue 1857

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The people’s paper ISSUE NO. 1857

4 - 10 February 2021

MALLORCA • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

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ECONOMIC RECOVERY: Unem‐ ployment fell in January for the second consecutive month and the number of self‐employed workers has increased, being the highest number of self‐employed ever recorded in a January. Although there is no magic so‐ lution to employment in the Balearics, the government has an‐ nounced that for the second month running fewer people are unemployed than at the end of November. The figures aren’t enormous but do appear to show a positive trend according to the Minister of the Economy, Tourism and Work, Iago Negueruela as he revealed the January unemployment figure

Minister Negueruela delivered the welcome news.

PLAZA MAYOR CLOSED ALTHOUGH there appears to be an overall decline in the rate of new Covid‐19 infections in Mal‐ lorca, the organisation known as Resistencia Balear (Balearic Resis‐ tance) is at loggerheads with the Balearic Government. Last Saturday (January 30), even though its Facebook ac‐ count was suspended due to nu‐ merous complaints against its contents, the organisation which accused the social media compa‐ ny of ‘censorship’ went ahead with its threatened demonstra‐ tion in Palma. The authorities had approved a demonstration on the under‐ standing that it could only be con‐ ducted by people in cars and oth‐ er enclosed vehicles in order to

ensure safe social distancing. With a ‘rallying call’ ‘¿Salimos de paseo?’ (Are we going for a walk?) however, it appeared like‐ ly that many demonstrators would ignore the restriction and this proved to be true with many people turning up on foot despite pleas from the police not to. This then resulted in the issu‐ ing of fines said to amount to more than €140,000 after organ‐ isers encouraged people attend‐ ing to dance to music they played for them so there were effective‐ ly two different breaches of the law, firstly gathering in public and secondly holding a party. Nothing daunted, at very short notice, a new demonstration was called for Wednesday February 3

in the Plaza Mayor with a differ‐ ent slant, which called for those participating to bring food, blan‐ kets and items for babies to dis‐ tribute to those suffering from the current State of Alarm. Víctor Sánchez a spokesman for Resistencia Balear, explained in a video that there was a right to demonstrate and that people needed food which they were going to distribute.

In the event, however, this at‐ tempt to shame the Balearic Gov‐ ernment into allowing the distri‐ bution of the food on humanitarian grounds was un‐ successful as the government simply sealed off the Plaza Mayor to frustrate the meeting. Time will tell whether this will be the last of the public protests or whether they will continue at the weekend.

of 83,341 was down by 938 com‐ pared to December. Overall, there are some 412,115 registered as employed across the islands and although this is nearly 4 per cent less than the same time last year, it is similar to the number employed in Jan‐ uary 2018. Despite the obvious problems caused by the lack of tourism, the number of self‐employed workers also increased for the second con‐ secutive month and is up by 0.3 per cent in January, which is tradi‐ tionally the worst month in the year for employment. Acknowledging that unemploy‐

ment is still a problem, the minis‐ ter indicated that there are now 35,156 supported via ERTE (fur‐ lough), an increase of 14 per cent over the 30,838 registered in De‐ cember and the increase is at‐ tributable to the closure of many hotels due to the pandemic. There are a number of resi‐ dents receiving some form of fi‐ nancial support from the govern‐ ment as they register to find work and in year‐on‐year terms, De‐ cember unemployment rose by 22,486 people (37 per cent), re‐ flecting much higher rates of rising unemployment than the average across Spain of 21.8 per cent.

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4 - 10 February 2021

Caterpillar shoot out New dog park THERE was a series of very loud bangs around the streets of Manacor last weekend as the Manacor Hunters Associa‐ tion was out blasting pine pro‐ cessionary caterpillar nests from trees. This will continue around the

municipality until February 6 under the watchful eye of Local Police officers, but brings to an end this season’s campaign against the dangerous crea‐ tures. As is well‐documented, the hairs on the caterpillars which

do become detached can cause injury to children and are often fatal to animals that lick them. Work started in October and November of last year when the council treated 300 pine trees in various town squares and near schools in order to stop the caterpillar infesta‐ tions. There were still a number of pines which had not been treated which had been colonised, which is why the hunters agreed to come out and blast the nests which would also kill the caterpillars.

THE first dog park in Llucmajor has been created at a cost of €2,000 for the materials in the Sa Torre urbanisation. The new facility is located in a green area of the urbani‐ sation and covers about 1,600 square metres which is fenced off and has two entrances. Within the area is a Mediterranean woodland where dogs and their owners can enjoy exercise as well as sociali‐ sation but in order not to contravene local by‐laws, each animal has to have been chipped and vaccinated. This project has been completed as part of the Hortus Major, mixed employment programme aimed at unem‐ ployed people under 30 who are training to obtain qualifi‐ cations in the installation and maintenance of gardens and green areas. If successful, the council will consider opening up dog parks throughout the municipality.

Balearic airline bankrupt WHEN the Thomas Cook Group went into liquidation in September 2019, its Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics subsidiary based in Mallorca soon followed suit. It was formed in 2017, using aircraft from the Belgian arm of Thomas Cook but due to the loss of the parent, it was in limbo until in May 2020, it was taken over by the German company Panaf fronted by former president of the Mallorca Tourist Board, Álvaro Middelmann.

Although it was a risky undertaking considering the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, the investors clearly thought that there was a viable business to run using its two Airbus A320200s. Now it has been announced that Panaf are no longer in a position to continue to fund the airline which barely got off the ground since the takeover and it will go into bankruptcy leaving 90 staff unemployed.

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Local Police demonstrate THINGS are not going well between the Local Police and the council in Santa Margalida with budget cuts and reduc‐ tion in the number of of‐ ficers to be employed. Problems have been experienced for some time now and it appears that as well as being un‐ derstaffed already, offi‐ cers are quitting to work in more attractive loca‐ tions with higher salaries. The main bone of con‐ tention is the establish‐ ment of the number of officers which the Union says should be 40 and the council wants to cut from its estimate of 38 to 30. As the matter was put to the vote and carried, on Thursday January 28, a number of official and private cars hooted their horns and flashed their lights outside the council offices.

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NIBS EXTRA Free oil WITH little likelihood of any fiestas in the foreseeable future, the Deia Council offered local residents the opportunity to visit their offices with a one litre bottle to collect free olive oil and for those who had no bottles, 200ml filled bottles were available.

Monument approved THE Andratx Council has approved a motion by the Citizen’s Municipal Group for the construction of a monument to honour those who have lost their lives due to Covid-19 and also those who have fought and continue to fight against the pandemic.

Slow down THE new speed limit of 80 kmh has now been introduced on the Palma Vía de Cintura (ring road) despite requests from various commercial sectors asking that it be postponed until bus and lorry lanes had been created.

Forest fire THE Mallorca Fire Brigade was called out to deal with a forest fire in Alcanada and although the general roughness and unevenness of the terrain made it difficult for the officers to undertake the work, they did eventually succeed in extinguishing the fire.

Illegal immigrants OFFICERS from the National Police have identified that illegal immigrants from Algeria are being brought to Mallorca on skippered yachts rather than RHIBS and have arrested one man accused of trying to land five people on the island.

Court decision AFTER fighting demolition orders for seven years, the owners of 12 apartments in Andraxt have been told by the courts that they must be demolished as the builders did not possess the necessary licences when they built the flats.

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European Union funds Turtle released BY the end of 2020, the Balearic Government has emerged as the leading autonomous community for the implementation of projects using European Union funds with a spend of €108 million. This is an ongoing programme and the government has accelerated spending during 2020 to try to mitigate some of the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the entire allocation made to

the Balearics will be completed by 2023. Working to aid local companies, grants have been made for the installation of photovoltaic panels for selfconsumption, the establishment of charging points for electric vehicles, the improvement of Ferreries (Menorca) and Binissalem (Mallorca) sewage treatment plants. Other projects include the construction of the new Santa

Maria Secondary School, the installation of digital classroom equipment in public schools, the integration of information systems and equipment on board in medical transport, electrification of the Enllaç-Sa Pobla and Enllaç-Manacor railway corridors. Another important project concerned the detection and control of the invasive Asian wasp in Mallorca.

Hydrogen programme IRISH researchers will use knowledge from the new Green Hysland, hydrogen project in Mallorca, to evaluate its economic impacts and replicability on other island communities. The National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway) said that its three researchers will take part in the Green Hysland project, which will deploy green hydrogen for use across several sectors on the island. It will also focus on determining the socio‐ economic impacts and identifying skills and training programmes needed to decarbonise

the island and replicate the results. Enagas and renewable energy company Ac‐ ciona SA have already ordered an electrolyser to produce hydrogen from Mallorca’s solar energy with funding from the European Union. The green hydrogen will be used to power buses and rental vehicles, ferries and port op‐ erations, generate heat and power for com‐ mercial and public buildings which will all feed into a hydrogen refuelling station and the is‐ land’s gas pipeline network.

Hands-on training More recruits THE president of ONCE, Maria del Carmen Soler, and the president of SENSORDMA, Rafael Medi‐ na, participated in two training sessions for Lo‐ cal Police on how to help those with special needs. Thirty‐five officers participated in the 41st ba‐ sic training course offered by the Balearic School of Public Administration (EBAP). Included in the course was practical training for the care and assistance of blind and hearing‐ impaired people as well as basic understanding of dealing with the public and implementing the law. Grants of up to €1,215 per student have been made available to trainee officers residing out‐ side Mallorca with the aim of compensating part of the housing costs and trips they have to take to attend the basic training course outside their island. Of the 35 students participating, 18 were from Ibiza, eight from Menorca, seven from Mallorca and two from Formentera.

JANUARY 30 marks the date of the death of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 and has been adopted by Unicef as World Peace Day with special em‐ phasis on school celebra‐ tions. One celebrant in Santanyi, Llorenç Vidal Vidal reminded local residents of the need to practise non‐violence and un‐

SOME 20 new Local Police officers have been officially inducted into the ranks of the Palma Police Force with a further 81 officers to fol‐ low. It is quite a long and time‐consuming expe‐ rience as approval for their employment was first granted in the 2018/2019 Public Employ‐ ment Offer but only now, having been ac‐ cepted as civil servants, are they to be en‐ tered into the Municipal Training School. Having now been issued their documenta‐ tion and new uniforms they are ready to commence their training and although they will be placed in smaller groups of five offi‐ cers, they paraded in front of the Sant Ferran police station for a group photo with Palma mayor José Hila. A further 56 officers are due to be recruit‐ ed thanks to the 2020 Public Employment Of‐ fer, with many of the new recruits due to take over from officers who have been pro‐ moted.

World Peace Day derstanding between people with different origins and ways of thinking. Whilst it was not possible to celebrate in what has been a recent tradition, the San‐ tanyi Council lit up the town hall with white light in order

to reinforce the importance of the day and its message to all. With the trials and tribula‐ tions being faced across the world and some spontaneous outbreaks of violence, this recognition is one that should not be ignored.

STAFF from the Balearic Islands Wildlife Recovery Con‐ sortium (COFIB) have released a loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) on the beach of Ses Covetes, in the Na‐ tional Park of Es Trenc‐Salobrar de Campos. The turtle which was christened Nuria, was found by sailors in Cala Figuera (Santanyí) on November 14 and had the right fin meshed with plastics, which was totally rotten with bones exposed. Immediately, the emergency protocol was activated and the specimen was transferred to the Palma Aquari‐ um facilities where the mesh was removed and antibiot‐ ic treatment was applied, however, three days later his fin had to be amputated. During 2020, 84 cases of adult sea turtle stranding have been reported and of these, 31 cases had been caused by plastics and nets. In the event that a sea turtle is found, it is necessary to call 112 immediately and it is important not to try to untangle the specimen, as it may cause further damage. Credit: COFIB Twitter

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NOW IMPROVED: Releasing Nuria back to the sea.

Help Caritas ALAN PONTE, the former president of the Royal Nauti‐ cal Club Pollensa, has issued an appeal to foreign resi‐ dents of Mallorca to help Car‐ itas in Puerto Pollensa feed those in need. The Catholic charity which operates throughout the world is finding it increasingly difficult to cope financially with the needs of those who are no longer able to work. Working closely with the local Social Services, Caritas is

doing all that it can to supply basic food stuff and hygiene material to those in the area who have been so badly af‐ fected by the Covid‐19 pan‐ demic. One expatriate, Lord Lup‐ ton who purchased the Fort‐ aleza Estate some years ago was praised for making his own contribution to the funding, but everyone is asked to help out, no matter how small their contribution to Caritas in Puerto Pollensa.

Cancer charity shop DUE to the fact that the majority of volunteers at the Cala Nova Cancer Care Charity shop are over 65, it was decided that for their safety it should close for two weeks as the pandemic raged on. However, after much discussion and checking that reopening would not break any of the restrictions imposed by the Balearic Government, the shop has now reopened due to public demand and the determination of the volunteers. All those working in as well as those visiting the shop at 354 Ave Joan Miro, San Agustin, Palma must wear masks and observe all requirements of social distancing. The shop will be open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Saturday with one or two special offers for those who decide to visit and if restrictions are eased, then opening times may be extended.

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Apple Mask Unlock Solution iPHONE: Has difficulty in recognising half covered faces.

SINCE the coronavirus necessitates wearing masks, using FaceID on iPhones isn’t quite as good, as it has difficulty in recognising half covered faces. However, Apple has come up with a solution and has introduced in iOS 14.5 a feature to allow people to unlock their phone or show

notifications whilst wearing a mask. But there is a catch: they must be wearing an Apple Watch. Apple Watches cost between €249 and €529. The Apple Watch will send an authentication approval when the Face ID feature recognises the user is wearing a mask allowing them to unlock the device without

typing a passcode with the help of their Apple Watch. By swiping upwards, they will see the message ‘Unlocking with Apple Watch.’ This can only be used for unlocking the phone and will not be available as a function to carry out purchases with the device or to use as other passwords.

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Captain Tom Dies Aged 100 CAPTAIN SIR TOM MOORE, who raised almost £33 million for the NHS, has died at the age of 100 after testing positive for Covid-19. In a statement, his daughters Hannah and Lucy said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore. “We are so grateful that

Nudist Nabbed ALEJANDRO COLOMAR, a 27‐year‐old IT consultant, was collared by the police of Alda‐ ia in Valencia for the fourth time, for strolling around the town in the buff. Unfazed, Mr Colomar insists that what he is doing is not ille‐ gal “I have always liked to go naked. I am a nudist and there is nothing wrong with it. It is not even illegal. I don’t hurt anyone.” Police took his details again on February 1 in case a parent of a child complained, but there is little else they can do as techni‐ cally, Mr Colomar is perfectly en‐ titled to walk the streets naked. “My family knows it and is fine with it, my friends do too and I just want to claim the pleasure of going naked when it’s sunny, without hurting anyone.” The proud nudist previously had a case against him dis‐ missed by a judge in Torrent, and carries the legal file in a bum bag everywhere he goes in case he is stopped by authori‐ ties.

we were with him during the last hours of his life; Hannah, Benjie and Georgia by his bedside and Lucy on FaceTime. “We spent hours chatting to him, reminiscing about our childhood and our wonderful mother. We shared laughter and tears together. “The last year of our father’s life was nothing short

of remarkable. He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of.” A message posted on Sunday, January 31 from his daughter Hannah revealed that Captain Tom Moore had been admitted to Bedford Hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties.

Electric Prices Down Thanks to Wind Energy SPAIN’S wholesale electric prices have dropped to their lowest lev‐ els since December 2019 thanks to an increase in wind energy. Consumers signed up to regu‐ lated tariffs are most likely to ben‐ efit from the drop, which could see it become almost free to use washing machines or charge elec‐ tric cars early in the morning. Increase in wind energy. Those on fixed contracts will not benefit from the changes. The end of January saw wholesale prices fall to €4.19 per MWh, de‐ spite starting the month at €94.99. Experts believe the drop is in part down to the windy weather in recent weeks. Prices in Germany and France currently stand at €48 per MWh, the United Kingdom at €60 per MWh, and Scandinavian countries stand at €45 per MWh. Storm Justine is expected to further boost wind energy, possibly breaking records both for daily production and for peak output. The previous record was set on December 28 when wind energy reached 404 GWh. According to State Meteorological Agency AEMET, January was a record‐breaking month for storms in Spain.

Thrifty boom THE second‐hand market is ‘booming’ in the pandemic as con‐ sumer habits change and shoppers get thrifty. With 60 per cent of people in Spain admitting they favour buy‐ ing used goods, it is estimated that growth in the sector will be around 20 per cent per year in the next five years. Thredup, an American second‐hand clothes giant, predicts that by 2029 our wardrobes will be 19 per cent made up of second‐ hand clothing, compared to the current 3 per cent. The used clothing business will exceed €52,600 billion by 2024 with an expected €24,000 billion in the sale of second‐hand furni‐ ture. Star ‘Segundo mano’ products of 2020 were clearly linked to the pandemic; second‐hand computer monitors, office chairs and desks, exercise bikes and consoles seeing a 23 per cent rise. An‐ tique sales dropped by 80 per cent for the same period according to Martín Spasov, owner of El Ofertón.

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Common Washing Machine Safety Flaw ‘Poses Injury Threat’ THE OCU is warning owners of Bosch, Siemens, Neff and Balay machines purchased between February 2019 and March 2020 a drum failure could risk injury. The fault was discovered by manufacturers in March 2020,who want to locate remaining owners of machines with the batch number FD 9902 to come forward for a free replace‐ ment. The OCU advises consumers who purchased a machine at this time to locate the appli‐ ance’s identification number on the inside of the door, to check if it is affected at a specially‐ made website https://productsafety.bsh‐

group.com/es/es/drums?_ga=2.175753698.1 309393318.1611740795‐199320249. 1598868723. The organisation said: “Quality controls have detected a possible failure in the joint of the inner metal drum that can cause the drum joint to loosen at the time of spinning, with the consequent risk of injury. That is why faulty electrical appliances have been with‐ drawn from the market to be replaced by a model without problems, and at no cost to the user at home.” Manufacturers estimate there are around 2,000 affected machines.

Health Worker Rules THE Council of Ministers planned to approve a decree on February 2 to allow health workers infected by coronavirus to access the same benefits available in case of occupational disease, according to reports from SER. In September last year, the government equated the conta‐ gion of the virus to an accident

at work and now, after the unanimous request of Congress, agrees that it should be consid‐ ered as an occupational disease. According to reports, Congress agree that the conse‐ quences of Covid infections among professionals working in the health and social health sec‐ tor are becoming more and more evident, leaving the cur‐

rent regulation insufficient. To date, there are more than 118,000 cases of positive profes‐ sionals; a large majority infected in health and social health cen‐ tres. The planned change will come as good news for workers and unions ‐ who have been fighting hard for these regula‐ tions changes.

New Police website THE force’s Director General, Francisco Pardo, unveiled the new web‐ site which will be fully accessible for people with hearing or visual dis‐ abilities. The aim is to simplify procedures for users the page which is used by nine million people each year for procedures such as access to the electronic DNI or requests for prior appointments. “Starting today we open a new window to society that shows the essence of the National Police, that shows what we are,” said Pardo at the launch. The new “more visual and attractive” portal has been created by police officers and “has not been entrusted to an external company,” explained Director of the National Police, Fernando Grande‐Marlas‐ ka. “It is the result of intense work carried out during the last year. The objectives are to continue the process of digital transformation and to have an agile, direct and close relationship with citizens, to provide a more accessible service to the elderly and people with disabilities and, finally, to simplify procedures.”

Stores ditch plastic MERCADONA has announced the withdrawal of plastic bags both in physical stores and home service. New style compostable bags made using potato starch will be available for all purchases, and need to be disposed of in the organic matter container, as indicated in the pic‐ togram included on the bags. This action represents a reduction of 3,200 tonnes of plastic per year. Mercadona’s 6.25 Strategy goal for 2025, aims to reduce the use of plastic by 25 per cent, make all packaging recyclable and recycle all plas‐ tic waste generated in its facilities, representing a €140 million invest‐ ment over the four years. In four months, Mercadona has adapted 72 stores to the 6.25 Store model, which will be extended to the entire chain in 2021.

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Last to be Vaccinated Valencian Health Minister, Ana Barceló, confirmed that she has not been vacci‐ nated against Covid‐19 and in fact stated that she will be the last to do so: "Like the one who says, the cap‐ tain must always to be the last one to leave the ship, therefore I will be the last one to be vaccinated.” Barceló, in an interview in the Open Debate of the 8 Mediterrani, asked about the irregularities that de‐ tected in the order of ad‐ ministration of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines, stressed that "all the autonomous communi‐ ties must be vaccinated by the order in which it has been established in the Strategy of the Ministry." She warned that that the situation in the Valen‐ cian territory is "high risk," stating that it is "the re‐ sponsibility of residents to comply with all the mea‐ sures that have been estab‐ lished."

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Prepared For Earthquakes THE Andalucian government has insisted the region is prepared for earthquakes following sever‐ al serious tremors in Granada.

Spanish Jab Fans SPANIARDS willing to get a Covid jab ‘immediately’ has soared to 72 per cent. According to a survey by the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) published January 28, this is a 32 per cent rise since December 21. Just 16.5 per cent have said they would refuse the vaccination. Four thousand people were sur‐ veyed between January 7 and 25, in the middle of the third wave of the pandemic and during the first month of vaccination in Spain. In the previous survey, carried out between December 1 and 9, 40.5 per cent said they were willing to be vaccinated immediately. The increase coincides with delays in the supply of vaccines. Pfizer and BioNTech announced in early Jan‐ uary that they would cut in half the number of doses they planned to manufacture this month. On January 23, AstraZeneca an‐ nounced a cut in doses for the EU due to production problems.

Juanma Moreno, president of the Junta de Andalucia has asked members of the public to “re‐ main calm.” Mr Moreno has insisted that the government is well prepared for earthquakes, and said “we have devices prepared if there were to be an earthquake of a higher level.” The president admitted that he views these latest quakes “with great concern” as “this entire area of eastern Andalucia is a hot area from

the seismic point of view.” Mr Moreno confirmed that he has asked the Minister of the Presidency, Public Administra‐ tion and Interior, Elias Bendodo, to come to Granada “to monitor the situation and the damage that the tremors may have caused.” He added that they have been working with other autonomous communities “to prepare, if nec‐ essary, an effective” plan to deal with earthquakes of a higher magnitude.

Police Warn of New Covid WhatsApp Scam THE Guardia Civil are warning the public about a Covid scam re‐ portedly circulating on WhatsApp. The message chain claims to be from the Spanish government offering financial grants to those af‐ fected by the pandemic. Instead, the Guardia Civil say the mes‐ sage is a scam to steal users’ personal data. In Spanish, the message says: “Family Card Programme. Due to Covid 19‐the government is granting funds to families to help them stay at home. “These grants are available for everyone who needs them; single mothers, single fathers, young students, grandparents, children, foreign mothers, married couples, and others.” The scammers call on users to, “register to receive their free grant,” before adding a link. The Guardia Civil warn What‐ sApp users not to click or share the link they say is used to steal victims’ data.

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YouTube Sensation Arrested In Crypto Fraud THE Mossos d’Esquadra, the Guardia Civil and the Andorran Police and Europol col‐ laborated in the arrest of six men for al‐ leged fraud. The arrests related to an An‐ dorran cryptocurrency company GNZ Academy which offers courses ranging from €99 to €599. Among those arrested is the YouTube ‘sensation’ Gonzalo Sapiña, a media influ‐ encer with more than 90,000 followers on Instagram, who became famous for his classes on digital investments. At 34, he rose to fame in 2013 when his idea of a solidarity cafe based on leaving a paid cof‐ fee in a bar for the poor became a massive success in Italy. Officers also searched the homes of the

CAUGHT: Six men were arrested. suspects, confiscating eight vehicles, sev‐ eral electronic devices that will be anal‐ ysed to clarify the charges and ‘several fi‐ nancial assets that were on digital platforms for the exchange of cryptocur‐ rencies or exchanges and digital money transfers,’ totalling €70,000.

Holidays Will be Back RYANAIR CEO Michael O’Leary made a promising prediction on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme on Febru‐ ary 1, when he said he’s very confident that foreign ‘beach holidays WILL be back this summer’ 2021. “We are heartened by the

fact that the UK is expecting to vaccinate all the over‐50s by the end of March, Europe is probably running a couple of months behind that by the end of June,” the airplane boss remarked. “So we think once all those high risk groups have

been vaccinated, then travel restrictions should be re‐ moved, particularly on short haul intra‐European travel and we expect there to be a strong recovery of beach hol‐ idays and family beach holi‐ days going to Europe this summer.”

Trial of 4 day working week SPAIN has announced plans to launch a pilot programme for its ambitious four‐day working week scheme that will provide funds to see em‐ ployees given full wages for a day’s less work.

The concept was proposed by Mas Pais, an offshoot of the Podemos party who share government power with Pe‐ dro Sanchez’s centre‐left PSOE party. The government has now agreed to spend €50

million paying the salaries of workers who have had their working hours reduced to four days by the pandemic. Although the current roll‐ out of the proposal is narrow in scope, proponents hope that it will incentivise compa‐ nies to adopt the four‐day working week. Maria Alvarez, a leading campaigner, told lo‐ cal media it is a “sensible idea that should be in every gov‐ ernment’s toolbox coming out of this crisis.” “The eight‐hour working day was unrealistic a century ago,” Mas Pais leader Íñigo Errejón said. Due to the rise in remote working, automa‐ tion, and other factors of our rapidly changing employment landscape, it is a concept that Spanish businesses and law‐ makers need to give consider‐ ation. Last year, the Valencian Community’s government launched a similar scheme to offer incentives for local em‐ ployers to adopt the new work routine.

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King Felipe Celebrates at Home KING FELIPE spent his 53rd birthday at home, the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid with his wife, Queen Letizia, and daughters Leonor and Sofia due to Covid restrictions, according to media reports. Unlike royals in some countries, Spanish monarchs do not normally mark birthdays with large public celebrations. One notable exception in Felipe’s life came in 1986 when the young prince turned 18 and swore the Constitution in a formal event attended by congress, the royal family, and the entire Spanish government.

The royal, who has not celebrated a birthday publicly since he turned 18 in 1986, has in previous years enjoyed a private meal at a restaurant in Spain’s capital. This birthday on January 30, was spent at home due to Covid‐19 re‐ strictions. In 2018, on turning 50, King Felipe also shared an insight into his family life with the Spanish public, publishing drawings his daughters Leonor and Sofia had made for his birthday. Not in attendance was Felipe’s father, former king of Spain King Juan Carlos; in self‐exile since August last year. King Philipe became monarch on June 19, 2014 upon the abdication of his father, King Juan Carlos.

Star’s Best 60th Birthday Gift HOLLYWOOD heartthrob Antonio Banderas’s best birthday gift as he recently turned 60 was recovering from Covid, according to his girl‐ friend. The Malaga native’s girlfriend, Nicole Kimpel, called the news the “greatest” gift. Speaking about the milestone birthday to one publication, the 39‐year‐old beauty said: “We celebrated be‐ cause every year of life is some‐ thing to celebrate. “But this wasn’t really the year for parties. The greatest gift was his quick recovery.” When Banderas contracted the virus last August Nicole said she

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Road Hog Vulture ‘Caution’

GUARDIA CIVIL officers took to Twitter, to share a light-hearted image of one of their officers ‘cautioning’ a vulture found walking down the middle of a main road. On their Twitter feed, the Guardia Civil commented: “Sometimes those not wearing a reflective vest appear ‘spontaneously’ on the road. Fortunately, the #TrafficGroup of the @Civil Guard has taken charge of the incident. This time it will be a simple warning.” The caption was accompanied by a laughing face emoji and the hashtag #roadsidesafety. While the police did not say the incident had taken place, vultures are a common sight in

Given a simple warning. Spain which is home to around 75 per cent of the world’s Griffon Vulture population, with around 25,000 breeding pairs, up from 3,249 in 1979. Griffon Vultures can reach large sizes with a wingspan of up to 9.2 feet and males weighing up to 10.5 kilos. Three other species are found on the Iberian peninsula; the Lammergeier, the Black Vulture, and the Egyptian Vulture.

Spain Helps Portugal NOW 60: And recovered from Covid. had been “frightened” by how se‐ vere his symptoms had been. “In Antonio’s case, his main symptoms were severe muscle aches and fatigue, and he bore up well. He’ a very strong man and he’s in great physical shape.”

SOURCES from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Spain confirmed that department head Arancha Gonzalez Laya has contacted the Portuguese ambassador in Madrid, Joao Mira‐Gomes, ‘to make available any help within the capabilities’ of Spain. Although Portugal hasn’t actually asked for any support, the Portuguese Embassy confirmed that “Spain has offered help to Portugal due to the pandemic situation and support modalities are being studied.” “Sometimes Portugal helps us, other times we support Portu‐ gal, this is what we have been doing and that is how we will con‐ tinue to do things,” the Foreign Minister added.

Guardia Civil Border death A GUARDIA CIVIL officer has been killed and two of his colleagues have been injured in a shock road accident as they carried out Covid restric‐ tion border controls. Angel Antonio Ambrosio, a 47‐year‐old Guardia Civil officer from Mieres, Asturias, was reportedly killed by a van driver who ran over three officers as they set up a perimeter check Police believe a driver may have lost control of his vehicle or may not have seen the officers. Ac‐ cording to one publication, the driver said: “I did not see the signs.” Witnesses reported that several vehicles had been stopped at the border check when a colli‐ sion was heard and they saw a van run over the officer who was left trapped underneath the ve‐ hicle. Two of his colleagues were also injured and thrown several metres by the mpact. Tributes to the Angel Antonio Ambrosio have

OFFICER: Was hit by a van driver. poured in on Twitter, with Spain’s President Pe‐ dro Sanchez saying, “A heartfelt hug to the rela‐ tives and colleagues of Angel, the Guardia Civil officer who died after being run over in a mobili‐ ty control in Mieres. And a wish for a speedy re‐ covery for the people also injured in this inci‐ dent.”

Red Cross Earthquake Response THE Spanish Red Cross has been mobilised to help the resi‐ dents of Granada that have been affected by a series of earthquakes recently, to pro‐ vide a ‘quick and effective re‐ sponse’ using their extensive knowledge and experience of handling disasters. Since the series of earth‐ quakes started the Red Cross

has been kept on pre‐alert and have been coordinating with lo‐ cal agencies and on Saturday were mobilised in the town of Maracena in Granada. They gave help to five families with homes affected, in need of tem‐ porary accommodation. Thirty beds were set up along with de‐ livery of 60 blankets to help beat the cold.

The Granada psychosocial re‐ sponse team’s María del Sol Uceda explained the need for emotional support; “The key is to provide emotional support to people that allows them to have the necessary tools to normalise their emotions and successfully face the crisis situation they are experiencing, related to the con‐ tinuous seismic movements.”

10 EWN

4 - 10 February 2021

www.euroweeklynews.com

EUROPEAN PRESS

EUROPEAN NIBS DENMARK

FRANCE

Burning effigy

Cannes canned

COPENHAGEN has seen three weekends of violent clashes between demonstrators opposed to lockdown and the police culminating with an effigy of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen being hung from a pylon and then being set on fire.

THE Cannes Film Festival which was cancelled last year is now to be postponed from May to July 2021 in the hope that by then, the pandemic will be under control in France which will then allow people to actually attend.

NETHERLANDS

NORWAY

Possible corruption

Charging points

WORRIED about the possibility that an energy project in Russia funded by the United Nations is being manipulated so that money is being diverted to private individuals, the Dutch Government has reduced its annual contribution to that fund by €10 million.

CONSIDERATION is being given by the Norwegian government to passing a law requiring that all new housing development in the country should include charging stations for electric vehicles as part of the ongoing efforts to phase out diesel and petrol.

BELGIUM

FINLAND

Sworn statement

Blackmail scare

AS all non-essential cross border travel in Belgium has been banned, the government has put online a template for a signed ‘declaration on honour’ whereby those who are having to travel for accepted reasons confirm that their journey is necessary.

SINCE it emerged last year that private mental health services company Vastaamo was hacked with access to patient files which led to fears over blackmailing, patients have been leaving in droves and because of this, the company has now called in liquidators.

GERMANY Relatives found RELATIVES of a Jewish woman who was forced to sell two handwritten scores by Franz Liszt to the Nazis before being sent to a concentration camp have been found in Argentina by a German classical music foundation which will compensate them financially.

SWEDEN Weapons drawn THERE was some shock when commuters in Central Stockholm saw armed soldiers with weapons drawn in the streets last Monday, but it turned out that it was an exercise which the Swedish Armed Forces had not bothered to publicise.

12 EWN

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FEATURE

Advertising Feature

The death of a loved one is never easy to handle TRENDS are ever‐changing, adapting to the times, and this doesn’t only mean for the liv‐ ing. With changing times, everything has to be adapted to new needs, and this includes the way things are done in the funeral busi‐ ness. While the death of a loved one is never easy to handle, over the past decades there has been an increasing tendency to talk about dy‐ ing and make preparations in advance, which in many cases can slightly soften the blow, with funeral planners taking away the stress of procedures which relatives need to handle af‐ ter death, as well as lighten the moment in cases where the deceased has chosen before‐ hand to make the funeral more about cele‐ brating their life than mourning their death. Nowadays, it is becoming more and more frequent to plan the details of a funeral in ad‐ vance and there is a growing tendency to make them as unique as the person whose life is being remembered. So apparently, putting

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ber good times, and addressing them not as if they had left forever, but as if they had simply gone away for a while. The letters can later be buried or cremated with the deceased or kept as part of a memorial together with photos and other items. A light‐coloured or custom‐made coffin, including the cardboard variety often used for cremation, can allow for another novel funeral activity; that is, signing or decorating it with dedications for the de‐ ceased. Decorating will also allow young attendees to take part, and there are many ways to it, with some of the most popular including permanent markers or watercolours. This can also be done before death, as an increasing number of people have taken to designing their own coffins. This can have a therapeutic effect for the person them‐ selves and can also help relatives to prepare

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FEATURE

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4 - 10 February 2021

EWN 13

Advertising Feature

Two week Update STERLING recovered its mojo during the second half of January, despite a marked lack of assistance from the mediocre UK economic data. Its principal cheerleader was Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane. He spoke, with his trademark optimism, of Britain’s economy “coming on stream, probably at a rate of knots from the second quarter.” Latterly there have been signs that investors are attracted by the success of the NHS vaccination drive. It is going far more swiftly than similar operations in Europe and other major economies. The GBP has been the top performer over the last two weeks and in the year to date. Since the end of December it has risen by an average of 1.7%. The euro felt little effect from the mostly anodyne Euroland economic data. Inflation came in at -0.3% for the fourth consecutive month, with national rates ranging from Greece’s -2.4% to Slovakia’s 1.6%. The European Central Bank did its currency no favours but no lasting damage. ECB President Christine Lagarde spoke of double-dip recessions and downside risks. Governing Council

member Klaas Knot offered the possibility of even deeper rate cuts. The euro is down by two-fifths of a US cent. Two political spats also limited enthusiasm for the EUR. In Rome Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned, in the hope of forming a new government, and in Brussels the EU went in to bat against Astrazeneca, accusing the firm of failing to provide the contracted amount of Covid vaccine. It now looks as though the EU will prohibit the export of vaccine. The US dollar level-pegged with the Swiss franc in second place behind sterling, principally because of their perceived safe-haven qualities. On January 20 the transition of power took place peacefully and the new administration set about reversing many of Trump’s executive orders. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told the Senate Finance Committee that “the smartest thing we can do it act big” in providing fiscal stimulus, but the much-hyped £1.9 trillion package is unlikely to appear before March. To the surprise of nobody the Federal Reserve

kept monetary policy unchanged with a funds rate target range of 0%-0.25%. Chairman Jerome Powell once again emphasised that it will not start to rise until there is full employment and a 2% inflation rate. Canada’s dollar was one of the weakest performers, losing an average of 0.9% and giving up three and a quarter cents to sterling. Investors’ lack of enthusiasm for it and, almost to the same extent, to the Australian dollar owed much to a dawning realisation that the various vaccination programmes will not wipe out the pandemic by next Thursday. Economic normality is quite a way down the line. Recent data for retail sales and building permits were ahead of forecast, with sales rising for a seventh successive month. However, they were not enough to bring out buyers for the Loonie. The Australian employment data for December surprised everyone by coming in almost exactly in line with forecast. There were 50k new jobs and the rate of unemployment was 6.6%. Inflation was a little higher than expect in Q4, with prices

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mallorca@moneycorp.com. up by 0.9% on the quarter and the year. New home sales jumped 32.5% in December and Westpac bank predicted that house price would go up by 15% this year. That did not help the Aussie, which was in penultimate place with an average loss of 0.7%. It lost almost three cents to sterling. The Kiwi fared better than the Australian and Canadian dollars, strengthening by an average of 0.2%. It gave up a cent and a half to the pound. Although, like its colonial cousins, it was held back by a risk-off mood among investors, it got a nod for New Zealand’s success in holding back the pandemic at its borders.

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14 EWN

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4 - 10 February 2021

THE EUROWEEKLY NEWS is urging its readers to support local businesses in the com‐ munity by going local through the lockdown and for your all your shopping this year, instead of feeding online giants and super‐ stores. This lockdown and with Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day upcoming, we challenge you to rediscover your local high streets, markets, butch‐ ers, greengrocers and all of the wonderfully quirky inde‐ pendent businesses in your area. Due to the Covid‐19 pan‐ demic, you may have to sup‐ port many local businesses by ordering online and making use of any click and collect services they can operate if you are unable to get out due to health reasons or lock‐ down restrictions. The joy of shopping local means that independent businesses can help support the local community. Although it may be a euro or two cheaper elsewhere or online, consider where your money is actually going. By shopping at an independent store you’re putting food on a local family’s table, and there is no better time than now to give back to your community by making a small gesture and shopping in this way. Many local stores support local charities, support and sponsor local sports teams and in many cases the small independent stores are actu‐ ally much more than just a small high street shop,

FEATURE

GO LOC

they’re a family’s legacy, of‐ ten passed down through nu‐ merous generations and sup‐ port not just the current owner but the generation be‐ fore. For those stores which are new, that extra couple of eu‐ ros spent there are support‐ ing someone’s dream and ambition, and also the courage it took them to step out alone, which is no easy task. It takes quite a large chunk of money to set up an independent store and com‐ pete with the multinational and chains. So be sure to pre‐order your meat from a local butch‐ er and get your spuds from a local greengrocer, let us re‐ vive that community spirit and get to know our neigh‐ bours again. You could also consider purchasing gift vouchers from local businesses to help them over the coming weeks, thinking outside the box can often lead to some fantastic ideas. Why not buy a meal for two, an hour’s tattoo time at

To advertise here contact us on:

951 386 161

BUY LOCAL: By shopping locally, independent businesses can help support the local community.

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

4 - 10 February 2021

AL a local studio, a hair cut at a local salon or an online study course for some‐ one looking to change their career path. As people are strug‐ gling with finances thinking about what friends and family may actually need is important too. Whilst it’s nice to give a glamourous gift perhaps pre‐ paying a family member’s phone bill for the month would actually be a better gift. Help‐ ing people alleviate stress and worry , give the gift of peace of mind through these difficult times. Choosing to spend your money locally will really make a difference in the recovery of the local economy. When we buy local, our money stays local, and it strengthens the local economy in two ways. First, buying local keeps money circulating within the local economy. Studies have shown that lo‐ cal businesses recirculate a greater share of every euro as they create locally owned supply chains and invest in their employees. Data shows that local re‐ tailers return 52 per cent of their revenue back into the local economy, compared to just 14 per cent for national chain retailers. Money circulating through

SPENDING LOCALLY: Will make a difference to the local economy.

To advertise here contact us on: the local econo‐ my benefits every‐ one who is a part of each transaction. For example, let’s look at a local farmer growing produce. First, they sell to a local restaurant, which in turn pre‐ pares the fresh produce and sells it to local customers. The farmer pays its local employ‐ ees and the restaurant uses revenue from sales to buy supplies from a neighbour‐ hood hardware store. This ex‐ ample illustrates how the re‐ circulation of money in the local economy leads to a stronger financial foundation for our neighbours and com‐ munities. Buying local also fuels new employment and job oppor‐ tunities for people within our community. Studies show, lo‐ cally owned businesses em‐ ploy more people per unit of sales and retain more em‐

951 386 161 ployees over time. A fantastic example of how to support your local commu‐ nity is with a Charity Gift cer‐ tificate, why not donate to your loved one’s favourite cause. Just remember to fol‐ low the latest government advice and any guidance busi‐ nesses have to keep everyone safe.

EWN 15

FINANCE Arcadia news THE online retailer Asos, having seen Next drop out of the queue to purchase Arcadia brands which had debts of £750 million (€825 million) is reportedly interested in reopening the Topshop store on Oxford Street as an important fashion shop window.

Commission change CAR salesmen in the UK may well be a little poorer from now on as the practice of paying them higher commissions by lenders if they sign customers up for more expensive loan deals has now been banned.

Overspend ICONIC football club Barcelona runs the risk of being refused entry to future UEFA competitions such as the Champions League as it is currently spending more money than it earns and has unsettled debts with third parties.

Jobs saved PAPERCHASE which called in Administrators will survive and will sell its products online and from a reduced number of smaller shops, thus expecting to save around 1,000 jobs although it will be closing larger shops and losing 500 staff.

More in work EMPLOYMENT in Spain has risen slightly in the fourth quarter of the year according to the National Statistics Institute (INE) with 19,344,300 in work, an increase of 167,400. There are now around 3.7 million out of work, although this figure does not take into account those who are on furlough (ERTE) or are self-employed and receiving benefits. There are significant regional differences with higher unemployment in areas such as the Balearics and Andalucia, where the lack of tourism has devastated the hospitality sector.

STAT OF WEEK

www.euroweeklynews.com • 4 - 10 February 2021

€5.06 billion

is the amount that Australian investment fund IFM is prepared to pay for 22.69 per cent of the issued shares of Spanish company Naturgy.

Counterfeit euros

Sánchez attends Virtual Davos EVERY January since 1971, the World Economic Forum has taken place in the Swiss resort of Davos where the ‘movers and shakers’ of the world’s economies meet to discuss strategies. This year, due to the pandemic, it became a vir‐ tual operation with the theme ‘A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust’ and dis‐ cussed current challenges such as Covid‐19 vaccina‐ tion, job creation and cli‐ mate change.

One of its participants at a video round table was Spanish Prime Minister Pe‐ dro Sánchez who spoke about the challenges still facing the world and his plans for Spain where there are still a number of prob‐ lems to resolve. He said the high level of youth unemployment in Spain was ‘unacceptable,’ a special fund had been cre‐ ated in order to address the problem especially in the field of qualifications, digi‐

LEGALLY SPEAKING

tal skills and finding work for young women. He said that he under‐ stood that the pandemic has highlighted blatant in‐ equalities and that women have become more vulner‐ able economically adding that his government had taken steps to help protect families, workers and com‐ panies. Like other countries, fur‐ lough options existed for those unable to work in a full‐time capacity and fi‐

nancial support was also to be given to the self‐em‐ ployed and this alongside the government’s recovery plan as well as European Union funding would allow for job creation and in‐ creased productivity. Another area of impor‐ tance is the creation of a much greener community with the aim that by 2030 almost three quarters of Spain’s energy require‐ ments would come from renewable resources.

Don’t close branches

How Much for a Visa?

Credit: Twitter

BUSINESS EXTRA

16

Readers have received varying information from Spanish consulates in Manchester, Lon‐ don and Edinburgh about how much income they need to apply for a Spanish residence permit now that the UK is out of the EU.

All of the consulates, YOU AND THE LAW however, agree on IN SPAIN one thing. They in‐ sist that a visa ap‐ plicant appear in person at the consulate and that each application will be individually judged on its merits. Some people have regular pension income and others may have no regular income at all but hold capital assets or own property in Spain. Here is my recommendation: Do what they say. Contact your nearest consulate and make an appointment. Take the documents that justify your income or assets and they will tell you. Unless you have a job you will apply for a one‐year permit, which you can then renew for a longer period. You must show you can support yourself for one year. I offered last month my own rough estimates of about €13,000 a year, which is the Spanish minimum wage, and about €22,000 for a lump sum. This will need to be deposited in a Spanish bank account. These amounts can vary and can be substantially less.

DAVID SEARL

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana and Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

GERMANY’S Viafintech has arrived in Spain to turn busi‐ nesses into cash machines as through its Viacash service, it will allow users to withdraw or deposit money from their bank account from their mo‐ bile phone. The model, already used in several European markets is not new in Spain, since

Indian asset confiscation A WARNING: Banks asked to keep branches open. THE Financial Conduct Author‐ ity (FCA) has warned UK banks not to close branches if doing so would harm vulnerable customers during the Covid‐19 lockdown. In September 2020, it published guidance on branch and cash machine clo‐ sures and was designed to protect consumers by setting expectation that firms should assess customer needs and consider the availability and provision of alternative ar‐ rangements where closures or conversions are planned. It requires firms to treat their customers fairly and communicate with them in a fair, clear and not misleading way with the expectation that banks exercise particular care with vulnerable customers.

In January 2021, the gov‐ ernment and devolved au‐ thorities announced new re‐ strictions across the UK due to Covid‐19, but some banks and building societies have said that they are either going ahead with branch closures al‐ ready announced, or an‐ nouncing new branch closures during the current lockdown. The FCA is concerned that these activities could have sig‐ nificant consequences for cus‐ tomers. It may be harder than usual to reach all customers under the current restrictions and engage with them on clo‐ sure proposals effectively (for example, small businesses that are temporarily closed). They advise banks to delay closures for the time being.

Easy cash withdrawal ING customers can withdraw cash at Dia and El Corte In‐ glés supermarkets, Shell and Galp garages. Initially, it will be opera‐ tional in some 3,000 stores belonging to the Bon Preu

A EUROPE‐WIDE distribu‐ tion of fake €50, €100 and €500 bank notes which reached from Romania to Spain ended with arrests and the seizure of €450,000 in counterfeit notes. Production took place in Romania and distribution took place in 10 eurozone countries including Spain whose Guardia Civil assist‐ ed Europol and the Roma‐ nian authorities in uncov‐ ering the crime. In all 28 properties were searched with 10 arrests and it has been discovered that the counterfeiters who had very sophisticated printing machinery were about to distribute a fur‐ ther €50,000 in fake notes.

and Esclat Group and in pre‐ paid mobile recharge points CSQ Non‐Stop Shops. According to its director for Spain, Sergio Kvaternik users will be able to with‐ draw or enter up to €300 in

the associated establish‐ ments, although they calcu‐ late the average of these op‐ erations will be around €50. The company maintains that its service reduces finan‐ cial exclusion in an increas‐

AN international tribunal has awarded UK energy firm Cairn Energy $1.2 bil‐ lion (€990 million) in damages against the Indi‐ an Government. Using retrospective powers, the Indian tax authority demanded pay‐ ment of taxes and when they were not forthcom‐ ing (as the rules didn’t exist when Cairn first in‐ vested in India) the com‐ pany’s 10 per cent stake in a subsidiary was seized. Now, a month after the tribunal verdict, which re‐ quired immediate pay‐ ment, Cairn has indicated that it is considering seiz‐ ing Indian assets overseas in order to recover what is due. ingly digitised world, where access to cash is complicated by the constant closures of bank offices and cash ma‐ chines. According to a study by the European Central Bank, Spain leads the use of cash to pay in the EU and 83 per cent of payments in the country in 2019 were made in cash.

18 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

4 - 10 February 2021

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US

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C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 1

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) 3I Group 1.133,50 1.133,50 Admiral Group 2.926,0 2.932,5 Anglo American 2.521,5 2.538,7 Antofagasta 1.455,50 1.465,50 Ashtead Group 3.756,1 3.779,0 Associated British Foods 2.182,6 2.189,3 AstraZeneca 7.497,0 7.536,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 569,60 573,12 Avast 478,40 484,00 Aveva 3.639,0 3.692,0 Aviva 339,90 341,60 B&M European Value Retail SA553,00 555,40 BAE Systems 464,74 467,20 Bank VTB DRC 0,928 0,935 Barclays 136,00 136,74 Barratt Developments 665,40 671,60 Berkeley 4.365,0 4.398,0 BHP Group 2.080,00 2.088,00 BP 271,23 276,22 British American Tobacco 2.654,7 2.673,6 British Land Company 447,90 454,30 BT Group 127,72 127,95 Bunzl 2.395,0 2.401,0 Burberry Group 1.727,5 1.735,5 Carnival 1.188,7 1.207,0 Centrica 52,58 52,90 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.183,0 2.193,0 Compass 1.318,00 1.335,00 CRH 3.109,0 3.131,0 Croda Intl 6.337,0 6.337,8 DCC 5.618,2 5.618,2 Diageo 2.922,5 2.956,0 DS Smith 371,27 374,30 EasyJet 740,80 748,00 Experian 2.618,0 2.622,0 Ferguson 8.582,0 8.664,0 Flutter Entertainment 13.770,0 13.885,0 Fresnillo 1.152,99 1.193,50 GlaxoSmithKline 1.357,91 1.363,80 Glencore 255,78 257,60 Halma 2.496,0 2.515,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.634,00 1.753,50 Hikma Pharma 2.446,00 2.463,00 HSBC 385,38 387,40 IAG 142,95 146,65 Imperial Brands 1.468,50 1.486,00 Informa 501,40 506,80 InterContinental 4.592,0 4.604,0 Intermediate Capital 1.703,00 1.713,00 Intertek 5.592,0 5.610,0 ITV 108,95 109,05

% CHG. 1.110,00 2.889,0 2.452,0 1.436,00 3.676,0 2.126,0 7.467,0 568,68 472,40 3.638,0 334,10 535,80 460,40 0,925 133,08 644,00 4.189,0 2.025,50 268,88 2.642,2 444,90 124,75 2.361,0 1.711,5 1.169,4 51,50 2.162,0 1.301,00 3.036,0 6.283,2 5.551,2 2.898,0 365,20 726,20 2.577,0 8.476,0 13.390,0 1.090,50 1.351,80 249,04 2.463,0 1.634,00 2.399,00 377,68 141,30 1.464,50 499,90 4.439,0 1.687,00 5.528,0 104,90

NET VOL 202,23K 3,67K 62,99K 283,12K 22,29K 12,71K 90,87K 24,34K 379,88K 51,67K 1,59M 205,69K 271,37K 293,56K 2,64M 836,80K 120,52K 1,44M 2,63M 179,23K 450,54K 3,72M 73,35K 139,87K 99,38K 4,20M 75,05K 585,79K 342,59K 4,86K 2,59K 595,82K 224,56K 315,44K 424,77K 35,76K 71,13K 1,27M 2,90M 2,20M 141,15K 106,26K 82,15K 561,52K 4,31M 500,09K 358,10K 104,60K 89,57K 19,76K 816,07K

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

J Sainsbury Johnson Matthey Land Securities Legal & General Lloyds Banking London Stock Exchange Meggitt Melrose Industries Mondi National Grid NatWest Group Next Norilskiy Nikel ADR Ocado Persimmon Phoenix Prudential Reckitt Benckiser Relx Rentokil Rightmove Rio Tinto PLC Rolls-Royce Holdings Rosneft DRC Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B RSA Insurance Sage Samsung Electronics DRC Sberbank Schroders Scottish Mortgage Segro Severn Trent Smith & Nephew Smiths Group Spirax-Sarco Engineering SSE St. James’s Place Standard Chartered Standard Life Aberdeen Taylor Wimpey Tesco Tui Unilever United Utilities Vodafone Group PLC Whitbread WPP

245,60 2.978,0 621,60 247,79 33,90 8.866,0 396,04 172,18 1.752,53 857,20 152,05 7.895,6 32,64 2.804,09 2.655,0 681,00 1.179,00 6.254,0 1.832,00 505,80 613,55 5.717,5 93,38 6,20 1.327,4 1.327,20 1.264,3 676,60 603,88 1.859,00 13,88 3.431,0 1.267,93 963,00 2.347,5 1.549,44 1.457,00 11.335,0 1.501,50 1.177,00 447,40 303,60 152,40 243,00 339,90 4.269,1 934,60 126,19 2.843,7 770,84

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

246,20 2.991,0 629,80 249,20 34,22 8.904,0 399,90 172,73 1.761,50 858,80 152,80 7.950,5 32,91 2.820,00 2.670,0 684,80 1.187,50 6.280,0 1.838,50 507,20 615,40 5.745,0 94,49 6,29 1.345,8 1.343,75 1.281,8 677,40 608,00 1.866,00 13,95 3.446,0 1.276,00 974,20 2.349,0 1.555,50 1.463,94 11.415,0 1.507,00 1.184,50 450,00 305,40 152,95 243,32 351,70 4.303,3 937,20 126,77 2.860,5 774,00

243,00 2.942,0 612,60 243,70 33,08 8.672,0 393,50 169,11 1.729,50 848,60 146,80 7.756,0 32,38 2.770,00 2.560,0 673,20 1.158,00 6.194,0 1.822,00 499,10 602,70 5.599,0 92,02 6,17 1.316,8 1.316,70 1.252,4 675,00 599,20 1.848,00 13,75 3.381,0 1.257,00 958,40 2.310,0 1.538,00 1.428,97 11.140,0 1.485,50 1.171,00 440,80 301,10 147,35 239,84 338,50 4.247,6 925,00 124,59 2.770,7 762,90

1,59M 123,81K 1,47M 1,26M 24,62M 99,77K 34,22K 404,58K 18,87K 941,35K 3,41M 5,80K 533,03K 25,75K 235,68K 158,02K 1,83M 152,55K 408,30K 263,66K 28,32K 103,02K 7,53M 448,34K 113,83K 113,81K 412,84K 1,47M 140,81K 7,95K 1,49M 33,74K 1,45M 317,35K 8,61K 180,49K 25,07K 17,26K 232,82K 19,01K 1,19M 858,73K 4,68M 3,09M 1,14M 67,09K 345,71K 2,62M 67,56K 73,59K

0.88314

1.13484 Units per €

US dollar (USD) ......................................1.37186 Japan yen (JPY)......................................143.858 Switzerland franc (CHF) .........................1.08149 Denmark kroner (DKK) ...........................7.43740 Norway kroner (NOK) .............................10.3817

currenciesdirect.com/mallorca • Tel: +34 687 906 226 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 1

COMPANY 3M Alphabet C Amazon.com Amgen Apple Boeing Caterpillar Chevron Cisco Coca-Cola Facebook Goldman Sachs Home Depot Honeywell IBM Intel J&J JPMorgan McDonald’s Merck&Co Microsoft Nike Procter&Gamble Salesforce.com Tesla UnitedHealth Verizon Visa A Walmart Walt Disney

PRICE 175,66 1.835,74 3.206,20 241,43 131,96 194,19 182,84 85,20 44,58 48,15 258,33 271,17 270,82 195,37 119,11 55,51 163,13 128,67 207,84 77,07 231,96 133,59 128,21 225,56 793,53 333,58 54,75 193,25 140,49 168,17

CHANGE 182,98 1.857,28 3.236,99 246,47 136,74 201,57 188,82 87,34 45,37 49,12 266,56 277,40 277,06 200,94 121,30 57,16 166,00 131,72 209,40 78,37 238,02 135,03 130,29 228,79 842,41 339,02 55,27 203,05 143,75 169,81

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 174,87 4,22M 1.810,20 1,61M 3.184,55 4,29M 240,25 3,79M 130,21 177,52M 193,12 13,68M 180,73 4,54M 84,92 14,70M 44,48 22,61M 48,11 18,67M 254,85 30,39M 270,62 3,41M 270,03 4,08M 194,55 4,64M 118,90 11,83M 55,36 37,26M 160,55 22,51M 128,19 14,81M 203,11 5,20M 76,39 10,18M 231,35 42,50M 132,15 7,17M 128,07 8,34M 223,02 6,47M 780,10 34,99M 330,63 3,90M 54,48 26,23M 192,81 21,50M 140,35 10,84M 165,79 12,85M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 1

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

Most Advanced Novavax Inc. MicroStrategy Inc. Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp. Un Quidel Corp. Koss Corp. Fulgent Genetics Inc. Biogen Inc. Credit Acceptance Corp. Atea Pharmaceuticals Inc. Moderna Inc. Strattec Security Corp.

+64.87% +6.73% +95.78% +10.41% +52.53% +19.46% +5.50% +3.84% +23.44% +8.53% +21.67%

36.66M 1.44M 1,216 1.42M 11.61M 2.58M 4.79M 318,193 937,470 39.69M 73,642

-4.41% -32.90% -3.54% -7.19% -5.02% -0.97% -38.81% -3.59% -1.47% -1.39% -4.61%

536,327 7.51M 694,819 2.39M 34.99M 4.29M 13.87M 582,363 1.61M 2.23M 2.83M

Most Declined Booking Holdings Inc. iRhythm Technologies Inc. MercadoLibre Inc. Charter Communications Inc. Cl A Tesla Inc. Amazon.com Inc. eHealth Inc. Trade Desk Inc. Cl A Alphabet Inc. Cl C Alphabet Inc. Cl A Lam Research Corp.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Currency outlook: Pound firms on economic optimism, euro undermined by vaccine woes

SUBDUED START: But the GBP/EUR exchange rate has steadily recovered ground.

ASK THE EXPERT Peter Loveday Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com

Euro EUR/GBP: Down from £0.90 to £0.88 EUR/USD: Down from $1.22 to $1.20 The euro has had a rocky start so far in 2021, with concerns over the EU’s slow start to its vaccination programme particularly undermining the single currency. With new, more‐infectious strains circu‐ lating throughout Europe, many countries have been forced to extend their lockdowns, and the slow rollout of vaccines could hold back the Eurozone’s economic recovery by delaying the easing of these restrictions. Also putting pressure on the euro was the European Central Bank (ECB), as policymak‐ ers have grown increasingly vocal with their concerns about how the appreciation of EUR exchange rates through the second half of 2020 could negatively impact efforts to boost inflation. Looking ahead, the euro looks to remain vulnerable so long as the EU’s vaccination rollout remains sluggish, whilst political un‐ certainty in Italy could also pose a risk to the single currency. Pound GBP/EUR: Up from €1.10 to €1.13 GBP/USD: Up from $1.34 to $1.36 The pound has trended steadily higher over the past month, even rising to a new 32‐month high against the US dollar, as Ster‐ ling sentiment was bolstered by optimism over the UK’s economic outlook in 2021. This comes amidst relief that the UK and EU reached a Brexit trade deal at the end of 2020 as well as the UK’s success with its vac‐ cination rollout, which is fuelling hopes for a

swift economic rebound in the coming months. In addition, the Bank of England Gover‐ nor, Andrew Bailey, triggered a sharp rally in GBP exchange rates in mid‐January after downplaying the chances of the BoE slashing interest rates below zero. However, going into next month we may see the pound face some headwinds. Boris Johnson is set to review England’s lockdown on February 15, and a likely extension to re‐ strictions are likely to reflect poorly on Ster‐ ling. US Dollar USD/GBP: Down from £0.74 to £0.73 USD/EUR: Up from €0.81 to €0.82 Trade in the US dollar has been mixed over the past month as fluctuating market sentiment has infused volatility into the safe‐haven currency. One major source of optimism has been the change in US leadership, with risk ap‐ petite improving amid hopes for President Joe Biden’s stimulus package and an admin‐ istration that will be more engaged in tack‐ ling the pandemic. On the other hand, driving demand for the US dollar over the past month has been concerns over the continued rise in global coronavirus cases, riots in the US Capitol, as well as some strange movements in stock markets. Looking ahead, the direction of the US dollar next month will largely depend on the size and timing of Biden’s stimulus package, with the ‘Greenback’ likely to firm if he is forced to compromise in order to get it through Congress. Currencies Direct have helped over 325,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save mon‐ ey on your currency transfers.

Visit us at our Spanish offices in Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca. Telephone UK +44 (0) 207 847 9400 SPAIN +34 950 478 914 Email euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com • www.currenciesdirect.com.

4 - 10 February 2021

EWN 19

20 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

4 - 10 February 2021

FEATURE

There are some things I’ve enjoyed LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT ALTHOUGH I am fully aware of the tremendous hardship and agonies caused by the Covid restrictions, I must confess there are a number of things I have rather enjoyed during this lockdown. Less traffic on the roads, easier parking, more orderly queues ‐ particularly at checkouts and a little more time to pause and ‘smell the roses.’ I also don’t miss the distraction of baying hordes at some sporting events. But to me the most welcome experience has been the overall reduction in noise levels which, apart from a few rowdy demos, has been pure bliss. I truly do think noise, particularly unnecessary noise, can often be an affront to the senses and is one of the biggest polluters of the planet. No, when we come out of all this horror and enter the era of the ‘great reset,’ let’s hope that many of

WARPED REASONING: Ursula von Leyan refused to release the vaccine to the German people. the positive aspects are taken on board and retained for the greater good of us all. What a supercilious, nasty bunch the EU bureaucrats have turned out to be. As usual the Germans have been the most arrogant of all. In the aftermath of the disgraceful article16 fiasco, which has left Brussel faces drenched in egg, it also emerged that Germany had already

stockpiled a whole cache of the vaccine for themselves. This in itself was bad enough (albeit pretty typical), but by some warped reasoning Ursula von Leyan, the Commission President, refused to release it to the German people until all the other EU countries had amassed the same amount – err!? What this basically meant was that she had decided to let her

fellow country men and women die, rather than lose face! It sounds to me as though this woman should not only be relieved of her post, but be put on trial for mass manslaughter. Some chance. One thing that does emerge from the whole farcical incident is that even many staunch UK remoaners now agree that getting out of the EU was a far better move than most of them envisaged;

particularly as the UK now has the chance to join the exciting £9 trillion massive CPTPP free trade area. Watch the whole sorry EU debacle tumble like a house of cards in the not too distant future. Biggest waste of time and money so far this year? The WHO contingent sent to China to investigate the origins of the Covid‐ 19 virus. This lot has about as much chance of getting the truth out of this devious and highly dangerous regime as I have of dancing with Princess Anne in Harrods window. Mind you, personally I wouldn’t believe any answers the WHO organisation came up with anyway. To my mind they are more likely to be negotiating the price of concluding that the virus probably originated from the three‐humped desert camel or the long haired North African dung beetle, with nothing whatsoever to do with China ‐ if you get my drift! Keep the faith; love leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon. Wed. Fri.

Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

USEFUL NUMBERS Emergency Services National Police Local Police Guardia Civil Ambulance Fire Brigade

112 091 092 062 061 080

Andalucia Vaccination Programme CONSULAR MATTERS A NUMBER of citizens have been asking me about the vaccination against Covid‐ 19, the current position is as follows: On December 27, 2020 the vaccination programme against Covid‐19 began in An‐ dalucia, in coordination with the strategy which is being followed throughout Spain. Initially this campaign was started, focusing on people in nursing homes and the health and social health professionals who work in them, as well as the health professionals and other personnel who work in the first line of action against Covid‐19 (health cen‐ tres, hospitals, medical consultations, etc). The vaccine will only be available in the public health system. At the present time there are no plans to have the vaccine in private hospitals, health centres or for sale in pharmacies. Due to the necessity to store the vac‐ cine in refrigerated conditions, at the pre‐ sent time vaccinations are being carried

out in selected vaccination centres with their vaccination teams, which are also be‐ ing mobilised to nursing homes. Currently, the only two vaccines being put in place are the Comirnaty® vaccine (Pfizer‐BioNTech) and the Moderna® vac‐ cine, both based on messenger RNA. You cannot choose which vaccine you want to have, they are given at the discretion of the medical authorities. Regarding the most appropriate place for the injection, given that the people to be vaccinated are aged 16 years and over, it is recommended to administer it prefer‐ ably in the deltoid muscle (arm). The vaccine is not recommended at any time during pregnancy, but it can be ad‐ vised for at risk workers (nurses, medical personnel and other workers) who may be exposed to the virus through their work. Currently, although trials are just begin‐ ning in 12‐16‐year‐olds, there are no effi‐ cacy and safety data in this age group. This, together with the low severity seen at this age, means that its use is not cur‐ rently recommended in children under 16 years of age in the case of Comirnaty® or

in children under 18 years of age in the case of the Moderna® vaccine. There is currently no data on the possi‐ ble effects of the vaccine during breast‐ feeding, or on milk production or on the infant, but as they are mRNA vaccines and not attenuated virus vaccines, they are not considered to pose a risk to the infant. The objective is to reach the maximum number of people in the shortest time possible, without interruptions, seven days a week. Regarding the second stage of vaccination, it is foreseeable that vaccina‐ tion will continue with people over 70 years of age. The plan envisages vaccinat‐ ing them in a period of six weeks, from March 15 to April 25, 2021. The rest of the population will begin to be vaccinated after this period, without there being a specific timeframe for the time being, so the authorities will inform them of the vaccination campaigns and where to go. The vaccination will be car‐ ried out, in principle, in coordination with the health centre and the doctor assigned to it by the Andalucian public health sys‐ tem.

Marisa Moreno Castillo, Consul of Denmark and Senior Lawyer at Just Law Solicitors

contact@justlawsolicitors.com • www.justlawsolicitors.com

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CONTINUOUS FLOUTING From our Facebook HOW can anybody expect the country to ever be clear of the Covid disaster whilst many people continually flout the regulations. In just one hour on Wed afternoon, we witnessed a group of five people, thought to be Scandinavian, having an organised picnic on the beach and later on, sitting around a table outside of a closed bar. There were another five people of Asian descent walking along in a bunch laughing and joking. We also saw an elderly Spanish couple sitting on a bench who were joined by a couple of younger ladies and then another lady with her dogs. They stood and chatted for all of the time that we were there. The only ones wearing masks were the Asians. None of the others attempted to maintain social distancing or wear masks. This was just one small area and just one hour on one day. If this is being repeated all along the Costa... we have no chance of recovery. Barry Weston

Brits Allergic to Spain! Hi, this may be of interest to your news desk... I belong to a Facebook group ‘Spanish Garden Info.’ It has over 7,000 members, mainly Brits but also expats from all over the world. I asked them a question “Since moving to Spain have any members become allergic to plants or trees not grown in the UK or cooler climates.” The response was quite shocking, nearly all confirmed they never had allergies before moving to Spain, and one member’s story about her daughter who nearly died made me realise that many Brits ( like me) are in fact allergic to Spain! Lee Sales ‐ Mojácar, Almeria

Loving Leapy Hi Leapy, I’m a great fan of yours, and find it hard to disagree with anything you say. Please keep up the great work. Others I recommend (on YouTube) are: Rotten Politics Voice of Reason - Alex Belfield Katie Hopkins amongst many others. Now that we have Sleepy Joe running the West we will see its rapid decline and the takeover by China. We have had the best years, mate. Best regards Max Kite

Help don’t hinder THERE is no doubt that the various restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic are irritating and seem to impinge on our civil liberties, but somehow or other the spread of the infection has to be curtailed. It is apparent from the sudden spike following the relaxation for Christmas and the New Year that the more people mix, the more likely it is for the infection to spread, thus the imposition of harsher restrictions in a bid to reduce personal interaction. At the end of the day what was

CORRECTIONS

Bridgerton Hi Leapy, Spot on.... History is bring rewritten.. Not sure we can resist this tsunami of woke b.s... as it is gathering rapid pace among those under 40 ... and now with the likelihood of an extreme left wing black woman president in the US when Biden pegs it, what hope is there?.... Fortunately, l guess you and l and more like us won’t be around to suffer the consequences!... Keep on with the antidote though... Best wishes.. DT

Hi Leapy, I must admit that like you I absolutely despise this new series Bridgerton. Unfortunately my wife likes it and, therefore, unless I leave the room I’m watching it. Fortunately we have just one more episode to watch. Historically incorrect is a massive understatement, from clothing to society and everything in between it’s totally wrong. I, like you, have no agenda on race or creed but if it’s going to be a period drama then at least try to make it correct. I also looked up the subject of society in the 1800s and the make-up thereof, and sadly and unfortunately for Bridgerton, the only role played by people of colour was menial: unfortunately slavery was at its highest and any black/coloured people joining the aristocracy couldn’t be further from the truth. The unfortunate thing is by screening programmes like this it just wears away what was our true past. The young of today and their knowledge of history will surely become affected and distorted by what they see. I’m not saying that they will believe that there was a black Queen but the horrendous subject of slavery and how it shaped our world will be swept under the carpet. Imagine if Hitler was represented as a Jew friendly happy go lucky chap, the Holocaust would be forgotten over a few decade by a false depiction of a tyrant. I do believe that, unfortunately, people are stuck at home and watching more and more television and have adopted so-called ‘entertaining,’ programmes like this 1800’s version of a modern day Dynasty or Dallas, where elaborately coloured clothing and perfectly formed actors with white teeth have removed all historical correctness purely as a means of capturing audience numbers. Thanks for printing what you did, I was starting to think it was just me! Chaz, Alhaurin de la Torre

OUR VIEW

once something one read about in the newspapers or heard about on TV has hit home with almost all of us knowing someone who has been infected or having caught the virus ourselves. What seems inexplicable is the fact that a number of people seem determined to work out ways of ignoring the rules and breaking the restrictions so that they can enjoy themselves with friends or pass through one perimeter to another where perhaps a restaurant may be open. Over the years, expatriates who

have settled here in Spain have been seen to be determined to help charities for the good of the community and whilst it is clear that there are Spanish born individuals and families flouting the rules, there is plenty of evidence on social media and first-hand experience that there are plenty of expats also breaking the rules. In the short term it is incredibly frustrating to be constricted in what we do, but if we are to get out of this mess then everyone has to commit to following the rules and not risk the health of ourselves or others.

Karen Schofield-Wilby The solution is simple: if you want to see people being interviewed by yes men, watch BBC - if you want to watch interviews where people are made to answer the question and not waffle or back pedal, watch Piers on ITV - you have a choice...

Pauline Goddard Can’t stand him, too full of self importance and doesn’t give anyone else a chance to speak, wish ITV would get rid

Stevie Rayner I didn’t used to care for him, but now he’s the only broadcaster holding the shitshower we are obliged to call a government to account.

Carol Thompson He should be thrown off, I used to like him because he is straight talking, but just lately he seems to love himself too much and the sound of his own voice, does not let anyone else get a word in edge ways. You can ask a question without being rude and obnoxious.

Lynn Trotter He’s very irritating, he asks a question then doesn’t allow the person to answer, I have witnessed him being extremely rude to people he doesn’t agree with.

Paul Jones No he should have been jailed for publishing fake pictures of British army soldiers putting them at risk and for the phone hacking scandal. Plus he has a face not even a mother could love.

Lyn Gaskell Don’t mind him especially when ripping into MPs but the continuous point scoring between him and Suzannah drives me nuts!!

At the EWN, we pride ourselves that reports are accurate and fair. If we do slip up, we promise to set the record straight in a clear, no-nonsense manner. To ask for an inaccuracy to be corrected. Email: editorial@euroweeklynews.com

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YOUR STARS FOR NEXT 7 DAYS AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Keep up the pace this week so that you have plenty to discuss and ‘write home about.’ With your mind so active, you are capable of doing in a day what would normally take a week. Bypass those who try to slow you down. There will be plenty of time to be a plod later.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Others may be changing their minds, and generally being a bit of a pain. That may irritate you but it is no reason to change your plans. Both you and your colleagues will be glad that you did in the longer term. You may need to find some peace and space for yourself come the weekend.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Looking back over the past few months you will realise that fine adjustments are needed. Both your working life and diet need attention, so be determined that progress made will continue apace. Certainly, you have no qualms about facing any problems straight on. You thrive on responsibility and there is no shortage of that at the moment.

TAURUS (April 21 - May21) Now that you are feeling much better, it will be tempting to put aside your healthy eating and exercise, but if you remember what a difference it makes it would be silly to stop now. Enlist the help of a friend or two in keeping the momentum going.

GEMINI (May 22 - Juny 21) There are so many things to do or try that you should be spoiled for choice. No, don’t settle down in front of the TV. Get out, make some friends and aim to learn something new every day. That may only be the name of your neighbour on the bus but it counts. You are charming and urbane, so don’t keep it all to yourself.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) When your feelings are so positive, which they should be now, it is hard to remember that they have ever been any other way. You may have a plan in mind for a new activity to get the adrenalin flowing. How much more enjoyable, though, to find someone to share this with you. Book that course and maybe you will meet them there.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) After a few recent excesses, bad habits can prove hard to shake off. Remember that any time of the year is a good time to make a fresh start. Don’t put off looking after your health any more than you would put off stashing a cheque in the bank. Use it or lose it? You know it makes sense. Think about combining health with a holiday.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) It happens that energy is sometimes low. Take the chance to read up on why this could be. You may think that you know it all, but in this world there is no chance of that. Maybe you are out of touch generally, or just out of touch with your own needs. Give building your strength priority. How much better you will cope with extra energy.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) With so much going on, you are in danger of burning yourself to a frazzle. You won’t realise until you have done it, so make a point of getting some peace and quiet, preferably both of them at the same time. Relax and don't even think about things that are unchangeable. Time will sort out most things for you.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Leave nothing to chance when it comes to your health. Although you are feeling good now you will soon have problems because you are more concerned with others than yourself. This can be good but can also be overdone. You know how good you can feel. Increase this by simply not accepting secondbest treatment.

HEXAGRAM The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter words into the 19 cells. The letters at the edges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. The word in cell 10 (LABOUR) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

AMIDST ANNEAL DANGLE EDGING ERRANT GARAGE INBRED LABOUT (10) MARINA OBTAIN ORIENT PARLEY PIECED RADIUS REASON SCHIST SERIES SPREAD SUNDRY

LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY Sat 30 January

4-28-31 36-51-55

Your tendency to see yourself through the eyes of others can lead you to undervalue your worth. This could see you going pear-shaped, emotion-ally. Try not to believe everything that you are told because there are always at least two ways of seeing things. Be positive. You are capable of so much. Take care of your needs on a daily basis.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Concentrate on your physical needs this week and spend much more time on yourself. There will be plenty of opportunities to look after others when you are feeling 100 per cent yourself. Stay in control of day-to-day plans.

BONUS BALL

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7-17-21 28-38-41

BONUS BALL

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SAGITARIUS (November 23 - December 21)

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CODE BREAKER

ENGLISH-SPANISH

The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 9 represents C and 13 represents J, so fill in C every time the figure 9 appears and J every time the figure 13 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Across 1 Bufandas (7) 5 Quinto (5) 8 Lean (meat) (5) 9 Más afortunado (7) 10 Acontecimiento (5) 11 Seno (5) 12 To call (6) 14 Geese (domestic) (6) 18 Patata frita (de bolsa) (5) 20 Áspero (5) 22 Church (7) 23 Liqueur (5) 24 Kisses (5) 25 Toasted (7)

Down 1 Weekly (7) 2 Ángulo (5) 3 Violet (7) 4 Saludo (6) 5 Seals (animals) (5) 6 Amigos (7) 7 Duele (5) 13 Rings (on finger) (7) 15 Grandmothers (7) 16 Pay (wage) (7) 17 Pechuga (de pollo) (6) 18 Subir (5) 19 Raisins (5) 21 Axe (5)

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION • LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION • LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION QUICK Across: 1 Abhor, 4 Basin, 7 Terminate, 8 Dusk, 10 Chides, 12 Sonnet, 13 Drab, 16 Brigadier, 18 Rigid, 19 Aides. Down: 1 Avoid, 2/17 Hot rod, 3 Rare, 4 Bright, 5 Slander, 6 Needs, 9 Singing, 11 Reward, 12 Sober, 14 Bonus, 15 Diva.

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Spliced, 5 Minus, 8 Venom, 9 Spotted, 10 Risking, 11 Exile, 12 Jaded, 14 Stern, 19 Libel, 21 Exposed, 23 Harvard, 24 Lease, 25 Traps, 26 Masters. Down: 1 Severn, 2 Links, 3 Combine, 4 Design, 5 Moose, 6 Nattier, 7 Sodden, 13 Alberta, 15 Tipples, 16 Old hat, 17 Seldom, 18 Adders, 20 Loans, 22 State.

BOGGLED

FUTOSHIKI

nett netty undo undoer doge dogie doer hoer tube tuber tumble tumbler tumbrel tumbril ogle ogler jetty john bene bend betty butt butte butene buttv butler bumble bumbler belt tend mute mutt goer geode gelt glebe gilbert gilt girl liger lire bleb brig lilt rebut rebbe riel rile trig

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Comida, 3 Asleep, 8 Enlaces, 10 Algas, 11 Prado, 12 Refugee, 13 Usado, 15 Mando, 20 October, 22 Dummy, 24 Trozo, 25 Cordero, 26 Moneda, 27 Throat. Down: 1 Cuerpo, 2 Multa, 4 Staff, 5 Engaged, 6 Poster, 7 Users, 9 Cloud, 14 Sit down, 16 Arder, 17 Bottom, 18 Brick, 19 By boat, 21 Broad, 23 Miedo

CODE BREAKER

NONAGRAM alee alit aril earl evil lair late lave leer leva liar lira lire lite live rail rale real reel rial riel rile tael tail tale teal tile vail vale veal veil vela vial vile alert alive alter elate elite elver later laver leave lever liter litre liver livre ratel ravel relit revel rival tiler trail trial valet velar viler viral vital elater leaver levier railer realer relate relive retail reveal revile travel varlet atelier earlier elative relater retrial reviler trailer relative retailer traveler RETRIEVAL

HEXAGRAM

WORD LADDER

1 HECTOR 2 RASTER 3 RETORT 4 STANCH 5 HORROR 6 TETHER 7 ARDENT 8 ECHOES 9 SCANTY 10 DOCTOR 11 THIRST 12 STEREO 13 TERROR 14 SPEEDY 15 METEOR 16 FERRIC 17 SPOTTY 18 MOROSE 19 TEETHE

HALT MALT MALE MILE MITE KITE

KAKURO

SUDOKU

27

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Mallorca TODAY POLLENÇA

ALCUDIA

CALVIA CALA D’OR

PALMA

ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

TOMORROW POLLENÇA

ALCUDIA

WEATHER Malaga TODAY: MAX 21, MIN 9 Fri 18 9 Sat 19 9 Sun 19 9 Mon 21 10 Tues - 21 11 Wed 20 11

Alicante TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 8 Fri 16 7 Sat 17 7 Sun 16 8 Mon 16 9 Tues - 19 8 Wed 19 7

Almeria TODAY: MAX 21, MIN 11 Fri 21 11 Sat 21 11 Sun 19 12 Mon 19 11 Tues - 19 11 Wed 20 13

Benidorm TODAY: MAX 19, MIN 9 Fri 19 9 Sat 18 9 Sun 17 8 Mon 19 8 Tues - 17 10 Wed 17 8 Mallorca TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 7 Fri 16 7 Sat 17 8 Sun 17 8 Mon 18 9 Tues 17 7 Wed 16 8

TIME OUT

FUTOSHIKI Fill in the squares so that each digit from 1 to 6 occurs exactly once in each row and column. Greater-than and less-than signs indicate the relationship of the two adjacent squares. There is only one solution, and you can find it without guessing.

BOGGLED How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules? • The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally. • Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms. • No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice. • No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.

CALVIA ANDRATX

PALMA

CALA D’OR

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

SATURDAY POLLENÇA

ALCUDIA

CALVIA ANDRATX

PALMA

CALA D’OR

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

S: Sun

C: Cloudy

Th: Thunder

Cl: Clear

Sh: Showers

Sn: Snow

Bilbao TODAY: MAX 18, MIN 5 Fri 17 9 Sat 14 9 Sun 14 8 Mon 13 8 Tues 16 9 Wed 15 8 Madrid TODAY: MAX 13, MIN 8 Fri 16 8 Sat 15 7 Sun 14 7 Mon 16 8 Tues 17 9 Wed 17 10

Barcelona TODAY: MAX 16, MIN 9 Fri 17 9 Sat 16 9 Sun 15 11 Mon 16 11 Tues 18 9 Wed 19 10

Euro Weekly News strives for accuracy, but cannot be held responsible for any errors in published forecasts

TARGET:

SCORING:

Average: 17 Good: 23 Very good: 34 Excellent: 44

4 letters: 1 point 5 letters: 2 points 6 letters: 3 points 7 letters: 5 points 8 or more letters: 11 points

KAKURO Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.

CRYPTIC Across 1 The first man seen by a duke in the morning (4) 3 Eccentric recites nothing, how odd (8) 9 Lance brings evil changes in short month (7) 10 Freely available sort of panto (2,3) 11 Stop at 'turning cool by mid-evening' (5) 12 One who relates to a bank employee (6) 14 Damson is chopped up for the Wanderers (6) 16 Traditional roof in yonder church? (6) 19 Paint a textbook (6) 21 Some Kenyans could be as I am (5) 24 Take over and use Earp from the sound of it (5) 25 Italian city designed for romance? (7) 26 Auditor is unusually silent before the Queen (8) 27 Female expected flipping argument (4) Down 1 A disc jockey with a little money nearby? (8) 2 Smith's block found in Roman villa (5) 4 After treatment, stay in normal frame of mind (6) 5 Goblin right in charge (5) 6 Tree rat built a hideaway (7) 7 Imitate policeman at the Yard (4) 8 Smoothed timber put back in hidden alpine chalet (6) 13 Asian country Ali hadn't converted (8) 15 Noble king penetrates resistance (7) 17 Trounce in athletics event (6) 18 Credit note on revolutionary nursery (6) 20 Some could help a man to climb a tree (5) 22 Poles damaged pitch (5) 23 Start pick-up, leave luggage, bring in (4)

TIME OUT

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SUDOKU

QUICK

Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.

Across 1 Profundity (5) 4 Hops (5) 7 Crude oil (9) 8 Genuine (4) 10 Mix together (5) 13 Blanket (5) 14 Inform (4) 17 Unsafe (9) 19 Concluded (5) 20 Elevates (5)

Down 1 Leave (6) 2/18 Postpone (3,3) 3 Boxing punch (4) 4 Makes off with (6) 5 Huge (7) 6 Rescue (4) 9 Stayed away from (7) 11 Was the author of (6) 12 Shuts (6) 15 British nobleman (4) 16 Cure (4) 18 See 2

WORD LADDER Move from the start word (ROOM) to the end word (SPIN) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.

ROOM

QUIZ BACK SPIN

CALL MY BLUFF Below are 10 obscure words, each with three different definitions, obviously only one of which is correct. You have to guess/deduce which is the true one. 1. ABERUNCATOR: (a) lady’s maid, (b) long tool for pruning tall branches or (c) somebody who lacks the ability to make a decision? 2. CAMPAGNOL: (a) male midwife, (b) short-tailed field mouse or (c) songbird? 3. EMACITY: (a) desire or fondness for buying, (b) ringing noise in the head or (c) upward slope? 4. HIMATION: (a) anonymous works, (b) divination using needles or (c) loose outer garment worn by ancient Greeks? 5. JUGLANDACEOUS: (a) accidental or casual, (b) of or relating to walnuts or (c) piled in heaps? 6. NACARAT: (a) bright orange-red, (b) over-refined or (c) threetoed sloth? 7. PECULATION: (a) becoming white, (b) burning or scalding or (c) embezzlement? 8. RARISSIMA: (a) craving for strange foods (b) extremely rare book or (c) love sonnet? 9. TEPHRA: (a) ash and debris ejected by a volcano, (b) compound interest or (c) shortness of breath? 10. VARUS: (a) army biscuit, (b) marginal note or (c) pigeon-toed?

NONAGRAM

RACHEL AND FRIENDS

How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case N) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

Not a lot of people know that… ‘schoolmaster’ is an anagram of ‘the classroom’ and ‘moon starers’ is an anagram of ‘astronomers’

TARGET:

audreyquinton99@gmail.com

Average: 14 Good: 19 Very good: 27 Excellent: 35

Answers 1. B - LONG TOOL FOR PRUNING TALL BRANCHES, 2. B - SHORT-TAILED FIELD MOUSE, 3. A - DESIRE OR FONDNESS FOR BUYING, 4. C - LOOSE OUTER GARMENT WORN BY ANCIENT GREEKS, 5. B - OF OR RELATING TO WALNUTS, 6. A - BRIGHT ORANGE-RED, 7. C - EMBEZZLEMENT, 8. B - EXTREMELY RARE BOOK, 9. A - ASH AND DEBRIS EJECTED BY A VOLCANO, 10. C - PIGEON-TOED

PETS

30

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Will your dog need a playmate

TAKE a moment to plan ahead for pet and house‐sitters if you have trips planned next year, to see family and friends or just to get away. Now is the time to get ready. We will help you as much as we can. Our philoso‐ phy is that we are all in this together. These are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeowner on House SitMatch.com 2. Choose a Premium account (£89 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house 4. Post a house‐sit advert stating your plans for next year’s holiday Covid permit‐ ting Do you need a pet‐sitter in 2021? Then get started right now. How does it work? HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House‐sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets. Trustpilot Testimonials ‐ 4.8 / 5 Excellent

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Unconventional pets NOT all people have a place in their hearts for the traditional pet. Some prefer the challenge and thrill of owning something unique and eye‐catching. However, many are put off by the thought of owning and car‐ ing for a non traditional pet, but would be surprised to know that some are actually relatively low maintenance. Hedgehogs, for example, are often mistaken for prickly and unintelligent, but these gentle souls are actually quite shy. Only stiffening their spines when threatened, they are a hum‐ ble and easy pet, often comparable to hamsters. With time and commitment, owners can expect to develop a strong bond with this interesting pet. On the other end of the spectrum is the Axolotl, a unique pet that looks a little like a domesticated alien. Proving to be very weird pets, it is able to regenerate any part of its body in due time, ideal for anyone with a feisty aquarium environment. The Axolotl is a type of salamander which originated in Mexi‐ co. They grow to be quite large and require quite specialised care and equipment, making it a little more high maintenance, but otherwise a fantastic pet for those with a taste for the unique.

LEGAL ALIEN: The Axolotl is incredibly unique.

Do you need a house-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 20 per cent discount using coupon code P2020 - an exclusive offer for readers. To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com.

5 Tips on Caring for Older Dogs ALTHOUGH offering all our love and enhanced care, our dog is very important and it helps them live better. The truth is the longevity of our pet is largely related to its breed, weight and size. In fact, dogs with greater weight and size, as a general rule, tend to live less years than small dogs. Also breed, diet, genetics and environment have an impact. 1. Watch your dog’s diet. Mature dogs often have food issues, includ‐ ing problems chewing, lack of ap‐ petite, obesity and digestive difficul‐ ties. 2. Exercise your dog’s body. Like people, ageing dogs experience pain and have difficulty performing physical activities they used to en‐ joy. 3. Dental hygiene is particularly crucial. Regular brushing and pro‐ fessional cleaning can prevent den‐ tal disease. 4. Visit the vet more often. Take your dog in for a checkup at least twice a year. Monitor changes in behaviour, appetite, weight loss or gain, dental issues, and any lumps or lesions.. 5.Make your house comfortable for an old dog. Keep food and wa‐ ter in areas they can easily reach.

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Title Slipping Away Goal Drought Ends

HUGE BLOW: To Real Madrid’s hopes of catching La Liga leaders Atletico. REAL MADRID’S title chances are slipping away after losing at home to Levante. Real Madrid’s hopes of catch‐ ing La Liga leaders Atletico took a huge blow on Saturday January 30 when Levante left the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano with a 1‐2 vic‐ tory. The match didn’t start too well for Los Blancos as Brazilian defender Eder Militao received a straight red card after a VAR check, for taking Sergio Leon

down from behind, with only nine minutes on the clock. Marco Asensio put 10‐man Madrid in front after 13 minutes, after a lovely ball from Toni Kroos, but Jose Luis Morales lev‐ elled the match on 32 minutes, with a Roger Marti strike sealing the three points for Levante after 78 minutes. This defeat leaves Real Madrid seven points behind Atletico, who also have two games in hand, and it really

seems an uphill struggle now for Zinedine Zidane’s men to make up the ground on the leaders, with over half the season already played. Manager Zidane was still iso‐ lating due to testing positive for coronavirus, so it was assistant David Bettoni who took control of a make‐shift squad missing key players, Rodrygo, Nacho, Fede Valverde, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, and Lucas Vazquez.

LIVERPOOL have ended their goal drought in style at Totten‐ ham moving back up to fourth position. Liverpool finally put an end to seven and a half hours of open play without a goal ‐ which had included an astonishing 93 at‐ tempts on goal ‐ as they thumped Tottenham 1‐3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, to move into fourth spot in the Premier League. JURGEN KLOPP: Was delighted with his team’s efforts. Jurgen Klopp was punching the air in delight as his misfiring strikers finally got back to what they do best, drought to put the Reds in front. and brought Liverpool within four points of lead‐ The second half was all‐action, and just one ers Manchester City, with Tottenham back in minute into the half, it was Trent Alexander‐ sixth spot. Arnold who doubled Liverpool’s lead, but Tot‐ Jose Mourinho will be very concerned after tenham would not give up, and just minutes lat‐ Harry Kane limped off the field in the second er, Pierre‐Emile Hojbjerg put a magnificent half, with news coming through that he will miss effort into the Liverpool net to make it 1‐2. a significant number of games as a result of an Mo Salah saw his goal ruled offside by VAR, ankle injury. and then Sadio Mane got his deserved goal, as Tottenham should have gone ahead as ear‐ he smashed the ball home to make it 1‐3. Liver‐ ly as two minutes in, but Son’s goal was ruled pool’s defence looked creaky, but at least their offside by VAR, and it took until the 18th forwards seem to have got their confidence minute for the deadlock to be broken, as back, and the fight at the top of the table is look‐ Roberto Firmino ended the 482‐minute ing very tight.