Euro Weekly News - Costa Blanca South 11 - 17 March 2021 Issue 1862

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The people’s paper ISSUE NO. 1862

11 - 17 March 2021

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

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AMAZON IN ALICANTE AMAZON, the world’s largest online retail giant, will open a new logistics centre in Alicante City near Mercalicante.

It announced its intention last Friday, March 5 and the e-commerce company is clearly wasting no time.

An Amazon spokesperson confirmed that the 8,000 square metre facility on the city’s Llano del Espartal industrial estate, is expected to be fully operational by the summer.

Amazon will create more than 60 jobs at its Alicante plant, both full-time and part-time, as well as opening up opportunities for some 300 drivers to work on deliveries inside the city and the

AMAZON LOGISTICS: A computerised image of the Alicante centre which will open this summer.

surrounding area.

“We are delighted to continue investing in the Valencian Community with this new logistics station in Alicante, where we will provide efficient delivery to customers,” Director of Amazon Logistics in Spain, Pao-

lo Patrone, said.

“We shall also contribute to the creation of hundreds of jobs through our transport partners,” he added.

Only last month, the online giant announced the development of a new logistics centre in the In-

telhorce estate in Malaga, which the promoter, Montepino Logistica claimed would greatly reduce delivery and collection times in urban areas.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Alicante City, Luis Barcala, has welcomed the news of the creation

of so many jobs in the province.

Amazon had chosen to locate its new logistics centre in a prime industrial location, Barcala said, pointing out that the company was the first to take advantage of the city’s ‘priority processing’ system. This, he explained, has been introduced to smooth the way for companies that intended to move to Alicante City and also create much-needed jobs.

City hall has already directed Amazon to the Local Development Agency for the selection of staff, Barcala said. He has also asked local small and medium firms (SMEs) based in the city to support the new endeavour by selling their products on Amazon

wherever possible.

The new Alicante installation will be Amazon’s second logistics centre in this region, joining the Paterna centre in Valencia Province.

More than 1,000 Valencian Community SMEs already sell their products on Amazon, making it the company’s third-largest regional Spanish seller.

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11 - 17 March 2021

The mayor makes a request PILAR DE LA HORADADA’S mayor asked the regional government to include Proteccion Civil volunteers in its vaccination campaign.

“We have had immeasurable help from Proteccion Civil, who do so much for the local population,” said Jose

Maria Perez Sanchez.

“They are exposed to Covid19 contagion in the course of their collaboration with the security forces, especially with the Local Police,” the mayor pointed out.

In the past, Pilar’s 40 Proteccion Civil members have cooperated during catastrophes including the DANA storms, Perez Sanchez said.

They are always on hand for fire prevention and fire extinction as well as crowd control at the weekly markets “and any

PROTECCION CIVIL: Always there when needed. other situation where they are needed to protect the local population.”

De-privatisation on the horizon RIBERA SALUD, the outsourced company that provides the Torrevieja Health District’s healthcare, must eventually hand over to the public sector.

The company had been reluctant to hand over the necessary docu‐ ments for Torrevieja’s de‐privatisation when its concession finishes on October 15, 2021.

The Valencia region’s Upper Court of Justice (TSJCV) rejected Ribera Salud’s bid to invalidate the resolution on the grounds that it would be impossible to comply, owing to the impact of the Covid‐19 pandemic.

This prompted the tribunal judges to reproach the company for im‐ plying that the pandemic “only affected its own area.”

Ana Barcelo, who heads the regional government’s Health depart‐ ment, commented on Twitter that the TSJCV had rejected Ribera Salud’s objections, finishing with the simple observation, “We shall continue.”

Murcia feud MARIO GOMEZ, deputy mayor of Murcia, denounced his own government team for corruption.

Gomez, who belongs to the Ciudadanos party and the city’s Popular Party (PP) mayor Jose Ballesta are facing off after a raft of corruption allegations.

When he took office in 2019, Gómez vowed to clean up the corruption in the city council. A year later he made sev‐ eral allegations against his own local government for assign‐ ing company contracts illegally.

According to Spanish daily elDiario.es, he presented more than three gigabytes of data.

After more than a year of dispute between the two par‐ ties, the PP has announced that they intend to sue Gomez for allegedly revealing government secrets.

Although the deputy mayor insists that all talks are still “cordial and professional,” an inside source claimed that “all options are open.”

Both parties are now sitting down in an attempt to heal the rift.

NEWS

A-7 to be widened SPAIN’S Ministry of Public Works will add a lane in each direction to the A‐7 between Crevillent and Murcia.

The €199 million cost of constructing the 39.9‐kilometre section of motorway will be fi‐ nanced by the concessionary who will be ex‐ pected to draft the construction project and carry out the work, the Ministry announced.

The concession, which includes upkeep, has a duration of 25 years and there are to be no toll charges to drivers. Instead the conces‐ sionary will receive a monthly fee from the government.

Sector sources quoted in the Spanish me‐ dia estimate this is likely to be calculated at €35,000 per kilometre per year, although the final figure would depend on the feasibility studies that will be carried out beforehand.

Driving out the invaders THE Grupo de Montañismo Oriolano (GOM) mountaineering association have removed huge amounts of invasive Arizona cactus from the Sierra de Orihuela.

GOM volunteers have been working there to eliminate the invaders since the end of Jan‐ uary when the regional government’s Environment department gave them the go‐ahead.

The mountaineers have been pulling up the cactus from difficult‐to‐access zones on the Sierra near the Mirador del Palmeral and entrance to the N‐340 tunnel.

“Over the next few weeks, the group will continue removing the plants in the zones au‐ thorised by the Generalitat,” explained Damaso Aparico, Orihuela’s Environment councillor.

“They have done a great job in very steep areas that could only be reached with ropes,” he added.

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NIBS EXTRA Not fair THE SPPLB union representing the Valencian Community’s Local Police officers and firefighters complained that over-55s ineligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine are missing out. Instead, members must wait until other vulnerable collectives are vaccinated before they can receive the antiCovid jab that has been approved for their age group.

Cover-up ELCHE City Hall finally received Generalitat permission to cover over excavations carried out at the municipal market and remove safety barriers. This does not apply to the remains of the Moorish Baths and Civil War airraid shelters in front of the market which will possibly become an open-air museum.

Past times THE Santa Pola Maritime District donated all its documentation to the town’s municipal archive to ensure its conservation and public availability. The paperwork provides an important record of Santa Pola’s history, said local mayor Loreto Serrano, as she signed a collaboration agreement with Distrito Maritimo official Enrique Sanmartin.

No danger ALL unlit areas and those with insufficient lighting will be eliminated from Crevillent’s remodelled Parc Nou, announced local mayor Jose Manuel Peñalva. All architectural barriers will be removed, together with blind spots, while alternative pathways to the exits will ensure that women feel safe there at all times.

Red tape THE Generalitat explained that paying Ayudas Parentesis grants from the Plan Resistir programme to help the Covid-hit self-employed was in the hands of town halls. Some were rapid in expediting payments while others, including Orihuela and Torrevieja, were waiting until they had received all the paperwork involved.

Dolphin fight A STRIPED dolphin washed up on Playa de los Locos was later removed by Torrevieja’s municipal biologist with the assistance of Proteccion Civil. A postmortem will determine the cause of death although the dead cetacean appeared to have been attacked by a group of bottle-nosed dolphins.

11 - 17 March 2021

Ready for any emergency ORIHUELA COSTA’S longawaited Emergency Centre is due to be finished this summer after more than a decade in the pipeline.

The project, given the green light in 2010, was prematurely halted in 2012 when the contractor ran out of money.

It will be up and running in the next three months, announced Orihuela mayor, Emilio Bascuñana, and Emergencies councillor, Víctor Valverde, during a visit to the site.

According to the builders the

Photo credit: Orihuela town hall

NEWS

EMERGENCIES CENTRE: Bascuña and Valverde inspect the Orihuela Costa installation. installation is 60 per cent finished and is “on the way to completion.”

The 4,700 square metre facility is expected to house Orihuela Costa’s Local Police, a Guardia

ALICANTE Province’s foreign residents will not miss out on the anti‐Covid vaccine.

Although no official announcement has yet been made, Health department sources quoted in the provincial Spanish media maintained that there will be no repetition of Malaga’s situation.

Last week, Andalucia’s Health depart‐ ment announced that the vaccine would not be available to foreign residents out‐ side the Social Security system.

Even in the Valencian Community there is a proviso, however, as it will still be nec‐

Civil post, Proteccion Civil and an Immigration office. The town hall hopes to encourage more health care and emergency services to use it, although it is already agreed that the centre

‘Vaccines for all’ claim essary to be in possession of an up‐to‐date Population Information System (SIP) health card, which as the media report added, does not always mean that the medical attention received is free.

Alicante Province has approximately 340,000 foreign residents, of whom 70,000 are British.

Around 50,000 will have no problem regarding SIP cards as they are legally‐

Improvements at Yacht Club TORREVIEJA’S Real Club Nautico (Royal Yacht Club) has begun making changes at Quay 10. The quay features prominently in the club’s maritime frontage while its constructed area occupies an ‘emblematic’ site amongst the port buildings, Club Nautico sources said.

A huge crane is currently at work dismantling the quay and, with the help of divers, re‐ moving rubble prior to remodelling the quay by taking advantage of the mooring zone and making it more functional.

Arms camouflaged in used clothing THE trial continues in Madrid of seven Alicante Province residents accused of sending arms and mili‐ tary uniforms to Syria and Iraq.

Despite their protestations of in‐ nocence, police investigators allege that the network smuggled supplies to both countries, camouflaged in containerloads of used clothing.

Tapped telephones revealed con‐

will have a SAMU ambulance base in the summer months.

The centre will have a space reserved for the Red Cross and the municipal tow-truck’s vehicle depot, meaning that drivers who have their car impounded will not have to travel to Orihuela, 35 kilometres away.

“We will expand more services as society demands and find new ways of managing emergencies,” Valverde said.

“It is a complex project undergoing many modifications based on the needs of the people working there.”

versations involving a Syrian busi‐ nessman based in Crevillent, refer‐ ring to an order for ‘20,000 uni‐ forms for Daesh.’

He then contacted two of the other men now standing trial, ask‐ ing how to obtain the uniforms.

Police later found 1,200 uniforms in Crevillent and another 5,000 in a container at Valencia port.

Orange alert on A-31 A PILE‐UP of three lorries and a car in Novelda caused eight‐ kilometre tailbacks on the A‐31 Madrid‐Alicante motorway last week.

Although all involved escaped without serious injuries, one of the lorries practically overturned, losing a cargo of or‐ anges that were scattered over one side of the motorway.

Guardia Civil traffic police had to divert traffic through Elda almost as far as Monovar before rejoining the A‐31, although dozens of lorries were trapped in the rush‐hour traffic while firefighters removed the fruit.

registered permanent residents.

The remainder will need to apply for a SIP card or, if they have one ‐ which could be temporary ‐ they should ensure that it is current, in order to be in line for the vac‐ cine, the Health department sources said.

Some are long‐stay tourists and others who are simply living under the radar, but all will need to apply for a SIP if they hope to be vaccinated.

Archbishop Emeritus passes away RAFAEL PALMERO RAMOS, Archbishop Emeri‐ tus of the Orihuela‐Alicante diocese between 2006 and 2012, died of cancer on Monday March 8.

He had been ill for some time and at the end of January was admitted to Alicante General hospital after he contracted Covid‐19 during an outbreak in the Priests Residence in Orihuela where he had lived after retiring as archbishop.

The late archbishop was born in Morales del Rey (Zamora) in 1936 and was ordained as a priest in 1959.

Before substituting Victorio Oliver Domingo as archbishop of Orihuela‐Alicante, he was an auxiliary bishop in Toledo (1987‐1996) and titu‐ lar bishop of Palencia (1996‐2006).

A virtual escape MIGUEL HERNANDEZ UNIVERSITY (UMH) in Elche created a virtual escape room to commemorate In‐ ternational Women’s Day on Monday March 8.

Participants were required to pass several challenges based around women’s rights, in order to ‘escape’ and thus win the game.

The virtual game was narrated

by Elisa, a woman from the future who travelled back in time to guide the contestants through the challenges.

The university also marked the day with talks by influential fe‐ males, both in English and Span‐ ish, inspiring young women to em‐ bark on careers in male‐ dominated areas.

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The Dama’s return ELCHE’S mayor Carlos Gonza‐ lez declared that the tempo‐ rary return of the Dama de Elche to the city would boost tourism.

Earlier, Spain’s Minister of Culture Jose Manuel Rodrigues Uribes, had said he was open to allowing the Iberian sculp‐ ture to travel from Madrid’s Archaeological Museum to the city where it was discovered in Elche’s La Alcudia district in 1897.

“We are confident that a temporary loan of the Dama will make our city extraordi‐ narily visible nationally and in‐ ternationally, energising a sec‐ tor that is key to economic activity and employment,” Gonzalez said.

If there are no hitches, the Dama could arrive back in Elche at Easter 2022 as the cen‐ trepiece of an exhibition of Iberian art, Gonzalez revealed.

“The minister’s stance allows city hall to work towards a temporary loan,” he said.

The mayor went to explain that as well the 2,500‐year‐old limestone bust, the planned exhibition would feature 40 pieces of Iberian art.

“The Culture department is already in talks with the La Al‐ cudia Foundation which is like‐ ly to contribute local exhibits and others from the same con‐ text as the Dama.”

Breathing space THE regional government ex‐ tended the deadline for sub‐ mitting claims for DANA com‐ pensation.

The Generalitat admitted the ‘exceptional’ situation caused by the Covid‐19 pan‐ demic had made it difficult for many of the families and busi‐ nesses affected by the Septem‐ ber 2019 storms to present the required paperwork.

The deadline, originally set for September 1, 2020 was ex‐ tended to November 2, 2020 and then to March 12. This has been modified once more, and those affected by the upper‐ level isolated depression (DANA) between September 11 and 14, 2019 have until June 29 to apply.

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11 - 17 March 2021

NEWS

BA Plans Rapid Antigen Tests Sevilla Oranges to Queen of England

BRITISH AIRWAYS is offering discounted test kits from government-approved Covid-19 testing provider Qured, at an ‘exclusive’ price of £33 (€38.18).

Qured will deliver rapid antigen tests to travellers, who can take the kits with them to be used anywhere in the world.

Following a video consultation with a health advisor, results will be available within 20 minutes and they will guide the customer through taking a nose and throat swab and processing the sample.

Verified results are available after 20 minutes, and the customer can download a ‘fit to fly’ certificate if the test is negative. Qured said its test kits “remove uncertainty for customers who may be unsure how to source a pre-departure test while in a foreign country.”

SELF TESTING: The kit can be used anywhere.

BA customers have access to preferential rates with several Covid-19 testing providers offering a range of PCR, lamp, antibody and antigen testing options. Before they fly, passengers due to fly on selected routes can upload their test results to the VeriFLY app - a mo-

bile travel health passport. This will certify their test certificates before departure.

The app is currently available to those who are eligible to travel between London and the US and Canada. It is also available on all inbound routes to the UK with BA.

THE Real Alcazar in Sevilla, Eu‐ rope’s oldest functioning royal palace, has brought back the tradition of sending a crate of oranges to the Queen of Eng‐ land, a tradition, which was lost early in the 20th century, with the fruit then being used for marmalade for the Queen.

Hugh Elliott, the British am‐ bassador to Spain, said the fruit would be made into the marmalade in his residence.

He wrote a letter of thanks to the Alcazar’s director, Isabel Rodriguez.

In it he said the oranges were “enormously appreciat‐ ed” and the result would be “a blend of our cultures.”

Built in the 12th century, the Real Alcazar is surrounded by around 7,000 square me‐ tres of gardens with 1,053 or‐ ange trees and 39 lemon trees.

A specialised firm has al‐ ready begun the 2021 harvest, with a budget of €17,837.

Rodriguez told one publica‐ tion another official had told her about the lost tradition of sending Sevilla oranges to the British royals in 2019.

She added: “Last year we got in touch with the hon‐ orary consul in Sevilla, Joe Cooper, and we prepared a 20‐kilogram crate of oranges

THE QUEEN: Will receive orange marmalade from Spain. from our trees.

“This year, however, it was the consul in Sevilla who visit‐

ed us last week to pick them up and send them to Madrid once more.”

Caminito del Rey Reopens SPAIN’S famous attraction, El Caminito del Rey (the King’s Pathway), located in El Chorro, near Ardales in the province of Malaga, will reopen tomorrow, Friday, March 12, after a few weeks of forced closure, due to the mobility restrictions imposed by the authorities due to Covid-19.

The hanging walkways attached to the rocks of the Desfiladero de Los Gaitanes (Los Gaitanes Gorge) can once again be visited by nature lovers and thrill-seekers, walking on what in the past has been labelled ‘the world’s most dangerous walkway,’ pinned along the steep and sheer walls of the vertical gorge.

Tickets are currently on sale, through www.caminitodel rey.com enabling people to visit this natural enclave until, so far, April 4, limiting the dates at the moment purely in the event that a new closure occurs, but the website gives full information about full refunds or changes of tickets in the event of any new closure.

For the time being the attraction will only be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with the exception of Easter (March 29 - April 4) where the facility will remain open every day, with the opening hours of 9am to 3pm daily, until March 28, and then after that date, extended from 9am til 4pm.

General admission is €10 per person, but there is the option of an English and Spanishspeaking tour guide for €18.

NEWS

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11 - 17 March 2021

Lorca Museum Celebrates

THE museum first opened its doors on March 7 in 1992 in what was a much awaited and

anticipated addition to the city of Lorca. The opening saw people gather in the Plaza de

First female president

THE Chamber of Barcelona has elected its first female president.

Mònica Roca has become the first woman to head the public law corporation, which has a 135 year history and has seen 32 presidents.

Roca was already acting president, but has secured her position ROCA: President. with 32 of the 42 votes cast, with candidate José María Torres receiving just four. There were six blank votes.

Roca has been acting president since December 14, 2020, after Joan Canadell made the leap into politics to join the candidacy of JxCat in the Catalan elections of February 14, obtaining a seat in Parliament. In the extraordinary plenary session held on Monday, March 8 - International Women’s Day - in the Chamber of Commerce, Jaume Aragall was also elected as a member of the executive committee, with 31 votes in favour and four blank.

In her speech, Roca said her objective as president will be to “influence” public administrations to legislate in favour of companies.

Don Juan Moreno. The museum was officially opened when the ribbon was cut by Carlos Collado Mena, the president of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia along with José Antonio Gallego López, the mayor of Lorca.

The museum is located in the centre of Lorca and the building dates from the late 16th to early 17th century. Lorca’s museum is home to 10 different rooms which take you through a fascinating journey of archaeology throughout history. The museum helps visitors travel ‘from the Palaeolithic through to the construction of Lorca Castle, including Romanisation,’ it also showcases the ‘Iberian and Moorish cultures’ according to Spain.info.

The museum is now considered an indispensable cultural organisation that not only exhibits, but also conserves the archaeological heritage of the town. The museum is open to the public and visitors can see Lorca’s history in a Covid safe environment.

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11 - 17 March 2021

Appeal for missing 17 yr old

A GIRL, 17, has been reported missing from her home in Barcelona since Monday, March 1.

Sandra Plazas Prados is described as 1.63 metres tall, 65 kilos, with long, straight, black hair and green eyes and wellbuilt.

She was wearing jeans, a military style jacket and white trainers with a turquoise stripe when she was last seen.

She was going to a course in the Raval area of Barcelona

when she was last seen, but according to her sister’s Facebook post regarding her disappearance, she did not arrive.

People have claimed to have seen her in the area.

Anyone with information can call 674 926 577, 112, the National Police, the Mossos d’Esquadra or the Guardia Urbana.

MISSING: In Barcelona.

Fines for no ITV

THE General Traffic Depart‐ ment (DGT) has confirmed that it will fine drivers whose vehicle has not passed its ITV (Technical In‐ spection of Vehicles, equiva‐ lent to the MOT).

In the past months, due to the pandemic and its mobility restrictions, many people are using their vehicles less and may have forgotten about the ITV. There is also a backlog caused by the first State of Alarm, during which ITV stations were closed, and drivers whose vehicles should have undergone the ITV test during lockdown have been given an extended deadline.

However, this may not get them out of being fined, even if they can prove they have got an ap‐ pointment for the ITV. Some Guardia Civil officers

from the Traffic Department may be understanding, but by law, they can fine you, although the fine can later be appealed.

What some drivers may be unaware of is the fact that you don’t have to be stopped while driving to get a fine.

Any registered vehicle in circulation must under‐ go the ITV test, so even if you’re not using it, if your ITV is out of date or you didn’t pass the test and have failed to get it checked again, you can be fined. If a vehicle has not been taken for its ITV within the deadline, the fine is €200 (€100 if paid quickly).

Driving with a vehicle which got a negative result at the ITV, a €500 fine.

Driving with a vehicle which got an unfavourable result at the ITV, a €200 fine (€100 if paid quickly).

NEWS

Tobacco Sales Fall

THE coronavirus affected many businesses as the State of Alarm forced many premises to close. Tobacconists though were among the shortlist of those allowed to remain open during the State of Alarm.

The government could have had multiple reasons for keeping them open including the avoidance of illegal sales, and the fact that closing them could have badly affected nicotine addicts. The fact that they remained open also would have prevented people from hoarding cigarettes and tobacco.

Even with the tobacco shops remaining open sales still fell.

Spain has registered a drop in sales in the last two decades and in Valladolid the trend was even more pronounced in 2020.

Data released by the Tobacco Market Commission which in turn reports to the Ministry of Finance revealed that sales in the province fell by 4.6 per cent last year. This means that 2020 saw a level of sales that was almost half that of the 51 million packs of cigarettes that

PANDEMIC: People are quitting or smoking less. were sold in 2002.

Many people have used their time during the pandemic to quit smoking or to smoke less, and according to the Ministry

of Health, “the decrease in frequency is more pronounced among younger people, students, people on ERTE and people living with family.”

Mercadona Face Masks SPANISH retail giant Mercadona has responded to the demand for masks which provide higher levels of protection than the reusable cloth ones they have provided to date, and have announced that FFP2-type self-filtering masks will go on sale this week. These masks are categorised as personal protective equipment (PPE) and according to the Ministry of Consumption, work by “filtering the air inhaled and avoiding the entry of polluting particles into our body.” They have already been rolled out in 1,600 stores across Spain.

The new model on sale in Mercadona is non-reusable and currently available for adults only, but it boasts a total of five layers and a bacterial filtration efficiency of more than 94 per cent, according to the packaging.

NEWS

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11 - 17 March 2021

Electric first Vaccine Side Effects

SPAIN is set to see its first electric car factory in a publicprivate consortium with SEAT-Volkswagen and Iberdrola.

The Minister of Industry, Reyes Maroto, has announced the creation of the first electric car factory in Spain revealing the consortium is open to other partners.

During a speech at the 28th Federal Congress UGT-FICA, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism said the project aims to “transition towards the electric and connected vehicle” which she claims will guarantee that there are “the infrastructures and facilities necessary to manufacture autonomously and competitively.”

Maroto said the move is a government commitment to enable Spain to become a “leader in the automobile industry” at a global level, with a focus on sustainable mobility.

“We have worked together with three priorities: protecting the health of workers, protecting the productive fabric and employment and launching a Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan to promote a battery of investments,” she said.

The minister also spoke of a pact by the industry to diversify, balance and modernise the productive structure and promote strategic sectors.

For this, she said, the coalition government already has a “draft of the bases of the State Pact that must be approved by the High Level Industry Forum for submission to Congress.”

This is a “good moment,” she added, to approach a pact that will give “stability and reinforce productive capacities.”

SEVERAL members of the Na‐ tional Police in Sevilla called in sick or were forced to leave work early on Thursday, March 4 after receiving the Oxford‐As‐ traZeneca Covid vaccine the day before. The vaccination cam‐ paign for the Security Forces be‐ gan in Sevilla on Wednesday, March 3 with officers of the Na‐ tional Police in the mass vacci‐ nation centre at the Hispalense University in Los Bermejales.

The vaccinating of the staff should be completed within a couple of weeks, and officers of the Guardia Civil will follow.

Officials have insisted that the side effects being experienced by the officers are within the ex‐ pected range and should last no longer that 24 hours; however, the very nature of the illness makes carrying out police work very difficult. The majority of offi‐ cers are receiving the As‐ traZeneca jab which is well‐ known for producing unpleasant side effects such as fatigue, mus‐ cle pain and fever. The remaining officers aged over 55 will receive a different jab, most likely the Pfizer vaccine, at a later date.

NATIONAL POLICE: Have been receiving the vaccine.

Evictions In Spain Drop

A NEW report published by the General Council of the Judicial Power (CGPJ) on Thursday, March 4 showed that mortgage fore‐ closures and evictions plummeted by 45.6 per cent in Spain in 2020 compared with the previous year. The figures of course co‐ incide with the coronavirus pandemic; while the State of Alarm is decreed, the government has put a halt to such procedures.

According to the study, the number of renters evicted last year was down 42 per cent from 2019, while 51.3 per cent fewer peo‐ ple lost their homes due to foreclosures.

The latest ‘Report on the effect of the crisis on judicial bodies’ revealed, however, that there has been a marked upturn in exe‐ cutions or embargoes filed in this same period, which increased by 17.5 per cent to 20,460 proceedings. This is the first rise since 2012, although the records are still far lower than the 91,622 recorded that year.

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Workmen left hanging A CABLE connecting a mobile scaffolding snapped and two workers plummeted to the first floor where they were left hanging.

The two men who were working on the facade on the third floor, fell sharply but thankfully their safety har‐ nesses stopped them plung‐ ing to the ground and they were left hanging a few feet from the ground in a street in Torrente.

Dozens of passers‐by wit‐ nessed the terrifying moment at around 1pm on Wednes‐ day afternoon, March 3.

Witnesses alerted the emergency services.

But before firefighters ar‐ rived, a man who was passing by with a van and carrying a ladder inside his vehicle, stopped and helped the two workers to safety.

They were both taken by ambulance to the General Hospital of Valencia where they were treated for differ‐ ent cuts and bruises.

It’s not known what caused the cable to snap.

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11 - 17 March 2021

NEWS

Rollout ‘Could End Pandemic’ A SPANISH expert has claimed the vaccine rollout could end the pandemic.

Dr Antoni Castells, medical director of the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, said: “If we manage to extend the vaccine, it is the end of the pandemic.”

Speaking about the situation, he said: “Like all health centres, we suffered from a shortage of protective equipment and respirators.

The avalanche of patients overflowed the healthcare structure around the world and we had to manage as best we could, the first months were really dramatic.

“In the first wave, the number of patients with non-Covid pathology dropped drastically. We were confined at home and patients were afraid of catching it if they came to the hospital. This was one of the concerns we had from the first moment.

“We are especially proud that the hospital never stopped treating non-Covid patients, although the total capacity was limited to a third.”

He added: “The favourable part of the pandemic is the appearance of the vaccine and the start of vaccinations.”

S P A I N is the world’s 10th biggest market for organic products in terms of the total value of organic sales and the 11th when it comes to the percentage of organic consumption.

A report by the Ministry of A griculture, F isheries, and Food shows how the organic farming sector continues with its strong growth

DR ANTONI CASTELLS: Proud hospital did not stop nonCovid treatments.

5000 people concert MANY may consider the thought of a concert with 5,000 people scary, but the idea will be trialled on March 27.

Barcelona will welcome 5,000 people to the Palau Sant Jordi for a concert of the Love Of Lesbian group.

During the concert there will be none of the normal Covid-19 prevention measures as we know them, as social distancing will not be required. Concert goers will be required though to wear an FFP2 mask and undergo certain requirements before the concert.

A series of preliminary checks will be carried out and this will include an antigen test and also a temperature check before entering the concert. The announcement was made on Friday, March 5 at an event which was being held at Barcelona’s Estadi Olímpic. The event was also attended by representatives of Health and Culture of the Generalitat, and Ada Colau, the mayor.

A smaller trial concert took place last December at the Sala Apolo, this time with around 500 people in attendance.

It is hoped that the concert will allow new protocols to be established and used in the future at other concerts.

Organic growth process and is becoming an important differentiated food sector within the entire Spanish food system.

T he estimated value of organic production at its origin surpassed €2.3 billion in 2019, up 8.32 per cent on

the previous year.

More than three quarters of this corresponds to organic production of plant origin and a quarter to that of animal origin.

The data shows that on average, each person in Spain spends €50.22 on organic products, with the most spent on fruit (15.5 per cent) and fresh vegetables (13.9 per cent).

Exports reached €995 million while imports totalled just over €1.07 billion.

General Director of the Food Industry, Jose Miguel Herrero, said Spain is “moving towards a sustainable model that is committed to the environment,” adding that after the summer, the ministry will carry out its “most important campaign to promote organic production.”

Chef Jose Andres will be the face of the promotional campaign that will be launched under the slogan: ‘The richest country in the world.’

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Students Rally In Madrid THE Union of Students and Freedoms and Combatives gathered dozens of students together at the Puerto del Sol in central Madrid at noon on Monday, March 8, despite a government ban on demonstrations for

I nternational W omen’s Day. Participants in the rally were photographed carrying placards reading ‘March 8 without gags’ and ‘this government is not feminist.’

During the gathering, the

union’s general secretary, Coral Latorre, told Europa Press that they felt it was “important” to take to the streets on this significant day “even if it was only symbolic.” “ T hey are not going to keep us at home,” she added. “M8 is not a crime.”

T he M inistry of H ealth announced last week that all demonstrations for International Women’s Day would be prohibited on March 7 and 8 in Madrid, owing to the fact that the region still has one of the highest C ovid infection rates in the entire country.

The decision was appealed by unions and feminist groups, but the S upreme Court upheld the ban when it ruled on Sunday.

However, Ms Latorre dismissed the government’s decision to ban the commemorations as purely “political” and called for the resignation of the government delegate in Madrid.

NEWS

Catalonia Urged To Authorise Vaccine To The Over 55s DUE to a lack of research into the effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine on the elderly, the Spanish government decided to make it unavailable to people over the age of 55.

Whilst this age group are still able to receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, many health professionals have expressed disagreement with the decision to limit the distribu-

TikTok campaign To Join The Force THE Guardia Civil has launched a campaign on its TikTok profile, on Sunday, March 7, in order to encourage more young women to join the force.

The campaign called ‘# ManyMás’ was run to tie in with International Women’s Day, which was celebrated on March 8, with a series of TikTok videos being published on the social media network, showing officers from the full range of services that the Guardia Civil offer, including Traffic, Maritime, Air Service, Seprona, and Criminalistics.

The current campaign is aimed at transmitting the message to its users, who are on average between 16 and 24 years of age, as potential recruits, to show them that ‘there are no limitations or barriers to being a Guardia Civil.’

At present, there are more than 6,000 women at all levels of the Guardia Civil, across all the different fields, with four of them holding the rank of lieutenant colonel, the highestranking so far for a female officer.

tion of AstraZeneca.

On Friday February 5, the association of doctors (Consell de Col·legis de Metges de Catalunya) and also pharmacists (Consell de Col·legis Farmacèutics), together with physiotherapists (Col·legi de Fisioterapeutes) publicly showed their opposition to the current limitations.

Jaume Padrós, the doctors’ association’s president, took to social media to say that Catalonia should administer the vaccine “to all age groups,” arguing that “there is no scientific justification” to support not doing so.

Equally, pharmacists have demanded that the Catalan ministry of health widen the age range to 65, or at least to all professionals working in pharmacies. They highlighted that other European countries have extended the range to 65, France and Germany approving the vaccine even for over 65s, on March 2 and March 4 respectively.

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Royal Yacht Docks In Malaga

PRINCE ABDULAZIZ: On its fourth visit to Malaga.

THE magnificent Prince Abdulaziz, the royal yacht of Saudi Arabia docked in the southern pier of Malaga port, just before midnight on Wednesday March 3, after sailing from Gibraltar.

This is the Prince Abdulaziz’s fourth visit to Malaga, and it is not known if any member of the Saudi royal family is on board.

This luxurious vessel is ranked number eight in the list of the largest private yachts in the world, being built in 1984 in the Danish shipyards Helsingor Vaerft. It underwent a reform in 2005, and then a second reform was carried out over an 11month period in the Cartagena Navantia in 2018.

The Prince Abdulaziz holds the record as the largest yacht built in the entire 20th century, having the distinction of being the largest pleasure boat in the world, and was reported to have been built at a cost of around €450m, with its original design carried out by Maierform Maritime Technology, a German company, with its interiors being signed by David Hicks, the designer of private boats.

NEWS

Run Pushed Back

THE Elche Half Marathon, which was scheduled for this Sunday, March 14, has been suspended due to the Covid‐19 pandemic.

The organisation, formed by the Decathlon Athletics Club and Elche City Council, has an‐ nounced that the 49th edition of the race will be held, if the pan‐ demic allows it, on October 17.

The previous year’s event was also suspended and then can‐ celled last year due to the pan‐ demic. It was first scheduled to take place on March 15 and then on October 18.

Speaking at the time, the De‐ cathlon Elche Athletics Club, ex‐ pected the highly‐anticipated event to experience a good turnout for what they said was

Elche Half Marathon.

the “most important half marathon in the province.”

Last year, the Elche Half Marathon, said to be the oldest in the world, had already exceed‐ ed the record number of registra‐

tions from the previous year. The organisation has once again been forced to change its date and sadly push it back to October.

Fingers crossed the event will run this year.

No to wolf being protected species

NINE regions have joined forces to prevent the wolf from being a protected species throughout Spain.

Castilla y Leon, Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia, Aragon, Andalu‐ cia, Madrid, Murcia, the Basque Country and the autonomous city of Ceuta, together with agricultural organisations Asaja, CO‐ AG and UPA have promoted a common project to demand that the government withdraw the approval procedure of the order that intends to include wolves on the List of Wild Species under the Special Protection Regime (LESPRE).

In an open letter, they defend managing the Iberian wolf from the point of view of respect for the rural world, social con‐ sensus and coexistence with livestock.

They ask that, once the process for changing the legal status of the wolf is suspended, a process of dialogue and consensus be opened by the Minister for Ecological Transition and Demo‐ graphic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, in which all parties are in‐ volved, with the aim of negotiating a global management plan for the Iberian wolf that guarantees its preservation as well as the future of extensive livestock farming.

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Leroy Merlin Creates jobs

HOME decor giant Leroy Merlin has announced its plan to cre‐ ate 5,000 new jobs across its stores in Spain, reiterating its commitment to guarantee the immediate availability of prod‐ ucts and an unbeatable cus‐ tomer experience.

The company has said that

the majority of job opportuni‐ ties will be for staff working in their terrace and garden depart‐ ments, an area which has seen increased demand since the be‐ ginning of the coronavirus pan‐ demic and one which is certain to grow as the weather im‐ proves.

The Director of learning De‐ velopment, Celia Cisneros, ex‐ plained the incorporation of new workers.

“We want to continue offer‐ ing the best customer service so that they can continue creating environments where they can live better.

“For this, our collaborators are the force that helps us to re‐ spond in real time to the de‐ mands of our customers,” she said.

New staff will receive spe‐ cialised training depending on their department and will be of‐ fered contracts from March to August.

NEWS

Goya Awards Blunder

IN an extremely embarrassing blunder for Spanish channel RTVE, several men could be heard making sexist comments about the celebrities arriving at the Goya awards on their live Facebook feed of the event on Saturday night, March 6.

As the stars were photographed walking the red carpet and RTVE streamed it live on social media, the unidentified ‘commentators’ laugh and joke while calling one woman a ‘wh**e’ while approving of another because she doesn’t look like a ‘skeleton.’

TV and radio presenter Sergio

Streamed live on RTVE. Lopez published the unfortunate incident on Twitter shortly before the station removed the video from Facebook, and it quickly went viral. It is not

Gender Equality at home

WITH the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, most people saw their lives altered beyond recognition, with one of the main changes being the amount of time spent in the home. A striking ob‐ servation is that the health crisis seems to have had a very negative impact on the perception that Spanish women have of gender equality in the home.

According to a study conducted by DMY and published in Spanish daily 20 minutos, while 59 per cent of women felt that equality had been achieved at home in 2019, this figure dropped to just 45 per cent in 2020. The survey coincided with the celebration of International Women’s Day on Monday, March 8, and on a positive note, 51 per cent of Spanish women surveyed feel that equality in politics has improved in the past year, compared with 48 per cent in 2019.

The men questioned paint a more positive picture, with more than 60 per cent believing that equali‐ ty in every area of life has improved over the last three years.

known who the men are, but given their proximity to the microphone many media outlets have suggested that they could well have been working at the gala at the Soho Theatre in Malaga.

Speaking about one actress who was posing for a photo, one of the men said: “Introduce her to me, man! She is good right?

Well, I tell you one thing, she is the best of them. The others... they were all skeletons.”

Referring to singer Nancy Peluso, another commented that she looked like “a wh**e” because of her tattoos. “I’d say this one charges,” he added, before repeating the slur.

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NEWS

Dr Seuss Banned

FURIOUS sellers of six iconic Dr Seuss children’s books found that they were blocked from selling them on eBay, receiving a message informing them that they had violated the compa‐ ny’s ‘offensive material poli‐ cy,’which bans content that promotes ‘hatred, violence or discrimination.’

The news comes after Dr Seuss Enterprises announced earlier in the month that it would no longer publish certain books because of ‘racist and in‐ sensitive imagery.’

BANNED: Six books.

The six books now on the ‘banned’ list are ‘And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street’, ‘If I Ran the Zoo’, ‘McEl‐ ligot’s Pool’, ‘On Beyond Ze‐ bra!’, ‘Scrambled Eggs Super!’, and ‘The Cat’s Quizzer’.

The decision to cease print‐ ing the books came after a 2019 study published in the journal ‘Research on Diversity in Youth Literature’ found 43 out of 45 characters of colour across 50 of the books had ‘characteristics aligning with the definition of Orientalism.’

Kilimanjaro On Bikes AN all‐female expedition will set out to scale Mount Kilimanjaro, in June, by climbing 5,895m on their bikes. If the restrictions allow, a group of seven women will head for Tanzania, among them two athletes from Alicante, Lola Martinez and Gloria Pérez.

As part of ‘The Magic of Kilimanjaro’ initiative, the women will take a few days to acclimatise to Africa before beginning the ascent. The journey will be six different stages and take place during the winter season in the southern hemisphere, so the weather conditions should be favourable.

Their path will pose a challenge as in several places it will be impassable for bikes so the women will have to carry them.

As well as giving a voice to women in Tanzania, the initiative will raise funds through the ‘Bike‐ forgirls’ project, which purchases bicycles for young women who often have to travel long dis‐ tances to get to school.

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NEWS

Venomous Snakes found

POLICE in central Spain found 45 venomous snakes in a house af‐ ter the owner was bitten by one of the animals.

The suspect reportedly first told police he was walking in a field when he came across the snake. The animal was later found on the road several hours later after it had been run over in the area. After investigating, po‐ lice allegedly found the man col‐ lected exotic animals on his farm.

Upon obtaining a search warrant, police accessed the farm, finding 45 snakes and 12 scorpions.

Exotic animal specialists were called in to catalogue the ani‐ mals, finding more than 30 species of reptiles, including two green mambas, a king cobra, a boa constrictor and other snakes.

They also found 12 deadly scorpi‐ ons as well as food for the ani‐ mals, including a freezer full of mice and small animals.

After finding the man was un‐ able to prove where the animals came from, officers from the Guardia Civil’s nature protection service, Seprona, confiscated them before handing them over to a zoological centre approved to breed and keep the animals.

SNAKES: Were found on a farm together with other exotic animals.

Podemos Investigation THE National Court in Spain has announced that it has opened an investigation into charges of inducing violent protests in de‐ fence of jailed rapper Pablo Hasel against the deputy and spokesman for Podemos, Pablo Echenique. According to Spanish daily OKDIARIO, Judge Jose Luis Calama has initiated preliminary proceedings following complaints filed by Vox claiming that Echenique committed a “crime of public disor‐ der” when he tweeted his support for “the young anti‐fas‐ cists” who engaged in days of violent protests in Barcelona.

In the midst of the violent clashes where countless protestors were arrested and dozens of civilians and police of‐ ficers were injured, the spokesman wrote on Twitter: “All my support for the young anti‐fascists who are de‐ manding justice and freedom of expression in the streets. Yes‐ terday in Barcelona, today at Puerta del Sol.” Vox sued Echenique for “having encouraged and clearly in‐ dicated the carrying out of these serious violent actions, and thereby committing a crime of incitement to the commission of crimes of alteration of public order (article 559 CP) and even the aggravated modality contemplated in article 579 CP.”

NEWS

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11 - 17 March 2021

Student, 24, offered support

CARLOS ALEGRE, a 24‐year‐old student who was praised for his dedication after being snapped studying in the lamplight while he waited for an order for deliv‐ ery, has been offered at least three grants.

According to reports, he has been contacted by companies in Alicante, Toledo and Belgium, of‐ fering him grants and internships to reach his goals. He is currently studying mechanics at the EMA

CARLOS: Has been offered grants and internships.

Alligator For Sale

THE Alicante Guardia Civil have rescued a large 1.6-metre alligator living in terrible conditions from a farm in Sax. The animal rescue department of the police, Seprona de Monovar, became involved when they were notified that the reptile had been put up for sale on a buying and selling site for €2,000. When officials arrived at the property, they found that the dangerous animal could easily have escaped to the nearby Vinalopo river, where it would have posed a serious risk to the frequent walkers and people who play sport on the river bed.

Working in coordination with the College of Veterinarians and the Official Export Inspection,

Surveillance and Regulation Service (Soivre), the Seprona officers were eventually able to identify the property where the alligator was being kept and conducted a search on Monday, March 1, where in addition to the reptile, they discovered a Harris’s eagle.

The owner of the farm was unable to produce any legal documentation or licence for the alligator, but he did have transfer papers for the eagle.

The alligator, who appeared to be in reasonable health despite being kept in unsuitable conditions, was transferred to the Rio Safari Zoo in Elche, but the farmer was allowed to keep the eagle for the time being while officials continue to investigate.

Competicion school in Malaga, and will soon begin the practical side of his studies.

Meanwhile, he works as a de‐ livery rider for Uber Eats, but said that as he is forced to wait a lot of the time, he likes to take advan‐ tage of that situation to study, a view which was applauded by many after his photo went viral on social media.

His photo was taken by a Local Police officer who shared it, then it was shared on a Guardia Civil Facebook group by another offi‐ cer who said “while some are smashing windows, ransacking businesses and destroying the streets to support a repeat delin‐ quent, others find a way and make time whenever they can to build a promising future for themselves.”

Within hours, the image, which has become a symbol of dedication, was shared thou‐ sands of times.

While many have applauded him, others asked why he should be forced to study in such condi‐ tions or why he should have to accept a job like the one he has to make a future for himself.

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Impersonating a CNI officer leads to arrest NATIONAL POLICE offi‐ cers in Xàtiva, Valencia, have arrested four peo‐ ple, three women, and one man, aged between 19 and 36 years of age, on charges of shoplifting items from a commercial establishment, with one man charged with al‐ POLICE: Arrested four people. legedly posing as an un‐ dercover CNI officer.

The incident occurred in mid‐February, in a clothing store in Xà‐ tiva, when the man allegedly tried to pass himself off as a CNI of‐ ficer, explaining to the store’s security guard that he was there af‐ ter a tip‐off about a robbery that was going to take place .

The man allegedly showed the guard a plaque‐emblem fixed to his belt, so he automatically believed the man was an under‐ cover officer and accompanied him outside the store to talk, dis‐ tracing the guard, giving the women the freedom of the store to steal clothing to the value of €750.

Once the garments had been safely stolen, one of the women went to the fake CNI officer to inform him that she had received a message about the ‘robbers,’ who were apparently heading for Valencia, and that they should go quickly, in order to try and catch them.

As soon as the security guard realised what had happened, a check of the store’s camera footage quickly showed the modus operandi used by the four criminals, and police officers were able to identify and arrest the suspects, three of whom had previous police records.

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Birth Rate Falls

ACCORDING to new figures, Spain’s birth rate fell by 23 per cent in the year following the beginning of the pandemic.

In December and January, 13,141 fewer births were registered than in the same period the previous year, a drop of 22.6 per cent.

In total, 45,054 babies were registered in December and January, according to information from 3,929 computerised civil registries in Spain, covering 93 per cent of the country’s population. The drop follows an ongoing decrease in the number of births in Spain, with the 360,617 births in 2019 being the lowest figure since records began at the

BIRTHS: Numbers down.

Spanish National Institute of Statistics in 1941.

Guillermo Antiñolo, director of the maternal-fetal unit at the Virgen del Rocio Hospital, in

Sevilla, said he had seen a 40 per cent reduction in deliveries attended in the last 12 years, from 9,000 in 2008 to just over 5,000 in 2020.

Swifts Migrate

THOUSANDS of swifts are currently making their way across the African continent towards the Iberian Peninsula to return to their old breeding grounds in Spain. The little birds, whose population is sadly in serious decline, cross thousands of kilometres of deserts, mountain ranges and seas to spend their breeding season here after over‐win‐ tering in the warmer climes of Africa.

Aside from the breeding season, swifts spend most of their lives in the air, going months on end without perching. These dynamic little birds can reach top speeds of 100 km/hr and live for 12 years, travelling some 144,000 kilometres in their lifetime.

However, the swift population has faced a troubling decline in recent years, with data from the SEO / BirdLife spring monitoring programme showing that the number of common swift in Spain has decreased some 27.2 per cent in the last 22 years.

NEWS

Bitcoin Could Replace All Currencies AS national currencies are al‐ ready showing extreme signs of weakness, people will soon start measuring the price of things in terms of bit‐ coin, says Jesse Powell, CEO of cryptocurrency trading ex‐ change Kraken.

He told Bloomberg that bitcoin will eventually be a global currency because “you have to think it’s going to infinity.”

“I think true believers will tell you it’s going all the way to the moon, to Mars, and eventually it’ll be the world’s currency,” Powell added.

According to Powell, “In the near term, people see it (bitcoin) surpassing gold as a store of value, so I think a million dollars as a price tar‐ get within the next 10 years is very reasonable.

“Bitcoin believers expect the cryptocurrency to re‐ place fiat money and the market capitalisation of all national currencies com‐ bined could make up its worth,” he said.

NEWS

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New Delivery Company Scam

SPANISH police are warning of the latest scam where fraudsters pose as a parcel delivery service in order to get their vic‐ tims to click on a malicious link.

According to Spanish officials, it has emerged at the beginning of March that the new ‘SMSing’ scam is in play, which sees the perpetrators posing as compa‐ nies such as Fedex, Correos or DHL and messaging people to tell them there is a package waiting. The fraudster’s mes‐ sage then directs the victim to follow an internet link, which automatically down‐ loads an app to the mobile or computer which gives the scammers access to per‐ sonal data. In addition, the malicious app can then install a banking Trojan that al‐ lows the criminals to access data from the most sensitive accounts.

In a statement, the National Police rec‐ ommended paying particular attention when receiving an electronic communi‐ cation and not acting impulsively by clicking on the links. They added that there are usually some clues in the mes‐ sages that indicate all may not be as it seems, such as unusual links which may have been shortened or have a different domain name to the company.

Officials also advised customers to on‐ ly use the official websites of the delivery companies to track their packages or make enquiries.

11 - 17 March 2021

Buddhist Community

THE ongoing global coronavirus pan‐ demic has caused a change in work‐ ing habits for many as people have taken to working from home and us‐ ing videoconferencing to carry out meetings. There are many people though that are getting tired of the constant video calls over Zoom, Mi‐ crosoft teams and other software.

The Buddhist community in Barcelona though have made the most of the issues and found a unique selling point for their re‐ treats. In a bid to attract customers to spend time at their silent monastery they are trying to tempt them away from constant calls and ‘Zoom fatigue.’

They wrote, “Tired of so many

SILENT RETREAT: Disconnect and breathe pure air.

Meet, Zoom and Teams meetings? If you need to disconnect, breathe pure air and find your internal bal‐

Police Voice Their Discomfort THE Asociación Pro Guardia Civil ‐ APROGC ‐ in Andalucia, has sent an official letter to Juanma Moreno, the President of the Junta de Andalucia, in which they express their displeasure at no mention being made about the work of the Guardia Civil dur‐ ing the pandemic, neither in the comments nor in the videos shown, during the cer‐ emony at the Real Maestranza theatre in Sevilla on February 28, which awarded the titles of Favourite Son and Medals of Andalucia 2021.

In the letter, they showed their discomfort at the Andalucia Day celebratory speech having remembered all police forces, except that of the Guardia Civil.

ance once more, give yourself the gift of an Inner Peace Retreat and recharge your batteries!”

Although not everyone will be tempted with a silent retreat, scien‐ tists are backing the notion of ‘Zoom fatigue.’ Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab have pub‐ lished a study on the effects of video‐ conferencing and the phenomenon they have called ‘Zoom fatigue.’

They have found that additional stress can be created from calls where people constantly see a mosa‐ ic of faces and spend all day sat in a chair, rooted to the computer.

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Courtyards Festival THE regional government of Cordoba is hopeful that this year the famous Festival de los Patios ‐ or Courtyards Fes‐ tival ‐ will be able to cele‐ brate its 100th year on May 3 to 16 if the health situation continues to evolve favourably. One of the most popular destinations in the world, Cordoba depends heavily on tourism and is feeling the effects of already having Holy Week celebra‐ tions, the Cordoba Fair and Cruces de Mayo cancelled.

“We have to learn to live with the virus and continue working,” the Delegate of Tourism, Isabel Albas, told Traveler.es. “The good thing about this festival, and what differentiates it from other events, is that patios are out‐ doors.”

The Courtyards Festival is a tradition that began in 1918 and celebrates the art of elaborately decorating out‐ door areas with hundreds of colourful plants and flowers, and about 50 courtyards par‐ ticipate every year.

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Asleep in middle of road

A DRUNK driver was arrested after falling asleep in his car in the middle of the road in Zaragoza.

Local Police reported that at around 1.25am on Sunday, March 7, they found a car in the middle of the street in Las Fuentes district. The engine was running and the lights were on, when the officers found the driver asleep inside. The driver, aged 39, was given an alcohol test, which confirmed he had been drinking. He was arrested and charged with a crime against road safety and later released and summoned for a rapid trial.

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Alonso Fully Recovered FERNANDO ALONSO is now fully recovered from the bicycle accident he suffered in Switzerland and will be 100 per cent prepared for the Bahrain car-testing that starts at the weekend, according to Laurent Rossi, the ALONSO: Will be in Bahrain.

CEO of the Alpine team that he is racing for this season.

Rossi said, “Fernando told us immediately, almost after the accident, that he would be in Bahrain, and that has been confirmed now by the doctors, so it seems he was right. He is absolutely fit and we are looking forward to seeing him in the car next week.”

Rossi admits that the rapid recovery of the Spanish rider has surprised the team, who did not expect to see him 100 per cent fit so soon, saying, “He had an accident with his bicycle, which is rarely minor, but he was lucky.”

He added, “He only suffered jaw injuries, so beyond the jaw surgery and necessary care, the rest is perfect. Fernando is completely in shape. We are even surprised that he recovered so quickly.”

Donkey rescued by helicopter

FIREFIGHTERS from Madrid used a helicopter to rescue a donkey called Olivia that was trapped in brambles and wires in the town of El Boalo.

A spokesman for the 112 Emergency Services said that the animal is owned by a livestock association in the area that called at 4.45pm on Thursday, March 4, after finding the animal trapped.

They said that she had been missing since that morning and explained that she is quite ‘mischievous’ and a real ‘escape artist’ while the other donkeys are not.

Firefighters travelled to the area, and found the donkey was ‘very exhausted’ and could not be moved without the help of a helicopter.

A vet had to be brought in to sedate her so that she could be harnessed and airlifted to the livestock shed.

She belongs to the ‘Dejando Huella de Mataelpino’ Association and although no one knows for sure exactly how old she is, because she had no documents when she arrived from a town south of Madrid, they think she is about 16 years old.

NEWS

Casino ban within 500m of Schools MALAGA City Council has said it wants to ban casinos within 500 metres of schools.

The news was announced by Malaga’s councillor for Land Management, Raul Lopez, who has said the council is likely to approve the measure.

Several other towns in Andalucia have already put this in place, and will include a ban on the opening of betting shops and casinos within 500 metres of all schools, sports areas and green fields, however it does not have the backing of the Junta de Andalucia The Ministry for Finance said: “Municipalities cannot regulate minimum distances or limits over the opening of gambling establishments, hence the Ministry… has informed the municipalities that promote changes… they cannot carry out this type of action because they do not have the powers to do so.”

Councillor Lopez responded saying, “We must defend local competition.

We are not regulating gambling, we are not limiting the powers of the Junta, it is a matter of urban regulation.”

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NEWS

Drone over strategic buildings

A DRONE was intercepted

by National Police after it was spotted flying over Congress and other strate‐ gic buildings in Madrid.

National Police fined the man operating the drone af‐ ter he was located in Plaza de Cristina when landing the drone.

The drone was detected on Saturday, March 6, at around 5pm, by command centre drone detection alert systems. A warning was is‐ sued as the device was flying over strategic buildings such as Congress, the Ministry of Health and the Prado Muse‐ um.

The officers travelled to the area and set up a search operation, which located the man operating the drone, which was seized.

The officers have pro‐ posed a fine for the man for flying the device in a re‐ stricted area, lacking docu‐ mentation and authorisa‐ tion, as well as lacking both the aircraft and the control command identification plates.

DRONE SEIZED: After flying over a restricted area.

1 in 4 fear dying

A SURVEY of 3,000 Spanish people found that almost 25 per cent have regularly experienced a ‘fear of dying due to coron‐ avirus,’ with a breakdown showing that this applied to 28 per cent of women and 18 per cent of men.

By age, those who have felt the most fear of dying from Covid are aged between 55 and 64 years old (26 per cent).

The figures are far higher when it comes to fear a family member or loved one may die of the virus with 69 per cent, while 72 per cent admitted that they have ‘a lot of concern’ that a family member or loved one is or may become infected.

The survey was carried out by the Centre for Sociological Re‐ search (CIS) to determine the mental health of Spaniards during the pandemic, and also includes questions related to the mental health.

Thirty‐six per cent admitted to having ‘cried regularly’ (53 per cent women and 17 per cent men), with those aged between 18 and 24 accounting for 43 per cent of the total.

Since the start of the pandemic, 42 per cent have had prob‐ lems sleeping, 52 per cent feel more tired/lethargic and 39 per cent have experienced more headaches/dizziness/fainting.

And two‐thirds of those surveyed said they feel far more con‐ cerned about their health than before the pandemic.

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EUROPEAN PRESS

EUROPEAN NIBS DENMARK Sahara dust

FRANCE Brazilian beef

SIXTY-ONE years ago, the French Government detonated four nuclear bombs in the desert of Algeria and now, a cloud of Saharan nuclear dust has entered into Danish airspace making for some very attractive sunsets. Happily, the amount of radioactivity is not considered likely to be dangerous.

RELYING upon a 2017 law concerning loss of livelihood, indigenous people from Brazil and Colombia have sued retailer Casino in a French court claiming that it is selling beef linked to land grabbing and deforestation in the Amazon. Casino denies the allegations and insists that it is opposed to such activities.

NETHERLANDS Going Dutch

NORWAY Wolf packs

TWO years ago, the European Medicines Agency moved 83 per cent of its staff from London to Amsterdam due to Brexit, but the transition for mainly English speaking staff has not been as easy as expected due to the pandemic and many are finding it difficult to learn Dutch.

A CONTROVERSY concerning the culling of wild wolves in Norway has now found its way to the Supreme Court which must decide whether or not the decision to eradicate two packs in 2018, where farmers scared of the predators, allowed hunters to kill them was lawful or not.

BELGIUM Dr No WORRIED about social media comments on the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccinations, Belgium’s Order of Physicians has told doctors that if they have personal doubts, they should not share them as by doing so could contribute to the spread of conspiracy theories which would be bad for the vaccination campaign.

FINLAND Sniffer dogs at airports AFTER spending around a year training dogs to sniff out coronavirus on passengers, the Customs department has discovered that they will not now be allowed to operate as a special clause was left out of legislation making the use legal.

GERMANY Under suspicion

SWEDEN Vegan Volvo

ACCORDING to German magazine Der Spiegel, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has placed the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the largest opposition party in parliament under surveillance prior to the elections. Whilst BfV refused to comment, its parent Interior Ministry would neither confirm nor deny the idea.

SWEDISH vehicle manufacturer Volvo has announced that not only will it stop producing any oil fuelled cars (including hybrids) by 2030, it also intends to remove leather from its new models and will also aim to use 25 per cent of recycled material by 2025.

FINANCE Bankers fight ITALIAN banker Andrea Orcel, who is due to take over as UniCredit CEO is expected to appear in court in Spain with his lawyers demanding that Santander Bank either installs him as its CEO or pays damages in the sum of €112 million for allegedly breaking a commitment made to him.

M&S Bank THE UK retailer Marks & Spencer is shutting current and saver accounts for its banking customers by this summer as well as closing all of its in-store bank branches. It will continue as a bank as it has three million customers, but only 150,000 hold current accounts, hence the decision.

New builds THE Catalan developer Jordi Llauradó Conejero has announced that he is purchasing 20 per cent of Extremaduran property company Civitas Pacensis, which is planning to create 8,000 new homes in the Badajoz area and has already revealed plans for its Campus Civitas development which puts people first.

London Stock Exchange UNDAUNTED by the fact that the London Stock Exchange (LSE) saw Amsterdam overtake it as Europe’s largest share trading centre, its latest report shows that the organisation saw an increase in pre-tax profits of 5 per cent to £685 million (€753 million) for 2020.

Ikea hub SWEDISH company Ikea has indicated that it will locate one of its four global digital hubs in Madrid where it is expected to employ at least 100 members of staff. The plan is for this office to develop new business concepts for Ikea Business (which targets companies and the self-employed), the Ikea Food division and its ‘customer experience’ sector. With the other three hubs based in Holland, India and the Philippines, the Madrid office will be looking at ways to improve online marketing and create an Ikea App

STAT OF WEEK

www.euroweeklynews.com • 11 - 17 March 2021

€1,480

is the price of a single loaf of bread from the Pan Piña de Algatocin bakery in Malaga which bakes edible gold and silver into the crusts for the very rich.

Blockchain Business Council

Amazon opens UK grocers HAVING started to com‐ pete with the supermar‐ kets in the UK with its on‐ line grocery business, Amazon on March 4 took things a step further by opening it’s first food store outside of the USA. Amazon Fresh offers a range of food in its Ealing Broadway store and cus‐ tomers simply use the Amazon App to enter, put all of their items into Amazon Fresh bags and walk out with no queue‐

ing and no stopping at a till to pay.

Thanks to the technolo‐ gy in use in the store, when customers scan in on arrival, their chosen method of payment is noted and as they place items in their bags, so the bill is prepared and once they leave, the charge is made directly via the App. Initially, there will be around 10,000 different items available to cus‐ tomers, either from Ama‐

LEGALLY SPEAKING

zon’s own ‘by Amazon’ brand or from items sup‐ plied by Morrisons and Booths and it is even pos‐ sible to buy hot food as well as special ready made meals.

It is not as big as an out‐of‐town superstore but should have every‐ thing available that high street shoppers would want to purchase.

Whilst there may be no long queues to check out, one of their safety mea‐

sures is that at certain times there will be a max‐ imum of 20 customers given admittance to the shop, which could mean queues outside or lost business as shoppers look elsewhere.

Certainly, this new ven‐ ture by tech savvy and very rich Amazon is bound to give competi‐ tors something to think about especially if they expand across the coun‐ try.

Supplying new technology Credit: El Corte Inglés

BUSINESS EXTRA

28

Can they cancel AGM? The Pandemic prohibition of large gather‐ ings has created many problems for com‐ munities and the AGM. The HPL specifies that the AGM must be held at least once a year and indicates the agenda. So our 2020 AGM was cancelled and we were asked to pay community fees based on a budget not agreed by the owners.

We have now been asked by the President and Ad‐ ministrator to pay for 2021 the same as last year.

We have not received a budget for this year or ac‐ counts for the year 2020. There is no provision in the HPA for postal voting or online meetings. Is the community of owners the supreme authority?

R P (Costa del Sol) The com‐ munity is not above the law YOU AND THE LAW but it must find a IN SPAIN way to obtain op‐ erating funds.

Some communities have decided to mail out the agenda and the accounts and others have used emails and voting by email. These are not ‘legal’ but if no one protests the results will stand. However, if the president and administrator simply take matters into their own hands with no attempt to consult or inform the members this can be challenged.

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.

ALERT to the fact that it needed to try to replace some of the income lost from tourism, in May of last year the Spanish Government introduced new tax breaks for foreign film producers.

With a relatively strong understanding of the techniques of filmmaking here in Spain, there are plenty of technicians

JOINT VENTURE: Signing of the new agreement.

THERE is a new player in the telecommunications sector in Spain as Más‐ Móvil and El Corte Inglés have signed an agreement to market mobile phone and fibre services to con‐ sumers.

This joint venture will be promoted under the Sweno banner and in a joint state‐ ment the two groups con‐ firmed that after several months of discussion an agreement which will be advantageous to both com‐ panies and customers has been signed.

The agreement, signed on March 4 by Víctor del

Pozo, CEO of El Corte In‐ glés, and Meinrad Spenger, CEO of MásMóvil Group, will allow El Corte Inglés to market these services in the confidence that clients will be secure in the knowl‐ edge that two strong and trusted organisations are involved.

Although full details of the services to be offered are awaited, it has been re‐ vealed that this agreement will be helpful for El Corte Inglés as it expands its of‐ fers aimed at options for the new generation of smart home products which continue to grow.

Spain attracts filmmakers and locations which make it attractive to film around Spain and filmmakers are very aware of the fact that there are an estimated 450 million Spanish speakers around the world.

Now, despite the lock-

downs and State of Alarm, foreign producers are attracted by the increased cap on tax credits and the fact that rebates for local spending have risen from €3.28 million to €10.8 million.

Netflix has been an impor-

tant purchaser of Spanish language films and TV series and not only supplies its Spanish speaking outlets, but also dubs into other languages hence the worldwide popularity of creations such as Money Heist now in its fifth season.

THE Government of Gibraltar has strengthened its ties with the Global Blockchain Business Council which has members from 76 different countries and territories.

Gibraltar Minister, Albert Isola has been appointed Ambas‐ sador of the GBBC for 2021 and participated as a speaker in the Virtual Summit for Members of the EMEA region.

Gibraltar joined the GBBC which was launched in Davos in 2017 in November 2020 as an observer and has now been ac‐ cepted as a full member.

Blockchain technology looks to decentralise the storage of data so that such data cannot be owned, controlled or manipulat‐ ed by a single entity and sup‐ ports cryptocurrency such as Bit‐ coin.

Female health workers WITH International Women’s Day on March 8 and the impor‐ tance of health services across Europe over the past 12 months, UK company Lenstore has anal‐ ysed the best countries for wom‐ en to work in.

According to the report which takes into account a number of different factors including aver‐ age annual salary, hours worked and holidays, France offers the best opportunities for women health professionals with the UK in sixth place and Spain in ninth.

There is a big disparity in pay between the sexes in Spain with the average male annual salary €37,400 and female salary at €28,270.

Almost every region in Spain is trying to attract filmmakers and the Canary Islands with a somewhat different tax regime has enticed big names like Apple TV and HBO to its shores.

Whilst movies won’t replace tourism, the industry is certainly helping to plug part of the hole in the economy.

30 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

11 - 17 March 2021

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C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 8

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) 3I Group 1.143,50 1.145,50 Admiral Group 2.928,0 2.967,0 Anglo American 2.944,5 2.968,0 Antofagasta 1.728,50 1.753,50 Ashtead Group 3.927,0 3.940,0 Associated British Foods 2.377,0 2.399,0 AstraZeneca 6.906,0 6.927,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 553,40 555,00 Avast 436,60 445,40 Aveva 3.355,0 3.368,0 Aviva 394,19 395,00 B&M European Value Retail SA535,60 539,80 BAE Systems 493,55 495,46 Bank VTB DRC 0,952 0,967 Barclays 174,72 175,23 Barratt Developments 723,40 724,54 Berkeley 4.359,0 4.367,0 BHP Group 2.201,00 2.227,00 BP 322,05 324,56 British American Tobacco 2.594,0 2.630,0 British Land Company 510,80 514,60 BT Group 139,25 141,40 Bunzl 2.175,0 2.185,5 Burberry Group 1.866,0 1.888,5 Carnival 1.619,0 1.640,0 Centrica 52,34 52,50 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.350,0 2.362,5 Compass 1.576,21 1.584,00 CRH 3.319,0 3.335,3 Croda Intl 6.070,0 6.106,0 DCC 5.928,0 5.928,0 Diageo 2.918,5 2.944,7 DS Smith 405,70 405,70 EasyJet 1.013,24 1.013,24 Experian 2.355,5 2.366,2 Ferguson 8.464,0 8.506,0 Flutter Entertainment 14.610,0 14.895,0 Fresnillo 890,16 901,67 GlaxoSmithKline 1.233,44 1.248,20 Glencore 287,35 289,25 Halma 2.241,0 2.251,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.516,50 1.526,48 Hikma Pharma 2.197,00 2.201,02 HSBC 448,00 447,89 IAG 211,76 211,99 Imperial Brands 1.391,50 1.410,00 Informa 564,40 567,00 InterContinental 4.955,0 4.965,0 Intermediate Capital 1.825,00 1.825,00 Intertek 5.394,0 5.422,0 ITV 119,85 119,85

% CHG. 1.137,00 2.912,0 2.926,5 1.718,50 3.913,0 2.359,0 6.853,0 550,40 435,00 3.334,0 390,99 531,60 486,60 0,952 173,11 713,74 4.305,0 2.195,00 321,24 2.582,0 501,00 137,00 2.164,0 1.864,5 1.604,5 51,74 2.348,5 1.563,50 3.303,5 6.032,0 5.848,2 2.910,5 399,70 991,28 2.345,5 8.402,0 14.535,0 885,72 1.231,73 284,90 2.227,0 1.510,00 2.182,04 443,30 207,25 1.378,50 553,00 4.894,0 1.803,00 5.378,0 117,85

NET VOL 38,78K 39,03K 230,91K 80,02K 49,04K 28,99K 270,68K 150,71K 58,53K 11,02K 267,33K 215,29K 68,13K 52,05K 1,25M 21,87K 15,90K 334,30K 1,87M 361,70K 122,26K 3,49M 3,12K 52,30K 113,66K 1,05M 3,15K 13,17K 2,42K 15,11K 0,35K 31,41K 317,50K 121,45K 4,35K 46,34K 16,32K 23,36K 196,24K 2,58M 39,43K 13,67K 1,10K 196,93K 2,80M 182,73K 75,34K 24,33K 17,68K 24,20K 162,96K

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

228,50 3.205,0 680,06 282,00 41,17 7.940,0 430,70 175,10 1.768,00 821,60 190,80 7.476,0 29,48 2.048,00 2.968,0 746,00 1.485,49 6.166,0 1.699,00 474,70 558,61 5.906,0 112,39 7,46 1.566,31 1.564,6 1.507,8 677,60 588,62 1.792,00 14,99 3.345,0 1.019,94 877,75 2.214,0 1.362,00 1.509,00 10.780,0 1.306,50 1.230,00 509,40 312,50 173,18 221,46 432,10 3.845,7 885,80 125,58 3.497,0 895,60

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

230,80 3.205,0 686,20 283,30 41,28 8.104,0 431,40 176,85 1.769,50 832,60 192,50 7.498,0 29,71 2.102,00 2.975,0 750,20 1.487,50 6.286,0 1.712,00 484,30 564,84 5.947,0 112,99 7,46 1.577,70 1.578,0 1.518,0 678,80 594,21 1.796,00 15,03 3.353,0 1.055,90 878,15 2.235,0 1.367,50 1.510,00 10.900,0 1.324,00 1.231,50 509,40 314,10 174,50 223,90 432,76 3.880,9 892,40 125,58 3.497,0 896,60

227,90 3.172,0 678,60 280,30 40,29 7.932,0 416,00 173,90 1.754,97 819,20 187,60 7.400,0 29,48 2.041,00 2.883,0 735,20 1.476,50 6.166,0 1.692,00 472,80 555,06 5.874,0 109,54 7,41 1.562,01 1.563,0 1.502,4 677,40 585,89 1.789,00 14,88 3.325,5 1.013,00 870,10 2.211,0 1.351,00 1.498,50 10.705,0 1.301,50 1.213,00 500,00 308,90 171,50 220,51 422,84 3.837,3 882,80 124,82 3.433,0 888,60

174,85K 22,83K 13,11K 906,62K 17,57M 100,13K 166,20K 435,73K 6,70K 377,95K 2,52M 13,32K 0,78K 76,95K 137,65K 136,21K 19,20K 103,51K 213,66K 236,29K 28,37K 237,28K 3,68M 43,62K 28,13K 36,73K 176,12K 205,77K 24,77K 1,81K 115,85K 1,88K 1,48M 27,71K 15,83K 119,98K 23,41K 4,01K 124,08K 45,45K 40,63K 476,67K 300,79K 433,33K 327,31K 30,29K 120,64K 433,53K 30,85K 111,95K

0.85992

1.16346 Units per €

US dollar (USD) ......................................1.18862 Japan yen (JPY)......................................128.911 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................1.1093 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4359 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................10.190

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 8

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 180,80 2.108,54 3.000,46 227,73 121,42 223,22 220,16 109,00 46,25 50,79 264,28 327,37 253,52 206,58 122,83 60,74 156,10 150,91 207,37 73,13 231,60 133,35 125,98 210,76 597,95 347,10 56,00 215,41 129,12 189,99

CHANGE 181,56 2.118,11 3.009,00 228,15 121,94 229,92 220,78 109,13 46,74 50,95 265,45 335,58 254,20 207,46 123,75 61,18 156,69 153,49 208,23 73,41 233,27 133,68 126,33 212,35 627,84 348,29 56,20 216,10 129,75 190,57

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 176,95 2,26M 2.046,42 2,20M 2.881,00 5,39M 221,45 3,02M 117,57 153,77M 213,80 20,03M 211,50 3,60M 106,15 23,64M 45,27 33,20M 49,90 21,31M 255,61 26,82M 316,47 3,74M 246,59 6,35M 201,78 2,86M 120,25 6,95M 58,51 39,51M 153,13 8,33M 147,97 18,47M 202,96 3,61M 72,01 11,68M 226,46 41,87M 129,19 5,96M 122,55 10,49M 203,22 11,41M 539,49 89,40M 335,02 4,56M 54,92 23,60M 209,63 7,58M 126,75 11,36M 183,34 10,27M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 8

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+3.95% +3.10% +2.90% +5.30% +3.50% +0.77% +5.50% +4.01% +3.57% +3.19% +10.59%

435,602 2.65M 2.20M 1.31M 56,353 5.39M 128,078 612,890 2.22M 78,229 5.83M

-2.04% -3.94% -3.78% -6.13% -5.19% -20.40% -4.67% -15.51% -4.54% -5.11% -2.36%

18,461 1.35M 89.40M 1.88M 28,811 65,567 2.69M 464,042 6.90M 9.44M 4,394

Most Advanced Booking Holdings Inc. Alphabet Inc. Cl A Alphabet Inc. Cl C CoStar Group Inc. First Citizens Bancshares Inc. Cl A Amazon.com Inc. Credit Acceptance Corp.

MarketAxess Holdings Inc. Lam Research Corp.

Amerco Novavax Inc.

Most Declined Broadcom Inc. 8% Pfd. Series A MicroStrategy Inc. Tesla Inc. MongoDB Inc. II-VI Inc. 6% Pfd. Tian Ruixiang Holdings Ltd. Cl A Coupa Software Inc. ALX Oncology Holdings Inc. Okta Inc. Cl A CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. Cl A Daily Journal Corp.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

USA drop Scotch Whisky tariffs

WELCOME NEWS: Karen Betts of the Scotch Whisky Association.

ONE quickish concession following the election of Joe Biden as US President has seen a four‐month sus‐ pension of the 25 per cent tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on the import of Scotch Whisky.

Amongst other exports also now allowed into the US tariff free are cheese, pork, cashmere and ma‐ chinery.

It comes in response to the suspension of UK tariffs on certain goods effective from January 1, 2021 when Britain ceased to be part of the European Union.

The argument and tit for tat measures came about as the US Government was ac‐ cused of giving financial support to Boeing and Eu‐ rope of giving support to Airbus.

The matter will still have to be resolved between the UK and US in the long term, but in a joint statement the

UK and the US said that the suspension would “ease the burden on industry and take a bold, joint step to‐ wards resolving the longest running disputes at the World Trade Organisation.”

Karen Betts, head of the Scotch Whisky Association, said the industry has lost around £500 million (€550 million) in export sales to the US in the 16 months that the tariffs were in place and welcomed the news.

The USA in particular is worried about the possible emergence of new compa‐ nies producing aircraft from countries such as China which could cause serious competition to Boeing so therefore wants to resolve disputes with the UK to en‐ sure solidarity.

In the meantime, the Eu‐ ropean Union will have to consider its position, possi‐ bly with a view to helping

Record unemployment THE month of February is traditionally the transition between the fall in employment after the Christmas period and the increase in jobs ahead of Easter.

This year however is unusual in that the figures for unemployment have more than doubled compared to the same time last year.

The effects of the pandemic, the increase in restrictions and the lack of a reopening horizon for the holidays, has helped pushed unemployment to 4,008,789 - a level that Spain hasn’t seen since May 2016.

to find a settlement benefi‐ cial to both Airbus and Boe‐ ing.

BUSINESS EXTRA Apple App AFTER complaints from App developers that Apple’s terms and conditions are unfair and anti-competitive, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will undertake an investigation into the organisation’s dominant position in order to decide whether consumers have had to pay higher prices for apps.

Rato review FORMER Minister and President of Bankia, Rodrigo Rato may be in hot water again as a new investigation is taking place which has seen a court consider additional allegations of corruption, money laundering and tax evasion also connected with his role at Bankia.

Underpaid pensions THE UK Department of Works and Pensions has admitted that it has identified underpayments of pension to some older women which will cost around £3 billion (€3.3 billion) between now and 2026 with some of the underpayments going back to 1992.

11 - 17 March 2021

EWN 31

32 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

11 - 17 March 2021

FEATURE

Any chance we can now get a break?

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT IF ever there was less of an exponent of the old adage ‘never a borrower or a lender be,’ it has to be the British Government. They have now managed to borrow and create a deficit of some £393 billion!

As a pure layman in these high financial dealings and with my curiosity well and truly aroused, I decided to try and discover where, or who on earth they turn to when they require these astronomical sums.

Actually it’s all pretty simple. What they do is print ‘Bonds’. Although this sounds very grand, all these bonds are is a rather posh IOU! The moneylenders who buy these ‘markers’ and charge the appropriate interest of course, are generally those who control the likes of pension funds, banks or insurance companies. There are however also a number of private individuals who also purchase bonds. Yes, I’ll bet there are.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out who those might be! It gets even more

BRITISH GOVERNMENT: Where does all the money come from?

complicated by the fact that deficit, although linked, should not be confused with debt. The government is actually in debt to the tune of £2.11 trillion! Have you nodded off yet? These astronomical sums seem to roll off the tongues of politicians so easily these days, that a mere million or

two now seems like so much chicken feed.

With this observation in mind, let me attempt to give you some idea of just how much a billion pounds actually is. If you earned one pound sterling a second, you would have a million in two weeks. If your aim is a billion, at the same rate of saving it

would take 32 years to reach your goal! If you’re Jim, a normal working person earning a respectable £16.50 an hour and doing 39 hours a week, it would take 60 million hours to earn a billion ‐ that’s nearly 7,000 years!

Just to give you some idea of ‘us and

them,’ Facebook founder Zuckerberg earns as much as Jim’s yearly income in one and a half minutes. Jeff Bezos, who created Amazon, earns it in 35 seconds!

Ever feel you’re in the wrong job!?

Well, at the time of writing I’ve only heard extracts from THAT interview. The only royal ambitions this young lady harboured was to be a member of Hollywood royalty. Well she has undoubtedly achieved this. She is now at the top of the LA celebrity pecking order and earning very nicely thank you.

With unfailing predictability the racism card soon popped out of the ‘Vuitton.’ The claims there were ‘concerns’ about the colour of the baby she was expecting can also be observed as speculation. Millions of people throughout the world, both black and white were following this train of thought. Most of it was not connected with racism, merely curiosity of something that, despite the rubbish in Bridgeton, had never been experienced in the royal household before. Is there any chance that this privileged couple of whingers can now give us a break? Somehow I doubt it.

Keep the faith.

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

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

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

I don’t see a happy ending MIKE SENKER IN MY OPINION

Views of a Grumpy Old Man IN a wide-ranging interview Harry and Meghan described painful discussions about the colour of their son’s skin, losing royal protection and the intense pressures that led the Duchess of Sussex to contemplate suicide. Of course, there has been a massive backlash. Obviously there are two sides, sometimes three to every story, but I actually believe Meghan and Harry’s side. Let’s be honest they can only lose in this situation. They have already lost financially, titles and security for their child, soon to be children, and themselves.

Their accusations aren’t that outrageous.

We have witnessed a lot of this before with Princess Diana. The Palace ‘Firm’ are notorious for being totally out of touch with the real world. Charles has plenty of previous, he was carrying on with Camilla through his courtship and marriage, so, for me, has absolutely no credibility and, according to Harry, Charles is not even taking his phone calls. The big difference here is that Meghan is mixed race and the racist element is a massive problem.

We have all read about Prince Phillip’s gaffs over the years. Although Meghan and Harry

both said that it was not the Queen or Phillip that made the outrageous comment about the possible skin tone of their baby. So it has to be another senior Royal. Meghan’s dad was interviewed by Piers Morgan and if it was a court drama it was obvious that Morgan was leading the witness. I can’t stand Piers Morgan’s way of just dismissing everything Meghan says because she dropped him as a mate.

He also is not in a position to discuss whether remarks are racist or not or argue with members of his own team, who are actually mixed race when they confirm what it’s like to be on the receiving end of those comments. You can’t make the comparison of saying, ‘I wonder if the baby will have your nose or your colour eyes or hair.’ It’s just not the same.

Harry and Meghan want to be in control of their own lives but The Firm once again don’t come out of it well. Royal interviews that aren’t tied to a specific topic are rare, and prior televised sessions have often proved problematic. Prince Andrew’s 2019 BBC interview about his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein led to his own departure from royal duties after he failed to show empathy for Epstein’s victims. This is just my view, and I’m sure you all have yours, but I don’t see a happy ending here.

Email: mikesenker@gmail.com

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

11 - 17 March 2021

EWN 33

THURSDAY 11/03 FRIDAY 12/03 SATURDAY 13/03

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TUESDAY 16/03

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BBC News at Six BBC London News Party Political Broadcast The One Show EastEnders MasterChef Gordon Ramsay's Bank Balance BBC News at Ten Regional News and Weather

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Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show A Question of Sport MasterChef EastEnders Gordon Ramsay's Bank Balance BBC News at Ten Regional News and Weather

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BBC News BBC London News; Weather Weather Catchpoint Gordon Ramsay's Bank Balance The Wall Pointless Celebrities Casualty Line of Duty BBC News

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Live Six Nations Rugby Union BBC News BBC London News Weather Countryfile Antiques Roadshow NewTop Gear Bloodlands BBC News BBC London News Weather

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Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show Panorama EastEnders Fawlty Towers MasterChef BBC News at Ten Regional News and Weather Weather

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Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show EastEnders EastEnders Holby City Roman Kemp: Our Emergency BBC News at Ten Regional News and Weather

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Walk the Line The Joy of Painting Fake or Fortune?

The Story of Welsh Art Storyville Paula Rego: Secrets and Stories The Joy of Painting Walk the Line Fake or Fortune?

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Walk the Line The Joy of Painting Armada: 12 Days to Save England Elizabeth R Elizabeth I's Secret Agents Some People with Jokes TOTP2 Songs of Ireland The Joy of Painting

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ITV News and Weather ITV News London Six Nations Live Six Nations Live Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Take Away The Voice UK ITV News and Weather ITV London Weather The Jonathan Ross Show: Special Guests Lucy

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Life in the Sun: Where Are They Now? Four in a Bed Drawers Off The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer The Circle The Sex Clinic

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11 - 17 March 2021

EWN 35

Advertising Feature

Somewhere beyond the sea

THE sea seems to go on forever, much as we feel about the memo‐ ries of our loved ones. This and the calming effect which it can have on people are among the reasons that for centuries people have chosen burials at sea.

For many people, looking at the sea when they are going through a difficult time can help them to feel at peace. Just listening to the sound of the waves and feeling the sea breeze can blow some of the pain away from the mind and soul. Add to this the knowledge that in a way their de‐ ceased loved one is part of that vast blue expanse, can make them feel close to them and seek guidance from them.

About 71 per cent of the surface of our planet is water, and we are deeply linked to it, not only because studies show that the first life forms most probably came from the water, but also because we are made up of it too, about 60 per cent. So while we

usually hear the sentence ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust’, we could also say ‘water to water’, as our lives be‐ gin surrounded by water in the womb, so returning to the water af‐ ter death completes the circle of life.

While sending the bodies of the deceased out to sea is a well‐known practice of the seafaring people of the past, notably the Vikings, it may have been carried out in earlier stages of history. Of course, the same practices are not used nowa‐ days, but there are natural burials which include placing cremated re‐ mains inside concrete coral reef balls which are ceremoniously placed in the sea as part of a reef ecosystem.

These balls are used to repair dam‐ age to coral reefs, and to provide new habitat for fish and other sea life.

This option is kind of an urn, scat‐ tering of ashes and sea burial all combined into a permanent and en‐ vironmentally friendly tribute to the

life of a loved one.

A more literal interpretation of burial at sea is also used where it is permitted, which is also seen as nat‐ ural when no formaldehyde is used.

There are organisations which organ‐ ise such burials, where the deceased is placed in a shroud and, where au‐ thorised, the body is placed in the

sea where it will de‐ compose naturally or be consumed by animals.

This can be done from a ship or aircraft, and is quite common amongst those who have been in the Navy.

However, the most common op‐ tion involving the sea as a place of

rest is to take the cremated re‐ mains to a special and meaningful location in the water, and some families hire boat services to do so.

A type of urn has been created which floats before disintegrating so that the loved one’s ashes enter the water in a gradual and graceful way. Another innovative option is an ice urn, which con‐ tains the ashes and floats on the water before obviously melting to spread the ashes.

Doing so may seem inoffensive but remember that a per‐ mit may be needed to avoid any possible fines for en‐ vironmental reasons. In Spain there are funeral homes which have the necessary permits or can advise rela‐ tives on where they can allow the re‐ mains of their loved one to become one with the sea.

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

36 EWN

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11 - 17 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 or‐ dering 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.

Many local stores support lo‐ cal charities, support and spon‐ sor local sports teams and in many cases the small indepen‐ dent stores are actually much more than just a small high street shop, they’re a family’s legacy, often passed down through numerous generations and support not just the current owner but the generation be‐ fore.

For those stores which are

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

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‐ tional and chains.

So be sure to pre‐order your

To advertise here contact us on:

951 386 161

FEATURE

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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, buying lo‐

11 - 17 March 2021

SPENDING LOCALLY:Will make a difference to the local economy. cal keeps money circulating within the local economy.

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

Data shows that local retail‐ ers return 52 per cent of their revenue back into the local economy, compared to just 14 per cent for national chain re‐ tailers.

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.

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.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

I’m not a ‘ride or die’ kind of girl The drug of love MS BIPOLAR

UP AND DOWN WITH BALANCE UNEDITED

I SCROLL through social media and see others posting about their #rideordie and #squadgoals. It makes me feel empty, boring and self-defeated.

I mean, I’m pretty cool. I can be fun.

I’m nice. I’m a good listener. I would drop everything to help someone who needed me. I can be spontaneous (at times!)

But on Fridays you will find me at home. You can also find me there Saturdays through Thursdays.

It’s easier to be home than make plans. And besides, making plans risks it going wrong or having to cancel because I am not feeling well and who needs one more thing to stress about anyway?

So I sit at home, in my comfy clothes, and scroll through social media watching everyone else on these last minute unplanned adventures and wonder why can’t I be like that ?

It’s the ultimate vicious circle, it seems.

My whole energy goes on getting through a normal day with not having a wobble that actually doing something that isn’t usually in my routine can send me into a complete meltdown.

Will an hour date with a few friends fill

my happy bucket, or drain me with stories that I simply don’t get because it’s not part of my lifestyle? The adrenaline rush of knowing gossip, and the desire to check out new bars and passion for high heels is simply not a part of me anymore.

But then I deal with the guilt. Guilt at missing out on being young. Guilt at not being involved with my friends. Guilt on not going on those fun nights out.

I’d like to shake these feelings away but it’s hard, emotionally it hurts. I long for having fun stories to tell.

Maybe it will ease up in time or maybe, I am not #rideordie material. I am however lucky that my friends stick by me through the good, the bad and the ugly.

Their love for me is unconditional as is mine for them.

And isn’t that what they really mean by #rideordie?

Love Ms Bipolar x

msbipolar@euroweeklynews.com

IN LOVE: Meeting someone special can give you a buzz.

MEETING someone special and falling in love can give the same buzz as being high on drugs.

Findings have shown that those feelings of excitement, anticipation and butterflies in our stomach triggers certain brain cells and activates the ‘feel good’ hormone dopamine.

This chemical is also released after taking recreational drugs such as cocaine.

Researchers from Emory

University in Atlanta, USA, who carried out the study on prairie voles, which, like humans, are one of the few monogamous mammals, say they believe the findings give insight into how we can influence social interactions. T hey believe this may one day be used to benefit patients suffering from autism as by controlling the release of dopamine, it may help improve interactions in socially awkward people.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

www.euroweeklynews.com

Housework workout NO time to exercise? Don’t worry, just do the housework.

Studies have found that doing the household chores burns more than 2,000 calories a week with cleaning the bath, doing the washing and hoovering the house able to amount to the equivalent of doing a gym session.

The findings also researched which chores are best for working out certain areas of the body.

So what jobs around the house are the most beneficial to burn calories and tone?

Scrubbing the bath Cleaning the bath with a bit of added elbow grease for 15 minutes can burn up to 100 calories, which is roughly the same as 30 jumping squats. This chore is great for toning arms and shoulder muscles.

Laundry Factoring in loading and unloading the washing machine, hanging up the clothes and putting them away, doing the laundry can burn 78 calories which is the same as doing 100 sit-ups.

Washing up Scrubbing away at the dishes can burn over 500 calories over a week if you spend 15 minutes doing it every night, around the same as swimming 2,500m.

Hoovering G iving your carpets a good clean can burn 90 calories in half an hour, which is

LAUNDRY: Can burn 78 calories. the same as 15 minutes of kick-boxing. Depending on the size of your house, hoovering can also get you nearer to the daily recommendation of walking 10,000 steps.

Mopping and sweeping Cleaning the floors for 30 minutes can burn 145 calories.

Gardening Half an hour of pottering in the garden can burn 213 calories, which is the same as 45 minutes of cycling on flat terrain. Digging also works your shoulder and abdominal muscles.

11 - 17 March 2021

Who is to blame?

ARE you a doting grandparent?

Well try not to dote too much on the little darlings as you risk leading them into a life of obesity.

A new study claims that children who live closer to their grandparents are more likely to be obese as the older relatives shower their love in food.

The research was conducted by the University of Birmingham in England, as they examined the region of Guangzhou, in southern China and looked at those who left their rural homes where it is more common for grandparents to care for the children.

It is reported that around 15 per cent of Chinese youngsters and teenagers are overweight and the incidences were higher in those children who were left in the care of elders.

In China a chubby child is seen as a symbol of health, prosperity and success but the research said to prevent the rise of obesity there must be an understanding on the causes of childhood obesity.

EWN 45

46 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

11 - 17 March 2021

SOCIAL SCENE

Man Up comes to Murcia Mediterranean Nights WITH this new show, the directors of Teatro En Vilo have set themselves the challenge of unmasking the traditional account of masculinity, aiming to tackle its image through irony, irreverence and absurd humour.

At a time when traditional male codes have become obsolete and new ones are still to be elaborated, ‘Man Up’ wants to be a space from which to question cultural assumptions about what it means to be a man and a place from which to imagine a new way to be.

On stage, six actors try to represent a great array of masculine stereotypes, playing to

NEW SHOW: A boundary exploring event.

deconstruct, reconstruct and destroy the cultural references that govern the standards of manhood; while reflecting on their place in the world and their own identity.

This thought-provoking and boundary exploring event takes place at Murcia Circus Theatre on Friday, March 12 at 6pm.

Tickets cost between €12 €18 and can be purchased via www.mgticket.com - just search Man Up.

Torrevieja Bubble FUN for the family with ‘Julia’s Bubble’ in Torrevieja.

On Sunday, April 4 at 6pm, the Torrevieja Auditorium welcomes a family show about the issue of bullying through the eyes of a girl ‐ as the school theatre campaign continues.

Julia is a girl who hides inside a bubble of silence, who suffers be‐ cause of how her classmates treat her at school. She feels different and she is treated in a way that she does not understand.

Julia spends her time dreaming and painting, and it is through the art of painting where she will find the way out. She knows that through her painting she will have the words she needs to set her free and find her place. Join her on this journey.

Tickets for the show cost €10 and can be purchased via www.bacan tix.com ‐ just search for Julia’s Bubble.

CARLOS SADNESS, who ex‐ ceeds a million and a half monthly listeners on Spoti‐ fy, brings his lyrical poetry, which combines perfectly with his music, to the Mediterranean Nights line‐ up in Alicante, showcasing his latest album ‘Tropical Jesus.’

There is a special magic that always comes from his live shows and this latest performance is set to pro‐ vide a certain mysticism as well as a connection with

magic and superstition.

Sadness, who lists his musical inspirations as groups such as Death Cab For Cutie, Simon and Gar‐ funkel, Los Piratas and Joy Division, is one of the most followed Indie artists on so‐ cial media.

His song Hoy es el día was used for Walmart’s spring‐summer advertising campaign in the United States. He was also one of the artists of the advertis‐ ing spot of San Miguel beer

in 2012.

In 2009, he shared the stage with Katy Perry in the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona and in the Pala‐ cio de Los Deportes in Madrid. He also shared the stage with the Spanish singer Bebe in her 2010‐ 2011 tour.

Doors open at 11.30am and the show begins at 12.30pm. Tickets cost €21 and can be purchased via www.entradas.com ‐ just search Carlos Sadness.

Swinging Concert ZOOT SUITER is the amalgamation of seven swing lovers from Murcia and Alicante, with extensive professional careers, who decide to join forces to return to the roots and to the rhythms and sounds of the golden 1920s.

The band offers a show of swing, jazz and blues, with orchestral arrangements that are indebted to the most danceable jazz, encouraging the public to participate in the party at all times.

Since their debut in 2016, they have enjoyed a spectacular reception, participating in prestigious international festivals such as the Swing Art in Bordeaux and the San Javier Jazz Festival.

Come swing and jive with the band on Sunday, March 14, at 12pm at the Murcia Park Auditorium. Free admission until full capacity is reached.

11 - 17 March 2021 • www.euroweeklynews.com

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One in 10 pets will develop a tumour in their lifetime CANCER is one of the biggest concerns for dog and cat owners.

It is the leading cause of death in geriatric animals. For this reason, owners and veterinarians have been becoming aware of the need to provide special care for their pets. There have been great advances in veterinary medicine and surgery, especially in the field of cancer treatment. Early diagnosis is essential. The check‐ up that is carried out on your pet every year should be more ex‐ haustive from six years of age.

Any patient suspected of hav‐ ing a malignant process should be thoroughly investigated by the veterinary team.

This information will help us to know which treatment to use and will inform us of the progno‐ sis, time and cost necessary for the treatment.

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We can only establish a com‐ plete therapeutic protocol and with probability of success if we have information on the extent of the process. This way we can

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47

PETS

How fit is that doggy in the window?

SPRING is about new beginnings and brushing away the cobwebs, after being cooped up inside.

Dogs are out on the streets and in the parks with their owners, but are they protected enough?

The warmer weather could easily present issues for your dog’s health, including heartworm, so make sure the dog receives a year‐round monthly heartworm preventive.

This is also the time of year for mosquitos, fleas and ticks; so protect your dog well in advance and your dog will thank you for it. It is worth asking your vet about the latest products in flea protection.

Dogs, like their owners, need exercise, especially after living the sedentary lifestyle that winter encourages. How‐ ever, don’t rush your dog, as he needs to warm up before doing anything too strenu‐ ous, otherwise he’ll end up with an injury.

Therefore, it is wise to build up a fitness regime grad‐ ually, giving the dog time to adapt.

DON’T RUSH: Your dog needs to warm up before exercise.

48 EWN

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11 - 17 March 2021

AIR CONDITIONING

APPLIANCES REPAIRS

AIR CONDITIONING

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REMOVALS & STORAGE

11 - 17 March 2021

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

50 EWN

11 - 17 March 2021

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SERVICES

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11 - 17 March 2021

ENERGY

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EWN 51

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.aa-costablan ca.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.com (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.(10006) 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.quesada@gmail.com (95477)

CARS WANTED

CHARITY

52

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 of fice@helpvegabaja.com. We also have a 24-hour Emergency helpline which is available to both members and non-members 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.icatorrevieja.org (95476) LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English speaking church. For more information see our website www.lasiestaevangeli 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) PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, www.pilarchurch.org Reg No: 2009-SG/A (95463) 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@gmail. 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

11 - 17 March 2021 • www.euroweeklynews.com SPONSORED BY

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://branch es.britishlegion.org.uk/branch es/orihuela-costa - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier.

More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl.co.uk. (95457) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch.

For info, contact the branch Secretary at granalacant.secre tary@rbl.community 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 strokesupportgroup@hotmail.c om, website: torreviejastroke support.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.acacostablan ca.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)

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

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 Covid19. Identification Fiscal G54713789 (95454)

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

ELECTRIIAN MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (285091)

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

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)

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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)

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 (291396) 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@beneficialin suranceinspain.com or visit www.beneficialinsurancein spain.com for online quote.

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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.fwreurocars.com info@fwreurocars.com (291355)

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.

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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 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 canopies@yahoo.co.uk (288951) www.euroweeklynews.com

CLASSIFIEDS PET CHARITY 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) 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, deflead. volunteers to Tel Anna:

SITUATIONS VACANT

www.euroweeklynews.com 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)

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SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting re-homing.

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

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11 - 17 March 2021 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)

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TORREVIEJA. 58yr blonde lady. Gives massage with happy end. English spoken. Miriam 604 382 799 (290858)

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)

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POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 965 725 565 / 676 945 360 w w w. p o o l t e c h s p a i n . c o m (283443)

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EWN 53

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XXX RELAXATION Please note that in Spain there is NO legislation banning adverts in this section.

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54 EWN

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11 - 17 March 2021

THE future of Volvo Cars is elec‐ tric, and the new Volvo C40 Recharge is the latest manifesta‐ tion of the company’s commit‐ ment to a zero‐emission future.

The C40 Recharge has all the benefits of an SUV but with a lower and sleeker design. It is based on the CMA vehicle plat‐ form and is the first Volvo model in history designed as pure elec‐ tric only.

Volvo C4 Recharge Following the introduction of the XC40 Recharge and now the C40 Recharge, Volvo Cars will roll out several additional elec‐ tric models in the coming years.

Already by 2025, it aims for 50 per cent of its global sales vol‐ ume to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest hybrids. By

2030, it plans for every car it sells to be pure electric.

The rear of the C40 Recharge features a striking rear‐end de‐ sign to go with the lower roofline, while the new front de‐ sign introduces a new face for electric Volvos and includes headlights with state‐of‐the‐art pixel technology.

Inside, the C40 Recharge pro‐ vides customers with the high seating position that most Volvo drivers prefer, while it is avail‐ able with a range of colour and deco options unique to the model. It is also the first Volvo model to be completely leather‐ free.

Like the XC40 Recharge, the C40 Recharge comes with one of the best infotainment sys‐ tems on the market, jointly de‐ veloped with Google and based on the Android operating sys‐ tem. It provides consumers with Google apps and services built‐ in, such as Google Maps, Google Assistant and the Google Play Store.

Unlimited data enables supe‐ rior connectivity and the C40 Recharge will receive software updates over the air.

MOTORING

The VW ID.3 and ID.4

OVER-THE-AIR: Important updates.

VOLKSWAGEN ID.3 and ID.4 models in Europe can now receive new functions and in‐depth technical updates via W‐LAN or mobile network meaning that the customer’s vehicle always re‐ mains at the cutting edge of digital develop‐ ments with the so‐called ‘Over‐the‐Air’ updates.

The software version ID.2.1, which establishes the technical prerequisites for ‘Over‐the‐Air’ up‐ dates, is automatically included with all new ID. models produced since calendar week eight.

“Volkswagen is driving forward the digitalisa‐ tion of its products at pace and is transforming it‐ self into a full‐service provider of hardware, soft‐ ware and services. The introduction of Over‐the‐Air updates is the next important step in our transformation into a tech company and in the development of new business models,” said Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of the Volkswagen brand.

Starting this summer, Volkswagen will provide owners of ID. vehicles with an update every three

months. In addition to optimising software per‐ formance, these may also include new functions and customisation options.

“This will ensure that all delivered ID. models will be kept at the same software level as new cars throughout their entire life cycle. Over‐the‐ Air updates will also be the new normal in cars in the future. With them, we will keep all delivered ID. models on the same software level as new cars for years to come,” said Thomas Ulbrich, Board Member for Technical Development at Volkswagen.

The first ‘Over‐the‐Air’ updates are currently being successfully tested on over 3,000 company cars so that the first customers will soon be able to benefit from the continuous performance im‐ provements and new functions.

Volkswagen is thus setting an important mile‐ stone in the further development of its own elec‐ tronics architecture.

MOTORING

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11 - 17 March 2021

EWN 55

Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro is a limited edition gem!

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack ICONIC is a very overused word in many arenas but particularly in regard to cars. However, there are a few cars that can genuinely claim to be iconic and the Fiat 500 is certainly one of them. In its modern incarna‐ tion, like BMW’s MINI, it is her‐ itage reborn and continues to be a huge success for Fiat.

It is hard to believe it has been around since 2008 and in Abarth form is a particularly fun drive. It’s not especial‐ ly fast but really emphasises

Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro.

that cars don’t need to be fast to be fun. Priced from €20,488 (£17,760) the Abarth 595 line‐ up is all powered by a 1.4‐litre turbocharged petrol engine driving the front wheels through either a manual or CVT automatic gearbox.

There’s a firm but still com‐ fortable ride with the benefit of confident cornering across more twisting roads. The engine is in various states of tune from 145 hp to 180 hp.

The Abarths come in five trim levels with each having distinc‐ tive paint finishes and badging depending on

the particular edition. There are hatchback and cabrio models along with a limited edition Scorpioneoro which was my test model. The limited edition run is just 2,000 and it certainly looks distinctive with black paintwork and gold detailing wheels.

Priced at €25,777 (£22,345) the 165 hp Scorpioneoro offers standard fare such as naviga‐ tion, Bluetooth, climate, power mirrors, automatic lights, rear parking sensors, special Scorpio‐ neoro carpet floor mats and headrest stitching plus a num‐ bered plaque.

Where the 595 shows its age is on items such as seating which offers little adjust‐ ment, a steering wheel only ad‐ justable f o r

height not reach and a design that means the interior is cosy.

What seat height adjustment there is comes via a lever adja‐ cent the handbrake ‐ not ideal ‐ because the door side of the seats are so close it is not possi‐ ble to fit it on that side. That

said this is a car that was origi‐ nally launched back in 2008.

Apart from looking the part the Abarth sounds gorgeous at tickover, not in a broken ex‐ haust kind of way, but there’s a lovely burble from the exhaust and once on the road pushing

the revs the sounds continue to impress. It has such character compared to many modern cars and also broad appeal. My young supermarket delivery chap went into verbal overdrive when he saw it. This was one I was very sorry to hand back.

SPORT

56

11 - 17 March 2021

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Chelsea Keep Climbing CHELSEA have now gone 11 games unbeaten under new boss Thomas Tuchel after a comfortable 2‐0 victory over in‐ form Everton on Monday, March 8.

Everton came into the con‐ test at Stambridge on the back of a three‐game winning streak however, a Jorginho penalty and Ben Godfrey own goal helped the Blues open up a four‐point cushion in the race for the top four.

Kai Havertz was the star man for the home side and it was his deflected shot that got the ball rolling.

Havertz, who unimpressed under previous manager Frank Lampard, turned a Marcos Alonso cross towards goal, which took a wicked deflection off Godfrey, leaving Joran Pick‐ ford with no chance of stop‐ ping it.

The 21‐year‐old German was then tripped in the box after skipping around Pickford to earn his side a second‐half

THOMAS TUCHEL: The new boss of Chelsea. penalty, which Jorginho fin‐ ished neatly with his trade‐ mark hop, skip and jump.

Everton drop to sixth posi‐

tion in the Premier League, four points behind Chelsea who have some serious mo‐ mentum on their side.

Hammers Up WEST HAM’S wonderful season continues as sensational signing Jesse Lingard scores again to see off Leeds 2‐0 at the London Stadium ‐ a victory that sees the Hammers move up to fifth place.

Lingard, on loan from Manchester United, is enjoying life in London and was pivotal for West Ham on Monday, March 8, opening the scoring in the 21st minute when he con‐ verted the rebound from his own penal‐ ty.

The England midfielder was tripped by Luke Ayling and saw his penalty saved by Illan Meslier before making no mistake from the gifted opportunity.

Craig Dawson then doubled West Ham’s lead seven minutes later, capitalising on Leeds’ inability to defend set‐pieces, to bury a free header from a corner.

Patrick Bamford was guilty of missing some decent chances for the away side and substitute Rodrigo’s effort cleared off the line late on.

Interestingly, Dawson and Lingard have now been scorers of seven of West Ham’s last 13 Premier League goals ‐ to leapfrog Everton into fifth, two points off a top‐four spot.

LINGARD: Scored again.