News
The people’s paper ISSUE NO. 1865
1 - 7 April 2021
MALLORCA • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
FREE • GRATIS
KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE
IN a joint press conference on Tues‐ day March 30, Balearic Government Ministers Patricia Gómez and Mer‐ cedes Garrido explained that they would be keeping a close eye on com‐ pliance with Covid‐19 restrictions. This decision was made following the slight increase in infections on Mal‐ lorca, the arrival of German tourists and the forthcoming Easter holidays. The watchword is to ensure that ev‐ eryone is protected as much as possi‐ ble and with a growing number of visi‐ tors to the islands as well as more people circulating generally, it is impor‐ tant that there is no relaxation in be‐ haviour. With bars and restaurants still hav‐ ing to stop at 5pm with a requirement for customers to finish and leave with‐ in 15 minutes and a 10pm curfew, many visitors will be unable to cause too many problems in the streets. Hotels are also affected as although
A mask free beach at Easter.
they can serve meals until 10pm, their bars have to also close at 5pm and guests are not allowed to invite non‐ family members to their rooms. One major complaint appeared to
THE Balearic Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs plans to implement the Colon Cancer Screening Programme in the West area during 2021 on a pilot basis. It then intends to take to the road to expand the programme to take in 100 per cent of the tar‐ get population of the Islands by 2024. According to data from the General Direc‐ torate of Public Health and Participation, every year about 300 people die of colorectal cancer in the Balearic Islands ‐ the most common cancer in the archipelago ‐ hence the importance of pre‐ vention and early detection. In terms of prevention, healthy lifestyles and
be the requirement for people to wear masks on beaches but at the last minute, the Spanish Government agreed that the decision to implement this could be devolved to the Regional
Government which has reportedly de‐ cided against the rule. This is only the case where sensible social distancing may be observed and should there be two groups of people
FIGHTING CANCER habits play an important role and the following precautions are recommended: 1. Avoid smoking any type of tobacco. If you smoke, quit completely. 2. Do not drink alcohol. If drunk, let it be occa‐ sionally and moderately. 3. Follow a high‐fibre diet, which increases the consumption of whole grains (whole and unre‐ fined), fruits and vegetables. Do not eat red meat
(beef, beef, pork, lamb, horse or goat) and deriva‐ tives. Processed meat ‐ sausages, ham, and canned meat ‐ has undergone a process of trans‐ formation such as salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, among others. Following a complete Mediterranean diet ensures a good supply of these nutrients. 4. Avoid metabolic syndrome: obesity, abdom‐ inal obesity and diabetes.
who don’t cohabit then masks will be required and the maximum size groups generally will be limited to six. The ongoing wearing of masks how‐ ever will be subject to further negotia‐ tions with Madrid once Easter is over. Drones will be used on the beaches and possibly in other areas where peo‐ ple may congregate and if anyone is spotted breaking the rules then police will be advised and after sanctioning those involved, fines may follow. Drinking in groups is not allowed anywhere especially not on beaches or in public areas, but the rules are clear concerning who can enter homes so no parties are allowed either. Generally speaking, those visiting Mallorca on vacation are not typical ‘party animals’ so it is hoped that they will be sufficiently mature to respect the rules and the Balearic Government has also appealed to residents not to take risks.
5. Practise physical activity. 6. Go to the health centre in case of alarm sig‐ nals and symptoms or if there is a personal histo‐ ry of colorectal polyps or inflammatory disease, a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps. The target population is between 50 and 69 years old with a screening every two years to de‐ tect hidden blood in stools. The implementation of the Programme began in 2015 in Tramuntana, Menorca, Ibiza and For‐ mentera but had to be stopped as a result of the State of Alarm. It is currently back in operation in Mallorca and Ibiza, although conditioned by the different waves.
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THE Soller Local Police Chief, Josep Porcel has decided to postpone his retirement after reviewing his commitment to promote a strong and committed relationship between Local Police and residents. Following a number of meetings and discussions between the mayor, Carlos Simarro, Councillor Carlos Darder and Sub-Inspector
Police Chief stays Dignified Housing
Josep Porcel, an agreement has been reached for him to continue in his role. Both the mayor and the councillor are very positive about his decision as he is still determined to make the Local Police force one which works in close cooperation and un-
derstanding with residents of the valley. The council team has publicly endorsed the decision, saying that thanks to his professional experience and commitment, Josep Porcel is the best person to continue heading up the Local Police.
Traffic calming SENIOR representatives of the Consell de Mallorca visited Sen‐ celles on Monday March 29, to see for themselves the work un‐ dertaken to calm traffic through the town. The works which lasted five weeks and cost €22,015 consisted of the improvement of the signals in the section of road that unites Sencelles with Biniali reminding drivers of the 40 kmh speed limit. Due to the passage of time and the high increase in vehicles pedestrians were finding them‐ selves in dangerous situations and the introduction of two radar units and brighter LED signal signage will make things safer.
PALMA COUNCIL: Set up an information table. HOUSING problems do cause difficulties in Palma and action is being taken to try to assist those in need with advice as well as an increase in social housing stock. Palma Council regularly set up an information table in Cala Major and local councillors recently visited in order to discuss resident’s needs and explain the purposes of the ‘Dignified Housing’ project. This operation is one of the most important in the Western Coastal Plan, is funded by the European Union and aims at the social integration of the most vulnerable residents of the neighbourhood and the improvement of living conditions. In addition, residents of Cala Major and Sant Agustí will be able to sign up for the different services offered by the pro‐ ject, such as legal advice, support in administrative proce‐ dures in the social aid network, advice on home improve‐ ments and so on. There is also support and assistance to families at risk of eviction or other situations of social risk.
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Lucky escape THERE was panic in Manacor when the driver of a munici‐ pal rubbish lorry noticed on Sunday March 28 that there appeared to be smoke com‐ ing from the back of the lor‐ ry. An estimated three tons of waste material had been col‐ lected during the morning and it is believed that the fire was caused by some form of inflammable material dumped in one of the waste containers. Thinking quickly, the crew dumped the contents of the vehicle onto a slip road near the entrance of the Eco Parc and immediately called the emergency services. Local Police and fire brigade attended the scene of what became a blazing fire and extinguished it, before clearing the road of all debris. Thanks to the quick reac‐ tion of the crew, their vehicle was undamaged and no‐one was injured.
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NIBS EXTRA
HOSPITALITY workers who were expecting to receive a pay increase of 3.5 per cent which was originally due to be paid on April 1, 2020 and then postponed for a year have now been disappointed to learn of a further two-month postponement.
More supplies A COMBINATION of the influx of German tourists and the delays caused by the Suez Canal blockage has meant that shops, hotels and other outlets in Mallorca need additional supplies and although there is now plenty on the mainland, space on ferries is fully booked.
In isolation
Reduced mobility
19 a year ago with the first in May 2020 worth €284,000 and the second in November
THERE was another, much quieter, protest in Palma by members of the hos‐ pitality sector complaining about the ac‐ tions of the Balearic Government on March 29. The protest was orchestrated by Victor Sánchez of the Foro Baleares but no more than around 20 people turned up outside the Government main building at the Consolat de Mar. From the lower than usual turnout, it would appear that many bar and restau‐ rant owners have decided to make the most of the situation, but those who did turn up were angry that once again those without terraces had to close their busi‐ nesses. One of the banners that had been pre‐
Another protest
pared for the protest carried an image of President Armengol with a glass of wine in her hand (who had been caught sever‐ al weeks ago drinking in a bar that should
Rubbish strike AN indefinite strike which affects the collection of urban solid waste in Alcudia and sa Pobla continues after the workers union and the two councils were unable to reach an agreement on Tuesday March 30, so only the minimum of removal is being undertaken by the 70 strikers.
ARRIVALS: Health control checks for all passengers. THE port and airport health control set up by the Balearic Health Service across the islands has carried out 12,051 antigen tests since last Thursday, March 25. Of those, 12,033 have been negative, (99.85 per cent) and therefore only 18, (0.14 per cent) have been positive. Also, since the start of the Easter opera‐ tion, 8,609 passengers have presented their own PCR results made at source, of which 8,591 have been valid. The Covid Express was attended by 370 passengers, of whom 319 had already re‐ quested an appointment and 51 had not. Since last Thursday, more than 26,200
QUIETLY: Interview with Victor Sánchez was broadcast live.
have been closed). The other simply stated “If I don’t work, you don’t get paid” suggesting that the Government should resign en masse.
Easter health control
Car parks THERE continues to be longterm problems with resident parking in Palma and it has now been revealed by the municipal organisation looking after 13 car parks that there is a waiting list of 2,699 people although in May the Juan Gris car park will reopen.
2020 also valued at €330,000. It recognises that the num-
Credit: Credit: Balearic Government
THE Social Services Department of Andratx Council has gratefully received the sum of €2,000 from the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation through CaixaBank to be used to purchase orthopaedic cranes to assist the lifting of dependent people with reduced mobility in the municipality.
NGOs provide healthy and nutritious food.
ber of families cared for by food distribution organisations and social canteens has increased and this support is in addition to other benefits and social assistance. Increase in demand for commodities has affected not only the distribution of basic necessities among families but also social dining halls, which mostly assist single adults in a situation of severe exclusion. As dining activity has been suspended due to the restrictions under the pandemic situation in the Balearics, it has been replaced by the distribution of daily cooked meals.
Credit: Youtube
ALTHOUGH the vast majority of German tourists arriving in Mallorca were found to be negative for Covid-19, a very small number tested positive and according to Mallorca Zeitung are now isolating at the Melia Palma Bay Hotel and will be restricted to their rooms whilst in quarantine.
Food support Credit: Twitter
Second postponement
THE Balearic Government has made a further €330,000 available for distribution to non-profit organisations involved in helping those who are finding it difficult to feed themselves. Applicants will be vetted by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Sports and all programmes involved in direct supply of food and other basic necessities or social dining projects will be considered. This is the third tranche of financial assistance made by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Sport to these entities since the outbreak of the health crisis caused by Covid-
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people have arrived in the Balearic Islands. About 4,600 of them are exempt from tak‐ ing or undergoing any kind of test, due to be‐ ing less than 72 hours on the islands for ex‐ ample crew, federated athletes, carriers, minors, etc. About 200 people have decided to self‐ confine themselves, for not carrying PCR from the point of origin or having undergone an antigen test. The sanitary controls of passenger arrival are located in the terminal of arrivals of ports and airport and are staffed by a contingent of approximately 200 people hired by the Health Service.
22 new
destinations THE Balearics in general and Mallor‐ ca in particular are to enjoy many more Ryanair flights with new routes to some 22 destinations. Palma will see daily flights to and from Belfast as well as twice weekly connections to Copenhagen, Teesside, Naples, Bucharest, Pisa, Tenerife North, Venice Treviso and Jerez. Added to this, the Palma‐ Zaragoza route will increase to three flights a week. Menorca will benefit from nine new routes to Alicante, Bologna, Bordeaux, Malaga, Marseille, Naples, Sevilla, Toulouse and Vien‐ na. Ibiza will make new connections with Alicante, Bari and Belfast. The decision to continue to in‐ crease the number of routes that Ryanair operate throughout the Balearics is made on the assump‐ tion that vaccinations across Europe will escalate, meaning in turn that the appetite for overseas holidays in the sun will also rise dramatically.
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Nine new vehicles DESPITE all of the medical problems caused by Covid‐ 19, the Balearic Government is still finding funds to invest in improving primary health care. The Atenció Primària de Mallorca organisation has re‐ newed almost 100 per cent of its vehicle fleet in the last five years and so far in 2021 nine vehicles at a cost of €250,000 have been ac‐ quired, which added to the 30 purchased between 2017 and 2019, means the mod‐ ernisation of practically the entire fleet. The new vehicles that will form part of the primary care mobile fleet consist of five Toyota hybrids, three Peu‐ geot Rifters (which will be used for the primary care emergency services) and a van with a folding platform to load large objects (such as a hydraulic stretcher).
Eroski new investor ORIGINALLY set up in the Basque Country as a co‐op‐ erative food distribution company, Eroski has been looking for significant invest‐ ment since 2019 and has now struck a deal with a Czech billionaire. Said to be worth in excess of €4 billion, Daniel Kretinsky has, through his EP Corporate Group purchased 50 per cent of Eroski subsidiary Supratuc 2000 which operates the Caprabo and Cecosa super‐ markets as well as Eroski in the Balearics. In announcing the deal, Eroski declined to confirm the value but is comfortable that it will allow the group to strengthen its financial posi‐ tion and continue to trade with Caprabo in Catalonia and Eroski in the Balearics. It is understood the com‐ pany has more than 100 stores in the Balearics as well as 70 plus franchise outlets and there are no planned clo‐ sures or reduction in staff and customers will see little change on a day‐to‐day basis.
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THIS information is only for those of you who do not already have the Spanish National Health ‘Tarjeta Sanitaria’ from the Seguridad Social. And you wish to register with the Spanish National Health to receive the Covid vaccination because you are resident on the island and more than likely have private health cover. The goal posts have just changed and instead of registering at your local health
Request for Covid Vaccine centre in person which has proved in some cases somewhat difficult, it is now possible for you to do this online. A facility has been made available for you which is easier for all concerned as you do not have to go in person to the health centre.
All you need to do is send an email to the following address: registrecovid@ssib.es and attach the following documents. Firstly, say you wish to be added to the register for the Covid vaccination. In Spanish it would be “Deseo añadir mis datos al
registro para recibir la vacuna del Covid por favor.” Supply your: full name nombre completo, address direccion, telephone/land line - telefono movil y/o fijo and age - edad. Attach a copy of your Passport, your NIE/TIE - Adjunto copia Pasaporte y NIE/TIE.
End message with Muchas gracias espero sus noticias. Then sign. Source of information: InfoCovid telephone 971 211 999 and Gerencia Primaria de IB Salud del Govern Balear. At present vaccinations are taking place, but it is a
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slow process. Each ‘Centro de Salud’ (health centre) is going at its own pace, so be patient. We hope this information is of assistance to you. If you need any assistance because you do not have access to internet please contact us and we will do our best to assist you on 678 352 040 after 10am. Should we not answer please call back later or we will call you back. Age Concern Mallorca
Mauled By Five Dogs Topless Feminist Activists
A 65-YEAR-OLD man from Tavernes Blanques suffered serious injuries when he was attacked by five dogs while taking a walk on a quiet country road in Valencia, and was saved from a worse outcome by a quick-thinking cyclist. According to Spanish daily Informacion, the gentleman was making his way to his mother-in-law’s house for lunch along the road to l’Alqueria el Grande, which he does every day, when he was set upon by the five animals. “I saw five large dogs approaching,” the distressed victim recalled. “I thought they would pass by but when they were three or four metres away they began to bark at me and they surrounded me,” he said. They then began to close in, biting at his legs. “I tried to get rid of them, I tried to move but it was impossible. When one of them moved away, another one bit me and another pounced. They were savages,” he said. Although the road he was walking on is a popular route for hikers and cyclists, the lane was deserted and the retiree feared the worst. “I tried to avoid falling because I knew if I did they would kill me. I saw death up close,” the traumatised victim recalls. Right at the critical moment, a cyclist happened along and began kicking out at the dogs scaring them away. He then called an ambulance which transferred the man to hospital. According to the victim, the owners of the dogs are now being investigated and he has received support from dozens of locals online, many of whom claim to have been attacked by the very same dogs. The man’s family is trying to locate the cyclist, who they believe saved the man’s life. “Thank you very much, angel saviour. We would like to meet you. Also to the people who stayed with me for an hour or so until the ambulance arrived. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
PROTEST: The group was disbanded after disrupting a rally in Madrid.
TOPLESS protesters from the feminist activist group Femen turned up to disrupt a rally of more than 200 supporters of Spain’s former dictator Francisco Franco who were celebrating Victory Day on the 82nd anniversary of the ‘Liberation of Madrid’ on Sunday, March 28. Members of the National Police had to separate the group during the ceremony which was approved by the government of Madrid. The bare breasted Femen protesters landed in Spain’s capital with the words ‘to fascism neither honour nor glory’ painted on their bodies, while the Franco supporters retorted with typical fascist physical gestures and shouted derogatory insults such as ‘who is paying you?’ and
‘return to your brothels.’ “When the foundations of Western civilisation are shaking and in the face of the miserable spirit of the returning horde, victory has not only to be evidenced but dialectically defended by a free and proud civil society,” one of the speakers, who was surrounded by a banner featuring the dictator’s face and flags with double-headed eagles, declared. To commemorate the day further, a mass was to be held at the Valley of the Fallen, a prayer and an offering was also to take place in the pantheon of the dictator of Mingorrubio and a ‘brotherhood meal’ was to be enjoyed in a well-known restaurant in the capital adorned with Francoist imagery.
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An update for UK Nationals FROM January 1, UK Nationals have been able to spend 90 days out of every 180 within the Schengen area for tourism or other specific purposes, such as business meetings, without needing a visa. Any stays beyond the 90 days will be dependent on Spain’s visa and immigration rules and any UK Nationals who would like to discuss extending their stay should contact their local extranjería office or call 060. All foreign nationals intending to stay in Spain for longer than three months have always been obliged to register for residency - whatever their nationality. Therefore if you arrived in Spain before January 1, you must take steps to become resident if you consider your home to be here. Otherwise, you should be arranging to return to the UK. If you are trying to become resident and are in the process of registering or appealing against your application having been rejected, the 90-day rule does not apply to you.
HMA Hugh Elliott said: “I’m aware that many second home owners are concerned about overstaying as we reach March 31. “The Spanish Government has been clear that it will take a pragmatic approach to anyone who is stuck in Spain due to circumstances beyond their control, so I don’t want people to be overly worried on that count. However, if people do not intend to become resident here in Spain and see the UK as their base, we do expect them to take steps to return to the UK as soon as they can.” A Spanish Ministry of Inclusion spokesperson said: “The Spanish Government is working to provide maximum legal certainty for British citizens resident in Spain. Throughout the negotiations, the issue of citizens’ rights has been, and remains, one of the main priorities. Spain is the country of residence of the largest community of UK nationals in the EU. “The Spanish Government has no plans to deport British
DEAL DONE: Boris Johnson with Jean-Claude Juncker. citizens who have made Spain their home and, for this reason, Spain has been one of the first EU countries to establish a documentation procedure under the Withdrawal Agreement, which consists of a declaratory system to apply for the new residence permit (TIE). We remind British citizens that, although there is no time limit, it is important to make this application as soon as possible as, among other things, it will facilitate the administrative processing and the crossing of the external borders of the European Union.”
If you are in the UK and considering travelling to Spain or are in Spain and have friends or family wanting to visit, you should be aware of the continuing travel restrictions on both leaving the UK and entering Spain. UK Nationals must make sure that they meet both the requirements to leave the UK and those to enter Spain, bearing in mind that they are not the same. From March 30, entry to Spain will only be granted to those passengers who can demonstrate that their journey is essential, as well as to those
who are already legally resident in Spain. Entering merely to visit, even if you have a second home here, is not a justified reason for entry. You may be questioned on arrival by Spanish border authorities to ensure you meet the entry requirements and they will only grant entry if they are satisfied that your journey to Spain is essential and reserve the right to deny passage. Ultimately, the decision on whether to grant entry into Spain is made by Spanish border officials as set out in our Travel Advice. For the latest information and links to the restrictions on leaving the UK and entering Spain, we advise people to visit our Travel Advice page on gov.uk and sign up for alerts, so that they are notified of any changes: https://www.gov.uk/ foreign-travel-advice/spain.
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Mystery Monolith YET another monolith turned up on Tuesday March 30 on a beach in Girona, on the Costa Brava. The metal monolith, more than two metres tall, and similar to the one which first ap‐ peared back in Novem‐ ber 2020 in the Utah desert and several oth‐ ers since then, was spot‐ ted on Sa Conca beach in the town of Castell‐ Platja d’Aro. A spokesperson for the town hall confirmed it was on the beach al‐ though it is not known where it came from. Since the first one, several similar metal monoliths have ap‐ peared in different areas of the UK, Romania, Hol‐ land, Canada or Poland, as well as Segovia in Spain.
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Hidden epidemic Revolutionary THE use of drugs such as painkillers among older people globally has risen in recent years and countries must act to address this “hidden epidemic,” the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has warned in its annual report. “The pandemic has caused great harm to the health and the well-being of older people. However, there is also a hidden epidemic of drug use affecting this population group,” said Cornelis de Joncheere, President of the INCB. The reports claims that as the world grows older, drug
Treatment
DRUGS: Are being used more by older people. use among people over 65 has also grown. It found increased use of pain relievers, tranquilisers and sedatives among this demographic. Older people with substance use problems also face unique age-related issues, including isolation or physical challenges.
THE Hospital Clínico de Santiago in Galicia has become the first centre in the public health system in Spain to successfully com‐ plete a treatment with HIFU (high frequency ultrasound) on a pa‐ tient with Parkinson’s disease, which has been shown to reduce symptoms such as tremors by up to 80 per cent. The revolutionary method produces almost immediate results with a new ultrasound machine that doesn’t require surgical in‐ tervention. Rather, the technology creates a burn of no more than three millimetres in the part of the brain that controls move‐ ment. The entire treatment lasts between just 30 and 45 minutes and there is no age limit. According to experts, “spectacular results are achieved, with great safety and with hardly any contraindica‐ tions.” What’s more, the results last. In Galicia about 4,000 people, mainly elderly, suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Almost half of them fail to see improve‐ ments with conventional treatments and or, when they do, suffer side effects.
Less plastic on shelves
AS part of its 6.25 Strategy to reduce the use of plastic by 25 per cent by 2025, supermarket Mercadona has eliminated all single-use disposable plastic products from its stores and replaced
them with more sustainable materials. Through this initiative, the company will invest some €140 million to make all packaging recyclable and, in turn, recycle any plastic waste it might
generate. In January, the grocery chain stopped using plastic bags in its physical stores and online deliveries, replacing them with compostable bags made from potato
starch, resulting in a 3,200 tonne reduction in plastic. Having now done away with the likes of single-use picnic plates and cutlery, Mercadona has introduced new kitchenware made from environmentally friendly materials such as cardboard, wood and sugar cane. The new products are dishwasher safe and 100 per cent recyclable. Through their commitment to the environment, this new action will reduce the amount of plastic used by 3,000 tonnes per year - the equivalent of 120 lorry-loads.
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UK PRESS
EURO WEEKLY NEWS CEO Michel Euesden has been quoted by the UK press in an arti‐ cle showing Spanish authorities have de‐ nied claims 500 expats will be deported. The Express newspa‐ Michel quoted in UK press. per has this morning claimed Spain’s government is not planning mass deporta‐ tions of unregistered UK expats, as suggested by the British press. They quote the Spanish interior ministry as saying: “Fol‐ lowing the UK’s departure from the European Union, and in accordance with the Brexit agreement with EU countries and international conventions, British citizens are subject to the same rules as citizens of other third‐party countries. The same article quoted Michel as commenting on reports of large numbers of expats leaving Spain. Meanwhile, Sue Wilson, chair of Bremain in Spain, a group campaigning for the rights of British migrants living in Spain, claimed people face a 90‐day deadline to leave the country. She said: “These are people who have been flying under the radar for a long time when they should have registered their residence in the country and didn’t for whatever reason. “Many are still planning to do the same and think the Spanish will either turn a blind eye or will take time to get their act together to enforce the law.”
Prices rise again
THE price of electricity is rising again this month in Spain and will be 12 per cent higher at the end of March than it was in February. The electricity bill of an average user is up to around €55.20 per month in March, which is 12.6 per cent more than in February and 16 per cent more than in March last year, according to the National Markets and Competition Committee.
The reasons behind the rising electricity prices in March, according to a report in national Spanish press, are the fact that wind production of electricity has fallen and had to be covered by combined gas cycles, an expensive raw material which must also compensate for CO2 emissions. It also happens when less energy is being produced by renewable sources such as wind and water, as it has to be made using fossil fuels such as gas or coal. The price of petrol also influences production costs. Comparing with last year, another reason is because demand fell during the State of Alarm. Electricity began to rise in April 2019, although this was followed by 19 months of falling prices, then two months of rises, in December 2020 and January 2021, and then another drop in February this year. Meanwhile, the price of butane gas bottles in Spain is also continuing to rise, and is now at €13.96, the highest since January 2019, and it is expected to continue to rise. The Consumer Organisation, OCU, has recommended that families who are having financial difficulties should check if they are entitled to benefits to help pay their energy bills.
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UK Branches to Close
SANTANDER bank has announced plans that will see 111 branches closed throughout the country as more and more people use mobile and online banking rather than visiting their bank in person. The ongoing Coronavirus BANK PLANS: More and more people use online banking. pandemic has accelerated the shift to online banking too. The closures will see around 840 staff affected alfallen considerably over recent years so we have though Santander have committed to trying to find made the difficult decision to consolidate our presthem alternative positions within the bank. Santander ence in areas where we have multiple branches relaconfirmed that the Coronavirus pandemic has intively close together.” creased the ongoing trend which has seen branch visThere are also plans afoot to move the bank’s its reduced. headquarters to Milton Keynes from London. The deAdam Bishop, head of branches at Santander cision will see the floor space rented out and the capispoke about the difficult decision to close branches tal reduced. Other office closures are planned before and explained that, “Branch usage by customers has the end of the year too.
Police Brutality on Film
THE National Police have launched an investigation into two officers who were recorded while they were trying to arrest a young woman in Benidorm in Alicante who had violated curfew, and reported‐ ly, several other anti‐Covid regulations. The incriminating video was shot by a resident of an apartment directly above where the alleged attack took place. The footage, which has since gone viral, clearly shows the two officers grappling with the young woman and delivering several blow with their trun‐ cheon. Sources from the Government Delegation in the Valencian Community have informed Spanish daily EFE, that while the National Police have taken a statement from both officers, they have not been ar‐ rested or charged with any crime. It will now be down to a court to review the footage and the state‐ ments and determine if their intervention is considered irregular, in which case criminal proceedings will begin against the officers.
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Thousands attended concert
FIVE THOUSAND music lovers attended a massive rock con‐ cert on Saturday March 27, after undergoing a same‐day Covid‐19 test to understand its effectiveness in stopping outbreaks of the virus at large events. The Love of Lesbian rock concert had been given spe‐ cial permission from Spanish Health Authorities. The event took place as the rest of the country was unable to have gatherings of more than four people in closed spaces. Although masks were mandatory at the con‐ cert, the people attending were able to mix freely. It is the first commercial event, which was also sold‐ out, of this size to be held in Europe during the pandem‐ ic, organisers said. The concert was backed by experts of Barcelona’s The Fight AIDS and Infec‐ tious Diseases Foundation and the local authorities. The foundation also or‐ ganised a case study around a smaller concert in Decem‐ ber with 500 people. They
concluded that the prelimi‐ nary case study showed that pre‐screening, antigen tests and the use of face masks
was successful in preventing infections within the concert even without social distanc‐ ing rules.
Wheelie Bad Idea
OFFICERS of the traffic division of the Guardia Civil in Torre‐ vieja on the Costa Blanca made an interesting find on Wednesday March 3 when they noticed a cyclist moving un‐ usually fast along the CV‐905. To add to the mystery, the 41‐ year‐old man of Pakistani origin appeared to be zooming up‐ hill without pedalling. As they approached, the officers heard the distinctive sound of a motor; once he realised he was be‐ ing observed, the cyclist quickly switched it off and began to pedal, but that didn’t stop the officers pulling him over. When they inspected the bike, they found that it had an internal combustion engine attached to the frame and an ac‐ tual petrol tank, which the owner had tried to cover up with a t‐shirt. He had also cleverly modified the handlebars to op‐ erate the accelerator and brakes. The Guardia Civil seized the contraption and took it to a lo‐ cal ITV centre for further examination, where experts discov‐ ered it contained an impressive two‐cylinder engine similar to what would be found on a moped and could reach speeds in excess of 50 kilometres per hour. Because of the illegal modifications to the bike it was con‐ sidered a motor vehicle, and the owner faces fines of up to €1,400. He was charged by the court in Torrevieja for not having obtained a licence or permit for the vehicle and for not having the correct registration, insurance or technical in‐ spection.
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Sánchez Visits ‘Supercomputer’ PEDRO SÁNCHEZ, the President of the Spanish government, on Thursday March 25, attended the headquarters of the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), to visit the new supercomputer ‘Cirrus’ and the National Prediction Centre, where he chaired the meteorological
and coordination briefing, and met with key members from the units that make up the SNP. ‘Cirrus’ will be the second most powerful supercomputer in Spain, only surpassed by the MareNostrum of the National Supercomputing Centre of Barcelona, and will be operational
in May. Cirrus will be the ‘brain’ of AEMET, and be the information base of its weather predictions, and in addition to making meteorological predictions with the use of prediction models, the computer has been fed with all of the climatological data from the last 125 years. The computing power of ‘Cirrus’ is such that it makes it possible to generate much faster weather predictions, which is essential for providing advance warnings of adverse weather events, aiding air navigation for the likes of AENA and ENAIRE, with air traffic control, plus services for Defence, among others, in addition to the new climate services and early warning services established in the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (PNACC).
CIRRUS: Will be operational in May.
NEWS
Heroic Save of Boy
OFF-DUTY firefighter Russ Jones, aged 24, has been praised by the West Midlands Fire service for his ‘swift and selfless actions’ which saved a young boy’s life. Russell had been off duty on Thursday, March 18 but when a Birmingham house caught fire on Farren Road in Northfield, he did everything he could do to help. Being off-duty firefighter Russ did not have any of his firefighting equipment, but after hearing screams coming from the property he knew he had to save the young boy, of only four years old, that he knew to be trapped in the property. Speaking of the young boy trapped in the fire Russ explained that, “As soon as I saw the fire and was told a young child was missing in the property, I had to do something. The fire was too intense upstairs and because I could hear the screams I knew the boy had to be on the ground floor. Russ has been praised by the West Midlands Fire ser-
vice and Marc Hudson Group Commander said, “The swift and selfless actions of Firefighter Jones represent the very best of West Midlands Fire Service.
“We’re very proud of Russ for saving the young boy’s life, had he not acted so quickly and professionally, this incident may have ended in tragedy.”
Moroccans may go home this summer THE Moroccan government has told Spain that it intends to welcome back its citizens living abroad this summer. Last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the operation, known as ‘Paso del Estrecho’ (Crossing the Strait) in Spain and ‘Operation Marhaba’ (Welcome Operation) in Morocco, did not take place. It was cancelled by Morocco, which has had its borders closed to passengers for a year, allowing only goods to enter. In the summer of 2019, when the operation (OPE) took place as normal, more than three million Moroccans returned to their homeland to spend the summer holidays, travelling through Spain and leaving mainly from Algeciras and Tarifa in Cadiz, as well as other ports in the south of Spain. According to the Moroccan press, citing Assahifa Arabic, have reported that the Moroccan government has transmitted their plans to the Spanish government, although, of course, it will ultimately depend on the epidemiological situation.
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Vaccine Certificates A GOVERNMENT minister has said UK travellers will be offered vaccine certificates before they travel internationally. The Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “On the international stage, vaccine certification is not entirely within our control and if our citizens want to travel abroad, we’ll need to ensure that they are able to do so.”
The government said: “The UK is working with other countries who have started similar programmes, to lead global efforts to adopt a clear international framework with standards that provide consistency for passengers and industry alike.” The certificate, which would allow travel, is hoped to be introduced by the summer.
Future health threats A NEW UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to plan for, prevent and respond to external health threats such as infectious diseases, such as Covid, was announced by the gov‐ ernment on Thursday, March 25. Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jenny Harries, will become Chief Executive of the ‘mission‐driven body to harness the UK’s public health protection, science, intelli‐ gence, testing and delivery exper‐ tise.’ The UKHSA ‐ previously the National Institute for Health Protec‐ tion ‐ will be the UK leader for health security, providing intellectu‐ al, scientific and operational leader‐ ship at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, said the government in a statement.
NEWS
EUROPEAN NIBS DENMARK
FRANCE
Working hours
Space wine
ACCORDING to a report prepared by UK healthcare software provider Vantage Technologies, Denmark has the shortest working week amongst all European Union countries at 37.8 hours and 36 days annual leave with Spain clocking in at 40.4 hours and the UK 42.3 hours.
RESEARCHERS in Bordeaux have been given the job of tasting and analysing wine that spent a year on the International Space Station and one bonus is that there were 12 bottles of the legendary Petrus Pomerol each of which sells for several thousand euros.
NORWAY
NETHERLANDS
Silent engines
Hacked off HACKERS are offering for sale 7.3 million names, addresses and telephone numbers which they claim were taken from the data base of Dutch IT company RDS which runs a service to garages allowing them to remind drivers that they are due for a check-up.
THE Norwegian Government has decided that Bergen Engines (owned by Rolls Royce) may not sell its silent engines to a Russian company (whose owners have links to Vladimir Putin) as national security interests may be compromised since the engines are in use by the Norwegian Navy.
BELGIUM
FINLAND
Name calling
Crossing borders
A FLEMISH couple (who speak Dutch) were initially told by a registration official in Brussels that they couldn’t call their child Hannes which is short for Johannes because it sounded too much like French word ânesse the name for a female donkey.
DESPITE the fact that the Finnish government has tightened entry restrictions there is still significant traffic from Estonia with some 10,600 visitors arriving at the port of Helsinki in one week alone, all mainly cross border workers, with just 64 passengers refused entry.
GERMANY
SWEDEN
Citizenship ALTHOUGH Germany has made it easier for the descendants of Jews who fled Nazi Germany to gain citizenship, there were still loopholes in the law which will now be changed as a symbolic gesture of apology to those who may have been refused in the past.
Emission fees IN the same way that some electric cars pay less road tax, the Swedish Government has decided that aircraft landing and taking off from Stockholm and Gothenburg airports will be charged fees based on their emissions, so the greener the fuel, the lower the charge.
Target surpassed
Covid laws will be extended until September
SPAIN has managed to reach 21.4 per cent of its energy demand with re‐ newables in 2020, there‐ by exceeding the target established by European regulations. Had it not been for the impact of the pandemic, Spain would have fallen short, covering around 19.5 per cent of national energy consumption, ac‐ cording to the Observato‐ ry of the Energy Transi‐ tion and Climate Action, a project of the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3). The EU is currently working on regulations to achieve a 55 per cent re‐ duction in CO2 emissions by 2030, which will re‐ quire a huge increase in the penetration of re‐ newables. Spain has already com‐ mitted to achieving 42 per cent by the end of the decade.
UK MPs on Thursday March 25 voted staggeringly in favour of coronavirus laws remaining in place until September, despite Tory rebellion. Despite Matt Hancock admitting he can’t rule out try‐ ing to renew them again, The Commons voted 484 to 76 which is a majority of 408. The Health Secretary was unable to guarantee that it was the final time MPs would be asked to roll‐over the powers. Thirty‐six Conservative MPs voted against the renewal of the Coronavirus Act, while 21 Labour MPs also voted against it. It was questioned by Tory rebels why the laws needed to be kept in place when the lockdown is set to end in June. The law can only be extended for six months at a time.
Easter Troops THE Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that an additional 64,200 troops, consisting of both National Police and Guardia Civil officers, will be deployed throughout Spain to ensure compliance with the perimeter restrictions over Holy Week. The head of the department, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, announced the measures at a meeting of the Interterritorial Council on Wednesday, March 24, adding that some 9,539 sanctions were handed out to travellers over the San Juan Bridge. The restrictions, which remain in place until April 9, mean that people will not be permitted to travel outside their autonomous communities, except for essential reasons. The minister warned all drivers ahead of Holy Week that an abundance of officers will be patrolling borders to “ensure the effectiveness” of the control measures.
FEATURE
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1 - 7 April 2021
EWN 13
Advertising Feature
Two week Update
IN the lead the US dollar strengthened by an average of 1.5%: at the rear the NZ dollar was in a 1.7% hole. Milling around in the middle there was little to choose between the pound, the euro and the Swiss franc. The Norwegian krone, which had led the way in the previous two weeks, was relegated to the rear half of the field and was placed last on four days. Sterling was on average almost unchanged, but only after it had scored two daily losses and one win. The UK economic data were not as helpful as they might have been. Days after the Bank of England had aspired towards “achieving the 2% inflation target sustainably,” it was reported to have fallen to 0.4%. At least retail sales were up to forecast, rising 2.1% in February. It was another week of political wrangling on vaccine production and trade dominating the euro’s narrative once more. The euro did well to hold steady against the pound, given the underlying concern that vaccine inefficiency could delay Europe’s economic recovery.
There was little help from the Eurozone economic data, not because they were ugly but as a result of investors’ preoccupation with vaccines and lockdowns. But Europe’s ecostats were not bad: the provisional purchasing managers’ indices were all better than forecast and higher on the month. The Federal Reserve said nothing it had not said repeatedly over the last couple of months. Chairman Jerome Powell told both chambers of Congress that inflation is not, and will not become, a problem, so rates will remain low. Investors are taking that assurance with a pinch of salt, and have put upward pressure on long-term interest rates. That suspicion, together with the (not unrelated) vast amounts of public spending planned by President Biden, encouraged buyers of the US dollar. It strengthened by an average of 1.6%, taking two cents off sterling. Canada’s dollar was not far behind the US version, adding an average of 1.2% and taking two and a quarter cents off sterling. To an extent it
was hauled ahead by expectations for the US economy but it got no grief from the Canadian economic data. Unemployment fell to 8.2%, its lowest level since March last year. The effect of a 1.1% monthly fall in retail sales was blunted because analysts had predicted a 2.8% decline. Although for unrelated reasons, the Australian dollar kept company with the northern Scandinavian crowns, all of them losing an average of about 0.6% to the major currencies. Whilst the AUD initially reacted positively to the deluge of US fiscal stimulus, it lost its rosy glow after investors considered the possible impact on inflation. One unusual statistic concerned new home sales. They jumped 22.9% in a month as buyers rushed to get in before the end of the government’s Home Builder subsidy. The jobs numbers looked more sustainable, with unemployment falling to 5.8%, an 11-month low. The NZ dollar found itself in last place, handicapped by technical issues. Having failed to make upward headway against the US dollar, investors
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mallorca@moneycorp.com. gave up and sent it lower. It ended up 1.8% lower on average, losing two and a quarter US cents and falling three and a third cents against the pound. A further complication was an announcement that there would be a change to the tax treatment of residential landlords. For long enough the NZ government has been agonising about “unaffordable” house prices. In late March it announced measures which it hopes will improve the situation, limiting tax exemptions for buy-tolet investors. Although the prime minister accepts that “there is no silver bullet,” she said “the need for further action is clear.”
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14 EWN
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FEATURE
GO LOCAL
THE EUROWEEKLY NEWS is urg‐ ing its readers to support local businesses in the community by going local through the lockdown and for your all your shopping this year, instead of feeding on‐ line giants and superstores. During this lockdown and with Easter this weekend, we challenge you to rediscover your local high streets, markets, butchers, green‐ grocers and all of the wonderfully quirky independent businesses in your area. Due to the Covid‐19 pandemic, you may have to support many lo‐ cal businesses by ordering online and making use of any click and collect services they can operate if you are unable to get out due to health reasons or lockdown re‐ strictions. The joy of shopping local means that independent busi‐ nesses can help support the local community. Although it may be a euro or two cheaper elsewhere or online, consider where your money is ac‐ tually going. By shopping at an independent store you’re putting food on a lo‐ cal family’s table, and there is no better time than now to give back to your community by making a small gesture and shopping in this way. Many local stores support local charities, support and sponsor lo‐ cal sports teams and in many cas‐
BUY LOCAL: By shopping locally, independent businesses can help support the local community.
es the small independent stores are actually much more than just a small high street shop, they’re a family’s legacy, often passed down through numerous genera‐ tions and support not just the cur‐ rent owner but the generation be‐ fore. For those stores which are new, that extra couple of euros spent there are supporting someone’s dream and ambition, and also the courage it took them to step out alone, which is no easy task. It takes quite a large chunk of mon‐ ey to set up an independent store and compete with the multina‐ tional and chains. So be sure to pre‐order your meat from a local butcher and get your spuds from a local greengro‐ cer, let us revive that community spirit and get to know our neigh‐ bours again. You could also consider pur‐ chasing gift vouchers from local businesses to help them over the coming weeks, thinking outside the box can often lead to some
fantastic ideas. Why not buy a meal for two, an hour’s tattoo time at a local studio, a hair cut at a local salon or an online study course for someone looking to change their career path. As people are struggling with fi‐ nances thinking about what friends and family may actually need is important too. Whilst it’s nice to give a glamourous gift per‐ haps pre‐paying a family mem‐ ber’s phone bill for the month would actually be a better gift. Helping people alleviate stress and worry , give the gift of peace of mind through these difficult times. Choosing to spend your money locally will really make a difference in the recovery of the local econo‐ my. When we buy local, our mon‐ ey stays local, and it strengthens the local economy in two ways. First, buying local keeps money circulating within the local econo‐ my. Studies have shown that local businesses recirculate a greater share of every euro as they create
locally owned supply chains and invest in their employees. Data shows that local retailers return 52 per cent of their rev‐ enue back into the local economy, compared to just 14 per cent for national chain retailers. Money circulating through the local economy benefits everyone who is a part of each transaction. For example, let’s look at a local farmer growing produce. First, they sell to a local restau‐ rant, which in turn prepares the fresh produce and sells it to local customers. The farmer pays its lo‐ cal employees and the restaurant uses revenue from sales to buy supplies from a neighbourhood hardware store. This example il‐ lustrates how the recirculation of money in the local economy leads to a stronger financial foundation for our neighbours and communi‐ ties. Buying local also fuels new employment and job opportuni‐ ties for people within our commu‐ nity. Studies show, locally owned businesses employ more people per unit of sales and retain more employees over time. A fantastic example of how to support your local community is with a Charity Gift certificate, 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.
FINANCE Equal pay SOME 42,000 staff at ASDA have moved another step forward in what could be a long legal battle as the UK Supreme Court ruled that store workers (who are mainly women) should be entitled to compare themselves to distribution staff (mainly men) for equal pay purposes.
Production down ALTHOUGH there are considerably more home deliveries across the world, UK commercial vehicle production fell 45.4 per cent in February, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders due to parts shortages, new customs processes and international lockdown measures which have made production difficult.
Greater spend THE Spanish Social Security Department allocated a record figure of €10.119 billion to the payment of contributory pensions for March 2021 which is 2.4 per cent more than in the same month of 2020, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.
Meal box IF you have ever wondered what it would be like to enjoy the luxury of a first class meal on a British Airways intercontinental flight, now is the time to find out as the airline is offering £80 (€90) meal boxes for two to cook at home.
Price cuts AS Carrefour in Spain starts work on assimilating the recent Supersol takeover into its family, it has also announced further price cuts as the competition with other supermarkets intensifies. Some 1,000 own products have been reduced in price and a further 600 in a mix between own products and national brands have been repriced at 99c. The supermarket chain has identified the most popular products with customers and has also reduced the amount of sugar, saturated fat and salt added to 380 of its own brand products.
STAT OF WEEK
www.euroweeklynews.com • 1 - 7 April 2021
€2 billion
is the latest market valuation for Glovo, the Spanish start-up which competes with Deliveroo and Uber Eats in the fast food delivery market.
Spanish support schemes
New low-cost airline ONE of the founders of the now partially bankrupt Norwegian Air, Bjørn Kjos is looking to return to the cheap intercontinental air‐ line market. The 74‐year‐old retired as CEO of Norwegian two years ago, but could now benefit from its demise as he is talking about leasing 12 of the Norwegian Air Boeing 787 Dreamliners which were purchased dur‐ ing his tenure.
He wants to create Norse Atlantic Airways with an initial investment of 1.5 bil‐ lion Norwegian Krone (€147.6 million) working with former colleagues in‐ cluding Espen Høiby, a for‐ mer SAS pilot and brother of Crown Princess Mette‐ Marit. He told NRK “We’ll start with 12 of Norwegian’s for‐ mer Dreamliners. The dif‐ ference between us and Norwegian is that we don’t
LEGALLY SPEAKING
have any debt, and we can get the aircraft for half‐ price.” In the meantime, credi‐ tors of Norwegian including more than 30,000 passen‐ gers as well as former staff are left unpaid due to the bankruptcy protection granted to the airline in Ire‐ land and Norway. Some critics argue that it was the speed in which Kjos grew the airline and the massive purchase of
aircraft which it couldn’t re‐ ally afford that spelled doom for Norwegian which was suffering financially even before the advent of the Covid‐19 pandemic. Time will tell whether there is going to be a viable market for transatlantic travel in the near future, al‐ though Norse Atlantic Air‐ ways hope to float on the Norwegian stock market within a month or so and start flights in December.
Suppliers slashed
Clean Cars Get Stickers
Credit: Boohoo.com
BUSINESS EXTRA
16
Various readers have inquired about ob‐ taining ‘ecological stickers’ for their cars of low carbon emissions. One reader was told that the stickers were already being sent out as early as 2017 and he wonders if he will get one.
In theory he should receive his sticker YOU AND THE LAW in the post be‐ IN SPAIN cause the DGT, the traffic department, already has access to all of the vehicles’ data on the In‐ ternet. The ‘Cero Emisiones’ sticker is dark blue with a big black Zero on it and it applies to all‐electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles that can plug into chargers and some others. The next level is green and blue and is called ‘Eco’. It includes vehicles driven by natural gas and some battery‐run. The ‘C’ sticker is green and is issued to gasoline‐powered vehicles registered after January 1, 2006, and diesels registered from 2014. The ‘B’ sticker is yellow and is issued to gasoline‐driv‐ en vehicles registered after 2000 and diesels after 2006. The easiest way for you to speed up the process is to go with your car papers to the post office and order a stick‐ er. This will cost you €5.
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.
SPANISH supermarket group DIA announced on Thursday March 25 that it has agreed to convert debt owed to its main shareholder LetterOne in‐ to equity. It intends to offer new shares to existing share‐ holders worth €1.028 bil‐ lion of which the bulk will
ONLINE: Fashion aimed at those aged 16 to 30. THE value of shares in online UK fashion retailer Boohoo dropped dramatically in the second half of 2020 after The Sunday Times accused it of buying goods from companies which didn’t pay the minimum wage. Similar accusations followed from other newspapers and on social media which prompt‐ ed the company to completely review its supply line and con‐ sider opening its own factory. The company which also owns a number of other on‐ line retailers such as Pretty Lit‐ tle Things recently purchased a number of labels including Burtons, Debenhams and Dorothy Perkins following the
demise of Arcadia. A review of the working conditions of its network of factories, some of which were alleged to pay staff just £3.50 (€4) an hour has resulted in a decision to drastically reduce its suppliers from an estimated 500 to just 78, the majority of which operate out of Leicester. The report which was pre‐ pared under the guidance of a barrister revealed that some of the top people at the company were aware of the problems before they were reported in the press and had also used the opportunity of lockdown to benefit financially from the opportunities arising out of lockdown.
DIA supermarket equity be converted from the debt of €769 million it owes to Luxembourg based LetterOne which is owned by Russian billion‐ aire Mikhail Fridman. The balance of shares
valued at €269 million will be offered to other shareholders and replaces an earlier plan to convert just €500 million of debt to equity. The supermarket chain
continues to operate at a significant loss although its 2020 figures showed that the loss more than halved compared to the previous year at €364 mil‐ lion thanks to a signifi‐
THE European Commission has agreed three existing Spanish schemes to support the econo‐ my following the coronavirus outbreak to be in line with the State Aid Temporary Frame‐ work. Executive Vice‐President Mar‐ grethe Vestager, who is in charge of competition policy, said, “The amendments we have approved today will help Spanish companies preserve economic activity in these diffi‐ cult times by adapting and en‐ hancing existing Spanish schemes already in force. “We continue to work in close cooperation with Member States to find workable solutions to mitigate the economic impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, in line with EU rules.”
Canadian contract ITP Aero, a Spanish sub‐ sidiary of Rolls Royce En‐ gines will provide mainte‐ nance services for Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW814 and PW815 engines. It will become the exclu‐ sive provider of a range of services and this is the first time that it has obtained such a contract in the civil field and work will be car‐ ried out at its Madrid facili‐ ties. Having experienced fi‐ nancial setbacks, like many other companies in the avi‐ ation industry, due to Covid‐19 and huge reduc‐ tions in flights and sales of engines, this is welcome news. cant increase in purchases during the State of Alarm. It now hopes with a sig‐ nificant reduction in debt and with the support of its shareholders that it can follow its roadmap to return to profitability, es‐ pecially as it now has no significant debt repay‐ ments due until 2025.
18 EWN
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C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 29
COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) 3I Group 1.175,00 1.175,00 Admiral Group 3.018,0 3.051,0 Anglo American 2.815,5 2.836,0 Antofagasta 1.667,50 1.685,00 Ashtead Group 4.317,0 4.334,0 Associated British Foods 2.406,0 2.406,0 AstraZeneca 7.298,0 7.299,7 Auto Trader Group Plc 568,60 569,20 Avast 468,00 468,00 Aveva 3.434,0 3.437,0 Aviva 400,50 401,60 B&M European Value Retail SA539,00 540,60 BAE Systems 497,80 497,80 Bank VTB DRC 0,970 0,975 Barclays 180,04 182,08 Barratt Developments 766,46 767,42 Berkeley 4.449,5 4.452,0 BHP Group 2.091,00 2.093,00 BP 299,24 301,60 British American Tobacco 2.812,5 2.813,0 British Land Company 511,60 512,60 BT Group 150,59 152,10 Bunzl 2.308,0 2.308,0 Burberry Group 1.904,0 1.905,5 Carnival 1.569,5 1.595,1 Centrica 51,60 52,16 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.330,0 2.330,0 Compass 1.469,30 1.478,20 CRH 3.350,0 3.353,0 Croda Intl 6.420,0 6.420,0 DCC 6.514,0 6.524,0 Diageo 3.005,5 3.007,5 DS Smith 410,94 411,94 EasyJet 948,47 962,02 Experian 2.516,0 2.516,0 Ferguson 8.840,0 8.850,0 Flutter Entertainment 16.395,0 16.525,0 Fresnillo 912,20 916,80 GlaxoSmithKline 1.300,74 1.304,32 Glencore 282,54 284,99 Halma 2.397,0 2.397,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.540,14 1.540,14 Hikma Pharma 2.239,00 2.239,00 HSBC 420,45 421,90 IAG 194,05 196,32 Imperial Brands 1.506,50 1.508,00 Informa 565,20 565,80 InterContinental 4.946,0 4.961,0 Intermediate Capital 1.880,00 1.880,00 Intertek 5.658,0 5.658,0 ITV 126,84 127,80
% CHG. 1.169,00 2.998,0 2.814,5 1.664,00 4.310,0 2.390,2 7.282,0 560,60 458,00 3.407,0 400,10 539,00 496,10 0,970 180,00 761,40 4.436,4 2.081,00 298,87 2.786,7 510,00 149,10 2.303,0 1.890,6 1.569,5 51,56 2.305,0 1.469,30 3.339,0 6.380,3 6.478,0 2.987,5 408,78 948,11 2.495,0 8.792,0 16.385,0 902,80 1.299,40 282,41 2.383,0 1.524,70 2.223,00 420,31 193,49 1.494,00 563,80 4.922,0 1.880,00 5.608,0 126,53
NET VOL 13,05K 1,91K 52,47K 10,20K 19,66K 0,87K 5,04K 12,49K 9,00K 2,79K 88,65K 9,12K 10,63K 10,54K 2,33M 7,23K 2,69K 83,00K 209,23K 3,04K 10,41K 1,37M 5,58K 8,92K 3,98K 120,86K 7,69K 2,21K 27,22K 0,75K 1,70K 56,12K 30,42K 42,33K 27,73K 4,99K 4,44K 5,50K 20,71K 186,09K 3,19K 3,74K 3,22K 20,80K 303,84K 20,03K 19,38K 3,98K 0,04K 2,11K 33,52K
COMPANY
PRICE(P)
J Sainsbury Johnson Matthey Land Securities Legal & General Lloyds Banking London Stock Exchange Meggitt Melrose Industries Mondi National Grid NatWest Group Next Norilskiy Nikel ADR Ocado Persimmon Phoenix Prudential Reckitt Benckiser Relx Rentokil Rightmove Rio Tinto PLC Rolls-Royce Holdings Rosneft DRC Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B RSA Insurance Sage Samsung Electronics DRC Sberbank Schroders Scottish Mortgage Segro Severn Trent Smith & Nephew Smiths Group Spirax-Sarco Engineering SSE St. James’s Place Standard Chartered Standard Life Aberdeen Taylor Wimpey Tesco Tui Unilever United Utilities Vodafone Group PLC Whitbread WPP
245,50 3.046,5 703,20 277,80 41,96 7.122,0 469,90 167,65 1.917,50 867,60 190,45 7.914,0 29,62 2.117,39 2.990,4 732,80 1.555,50 6.460,0 1.836,00 495,40 596,86 5.554,0 105,50 7,59 1.441,0 1.440,75 1.371,0 682,00 613,20 1.806,00 15,31 3.460,0 1.129,40 941,20 2.325,0 1.371,00 1.557,00 11.590,0 1.448,50 1.267,00 499,40 290,00 182,32 228,98 352,20 4.081,0 918,60 132,52 3.420,0 928,40
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
NET VOL
246,00 3.046,5 706,50 278,45 42,13 7.162,0 482,50 168,05 1.917,50 867,60 191,65 7.932,0 29,65 2.123,00 2.995,5 734,00 1.562,00 6.460,0 1.836,00 497,80 598,36 5.555,0 106,94 7,60 1.450,6 1.446,40 1.374,6 682,80 613,20 1.812,00 15,38 3.460,0 1.134,79 941,20 2.325,0 1.371,00 1.568,00 11.605,0 1.449,59 1.267,00 499,77 290,00 182,68 230,06 358,90 4.081,0 918,60 133,98 3.450,0 929,00
244,30 3.030,6 699,80 276,50 41,80 7.088,0 469,90 167,45 1.912,93 860,60 190,25 7.900,0 29,20 2.087,14 2.964,2 730,80 1.554,50 6.416,0 1.813,50 493,30 593,34 5.522,0 105,50 7,59 1.439,8 1.440,20 1.368,8 681,80 611,40 1.799,00 15,28 3.446,0 1.113,11 934,63 2.288,0 1.359,69 1.552,50 11.515,0 1.438,50 1.260,00 498,90 285,40 180,93 228,74 351,80 4.048,0 909,40 132,32 3.420,0 925,00
53,09K 0,27K 13,57K 79,45K 2,77M 27,94K 4,24K 37,50K 0,70K 105,62K 274,36K 1,03K 66,18K 6,22K 4,63K 17,59K 130,03K 24,54K 232,66K 85,88K 2,24K 4,92K 453,68K 3,07K 309,35K 4,02K 35,72K 245,90K 4,26K 0,88K 57,04K 3,07K 100,79K 5,12K 8,76K 5,17K 14,72K 1,28K 9,92K 1,06K 19,06K 24,60K 146,38K 133,15K 306,54K 14,05K 42,85K 3,18M 3,85K 31,91K
0.85546
1.16799 Units per €
US dollar (USD) ......................................1.17865 Japan yen (JPY)......................................129.147 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................1.1065 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4361 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................10.112
currenciesdirect.com/mallorca • Tel: +34 687 906 226 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER
DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 29
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 194,88 2.035,55 3.052,03 252,86 121,21 244,87 229,50 107,48 52,57 53,04 283,02 327,39 303,81 218,53 136,38 64,87 164,93 155,09 225,21 77,39 236,48 132,99 135,45 209,09 618,71 376,48 58,18 213,53 135,13 185,92
CHANGE 194,95 2.050,99 3.056,66 253,28 121,48 250,90 229,84 107,54 52,64 53,11 284,50 335,45 304,00 218,69 136,48 64,97 165,10 155,45 225,28 77,47 236,71 133,19 135,61 209,41 643,82 377,06 58,25 213,70 135,20 188,98
CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 192,21 2,68M 2.014,02 1,49M 2.996,00 3,31M 245,54 2,64M 118,92 94,07M 240,30 17,16M 225,21 3,04M 105,36 9,82M 50,56 32,00M 51,76 17,13M 277,77 17,63M 322,69 3,08M 296,03 5,87M 214,14 2,54M 133,12 5,57M 61,77 34,71M 161,38 7,62M 152,55 16,75M 222,42 3,26M 75,85 9,91M 231,55 25,48M 129,77 10,01M 132,48 10,82M 204,77 7,33M 599,89 33,85M 370,29 2,96M 57,38 19,63M 207,70 7,40M 133,42 9,55M 182,57 10,20M M - MILLION DOLLARS
NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 29
COMPANY
CHANGE NET / %
VOLUME
+1.55% +2.41% +3.52% +7.14% +6.61% +4.10% +2.10% +3.73% +107.45% +6.86% +4.41%
4.63M 377,006 191,708 1.93M 1.87M 114,983 584,593 569,255 2.59M 1.65M 2.89M
-3.39% -27.31% -25.60% -27.45% -29.55% -3.40% -3.56% -15.57% -8.52% -8.43% -0.43%
33.85M 216.63M 1.31M 106.07M 45.68M 5.16M 257,651 7,282 1.53M 5.49M 1.49M
Most Advanced Amazon.com Inc. Booking Holdings Inc. Broadcom Inc. 8% Pfd. Series A ASML Holding N.V. Lam Research Corp. First Citizens Bancshares Inc. Cl A MercadoLibre Inc. Intuitive Surgical Inc. Design Therapeutics Inc. KLA Corp. Broadcom Inc.
Most Declined Tesla Inc. ViacomCBS Inc. Cl B ViacomCBS Inc. Cl A Discovery Inc. Series A Discovery Inc. Series C Roku Inc. Cl A arGEN-X SE ADR Discovery Inc. Series B Fulgent Genetics Inc. JOYY Inc. ADR Alphabet Inc. Cl C
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
www.euroweeklynews.com
Currency outlook: US dollar soars amid surging yields, euro tumbles on renewed coronavirus concerns
EUROZONE: Data has been mixed over the past month.
ASK THE EXPERT Peter Loveday
Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com
Euro EUR/GBP: Up from £0.85 to £0.86 EUR/USD: Down from $1.21 to $1.18 The euro continued to struggle to attract sup‐ port through March with the EU’s sluggish vac‐ cine rollout remaining a key source of pressure for the single currency. Further diminishing the appeal of the euro for investors in the past couple of weeks has been the startling resurgence of coronavirus cases across the continent, with Europe’s third wave forcing countries to tighten restrictions once more. Meanwhile, data coming from the Eurozone has been mixed over the past month, with some positive releases offering temporary respite for the single currency, but unable to re‐ verse the prevailing selling bias. Looking ahead, barring a dramatic improve‐ ment in Europe’s vaccine rollout or a sharp drop in local coronavirus cases, it’s likely we could see the euro remain on the back foot through much of April. Pound GBP/EUR: Down from €1.16 to €1.15 GBP/USD: Down from $1.41 to $1.36 March has seen the pound struggle to main‐ tain the highs hit back in February as a key pillar of support for Sterling through the start of 2021, its successful vaccination programme, now ap‐ pears to be under threat due to shortages and potential export bans from the EU. This has stoked concerns that the UK govern‐ ment will need to alter its roadmap for easing lockdown, something which Boris Johnson also warned about when schools reopened at the start of the month.
However, Sterling has still been able to find some support through the past month, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget providing a lift after he announced a more generous than ex‐ pected stimulus package and opted to defer tax hikes until 2023. Turning to April, the focus for GBP investors will be on whether the government moves for‐ ward with its plans to reopen more of the econ‐ omy on April 12, with any delays due to the vac‐ cine shortage or Europe’s third wave ‘washing up on UK shores’ likely to negatively impact GBP exchange rates. US Dollar USD/GBP: Up from £0.70 to £0.72 USD/EUR: Up from €0.82 to €0.84 The US dollar has stormed higher over the past month, with the currency garnering signifi‐ cant support amidst a sharp rise in US Treasury yields, which have surged on expectations for a robust US economic recovery and a rapid accel‐ eration of domestic inflation. The safe‐haven ‘Greenback’ has attracted ad‐ ditional support in the second half of March due to a notable souring of market sentiment fol‐ lowing the coronavirus resurgence in Europe and renewed tensions between the West and China. The US dollar’s rally in March didn’t come without its hiccups however, with USD ex‐ change rates slumping sharply following the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting, in which it struck a more dovish than expected tone. Looking ahead, the US dollar may maintain its upward trajectory through April so long as yields continue to accelerate as investors re‐ main skittish over the global economic recovery in 2021. Currencies Direct have helped over 325,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency transfers.
Visit us at our Spanish offices in Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca. Telephone UK +44 (0) 207 847 9400 SPAIN +34 950 478 914 Email euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com • www.currenciesdirect.com.
1 - 7 April 2021
EWN 19
20 EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
1 - 7 April 2021
FEATURE
Time to step back and smell the roses LEAPY LEE SAYS IT
OTHERS THINK IT I THINK the time has come to step back and smell the roses. I’ve come to the conclusion that if some people were in the middle of the black plague, listening to the cries of ‘bring out your dead’ and watching bodies being piled up on handcarts ‐ or standing in the middle of Auschwitz surveying the horrors of Nazi genocide, they would still be in denial. Relatively speaking, those among us who insist that Covid is not happening are only a small minority, but they are still there. When you consider there also exists a Flat Earth society you do realise that, no matter what the evidence, when certain members of the public have made up their minds NOTHING is going to change them. To disagree invites arguments, ill feelings and disintegration of friendships. So I’m gonna revert to partaking the pollen and chilling a bit. With all this Covid dissent, plus the racist bigotry and civil disobedience that is being allowed to flourish, UK society is
NOTHING: Is going to change some people’s minds. plunging headlong into the hands of the leftie politicians at an alarming rate of knots. They are all of course rubbing their hands in gleeful anticipation of as much social upheaval as they can possibly instigate and, as I mentioned last week, utilise it to seize the reins of power for Labour at the next general election.
I also notice that London’s Mayor Khan; the man who has allowed many parts of London to fall into a crime ridden, gang infested, third world anarchy; banned the use of many female models in public advertising, advocated the removal of historical figures and generally stood by while this great metropolis
experiences more racial discrimination than it has endured since the Roman occupation ‐ is actually 29 points ahead in popularity in the run up to the election of a new mayor! Obviously this man is not favoured because of his achievements. With London’s Asian community at an all‐time high, he is a front runner purely
because of his roots and ethnic background. With this same utterly undemocratic ideology being echoed in cities all across the UK, I’m afraid that within a couple of generations the culture and face of the UK will have been changed forever. This week a teacher in Batley is in fear of his life and under police protection, while a mob of masked Islamic bully boys picket the school he taught at. His ‘crime’? To breach the Islamic blasphemy laws by showing his pupils a depiction of the prophet Mohamed! (Since when was this Sharia law written into British legislation?) This was a popular well respected Yorkshire teacher working in a British school, delivering a serious lesson on the historical events surrounding the Charlie Hebdo atrocity. Showing a complete lack of cajones and a disgraceful disregard for the freedom of speech, the appeasing school governors, suspended the teacher, shut the school and issued a grovelling apology to the local Islamic community. Heaven help us all. Keep the faith • Love Leapy Leapylee2002@gmail.com excpatradioscotland.com. (alter ego!)
Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
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FEATURE
www.euroweeklynews.com
1 - 7 April 2021
EWN 21
Advertising Feature
Funeral etiquette - What is expected IF you are going to attend a funeral, you may not be sure what is expected of you, here are some tips which will help you to feel more comfortable that you are doing the right thing. Dress code Most of us would wear black or dark colours at a funeral, unless specifically told otherwise. Although the dress code is not as strict or for‐ mal nowadays and casual attire is acceptable, make sure that you are dressed appropriately and that you are showing respect for the de‐ ceased and their family. Sunglasses are acceptable for both men and women when used to hide the face and emo‐ tions, but should be as plain as possible. People will also understand if you wear them indoors, but try to remove them if you are talking to someone, as eye contact is very important. Sympathies Make sure to express your condolences to the bereaved relatives at the funeral or memorial service, even if you have already contacted them and/or sent a sympathy card. Many people find it hard to approach some‐ body who has just lost a loved one as they are not sure what to say, which is understand‐ able, but do not avoid taking a few minutes to
show them your support. Helping hand When you are talking to the relatives of the deceased, this is a good time to ask what you might do to help or to offer your assistance on matters such as providing them with food, of‐ fering to take care of children or pets, helping to clean the house, do their shopping, do some gardening or take them to appointments. They are likely to appreciate your gesture although they may refuse help. If they do refuse, don’t be offended, they most likely don’t want to put you out, but if you are close, look out for clues to what you could do for them anyway and try to help out over the coming weeks. Children at funerals Unless they were immediate relatives or very close friends, it is best to keep small children, especially babies and toddlers, away from fu‐ nerals, as it can be difficult for them to remain quiet and settled, which could be disruptive and upsetting for others. On the other hand, older children should at‐ tend as it is important for them to get a better understanding about death and what is expect‐ ed from them at a funeral. If you do bring a child to the funeral, if he or she becomes disrup‐
tive, leave immediately and keep to one side. Where to sit The first few rows of seats at a wake, memori‐ al or funeral are for the immediate family, after that, it is OK to sit in any of the remaining places. Make sure you get there on time so there is no difficulty finding a seat. If you’re not sure, just ask if a seat is taken and sit where you can. After the funeral Most funerals will end with a gathering, often for lunch at a restaurant or at the home of the family. Whenever possible you should attend, but don’t stay for too long. The rules of eti‐ quette are more casual at these events and children as welcome, but it is im‐ portant to remember why you have all got together and not engage in inappropriate or disrespectful be‐ haviour. While it is a nice opportu‐ nity to remember the life of the de‐ ceased and the good times you have shared with them, and it’s OK to smile and laugh, unless something different has been arranged by the family, keep the conversation subdued and respectful. Later on Although the pain of losing a loved one never
goes away, the weeks after the funeral will continue to be par‐ ticularly painful for the family. Make sure that you don’t just disap‐ pear after the event and take some time to check in with them periodically to see how they are. Do not avoid speaking of the deceased when you are with them, but do so when ap‐ propriate.
www.goldenleavesinternational.com • enquiries@goldenleaves.com • Facebook: goldenleavesspain
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FEATURE
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1 - 7 April 2021
EWN 23
Can the Government of Spain force me to rent my unoccupied home? CONSULAR MATTERS
THE alarm has been raised amongst the expat community and other people who have a second home here in Spain that is used on a temporary basis. The Central Spanish Government published a ministerial order autho‐ rising the governments of each re‐ gion so that they can make owners who have unoccupied second homes to rent them to people who are victims of gender violence, to people who are homeless and other particularly vulnerable people who have been evicted from their habit‐ ual residence, for example due to non‐payment of their mortgage. However, from a legal point of
HOUSE RENTAL: New aid for the payment of rent. view it is an order without execu‐ tive value. The central government itself recognises that the norm does not allow expropriations. This norm points to the obligation of regional
governments to make publicly owned housing available to these unprotected groups. But what if there are not? It is a ‘ministerial order’, which does not
have the status of law and, further‐ more, it does not have any norm of that level on which to rely, there‐ fore it is not mandatory. Sources from the Ministry itself recognised that despite what the text says, that it is not the will of the government to open a door to the expropriation of private hous‐ ing. However, they recognised the clumsiness of the drafting of said rule that leads to confusion and alarm amongst second homeown‐ ers. This rule does not allow expropri‐ ation of private homes or protect ‘squats’ or other illegal practices. What it says is it allows the creation of a plan that can be used to pay the rent of a house. The Ministry itself has confirmed that the ‘Aid Programme for victims of gender violence and evicted peo‐
ple’ does not allow the expropria‐ tion of empty homes or second homes from privates. Also, the Ministry explained that they enable regional governments so that in urgent circumstances of extreme vulnerability determined by social services, they can resort, for example, when renting a home or offering a room in a hotel and being able to pay for it with the ‘State Plan Aid’. The ministerial order, which de‐ velops in the State Housing Plan the new aid for the payment of the rent of habitual residence to vulnerable tenants who have occurred due to the Covid‐19 epidemic, includes a programme of direct aid to victims of gender violence, people evicted, homeless and especially vulnerable to provide housing through finan‐ cial assistance.
Marisa Moreno Castillo Danish Consul and Senior Lawyer at Just Law Solicitors www.justlawsolicitors.com / contact@justlawsolicitors.com
I’m ok with the rules and regs MIKE SENKER IN MY OPINION
Views of a Grumpy Old Man AS I’ve said many times I’m not a believer in conspiracy theories with maybe the exception of Princess Di, perhaps JFK, oh and Aids. But after a year of what’s been going on I’m beginning to think some things we are being told need investigating. One problem is that you’re not allowed to question anything without being labelled an antivaxxer or a member of QAnon. I want to know why there is a lack of information. What happened to all the people that got locked up in UK hotels when they came back from the red zones? Massive publicity the day it started then nothing. How many had Covid? What happened to the ones that couldn’t or wouldn’t pay the £1,700 for being banged up when there was absolutely nothing wrong with them? How about the UK government being held to account for the billions of pounds that’s gone in the direction of their mates? I’d need 4,000 words here, not 400, to ask what I want to ask. I have UK friends that keep asking me
what’s happening here and have I had the jab yet and who get quite animated when I tell them no I haven’t and don’t know anyone here that has and I’m not that fussed about having it yet. I’m OK with the rules and regs here that let me go out for coffee, lunch and now dinner and I can go shopping. I saw today that easyJet turned away a 79-year-old woman from getting on a flight because there was a slight error on her paperwork. The problem I see here is that too much power is being given to the wrong people. The person working behind the check-in desk should immediately hand over to a customer service expert to try and fix the problem any way they can instead of being a total jobsworth and just saying ‘computer says no.’ And if it’s fixable, like in this case there was allegedly just a spelling mistake, get it fixed ffs. I just read this - In less than a week, two gunmen in the USA separated by 1,400 miles have taken 18 lives. And experts, who study and chronicle mass killings, warned that there could be more as the nation reverts to a more normal way of life. If this is what getting back to normal means you are in a bigger mess than I thought! Sort your effing gun laws out you morons!!!! Email: mikesenker@gmail.com
Mike’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
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Let those sleeping dogs lie THE structure of a dog’s sleep is very similar to a human being’s sleep. There are stages of wakefulness, rapid‐eye‐ movement REM sleep and non‐rapid eye‐movement sleep. While asleep, the dog’s brain is trying to find shortcuts or connections between things that they have experi‐ enced. The events of the day are put into categories, when in non‐REM sleep. In REM sleep there is an opportunity for the dog to explore, in an environment that’s free of conse‐ quences. Dogs enter REM sleep about 20 minutes into a snooze session and might stay there for two to three minutes. People and dogs dream in both stages of sleep mentioned, but most dreams are remembered through REM sleep. Dogs, of course, dream about things that dogs normally do, while small dogs have more frequent but shorter dream periods and larger dogs have less frequent but longer dreams. Dogs probably also have nightmares, they can get nar‐ colepsy, which is a disorder that causes the brain to fall in‐ to a sudden state of sleep. Unlike some of their human owners, they don’t suffer from sleep paralysis, which is when someone becomes conscious, but are unable to move their body. When dogs sleep, they quiver, make leg twitches and even growl or snap at something chasing them in their dreams. If dogs are having trouble sleeping, it may also be due to pain or fear, which they express through anxiety at night.
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Spain Snatch Victory In The Final Minutes To Win Away In Georgia SPAIN needed a good result in the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday March 28, in their Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B qualifying match, after their 1‐1 draw at home to Greece last Thursday, and they left it very late. In fact, until the dying minutes, to beat a very spirited Georgian team who looked to be on course for a great result. Spain are ranked 83 places a b o v e G e o r g i a i n t h e F I FA r a n k ‐ ings, who are 89th, and their 15,000 fans cheered them on for every minute of the game, no more so than when 20‐ year‐old winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, shot them into the lead just before half‐time, controlling a through ball from Otar Kiteishvili before confi‐ dently slotting into the far bottom corner be‐ yond the reach of Spain keeper Unai Simon.
Spain have not lost a World Cup qualifier in 28 years, and thankfully, Man City winger Ferran Torres was on hand after 56 minutes, as he slid in to send a Jordi Alba cross into the roof of the net, after Alvaro Morata had failed to connect with the ball. It was Alba who provided the assist again after 92 minutes, for Dani Olmo to find the back of the net with a long‐ range effort, to grab the three points for Spain, and to top the drama, Levan Shengelia was then sent off for Georgia, in the 94th minute, seconds before the final whistle blew. Next up for Luis Enrique’s men was a home game against Kosovo, on Wednes‐ day March 31, when Georgia headed to Greece.
DANI OLMO: Grabbed three points for Spain.
British cyclist Adam Yates wins Vuelta a Cataluña BRITISH cyclist Adam Yates has won the Vuelta a Cataluña. This is the first victory of the year for Yates, who is with Ineos team, af‐ ter coming second in the UAE Tour last month. Following the seventh and last stage of the Vuelta a Cataluña on Sunday, March 28, which started and ended in Barcelona, the British cy‐ clist was crowned champion, although the stage winner was Belgian cyclist Thomas de Gendt. Yates came second in the Volta 2019, which was won by Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez, and was delighted to have won this year, which is the 100th time it has been held. Last year it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Ineos team filled the podium, with Australian Richie Porte coming second, 45 seconds behind the winner, and another Welshman, Geraint Thomas is third place, 49 seconds behind Yates. Yates said it had been a “marvellous day.” The fourth place was for Spanish Mo‐ vistar rider Alejandro Valverde.
ADAM YATES: His first victory of the year.