Euro Weekly News - Costa Blanca South 4 - 10 March 2021 Issue 1861

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The people’s paper ISSUE NO. 1861

4 - 10 March 2021

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

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IT’S LOOKING GOOD!

SPAIN’S Tourism minister Reyes Maroto announced that bookings for the government-subsidised holidays for pensioners should begin in September.

“Older persons were the first to be vaccinated and we are confident that the programme can recommence,” Maroto said dur-

RECENT MEETING: Hosbec president Toni Mayor and secretary general Nuria Montes with Generalitat president.

ing a recent visit to Castellon.

The Valencian Community is always a favourite destination for Spain’s holidaying pensioners, the minister pointed out: “Without a doubt, this programme will help to reactivate tourism.”

The Imserso holidays barely cover hotels’ outgo-

ings, but they help to keep the low-season industry ticking over and bring cash to quiet winter resorts.

C osta B lanca hoteliers’ association Hosbec welcomed Maroto’s news and urged the central government to start preparing now so that all is ready for the autumn.

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4 - 10 March 2021

Fiestas on hold VALENCIA’S regional government ruled out celebrating upcoming fiestas.

On the same day that Generalitat president Ximo Puig revealed his de-escalation plans for the Valencian Community, the central government confirmed that fiestas including the much-anticipated Fallas, would not be celebrated this year.

“We have to avoid creating a festive atmosphere because currently we are not in a position to have any kind of gather-

ings,” Puig said, following an interdepartmental meeting.

Ana Barcelo, who heads the regional government’s Health department, revealed plans to meet mayors from the Valencian Community’s three provinces to ensure a common approach to the approaching fiestas.

“The public administrations need to maintain coordination to avoid situations that are incompatible with the moment in which we are living and the

current restrictions,” Barcelo said.

“We are not in a position to celebrate fiestas,” Puig said.

“What happens in the future will depend on the progress of the pandemic,” he continued.

“Until mass vaccination occurs and we are immunised, it is very difficult to plan fiestas, especially large-scale ones. We have to wait and be very careful when setting a schedule,” the regional president said.

Love a duck!

MARBLED DUCKS, a threatened species, are being reintroduced to the El Hondo national park in Elche.

The online presentation of the LIFE Cerceta Par‐ dilla Project, which is assisting the initiative, was at‐ tended by Mireia Molla, the Consellera who heads the regional government’s Environment depart‐ ment.

Molla emphasised El Hondo’s strategic impor‐ tance in assisting the protected species’ recovery, explaining that El Hondo, together with the Maris‐ mas del Guadalquivir, is the most relevant wet‐

lands zone in Europe for the recovery of marbled ducks.

“We have always worked on the assumption that their future depends to a great extent on ade‐ quate management of El Hondo,” she added.

LIFE is the EU’s funding instrument for environ‐ mental, nature conservation and climate action projects and the five‐year LIFE Cerceta Pardilla ini‐ tiative, which began in January, will receive a global budget of €6.370 million. Of this, €2.8 million goes to the Generalitat.

NEWS

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Winter visitors set to return

Speaking to Europa Press, Hosbec secretary general Nuria Montes revealed that in the past, 180,000 of an annual 900,000 Imserso packages have been allocated to the Valencian Community, with 160,000 going to Benidorm alone.

Hosbec now wants to see this winter’s offer increased to 1.5 million, with a corresponding increase for Benidorm’s quota.

“We believe there is sufficient demand,” Montes said.

AUTUMN DATE: Pensioners due to return to the Costa Blanca on government-subsidised holidays.

Zoom makes it easy TORREVIEJA U3A members will soon be able to meet up while remaining safely at home.

The committee has pur‐ chased a Zoom licence, en‐ abling U3A groups to hold on‐

line meetings. Internet access is all that members need.

Information on joining in and taking part will be provided by the U3A’s Media Man over the next few weeks, although some

Beach bar fiasco SANTA POLA Town Hall has rescinded the contract for three beach bars.

Councillors voted to end the agreement after the con‐ cessionary failed to comply with the terms of the con‐ tract.

The three chiringuitos had not provided the stipulated services and defaulted on payment, resulting in a loss of around €200,000 in earnings for the town hall.

The Plaza de Castilla bar, which should have func‐ tioned year‐round, has been closed for months, while a third is in ruins.

Another contract will be prepared this month and put out to tender but the town hall admitted that there is no likelihood that chiringuitos would open for Easter.

details can already be found in the February newsletter and the Facebook page.

“It is hoped that we will be able to hold an online meeting in March, in a similar vein to the meetings we used to have at the CMO building,” Torre‐ vieja’s Press Officer Barry We‐ ston said.

“We will have a speaker and up to 100 members can listen in from the comfort of their own easy chairs!”

A few Torrevieja U3A groups including Military History and Current Affairs and Discussion (CAD) have used Zoom success‐ fully for several months but the sessions were restricted.

With the new licence, the groups can hold continuous meetings with up to 100 partici‐ pants.

Change of It’s not hard scenery AS spring draws nearer, long‐ stay patients at Torrevieja hospi‐ tal can again go out for a breath of fresh air.

“From now onwards we are restarting these beneficial out‐ ings for patients who, depending on their condition, can go out‐ side with our health profession‐ als,” the hospital said.

One of the first patients to en‐ joy a brief visit outside had spent 61 days in the ICU, hospital sources revealed.

“So long as it is safe to do so, these outings are one more pro‐ cess in a patient’s treatment, helping to cheer them up and es‐ cape the hospital environment for a few moments.”

A VEHICLE recently ran off the road in Elche, knocking down a streetlight.

The driver fled the scene of the accident which occurred in front of the Altabix care home for the elderly, leaving the lamppost on the ground, to‐ gether with part of the car’s front bumper and its number plate.

Nobody inside the Residence heard the crash, which occurred during the evening according to the reports in the local media, although the cook later noticed the fallen lamppost in the road.

Unconfirmed police sources later commented that the driv‐ er, having left the number plate as a calling card, should not be difficult to locate.

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NIBS EXTRA New wheels ROJALES Town Hall has provided the Local Police force with seven new vehicles via leasing.

The renovated fleet is composed of four SUV all-terrain vehicles which are also hybrids, plus two motorcycles and a van equipped as a mobile office that will be used for taking accident-scene statements.

Women’s pride RAFAL celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8 with its social media initiative ‘Proud to be a woman’ where 11 Rafal women relate their efforts to occupy their place in society. Not well-known pioneers, the Equality councillor stressed, merely local residents describing their life experiences, dreams and yearnings.

Mass jabs ELCHE will vaccinate 20,000 residents from April once the Generalitat launches its vaccination scheme to immunise a total of 400,000 people in 161 municipalities. Elche’s mayor Carlos Gonzalez said he has offered the IFA trade fair installation to the Health department for “comfortable and safe” vaccinations.

Life advice PILAR DE LA HORADA has introduced an Affective-Sexual counselling service for adolescents and young people in the 12-to20 age group. Pilar’s Youth councillor Nieves Moreno explained that the service aims to assist those needing impartial advice about relationships, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity, bullying and discrimination.

Andalucia Day ANDALUCIA’S flag flew over Torrevieja’s Plaza de la Constitucion on Februry 28, Andalucia Day. Previously, the town hall explained to Torrevieja’s Andalucia Cultural Association and the Casa de Andalucia that owing to the Covid-19 restrictions on meetings, this was a substitute for the usual celebrations.

Palm felled ORIHUELA Town Hall felled a 17-metre palm tree after spending €3,000 to transplant it from the town centre to the Palmeral palm forest in 2019. Unable to withstand last summer’s suffocating heat it failed to flourish and the Environment department’s only option was to remove it, sources revealed.

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Everything for a spring wedding AG E CO N C E R N’S Torrevieja shop is offering an Easter and Wedding extravaganza throughout March.

Everything needed for a perfect day is available in the shop, from bride and groom outfits to bridesmaids’ dresses, shoes, handbags, cards and gifts.

“Now and again we have special weeks with different themes,” explained Susan Self who manages the Torrevieja shop.

Occasionally, the shop has a Euro day, when all the clothes cost €1 and there are often half-price sales, too, she told the Euro Weekly News.

O wing to anti- C ovid regulations, there is a limit to the number of cus-

Photo : Age Concern Torrevieja

NEWS

AGE CONCERN: Wedding theme during March at the Torrevieja shop.

tomers who can enter so that social distancing is maintained, while masks and hand sanitisers are compulsory.

A s the shop accepts donations of books, clothes and furniture these are disinfected and quarantined.

The shop is located on the corner of Calle Patricio Zamit and Calle Concordia just behind the bus station and is open between 10am and 2pm from Monday to Friday.

“We look forward to meeting new customers and there will always be a warm welcome and a chat from our wonderful volunteers, who give so generously of their time,” Susan said.

“And volunteers are always needed!” she added.

Water, water everywhere DESALINATED water has made up the Tajo‐ Segura pipeline’s shortfall after supplies were reduced.

The Mancomunidad de Canales del Taibillla (MCT), which supplies 34 Alicante Province municipalities, used 75 per cent more desalinated water to compensate for the 28 per cent reduction in Tajo‐Segura water during the last ‘Water Year’ between October 1 and September 30.

Eighteen cubic hectometres came from the Torrevieja desalination while stepped‐ up production at the MCT’s own Agua Amarga plant in Alicante City produced 61 cubic hectometres.

The total of 197 cubic hectometres which MCT needed during the last Water Year in‐ cluded 62 cubic hectometres from the Tajo‐ Segura pipeline and 56 from the River Taibilla.

Although desalinated water is compara‐ tively expensive, water bills did not go up in the municipalities it supplies, the MCT said.

Meanwhile, despite the cutback in the Tajo‐Segura water, reserves increased ‘spectacularly’ in the Entrepeñas and Buen‐ dia reservoirs that supply the pipeline ow‐ ing to torrential rain and heavy snowfalls earlier this year.

Workplace bully Pilar visit cut down to size CREVILLENT’S municipal archaeologist, found guilty of workplace harassment, re‐ ceived a 12‐month prison sentence.

An Elche criminal court agreed that the archaeologist, who is also director of Cre‐ villent’s three municipal museums, had subjected a municipal employee who worked for him to ‘degrading treatment.’

As well as the one‐year prison term, the archaeologist must also pay €25,000 to the victim who, as a result of his bullying, suffered post‐traumatic stress and was off sick for some time, requiring medication and psychiatric treatment.

Several witnesses revealed that the em‐

ployee had to tolerate her superior’s ‘con‐ tinual lack of respect and insults,’ many of which were of a sexual nature.

The archaeologists, routinely omitted the victim’s name from the work she car‐ ried out, accused her of being a spy and threatened to start disciplinary proceed‐ ings against her in a context of ‘shouting and humiliating terms’ in ‘especially tense situations.’

In 2016 the archaeologist received an 18‐month prison term for the same of‐ fence although his defence lawyers ap‐ pealed on a technicality, resulting in a re‐ trial.

TORREVIEJA’S new Guardia Civil com‐ mander, Santos Buendia Garcia, recent‐ ly visited Pilar de la Horada.

Although a separate municipality, Pilar de la Horadada’s own Guardia Civil post comes under the control of the Torrevieja headquarters and Com‐ mander Buendia was welcomed by Pi‐ lar’s mayor, Jose Maria Perez Sanchez, Public Safety councillor Ma‐ rina Saez, and the Local Police chief Jesus Navarrete.

Saez also took the opportunity of passing on residents’ concerns, particu‐ larly robberies at the Pinar de Campov‐ erde cashpoints and the need for surveillance during the summer and in rural areas at harvest time.

Less demand for Easter palms ALL fiestas are on hold thanks to the pandemic and so, too, are the Holy Week processions.

As well as disappointing for participants, this has come as a blow to the Elche families who make the decorative palms that are sent out all over Spain each year.

Unlike last Easter, churches will be open, although with re‐ duced capacity, and orders are trickling in both from parish priests as well as members of the public who want them for their balconies.

Elche craftspeople were already preparing palms for last Easter when the State of Alarm was announced, and thou‐ sands have been kept in cold storage for the last 12 months.

Some have had to take out bank loans to pay for the spe‐ cialised equipment, they told Informacion newspaper, hoping that the palms can be used this year.

Those that have survived best are the unworked branches which are the most requested this year, they said.

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Plastic pileup THE Confederación Hidrografica del Segura (CHS) recently fished half‐a‐ton of plastics from the Segura in Guardamar.

Hundreds of kilos of discarded plastic, most‐ ly containers, were trapped in the vegeta‐ tion along the Segura’s old course and river‐ mouth although thanks to Guardamar’s floating barriers, little reached the sea.

The CHS has again insisted on the need for gratings in irriga‐ tion channels, a move opposed by the agri‐ cultural growers who use the water, owing to the cost as well as the need to remove and dispose of the trapped plastic and debris.

Late payers ORIHUELA’S Finance councillor Rafael Al‐ mago complained that Plan Resiste aid will not arrive until May. He accused the Gen‐ eralitat of political partisanship at a time of ‘urgency and need’ for the self‐employed and the owners of small businesses eligi‐ ble for help.

The regional gov‐ ernment implied that the Plan Resiste trans‐ fers had gone through although town halls will not be paid until May 10, Almagro said.

Orihuela is in line for €3.04 million, with the town hall con‐ tributing €455,980 (15 per cent of the total) and the remainder coming from the Gen‐ eralitat (62.5 per cent) and the Diputacion provincial council (22.5 per cent).

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NEWS

10 per cent deported Futurmoda Cancelled

DEPORTATIONS of illegal immigrants in 2020 accounted for less than 10 per cent of the arrivals.

Between January 1 and December 3, 2020, 37,213 immigrants entered Spain illegally.

Meanwhile, according to the Interior Ministry, 3,190 were deported, just 8.5 per cent.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande‐Marlaska, in charge of executing deportations, would not reveal the identity of those deported or which country they have been sent back to.

The coronavirus pandemic, with its border controls, has had a decisive impact on the figures, as for several months, it has been impossible to deport people.

Algeria, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal all have agreements in place for repatriation of illegal immigrants according to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

4 Million Unemployed THE effects of the pandemic, the increase in restrictions and the lack of a reopening horizon has pushed unemployment above the four million mark - the highest since May 2016. The total number of unemployed is now 4,008,789.

By sectors, the drop in employment has once again occurred notably in Hospitality, which lost another 25,894 jobs; The loss of employment in Commerce (20,009) and in administrative activities (-6,671) also contributes to the total. The only sector that is making

a recovery is construction, which added 22,698 jobs.

ERTEs remain at very high levels: 899,383 are still in temporary employment, 28,903 less than in January according to revised data from the ministry of employment.

Sixty per cent of the workers protected by this temporary employment system belong to the five sectors hardest hit by the crisis and by administrative restrictions: accommodation, food and beverage services, travel agencies, air transport and gambling.

FASHION EVENT: Normally draws visitors from around the world.

THE Futurmoda Organising Committee along with the AEC Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 2021 fashion event, set to be held at the Ali‐ cante Fair Institution (IFA) in Elche on April 7 and 8 due to ongoing restrictions.

The show usually draws visi‐

tors from across the globe keen to examine Spain’s ex‐ emplary leather goods.

AEC has said that they haven’t ruled out putting to‐ gether some kind of digi‐ tised version of the event, or moving the event to later in the year when restrictions

have eased.

“We ratify our will and com‐ mitment to hold the fair again when there is a positive evolu‐ tion of the situation, as well as a specific legal framework, which allows us to safely plan the return of the fair activity,” a spokesperson said.

Online Increase Police Images THE pandemic has seen an unprecedented rise in online shopping. One in three Spaniards now reportedly shops online at least once a week, an increase of more than 10 points compared to before the crisis, according to the Adevinta report ‘Digital Pulse.’

With 62 per cent of citizens preferring not to go to physical stores, food supplies, pharmacy and restaurant or takeaway deliveries gained most popularity online.

The report also reveals that the budget for online purchases has increased. One in four Spaniards spend between 21 and 50 per cent of their budget online, almost double what was registered before coronavirus. Forty per cent of people say that they will continue to shop more online from now on.

A JUDGE has recognised the right to record the police to avoid situations of abuse, but not to upload recorded images to social media.

The ruling made in a Pamplona Court recognises the right of a citizen to record the actions of the police to prevent or report abuse, but warns that uploading it to social networks may entail ‘an irregular use of images’ and ‘unjustified media exposure’ of the officers.

The Constitutional Court began to analyse a few months ago the use of recordings of police actions in the framework of the study of the Citizen Security Law, known as the ‘gag law,’ largely endorsed by the TC. This law sanctioned as a serious offence the ‘unauthorised’ use of data or images of officers that could endanger their security, that of protected facilities or the success of an operation, but later eliminated that ‘unauthorised’ subsection considering it contrary to the prohibition of prior censorship, contained in the Constitution.

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Physios For Alicante

HOSPITALS in Alicante have decided to get ahead of the game by hiring around 30 physiotherapists to deal with such complaints as acute respiratory dyspnoea, muscle weakness, fatigue and loss of motor capacity - all ailments that Spanish medics have seen an increase in post-Covid.

To deal with the surge in demand, Alcoy Hospital, Sant Joan d’Alacant and the Marina Baixa medical centre will increase by three physios, while Elda and Orihuela have hired five more. Alicante and Elche Generals have recruited seven and five new physiotherapists respectively.

€500 Low

Hopes raised

THE number of €500 notes in circulation was reported in January this year to be 17.98 million, the lowest since February 2002.

According to the Bank of Spain all the €500 notes in circulation in January amount to €8.9 billion, 1.4 per cent less than the previous month and 15.7 per cent less than a year earlier.

The European Central Bank agreed in May 2016 to stop producing €500 notes and they stopped being issued by the Bank of Spain in January 2019. However, they are still legal tender and will maintain their value indefinitely.

DESPITE the official regional gazette of Valencia stating on Friday February 26, that the use of masks would no longer be necessary if a distance of 1.5 metres could be main‐ tained, in the evening, the re‐ gional Health Department made it clear on Twitter that this had been a mistake.

SPAIN has said it will consider a ‘green corridor’ for vaccinated British tourists if there is no EU agreement on vaccination passports, the country’s tourism minister has said, as the European commission prepared to table a proposal for leaders later this month.

Fernando Valdés said his government would seek to find agreement on a common system among the 27 member states to allow tourism to restart. However, he said Madrid would probably open bilateral talks with non-EU countries if that failed.

Masks still mandatory The Health Department, with Ana Barcelo at the helm, announced that wearing a mask will not be optional,

even if 1.5 metres can be kept. Barcelo clarified that the use of masks will contin‐ ue to be mandatory in all sit‐ uations in which it was until now.

The only change would be that masks would no longer be mandatory for individual open‐air sports.

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Mercadona Bonuses Christian Women Demand Equality MERCADONA has said thank you to its staff by paying €409 million in bonuses.

From March 1, some €336 million will be distributed, af‐ ter €43 million was already paid out to staff in April “in recognition of the commitment and extraordinary effort shown during the beginning of the health crisis that the country is experiencing.”

Sharing profits is part of a pioneering new HR strategy, including a five‐day work week to ensure a good work‐life balance for employees.

Flexitarians’ Rise in Spain ACCORDING to a recent study by Bonduelle, the ‘flexitarian’ diet has gained weight in Spain as health-conscious Spaniards swap meat for veg.

The Radiography of Plant Nutrition study found trends moving towards ‘flexitarianism’ - that is, eating more plant products than meat, without giving it up completely. The num-

ber of people adopting this diet was up to 42 per cent compared with 24 per cent in March last year.

In the last two years, Spaniards increased the vegetable options in their diet by 14 per cent, with meat products, falling by 5 per cent. Thirty per cent of Spanish people admitted to having modified their diets since the beginning of the pandemic.

CHRISTIAN women across Spain and around the world are demanding equality within the church, and ‘Christian Women in the Church’ have called a demonstration on March 7, outside Granada’s Cathedral.

Spain is set to see a series of protests brought about by the ‘indignation and non-conformity in the face of the situation of invisibility’ which they feel Christian women experience worldwide.

The women hope to bring an end to the ‘exclusively male’ image of God, ‘Christian Women in the Church’ explained to Europa Press “we want a Church where

WOMEN: Want an end to the ‘male’ image of God. leadership is shared between women and men.”

March will see protest rallies in Granada, Madrid,

SINCE the beginning of the pandemic, the police in Spain have reported an increase in the number of pets being illegally imported and sold on to unsuspecting buyers.

According to the Foundation for Advice and Action in the Defence of Animals (FAADA), puppy and kitten mills, where animals are bred on an industrial scale and often in horrific conditions, are most often found in Eastern European countries and supply the

Sevilla, Barcelona, Bilbao, Gran Canarias, Santiago de Compostela, La Rioja and Valencia.

Puppy Problem entire Spanish market.

“Tragically, four out of five puppies transported to Spain die en route, yet the profit is still there, such is the difference in the cost to raise them with no regulation compared to puppies raised by ‘regulated’ breeders.”

NEWS

EU Speeds up Vaccine Drive ACCORDING to new re‐ search, the EU may be able to vaccinate 75 per cent of adults by the end of August, two months earlier than pre‐ viously thought.

New supply agreements and increased production has meant the EU may now be able to speed up their rollout, according to Lon‐ don‐based research firm Airfinity Ltd. Jacob F Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Insti‐ tute for International Eco‐ nomics, told one publication: “The onus in my opinion is on member states to prove that they can manage a rapidly ac‐ celerating roll out.”

Spain has already adjusted its vaccination programme in an effort to be able to roll out more doses, announcing they will only give one dose of vac‐ cines to those who have pre‐ viously had the virus.

Politicians are now calling on Spain’s central govern‐ ment to ensure enough vac‐ cines arrive.

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Unicaja And Liberbank Merger

BANKS MERGE: Agreement will now be reached.

UNICAJA BANCO and Liberbank will both hold their respective general shareholder’s meetings on March 31, during which they will approve the merger of the two entities, with the companies reporting this action to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) on February 25, a decisive step so that the operation can obtain their approval and become a reality.

Unicaja Banco will initially retain a 59.5 per cent share of the group resulting from the merger, with Liberbank retaining the remaining 40.5 per cent share, after the exchange equation that appears in the agreement reached at the end of December by the boards of directors of both entities, which will create the fifth-largest bank in Spain, with assets of €109,000 million.

Reading At A High NOT only has the number of people reading books increased in Spain since the be‐ ginning of the pandemic, but the figures have remained consistent even after con‐ finement ended. A report, by the Federation of Publishers Guilds of Spain (FGEE) and the Ministry of Culture, revealed that the number of people over the age of 14 who read in their spare time increased in 2020 and the number of frequent read‐ ers is on the rise. The time spent reading has increased to eight and a half hours compared with seven before quarantine.

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New energy labelling HOUSEHOLD appliances will now have new labels with a QR code providing more information.

As of March 1, the A +++, A ++ and A + labels that we were used until now will no longer exist, so instead of ranging from A+++ to D, the categories will range from A to G. Ovens, hoods and dryers will continue to be labelled in the pre‐ vious way.

Appliances can be sold with the

old label until November 30, 2021.

No product labelled with the new classification will, today, be at the top level of efficiency. In fact, a refrigerator previously list‐ ed as ‘A +++’ will correspond to a ‘C’ in the new labelling.

The new labels have been launched without any device clas‐ sified in class A, to allow room for improvement and the higher cate‐ gories are not saturated, like be‐ fore.

Electricity Bills Fall By 21 Per Cent

SPAIN’S electricity bills have fallen by an average of 21 per cent in February. According to Spain’s Or‐ ganisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), the average bill fell by 21 per cent from €70 to €55.

The OCU says the price of electric‐ ity fell for those who have a regulat‐ ed rate contract, and that the reduc‐ tion was explained by a “return to normality in energy prices, left be‐

hind by the strong rises in January coinciding with the storm.”

The OCU announced that, like the previous increases, this decrease will only benefit households with a regulated rate contract; roughly 40 per cent of all consumers.

For the rest of the consumers, their bill will depend on the type of contract they have with their ener‐ gy company.

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Bookings Soar By 90% WITH vaccination campaigns bringing closer the opening of borders, hotel chains such as Meliá Hotels International, have seen reservations sky‐ rocket for the summer season

by British tourists to around 90 per cent.

The de‐escalation announce‐ ment has strongly encouraged hotel reservations from the United Kingdom, which as of February 25 are well above those made on the same dates in 2020.

“The months with the high‐ est demand so far are Septem‐ ber, followed by August, Octo‐ ber, July, June and May, coinciding with the times when it is estimated that herd immu‐ nity will be expanded in Europe and normalising the situation,” added a source from Meliá.

This rise has also been seen in the airline sector, with air‐ lines such as easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair experiencing increases in ticket numbers of up to 600 per cent in some cases.

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NEWS

‘Baby Box’ Request

THE President of the Madrina Foundation has called for ‘Baby Boxes.’ With 40 babies aban‐ doned every year in Spanish hospitals, and teenage pregnan‐ cies on the rise, the foundation is asking for the measure, already

used in other countries, to be in‐ troduced in Spain.

Conrado Gimenez, told na‐ tional Spanish daily ABC that a lack of information for young girls faced with an unwanted pregnancy as well as pressure

Guernica Goodbye THE United Nations has removed the tapestry of Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ after 35 years hanging outside the Security Coun‐ cil meeting room at its headquarters in New York.

The reproduction work was requested back by its owner, the son of former US Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller.

A United Nations spokesperson said in a statement “We thank the Rockefeller family for having loaned this powerful and iconic work of art for more than 35 years.”

The tapestry, hung in 1985, was a reproduction made un‐ der the supervision of Picasso himself, and commissioned by the Rockefeller family after Picasso refused to sell them the original.

The original piece, painted in 1937 depicts the bombing of the Spanish city of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. It is considered one of the world’s most powerful anti‐war paintings and is on display at the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid.

from their family and their envi‐ ronment, may lead them to abandon a baby for lack of re‐ sources.

Current legislation requires identification when giving a ba‐ by up for adoption so that in the future that child can exercise the right to know who its mother is.

“The right to life of the babies must prevail over the right to know their biological mother,” said Gimenez.

The ‘Baby Box’ is a system of specially adapted cribs at hospi‐ tals, NGOs and foundations where instead of being aban‐ doned to die, a baby can be placed anonymously inside an incubator with sensors that set off a silent alarm when a baby is placed inside.

The emergency services are then alerted.

The Madrina Foundation 24h helpline, 914 490 690, and web‐ site ww.madrina.org/ayu da_SOS is there to help any mothers in a situation of crisis.

Pipper tackles poop offenders ACCORDING to a study car‐ City councils claim that ried out by ‘Pipper on Tour’ the difficulty lies in catch‐ based on official data from ing the offenders red‐hand‐ the capital cities of all ed either without baggies provinces, only 992 fines or failing to pick up drop‐ were issued for leaving dog pings. Malaga, the only excrement on the streets capital city which prose‐ throughout 2019. cutes offenders by Despite fines ranging analysing the DNA of the from €60 to €600 (€750 and droppings, issued 262 fines FINES: For not cleaning up. €1,500 in Madrid), on aver‐ in 2019. age councils give two fines Pipper the ‘influencer’ per month. Malaga and Huelva issue the dog has begun a campaign on social media most fines, while Albacete, Cuenca, Jaen, Lu‐ with the slogan ‘Let no one dirty our image’ go, Pontevedra, Tarragona, Teruel and Zamo‐ and the hashtags #YoCumplo and #NiUnaCa‐ ra did not fine anyone. caSinMulta.

Facebook Selling No Gifts Amazon Forest For Police

POLITICIANS throughout Britain took to social media on Friday, February 26 accusing Mark Zuckerberg’s company of facilitating the sale of large chunks of the Amazon forest, some the size of 1,000 football fields, through illegal adverts. The BBC broke the story when they discovered several ads on Facebook marketplace purporting to offer plots of the Brazilian rainforest for sale.

Facebook said it was “ready to work with local authorities,” but added that: “Our commerce policies require buyers and sellers to comply with laws and regulations.”

In this case, the ‘laws and regulations’ refer to the sellers’ need to have a land title to the property for sale, which of course they don’t have, as the forest is a protected area.

THE Valencian Police Headquar‐ ters has issued an internal state‐ ment prohibiting all officers from accepting gifts from private citi‐ zens or groups, after a video post‐ ed on social media shows two of‐ ficers accepting flowers from a member of one of the notorious ‘ultra’ groups. The person behind the demonstration at which police were given the bouquet is one of 28 members of fascist groups prosecuted for participating in at‐ tacks on a civic march on October

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March 8 Corona Victims Day POLITICAL party Vox wants March 8 to be declared the National Day for the Victims of Coronavirus. Vox chose this date to coincide with the day on which, they say, the government ‘encouraged’ participation in feminist demonstrations ‘for the sole purpose of fulfilling its ideological agenda’ and ‘ignoring’ the health of the Spanish people.

The proposal to declare March 8, International Women’s Day, the National Day for the Victims of Coronavirus,

was announced by the spokesman for the Vox Political Action Committee, Jorge Buxade, and will be taken by the party to Congress, the Senate and all the regional and municipal institutions in which it has representation.

He insisted that his proposal ‘echoes’ the ‘general feeling’ of the Spanish people regarding the fact that on March 8, 2020, ‘participation in the events was allowed and encouraged’ by the government.

Non-EU travel ban SPAIN’S central government has extended a ban on non-essential travel to countries outside the EU until March 31.

The announcement, which will see non-essential trips to outside the EU banned for another month, also sees current controls over the border between Spain and Portugal will also be extended until March 16.

In other parts of the country, Andalucia has extended restrictions on mobility between provinces and on opening hours of commercial and hospitality sectors until March 5.

NEWS

Juan Carlos Pays His Bill FORMER Spanish King Juan Carlos, who fled the country in August 2020 and went into self-imposed exile amid a raft of tax scandals, has paid close to €4.4 million to Spain’s tax authorities in a bid to settle his undeclared income. According to officials, the disgraced former monarch reportedly paid €678,000 in interest and fines back in December.

According to his lawyer, the latest tax bill is for “several travel expenses and other services” related to Zagatka, a Liechtenstein-based private foundation owned by the former king’s cousin, Alvaro de Orleans.

While Juan Carlos continues to be investigated by the Spanish and Swiss authorities, under Spanish law, if he pays back what is owed he will be exonerated of any crime.

Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 in favour of his son, King Felipe, who is Spain’s current monarch, and has been residing in the United Arab Emirates ever since.

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NEWS

Fake PCR investigation Vaccination Passport

POLICE are investigating two travel agencies which allegedly falsified negative PCR tests for clients who wanted to travel.

Twenty-seven clients and the owner of the agency in Mataro are under investigation and the three managers of the agency in Santa Coloma de Gramenet

have been arrested.

Mataro police station received a call from a person who had wanted to book a trip through the agency saying he was offered a false certificate of negative PCR for €85. Police uncovered 15 falsified documents ready for travel in March.

In Santa Coloma, emergency services received reports of an agency doing the same thing.

Commissioner Joan Carles Molinero said that so far this year 85 scams have been detected, 54 in January and 31 in February, mainly involving medical centres and care homes for the elderly.

‘Romance Scam’

POLICE have arrested two wom‐ en and one man for running an online dating scam posing as wealthy singletons and targeting victims on dating apps such as Tinder or other networking sites.

The Guardia Civil of Lliria appre‐ hended the scammers in Alicante, who had pocketed an astonishing €72,000 from victims.

The Technological Crimes team found the scammers posed as se‐ nior executives in large multi‐na‐ tional organisations and spent months building relationships to ensure compliance. Just as they were scheduled to fly to Spain to meet their new online partner, they would fake an emergency, and ask their victim for money.

Will Soon Be Reality

ANGELA MERKEL, the Ger‐ man Chancellor, spoke follow‐ ing a virtual meeting of the 27 UE state’s leaders, of the unanimous agreement to de‐ velop a system to allow move‐ ment throughout member states.

Ms Merkel also stated that annual flu‐like vaccination might be necessary, “Due to the mutations, we may have to spend many years in the sit‐ uation of having to vaccinate over and over again against the coronavirus as we know about the flu.”

She said that all 27 member states had been experiment‐ ing with prototypes for a vac‐ cine passport and that it had been agreed they should all devise a single system “for the summer, that could make travel within the European Union possible.”

The European Commission will define the technical condi‐ tions for this system, expected

to be operational ‘in the coming months’ and ‘for the summer.’

President Macron of France called for “unity and coordina‐ tion,” saying “We must pre‐ vent each country from devel‐ oping its own system,” stressing there are “legal and

ethical issues” in implement‐ ing, without violating the rights of citizens, and that by summer, young people will not yet be vaccinated, so the vaccination certificate “should not be a condition” to be able to travel.

A lot Of Bull THE Spanish Supreme Court ruled against professional bull‐ fighter Miguel Ángel Perera on when he attempted to regis‐ ter one of his performances as copyright intellectual proper‐ ty. Mr Ángel Perera wanted to immortalise his kill of 539kg bull Curioso back in 2014, claiming that if bullfighting is con‐ sidered an art, then his performance, for which he received the defeated animal’s ears, should be registered as an origi‐ nal artistic creation.

The court found that bullfighting is too difficult to precisely or objectively define, despite the fact that the spectacle no doubt wows and excites thousands of people. The judge felt that it was impossible to determine if the particular moves and manoeuvres used by the matador in that performance were, in fact, original.

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Cabify joins WiBLE SPANISH App Cabify has come to an agreement to of‐ fer the car‐sharing services of WiBLE on their platform.

WiBLE’s fleet of hybrid cars in Madrid will be available to users of Cabify in a per‐ minute rental system.

WiBLE hope the partner‐ ship will help reduce the use of private vehicles and free space on the roads. Cabify already has the option of electric scooters and motor‐ bikes through App MOVO, bikes via subscription ser‐ vice Bive, and parcel deliv‐ ery services.

Face masks in the car

WHEN people jump in the car they are eager to remove their masks.

But, depending on who is with you, this could lead to a fine from the police or Guardia Civil for not complying with the rules.

If all the vehicle’s occupants do not live together, masks must be worn, with a possible fine of up to €100 if caught disobeying.

Children under six years old are exempt from mask wearing either in private or public spaces, this also applies to anyone who has a medical exemption.

Fines can also be given if your removed mask is blocking driv‐ ing visibility.

2% Refusal of vaccine

THE Health Ministry has announced that so far only 2 per cent of Spaniards offered the Covid‐19 vaccine have refused to take it, including people unable to have it for medical reasons.

According to senior health official Silvia Calzon, the data being seen is really positive said, “This demonstrates the acceptance and confidence the whole of Spanish society has in vaccination.”

So far in Spain 1.2 million people have received both doses of the vac‐ cine. As of February 24, 2.1 million people from priority groups including frontline medics, over 80s and nursing home residents and staff had re‐ ceived their first dose of the vaccine.

Also only around 45,000 people had refused to be vaccinated.

500 demo limit

THE government will only allow fewer than 500 people for March 8 feminist movements and have given instructions for any protest with a forecast greater than 500 attendees to be dis‐ missed.

Current criteria established by the Ministry of Health, set 500 people who meet the health re‐ quirements as the maximum admissible for any rally.

In an interview on Onda Cero, government delegate in the Community of Madrid, Jose Manuel Franco, said, that so far, the requests re‐ ceived have been authorised because they met with the requirements. If there are proposals of more than 500 people for feminist marches on March 8, they will be asked to reflect and find other ways to demonstrate.

In 2019, March 8 concentrations reached

Protests of no more than 500. about 375,000 people, a record for Spain.

Despite the pandemic looming, around 120,000 took to the streets in 2020, just five days before the State of Alarm was officially declared throughout the country.

Police Reject AstraZeneca

ACCORDING to media re‐ ports, the Confederation of Lo‐ cal and Autonomous Security has asked the government to stop giving the vaccine to Lo‐ cal Police, claiming the jab is less effective than others and that it causes side effects.

The organisation, represent‐

ing more than 100,000 local and regional police in Spain, are following the lead of the French, who discontinued use of the vaccine to police and health workers following re‐ ports of side effects.

Police claim the jab can cause strong flu symptoms, as

well as headaches and high fevers.

The Generalitat of Catalonia recently began to administer the AstraZeneca to the Mossos de Escuadra and claim their officers are reporting side effects similar to those in France.

NEWS

€15 million fine for Spain SPAIN has been fined €15 mil‐ lion by the European Commis‐ sion (EC) for failing to incorpo‐ rate the data protection directive into law by two sep‐ arate deadlines, in May 2018 and March 2019.

Additionally, the govern‐ ment will be forced to pay €89,000 for each additional day the Spanish law isn’t amended to reflect the Euro‐ pean directive.

The Spanish Government argued that “very exceptional institutional circumstances” made it impossible to write the new rules into law as at the time, they were only deal‐ ing with day‐to‐day matters as they waited for the new government to be formed.

However, the EC didn’t ac‐ cept the excuse and insisted that the heavy daily sanctions reflect “the seriousness and duration of the infringe‐ ment.”

“By the judgement on Thursday, February 25, the court declares that Spain has failed to fulfil its obligations,” the court stated.

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Waiting for Millions BAR WAITER: Could face eight years in prison.

A 95-YEAR-OLD woman left €1.5 million to a waiter who now stands accused of getting the elderly woman to sign a will naming him heir, just two weeks before being declared mentally incapable.

Accused Julio CV claims he had a close relationship with the woman who breakfasted at the bar where he worked every day. He also says that her niece; heir before the will was changed, had “abandoned” her elderly aunt. The elderly woman had reportedly treated him like a son and given him expensive gifts.

Her niece claims that her aunt had Alzheimer’s and advanced primary degenerative dementia which annulled her capacity to properly manage her assets. The niece’s lawyer noted that 12 days after the will was signed, the woman entered a care home and shortly after had a psychotic break.

If found guilty, the waiter could face up to eight years in prison and a fine to be paid over 24 months.

Freezing Freedive

A CZECH freediver has broken the existing world record by swimming below a solid sheet of ice for an amazing 81 metres, wearing noth‐ ing but goggles and swimming trunks and whilst holding his breath for well over two minutes.

Swimming underwater.

David Vencl, lasted for two min‐ utes and 42 seconds beneath the icy lake in the village of Lahost with water at a numbing 3 Celsius.

Speaking afterwards David said, “It was faster than I expected.”

Due to coronavirus restrictions the location had been altered as originally the plans involved a glacial lake in Austria.

The previous world record had been set by Denmark’s Stig Avall Severinsen in 2017 where he swam for 76.2 metres.

Pizza tracking

THE Supreme Court in Spain has confirmed the National Court ruling which established that Telepizza delivery staff are not obliged to use their own mobile phone, as it is a breach of their rights. The Telepiz‐ za Tracker project forced delivery staff to provide a personal mobile phone with an internet connection to facilitate their geolocation while delivering.

An appeal was filed against the National Court ruling which the Supreme Court declared null as the project violated the privacy rights of workers, as claimed in the dispute filed by the unions CC OO and UGT. Telepizza argued that the system simply allowed clients to know the location of their order in real time. But had also said that if the ge‐ olocation system was not working, staff would be given a deadline to repair it or lose their job.

NEWS

Lidl Email Scam

THE National Police have warned of the latest scam whereby fraudsters pose as Lidl representatives in order to swindle personal details out of them. Cybercriminals tell victims they are entitled to the much‐coveted Mon‐ sieur Cuisine food processor for reward points and to claim the prize, they must complete a form with per‐ sonal details, including bank account numbers; after pay‐ ing a €2 charge, victims re‐ ceive an error message, at which point the scammers have access to all their most private information.

Police have pointed out a couple of clues which alert to the phishing scam. Firstly, the subject of the email appears as ‘[Notification] ‐ Appoint‐ ment 02/19/2021: Recipient’s name.’ Officials also say that poor grammar and mis‐ spellings should be a dead giveaway. Lastly, the emails address the person generically rather than by name, a detail that a real Lidl representative would have access to.

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Processionary threat Flight Ban Hairy and dangerous.

THAUMETOPOEA PITYOCAMPA caterpillars have already started to appear and the National Association of E nvironmental Health Companies A N E C PLA warns that there will be more than ever.

R estrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic led to many usual treatments carried out to prevent the appearance of the caterpillars being suspended, and restrictions on products used to control the caterpillars.

The caterpillars are covered in hairs which are extremely poisonous to animals. Minimal contact can cause dermatitis, eye lesions, hives and allergic reactions to histamine.

Symptoms in dogs include swelling of the muzzle and head, intense itching and excessive drooling. If they eat one, the poison can cause necrosis resulting in death.

Be extremely cautious in areas with pine trees and if you suspect your pet has come in contact with a processionary caterpillar, get them to the vet immediately.

Do not touch the caterpillars yourself and be especially careful that children do not touch them.

Extended

THE Spanish government announced another travel ban extension for travellers from the UK - moving it from March 2 until at least March 16. The extension of restrictions also covers Brazil and South Africa - with passengers on flights from Brazil and the Republic of South Africa having to undergo a 10-day quarantine in Spain.

Flights from any airport located in the United Kingdom to any air-

port located in Spain, with or without intermediate stops, may only be carried out in the case of aircraft that carry exclusively Spanish or Andorran nationals, or residents in Spain or Andorra. However, a negative PCR test or similar carried out within 72 hours prior to arrival is also required.

This is the fifth time that Spain has extended its restrictions on arrivals from Britain.

Women More Compliant A RECENT survey by the Data Science for Covid‐19 working group of the Generalitat Valenciana, has revealed that women have suffered the greatest psychological impact from the pan‐ demic but also, are better at complying with the restrictions.

The study revealed that 90 per cent of women regularly disin‐ fect their hands compared with 85 per cent of men, and a high‐ er percentage of females admit to adhering to mask‐wearing rules, avoiding group gatherings and limiting close contacts than their male counterparts. The longitudinal study was almost a year long with more than half a million participants.

Men outdid women in only two areas: their willingness to be vaccinated (76 per cent versus 73 per cent) and installing a Covid tracking app (38 per cent as opposed to 32 per cent).

NEWS

Documents Network Dismantled THE National Police has dismantled a network op‐ erating in the Malaga and Cadiz provinces, that was offering foreign citizens residence and work per‐ mits in exchange for mon‐ ey, issuing them with fake contracts and documents.

Investigations by the Unit Against Illegal and False Immigration Net‐ works (Ucrif), discovered the existence of a perfectly structured organisation made up of at least five people, three of whom were lawyers.

A statement from the National Police, said that the network charged the immigrants amounts rang‐ ing from €2,000 up to €4,500.

Seven people were ar‐ rested, the investigation continues and police say they are not ruling out new arrests.

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NEWS

Creative Superhero Inspires Pandemic

AN inspirational, nine year-old Spanish boy Gonzalo Zafra, came up with a creative idea to improve the quality of life for people with hearing impairments.

The idea to integrate an ‘Assistant’ into his cochlear implant - which transforms acoustic signals into electronic signals, was a winner at the MED-EL international competi-

tion ‘Ideas to Listen,’ staged to mark International Cochlear Implant Day, celebrated on February 25.

“Just as Iron Man has JARVIS, his assistant with artificial intelligence, I would like to have RONDIS, an assistant integrated into my RONDO 2,” he said.

“Some examples of what he could do would be to tell me

the weather in the morning, remind me what I have to do according to my calendar, receive messages directly from my parents or control the volume based on ambient noise,” explained Gonzalo.

At birth, Gonzalo was diagnosed with severe hearing loss deep in the left ear and finally had to have an implant.

Endesa Mercadona Profits Up Lowers Prices

SPANISH electricity company Endesa multiplied its profits by more than eight in 2020, up to €1.39 billion. The net profit of the company in 2020 was a rise of 715.2 per cent compared to the €171 million profit of 2019, despite a report‐ ed deterioration of assets generation in non‐peninsular territories of €253 mil‐ lion.

Endesa’s CEO, Jose Bogas, said the group has achieved “a solid operational and financial performance in a year that has been full of challenges at all levels derived from the impact of the pan‐ demic.”

MERCADONA is to lower its prices and rules out a price war with competitors such as Aldi and Lidl.

The Coronavirus saw cost increases on lots of everyday items due to logistical issues with many supermarkets stopping any promotions or offers for months, but now food prices are start‐ ing to fall. Market leader Mercadona say their reductions will be between 10 and 25 per cent particularly in the areas of fresh food such as vegetables, fish and meat and explained “always Low Prices is our strategy to have competitive prices without en‐ tering into promotional battles or aggressive offers, which in the medium term do not benefit the sector.”

Florencio García, Retail Director at Kantar is predicting that some supermarkets will be entering into price wars in the com‐ ing weeks

Ninis

Not studying or working.

ACCORDING to Spanish daily ABC, the percentage of youths between 15 and 29 years old who are neither studying nor working rose to 17.3 per cent in 2020, 2.4 points higher than the previous year and is the first rise in seven years The percentage of what in Spanish is known as ‘ninis’ (ni es‐ tudian ni trabajan) is calculated based on data from the Active Population Survey, published by the Ministry of Education with information from the National Institute of Statistics.

The Ministry has said that this has broken with the downward trend seen since 2013, when the percentage reached its highest at 22.5 per cent. They blame the pandemic for this rise.

White Lion to be seen soon THE first white lion in Spain to be born in cap‐ tivity, free of diseases was born at the Mundo Park, Sevilla on February 5.

He now weighs almost three and a half kilos and will continue to be artifi‐ cially fed until he is three months old.

A white lion previously born in captivity had hy‐ drocephalus and died af‐ ter a month.

The Mundo Park ani‐ mal centre in Guillena, Sevilla reported that the cub will soon be officially presented, following checks by vets which con‐ firmed that he is healthy.

He will be named the White King and once he reaches three months old he will live with his par‐ ents in an area where he can be seen by the pub‐ lic.

NEWS

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ATMs for The Community IN a bid to fight financial exclusion, customers of eight small and medium banks will be able to use Euronet ATMs. Customers of Bankinter, EVO Banco and Grupo Cajamar will soon be able to use ATMs

Arabic In Classrooms THE Ministry of Education is working in collabo‐ ration with the UK, France, Morocco and Portu‐ gal to promote language programmes, one of which is based around the Arabic language and Moroccan culture.

Minister of Education Isabel Celaá has been criticised for the new Language Programmes af‐ ter the controversial ‘Celaá Law’ was approved last November, for promoting foreign languages when the new law removes the reference to Spanish as a vehicular language in education.

Ms Celaá pointed out that “more than 60,000 students benefit each year from one of the four national language programmes” across Spain.

Currently, Arabic is taught in 354 Primary and Secondary schools in 11 autonomous communi‐ ties and more than 7,100 students participate.

Although aimed at Moroccan students ‐ and funded by the Government of Morocco through the Hassan II Foundation, the Ministry of Educa‐ tion points out that it is open ‘to those interest‐ ed in learning the Arab culture and language.’

throughout Spain managed by Euronet. A further five financial entities signed the agreement: Triodos Bank, Grupo Caja Rural/Banco Cooperativo, Eurocaja Rural, Laboral Kutxa and Caixa Guissona.

The ‘ATMs for the community’ initiative will see ATMs installed in rural areas already facing ‘financial exclusion,’ which worsened during the pandemic, as many Spanish banks were forced to close branches According to the Bank of Spain the number of ATMs has been falling, especially during the pandemic. Spain had just under 50,000 ATMs at the end of the third quarter of 2020.

Roller-Blade Armed Police THE Pakistan city of Karachi, is set for the deployment of rollerblading armed police. The armed unit will patrol Pakistan’s largest city, armed with Glock pistols in a bid to combat crime and beat harassment.

The 20 cops undertook rigorous training on their skates to keep up with thieves in the city’s streets. It is also hoped that they will also chase motorcycles.

Pakistan is not the only country to use rollerblading cops as in Paris they have been patrolling the city for around 20 years and tourists are eager to see them and grab a few selfies.

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Meatless Menu Meltdown Too ‘Fat’ For Jab

THE city council of Lyon in France has decided to take meat off the menu at local schools.

But the measure, which does not affect fish or eggs, has unleashed a political battle.

Minister of Agriculture, Julien Denormandie, tweeted “Let’s stop putting ideology on our chil-

dren’s plates!” He added “Let’s give them what they need to grow well. Meat is part of that.”

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted “In addition to the unacceptable insult to French farmers and butchers, it is clear that the moralistic and elitist politics of the Greens exclude the

working classes. Many children often only have the chance to eat meat within their school lunches.”

The reason, according to Mayor Gregory Doucet and Lyon Council, is the need to speed up service and meal shifts in canteens during the pandemic and also keep safe social distancing.

THE controversial results of a new Italian study sug‐ gest that overweight and obese people may not be as well protected by the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.

The research on overweight healthcare workers, found that they produced around half the amount of antibodies as people of a ‘healthy’ weight.

The research is yet to be peer reviewed, and many other Covid experts have claimed that the numbers look ‘suspiciously high’ and that the study may not have used a large enough sample of people.

The 248 participants were vaccinated with two doses of the jab at Rome’s Istituti Fisioterapici Ospi‐ talieri and their antibody levels after seven days showed that people in the ‘normal’ weight range had a blood antibody concentration of 325.8 com‐ pared with 167.1 for those in the overweight catego‐ ry.

Patient Portal

QUIRÓNSALUD’S patient portal exceeded three million users following the release of new features during the coronavirus pandemic.

So far during the pandemic the application has been used over four million times. Hundreds of thousands of appointments have been scheduled and hundreds of thousands of digital consultations carried out. Avoiding the need for users to physically attend a hospital. The app has also seen nearly two million medical records downloaded too. Users can access their medical history, see diagnostic results from tests, book and modify appointments and keep in touch with their specialists. All without having to leave home.

NEWS

‘No Time To Die’ THE release date of the latest James Bond film, ‘No Time To Die,’ has reportedly been brought forward after the announcement about the ease of UK lockdown restrictions.

Originally scheduled to be premiered in April 2020, the release was postponed until October 2021.

But, Digital Cinema Media’s Content Business Director, Tom Linay said in a recent tweet, “It looks like No Time To Die is now released on September 30 in the UK. #JamesBond.”

A number of high-profile names have been touted as the next Bond, including Idris Elba, James Norton, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Hardy, Sam Heughan, and Bridgerton star RegéJean Page.

Festival go ahead for August READING AND LEEDS FESTIVAL 2021, scheduled to take place from August 27 to 29, is now expect‐ ed to go ahead following the UK Government’s roadmap announcement.

“Following the government’s recent announce‐ ment, we can’t wait to get back to the fields this summer, LET’S GO!” tweeted organisers.

Tickets have been on sale since last summer, de‐ spite organisers not knowing for sure whether or

not it would go ahead. But following Boris John‐ son’s announcement on February 22, where he said he hopes to lift all Covid restrictions by the end of June, organisers are once again advertising tick‐ ets. Headline acts confirmed include Stormzy, Dis‐ closure, Liam Gallagher and Catfish and the Bottle‐ men, with ‘many more’ still to be announced.

Meanwhile, Glastonbury Festival has confirmed it will not be going ahead in June.

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EUROPEAN NIBS

EUROPEAN PRESS

DENMARK

FRANCE

Crafty perk

Diplomatic fallout

GPs in Denmark have worked out if they send an email to patients advising that they have tested negative for coronavirus, (even though they will have received the results days earlier) surgeries can make money. So far, this practice has cost taxpayers Kr23.4m (€3.146 m.

NETHERLANDS Illegal tests

AN investigative website Investico has revealed many Dutch companies are illegally testing East European workers for alcohol and drug use even though just drivers and those in charge of public transport may be tested and only by a doctor with results kept confidential.

BELGIUM Mask fear

FOUNDED in 1992 as a symbol of Franco Turkish cooperation, Istanbul’s Galatasaray University appears to have been hit by the fall out between Turkish President Erdogan and Emmanuel Macron. Now six French professors have not had their work permits renewed and are likely to be expelled.

NORWAY Eurovision snack

MUSIC critic Anders Grønneberg said that he would eat one of singer TIX’s headbands if he won the nomination to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest and true to his word, despite refusing to apologise for criticism he ate the headband served in a crepe on TV.

FINLAND

A LEAKED report from Sciensano, the Belgian Institute for Public Health suggests that the 15 million fabric face masks given to pharmacists by the Belgian government in 2020 could be unsafe as they may contain nanoparticles of silver and titanium dioxide that when inhaled could be dangerous.

Green snow

GERMANY

SWEDEN

Bikini ban

Dirty rat

TWO German beach volleyball stars Karla Borger and Julia Sude have announced they will not compete in an international tournament in Doha, Qatar as they have been told they can’t wear bikinis by the International Volleyball Federation, not the Qatari Government.

WITH heavy snowfalls around the country, there is significant work and cost for the Finnish Government in clearing snow in urban areas with an added environmental cost when it is transported out of town so a new green snow melting device is now being tested.

THE city of Gothenburg has a rat problem and will be trialling 50 new rubbish bins which don’t have side openings (placed there to stop fly posters) to make access more difficult and will also be placing 14 electronic traps within the sewer system.

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FEATURE

International Women’s Day

Strong Women in Business HERE at the Euro Weekly News we like to champion strong women, and with International Women’s Day fast approaching we thought it was the perfect time to put the focus on five of the women in business we know best from across Spain. Each in charge of their own seriously successful company, we wanted to find out how they have led their businesses through the pandemic, learn a little bit more about what makes them successful, as well as taking the chance to hear their most inspiring advice for any other women thinking of starting their own business.

Corinne Green from Estepona Furniture World, Costa del Sol

Heidi Jungreuthmayer and wife Sam Lewins from Black Flame, Costa Blanca North

You have been in business on the Costa del Sol for years. How did it all start out?

We are a family business which started about 25 years ago, but not always with the same name. We’ve now been trading as Estepona Furniture World for 15 years in the industrial estate.

We started out mainly with flooring and carpets and now we sell everything for the home.

You have expanded a lot over the years then, how did that come about?

We started off with something we knew about already and then we expanded and learned as we went along. We began with flooring but we began to see the need for everything else for the home and we have just progressed from there.

It is all trial and error, but if you offer a good service people will always be happy and we offer a complete service. A lot of is also down to your staff and how good they are with customers. A good percentage of our staff have been here for 15 years and they feel dedicated, which really helps.

And how has the pandemic affected your business?

We are now doing a lot more digitally whereas in the past the majority of business was face to face.

We have had to change the way we work a bit and are now offering an online store as well.

You know how to keep a successful business running in the long-term, what advice do you have for someone just starting out?

Do the research well from the beginning for the product and location.

It is difficult but also try to start from scratch correctly with all your paperwork. It also really helps to either learn the language or work with someone who speaks good English and Spanish.

You own two large restaurants, how did you get started?

We started 30-odd years ago with Monroes in Moraira, which was owned by my dad. Then about 15 years ago I bought a place in Pedreguer, which we also called Monroes.

When Sam and I got together we did up the Pedreguer restaurant, updating it to a modern look and changing the name to Black Flame. When my father sadly died last November and we took over Monroe’s in Moraira we thought the best way forward was to do a similar thing as we did in Pedreguer and update the place, and we are now reopening as The Winchester.

It sounds like you have updated and expanded a lot since you started out then, tell us more!

The businesses had both been themed restaurants, but we thought it was time for a revamp. We know it’s important to keep our existing customers happy, but we also want to attract new ones and it has worked really well.

And how has the pandemic affected the businesses?

We noticed fewer tourists last year but we do have a lot of locals so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and we have found people have always got money for a beer or a drink.

We also offer takeaways and we’ve noticed they’ve been a lot busier than in previous years.

It sounds like you are an expert at keeping a business successful over many years, do you have any tips for anyone just starting out?

The benefits of owning a business are making money and choosing your own hours, but you also have the responsibility to deal with everything when things are bad. So I would say to think about it carefully before you start a business and be prepared to work hard, because you get what you work for.

Emma Mennie from Premier Removals, Costa Blanca South You run a large removals company, how did that start out?

My parents first started the business about 16 years ago. When they set up after moving to Spain I was based in England, and for the first few years I was working with them driving lorries from the age of 21.

I eventually moved to Spain two years ago and took over the business. Now we have three lorries in Spain, two in the UK and a fleet of other vehicles, mainly carrying out removals from England to Spain, as well as in Portugal and France.

And how has the pandemic affected business?

We traded the whole way through the pandemic, sticking to all the laws and disinfecting everything.

We thought the pandemic might have slowed things down, but we haven’t noticed any change and we’re actually getting busier at the moment, doing 11 or 12 hour shifts.

Has it changed the way you work at all?

I do more video moves now, calling clients from their house, and going round with them to make sure they’ve got everything they need.

The estate agent always stays for the first part of the meeting and a lot of agents recommend us. We then take everything to the warehouse and pack everything up.

When things like this happen in the world it’s the time to pull together, so we’ve also been helping other traders out to try to keep everyone in business.

You sound like you have a real enthusiasm for being in business, do you have any advice for other women thinking of starting their own company?

For me the most successful businesses are the ones that involve something you love, that you’re passionate about.

I love driving lorries and meeting people and helping. We’re part of peoples’ dreams of moving their families and when they get to their homes they are so excited.

Linda Rowe from Second Time Around Shop, Axarquia You have owned and run very successful businesses in Spain for many years, tell us about your current shop After many years running British food store Arkwrights, when we sold we didn’t think of starting another shop, but when we sold in October by June we had another business! Now we have the Second Time Around Shop and people bring second-hand items which we sell on a commission basis. We believe everything deserves a second chance!

It sounds like you are experts in running a shop, how did it all start?

We started off small at farmers’ markets selling English food and within two years we had a large premises, it was quite an achievement.

We already had a large customer following from the markets and people had been asking us for a while to open a shop.

We began to outgrow our properties and we eventually opened a large shop in Puente de Don Manuel. When we first opened you could have had a party in the aisles, but it didn’t take us long to fill it.

Now at the Second Time Around shop people still come from Torrox and Nerja to give us things because they know us, and people still call me ‘Mrs Arkwright’ when they see me in the street.

What do you think helped your businesses grow?

I’ve always advertised heavily and when I overheard someone mentioning Arkwrights on the plane once I knew we’d cracked it.

We have also always made our businesses all about the customer. We treat our current business the same way as Arkwrights, we’re here to help people. If we’re closing at 2pm and people are going to be late, we stay open. That’s part of being a small shop.

And how has the pandemic affected business?

We have found we are working a lot of hours now still, but not as many as with the previous shop.

You obviously love being in business, what words of wisdom do you have for anyone else starting their own venture?

Think of your customer first, and look after the little customer as much as the big one. I also believe you should put people before money.

Mary Willoughby from Darrmar Demolition & Waste Removal and Darrmar Storage, Mallorca Tell us a little bit about your business, how did it start?

There are two parts to the business and I run them alongside my husband, Darren.

One area is our demolition and waste removal, which we have been doing for about 12 years now. My responsibility is to operate all the financials and make sure the guys have got the right health and safety equipment and licences.

The second part of the business is one I actively manage, a storage company that I’ve been running for four years with a second-hand shop at the front.

It sounds like you have expanded a lot since you started, what do you think the key is to your success?

When we started 12 years ago it was just my husband and one other man, but as we have become well-known on the island we were able to expand. Any money we’ve made we have put straight back into the business, buying things like more vans, more tools, more machinery; so we were able to expand.

The pandemic has been tough on many businesses, how did you make sure Darrmar continued to be a success?

Over the last year we did have a flow of work coming in but it wasn’t like the year before. That just meant we diversified to find other things to keep us busy though, and when we have periods where there’s not so much work our boys are busy chopping up trees from land clearance jobs ready to sell as firewood. We’re really grateful and happy that we’ve been able to survive. It hasn’t been easy but by careful planning and hard work we’ve been able to.

You have obviously built two very successful businesses. Do you have any words of wisdom for any readers thinking of starting their own venture?

I think if people have found something that could take off it’s a good time to take it forward, and if you’ve got a good product I think it’s going to be time for it to fly.

FINANCE BUSINESS EXTRA Stamp duty BUYERS and sellers of homes in the UK will hope that a report in The Times which suggests that the suspension of stamp duty on the sale of some property will be extended from the end of March to the end of June allowing savings of up to almost £15,000 (€16,500) is correct.

Social security THERE may be some good news for the self-employed in Spain as the government is considering allowing a more flexible range of contributions to Social Security rather than the high set monthly amount, often in excess of €300.

Any shortfalls would be addressed at the end of the year.

Huge loss IAG which owns a number of airlines including British Airways and Iberia saw a dramatic drop in business revenue in 2020, as it announced that sales were down by €7.8 billion compared to 2019 and losses amount to €6.9 billion with the only bright spot being the increase in cargo flight income.

28

STAT OF WEEK

www.euroweeklynews.com • 4 - 10 March 2021

€40 million

is the amount that fantasy football platform Sorare has raised with investments from Barcelona footballer Antoine Griezmann and the co-founder of Reddit.

Primark £1.1bn drop in sales THE Irish based Primark company which has more than 320 stores around the world has an‐ nounced that it expects to have lost £1.1 billion (€1.21 billion) in 2020 sales.

The closure of its UK stores (where it has the largest presence) due to the lockdown and the pandemic is the primary cause of the loss and the fact that it has no online presence.

So, when it reopens its 153 stores in England on April 12 and Scotland April 26 if all goes well, it will be offering last year’s stock, with an es‐ timated value of at least £400 million (€440 mil‐ lion) to its customers.

With fashion being so fickle, it may well be that it will have to make reductions on its already low‐priced clothes to persuade customers to purchase.

LEGALLY SPEAKING

The lack of any online options is explained by the fact that the costs of starting up from scratch would be so high that the company would have to increase its prices, but as price is one of its most important selling points, this is a non‐ starter.

Happily, for owners As‐ sociated British Foods which is one of the largest manufacturers of sugar and baker’s yeast in the

world, the lockdown has seen sales of its grocery brands which include Kingsmill Bread, Twinings Tea and Ryvita grow so it can afford to weather the financial storm.

In the Republic of Ire‐ land, where the clothing division was first set up, it is known as Penneys, but had to change the name for overseas use due to the rights of American store group J C Penney.

Bank of Spain warns EU

Can they prohibit pets?

I live on a complex of 24 villas. The com‐ munity statutes state that if any owners let their property the tenants are not al‐ lowed to keep pet animals. One owner says he will let to tenants with two dogs and there is nothing the community or administrators can do about it.

Is this correct in law?

C J (by email) Bank of Spain Governor Pablo Hernández de Cos.

Fewer mortgages THE pandemic has clearly had a negative effect on property sales in Spain as according to the National Institute of Statistics, the number of mortgages granted in 2020 decreased by 7.6 per cent at 333,721 which is the lowest figure since 2017, although the average value of each mortgage increased.

Dia supermarkets THINGS are beginning to look up for troubled Spanish supermarket Dia which is owned by a Russian investor through holdings in Luxembourg as losses were halved in 2020. Despite closing 457 across its operations in Argentina, Brazil, Portugal and Spain, it increased sales by 0.2 per cent to €6.882 billion and losses dropped by 7.54 per cent to €363.8 million.

Even devaluation in Argentina and Brazil didn’t really hurt income and online sales have shown a growth benefiting also from its arrangement with Santander Bank to accept the Bizum payment App online.

The own‐ er is basi‐ cally correct when YOU AND THE LAW he says that the IN SPAIN community can do nothing about keeping pets in the house. Even if it appears in the original statutes or in community rules, the prohibition of keeping of pets in the house or apartment is regarded as a breach of property rights. However, their activity once outdoors can be regulated. This would be the use of community gar‐ dens or pathways for example. Even if a pet remains in the private garden of the villa behind a fence it might bark incessantly or approach the fence in a threatening manner and this behaviour can be cen‐ sured. The question then becomes how, in practical terms, can you put any punishment into effect?

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.

SEVILLA water company Emasesa is running a pilot project to generate clean energy using the juice from some of the 50,000 orange trees growing in the streets of the city.

It is forecast that this year’s harvest will be 5.7 million kilos which is an increase of more than 35 per cent over last sea-

THE Governor of the Bank of Spain, Pablo Hernández de Cos has said that the Euro‐ pean Union needs to take ac‐ tion now to be alert to the fi‐ nancial risks across the EU due to the Covid‐19 pan‐ demic.

He suggests that some form of deposit guarantee fund should be created as banks across the 27 member states are likely to see signifi‐ cant bad debts from individ‐ uals and companies due to the lack of earnings in 2020.

In addition, he advises commercial banks to pre‐ pare by cutting costs, be‐ coming more efficient and increasing their use of new

technology as Europe emerges from the restraints of the pandemic.

Many banks have taken sensible precautions by mak‐ ing provisions in their ac‐ counts for larger than fore‐ cast bad debts and Spain in particular has taken this on board having experienced and learnt from its serious fi‐ nancial difficulties caused by the last financial crisis.

He and other analysts think it unlikely that the Spanish economy will really start to recover until 2022 and the tourism sector which is so important to Spain will need to get back into gear before recovery takes off.

Oranges generate energy son and disposing of the fruit which drops on pavements all over Sevilla is a problem.

Now, the water company is continuing an experiment whereby some of these bitter oranges are collected and by extracting the juice, electrical

energy is created through biogas which will then keep the water plant supplied with green electricity.

Approximately 50 per cent of the juice and 50 per cent of the peel are extracted from the orange, and for each ton

of orange approximately 500 litres of juice and 500 kilos of peel are generated.

The husks and the part that cannot be used is taken to a composting machine for transformation into compost that is reused in the fields of

5G bandwidth options THE Spanish Government is tak‐ ing its time with the releases of 5G bandwidths, but has just earned €42 million from its lat‐ est sale.

Having started sales of 5G rights five years ago, it sold an‐ other tranche in 2018 and the latest batch has been sold in equal shares to Orange and Telefonica.

This means that currently, Or‐ ange controls the largest block of 5G bandwidth followed by Telefonica, Vodafone and Más‐ Móvil.

In March of this year another batch estimated at being worth more than €1 billion will be up for grabs and it is rumoured that Vodafone and MásMóvil may merge to consolidate their 5G capacity.

Closer economic ties THE Foreign Ministers of Spain and Morocco held a video con‐ ference on Tuesday February 23 to discuss strengthening of eco‐ nomic and other ties between the two countries.

It was originally planned that Arancha González Laya would travel to Rabat to meet with Nasser Bourita on December 17 2020, but this meeting was can‐ celled due to the Covid‐19 pan‐ demic.

The two ministers called for far closer cooperation as strate‐ gic partners in a post pandemic world due to their close vicinity, opportunity for investment and the number of Moroccan citi‐ zens now settled in Spain. the province.

The objective is the future use of all the bitter orange production of the city for the generation of clean energy and so far, using waste product, the energy generated in the Emasesa treatment plants in 2020, was equivalent to the annual consumption of almost 5,800 homes.

30 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

4 - 10 March 2021

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

LONDON - FTSE 100

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C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 1

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) 3I Group 1.136,50 +3,50 Admiral Group 3.176,0 +49,0 Anglo American 2.879,0 -19,0 Antofagasta 1.818,50 -14,00 Ashtead Group 3.897,8 -120,2 Associated British Foods 2.403,0 +6,0 AstraZeneca 6.954,0 -26,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 567,40 +6,20 Avast 466,08 -1,12 Aveva 3.482,0 +41,0 Aviva 370,50 +1,90 B&M European Value Retail SA548,40 +5,20 BAE Systems 491,30 +1,60 Bank VTB DRC 0,956 -0,009 Barclays 160,66 -0,68 Barratt Developments 698,37 +0,37 Berkeley 4.294,0 +29,0 BHP Group 2.303,50 -9,50 BP 291,00 -6,55 British American Tobacco 2.556,0 +9,5 British Land Company 503,60 +2,60 BT Group 127,55 +1,20 Bunzl 2.252,0 -3,0 Burberry Group 1.835,0 -3,5 Carnival 1.628,2 -25,3 Centrica 54,34 +0,46 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.287,0 +10,0 Compass 1.497,50 -7,50 CRH 3.200,0 +25,0 Croda Intl 6.306,0 +2,0 DCC 5.830,0 -20,0 Diageo 2.881,5 +7,5 DS Smith 401,30 -2,00 EasyJet 1.011,69 +9,69 Experian 2.333,0 +16,0 Ferguson 8.514,0 -22,0 Flutter Entertainment 14.360,0 +5,0 Fresnillo 901,40 -1,20 GlaxoSmithKline 1.208,20 +7,60 Glencore 295,05 -1,30 Halma 2.316,5 +9,5 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.542,00 +12,00 Hikma Pharma 2.247,00 -1,00 HSBC 420,75 +0,60 IAG 206,20 +0,90 Imperial Brands 1.381,05 +14,05 Informa 543,80 0,00 InterContinental 5.082,0 +8,0 Intermediate Capital 1.775,00 +2,00 Intertek 5.608,0 +128,0 ITV 114,40 -0,30

% CHG. +0,31% +1,57% -0,66% -0,76% -2,99% +0,25% -0,37% +1,10% -0,24% +1,19% +0,52% +0,96% +0,33% -0,98% -0,42% +0,05% +0,68% -0,41% -2,20% +0,37% +0,52% +0,95% -0,13% -0,19% -1,53% +0,85% +0,44% -0,50% +0,79% +0,03% -0,34% +0,26% -0,50% +0,97% +0,69% -0,26% +0,04% -0,13% +0,63% -0,44% +0,41% +0,78% -0,04% +0,14% +0,44% +1,03% 0,00% +0,16% +0,11% +2,34% -0,26%

NET VOL 2,42K 0,94K 175,20K 2,49K 29,70K 2,43K 168,16K 26,49K 1,54K 0,46K 78,77K 15,18K 149,81K 76,30K 1,11M 26,28K 5,30K 255,38K 648,40K 131,91K 2,86K 1,63M 19,35K 13,13K 59,71K 147,13K 8,25K 62,38K 20,26K 6,63K 3,28K 6,47K 7,27K 94,91K 43,31K 5,46K 32,37K 15,00K 49,13K 224,35K 2,41K 3,59K 2,38K 61,52K 1,76M 4,15K 116,50K 5,33K 0,35K 1,01K 93,77K

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

225,90 3.201,5 692,50 271,90 38,95 9.832,0 442,30 171,25 1.784,50 828,20 185,15 7.598,0 32,43 2.190,00 2.749,0 723,27 1.461,50 6.101,2 1.717,50 477,20 597,80 6.300,0 111,55 6,96 1.440,81 1.441,0 1.379,6 677,60 572,20 1.865,00 14,76 3.521,6 1.205,99 924,80 2.235,0 1.401,00 1.518,00 10.985,0 1.353,50 1.210,00 472,20 319,25 172,21 222,86 451,83 3.810,8 886,00 124,02 3.448,0 879,80

CHANGE(P) +1,70 +36,5 +5,00 +1,90 -0,05 +118,0 +1,60 +1,00 +13,00 +5,40 -0,40 +28,0 -0,10 +14,00 +20,0 +3,40 +7,50 +60,0 +13,00 +1,30 +8,20 -3,0 +0,15 -0,09 -23,69 -25,6 -24,6 +0,20 +3,20 -41,00 -0,13 +10,6 +20,99 +5,20 +21,0 +11,00 +7,00 +45,0 +8,50 +8,00 +2,20 +0,95 +5,66 +0,26 -0,97 +36,8 +10,00 +0,38 -15,0 +6,20

% CHG.

NET VOL

+0,76% +1,15% +0,73% +0,70% -0,14% +1,22% +0,36% +0,59% +0,73% +0,66% -0,21% +0,37% -0,31% +0,64% +0,73% +0,47% +0,52% +0,99% +0,76% +0,27% +1,39% -0,05% +0,13% -1,25% -1,62% -1,75% -1,75% +0,03% +0,56% -2,15% -0,91% +0,30% +1,77% +0,57% +0,95% +0,79% +0,46% +0,41% +0,63% +0,67% +0,47% +0,30% +3,40% +0,12% -0,21% +0,98% +1,14% +0,31% -0,43% +0,71%

234,88K 7,15K 34,41K 55,63K 6,15M 22,01K 27,00K 94,59K 27,88K 404,66K 169,06K 4,33K 56,09K 12,83K 19,27K 17,43K 177,85K 64,59K 105,26K 89,82K 107,03K 176,50K 1,14M 81,79K 21,27K 28,67K 33,91K 22,14K 44,29K 2,14K 139,61K 3,41K 384,48K 15,26K 0,96K 12,59K 3,60K 3,14K 47,51K 3,22K 194,21K 47,50K 1,31M 239,16K 173,36K 12,57K 69,14K 145,08K 14,67K 45,01K

0.86492

1.15582 Units per €

US dollar (USD) ......................................1.20101 Japan yen (JPY)......................................128.312 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................1.1014 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4361 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................10.345

currenciesdirect.com/la-zenia • Tel: +34 965 994 830 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 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 176,41 2.081,51 3.146,14 227,04 127,79 224,39 219,76 102,05 45,92 49,90 264,91 329,92 261,62 206,22 120,74 62,88 159,32 150,50 208,25 72,38 236,94 137,65 124,29 217,54 718,43 334,65 55,36 216,63 131,37 194,98

CHANGE +1,35 +44,65 +53,21 +2,12 +6,53 +12,38 +3,88 +2,05 +1,05 +0,91 +7,29 +11,69 +3,28 +3,87 +1,81 +2,10 +0,86 +3,33 +2,11 -0,24 +4,56 +2,87 +0,76 +1,04 +42,93 +2,43 +0,06 +4,24 +1,45 +5,94

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) +0,77% 1,84M +2,19% 1,41M +1,72% 2,73M +0,94% 2,18M +5,39% 116,31M +5,84% 18,74M +1,80% 2,87M +2,05% 10,44M +2,34% 17,40M +1,86% 13,90M +2,83% 22,16M +3,67% 2,96M +1,27% 4,53M +1,91% 2,54M +1,52% 5,72M +3,46% 28,50M +0,54% 10,55M +2,26% 14,85M +1,02% 2,83M -0,33% 12,02M +1,96% 25,33M +2,13% 5,72M +0,62% 7,74M +0,48% 14,03M +6,36% 27,14M +0,73% 4,20M +0,11% 20,55M +2,00% 6,98M +1,12% 11,54M +3,14% 10,71M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 1

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+4.59% +1.72% +134.65% +2.36% +2.19% +2.86% +6.36% +5.43% +9.65% +4.27% +5.57%

756,422 2.73M 12.97M 1.30M 1.41M 25,647 27.14M 55,195 10.04M 768,038 1.77M

-46.35% -4.81% -1.06% -2.31% -0.34% -4.96% -4.25% -23.71% -2.82% -9.94% -54.88%

10.46M 15.80M 818,688 737,631 359,962 704,247 1.74M 434,298 795,568 1.06M 47.99M

Most Advanced MercadoLibre Inc. Amazon.com Inc. Morphic Holding Inc. Alphabet Inc. Cl A Alphabet Inc. Cl C Broadcom Inc. 8% Pfd. Series A Tesla Inc. First Citizens Bancshares Inc. Cl A Zoom Video Communications Inc. MicroStrategy Inc. Lam Research Corp.

Most Declined Ontrak Inc. Airbnb Inc. Cl A CoStar Group Inc. Wix.com Ltd. Booking Holdings Inc. iRhythm Technologies Inc. Icon PLC BioVie Inc. SBA Communications Corp.

Denali Therapeutics Inc. Athenex Inc.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Currency outlook: Pound storms to multi-year highs on economic optimism, euro pressured by slow vaccine rollout

LOOKING AHEAD: The euro looks set to remain sluggish in the coming month.

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

Euro EUR/GBP: Down from £0.88 to £0.86 EUR/USD: Unchanged at $1.21 The euro remained on the back foot through much of February, as the mood to‐ wards the single currency continued to sour amidst concerns over the EU’s vaccination programme.

So far, the vaccine rollout in Europe has continued to lag well behind that of the UK and US. Alongside the stubbornly high infec‐ tion rate in places like France and Germany, which had delayed easing plans, EUR in‐ vestors have grown increasingly concerned about the trajectory of the Eurozone’s eco‐ nomic recovery.

However, in spite of this, recent EUR data releases have been largely robust, with the euro deriving some modest support from a rebound in Eurozone inflation, and stronger‐ than‐expected German GDP figures.

Looking ahead, the euro looks set to re‐ main sluggish in the coming month, so long as the EU’s vaccination drive continues to disap‐ point.

Pound GBP/EUR: Up from €1.12 to €1.16 GBP/USD: Up from $1.37 to $1.41 The pound enjoyed significant support in February, with Sterling outperforming other G10 currencies as it was turbocharged by hopes for a strong economic recovery in the UK in 2021.

This has been underpinned by the UK’s success in its vaccination rollout, and a steady fall in the infection rate over the past month.

Reinforcing this optimism was the unveil‐ ing of Boris Johnson’s roadmap for exiting lockdown. While the PM’s plan wasn’t as ag‐ gressive as some traders would have liked, his promise that things will be ‘incomparably bet‐ ter’ by the summer still cheered the pound.

Turning to March, the focus for GBP in‐ vestors at the start of the month will be on the publication of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget, which could send the pound even higher on the assumption that the Chancellor will extend the government’s fiscal support to protect jobs.

US Dollar USD/GBP: Down from £0.73 to £0.70 USD/EUR: Unchanged at €0.82 The US dollar has mostly moved in step with US Treasury yields in recent weeks, which has largely helped the currency curb its losses amidst a prevailing bullish trend, which may have otherwise driven the safe‐haven ‘Greenback’ sharply lower.

Driving bond yields to a one‐year high in February have been hopes for a strong re‐ bound in the US economy this year in re‐ sponse to growing optimism over the next round of US stimulus.

On the other hand, USD exchange rates have been tempered somewhat by a dovish Federal Reserve, which has signalled US mon‐ etary policy will remain accommodative for the foreseeable future.

Looking ahead, the US dollar could receive a boost in March if President Biden’s $1.9 tril‐ lion stimulus package is finally passed, on the hopes the included relief cheques could spur a sharp increase in consumer spending.

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 money on your cur‐ rency transfers.

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4 - 10 March 2021

EWN 31

32 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

4 - 10 March 2021

FEATURE

Feeling uncomfortable in my own skin

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT THE thud of toys hurtled from the prams of the wokers, echoed throughout the land last week as common sense finally prevailed and the odious little would be terrorist Eee Bagum lost her appeal to return to the UK. Heaven only knows how much in fees the legal leeches have actually squeezed out of the British tax payer to fund her shenanigans, but given the result I feel it was almost worth it. Frankly, I never even believed the baby she professed to have birthed was anything more than a sympathy ploy. The woman who always appeared to stick to her like glue every time she paraded the child before the cameras was, I always felt, more likely to be the real Mother. The fact that after it had served its purpose the child mysteriously ‘died’ did nothing to change my opinion.

No doubt her lawyers and their woke partners will now be probing other methods of appeal and ‘uman right issues to further line their pockets of greed and

SCHOOL HEADMASTER: Not exactly what I would like to be influencing any of my children. naivety, after all there’s still another couple of hundred cowardly toe rags lining up to be ‘rehabilitated.’ Let ‘em all rot I say.

Perhaps that will deter others from taking the same bloodthirsty route.

Not only is the British culture being eroded, but our glorious English language is

also becoming a target for the conversation corrupting brigade. ‘TH’is no longer pronounced with the tongue between the teeth; which subsequently turns it into the ‘F’ or ‘V’ sound, and ‘G’ is also fast fading into ‘K’. Examples of this are Nuffink, Somefink and Bruvver. ‘T’s’ are also becoming

unpopular. People are now lookin’ for a be’’er life. Or wannin’ to ‘elp uvvers, and last year ITV welcomed us to ‘I’m a Celebri’y Get me Auht of ‘Ere’! Make yo’ll wanna give up dunnit?

This week a further example of British cultural erosion also came to my notice.

Howden Junior School in Yorkshire has decided to drop their House titles named after Admiral Nelson, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh and rename them Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzi (the Pakistani girl shot by the Taliban) and Joe Biden’s inauguration poet Amania Gorman!

Now I have nothing against tattoos, nor am I a prude, but the sight of the grinning bearded individual who instigated this ruling, photographed wearing jeans with his shirt sleeves rolled up to display a pair of ‘full sleeve’ tattooed arms, wasn’t exactly my idea of the school principal or headmaster I would like to be influencing any of my children! Even America is getting in on the act. Yale University is considering dropping William Shakespeare from its curriculum for being ‘too white’ and ‘too male’.

Now I believe in each to his own and everyone being equal but why am I, as a white heterosexual male beginning to feel uncomfortable in my own skin? Innit!

I’m enjoying the ‘battering’ Salmond is giving to Sturgeon at the moment. Caviar she most certainly aint ‐ oops, sorry ‐ isn’t!

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.

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

You have to laugh don’t you?

MIKE SENKER IN MY OPINION

Views of a Grumpy Old Man WHEN we purchased our first property here, over 20 years ago, we needed a Spanish bank account. To get a credit card I had to deposit the same amount as the credit limit. Although the bank has changed its name at least three times and rules and regulations are so different I’ve just left it there.

I got an email saying that they no longer need my money in a deposit account and would I like to put it in my current account or draw it out - basically it’s costing them money to have it there.

As going anywhere at the moment is an adventure I masked up and off I went.

I remember years ago if you turned up at a bank with a mask on they would press an alarm and the police would come and arrest you. Now the police come if you don’t have a mask! I turned up for my meeting bang on time but still had to wait ‘cos the geezer I was seeing was still at lunch which peed me off straightaway. It’s just rude!

He arrived and looked about 12 years

old. We go through the pleasantries and I told him I’d like to put the money in something that might earn some interest. He then hit me with this bombshell I have to complete a questionnaire to assess how able I am to understand what I’m being told about the risk.

He asks my level of education, do I have any degrees and what jobs I ’ve had. I explained I was expelled from school at 14, have no real education, have never had a job as I ’ve always worked for myself and I retired at 50 after selling the fourth largest chain of video shops in the UK. He was not impressed and informed me that the best I could look at was a risk between 1-5. I couldn’t look at the 6-10 options.

He tried to explain that this was all because people had been suing the bank because they hadn’t understood the risk.

After an hour I’d lost the will to live and chose the investment I thought was OK. After some more explaining, which by now I wasn’t even listening to; he told me I needed to sign some papers. I left the bank with 69 PAGES of documents and as of today’s date my savings have dropped €100. Have to laugh don’t you? e-mail: mikesenker@gmail.com

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

4 - 10 March 2021

EWN 33

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4 - 10 March 2021

EWN 35

Advertising Feature

Green funeral – return to nature

ENVIRONMENTAL concerns are on many people’s mind and that has led to a growing trend for sus‐ tainable and green funerals.

There are many ways we can reduce our impact on the environment, such as green burials, eco‐ friendly urns and caskets for cremation and options which are waste free.

Some of these options for going green, even af‐ ter death, can be as simple as sending digital invites to a funeral or memorial. Nowadays, with email and social media as options, there is no need for paper to be involved. This will save trees and lower funeral expenses.

Encourage others to be more environmentally friendly too by not printing the details.

At the funeral or memorial service, if you’re hav‐ ing a programme, you could include it in the same email or social media publication, or you could have a QR code made with the details which atten‐ dees can scan with their smartphone to access the details. For those who may not have access to a smartphone or not understand the technology, you can project the programme during the service.

There is also a growing tendency to avoid formaldehyde to preserve the body, such as dry ice, and products which are formaldehyde‐free and

use other alternatives such as iodine.

If you are thinking of giving token gifts to the at‐ tendees of the memorial and environmental issues are on your mind, then why not give the guests something which can have a positive effect on na‐ ture, this could be saplings or seed packets, and there are more novel options, such as blooming re‐ membrance cards and plantable thank you cards, which are recycled paper cards which contain seeds. They can be put into the ground, the card will decompose and the seeds will grow. Another beautiful and eco‐friendly option is biodegradable confetti: it is natural and dye free, and can also be

made from real, dry‐frozen petals or from other materials such as rice paper. This confetti is water‐soluble and non‐toxic.

Better‐known and increasingly popular green products for environmentally friendly funer‐ als are biodegradable cremation urns or caskets which naturally become one with nature over a short space of time.

When marking the passing of a loved one, if you are holding a celebration of their life, you may be thinking of offering food. This is another area where you can keep things green. Choose organic

foods produced in healthier ecosystems where the land, water and air are protected. It’s not only about the food. There are also organic beverages, including wine, sparkling wines and beers. Where possible, shop locally and buy seasonal products which haven’t travelled for miles to get to you. It will be tastier and fresher and there will not have been so much energy used in storing and trans‐ porting it. Local products will often come with less packing, or will have minimal packaging.

When shopping for food, if you need to look further afield, also choose Fair Trade, this ensures that those who harvest and handle the goods have been ensured a proper wage and working conditions.

Don’t overdo the amount of food so that there will not be so much wasted, and try to choose options which won’t spoil so quickly. If there are any leftovers, hopefully you can compost them or make sure that you dispose of them ap‐ propriately.

As well as providing plantable gifts for those at‐ tending the memorial, another very popular option is to plant a tree for a loved one, if possible, plant it in a significant place where it can also be visited and tended to.

www.goldenleavesinternational.com • info@goldenleavesinternational.com • Facebook: goldenleavesspain

36 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

4 - 10 March 2021

FEATURE

GO LOCAL

THE EUROWEEKLY NEWS is urging its readers to support lo‐ cal businesses in the communi‐ ty by going local through the lockdown and for your all your shopping this year, instead of feeding online giants and su‐ perstores.

This lockdown and with Mother’s Day and Easter up‐ coming, we challenge you to re‐ discover your local high streets, markets, butchers, greengro‐ cers and all of the wonderfully quirky independent businesses in your area.

Due to the Covid‐19 pandem‐ ic, you may have to support many local businesses by order‐ ing online and making use of any click and collect services they can operate if you are un‐ able to get out due to health reasons or lockdown restric‐ tions.

The joy of shopping local means that independent busi‐ nesses can help support the lo‐ cal community.

Although it may be a euro or two cheaper elsewhere or on‐ line, consider where your mon‐ ey 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.

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

Many local stores support local charities, support and sponsor local sports teams and in many cases the small inde‐ pendent stores are actually much more than just a small high street shop, they’re a fam‐ ily’s legacy, often passed down through numerous generations and support not just the cur‐ rent owner but the generation before.

For those stores which are new, that extra couple of euros spent there are supporting someone’s dream and ambi‐ tion, 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 compete with the multina‐

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951 386 161

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tional and chains.

So be sure to pre‐order your meat from a local butcher and get your spuds from a local greengrocer, let us revive that community spirit and get to know our neighbours again.

You could also consider pur‐ chasing gift vouchers from local businesses to help them over the coming weeks, thinking out‐ side the box can often lead to some fantastic ideas. Why not buy a meal for two, an hour’s tattoo time at a local studio, a hair cut at a local salon or an on‐ line study course for someone looking to change their career path.

As people are struggling 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 bet‐ ter gift. Helping people alleviate stress and worry , give the gift of peace of mind through these difficult times.

Choosing to spend your mon‐ ey locally will really make a dif‐ ference in the recovery of the local economy. When we buy local, our money stays local, and it strengthens the local econo‐

my in two ways. First, buy‐ ing local keeps money cir‐ culating within the local economy.

Studies have shown that local businesses recir‐ culate a greater share of every euro as they create locally owned supply chains and invest in their employees.

Data shows that local retailers 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 the local economy benefits ev‐ eryone 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 employees and the restaurant uses rev‐ enue from sales to buy supplies from a neighbourhood hard‐ ware store. This example illus‐ trates how the recirculation of money in the local economy leads to a stronger financial foundation for our neighbours and communities.

4 - 10 March 2021

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

Buying local also fuels new employment and job opportuni‐ ties for people within our com‐ munity. Studies show, locally owned businesses employ more people per unit of sales and re‐ tain more employees over time.

A fantastic example of how

to support your local communi‐ ty is with a Charity Gift certifi‐ cate, why not donate to your loved one’s favourite cause.

Just remember to follow the latest government advice and any guidance businesses have to keep everyone safe.

EWN 37

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FEATURE

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4 - 10 March 2021

EWN 43

LIVE IN MALAGA AND TELEWORK

CONSULAR MATTERS

THE Malaga City Council has launched a project called ‘WorkBay’ within mu‐ nicipal actions to contribute to the economic reactivation of the city, as well as to attracting and retaining tal‐ ent and productive investment. The aim is to attract telecommuters from both within Spain and from other countries to the city.

The campaign includes, on the one hand, digital promotion actions, with the dissemination of audiovisual ma‐ terial on social networks, as well as the provision of a website where you can find out about the advisory services that are offered.

The project has a website, www.malagaworkbay.com, which of‐ fers information on services, trans‐ portation, accommodation, etc for the transfer of teleworkers to Malaga. It is available in different languages: Span‐ ish, English and German.

TELEWORKING: To attract telecommuters from other countries too.

Those in charge of the Investors Of‐ fice will attend to all the queries re‐ ceived by this channel and will adapt the services to the effective demands of professionals interested in tele‐ working from Malaga.

Malaga WorkBay is based on the experience that many teleworkers have brought to the city that stands out for the qualities that Malaga has such as quality of life, communica‐ tions, international schools, the multi‐

culturalism of the city, the productive fabric and, above all, the open charac‐ ter of the people of Malaga. The British market despite Brexit is one of the priority markets in this project.

‘Malaga WorkBay’ makes different services available to teleworkers to help them develop their business from Malaga. On the one hand, infor‐ mation is provided on the coworking spaces managed by the municipal company Promálaga.

These facilities are located in the centre of Malaga and in the Technolo‐ gy Park, offering different spaces for teleworking, as well as meeting rooms and complementary services. All Malaga coworking sites that want to join the project will be able to do so, thus completing the offer of spaces that the city has.

Likewise, the Investor Office of the Malaga City Council will assist and ad‐ vise all those who want to establish themselves in Malaga and will pro‐ mote synergies with companies of dif‐ ferent nationalities and with local brands.

The ‘softlanding’ services that will be offered are related to the search for a place to work or for meetings, search for a school, as well as all those information and advisory services on the procedures related to arrival in our city.

It should also be noted that within the framework of ‘Malaga WorkBay’ we are working with tourist housing entities and other types of establish‐ ments in order to make a battery of

homes and spaces available to tele‐ workers to facilitate your move to the city.

This initiative is open to adding oth‐ er establishments in the productive fabric of Malaga that consider that this customer profile could be interesting for their activity, thus reorienting their market and diversifying the offer.

I was born in Malaga and I have had my law office, Just Law Spanish Solicitors here for some 30 years in addition to being the Danish Consul for Andalucia. I also have considerable experience of company formation here in Spain. I am proud to say that Malaga is one of the best cities in the world to live in, since in addition to the climate it has a variety of interna‐ tional schools, as well as a good health system, proximity to airports, the cost of housing and the low crime rate. So these have been some of the qualities that have recently led the prestigious American magazine Forbes to place Malaga among the top 20 cities in the world where to live, invest and work.

Marisa Moreno Castillo Lawyer and Consul for Denmark • www.justlawsolicitors.com • contact@justlawsolicitors.com

44 EWN

4 - 10 March 2021

www.euroweeklynews.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Be gentle to keep your brain sharp WANT to stay sharp during your retirement in Spain? Then book into a tai‐chi or yoga class as research has found that gentle exercise can help boost the brain power of the over 50’s.

Experts in Australia said they found that doing a 45‐minute session at least once a week helped to im‐ prove cogni‐ tive skills such as think‐ ing, at‐

GENTLE EXERCISE: Can improve cognitive skills.

tention and memory. Other activities such as gentle aerobic activities like swim‐ ming and resistance train‐ ing, are also beneficial, but it was the ancient Chinese art of tai‐chi that was found to be particularly helpful as it was easier for older peo‐ ple to undertake.

It is estimated that around 200 million in China people practise the gentle sport daily as the slow exer‐ cises and movements help build muscle and bone, im‐ prove balance and strengthen joints. It also re‐ quires concentration, which could be one of the reasons it helps brain health.

The team of researchers, from the University of Can‐ berra, studied and assessed 39 published studies that tested the impact of exer‐ cise on the brain health of those aged over 50.

They found ‘physical ex‐ ercise significantly im‐ proved cognitive function in adults older than 50 years.’

HEALTH & BEAUTY

www.euroweeklynews.com

4 - 10 March 2021

EWN 45

Advertising Feature

Can hearing aids help your brain stay fit?

IF you believe you have trouble hear‐ ing then you are not alone! As many as 1 in 10 people are thought to have a disabling hearing loss. Of course, not everyone takes action straightaway and surveys have shown that people, on average, wait eight years before they will commit to wearing a hearing instrument!

Living with hearing loss can be pretty exhausting. Why? When you live with hearing loss, you have to work harder to hear. This can be extra challenging when you are in a busy place… and with the use of face masks, lip reading is out of the question!

When left untreated, hearing loss can become a serious problem in life. 1 Research confirms that the increased mental load can make you feel tired, ir‐ ritable and even confused. As a result you might feel like staying at home in‐

a part of HEARING DIFFICULTIES: We can make a world of difference to your hearing and your life. stead of going out. 2 This in turn can lead to social isolation and even de‐ pression. Not only that, studies have al‐ so shown that a hearing loss can lead to 3 a reduced sense of balance that can cause fall‐related injuries and 4 an in‐ creased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Thankfully, having a hearing test is easy and a hearing loss can be diag‐

nosed straightaway. There are many hearing instruments out there that can help anything from a mild to a pro‐ found hearing loss. A hearing aid can make it easier to understand speech and reduces the effort it takes to listen, understand and remember.

So can a hearing aid help your brain stay fit? The answer is YES! If you would like to learn more about

how small steps can make a world of difference to your hearing and life, have a look on our brand‐new website www.proteawellnessaudiology.es and book an appointment to meet our pro‐

fessional and friendly team at Protea Wellness Audiology in Ciudad Quesada.

1. Rönnberg et al. (2013). 2. Amieva et al. (2018). 3. Lin et al. (2012). 4. Lin et al. (2011)

Tom Lutener Hearing Aid Audiologist BSc (Hons) OST RHAD MSHAA Digital Hearing, a part of Protea Wellness Audiology - 17 Calle Los Arcos, Ciudad Quesada, Rojales, 03170 www.proteawellnessaudiology.es / 698 418 642 / contact@proteawellnessaudiology.es “Check out our brand-new website which contains lots of helpful information on hearing, our customer journey and through our online contact form, getting in touch was never easier!”

46 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

4 - 10 March 2021

Elche Ecological Market ELCHE is set to host a market filled with organic and local products on Saturday, March 6 in the FPA Mercé Rodoreda del Raval (Public Adult Education Centre).

This ecological market, which is held on the first and third Saturday of each month, in the FPA Mercé Rodoreda del Raval (Public Adult Education Centre) in Elche, will no doubt be a MUST for foodies.

Offering an alternative space to promote local and responsible consumption of healthy food, this market will hopefully tickle the taste buds of those able to attend.

Visitors will find fruit, vegetables, bread and pastries,

olive oil, honeys, sweets, teas and infusions, wine, vegan food and many more products.

Now that the de-escalation of restrictions has begun in the Valencian Community, why not treat yourself to some tasty food and feast on

local healthy produce.

To enjoy this market, get yourself down to Mercé Rodoreda Public Adult Education Centre in Elche.

The event starts at 10am until 2pm, but make sure you arrive on time before the goodies are snapped up.

Cabaret Night A FREE night of cabaret is promised this evening, Thurs‐ day, March 4 featuring Cam‐ posol’s ‘Mr Entertainment’ Paul Pryce.

Paul will be singing every‐ one’s favourite songs while the superbly talented saxophonist Byron Sax, will be playing and performing those songs every‐ FUN NIGHT: Of music and one knows and loves. entertainment.

After being closed for seven weeks, Vista Sports Bar & Cafe in Mazarron is opening its doors with a bang!

All the new rules regarding social distancing and indoor capacity will be adhered to which means there are only a limited amount of seats, so booking will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

If you don’t want to miss out on a fun night of music and entertain‐ ment from 6pm call 634 307 447.

SOCIAL SCENE

Movies & Musicals COSTA BLANCA favourites She also featured on The Only Steve Spit and Nikki G are link‐ Way is Essex season 13 as wed‐ ing up to stream an incredible ding singer for Leah Wright at the night of movies and musicals Finca de Eduardos. directly into your living room.

Steve Spit is also a multi‐award They will be performing mu‐ winning artist and a regular on the sical movie classics in a show Costa Blanca circuit, wowing with that literally can’t be missed. his many talents, including his hilari‐ Award‐winning vocalist and ous performances as a comedy drag multi‐show entertainer Nikki G artiste. The magical night of movies has performed twice at and musicals kicks off at 7.30pm on DON’T MISS: A great night.

Benidorm Palace with celebri‐ Saturday, March 6. ties and local Entertainers and Visit the Stevie Spit Fan Facebook has auditioned for X factor, The Voice, BGT and Pop Page or Nikki G Facebook page at: www.facebook.

Idol. com/nikkigsinger to find out more.

Honest Comedy IGNATIUS FARRAY arrives at the Torrevieja International Auditorium with his show ‘The Comedy That Saved My Life,’ on Friday, April 30.

The show, which starts at 9pm, will heartily tell Farray’s experiences and opinions with the faith that laughter, sooner or later, will come!

With more than 12 years of performing stand-up comedy around Spain, Farray, in his own words, says that “this is the most genuine and truest form of comedy,” referring to the fact he will be revealing his own life on stage.

To experience this refreshingly honest and revealing comedy show, get down to the Torrevieja Auditorium.

The show is for 18s and over and tickets cost between €16 to €20, which can be purchased via www.bacantix.com - just search Ignatius Farray.

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SPONSORED BY

Are you taking your Covid puppy for longer walks now?

IF you are one of the many households that took in a new puppy during the Covid pan‐ demic, then your young pet will need special care and attention when you go on holiday.

Even if you are planning a short trip, plan ahead.

Take a moment to plan ahead for pet and house‐sitters, if you have trips planned later this year. Now is the time to get ready. We will help you as much as we can. Our philosophy is that we are all in this together.

These are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSit Match.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 permitting.

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 holi‐ day. House‐sitters see your advert, they re‐

Finding the right care for puppies is important. spond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

Trustpilot Testimonials ‐ 4.8 / 5 Excellent rating (New Trustpilot rating scale) Here’s what members have said about us ‐ HouseSitMatch found us a perfect house‐ sitter…

HouseSitMatch found us a perfect house‐ sitter while we were away in Canada and we were delighted with the care and attention that HouseSitMatch took in helping us find

the right person.

Ros Morris ‐ Dog owner How do you join?

Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch.com ‐ Choose a membership plan ‐ Please note prices go up soon so sign up now on subscrip‐ tion to secure these prices: • Standard (DIY option) = £69 pa • Premium (with support at each step) = £89 pa

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.

Pine Caterpillars BETWEEN the months of Febru‐ ary to April the processionaries (pine caterpillars) migrate from their nests (bags) in the pines to their burial area to form the chrysalis that will give rise to the butterflies at the end of sum‐ mer.

The fact that they are in pro‐ cession on the ground attracts dogs, least of all cats. The hairs released by caterpillars contain a capsule with a toxin called ‘tau‐ matopein.’

Hair in contact with the skin or mucous membranes of dogs re‐ leases the toxin causing severe inflammation, generally on the face, lips, mouth and tongue, in these cases causing the dog to scratch his face and salivation.

If the contact with the toxin has been intense, it can cause se‐ vere necrosis and infection of the tissues with loss, for example, of part of the tongue. Sometimes it can cause severe laryngeal ede‐ ma that can even lead to death.

In Costablanca Sur: Centro Veterinario de Diagnóstico por Imagen de Levante www.resonanciaveterinaria.es

Eye injuries can also occur.

This can happen not only by getting close to the caterpillars but also by the release of hairs in‐ to the environment from the bags of the pines by the wind.

If you live near pine trees or af‐ ter a walk near a pine forest and you observe these symptoms in

Advertising Feature your dog, if possible wash your dog’s mouth thoroughly with water. Do it with gloves as there may be hairs without releasing the toxin yet and that can cause irritation of your hands and arms.

In any case, go immediately to the vet for the appropriate treat‐ ment.

47

PETS

Fluff, fleas and fertility AT this time of year, cats will be shedding hair like there’s no tomorrow and this process repeats itself in autumn as well as spring. There are ways to reduce the amount of hair that accumulates in your home, by brushing your cat’s coat on a daily basis.

When the days get longer, female cats’ hormones are stimulated and they come into heat, getting pregnant as young as five to six months of age. Male cats become fer‐ tile around the same time. It’s a good idea to get your cat spayed or neutered. It helps to keep numbers down, re‐ duces transmission of disease, and keeps them closer to home, rather than fighting in the streets.

The warmer weather encourages fleas, so it’s wise to protect your cat, even before the weather changes. The garden and outside areas can be dangerous to your cat, so make sure that fertilisers, pesticides and chemicals are put away. If an area has been sprayed with toxic material, then it’s best to keep the cat away until it has lost its po‐ tency. Plants could also be a danger, including lilies, tulips, lily of the valley and azaleas.

Like humans, pets can also suffer with allergies, so look out for excessive scratching, hair loss and skin rashes. Vac‐ cinations are also very important for your cat. If, in any doubt, always consult your vet, especially if they are dis‐ playing unusual behaviour.

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4 - 10 March 2021

AIR CONDITIONING

APPLIANCES REPAIRS

AIR CONDITIONING

BUILDERS

GATES

BALUSTRADES

BLINDS

BOILERS

SERVICES

ELECTRICAL

DRAINS

ALARMS

WINDOW TINTING

CONSTRUCTION

SERVICES

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4 - 10 March 2021

REMOVALS & STORAGE

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

PLUMBERS

POOL MAINTENANCE

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PAINTERS/DECORATORS

GRILLS

CB PROPERTY CARE

Painters & Decorators

Established in Spain since 2004

LOCKSMITHS

Fully Legal & Insured • Interior & Exterior • Balustrades & Grills • Best Quality materials used • Price Quoted is price paid • Honest & Reliable

Tel. : 965 709 846 608 686 283 Lawrence 691 919 306 Chris costablancapainting@gmail.com

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4 - 10 March 2021

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SERVICES

REMOVALS & STORAGE

WANTED

SERVICES

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4 - 10 March 2021

ENERGY

TV & SATELLITE

POOLS

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CLASSIFIEDS ARCHITECT

BUILDING SERVICES J & J PAINTERS. Inside outside - clean - fast low cost. Torrevieja Orihuela Costa and surrounding areas. Tel: 650 363 159 (287797)

BUY & SELL PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

CARE HOME

CHARITY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life – damaging everything that is important to you. Englishspeaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aacostablanca.org (93323) CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer. Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campello@hotmail.co m (95475) CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462) CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH Tel: 950 617 549 www.givinglight.com.(1000 6)

CARS WANTED

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FREEMASONRY. Are you aware that Freemasonry is thriving on the Costa Blanca? There are various lodges meeting up throughout the Valencia region. If you already are a Mason or simply wish to know more about Freemasonry in Spain please contact Harry Palmer Membership Committee. Tel: 966 712 326 or email: 2palmers.quesa da@gmail.com (95477) HELP VEGA BAJA. We are a non-profit making organisation that helps and supports anyone, without prejudice, in times of need or crisis within the Vega Baja area. Our offices are based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega 46 (Tel 966 723 733), Torrevieja at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4 (Tel 965 704 282). We are online at www.helpvegabaja. com and also on Facebook.

You can email the San Miguel Centre at office@helpvegabaja.com.

We also have a 24-hour Emergency helpline which is available to both members and nonmembers on 966 723 733 (95456) INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY, TORREVIEJA Calle Urbano Arregui, 23, Torrevieja 03185, Alicante Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday morning Sevices at 10am and 11:30am. All nationalities welcome - Contact 966 752 543 / 966 799 273. For other church matters phone: 966 799 273 / /617 215 463 www.icator revieja.org (95476) LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English speaking church. For more information see our website w w w. l a s i e s t a e va n g e l i calchurch.org (10005) PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 693 287 614 for further information. (95459)

CHARITY

PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, www.pilarchurch.org Reg No: 2009-SG/A (95463)

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ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA BRANCH 1359. The association supports the welfare needs of ex-members of the RAF and their dependents. Due to ongoing covid-19 restrictions we cannot hold General Meetings at the moment. In normal times we provide a social hub for members and hold lunches every month.

To fund Welfare we raise money through the Wings Appeal. To find out more contact Chairman Tony at tony.elaine.cuenta@gmai l.com. For Welfare contact Andy on 0034 711 00 86 84. For general information on RAFA visit www.rafa.org.uk. .

(238593) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Why not make this year the year you volunteer? See how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Telephone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are housebound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyhhvisits @gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control.

It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, http://branches.britishle gion.org.uk/branches/ori huela-costa - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier.

More info can be found on branch website www.ori huelacostarbl.co.uk.

(95457) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch. For info, contact the branch Secretary at granalacant.secretary@rbl.c ommunity ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION (Costa Blanca) The aim of the Association is to

bring together not just ex Royal Marines, but ex Service personnel with an affinity to the Royal Marines. For further details Hon Sec 692 938 664 (10004) ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION For information please contact Chairman Paul Edwards on 618 644 934, Vice Chairman Danny Kay on 966 716 274 or Secretary Margaret Forshaw on 966 921 996. (95455) STROKE ASSOCIATION Spain (formally known as Torrevieja stroke support) Our aim is to help and support stroke survivors and their carers. With rehabilitation, speech therapy, OC therapy and a very active social group. For info please contact 654 801 260 or email strokesupport group@hotmail.com, website: torreviejastrokesup port.org. We are always looking for volunteers who have the skills and knowledge to support. (95473) THE AIRCREW ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA BRANCH. Former & serving aircrews of the UK or Allied Armed Forces are welcome to join this convivial & friendly organisation, now in its 21st year. www.aca costablanca.org or call the Secretary on: 966 495 042 (95465) THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188. (95461) THE BAKER Foundation Spiritual Centre Playa Flamenca. Calle Luis Gordillo, 1 Playa Flamenca Alicante 03189. You can join us on Facebook, The Baker Foundation spiritual centre. Or contact Linda Schug Tel. 606 990 665 for more details (95458) THE PATIENCE LODGE No 2177 of the R.A.O.B Please call Secretary Dave Tonge on 688 704 091 for further information.

(253807) THE SPIRITUALIST CENTRE, Benijofar will be closed for the immediate future due to COVID-19.

Identification Fiscal G54713789 (95454)

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CHIMNEY SWEEP PROFESSIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP Sooty & Son, Family Business established over 60 years. 660 478 881 (290229)

DAMP PROOFING RISING DAMP / ROOFING REPAIRS www.elec tro-os.com info@electroos.com 619 666 363 (287819)

ELECTRICIAN MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge.

698 320 434 (285091)

FOR SALE WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

GARDENING SERVICES DAVID THE TREE GUY Cutting, trimming & removal of trees. Torrevieja, Alicante, Benidorm areas.

722 652 173 (289581)

GENERAL SERVICES HANDYMAN available, Painting, Gardening, small removals, shopping/collections. Santa Pola, Gran Alacant, El Altet & La Marina areas. No job too small. Affordable & reliable. Tel 711 073 074 (291407)

GOLD WANTED

CLASSIFIEDS HOME IMPROVEMENTS BATHROOM & KITCHEN Conversions Costa Blanca, contact 698 320 434.

(288012)

INSURANCE FED UP OF NOT BEING SENT YOUR RENEWAL? CUT YOUR INSURANCE COSTS AND STILL HAVE 100% COVER. YOU HAVE TRIED THE REST NOW TRY THE BEST WITH SOS INSURANCE. WE CAN EVEN INSURE YOU FOR UPTO A €1000 OF WATERLOSS. CALL 686116297 (WHATS APP TO) OR VISIT www.sosinsurancein spain.com or email tracey@sosinsurancein spain.com (290495) BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English.

BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@beneficialinsurancein spain.com or visit www.beneficialinsurancein spain.com for online quote.

(290871) STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygateinsure.com (2887610)

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INSURANCE

www.euroweeklynews.com MISCELLANEOUS GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

MOBILITY FOR SALE: TGA Vita Lite Mobility Scooter colour dark blue front basket included.

119cm x 62cm, good condition. Quick Sale €550, Contact: 606 406 159 (291464)

MOTORING

FOR SALE WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)

MUSIC TUITION PIANO, Keyboard, Organ, Qualified Teacher. Please call 606 984 535 (290217)

NAUTICAL INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon.

RYA VHF and Radar Courses. 626 245 098 (291469)

PERGOLAS QUALITY LHD & RHD Vehicles bought & sold. All paperwork undertaken quickly & professionally. Immediate payment for all purchases.

Mobile / WhatsApp +34 600 726 221 Office +34 965 687 946 www.fwreu rocars.com info@fwreuro cars.com (291355)

TAILOR MADE, durable canvas, sails, umbrella, spa and CAR COVERS. Mazarron based, and serving the Costa Blanca too.

Mail Order and Ordering online 667 879 399 kruger c a n o p i e s @ ya h o o. c o. u k (288951)

PET CHARITY

4 - 10 March 2021 GATAMI ORGANISATION, to help kittens and cats, looking for good homes, also spaying wild cats in the community. Kittens require adoption, fully vaccinated, de-wormed, de-flead. volunteers to Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709) P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOSTER HOMES URGENTLY NEEDED. By fostering an abandoned dog or spending a few hours each week on our telephone helpline, you could help save the lives of many animals.

Please call: 650 304 746.

For more information browse our website: www.pepaspain.com (95708) SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area.

500 animals awaiting rehoming. Phone Gail 962 896 118. Visit our website for directions. www.spa ma.org and view our new blog at www.spamasafor.blog.com.es PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM (95707)

PLUMBERS MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge.

698 320 434 (285091)

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

Facebook

EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE. We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easyhorsecare.net www.easyhorsecare.net or call Sue 652 021 980 (95706)

POOL MAINTENANCE POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 965 725 565 / 676 945 360 www.pooltechspain.com (283443)

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PROPERTY FOR RENT

REMOVALS/STORAGE MAN AND VAN UK - Spain.

2 vans travelling twice a month, Murcia - North / South UK. Storage in Spain.

Tel 610 846 260 or 0044 751 918 6355 email van.man@hotmail.co.uk (285095)

SPAS AND JACUZZIS

XXX RELAXATION Please note that in Spain there is NO legislation banning adverts in this section. Neither regional nor national governments are able to pass such a law due to rules governing freedom of publication and printing.

READERS OF A SENSITIVE DISPOSITION MAY FIND SOME OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS SECTION OFFENSIVE.

XXX FEMALE

TELECOMMUNICATIONS FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM TEL: 902 889 070 (2001)

WANTED

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SOPHIE naughty, slim, elegant, sexy French lady. 3 languages spoken. Visit all areas, also private apartment in Villamartin. 693 357 526 (290265) EXPERIENCE the best with a 1hr unique massage with Veronica. For appointments call 679 292 678 (289482) SPANISH lady - classic.

Playa Flamenca, private house, 40 years, attractive.

All erotic services, massage, sexy lingerie. From €40. Ana 657 603 495 (291620) TORREVIEJA. 58yr blonde lady. Gives massage with happy end. English spoken.

Miriam 604 382 799 (290858)

SITUATIONS VACANT

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Home or Hotel. CB South. dialadatemate@yahoo.com (291615)

XXX VARIOUS Male/Female viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly, mixed trial packs available, all areas mail order. 604 385 476. viagra4you19@gmail.com For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

KAMAGRA Gold 100mg plus Kamagra Jellies. Collection or Delivery. Roy – 602 579 481 (289485)

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Cupra’s Anniversary Formentor THE CUPRA Formentor, the first vehicle uniquely devel‐ oped for the brand, is now being taken beyond its lim‐ its with the World Premiere of the CUPRA Formentor VZ5 on behalf of CUPRA’s third anniversary.

Bringing a five‐cylinder

heart to the high‐perfor‐ mance CUV, even greater dy‐ namic ability and an even more sophisticated and exclu‐ sive experience, the CUPRA Formentor VZ5 is destined to bring an even more unique proposal to the market.

The CUPRA Formentor is

already the manifesto of CUPRA’s DNA, designed and engineered to offer an iconic model that mixes innovation and an intuitive and dynamic driving experience. The For‐ mentor VZ5 takes these at‐ tributes beyond limits.

The CUPRA Formentor VZ5’s sporty stature, rear‐ weighted visual emphasis and accentuated bonnet length, underscore its dy‐ namic proportions, and be‐ neath the sculpted form fac‐ tor is the five‐cylinder 2.5 litre TSI engine that deliv‐ ers 390PS (287kW) and 480Nm of torque. An engine that maximises excitement behind the wheel.

It’s the perfect vehicle to help CUPRA mark its third an‐ niversary as a stand‐alone brand in its own right, and continues the work, dedica‐ tion and impulse to create ve‐ hicles that deliver CUPRA DNA, in vehicles that offer a diversity making them equal‐ ly desirable whether you’re an enthusiast or want to drive them every day in all scenar‐ ios.

MOTORING

VW Golf Football App

WE SCORE: Giving live football updates.

THE free ‘We Score’ app delivers live football up‐ dates into the vehicle’s cockpit in the all‐new Golf ‐ from the 2020 model year onwards.

Users can pre‐set three clubs and one national team, and follow their favourites in all competi‐ tions. Along with live scores ‐ which football fans will recognise from smartphone apps ‐ standings and football news are also displayed in the app.

All this information can also be read out using the ‘text‐to‐speech’ function.

The new ‘We Score’ In‐Car app is the latest ad‐ dition to the Volkswagen digital family in the new Golf meaning customers need never miss anoth‐ er goal while on the road, thanks to push notifi‐ cations of their favourite teams’ live results ‐ dis‐ played in such a way that they do not distract the driver from the road ahead.

A live ticker gives real‐time match updates,

and the table can be easily brought up to show the latest standings.

‘We Score’ is easy to access via the infotain‐ ment system in the Golf. After a single registra‐ tion, the vehicle app can be downloaded.

The new ‘We Score’ app covers the top two di‐ visions and the main cup competition of the rele‐ vant country. In Germany, the 3. Liga is also avail‐ able.

The Europa League and Champions League are supported, in addition of course to the European Championships which have been postponed to this summer ‐ with Volkswagen’s commitment to football reaffirmed as a mobility partner for UEFA EURO 2020 ‐ Volkswagen is also supporting sev‐ en teams that have qualified for the tournament: Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Finland, and Russia.

MOTORING

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Hyundai Kona Hybrid - making eco sense ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack MOTORING tastes have changed and so many buyers now want versatile transport that caters for the commute, the school run and weekend ac‐ tivities. If you don’t fall for the charms of a larger SUV then crossovers such as Hyundai’s Kona make perfect sense.

The Kona looks modern, stylish and rather smart, during my time with the car it drew many admiring comments and glances. With its pronounced arches, slim, elongated head‐ lamps and

Kona Hybrid is a fine example.

dominant grille it’s a thoroughly contemporary look.

Starting prices for the range begin at €24,345 (£21,060) with mild hybrid technology but the full‐fat hybrids start from €27,455 (£23,750), there’s a full electric range too. My choice was the full fat hybrid which is powered by a 1.6‐litre four‐ cylinder petrol engine aided by an electric motor in the conven‐ tional hybrid mode we’re used to these days. It’s a combina‐ tion that provides eco benefits without the range compromise with many EVs. The Kona is a class act and its interior generally has a quality

feel and is well specified. My mid‐range Premium version at €30,691 (£26,550) comes with powered and heated seats, heated steering wheel, head‐up display, smart cruise control, privacy glass, climate, powered and heated door mirrors, auto lights and wipers, navigation and a decent sound system with Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

On the road the hybrid com‐ bination works well with the six‐ speed dual clutch auto gearbox and progress is both smooth and refined. Not always the case with dual clutch gearboxes. A slightly higher seating position and decent seat and steering ad‐ justment means most people should find a comfortable driving position. Add in all that kit

which comes as standard and the Kona is a nice place to be whether for the commute, school run or weekend jaunts.

There’s good interior space and a sensibly sized boot de‐ spite those hybrid batteries, which in some cars can lead to

restricted space. It’s an easy drive thanks to that auto gear‐ box, smart cruise control and nicely weighted steering. The ride comfort is good but unless you choose the new Kona N this isn’t a thrash it round the coun‐ try lanes kind of car.

Hyundai is an increasingly stylish range even with their more ordinary cars that buyers of mere transport would look to buy. The company has upped the game as far as hybrid and electric cars are concerned and the Kona is a fine example.

SPORT

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Europa League 2021 Round Of 16 Draw Is Made THE Europa League 2021 draw for the round of 16 was made at the HQ of UEFA in Nyon, Switzerland.

As always, the matches will be played over two legs at home and away, but due to coronavirus restrictions, some teams might have to play their home tie in a sta‐ dium in another country.

The first legs of the round of 16 will be played on Thursday, March 11 and the second legs will be played on Thursday, March 18.

UEFA will draw the quar‐ ter‐final and semi‐final ties on the same day this season, scheduled for March 19, and the final will take place in Poland at the Stadion Miejs‐ ki in Gdansk on Wednesday, May 26.

Manchester United were drawn against AC Milan in the most high‐profile tie of the draw, which could see Zlatan Ibrahimovic back at Old Trafford again.

Arsenal, who beat Benfica

in the last round, face the side who eliminated them from the competition last season in Olympiakos, while AS Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk, Champions League regulars in recent seasons will play one another.

Elsewhere, Jose Mourin‐ ho’s Tottenham Hotspur, who breezed through the last round 8‐1 on aggregate, face Dinamo Zagreb, while Slavia Prague’s prize for eliminating Leicester City is a clash with runaway Scottish Premiership leaders, Steven Gerrard’s Rangers.

Granada and Molde, who produced arguably the two most impressive results in the round of 32 in eliminat‐ ing Napoli and Hoffenheim respectively, face each other in the round of 16.

Elsewhere, Ajax are up against Young Boys of Switzerland, while former Champions League semifi‐ nalists Dynamo Kyiv and Spain's Villarreal face off.

Rivaldo Urges Lionel Messi To Sign For Man City BARCELONA’S legendary Brazilian superstar, the great Rivaldo, has urged Lionel Messi to make the summer move to Manch‐ ester City when his contract expires.

The Argentinian star has been linked with a move to the Pre‐ mier League leaders throughout the season, having expressed a desire to leave last summer, and it is thought that he will defi‐ nitely leave at the end of this season, with few clubs able to af‐ ford to take him, especially since the pandemic caused so much financial hardship among football clubs around the world.

Speaking to Betfair, the Barca hero said, “Pep Guardiola has one of the best squads in Europe and Manchester City are in in‐ credible form right now after 19 consecutive wins, jumping to a 10‐point lead in the league and taking a solid step forward in Eu‐ rope this week.”

He continued, “City are a very rich club and that allows them to sign the best players in the world. For that reason, they would be a very solid destination for Lionel Messi if he leaves Barcelona.”

Adding, “Mix the great moment of form they’re going through with the fact that Guardiola has already coached Messi with huge success, and it’s clear that the English club would become even stronger with the Argentinian star on their ranks. In fact, with Messi, they would be the favourite to win any competition.”