Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 15 - 21 April 2021 Issue 1867

THE BEST FINANCE NEWS ON PAGES 26 - 29 ISSUE NO. 1867

15 - 21 April 2021

Waste not VERA recycles one cubic hectometre of wastewater annually, which is used by the Valle del Este golf course and crop irrigation, accounting for 30 per cent and 70 per cent of the municipality’s Recycling Water Plant (ERA).

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GEMMA’S BRAVE SHAVE No ‘calling cards’ please FUNDRAISER: Gemma Morton-Clark and Maria Esworthy.

Wrong man THE Ministry of Justice must pay €10,600 compensation to an El Ejido man who was wrongly arrested and remanded in Burgos for 367 days, accused of a Miranda de Ebro drugs operation in which he had no part.

New job ALMERIA-BORN Amost Garcia Hueso will head the Junta of Andalaucia’s AGAPA Agency, which comes under the control of the regional government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Until now Garcia Hueso has been the Junta’s director of Exterior Relations.

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HUERCAL‐OVERA is taking a tough line with dog‐owners who fail to clean up after their pets.

A Local Police campaign is currently reminding owners that while having a dog is great, allowing it leave a ‘calling card’ will earn them a fine.

Officers are keeping an eagle eye on streets and roads, plazas and Parks and public gardens, revealed Domingo Fernandez, Huercal‐Overa’s mayor.

“This campaign is necessary because some people are ignoring municipal by‐laws that cover the ownership and protection of animals,” Fernandez said. “Not cleaning up after dogs creates un‐ hygienic trouble‐ spots that spoil the image of the town and at the same time create unpleasant situations for the rest of us.”

The campaign will be carried out in all Huercal‐Overa areas and applies to anybody who fails to comply with the by‐law’s Ar‐ ticle 54.1 and allows a dog to foul a public area “without taking opportune measures.”

The town hall warned that the Local Police will be on the look‐ out throughout the month of April for recalcitrant owners.

Municipal sources stressed that as always, the fault lies not with the dogs but with those who own them.

And failure to comply will not come cheap, with fines that range from €60.10 to €300.51.

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NEWS

H&M branches still open Resurrection wine unearthed ALMERIA Province’s four H&M branches appear to have been excluded from plans to close 30 stores in Spain.

Although H&M closed its branch in Almeria City’s Paseo in 2018, the stores in the capital’s Torrecardenas and Mediter‐ raneo shopping centres as well as those in

Roquetas and El Ejido have avoided the cull.

Sources quoted in the local media nev‐ ertheless revealed that employees have received letters informing them of ‘future changes’ in their ‘employment relation‐ ship’ with the Swedish clothing chain.

RESURRECCION, a wine that spent a year underground in Velez‐Malaga, will be ready for sale by Christmas 2021.

The wine from the Bodega Palomillo winery was buried at the start of the ongoing Coron‐ avirus pandemic and many peo‐ ple must wish that they, too, could have spent a year hiding from the world, only to pop up

12 months later.

The wine had been carefully prepared and laid underground at a depth of four metres, shrouded in a clay casket after being wrapped in newspaper, straw and blood meal.

Finally unearthed after a year, it is the first batch of the Bodega Palomillo’s Resurreccion Gran Reserva.

Cabo De Gata Stays Natural THE Cabo De Gata‐Níjar national park will see restricted access for vehicles and recreational kayaks, canoes and similar craft this sum‐ mer. The stunning beaches constitute a natural area of great ecologi‐ cal, geological and landscape value, considered one of the most privi‐ leged enclaves of the Mediterranean coastal strip, Andalucia’s regional government said.

Increased road traffic to these idyllic points along the coast was damaging the local ecology and geology, but was also considered a risk to visitors’ safety.

The Junta de Andalucia also noted an increase in water‐based ac‐ tivities involving kayaks and canoes which caused crowding in ‘partic‐ ularly sensitive’ areas and ‘posed a risk to the conservation of marine species native to the intertidal area, as well as degradation of the aes‐ thetic and landscape values of these areas.’

Kayaks and canoes will be limited to a maximum of five, but larger groups of water‐based craft will need to be authorised by the Territo‐ rial Delegation.

FAMILIES renting in Almeria City pay, on average, 37 per cent of their earnings on renting a home.

According to online property company Idealista, this is the highest in Spain, apart from Tenerife.

Not only are Almeria

Big outlay salaries amongst the lowest in Spain, the experts explained, but rents nationwide have gone up in recent years, accounting for the disproportionate outlay.

“We buried it in the hope of bringing it out a year later and finding a great wine with which to toast Christmas 2021,” Fran‐ cisco García Parra, manager of Bodega Palomillo, told La Voz de Almeria.

Each bottle will be sealed in a ceramic container which the owner must break before finally tasting the wine, as the ceramic helps to preserve the wine at the correct temperature and humidi‐ ty, Garcia Parra explained.

Voyeur recorded couples ALMERIA’S National Police ar‐ rested a 38‐year‐old man who used a night vision device to film couples having sex in their cars.

Officers spotted him parked near the Andarax river‐mouth area during a routine crime pre‐ vention patrol and, not con‐ vinced by his answers to their questions, they decided to search his car.

This revealed a night vision de‐ vice that could record both im‐ ages and videos digitally.

The memory card was sent to the National Police headquarters in Almeria for analysis and found to contain sexually explicit im‐ ages.

It is not known exactly how many couples were spied‐on by the voyeur although he admitted he searched for hidden away places where he thought couples may turn up to have sex.

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NIBS EXTRA Duck project

Wild campers MORE than 20 motorhome owners camping overnight in the Cabo de Gata-Nijar park over Easter face fines rising to €600.

Parking there is in any case prohibited between sunset and sunrise, but the Junta’s Environment officers were also on the lookout for visitors ignoring the region’s perimeter closure.

New role CANTORIA’S former railway station, built in 1894, formerly used as municipal offices, has now been converted to house the Local Police, the Justice of the Peace and Women’s Centre.

The €70,000, part-financed by the Diputacion, provides efficient attention for the public while avoiding over-crowding and ensuring social distancing.

Not here PULPI’S PSOE party is backing San Juan de los Terreros residents who are fighting plans to build a petrol station and carwash in the centre of the town.

The socialists’ spokesman explained that neither they nor the townspeople opposed the installation but questioned the ‘capricious’ choice of location.

Opening soon VELEZ-RUBIO’s mayor confirmed that the weekly open-air market would reopen at the end of April. The market has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic last year and is the province’s only mercadillo that has failed to reopen, to the irritation of both residents and stallholders.

Sentence cut ANDALUCIA’S Upper Court of Justice (TSJA) reduced to 18 months the 27-month sentence imposed by Almeria’s Provincial High Court on an adult male who cornered a 13-year-old girl and tried unsuccessfully to kiss her. Nevertheless, the TSJA upheld the Almeria court’s fiveyear restraining order and a €1,000 fine.

Drive-in vaccinations Photo credit: Vera towhall

THE regional government’s Agriculture department released 30 marbled ducks in the Punta Entinas-Sabinar nature reserve in Roquetas de Mar. They are an endangered species and Junta plans to release 80 of these ducks, which have been bred in captivity and are all ringed, in different locations throughout Andalucia.

VERA residents who have received notifications to visit El Palmeral for anti-Covid vaccinations were asked not to go on foot.

The El Palmeral fairground has been chosen as one of the mass vaccination locations for the Levante area and the local government has now called on members of the public to go by car.

Vera Town Hall has set up a circuit in El Palmeral with awnings, chairs and tables so that the health professionals may carry out their work of

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VACCINATION CIRCUIT: Designed for vehicles, not people. vaccinating Levante residents in the best possible conditions.

The town hall has explained on its social media pages that

the accumulation of people who did not attend in vehicles were holding up the smoothrunning of the process and ‘generating difficulties.’

According to municipal sources quoted in the provincial press, not only were there insufficient chairs for members of the public to sit on as they waited, but these had to be disinfected each time they were used.

Little Fighter Needs Help CELIA is only nine years old and she has spent the last eight months fighting against a rare brain tumour, but now the little fighter needs help from others to beat can‐ cer.

Celia’s parents explained how the battle began last summer when she started to suffer from vomiting and headaches. Lola and Ramón, Celia’s parents explained that,

Prompt payer EL EJIDO Town Hall’s suppliers are amongst the most prompt‐ ly‐paid in both Andalucia and Spain.

According to recently‐pub‐ lished figures from Spain’s Treasury Ministry (Hacienda), El Ejido ranks sixth in the list of Andalucia’s town and city halls that settle suppliers’ bills with‐ in 30 days. Nationally, it is placed 23rd.

El Ejido’s Finance councillor Jose Francisco Rivera pointed out that the town has consis‐ tently maintained its position amongst the big municipalities that do not make small and medium businesses, or the self‐ employed, wait for payment.

“This is the outcome of good management over recent years,” Rivera said.

“Our economic policies in‐ corporate serious mechanisms that control spending, enabling us to balance our books and meet our financial commit‐ ments while not overlooking investments.”

“she began to have some headaches and sometimes she would vomit, but it would pass immediately” as reported by the local press.

“You are not prepared to be told that your daughter has a brain tumour, that name alone hurts to hear, but if you are al‐ so told that she is one of the ‘rare’ ones, is in a difficult place and has a bad prognosis,

the world turns upside down and you just want to wake up from this bad dream.”

The brave little fighter has fought her way through radiotherapy and chemother‐ apy, but she is struggling now as she enters the maintenance phase of her chemo. In order to help their young daughter, Celia’s parents have set up a GofundMe page and asked for support.

Sierra de los Filabres petition THOUSANDS signed a petition to give Sierra de los Filabres national park status.

Students from Alto Almanzora high school hope to protect Sierra de Los Filabres with a Change.org petition, asking the Junta de An‐ dalucia to declare it a national park. So far the petition has reached nearly 10,000 signatures.

“Sierra de los Filabres is the largest area of vegetation in Almeria and acts as a natural barrier, stopping the advance of the desert towards the north of the province,” the stu‐

dents explained.

“It is also an area of great environmental val‐ ue. For example, more than 50 per cent of Almeria Province’s species of flora grow in Fi‐ labres and approximately 20 per cent of Iberian flora.”

National park status would also preserve the area’s “traditions, culture and experiences, making the Sierra profitable again with a circu‐ lar and sustainable economy,” said the stu‐ dents, as reported by the Diario de Almeria.

Popular run goes virtual THE ninth Carrera Popular run goes virtual this year.

Hosted by the University of Almeria, both students and non‐students alike are wel‐ come to attend the run which will have some intriguing quirks.

Last year the race was can‐ celled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but for 2021 the or‐ ganisers have devised a unique way of allowing the run to take

MARIA ISABEL LOPEZ, currently Turre’s deputy mayor, could be barred from holding any public post for 12 years.

In 2018, when Lopez was mayor, she al‐ legedly prevented a turron‐seller from set‐ ting up his stall at the San Francisco fair in the same spot that his family had occupied since 1949.

The ex‐mayor’s reasons were “arbitrary,”

place by combining technology and running.

Not only will the event go virtual, but runners can repeat their runs to get a better time and move up in the rankings.

The course will be open be‐ tween May 5 to May 15, al‐ though it will be closed on Sun‐ day May 9, according to Diario de Almeria.

Runners should register for the Carrera Popular via

To-do over turron according to the Fiscal (Public Prosecutor) in her submission prior to Lopez’s November

https://www2.ual.es/servi ciodeportes/eventos/espe ciales/10/evento. Participants will receive a bib number by email and should then down‐ load the app which makes the event unique.

Not only will they be able to record their time around the course to give an official finish time, but they can also repeat their run as many times as they like to improve their ranking.

trial at the Almeria High Court.

Lopez knowingly contravened the way that stalls were habitually allocated at the fair, based on tradition and seniority, the Public Prosecutor maintained.

As well as being prevented from holding a public sector post for 12 years, Lopez will al‐ so, if found guilty, be ordered to pay com‐ pensation to the stallholder.

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Good anti-Covid practices HUERCAL‐OVERA con‐ tinues to work to‐ wards protecting res‐ idents and visitors against Covid‐19.

“Our efforts are obtaining very good results,” said the town hall’s Tourism and Culture council‐ lor, Belen Martinez.

Huercal‐Overa’s Municipal Tourism Office, Teatro Villa and the Via Verde Green Route have each received an Ad‐ vanced Good Prac‐ tices for Covid‐19 Control certificate via the central govern‐ ment’s Quality in Tourist Destinations System (SICTED).

“Huercal‐Overa has a lot to offer visitors and obtaining these certificates as a C o v i d ‐ s a f e d e s t i n a‐ tion means that we have taken the right route,” Martinez said.

“The present health situation has forced us to reinvent ourselves in many re‐ spects and, above all, it has shown us that we have to be very careful with the dif‐ ferent measures, complying with ca‐ pacity‐regulations, social distancing and hygiene require‐ ments,” the council‐ lor explained.

“The Culture de‐ partment has also been involved in the constant adjustments that Covid‐19 has im‐ posed on the town hall,” she continued.

These have includ‐ ed providing differ‐ ent options for the local population and visitors, with the Theatre at their cen‐ tre now that the Cul‐ ture department has been able to recom‐ mence its pro‐ gramme.

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15 - 21 April 2021

Support for Spanish residency THE UK Government has extended support for vulnerable UK Nationals applying for residency in Spain.

• Additional £1 million of funding for charities and voluntary organisations across Europe to support vulnerable UK Nationals applying for residency, bringing the total to £4 million.

• Since March 2020, eight organisations have reached 350,000 vulnerable individuals using the UK Nationals Support Fund.

• Age in Spain, Babelia and IOM continue to support UK Nationals in Spain.

The UK Government is extending support for potentially at-risk groups including pensioners, disabled people and those with language difficulties who live in Europe by continuing the activity of

the UK Nationals Support Fund (UKNSF) and supplementing it with an additional £1 million.

The UKNSF provides funds to eight organisations to support UK Nationals who need assistance with their residency applications.

These organisations operate in 11 EU Member States and Norway, and since the launch of the Fund in March 2020, have provided practical support for UK Nationals who need assistance with the process of applying/registering for residency in 12 European countries, following the end of the Transition Period.

This funding is in addition to £3 million announced by the Foreign Secretary in March 2020. Figures just published by the Observatorio Permanente de la Inmigracion show that as of December 31, 2020 there were 381,448 UK Na-

tionals holding a valid residency certificate or card in Spain.

The UKNSF will continue to operate in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Malta and Norway.

British Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, said: “I am delighted that more funding has been provided to Age in Spain, Babelia and IOM through the UK Nationals Support Fund.

These organisations provide vital support to UK Nationals who need additional help with their residency application in Spain, so I urge any UK Nationals who are struggling with the process to contact them for help.”

The UKNSF will continue to be delivered by: • The AIRE Centre - Bulgaria,

Greece and Norway • Age in Spain - Spain • Asociación Babelia - Spain • Cyprus Residency Planning Group (CRPG) - Cyprus • Franco British Network France • International Organisation for Migration - France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain • SSAFA - Cyprus, France and Germany • The Church of England Diocese in Europe - France This assistance builds on the ongoing outreach and guidance provided by the UK’s network of Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates across Europe.

UK Nationals should visit the Living in Spain Guide at: gov.uk/living inspain to check what action they may need to take.

UK Nationals can contact the three organisations in the following ways: IOM - The International Organisation for Migration (Andalucia, Castilla la Mancha, Castilla León, Ceuta, Extremadura, Madrid, Melilla and Murcia) • IOM Spain website • email: UKnationalsSP@iom. int • helplines: Andaluca, Ceuta, Melilla: +34 650 339 754, Madrid, Castilla la Mancha, Castilla León, Extremadura : +34 699 581 855, Murcia: +34 648 642 543, all available Mon to Thurs, 3.30pm to 5pm Babelia (Alicante, Valencia and Castellon) • Babelia website • email: info@asociacionbabe lia.org • Babelia contact form • helpline: +34 865 820 229 available Mon to Fri, 9am to 2pm Age in Spain (Aragon, Asturias, Balearics, Basque Country (Pais Vasco), Canary Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Galicia, La Rioja, Navarra) • Age in Spain website • email: residency@agein spain.org • Age in Spain contact form • helpline: +34 932 209 741 available Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm

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Shaving for cats AT present Gemma Moreton‐Clark has a fine head of hair.

All that is due to change on May 1 when Gemma, part‐ owner of Cordob’r in Zurgena, intends to have it all shaved off.

Why? To raise money that will help Maria Esworthy from La Alfoquia to forge ahead with her one‐woman cat sterilisa‐ tion programme.

When Maria first contacted the Euro Weekly News to tell us about Gemma’s sponsored head‐shave, she told us she had managed to spay or neuter 29 cats in the area. By the next time we heard from her she had trapped three more.

“It’s marvellous the way the community has pulled togeth‐ er,” Maria said.

Cordob’r, where the head‐shave will be held, is organising a raffle for the big day and supplying the first prize. Other prizes continue to arrive, including those from other bars in La Alfoquia and Vera Playa, she revealed.

She was thrilled, Maria said, by the help she has received and continues to receive from the community in her bid to trap, neuter and return (TNR) as many cats as possible.

Supporters include the ABC Veterinary Service ‐ “They are amazing,” Maria declared ‐ together with Opulence, the hair‐ dressers who will shave Gemma’s hair, Voss Homes and the Harmony Community Charity.

“They have all done so much to help me,” she told us.

“Plus every single person who pats me on the back, en‐ courages what I do or just bloody smiles at me!” Maria de‐ clared.

Here at the Euro Weekly News we were curious to know more about Maria’s mission.

She explained that when she and her husband first arrived in October 2019, they rented an apartment in Vera Playa: “I had nine cats neutered there and found a home for one.”

Then, three days before lockdown in March last year, they bought their house in La Alfoquia, but could not move into the property until the following May, owing to the Covid pan‐ demic.

“La Alfoquia has everything we need,” Maria said.

“Amenities close to hand, a hospital 20 minutes away ‐ let’s hope we don’t need that! ‐ and 25 minutes to the beach with three airports within a couple of hours’ drive.”

Maria and her husband felt the place had a good commu‐ nity vibe: “That has definitely proved to be the case since I started the TNR programme.”

She has been trapping La Alfoquia’s ferals and strays over the last few months, Maria told us.

“I’ve raised money from kind friends at home in the UK, plus donations from villagers, Voss Homes and the Harmony community charity.

“I also raise money up‐cycling furniture that I buy or have donated to me although some donations are so good they don’t need recycling.”

Maria stressed that she intends to keep going until the money runs out.

“At 57 I realise I’m a very fortunate lady and was lucky enough to retire early,” she admitted.

“But I have no income of my own so I have to generate funds wherever I can. Then Gemma came forward with the head‐shave idea which should help me to carry on for some time to come.”

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Duke Of Edinburgh’s Funeral WINDSOR CASTLE: The funeral will take place at St George’s Chapel.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE announced on Satur‐ day April 10 that the Duke of Edinburgh’s cere‐ monial royal funeral will take place at 3pm, on Saturday, April 17, at Windsor Castle, in St George’s Chapel, with a minute’s national si‐ lence being observed as it begins.

This final farewell to Prince Philip, who passed away on Friday April 9, aged 99, is guaranteed to be like no other royal funeral the country has ever seen, as the Queen and other members of the royal family attend all wearing face masks, and having to social distance, while following the coronavirus guidelines.

The funeral will be televised, and will take place entirely within the grounds of Windsor Castle, but all public elements have been can‐ celled, said a Palace spokesman, with it also said that Prince Philip had asked for a low‐key funer‐ al.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave his recom‐ mendation regarding national mourning, to the

Queen, which was accepted, with a period of mourning to run from Friday April 9, up to and including the day of Prince Philip’s funeral, but, true to form, according to a senior royal official, the Queen said engagements will continue ap‐ propriate to the circumstances.

A senior Palace official said that a specially modified Land Rover that the Duke helped to de‐ sign will transport the coffin from Windsor Cas‐ tle to the chapel, with the Prince of Wales and senior royals following behind it, on foot, but within the coronavirus restrictions.

Only 30 mourners are allowed to attend, which gives the Palace another headache, over who will be invited, but it is expected to be Philip’s children, grandchildren, and close family, with a Palace spokesman saying that the Duchess of Sussex has been advised by her doc‐ tor not to travel, after Meghan had apparently tried to travel, but did not receive the medical clearance to board a plane.

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Fulfilling Dying Wishes Sun Exposure news

A 66‐YEAR-OLD man who was arrested in Catalonia after driving for 40 kilometres on the wrong side of the motorway with his boyfriend’s dead body in the car was fulfilling his partner’s dying wishes, it has emerged.

The man’s 88‐year‐old boyfriend, a Swiss national, was thought to have been terminally ill and died in Switzerland.

The incident took place at a checkpoint which the French border police were carrying out in Le Boulou.

According to police, they saw the man turn his car around and drive in the opposite direction.

The French police alerted the Mossos d’Esquadra and several traffic patrols began to search for the ve‐ hicle, which had an accident in Jafre, Catalonia.

Officers found the man did not want to get out of the car and they began to question him before he gave several stories, including one that he had turned around because he did not have a PCR test.

Officers then pulled off a cover that was on the passenger seat and found a corpse underneath in an advanced state of decomposition, wearing a seat belt.

According to sources in the investigation, the pas‐ senger, pending confirmation in the post‐mortem, could have been dead for more than three weeks and doesn’t appear to present signs of any criminality.

The suspect, based on evidence found in the vehi‐ cle, had been driving for several days in various towns in Spain, including Madrid.

Inland Jewels Showcased OVER the space of a few days the Costa de Almeria has been showcasing the inland jewels that the area has to offer. The area is renowned for sporting activities such as horse riding, cycling and hiking and stunning beaches throughout Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. The area also boasts caving, mountain biking and a stunning variety of museums and natural monuments.

In a bid to boost tourism to the area from other areas of Spain,

Almeria has welcomed nine travel agencies in, to see what the area has to offer. The Provincial Council of Almeria joined forces with the Junta de Andalucia via the Provincial Tourism Service.

In the space of a few days, representatives from travel agencies in Spain viewed what the Almeria towns of Níjar, Sorbas and Lucainena de las Torres have to offer.

Three travel agencies from Granada and six from the Costa

del Sol joined in the stunning tour.

They were treated to a variety of activities including horse riding, hiking and visits to various places including the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. They also got to see the stunning Rodalquilar Mines and check out the caving on offer in the Sorbas Gypsum Karst.

The ‘monumental, natural, industrial and archaeological heritage of the interior’ was also showcased, as reported the Diario de Almeria.

ANOTHER reason to LOVE SPAIN! Read on to find out why a stroll along one of Spain’s beautiful beaches may be better for you than you thought.

Sunlight causes the skin to release nitric oxide, which can reduce the ability of the coronavirus to replicate, according to a study from the University of Edinburgh.

The research, which was published recently in the British Journal of Dermatology, found increased exposure to the sun’s rays - specifically UVA light - was associated with reduced deaths from the virus. Researchers compared all recorded deaths from Covid-19 in the US from January to April 2020 with UV levels for 2,474 counties for the same time period.

The reduction in risk of death from Covid-19 could not be explained by higher levels of vitamin D, experts said - it was more likely to be as a result of the sun’s UV rays.

What is UVC? UVC, a relatively obscure part of the spectrum consists of a shorter, more energetic wavelength of light. It is particularly good at destroying genetic material - whether in humans or viral particles.

Luckily, most of us are unlikely to have ever encountered any. That’s because it’s filtered out by ozone in the atmosphere long before it reaches our fragile skin.

Or that was the case, at least, until scientists discovered that they could harness UVC to kill microorganisms. Since the finding in 1878, artificially produced UVC has become a staple method of

SUNLIGHT: Reducing deaths from Covid. sterilisation - one used in hospitals, aeroplanes, offices, and factories every day. Crucially, it’s also fundamental to the process of sanitising drinking water; some parasites are resistant to chemical disinfectants such as chlorine, so it provides a failsafe.

Doesn’t sunlight create vitamin D also?

As regards a lack of Vitamin D in our body, studies show very negative data. To begin with, lacking it exposes us even more to different types of infections that would decrease considerably if the levels of this vitamin were correct. There are already studies, carried out in 2007, that agree with those of the present and affirm that it produces protective effects against acute respiratory infections.

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A TEAM of international scientists including Spanish scientists has developed a breakthrough new method of insulin administration. In what could change the lives of many diabetes patients, scientists have developed a method of delivering insulin by mouth and without needles. The study has only just been published in the Chemical Science journal.

It is hoped that this new research will lead to needle-free treatment for humans in the future.

Speaking of the study and this new technology, Cristina Sáez explained that, “Compared to the

Insulin by Mouth two FDA-approved technologies, our system is biocompatible, highly stable in the stomach, costeffective, specific and glucose-sensitive, representing a step forward in the future of oral insulin delivery and a new avenue towards the treatment of type 1.”

Many diabetes patients have to suffer from

regular insulin injections in order to regulate and control the level of glucose in the blood and insulin injection treatment is not kind on the body as it has certain side effects. It is hoped that in the future oral treatments will improve the quality of life of diabetes patients according to La Vanguardia.

Raised Concerns BRITISH expats living in Spain have raised concerns over the giant step backwards that Russia has taken toward their LGBTQ+ citizens.

Whilst Spain continues to show its progressive nature towards LGBTQ rights, including the recent proposals to issue fines of up to €150,000 to anyone found promoting gay conversion therapy, Russia seems be going backwards in time.

Spain’s Ministry of Equality has recently drafted a law which is considered a move towards “real and effective equality.” The new law would see hefty fines given out to those who provide and promote gay conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy is defined as ‘the practice of aversion, conversion or counter-conditioning methods, pro-

STEP BACKWARDS: Russia not moving forwards. grammes and therapies,’ in the draft law.

One expat living in Spain told EWN how they have found Spain to be “inclusive and welcoming wherever in Spain they have visited.” The reader went on to tell EWN how Russia’s new laws are a “giant step backwards” and that this risks members of Russia’s LGBTI community “fearing for their lives” and seeking to leave the country out of fear.

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In this new research scientists have focused on nanoparticle insulin delivery that is able to control blood sugar levels for around 10 hours. The trial though has not progressed to human testing yet.

The team of scientists was led by New York University.

2nd Mysterious Monolith LOCALS have been shocked after a mysterious monolith appeared in Catalonia in the town of Aiguamúrcia, north of Tarragona on Saturday April 10. The town is not used to this attention, as they have a population of less than 1,000 people and the sleepy town is best known for its 12th century Santes Creus monastery.

It was only last year that monoliths mysterious‐ ly started to appear in the Utah desert and around the world.

The new Catalonian monolith is said to be around three metres tall and even has Egyptian hieroglyphics engraved on it. Mayor Dolors Palma spoke of the monolith and explained that, “Un‐ like the others, this one is engraved with Egyptian hieroglyphics which we have been told mean ‘the game has begun’.”

In March a mystery monolith turned up on a beach in Girona, on the Costa Brava. The metal monolith, more than two metres tall, and similar to the one which appeared back in November 2020 in the Utah desert and several others since then, was spotted on Sa Conca beach in the town of Castell‐Platja d’Aro, on Tuesday, March 30.

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15 - 21 April 2021

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Royal British Legion THE Mojacar Branch of the Royal British Legion re‐ quires a volunteer Treasurer. The current Treasur‐ er is mostly resident in the UK which is proving to be difficult. The Branch needs someone with a head for figures who would be given training on the Legion’s accounts software called LOMAS. The volunteer would probably need to spend less than an hour per week on accounting, except in November when the Poppy Appeal takes place and there would be quite a lot of cash to bank.

The volunteer does not have to become a

member of the RBL but would be asked to attend the monthly committee meeting. Anyone inter‐ ested in volunteering as Treasurer is asked to con‐ tact the Branch Secretary, Carol Allbeury on 634 372 294.

The Royal British Legion is a charity devoted to supporting Service personnel, ex‐service veterans and their families who are in need of help. The next branch coffee morning is on Thursday April 22 at 11 am at the Maramar, on the Playa next to MACs shop. Visitors welcome.

New book featuring Albox DJ Emma Keen THE ‘House’ music scene unlike many others, is very democratic and has no real barriers for female participants and this is underscored in a new book in which a host of different, influential women are interviewed.

For four decades, Emma Keen who now lives near Albox has been involved in the music industry in one role or the other and has been a radio presenter, bar and nightclub D J, voice-over artist, events and roadshow host and record company tour manager but her true love is playing music.

She broke into the house scene in a big way when she spent seven years in Mallorca before returning to the UK to work on a special project but the thought of the Spanish lifestyle kept reoccurring and four years ago, she and her husband decided to return.

This time rather than Mallorca they chose a small village near Albox for the peace and serenity but Emma was amazed at the amount of DJ work that she found and very quickly was kept busy not just at weekends.

When she first started there was the need to transport cases full of vinyl records and turntables so her repertoire had to be fairly narrow and this was when she really concentrated on dance and house music.

Now however, due to incredible advances in technology, she can cater for many different tastes and if a

Credit: Blue Iguana Entertainment

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NEW BOOK: Almeria based DJ Emma Keen. venue wants pop, rock, hits or Latin music then that is no problem and rather then start playing from a set list, she judges the reaction of the audience and chooses each track to suit.

The lockdown hit her badly but she is now hosting two shows on the community based and expanding Almeria Radio which she can record at home but due to the ‘tech wizards’ who run the station, it is possible for direct interaction with listeners.

As the state of alarm begins to unwind, she is looking forward to getting back on to the road and has a wide range of potential venues, from beach bars in Mojacar to clubs around the area and her favourite a little bar in the middle of nowhere which she used to appear at weekly with an audience that ranged from 18 to 80.

Turning to the book, Emma is flattered and amazed that she will appear alongside such female giants as Candi Staton, Barbara Tucker, Kym Sims and Kym

Mazelle, but as one the earliest female house DJs, there is no doubt that her inclusion is only right.

The Lady of the House is authored by Ian Snowball and Laila McKenzie, both accomplished journalists in the music field in their own rights and has a foreword by international DJ Carl Cox (one of Emma’s all-time heroes).

The book will be a limitededition, luxury hardback, coffee-table style book, only available through Kickstarter and available to pre-order up until May 6.

The authors of the book will donate £1 from the sale of every book to the Night Time Industries Association’s (NTIA) Savenightlife CIC and will be used to ensure that access to equal rights and protection for all women within the industry remains high on the agenda.

Emma told E W N “I can’t wait to get back to live shows. It’s not work, when you love what you are doing and can feel the positive reaction of your audience.”

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NEWS

Flights Cancelled again to Spain

JET2: The airline wants to have more clarity from the government.

BRITONS in Spain are voicing concerns after budget airline Jet2 announced it was cancelling flights and holidays until June 23.

The airline said it was suspending flights until the end of June following Boris Johnson’s announcement over international travel plans, leaving some Britons in Spain voicing concern over trips being cancelled.

According to the news, Jet2’s chief executive, Steve Heapy, says his company wants to offer holidays but it needs “more clarity” from the government to achieve this. He explained that those who have already got trips booked will be given a refund.

He said: “Where customers yet to travel are affected by any programme changes, we will automatically cancel their booking with a full refund, and our team of

travel experts will be in touch to help them to book their summer getaway for later in the year.”

Speaking to the Euro Weekly News, owners of the Cuevas de Helena hotel in Benamaurel, Granada, said: “It is sad news but it does at least give clarity. We really feel for customers who had booked and had to cancel last year as well.

“We have had one family cancel this morning after the Jet 2 announcement they were due to come in 2020 then rebooked for June 2021.

“We are now wondering whether other airlines will do the same.” The owners added: “People want to see their families too, it’s not just about tourism.

“We would love for people to be able to fly from the UK so when Jet2 announced that it

was sad news.”

Jet2’s chief executive explained why the airline was cancelling flights until June 23. He said: “After several weeks exploring how to restart international travel, with substantial assistance and input from the industry, the framework lacks any rigorous detail about how to get international travel going again. In fact, the framework is virtually the same as six months ago.

“Following the publication of the framework today, we still do not know when we can start to fly, where we can fly to and the availability and cost of testing.

Rather than answering questions, the framework leaves everyone asking more.

“We know how much our customers want to get away to enjoy their well-deserved holidays. We have seen buoyant confidence levels from UK holidaymakers, as well as strong demand for our ATOL protected package holidays and leisure flights.

“We are trying to run a business so that we can take customers away, but we need the government to provide us with clarity to achieve this.”

The budget airline offers flights from the UK to destinations across Spain, including Malaga, Alicante, Mallorca, Almeria and Barcelona, leaving some Britons in Spain concerned that trips booked by family, friends and tourists will be delayed.

Reacting to Jet2’s announcement, one Facebook user said: “Let’s hope the last half of the year is all go.”

Customers with holidays booked to Spain also took to Jet2’s Facebook page to react to the news.

NEWS

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EWN 13

Cybersecurity In favour of digital passports Warning PET NAMES: Popular for log-in passwords.

CYBERSECURITY experts are urging people to create harder‐ to‐crack passwords after new re‐ search found 15 per cent of British people use their pet’s name as a log‐in. Tech sites in Spain have also warned resi‐ dents NOT to use town, city and region names like Marbella, Malaga and Mijas, as an exam‐ ple, because hackers are well aware of their usage and it makes it much easier to crack someone’s password.

The top of the list of common‐ ly used passwords was 123456, appearing more than 23 million times. The second‐most popular string, 123456789, was not much harder to crack, while oth‐

ers in the top five included ‘qw‐ erty’, ‘password’ and 1111111.

The most common name to be used in passwords was Ash‐ ley, followed by Michael, Daniel, Jessica and Charlie. When it comes to Premier League foot‐ ball teams in guessable pass‐ words, Liverpool are ‘champi‐ ons’ with Chelsea second.

It is important to remember that the same cybersecurity warning applies to family names and birthdays, all of which can also often be gleaned from so‐ cial media. Make a list of your passwords and keep them safe.

Also change your passwords as often as you can. ‐ the hackers are watching!

NINE out of 10 Spaniards said in a survey that they would use digital health passports to travel, while seven in 10 said that they would store their health data digitally if it meant less interaction with people and quicker passage through airports.

The survey was commissioned by the travel booking group Amadeus and highlighted Span-

ish participants’ willingness to use digital health technology following the Covid pandemic, as well as collecting information on their concerns about how, when and with whom the personal information will be shared.

More than 35 per cent of participants were concerned about their health information being hacked and lack of transparency

Blood Clot Expert UNIVERSITY of Reading blood clot expert, Professor Simon Clarke, has claimed that having the AstraZeneca jab is no riskier than preg‐ nancy, the contraceptive pill, or going on a long‐haul flight, saying that in his estimation, it was not rational to refuse the vaccine, as there was a ‘vanishingly rare risk’ of a blood clot occurring.

Mr Clarke told the press, “I don’t think it would be a rational de‐ cision because the risk of thrombosis is vanishingly small. Also, I’m not quite sure you can even determine yet from the vaccine what the risk is when the sample sizes are so far very small.”

A spokesperson for the MHRA says that up to March 31, out of around 20 million first doses of the Astra Zeneca jab given across the UK, it had received 79 reports of blood clots, accompanied by low blood platelet count, and a total of 19 people have died out of those 79, although it has not been established what the cause was in every case.

Of the 19 who died, three were under the age of 30, and the fig‐ ures suggest that the risk of a rare blood clot in people after receiv‐ ing the vaccine, is the equivalent to four out of every million.

or control over where the information would be shared.

As the travel industry looks for ways to get flights running again and with the upcoming summer dependent on tourism in many places, there is an increasing call for sharing traveller health data

and making mobility more flexible.

The European Union hopes to have its own ‘Digital Green Pass’ ready in time for summer and IATA, a global airline body, hopes to roll out a similar Covid-19 pass this coming spring.

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Dangerous Dog Breeds EXPAT animal-lovers have welcomed the news that the Spanish government intends to do away with its list of potentially dangerous dog breeds and the restrictions that come with having a pet on the list, as well as imposing rules to ensure harsher sanctions against people that abuse dogs.

The General Director of Ani-

mal Rights of the Government, Sergio Garcia Torres, announced his intention to present a draft bill in May to modify the current 50/99 law on potentially dangerous animals so that the individual behaviour of each dog will be looked at rather than judging them by “the specific breed with which they were born,” and thus

Covid ‘Wealth Tax’ THE IMF has proposed a temporary Covid ‘wealth tax’ as a means of stimulating economic recovery.

In a move that could have a serious impact on Spanish and ex‐ pat business owners, not to mention entrepreneurs across the globe, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that it is considering imposing a surcharge on companies and in‐ dividuals in the higher income bracket as a means of generating the tax income needed to address increased public spending dur‐ ing the coronavirus pandemic. The temporary levy would also see an increase in taxes on wealth and inheritance.

The IMF has suggested that taxing those businesses which have prospered during the pandemic, such as pharmaceutical companies, would greatly contribute to economic recovery with‐ out negatively impacting on those who are struggling the most fi‐ nancially. The deputy director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Depart‐ ment, Paulo Mauro, highlighted the need for additional funds to cover spending in health and education, but added that each country would need to take its own approach.

avoid “unfair prejudices.”

A National Registry of Companion Animals (SRPA) will be developed to coordinate the existing regional registries, so that data on all the country’s animals is available in real time.

Owners of dogs deemed to require ‘particular handling’ will be obligated to seek training and support so that their pets don’t pose a risk to the general public.

Not everyone is happy with the proposed changes, however. An Irish expat who lives on a small urbanisation with his wife told Euro Weekly News that he believes the law doesn’t go far enough to control the responsible ownership of pets.

He told EWN that a neighbour owns five large dogs that rush at the gate, barking and snarling, whenever anyone walks past.

“It’s gotten to the point where I won’t let the grandkids pass the house when they’re visiting,” he said. “It’s just not right, having those big dogs cooped up in a tiny garden. It’s no wonder they’re cross.”

NEWS

90-day rule IT sounds simple enough, how‐ ever, there still seems to be some confusion around how long non‐residents can stay in Spain and what type of visa you will need to have to reside in Spain for more than 90 days.

The government website states: “To stay longer than 90 days in any 180‐day period, to work or study, or for business travel, you must meet the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to.

This could mean applying for a visa or work permit.”

However, the issue is still causing confusion for some Brits.

British National, David, asked: “I would like to rent a property in Spain next winter for six months. Please could you tell me what do I have to do to be in a position not to have to be subject to the 90 days out of 180 rule?"

It was reported at the begin‐ ning of March that there would be no extension to the 90‐day

You must leave the Schengen area. rule, once you have been in Spain for 90 days, you will need to leave the Schengen area.

You will then have to wait for 180 days to come around be‐ fore you are permitted to re‐en‐ ter again.

An EWN reader, who would prefer to remain anonymous, told us “I arrived in Spain be‐ fore January 1, 2021, but didn’t apply for my residency until February 2021 due to various circumstances.”

“The process was quite diffi‐ cult, I had to get private health‐ care, get my NIE number, get my Padron in the town I live in, print out my bank statements for the past six months and prove I was in Spain before Jan‐ uary 2021, and also give details of my work contract and earn‐ ings.”

The anonymous reader is still awaiting an answer on whether their application has been ac‐ cepted or rejected.

NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

Tax liabilities AS reported in London Loves Business this week, the British Government is planning on al‐ lowing more British expats the right to vote in UK elections, however, leading tax advisory Blick Rothenberg warns that this could come with a ‘sting in the tail.’

The government confirmed in March’s budget that British expats living abroad and who are not residents in the UK for tax purposes would be enti‐ tled to vote on an ‘indefinite basis’ in future UK elections.

This is in contrast to the rule in 2002 when only non‐resi‐ dents who had lived overseas for 15 years or less still had the right to vote.

A tax director at the firm, Robert Salter, said: “British ex‐ pats overseas should consider carefully whether they wish to take advantage of this extend‐ ed franchise because it could cause problems in the future and mean that they are liable for UK taxes and in particular inheritance tax.

THE British Government’s Global Travel Taskforce hopes to resume international travel from May 17 at the earliest, and they have suggested using a traffic light system that will categorise countries based on their Covid-19 risk levels.

It may be a few weeks yet before we know the exact date when trips abroad can take place, and which countries will be subject to the most relaxed measures.

Here is how the foreign holidays traffic light system will reportedly operate: Green countries • People arriving in the UK from ‘green list’ countries will need to take a pre-departure test in that country • On or before the second day after arriving in the UK, they will need to take a PCR test • They will not need to quarantine on their return unless they receive a positive test • Test packages must be booked and paid for before travelling from a list of government-approved providers Amber countries • People arriving from ‘amber list’ countries will have to quarantine for 10 days at home • They will have to take a predeparture test, then a PCR test on

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EWN 15

Holiday Traffic Light System days two and eight • There will be an option for ‘test to release’ in which they can end self-isolation early if they test negative on day five by purchasing an extra PCR test • Test packages must be booked and paid for before travelling from a list of government-approved providers Red countries • Arrivals from ‘red list’ countries will have to quarantine for 10 days in a specific quarantine hotel • They will have to take a predeparture test, then PCR tests on day two and day eight • Passengers must book and agree to pay for a quarantine package before departing for the UK Green watchlist • This will identify countries most at risk of moving from green to amber so travellers have some warning • However, the government ‘will not hesitate to act immediately should the data show that countries risk ratings have changed’ How the list will be decided • Countries in each category will be kept under review and the government will respond to data, fo-

cusing on variants of concern • Vaccination and infection rates, the prevalence of variants, a country’s genomic sequencing capacity and access to reliable scientific evidence will be considered • The restrictions will be formally reviewed on June 28 to see whether the measures could be relaxed, followed by reviews ‘no later than July 31 and October 1’ Passenger locator forms • The form - where arrivals must fill in their travel details, UK address, passport details, Covid test booking reference numbers and quarantine hotel invoice (if needed) - will be digitised ‘by autumn 2021’ Stricter rules for airlines breaching consumer rights • The Civil Aviation Authority will be given additional enforcement power to act on airlines that have breached consumer rights • A Covid-19 charter will be introduced from May 17, setting out what is required of passengers and what their rights will be What the government is still looking into • Ministers will work with the travel industry and private test

providers to see how costs can be reduced ‘while ensuring travel is as safe as possible’ • This could include cheaper tests when returning home and they are looking into whether predeparture tests can be provided • A digital travel certification

system is still being looked at and the Department for Transport is considering how Covid passports could help for countries using them • Work also continues to develop a system to facilitate travel certification for inbound travellers

NEWS

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15 - 21 April 2021

Wearing masks in cars MASKS: Do not have to be worn in a private vehicle.

Climate Change Law THE Congress of Deputies has approved for the first time in Spain a new Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition on Thursday, April 8 as a means of reiterating its commitment to combating global warming. One of the major assurances Spain has given internationally with this new regulation is to achieve climatic neutrality by 2050, thus almost eliminating its use of fossil fuels. In order to meet this ambitious target, the Spanish government has set various goals along the way, such as ensuring that by 2030, 74 per cent of the electricity used in this country will come from renewable sources. In addition, by 2030 Spain has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23 per cent compared with 1990.

This will be periodically reviewed, with the government hopeful that the targets can even be increased; the first review is scheduled for 2023, according to Spanish press. The law, which has remained in the pipeline for almost a decade much to the consternation of environmentalists, was finally passed with the vast majority of political parties in support of the measures. Only Vox opposed it. The regulations will now be out to the Senate, and if approved, which they are widely expected to be, could be implemented by May.

THE DGT has come forward to clarify the rules on wearing masks in cars, after rumours circulating that not doing so could result in a fine.

We have previously reported on this subject, but the General Directorate of Traffic has now come forward to clarify that these rumours are incorrect and that not wearing a mask in a vehicle is not a punishable act.

The D G T has shared a statement on their social networks explaining that ‘the use of the mask is a matter of public health’ and a sanitary measure, which the DGT does not have any rights to enforce. For this reason, its nonuse ‘is not a traffic offence’ so it is not punishable by a fine or losing points on your driver’s licence.

It is, however, mandatory to wear a mask on public transport and when taking a taxi and will incur a €100 fine for not complying, as outlined on the website of the Presidency of the Government.

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NEWS

Food 4 Future exhibition 2021 BILBAO in northern Spain is to have the prestigious honour of hosting this year’s Food 4 Future World Summit, an event which showcases the latest technologies that are transforming the global food industry by gathering more than 280 industry leaders across a plethora of disciplines focusing on meat, bakery, seafood, beverages, dairy and agriculture.

The event, which will take place in the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC) between June 15 and 17, will

see industry professionals from around the world gather together to explore topics such as sustainability and world hunger.

According to the organisers, the Food 4 Future exhibit will welcome more than 5,000 visitors and 200 exhibiting firms to showcase the latest solutions in foodtech, robotics and automatisation, food security and processing and packaging techniques for the different segments of the food industry.

‘Eyesore’ Petrol Station THE idyllic village of San Juan de los Terreros is often described as the jewel of Andalucia, situated as it is at the easternmost part of the community, resplendent with blue flag beaches, bays and coves.

The picturesque landscape and year‐round hustle and bustle make it a desirable destination for both Spaniards and expats, while tourists flock to the village in the summer months. But now it would seem that, rather than im‐ proving the visage of the region, the powers that be are intent on tarnishing the jewel, by construct‐ ing a large petrol station right in the heart of the village.

One outraged resident con‐

tacted the Euro Weekly News to express his concern, not only about the aesthetic issues, but al‐ so the safety and environmental implications, which he describes as “an unexploded bomb.” It would also appear that imminent construction has been planned without any consultation with residents, who have tried in vain to set up a meeting with the town hall to voice their objections.

So strong is the local feeling that residents have set up a dedi‐ cated Facebook page to discuss the matter, and have launched a petition that will be sent to the town hall. According to the au‐ thor of the petition, while the resi‐ dents of the village aren’t op‐

posed to change and progress, they vehemently object to an eyesore that could also potential‐ ly put lives at risk. The petition states that placing the petrol sta‐ tion in the proposed location will increase traffic in front of the Medical Centre and next to the Annual Fair site, which attracts many children, and is simply “an accident waiting to happen.”

The petition has already re‐ ceived dozens of signatures after being live only a couple of days.

Full details of the fight against the petrol station can be found on the official Facebook page, ‘NO A LA GASOLINERA EN EL CENTRO DE TERREROS’ ‐ the peti‐ tion can be signed here.

Stranded in Portugal

BORDER CLOSED: Travel is for ‘essential reasons’ only.

WITH Portugal now entered into the second phase of deescalation, the country’s land border with Spain is still closed, with citizens allowed to cross only for ‘essential reasons’ until April 16, at the earliest.

It is reported that since the border was closed, more than 6,000 people have been turned back during the current second lockdown period, which has lasted around two months, with mainly only Portuguese citizens and legal foreign residents being allowed into the country by road.

Since April 1, the ministry of interior administration added more countries to the list of those whose citizens must not only present a negative Covid

PCR test at the border, but also go into 14-days mandatory quarantine, which has increased Portugal’s ‘red list’ now to 14 countries.

As a result, it has been necessary to have SEF border guards who are bilingual, at least speaking some English, to try and cater as best as possible to communicate with travellers who arrive at any of the 16 permitted border crossings.

Portuguese daily publication, Correio da Manhã, has reported that out of around 750,000 people who had tried to cross into Portugal, border guards had discovered 31 criminals who had existing arrest warrants out for them, who were duly arrested and put before the courts.

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FEATURE

Advertising Feature

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UK DRIVING LICENCE If you have lived in Spain for at least six months, your UK driving licence must be exchanged for a Spanish driving licence before June 30, 2021. You need to book an appointment at your nearest DGT (Departamento General de Trafico) by calling 060 or via their website. You will need your NIE document to do this. If your licence has not yet been verified, you will be allowed to drive in Spain for six months from January 1, 2021.

BIKE INSURANCE All motorcyclists must legally take out insurance before using or parking their bike on Spanish roads. Bike insurance from Línea Directa comes with a wide range of covers designed to provide peace-of-mind and all manageable online from the comfort of your home.

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EUROPEAN PRESS

EUROPEAN NIBS DENMARK

FRANCE

Organic leader

Euthanasia bill

THE Danish food minister Rasmus Prehn has announced that the government will invest Kr40 million (€5.38 million) to establish the Innovation Centre for Organic Agriculture which will focus on research and collecting data to allow the country to double organic production by 2030.

THE French parliament is deeply divided over a new proposal to legalise euthanasia with the government allowing a free vote and the right wing vowing to oppose with amendments to try to ‘talk it out.’ If passed, France will join Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Spain.

NETHERLANDS

NORWAY

Deportation notice

Wildlife threatened

A PETITION to stop the deportation of a 13-year-old Syrian boy to Armenia has received 150,000 signatures.

His mother legally obtained an Armenian passport for him so he could leave Syria, but Dutch authorities have decided he could live with distant relations in Armenia.

EVERY six years, the Species Data Bank reviews possible additions for the Norwegian Red List of Species. It is now believed that due to either infection or intensive fish farming the status of wild salmon and wild reindeer should be upgraded to ‘near threatened.’

BELGIUM

FINLAND

Swan song

Mask ruling

NOTHING to do with Covid-19 as 88 swans spent 142 days in quarantine after being plucked from the canals in Bruges, where they were a popular sight. This was because of an outbreak of bird flu, but now they have been returned to their normal habitat.

IN 2020 a Finnish Agency ordered face masks from a local company and made an advance payment of €2.6 million, but the initial batch when tested was discovered to be inappropriate for medical use and a court has ruled that the money should be refunded.

GERMANY

SWEDEN

Volunteer militia

Green storage

SOON after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the German Government announced the creation of a voluntary militia which would see young people trained over one year to help cope with any disaster. Now the first 325 volunteers including 52 women have been enrolled.

STEEL company SSAB and Swedish state-owned LKAB are building an underground facility to store hydrogen near Luleå, in northern Sweden. Costing in excess of €25 million, the 100-cubic-metre cavern will be built approximately 30 metres below ground and should be open by 2022.

FINANCE BUSINESS EXTRA Angola support DURING his recent visit to Angola, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez gave a pledge to give financial support worth €250 million to help Angola’s business sector to increase exports in the agricultural and industrial areas to try to reduce the country’s dependence on oil.

Covid loans A REPORT in the Daily Mail revealed that British banks are writing to business customers advising that they expect repayment of Covid-19 loans made during 2020. There is fear that many will be unable to repay the loans which could lead to more bankruptcy.

Lower forecast BASED on the fact that the fresh pandemic regulations affected the Spanish economy negatively in the first quarter of 2021, the Minister for the Economy, Nadia Calvino has announced that the 2021 forecast of growth has been reduced from 7.2 per cent to 6.5 per cent.

Vauxhall decision AFTER the British Government announced that it was banning the sale of cars with internal combustion engines by 2030, Stellantis, owner of Vauxhall decided not to invest in production of a new model and is looking to the government to support the production of an electric version.

Wooing Middle East AFTER President Sánchez spent some days in Africa to discuss migrants, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha Gonzalez Laya has been touring the Baltic States and then the Middle East.

Spain needs investment and business and the still oil rich Arab States, especially Saudi Arabia, have been good customers for many years so this is an important undertaking by the Minister.

Her itinerary has included a formal visit to Kuwait, where no senior minister has been for many years as well as Iraq.

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€10 billion

is the amount that Spanish construction giant ACS is prepared to pay Atlantia for its Italian subsidiary, toll road manager Autostrade.

Boost to the environment MORRISONS has pledged to be the first supermarket to be completely supplied by ‘net zero’ carbon British farms by 2030, five years ahead of the market.

Over the next nine years, the supermarket chain has said that it will work with its 3,000 farmers and grow‐ ers to produce affordable net zero carbon meat, fruit and vegetables.

Morrisons expects that the first products to reach net zero carbon status will

be eggs as early as 2022, followed by lamb, fruit, vegetables, pork and beef in the years to follow.

UK agriculture currently accounts for 10 per cent of all UK greenhouse gas emis‐ sions, with new research revealing that two‐thirds of people consider the envi‐ ronmental impact of the food they eat.

The National Farmers Union has asked farmers to work towards a 2040 net zero goal, and other super‐

LEGALLY SPEAKING

markets are working to‐ wards 2035.

As it is British farming’s biggest supermarket cus‐ tomer, Morrisons is unique‐ ly placed to reach this goal five years ahead of indus‐ try.

In addition, it has con‐ firmed that it will remove all plastic carrier bags from its stores over the next year and will switch from offer‐ ing plastic ‘bags for life’ to a paper alternative, saying the move will make it the

first UK supermarket to stop using plastic carrier bags completely.

It will take around a year to implement this particular change, so once movement between provinces here in Spain is again allowed, British visitors to its very successful store in Gibraltar can expect to see a number of changes to help the envi‐ ronment, but remember, there is currently a ban on taking dairy and meat prod‐ ucts back into Spain.

Funerals in the Covid era

Who is responsible?

We purchased a two‐bedroom ground floor apartment in Spain in 2005. We asked our solicitor to check that everything was in order and were told everything was okay. Soon afterwards the owners of the property above us informed us that one bedroom and the kitchen of our apartment were built in part of their garden.

Our solicitor said that everything would be okay and no action was required. Our neigh‐ bours have gone to court to demolish the kitchen and bedroom, which were built by the previous owner. The solicitor does not seem interested in contacting the previous owner so all the expense is coming to us. We would be most grateful if you could advise us on the law as to who is responsi‐ ble for this sorry mess.

P L (Costa Blanca) First, the previous owner and builder YOU AND THE LAW of the illegal IN SPAIN kitchen and bed‐ room, is responsible. Then, the Community is responsi‐ ble for not blocking the original work, done with no per‐ mit. Then, your solicitor has not served you well if he did not observe a difference in the seller’s title deed, show‐ ing one bedroom only, and your purchase contract, showing two bedrooms.

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.

BRITISH online fashion re‐ tailer Asos has announced its intention to raise £500 million (€550 million) via the placing of unsecured guaranteed convertible bonds.

The cash injection which will be raised through its wholly owned subsidiary Cornwall Jersey will be

Arrangements have to be different.

FUNERALS during the Covid‐ 19 pandemic have had to be arranged differently and this has been a concern for ex‐ pats in Spain and throughout the world.

The number of people al‐ lowed at funerals and memorial services has been limited and social distancing should be observed among those who attend. It is advis‐ able to check in your area for the latest guidelines.

It is important that anyone attending funerals remem‐ ber that the use of masks is mandatory and to keep their

hands clean with gel provid‐ ed on the premises.

Do not remain in commu‐ nal areas for too long.

A popular option used dur‐ ing the coronavirus pandem‐ ic has been virtual funerals, allowing loved ones to be present with no danger.

If the deceased had a fu‐ neral plan in place, then the funeral directors will ensure that all of the correct mea‐ sures are observed, both re‐ garding attendance and the procedures which need to be in place to prepare the body for burial or cremation.

www.goldenleavesinternational.com enquiries@goldenleaves.com Facebook: goldenleavesspain

Business booms for ASOS used to fund Asos’ global expansion strategy, as well as refinancing its ac‐ quisition of Topshop in February 2021.

Issued at par, the bonds due 2026 are set to be convertible into prefer‐

ence shares, which will then be exchanged for or‐ dinary shares in the com‐ pany.

The move follows the announcement on Thurs‐ day April 8 that Asos’ pre‐ tax profits had surged 253

per cent to £106.4 million (€117 million) in the half‐ y e a r e n d e d Fe b r u a r y 2 8 2021.

Speaking on the finan‐ cial results, Nick Beighton, CEO at the company, said that the group is “delight‐

New vehicle subsidies A REPORT by Reuters says that the Spanish Govern‐ ment has approved a plan to make available a total of €800 million through to 2023 to encourage electric car sales.

Private purchasers would be able to claim subsidies of up to €7,000 to allow them to purchase an electric vehi‐ cle, whilst councils in what are recognised as small towns as well as companies equipping new fleets of taxis, may be able to claim even larger amounts.

This extra encouragement follows an earlier announce‐ ment that the government intends to promote nation‐ wide production of electric cars as well as car batteries.

Plus Ultra controversy THE decision to ‘bail out’ Venezuelan airline Plus Ul‐ tra with a €53 million life‐ line by the Spanish Govern‐ ment continues to make shockwaves in parliament.

With just four aircraft and routes to Spain, Venezuela, Ecuador and Pe‐ ru, the airline represents less than one half of 1 per cent of flights to and from Madrid.

It was always known that junior partner in the Span‐ ish Government Podemos had links with the govern‐ ment of Venezuela and af‐ ter the Vox Party de‐ nounced the decision, now the heavier hitting Partido Popular (PP) has demanded an enquiry. ed with our exceptional” performance during the period.

Aimed primarily at young adults, the compa‐ ny does offer the possibili‐ ty to order online in En‐ glish via its Spanish website (in English and Spanish) with the ability to pay in euros.

28 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 April 2021

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

LONDON - FTSE 100

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C LOSING P RICES A PRIL 12

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) 3I Group 1.238,00 1.247,00 Admiral Group 3.197,9 3.197,9 Anglo American 3.042,9 3.060,9 Antofagasta 1.714,50 1.721,50 Ashtead Group 4.550,0 4.558,0 Associated British Foods 2.438,8 2.472,2 AstraZeneca 7.299,7 7.304,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 568,20 571,60 Avast 462,55 471,40 Aveva 3.758,0 3.779,0 Aviva 403,85 405,49 B&M European Value Retail SA538,80 546,80 BAE Systems 506,40 515,20 Bank VTB DRC 1,100 1,112 Barclays 186,82 187,56 Barratt Developments 789,47 795,00 Berkeley 4.602,0 4.643,0 BHP Group 2.138,00 2.152,50 BP 294,33 296,75 British American Tobacco 2.783,0 2.790,5 British Land Company 509,80 512,80 BT Group 152,13 153,00 Bunzl 2.430,0 2.445,0 Burberry Group 2.038,0 2.050,0 Carnival 1.738,1 1.771,5 Centrica 58,30 58,46 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.422,5 2.425,2 Compass 1.566,00 1.567,56 CRH 3.547,0 3.560,0 Croda Intl 6.611,3 6.635,8 DCC 6.268,0 6.290,0 Diageo 3.167,2 3.172,3 DS Smith 409,20 415,10 EasyJet 955,60 964,40 Experian 2.648,4 2.659,0 Ferguson 9.352,0 9.364,0 Flutter Entertainment 15.100,0 15.275,0 Fresnillo 895,60 896,40 GlaxoSmithKline 1.300,37 1.315,93 Glencore 286,99 287,20 Halma 2.567,5 2.590,3 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.667,00 1.670,49 Hikma Pharma 2.426,00 2.436,00 HSBC 431,18 432,38 IAG 208,49 214,34 Imperial Brands 1.550,93 1.555,00 Informa 577,00 585,20 InterContinental 5.124,0 5.200,0 Intermediate Capital 1.980,00 1.982,00 Intertek 6.004,0 6.088,0 ITV 120,45 122,89

% CHG. 1.230,50 3.145,0 2.998,2 1.687,50 4.524,0 2.411,9 7.249,0 564,40 459,93 3.728,0 401,00 536,00 504,00 1,078 184,06 785,04 4.582,0 2.099,00 291,59 2.764,0 502,60 150,70 2.385,0 2.028,0 1.731,6 57,24 2.396,6 1.548,50 3.530,0 6.554,9 6.204,0 3.149,2 406,80 934,80 2.635,0 9.250,0 15.086,3 879,00 1.296,54 283,22 2.556,3 1.655,06 2.408,00 428,19 206,68 1.538,36 570,20 5.092,0 1.952,50 5.982,0 119,79

NET VOL 122,71K 12,24K 45,35K 239,64K 16,51K 33,92K 37,69K 273,03K 64,64K 54,68K 560,83K 237,44K 1,49M 194,13K 2,07M 48,23K 27,98K 661,59K 2,77M 484,40K 302,79K 4,67M 234,41K 73,38K 98,35K 2,50M 3,66K 16,99K 107,04K 9,95K 23,36K 64,71K 410,54K 1,09M 19,36K 67,78K 1,72K 157,76K 323,79K 1,66M 15,40K 48,24K 50,76K 454,14K 2,65M 59,10K 302,50K 44,92K 56,88K 36,41K 609,93K

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

245,20 3.166,3 712,63 297,70 43,33 7.448,0 480,22 174,21 1.880,73 897,29 196,98 8.094,0 32,64 2.104,59 3.180,8 746,40 1.549,50 6.613,0 1.915,22 511,82 600,16 5.699,0 110,66 6,90 1.397,75 1.397,6 1.335,5 683,40 648,71 1.851,00 14,69 3.642,5 1.199,00 970,98 2.423,6 1.394,70 1.602,87 12.260,0 1.538,00 1.341,00 492,70 299,20 188,15 233,64 381,00 4.122,8 961,60 134,07 3.461,4 938,20

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

246,40 3.173,9 715,70 298,76 43,59 7.480,0 483,67 174,30 1.903,50 903,00 197,80 8.362,0 32,64 2.141,59 3.215,7 747,80 1.554,00 6.636,0 1.923,87 514,00 616,57 5.703,0 112,78 6,95 1.401,11 1.401,4 1.339,5 683,40 652,23 1.853,00 14,73 3.643,0 1.211,01 972,20 2.437,6 1.398,12 1.625,66 12.335,0 1.556,00 1.345,50 496,00 304,30 189,98 235,02 397,58 4.139,0 969,18 135,16 3.510,0 941,12

243,84 3.126,0 706,00 294,80 43,06 7.382,0 475,86 170,78 1.871,50 893,60 194,85 8.028,0 31,17 2.090,59 3.179,0 736,80 1.533,50 6.580,0 1.903,50 510,44 596,00 5.617,0 109,36 6,81 1.381,25 1.381,6 1.320,8 682,60 644,20 1.844,50 14,32 3.615,0 1.188,28 961,00 2.415,6 1.389,46 1.597,00 12.190,0 1.531,00 1.327,50 487,00 297,30 186,89 232,95 374,90 4.113,1 956,17 133,55 3.427,9 932,20

89,30K 20,04K 35,70K 1,74M 15,38M 65,65K 10,79K 288,49K 9,55K 1,12M 2,96M 96,41K 623,89K 26,63K 81,66K 334,72K 142,10K 141,19K 20,62K 76,28K 74,24K 700,79K 3,86M 380,02K 808,32K 855,25K 274,26K 242,27K 54,73K 4,05K 531,68K 3,68K 724,26K 31,17K 13,59K 53,63K 15,76K 17,44K 115,90K 185,39K 624,62K 810,17K 757,00K 1,15M 796,42K 54,97K 56,25K 1,19M 34,85K 84,46K

1.15404

0.86631

Units per €

US dollar (USD) ......................................1.19069 Japan yen (JPY)......................................130.171 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................1.1001 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4370 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................10.115

currenciesdirect.com/mojacar • Tel: +34 950 478 914 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES A PRIL 12

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 198,00 2.285,88 3.372,20 248,95 133,00 252,36 230,75 102,92 52,09 53,18 312,46 330,81 319,23 226,98 135,73 68,26 161,25 156,28 231,48 76,31 255,85 135,45 136,37 231,28 677,02 376,30 57,49 222,52 139,78 187,89

CHANGE 198,96 2.289,04 3.372,20 249,10 133,04 252,84 232,20 103,68 52,15 53,28 314,74 334,90 319,32 227,63 135,74 68,40 162,93 157,04 231,61 76,38 255,99 135,50 137,27 231,31 680,97 376,61 57,80 222,60 140,09 188,22

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 196,06 2,16M 2.253,71 1,04M 3.288,90 4,34M 245,81 1,37M 129,47 106,69M 249,44 12,26M 227,54 2,48M 102,10 7,16M 51,68 13,14M 52,81 10,83M 310,33 15,99M 328,79 2,35M 314,75 4,61M 223,31 3,86M 134,71 3,02M 66,63 27,18M 159,78 8,42M 154,97 12,12M 228,87 2,73M 75,43 7,80M 252,44 24,33M 133,50 6,06M 135,56 5,86M 223,63 7,32M 669,43 21,44M 367,00 2,48M 57,25 13,87M 219,51 5,72M 138,71 6,89M 186,15 6,09M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES A PRIL 12

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+2.21% +0.91% +3.03% +0.90% +0.90% +2.92% +1.83% +1.49% +1.14% +3.49% +14.86%

4.34M 239,783 344,677 1.04M 1.31M 951,355 355,327 168,179 67,202 175,503 1.51M

-9.51% -14.07% -17.33% -16.55% -2.61% -11.65% -3.13% -7.05% -0.99% -6.80% -2.02%

996,227 308,429 760,767 943,221 3.22M 199,984 7.44M 425,818 21.44M 514,533 158,084

Most Advanced Amazon.com Inc. Booking Holdings Inc. MicroStrategy Inc. Alphabet Inc. Cl C Alphabet Inc. Cl A Align Technology Inc. Intuitive Surgical Inc. CoStar Group Inc. First Citizens Bancshares Inc. Cl A Amedisys Inc. Lovesac Co.

Most Declined WD-40 Co. IGM Biosciences Inc. Applied Molecular Transport Inc. Chemomab Therapeutics Ltd. ADR Zoom Video Communications Inc. ALX Oncology Holdings Inc. Baidu Inc. ADR PriceSmart Inc. Tesla Inc. Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc. Cl A BeiGene Ltd. ADR

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Exhibition visitors are highly qualified workers

Some of the keynote speakers.

THE Spanish Ministry of the Interior has agreed that all registered participants at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona may enter Spain despite current health restrictions.

This means that ex‐ hibitors, attendees or spon‐ sors from outside of the Eu‐ ropean Union will be able to fly to Barcelona from such countries as China, the UK and USA without fear of be‐ ing turned away at the air‐ port.

Currently, regulations prevent entry to Spain for anyone from a country out‐ side the EU due to the pan‐ demic, except in the case of highly qualified workers.

Therefore, in accordance with this rule, international organisers GSMA (Global System for Mobile Commu‐ nications) and the Ministry

of the Interior have come to an agreement that identi‐ fies all those attending the MWC within this category so that they can attend the congress.

Clearly the Spanish Gov‐ ernment is well aware of the international prestige that this exhibition brings to the country and is anxious to ensure that after last year’s cancellation, the Congress goes ahead be‐ tween June 28 and July 1 this year.

To some extent, they may be fighting a losing battle as a number of the tech giants such as Google and Intel have decided to cancel, joining Ericsson, Facebook, Google, Intel, Nokia, Oracle and Sony have already an‐ nounced that they have withdrawn.

To try to combat this, the

Co-op profits up THE Co-op Group in the UK has announced that it will repay £15.5 million (€17 million) of the Covid relief it received from the government’s furlough scheme.

It has had a good 2020 with a rise in turnover to £11.5 billion (€12.7 billion) and profits after tax and provisions also up at £77 million (€85 million) although that is only a tiny percentage against turnover.

The Co-op will not however return business rates support as it considered that this was given in “good faith” to help support its services including funerals and did not ever expect to have to pay it back.

show has now gone hybrid with the option of a virtual visit with direct contact with industry leaders which many may consider safer and more attractive this year.

BUSINESS EXTRA Debt resolved THE Villar Mir group has repaid almost all of the €68 million it owed to Santander with a series of different payments and according to Expansion.com, in order to raise the funds, the Villar Mir family had to sell some of the works of art they owned.

Sterling worries REPORTEDLY due to fears about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the sale of which is generating a large amount of income for Britain, the value of the pound has taken a knock against both the dollar and the euro on international currency markets.

Another victim AN upmarket victim of the pandemic is the Barcelona based El Barri hospitality group which was a joint venture between chef Albert Adrià and the Iglesias brothers who have now placed the group which owned five restaurants into voluntary bankruptcy.

15 - 21 April 2021

EWN 29

30 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 April 2021

FEATURE

Hope of course springs eternal

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT MILLIONS of words have of course been written about the Duke of Edinburgh and his sad passing, but as an unashamed and staunch royalist I feel it perfectly reasonable to put in my own three penneth.

Of all the Royals the Duke has always been a favourite of mine. He was obviously a man of integrity with very strong principles, but although I think this sometimes made him something of a feared disciplinarian, particularly among his male offsprings, he always appeared to be fair minded and caring.

Despite the almost treasonably incorrect, Crown series, the vast majority of us have no idea what goes on behind ‘Buck House’ doors, but in the reports we actually have been a party to over the years, I concede he may have erred a bit when a young man’s fantasy succumbs to philandering!

However in public he never brought the Royal family into disrepute, he certainly didn’t ‘rebel’ against the tradition and heritage he married into (unlike others I could mention!).

PRINCE PHILIP: A favourite of mine.

Despite protocol asserting he always stand a pace or two behind the Queen, which I’m sure he hated, he was always there in support ‐ reiterating the old, slightly amended adage that behind every successful Queen stands a strong man! He was obviously the backbone of the whole family and hopefully his strength, dedication and leadership, will have been passed on to his decedents (hope of course springs eternal!).

Not suffering fools or sycophants gladly he often came out with remarks that could be somewhat scathing! I particularly like the one where he was asked after arriving at an airport how his flight had been? ‘Have you ever flown?’ he asked the irritating toady.

‘Why yyes’ replied the man. ‘’Well it was like that’ snapped the Duke.

Bit hurtful, but pretty typical I would have thought. My absolute favourite of course was the well‐chronicled reply he gave when asked a question about his daughter Princess Anne. ‘If it doesn’t fart and eat hay, she’s not interested’ he retorted.

Prince Philip was a complex and truly

exceptional man, who will be sadly missed by millions, but most of all by his dear wife of 73 years. Let our thoughts be with the Queen in these sad times of great loss.

Couldn’t let this piece go by without a mention of the despicable duo Winge and Minge. I don’t think you have to study rocket science to realise who sanctioned the cold and arrogant ‘tribute’ to the Duke they posted on social media. I’m sure by the time you read this it will have been announced that megalomaniac Megan’s doctors have recommended she doesn’t travel at this time. The fact that even later into her last pregnancy, she actually travelled over 11,000 miles to attend her LA baby shower will not of course go unnoticed by the general public.

Just how stupid does this arrogant woman think we all actually are? As for Harry ‐ well he’s just about as far removed from his Grandfather’s legacy as a Grandson could possibly be. Thank the Lord he’s only sixth in line!

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.

A better version of one’s self ROBERT SHALLIS IS it possible to become a new and improved better version of your‐ self? Absolutely!

Throughout life we all have suc‐ cess along with failings, however, during that journey we can always strive to improve, up‐level and learn from our mistakes in order to create our desired success and wins in life.

To become a better version of yourself you first need to know who you really are and not fall into the habit of permanently becoming that person you feel others want you to be in order to get where you need to be. Many of us are not aware of the numerous roles we play, the change in our personalities depend‐ ing on the circumstance or situation we find ourselves in.

Of course, at times we all need to wear a different hat aiding us to

REMEMBER: You are the best person qualified to be yourself. meet specific needs and require‐ ments in life, this could be to achieve material gain, promotion, admiration of others...

Interestingly, albeit slightly amus‐ ing is that others around you are all playing their own roles, depending

on their own perceived require‐ ments based on their personal agenda. Picture a business meeting, where the attendees are not being their authentic self as they feel they need to act in a way that not only benefits them but also the meeting,

realising that everyone has created their own little bubble thus losing human interaction that can deter‐ mine a successful outcome.

The more attached they become to who they think they need to be, the more detached they find them‐ selves as everyone is playing the same game. The end result, not one person is genuinely relating to the other. This then plays out into ‘We need to have a meeting about the meeting.’ I experienced this sce‐ nario many times during my career in finance.

The important thing is not to lose ourselves too much in these roles and forget who we are. Taking a step back and noticing yourself ev‐ ery now and then will help free you from that automated way of being and allow yourself time to reflect, re‐calibrate and decide if the roles you’re playing are serving you well, but more importantly, which ones are creating a ‘positive’ outcome for you and those around you.

It’s very easy to get caught up in

being somebody we’re not and act‐ ing in a certain way, which ultimate‐ ly leads us to question who we real‐ ly are?

This is why it is incredibly impor‐ tant to surround yourself with peo‐ ple, wherever possible, whom you can be more yourself, comfortable, those that bring you joy, support and love. Knowing who you are can be hard but eliminating the very things that cause you to fall back in‐ to certain acting roles that aren’t sit‐ ting well with you is the first step.

The famous poet and playwright Oscar Wilde wrote; ‘Be yourself. Ev‐ eryone else is taken.’

So, it’s important to remember that you are the best person quali‐ fied to be yourself, anyone else will only ever be second best. You are unique and there is only one of you.

Reminding yourself of that from time to time is empowering and building on that to become an even better version is self‐empowerment.

Rob Shallis www.robshallis.com

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

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

I don’t understand Bitcoin MIKE SENKER IN MY OPINION Views of a Grumpy Old Man I’V E never really understood Bitcoin.

How can something you can’t see, feel or know where it comes from be worth so much real money now? And, to be honest, I’m quite happy with my ignorance. I know one Bitcoin is now ‘worth’ about €50k. I t seems to me that the people earning the most are the cybercriminals.

There’s only 21 million Bitcoin in circulation and some of those have been lost forever because people have forgotten or lost their passwords which makes theirs worthless. But here’s the scenario that makes them the most dangerous.

Imagine going to your car, and finding that you are unable to unlock the doors or start the engine. Then you notice a message on your ‘phone. It’s a ransom note indicating that your car has been locked down and taken hostage. You are required to send Bitcoin to an unknown address if you want to release your car.

Sound crazy? It shouldn’t. According to security experts this scenario is not an

impossible situation.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are fuelling a wave of ransomware attacks to the tune of $1.4 billion in the U S .

Hackers encrypt the victim’s data and then require the victim to pay a fee in Bitcoin or certain other cryptocurrencies to obtain the decryption key needed to release the data.

M ost ransomware attacks start as phishing emails. Hackers bombard hospitals, big corporations, universities and even cities. The University of California San Francisco paid hackers $1.14 million in Bitcoin after a ransomware attack.

T hat’s a shed load of dosh and the thieves got away with it and it’s only going to get worse.

I read that one hospital client received ransom notes from two distinct ransom crews that had infiltrated the hospital’s computer systems. The hackers had auctioned off access to the hospital twice! The criminals were in-fighting over who would get paid first! Guess what - most of it is coming from Russia and China, there’s a surprise!

I’d love to know if anyone ‘real’ has earned fortunes out of cryptocurrencies.

Email: mikesenker@gmail.com

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

15 - 21 April 2021

EWN 31

THURSDAY 15/04 FRIDAY 16/04 SATURDAY 17/04

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 8:35pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:35pm 9:05pm 9:35pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 5:00pm 5:10pm 5:15pm 5:20pm 6:10pm 8:35pm 9:30pm 10:10pm 11:10pm 11:25pm 11:30pm

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SUNDAY 18/04

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Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News Party Election Broadcast The One Show EastEnders Dragons' Den This Is My House BBC News at Ten Regional News and Weather

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The Repair Shop Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show A Question of Sport Would I Lie to You? EastEnders Have I Got News for You Mrs. Brown's Boys BBC News at Ten

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BBC News BBC London News Weather Final Score Match of the Day Live: The FA Cup I Can See Your Voice Casualty Keeping Faith BBC News Weather Match of the Day

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Seven Worlds, One Planet BBC News BBC London News Weather Countryfile Antiques Roadshow Call the Midwife Line of Duty BBC News BBC London News Weather

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Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News Party Election Broadcast The One Show Is the Church Racist? Panorama EastEnders Fawlty Towers Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World

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The Repair Shop Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News Party Election Broadcast The One Show EastEnders Holby City Island Medics The Syndicate BBC News at Ten

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The Repair Shop Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News Party Election Broadcast The One Show Garden Rescue The Repair Shop The Great British Sewing Bee BBC News at Ten

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Eggheads Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Saved and Remade Remarkable Places to Eat Great British Menu Pandemic 2020 Mock the Week Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands Newsnight

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Eggheads Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Saved and Remade MOTDx Grand Tours of Scotland's Lochs Great British Menu Gardeners' World I'll Get This - Extra Helping Newsnight

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Live Snooker: The World Championship Flog It! All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star Florida: America's Animal Paradise Top of the Pops: The Story of 1977 Elizabeth Taylor: A Life in Ten Pictures Burton and Taylor

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The Great British Sewing Bee Live Snooker: The World Championship Steve Backshall's Extreme River Challenge This Farming Life Climate Change: Ade on the Frontline Australia: Earth's Magical Kingdom FilmI, Tonya

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Richard Osman's House of Games Saved and Remade The Hairy Bikers' Mediterranean Adventure Mastermind Mastermind Different League - The Derry City Story Have I Got a Bit More News for You Newsnight

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Live Snooker: The World Championship Richard Osman's House of Games Saved and Remade The Hairy Bikers' Mediterranean Adventure All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star NewMakeup: A Glamorous History Live at the Apollo

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Live Snooker: The World Championship Richard Osman's House of Games Saved and Remade The Hairy Bikers' Mediterranean Adventure Great British Menu Bent Coppers: Crossing the Line of Duty QI XL Newsnight

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Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Summer Holidays: What's the Truth? Tonight Emmerdale Britain's Brightest Celebrity Family?

The Queen and Her Cousins with Alexander Armstrong

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Countdown A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed The Simpsons The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Dog House Taskmaster Frank of Ireland Naked Attraction

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Exotic Pop at the BBC Sounds of the 70s - New Wave Top of the Pops: 1990 Top of the Pops: 1990 Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know Duran Duran: A Night In he 80's Pop Map of Britain and Ireland Exotic Pop at the BBC

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Live Snooker: The World Championship The Young Montalbano Italy's Invisible Cities Top of the Pops: 1990 Top of the Pops: 1990 Sinatra: All or Nothing at All Italy's Invisible Cities

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Tipping Point The Chase ITV News and Weather ITV News London In for a Penny Game of Talents Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow The Jonathan Ross Show ITV News and Weather ITV London Weather Jaws

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Four in a Bed Four in a Bed Four in a Bed Four in a Bed Channel 4 News Grand Designs The Windsors: Inside the Royal Dynasty Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Qualifying Highlights First Man

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ITV London Weather Game of Talents In for a Penny Babe Midsomer Murders The Chase: Celebrity Special ITV News and Weather ITV News London Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Casino Royale ITV News and Weather

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Kirstie and Phil's Love it or List it Channel 4 News Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Highlights NewGuy Martin's Battle of Britain Gogglebox Walter Presents: The Hunter Sexy Beast

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The Chase ITV News London Party Election Broadcast ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Alan Titchmarsh: Spring into Summer Coronation Street Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip ITV News at Ten

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Four in a Bed The Simpsons Ackley Bridge Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Britain‘s Most Famous Family for Hire Jamie: Keep Cooking Family Favourites NewLucy, the Human Chimp 24 Hours in A&E

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ITV News London Party Election Broadcast ITV Evening News Emmerdale Ainsley's Mediterranean Cookbook Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip ITV News at Ten and Weather

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A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed The Simpsons Ackley Bridge Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer Snackmasters: Shreddies Naked Attraction

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A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed The Simpsons Ackley Bridge Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Location, Location, Location First Dates Hotel Second Hand for 50 Grand

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Live Snooker: The World Championship Call the Midwife: The Casebook Between the Lines Between the Lines Roman Britain: A Timewatch Guide This Green and Pleasant Land: The Story of British Landscape Painting

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Live Snooker: The World Championship Mark Kermode's Oscar Winners: A Secrets of Cinema Special Stephen: The Murder That Changed a Nation Horizon: How Big Is the Universe?

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Rich House, Poor House 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight The Highland Vet Escape to the Farm with Kate Humble 10 Years Younger in 10 Days What Happened to Your Face

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5 News Weekend Susan Calman's Grand Day Out in the Highlands Barcelona with Jane McDonald Our Yorkshire Farm The Savoy: World's Most Expensive Hotels NewZara and Mike Britain's Favourite 80s TV Comedy

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Celebrity River Cruising in France Caravan Holidays with Shane Richie Happy Campers: Brits on Holiday Rich House, Poor House Changed My Life Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun Britain's Favourite 80s Songs

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Rich House, Poor House 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight Premiership Rugby Highlights Traffic Cops Hoarder Homes: No Room to Move Casualty 24/7

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Rich House, Poor House 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight GPs: Behind Closed Doors The Yorkshire Vet Our Yorkshire Farm NewDoctors of War: Saving Lives

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15 - 21 April 2021

FEATURE

GO LOCAL

vTHE 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.

During this lockdown, we challenge you to rediscover your local high streets, markets, butchers, greengrocers and all of the wonderfully quirky inde‐ pendent businesses in your area.

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

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

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

at an independent store you’re putting food on a local family’s table, and there is no better time than now to give back to your community by making a small gesture and shopping in this way.

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 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 meat from a local butcher and

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

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

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‐ 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 retailers return 52 per cent of their rev‐ enue back into the local econo‐ my, 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 exam‐ ple, let’s look at a local farmer growing produce.

First, they sell to a local restaurant, which in turn pre‐ pares the fresh produce and sells it to local customers. The farmer pays its local employ‐ ees and the restaurant uses revenue from sales to buy supplies from a neighbourhood hardware store.

This example illustrates 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 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 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.

15 - 21 April 2021

EWN 35

36 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 April 2021

FEATURE

WELL, DID YOU FALL FOR ANY OF THEM TOO? at midnight. Some rather bizarre require‐ ments were listed as desirable, including an ability to write ‘in mumbo‐jumbo.’

Those past decades must have been the last days of innocence. What was stated in the papers was generally taken to be gospel.

Nobody was looking for the spoof article.

Truth, after all, was sacred. In subsequent years, readers have become too canny to be taken in easily, and front‐page spoofs are of‐ ten all too blindingly obvious. Although this year’s had the advantage that recent political news is almost too bizarre to accept as gen‐ uine.

Take, for instance, all the fake news stories during Donald Trump’s term in office which read more like April Fool’s jokes. Or ‘alterna‐ tive facts’ as his spin doctors spun them. I mean, stories like he’s still refusing to accept the election result. No, hang on, that is true!

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist.

To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/nora-johnson

HOW did you spend Thursday April 1st this year? Did you have another think about a few things? For starters, what about that trip to Cornwall this summer in view of the compulsory Cornish language tests you’ll face in booths on the Tamar Bridge and the A30?

Or that ‘exclusive’ picture of Prince Harry and Meghan apparently saying their vows in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury ‐ dressed as Elvis?

Or HM the Queen appearing to address Oprah Winfrey on a computer screen for the ‘unbelievable moment’ when Her Majesty promised to “tell one’s truth”?

For decades, April Fool’s Day has given ev‐ eryone a great excuse to have a bit of fun. Or, I should say, for centuries ‐ one of the first references to springtime hoaxes is in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, when a vain cock is tricked by a fox in the Nun’s Tale.

APRIL FOOL’S DAY: How did you spend the time this year?

In more modern times, perhaps most memorable is the BBC’s classic 1957 Swiss ‘Spaghetti Harvest’ story. The three‐minute report resulted in masses of calls from view‐

ers wanting to buy spaghetti bushes.

Then in 1986 there were some fake job ad‐ vertisements connected to the abolition of the GLC, which had disappeared on March 31

Nora Johnson’s psychological crime thrillers ‘The Sentinel’, ‘No Safe Place’, ‘Betrayal’, ‘The Girl in the Woods’, ‘The Girl in the Red Dress’, ‘No Way Back’, ‘Landscape of Lies’, ‘Retribu‐ tion’, ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora‐johnson.net) available on‐ line as eBook (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, pa‐ perback and audiobook. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

Nora Johnson’s opinions are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

OUR PLANET UNDER THREAT DAVID WORBOYS IT’S nice to be realistically opti‐ mistic. A positive outlook on life makes everybody feel good about everything. Unfortunately, most of us are quite the reverse. Either we envisage the worst outcome or we try to cover our apprehensive thoughts with a sunny show of con‐ fidence. For example, Boris Johnson portrays himself as an optimist, but in fact he simply seems to hope ev‐ erything will turn out all right, re‐ gardless of the situation and the facts. The practicality of the solution to his problems and the action re‐ quired seems to be irrelevant. Blind optimism can result in huge mis‐ judgements and negligence.

During my infancy the Second World War cast a huge threat to the survival of humanity. Once this night‐ mare was over, our planet recovered

WE HAVE BEEN WARNED: It will be more than the rhino and the tiger that will become extinct. and prospered, despite the emer‐ gence of guerrilla warfare and urban terrorism. The swinging 60s reflected the roaring 20s and the future looked bright.

Can we be optimistic about the fu‐ ture of our planet and its seven bil‐ lion inhabitants today? Let’s look at some facts. The Covid pandemic has taken a reported three million lives, has severely restricted the way we live and work and has had a devas‐ tating effect on the world’s economies. Nobody knows when, if

ever, the pandemic will disappear or how life will be in the future. We as‐ sume that it will cease, but that life on Earth may never be quite the same as it was two years ago.

The nuclear threat is rearing its head again as American supremacy in the power game subsides in favour of China. It is not inconceiv‐ able that the current Chinese leader‐ ship would want, given the opportu‐ nity, to take over control of the world. This would not mean the end of the planet, but it could result in

appalling suffering and subjugation for billions of people.

Then there is Artificial Intelligence.

If human intelligence is overtaken by AI it could become not merely super‐ fluous but subservient to AI. Most in‐ novations, which have brought so much benefit to date, have sadly been abused. The development of pharmaceuticals, narcotics, online banking, social media, and air travel have all presented conveniences for the masses, but opportunities for criminals. Hence, those few people

who have developed and pro‐ grammed AI could abuse their posi‐ tion and suppress the rest of human‐ ity. Again, the planet would survive, but billions of us would be under the control of a few powerful and proba‐ bly evil manipulators.

Autonomous weapons operated indiscriminately by robots and pro‐ grammed to target selected groups or selected geographical areas are a horrific prospect which could wreak much more damage than ‘conven‐ tional’ nuclear warfare.

In the long term, however, all the above dangers to our future exis‐ tence could become irrelevant. If we do not solve climate change, the evi‐ dence is that our planet and the hu‐ man race will eventually cease to ex‐ ist. Whatever is left of our planet in the wake of Covid, nuclear destruc‐ tion and Artificial Intelligence will succumb to the natural disintegra‐ tion of the eco‐system. It will be more than the rhino and the tiger that become extinct. We have been warned.

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

www.euroweeklynews.com • 15 - 21 April 2021

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15 - 21 April 2021

MS BIPOLAR UP AND DOWN WITH BALANCE UNEDITED

THE ‘hurricane’ of emotions - high , low or both - and the after effects can be very daunting to consider.

However, I would have to say the ‘storms’ in your mind can be weathered and the sun does shine many days.

What I’ve learned so far… Know the storms are coming. This is the reality, you can’t avoid them, its going to happen… so make preparations for it. Have safety plans and people who can help you in your time of need. Remember that storms will pass. They can be scary and ugly and cause some damage. But they do end. Try to find the eye of the storm while you’re in it. Use your friends or loved ones to help you find that place. It’s the place you can sit and recognise what is happening to you.

Some people find it

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Toxic cocktail Weathering the awaits retirement Storm - It’s worth it! with the help of others, some can find it in their own minds.Give yourself time in the

‘cleanup phase’ to get back on your feet.

Think about the cleanup after a storm… houses need repairs… your body and mind also need TLC after things settle.Enjoy the sunshine. When it comes, take it in and appreciate your stability. Get things done or rest, or both, whatever works for you.

Be proud of your strength!

Make the most of the lessons. I believe each storm holds a lesson to be learned about yourself, your illness, your supports. Store those lessons to help you be even more prepared for the next storm.

I’ve just come out of the eye of a mixedmood storm. It’s whipped around me, sucked me in and spat me back out. But I am in ONE piece.

I might have bipolar, but I won’t let it have me.

Love Ms Bipolar msbipolar@euroweeklynews.com x

RETIREMENT: Rather than being a fun and frivolous time, can actually be just as stressful as working.

WE are all living longer, but the quality of that life is not as good, as unhealthy lifestyles now mean today’s youth can expect to spend their retirement in poor health.

Obesity, lack of exercise and smoking are cited as the main problems leading to what experts are calling a ‘toxic cocktail’ of back pain, diabetes and dementia.

With women expected to live to an average age of 83 and men until 79, people can expect to spend those last two decades suffering from poor health.

Public Health England said a report found only 57 per cent of English adults carry out the recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise and 29 per cent do less than half an hour. Two in every three adults are now also overweight or obese.

A report has also shown that retirement, rather than being a fun and frivolous time, can actually be just as stressful as working, particularly for those leaving lower-paid positions as they struggle with the pressure of making ends meet on their pension.

PETS

44

www.euroweeklynews.com • 15 - 21 April 2021

SPONSORED BY

Planning a long absence from home?

PLANNING a long trip away from home?

How about that staycation? Are you tenta‐ tively planning to get away later this year?

Even if you are planning a short trip you’ll know you simply can’t travel with some pets they need to stay behind. So, plan ahead.

Take a moment to plan ahead for pet and house‐sitters, if you have trips planned later this year. Now is the time to get ready. We will help you as much as we can. Our philoso‐ phy is that we are all in this together. These are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeowner on House SitMatch.com 2. Choose a Premium account (89 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house 4. Post a housesit advert stating your plans for your holiday, Covid permitting.

Do you need a pet sitter in 2021? Then get started right now.

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House‐sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

Trustpilot Testimonials ‐ 4.8 / 5 Excellent

GOING AWAY?: Keep the garden looking well managed and your property and pets well-cared for. rating (New Trustpilot rating scale) Here’s what members have said about us ‐ HouseSitMatch found us a perfect house‐ sitter…

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

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How do you join?

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

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

Active days out with your dog DOGS give so much love to their owners and most are re‐ garded as a family member, adopting the same lifestyle.

Most owners take their dogs out on their usual walking routine, but once in a while it would be interesting for them to try other outdoor activities. Dogs do have memo‐ ries and giving them a different experience outdoors would keep them physically and mentally stimulated.

There are a few interesting and challenging options, which include hiking trails or dog‐friendly parks.

Swimming is another good form of exercise for dogs and the chlorine in pools is not a problem for them either.

The sea is possibly more challenging, as it’s unpredictable and the dog might not be as safe. Playing fetch on the beach with all that fresh air is invigorating for dog and owner.

If you’re a fitness junkie that goes jogging every day, you could take the dog with you, so get a hands‐free running leash to have round your waist.

Including the dog on family camping trips can be fun, es‐ pecially if the dog gets their own tent to sleep in.

The important thing to remember is to take a basic first‐ aid kit and a plentiful supply of water, when out and about in the great outdoors. It’s also important to be aware of your dog’s level of fitness and not to give them too much of a challenge.

Springtime diseases a danger for dogs EACH season has its own pitfalls and hazards.

These are some spring‐ time diseases and dan‐ gers for dogs: Wasp and bee stings are frequent in spring and can sometimes cause significant allergic reactions.

Adders come out of hibernation and their bites can cause important injuries.

Fertilizers and insecticides are used more at this time and it is necessary to avoid the contact of these products with pets.

Some plants and flowers such as daffodils, tulips, amaryllis, azaleas and rhododendrons can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, even death if ingested by your dog.

Encounters with other animals may be more frequent and problematic this time of year as many dogs tend to be more excitable and restless during the spring months, and this can lead to fights when interacting with other dogs.

Inciting factors can lead some dogs to escape the confines of their homes which can lead to accidents.

The activity of the sand flies that transmit Leishmaniosis be‐ gins and repellents must be used Many of these dangers will require veterinary care to cor‐ rect.

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tbuddyhhvisits@gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, www.britishlegion. org.uk/counties/spain-north ZURGENA Branch meeting on the first Thursday, Coffee Morning on the third Thursday and Buffet & Quiz Night on the last Tuesday of the month all at The Heathers La Alfoquia, for further details please email zurgenarbl secretary@yahoo.co.uk (253989)

DRAINAGE

CHURCHES LOCAL ANGLICAN (C of E) Church Services Mojacar, Sundays at 11am Llanos Del Peral, Sundays at 11am Aljambra Chapel, 1st Thursday monthly at 11am Priest in Charge, Rev. Vincent Oram 603 659 139. For directions, details and to find out more about our church activities please see our website http://www. almeria-anglican.com (10002) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Why not make this year the year you volunteer? Call and 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

BUILDERS

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ESTATE AGENT VOSS HOMES are a professional, British family-run Estate Agents with an office in Huercal-Overa town. They specialise in selling and renting properties in the HuercalOvera, La Alfoquia, Zurgena & Taberno area. Andy, Anna, Jess, Adele, Hannah, Amy & Karen look forward to helping you buy, sell or rent your ideal property. Please call 678 002 006 for more information (283824) WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

INSURANCE AWARD-WINNING AGENT for ALL your insurance needs. LIBERTY SEGUROS ALBOX/MOJACAR INSURANCE, ALBOX OFFICE: 950 121 943. Mojacar office: 634 323 399 (10003) MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 309 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now!

(200726) STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbey gateinsure.com (2887610)

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ELECTRICAL ABBOTT ELECTRICS. From a Light Fitting to a Full Rewire. Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (277829)

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SITUATIONS VACANT

15 - 21 April 2021 • www.euroweeklynews.com SPONSORED BY

MISCELLANEOUS

PLUMBERS

GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 20 years installation experience. Established 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria.com (283080)

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

SOLAR ENERGY

XXX RELAXATION KNOWLES PLUMBING No 1 for all plumbing jobs big or small. Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 606 807 797 or 684 143 560

REMOVALS/STORAGE

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

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

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

RYA VHF and Radar Courses.

626 245 098 (291576)

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PAINTERS

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PROPERTY MAINTENANCE PETS THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. We are still here and would love to discuss your future requirements.

630 234 556 / the5bone hotelturre@gmail.com (279669)

REMOVALS & STORAGE

MOTORING

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Toyota Camry causes surprise!

IT’S one of those cars that many will know but few consider and it’s one of those cars that has re‐ liability at its core. Well it’s a Toyota! The Camry is a very stylish looking car and during my time several people stopped to express surprise that it was a Toyota. Most thought it looked too upmarket and expensive!

While not selling in anything like high numbers here, unlike in the US where it is hugely popu‐ lar, the Camry is a car that de‐ serves greater appreciation. It may not carry a premium badge but it looks and feels very premi‐ um and there’s a solidity that al‐ most wouldn’t be amiss in a Ger‐ man badged saloon, plus there’s that enviable reputation for relia‐ bility.

Priced from €37,991 (£32,260) there are two versions and both utilise the same 2.5‐litre four‐ cylinder petrol electric hybrid with CVT automatic transmis‐ sion. Standard fare is good with leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, electrically ad‐ justable and heated seats, dual zone air conditioning, auto lights with high beam assist, auto wipers, powered and heated

door mirrors, Bluetooth and nav‐ igation all included on the lead‐in model.

On the road the 2.5‐litre en‐ gine is a smooth performer and although as with every CVT there’s a rise in revs under hard acceleration, the Camry does things with little fuss or audible intrusion. It doesn’t handle as well as a premium sporting sa‐ loon, but then you wouldn’t ex‐ pect it to, nonetheless it acquits itself remarkably well. Decent mpg, hybrid tech to charge the battery and a comfortable interi‐ or all go to make the Camry a sensible choice and a nice place to be on any journey.

The Camry costs roughly the same as an entry level BMW 3‐ Series saloon and you get better kit, more space and arguably more exclusivity given how few Camrys are likely to be sold. One of the downsides is you’ll have higher depreciation, and the Camry won’t impress those who value badge above all else. What this means in practice is that the Camry doesn’t have the premi‐ um pedigree we Brits love in our cars.

However, those who dismiss

the Camry as a posh Uber are missing the point, not least Mer‐ cedes Benz are taxis all over the world and still produce high end premium cars. The Camry has a style that belies its lack of premi‐ um badging and I would happily have one in the garage as my daily driver.

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Real Madrid Edge Barcelona Medal Gained LAST Saturday April 10, saw one of the most important ‘El Clasico’ clashes in many years, as Barcelona, who are lying second in La Liga, travelled to the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, to take on third‐placed Real Madrid, with a win for either team taking them to the top of the table, for tonight at least, with Diego S i m e o n e ’ s At l e t i c o M a d r i d side travelling to Betis on Sunday.

Six months ago it looked as though the La Liga title was already going to At l e t i c o , b u t s l o w l y a n d surely, both Real Madrid and Barcelona have reeled them in, making this a very exciting cli‐ max to the season, and a 2‐1 victory for Zinedine Zidane’s men sees them now topping the table.

Two first‐half goals from Karim Benzema after 13 minutes, and then Toni Kroos on 28 minutes, put ZINEDINE ZIDANE: Real Madrid manager.

Madrid in control at the

break, but, in a rain‐lashed, storm‐hit stadium, and with Ronald Koeman at the helm of the opposition, Real could not afford to relax, and, sure enough, in the 60th minute, it was defender Os‐ car Mingueza scuffing home on the hour mark, to set up a thrilling final stage of the match.

Casemiro picked up two quick bookings and was red‐carded, but Zidane’s hosts dug deep and survived a late scare as substitute Ilaix Moriba volleyed a shot in the final moments, that hit the cross‐ bar, with goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen beaten.

The framework of the Real Madrid goal was still shaking when the final whistle went, and so too were some play‐ ers, freezing cold, and forced to change their shirts during a clásico that unfolded amidst thunder, lightning and driving rain, with the wind whipping through the deserted stadi‐ um.

A SPANISH Olympic athlete has finally gained her rightful bronze medal after doping allegations from the London Olympics were upheld. As many expats and Spaniards alike may remember, the Olympic Games were over‐ shadowed for Russia, with dop‐ ing allegations.

Spain’s Ruth Beitia, from Cantabria, has now been named as the only Spanish athlete ever to have won two Olympic medals. She has now gained her rightful second Olympic medal after Russia’s Svetlana Shkoli‐ na’s suspension was upheld.

The Spanish athlete had origi‐ nally finished fourth behind Shkolina at the Olympics in Lon‐ don, but the Russian athlete was suspended for suspected dop‐ ing. In total 11 Russian athletes who appeared at the London Olympics were suspended due to doping suspicions.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has now upheld the Russian athlete’s suspension and the Spanish athlete has

RUTH BEITIA: Has now won 2 Olympic medals. been confirmed as bronze medallist. The Olympic high jump champion must be delight‐ ed after having waited so long for the final decision.

The Russian athlete saw her disqualification period altered to cover dates between July 16, 2012 up until December 31 2014. This means that her Olympic bronze medal that she obtained in London in 2012 has been annulled.

The Spanish high jumper, has since retired from the sport, but is now considered the only Spanish athlete to hold multiple Olympic medals.