Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 9 - 15 December 2021 Issue 1901

THE BEST FINANCE NEWS ON PAGES 14 - 17 Issue No. 1901 9 - 15 December 2021

New outdoor gyms I N N O V AT I V E new equipment for outdoor sports will be installed in the Manuel Azaña, Sa Ri‐ era, Son Fuster, La Rib‐ era, Son Cotoner and Son Dameto parks in Pal‐ ma.

The project is included in the so‐called Renewal Plan for Parks executed by the Cort infrastruc‐ ture department which, represents an invest‐ ment of €5 million.

Of that, €250,000 will be for the installation of modern sports equip‐ ment in the green areas.

On December 3, the first gym located in Ciu‐ tat Jardi was put into operation.

The councillor for In‐ frastructure Angelica Pastor stressed the im‐ portance of having these outdoor gyms to encour‐ age exercise and said that work is being done so that six other neigh‐ bourhoods of the city have these next genera‐ tion facilities to promote outdoor sports.

The installation allows you to download a mo‐ bile application that monitors the exercises through the user’s de‐ vices, while allowing other sports devices to be connected online.

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VACCINE DRIVE SA DRAGONERA: The boat was found drifting close by.

Maritime rescue

NEVER BEEN EASIER: The Vacubus is back in Palma.

THERE’S good news for resi‐ dents in the Palma area as getting vaccinated is once again easier thanks to the return of the Vacubus to the Fan Mallorca Mall.

The bus arrived on Decem‐ ber 7 and will remain in place until Sunday December 12. It will allow those who wish to be vaccinated or receive a booster to do so without an appointment.

The bus is parked in the commercial area of the mall and is open from 10.00am to 9.15pm. A nurse and an aux‐ iliary care nurse will be in at‐ tendance, as well as a Healthcare Management (GSAIB) service assistant.

The Department of Health

is trying to increase the num‐ ber of people who are vacci‐ nated on the island by mak‐ ing it easier for residents to access the service.

Around 1,500 vaccines have already been adminis‐ tered in the bus, which until recently was parked at the Palma Intermodal Station during the Dijous Bo festival week, the Fan Mallorca dur‐

ing Black Friday week and at the Mercadona in Son Caliu.

More than 83 per cent of the population on the island have been vaccinated, a number the Department of Health wants to increase, as well as allowing foreigners on the island to receive a jab as well. Getting vaccinated on the island has never been easier.

THE maritime safety and rescue service (Salvamento Marítimo) rescued the crew member of a sailboat that had been drifting without an engine or sail for around 24 hours off the coast of Sa Dragonera.

The rescue was carried out on Wednesday December 8 following a distress call that was received via the emergency services. The crew member was contacted and gave an indication of his location by using a hand flare. A recovery operation was quickly mobilised to save the occupant and tow the boat safely to the port of Andratx. No one else was on board the vessel at the time of the incident.

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9 - 15 December 2021

Location of F35 known

STEALTH JET: The pilot was recovered safely and it is hoped he will be fine.

THE location of the F35 stealth jet that crashed on takeoff from HMS Queen Elizabeth after leaving the port of Palma on November 30, is now known to the British Ministry of Defence.

According to National Security Adviser, Sir Stephen Lovegrove speak‐ ing to the Commons De‐ fence Committee said that “The pilot was recovered safely and is still undergo‐

ing medical checks. We are hopeful that he will be ab‐ solutely fine.”

Continuing, he said that it was paramount that the technology remains confi‐ dential and that we recover the flight recorder.

More specifically he told the committee: “It is pre‐ mature to comment on the reasons for the accident.

“The recovery of the flight data recorder and the wreckage are vital for an accurate investigation to determine the causes of the crash. Clearly the swift re‐ covery of the aircraft is what we would like to do, and we are working closely with allies on the mechan‐ ics of that.

“We haven’t got the plane up yet. The kinds of precautions and operations that we are undertaking now are designed at least in part to ensure that the technology of the F‐35B re‐ mains confidential.”

NEWS

Record drug bust P O L I C E sources have said that the drug squad had been tracking a shipment of cocaine which left the port of Algeciras in Cadiz. The cargo had initially arrived from Panama hidden in industrial machinery.

The police, in cooperation with security forces on the mainland, chose not to intercept the shipment until they knew the destination given the number of drugs involved. The intention being to arrest all those involved in the trafficking operation.

On arrival in the port of Palma, the shipment was loaded onto two pallets and hidden in the back of a transit van. After following the van, police began an operation on November 28

resulting in the arrest of two foreign nationals. The two men have been sent to jail with further arrests not ruled out.

According to police the investigation is very much alive with the two jailed currently being questioned further. M ore evidence is also being gathered.

The bust was a major result for the National Police in its ongoing war against drugs in the Balearics and it comes just days after the National Police intercepted a sailboat with 4,700 kilos of hashish 67 miles from Cartagena.

I n this operation, two people of Bulgarian nationality were arrested.

No party in Palma FO R the second year in a row there will be no New Year’s Eve par‐ ty according to Palma Town Hall spokesper‐ son and councillor, Al‐ berto Jarabo.

Confirming that no event is planned and that there are no dis‐ cussions taking place around organising such an event, Jarabo said that they are in regular contact with the health ministry.

Based on their advice the New Year’s event won’t be taking place,

No New Year’s Eve.

but that it is likely that other events will go ahead.

The good news he said is that the Three Kings parade will take place with all those

who do attend advised to take the necessary precautions given the current health situa‐ tion.

For the Sant Sebastià concerts later in Jan‐ uary, the town hall has so far confirmed seven of the 14 acts.

The concerts will be on different days. On January 21, for exam‐ ple, two indie pop acts in the Plaça Espanya have been contracted, one of them ‐ for €42,350 ‐ being La Casa Azul.

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NIBS EXTRA Covid certs THE Balearic Prosecutor’s Office has recommended Covid certificates be required for entrance to bars and restaurants. The prosecutor believes the requirement will not violate the rights to equality or privacy, as no data will be stored and anyone, vaccinated or unvaccinated, can obtain the document.

No travel THE 57-year old actress, Sonja Kirchberger, and resident of Mallorca has contracted coronavirus despite being vaccinated. Kirchberger does not know where she got the virus, which has resulted in a fever, a bad headache, strange food tastes and stinging in her back. She does not think she will be able to travel to her hometown for Christmas.

FRS closes THE German owned ferry company FRS, is withdrawing from the Mallorca and Ibiza ferry routes after just six months in operation.

The company will also be withdrawing from its North African routes citing competition in a market badly affected by travel restrictions.

Ticket reimbursements are available from +34 956 681 830 or booking@frs.es.

Eagle recovers IN an interview with Biologist Cristin Fiol undertaken

by Mallorca Zeitung, she has said that the Bonelli’s Eagle population has recovered on the island after becoming extinct in 1960. According to her there are now 39 couples living and breeding along the coast, enough to sustain the population.

Want work?

THE number of unemployed on the island rises significantly in the winter months, a situation German companies are hoping to take advantage of with restaurants and hotels desperate for staff. The Hope Mallorca Foundation is offering mediation if anyone is interested.

9 - 15 December 2021

In favour of cruise ship limits A PUBLICITY campaign by the Platform Against Mega‐Cruise Ships is high‐ lighting the opinions of prominent individuals who have questioned the current level of cruise‐ship activity in Palma.

Palma‐born former Spanish Ambassador to the United States, Jorge Dezcallar is one of those who believes that there should be restrictions on the number of cruise ships. He said that “the debate on the limits of tourism is very healthy.

This is because citizens should have an opinion on issues that affect their lives.”

CRUISE SHIPS: Individuals have questioned the current level of activity in Palma.

In sharing his views Dez‐ callar referred to the on‐ going debates that are be‐ ing had in other cities with a similar issue, cities such as Barcelona, Dubrovnik and Venice.

Dezcallar favours limit‐

ing cruise ship visits to Pal‐ ma “in order to avoid con‐ gestion, pollution and to limit the impact on locals’ lives.” Continuing he said that “We are the ones who have to decide how many cruise ships visit us

and at what rate. Not the owners of these lines.”

The platform includes amongst others the envi‐ ronmentalists GOB, the Palma Federation of Resi‐ dents Associations and the Palma XXI association.

First case of Omicron virus T H E first case of the new Covid‐ 19 variant identified in South Africa has been confirmed by the Ministry of Health of the Balearic Islands. The woman, a resident in Mallorca, recently travelled to South Africa.

The woman arrived in Palma from South Africa on November 29 after making a stopover in Frankfurt. She has been confined along with her travelling compan‐

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First child jabs CHILDREN aged 11 will be the first to receive child vaccination in the Balearic Islands.

This was announced by the President of the Government, Francina Armengol, who announced that children aged 11 will be the first to receive the child vaccination in the Balearic Islands.

The campaign was announced on December 7 and will begin on December 15, when the first doses are due to arrive.

The president also made a plea to get their children vaccinated. The move came after Spain approved the vaccination for children between the ages of five and 11.

The public health department has stated that the children will be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. Spain will receive the vaccine on December 13, and they will then be distributed across the autonomous communities according to the population.

The child vaccine will be dispensed in different vials to those used for adults as it does not need dilution. The dose is also smaller amounting to a third of that given to adults. They will need two jabs, which will be separated by eight weeks. This will allow more children to receive the first dose quicker and increase the immune responsiveness according to the vaccines committee.

It is hoped that the campaign will help reduce or sustain incidence levels without the need for further restrictions during the holiday period.

A test was carried out at the Son Sant Joan airport which re‐ sulted in a positive identification.

She and her husband were then transferred to the Son Espases hospital for more tests.

They have since been put into quarantine and are now working NEW VARIANT: Now in Mallorca. with the authorities to trace their steps. ion, her husband, but he has test‐ The microbiology laboratory of ed negative in all diagnostic tests. the Son Espases de Palma hospi‐ tal who verified that the patient has the new vari‐ ant of the coronavirus, said the next step will be to trace all those who she AN argument has broken out between ing the pandemic to help them cope has been in close contact the hotel federation and the govern‐ with the losses incurred as a result of with in an effort to try to ment over the so‐called eco tax, paid the travel restrictions. limit the spread of the by tourists visiting the islands.

Government spokesperson and virus.

“The Tourist Tax makes Mallorca Tourism mMinister, Iago Negueruela, Although they were and the other islands less appealing as said “they should be more prudent subjected to tests in a destination, particularly during a and responsible, with the money from Frankfurt, neither tested pandemic situation,” said Executive the eco tax being allocated to Covid positive.

Vice president of FEHM, María José this year for hotels, airport access con‐ Aguiló. “Maintaining this tax is detri‐ trols and measures to help open up mental, so either the tax has to be tourism. eliminated or modules should be “The Federation should be glad that adapted for companies that pay taxes we are one of the the top destinations under the objective estimation in Spain for international tourists be‐ regime.” cause they don’t think about what DISADVANTAGED. On November 30, around 100 officials The same view is however not held they have to pay, they just want to go were seen carrying large inflatable bananas, but contrary to by the government who have remind‐ to a secure destination. Our value is common opinion they were not being carried in solidarity with ed the sector that €855 million was security and allocating resources to se‐ the island of La Palma but rather a local protest. The demon‐ pumped into tourism businesses dur‐ curity is the best value in tourism.” strators wanted to make their situation known to the Balearic Government. The bananas are meant as a symbol of unequal treatment by the civil servants’ unions in the ‘Plataforma por la Igualdad de los Servicios Públicos’ (platform for equal treatment in the public service). They feel that those who are employed in the Balearics are disadvantaged in comparison to those who live and work on the mainland.

Email: newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com or call 951 38 61 61 and ask for the EWN news team.

Fury over Tourist Tax

and finally...

DO YOU HAVE NEWS FOR US?

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9 - 15 December 2021

Extra tests condemned EXTRA Covid tests for pas‐ sengers returning to the UK have been condemned by the travel industry. The controversial reintroduc‐ tion of pre‐departure coro‐ navirus tests came into force on December 7. Be‐ fore heading home, trav‐ ellers will have to provide a negative result.

Brits abroad are expect‐ ed to be scrambling to get hold of a test to allow them to head home. A govern‐ ment adviser has said that the new measures could be “a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.” Travel expert Paul Charles spoke out re‐

garding Brits trying to get tests to return home: “Peo‐ ple who are overseas are finding it difficult to obtain tests. It’s a weekend, lots of places are closed and these people had no reason to think about the need to get a test to come home.

“People will effectively be stranded because they can’t get the tests that are now required.”

He added: “Tens of thou‐ sands of travel industry jobs are threatened. It is beyond belief that no sup‐ port measures have been announced. That just indi‐ cates how knee‐jerk these policies are.”

Delivery discrimination LINGUISTIC tensions continue to rise in Catalonia. The latest incident involves a GLS delivery driver who refused to hand a parcel over to a man who did not wish to speak Spanish and responded in Catalan when asked for his details.

The video was recorded by the front‐door camera of a house in Palafrugell, Girona, and uploaded to Twitter by the man’s son. The images show how the Catalan‐speaking client gives his ID number to the delivery man, who then asks him to repeat it in Spanish. The man refuses to do so, which causes the deliveryman to get back into his van and leave.

The man’s son put it out on Twitter and asked how to make a complaint. The story provoked arguments for both sides.

NEWS

Festival artists confirmed MALLORCA LIVE: Some big names have been confirmed.

S O M E big names have been confirmed for Mal‐ lorca Live Festival 2022, which will take place on June 24, 25 and 26 at the old Aquapark in Calvia.

Names include Franz Fer‐ dinand, Muse and Metronomy.

Some 35 artists have been added to the line‐ up, which is roughly half

Airport queues ‘new normal’ BRITISH tourists head‐ ing out to catch some winter sun, have been told to expect long Spanish airport queues. Many passen‐ gers have waited up‐ wards of 45 minutes to get through con‐ trols at popular holi‐ day destinations. Trav‐ el agency associations have said the long queues are now ‘nor‐ mal’ when landing in the country.

The associations have made multiple complaints to the

Spanish Government but claim that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. Airports popular with Brits are feeling the brunt with UK passengers moving to the non‐EU passport control queues, which were already loaded with non‐Schengen tourists looking for some winter warmth.

Alicante‐Elche, Mala‐ ga, the Canary Islands, and the Balearics are said to be some of the worst‐hit by the move.

Twitter user, Sudifood‐

ie, tweeted “So thrilled to be back in Andalucia though it has been quite a journey with epic passport queues at Malaga Airport.”

Tourist associations are begging for more staff and police offi‐ cers to help things run smoother for their cus‐ tomers at border con‐ trol. This comes after Spain placed a ban on all unvaccinated visi‐ tors from the UK. As the UK is no longer in the Schengen Zone, tourists need to get their passports stamped, leading to long airport queues.

of the total acts who will perform at the festival.

Scottish band Franz Ferdi‐ nand will perform at Mal‐ lorca Live as part of their Hits to The Head tour and it’s their only confirmed festival date in Spain for next year so far.

Metronomy, one of the most respected bands on the international music scene, will be staging their first concert in Mal‐ lorca. Their new album, ‘Small World’ is sched‐ uled for release in Febru‐ ary 2022 and will be their seventh.

Iconic DJs already con‐ firmed include Wizard Jeff Mills, Ben Ufo, Monolink, Max Cooper, Cobblestone Jazz, and Red Axes.

The Mallorca Live Festi‐ val 2022 has something for everyone including fu‐ turistic pop from Sen Senra and Delaporte, 70’s psychedelic sounds from Rufus T Firefly; urban pop from Alizzz and Cupido; indie music from Shinova and Elyella; rap from Trueno and alternative electronic from Mexico’s Pahua and Argentine duo Klik & Frik.

Families in the UK are worse off

FAMILIES across the UK are being hit by rising prices due to several factors including the lack of lorry drivers, the coronavirus pandemic, ship‐ ping delays and Brexit. Infla‐ tion is currently over 4 per cent and in the next few months, it is predicted to reach a staggering 5 per cent.

Many households are al‐ ready being hit hard by the in‐ creasing costs and Christmas is set to make this worse. Av‐ erage Christmas costs are ex‐

pected to rise by more than £100 this year.

Families with two adults and two children are said to be spending more than £30 a week extra just to cover the cost of essentials in Decem‐ ber, according to the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR).

Now, other cost increases are still being taken on board by companies. It is expected that these costs could also be passed onto customers soon.

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Pets are sentient ON Friday December 3, the Congress of Deputies defini‐ tively approved the reform of the Civil Code that changes the legal status of animals so that, in the eyes of the law, they are considered ‘sentient beings.’

Therefore, animals are now considered to have certain rights and are not considered mere objects, as they have been up to now.

The change of consideration of the character of compan‐ ion animals in the Civil Code will have concrete effects on many aspects. The judges, for example, will have to take animals into account when sentencing inheritances or di‐ vorces as the reform establishes that the magistrates must specify the “regime of coexistence and care” of animals when a marriage is legally broken, and the spouses are not in agreement. The law establishes criteria on which the

AMAZON has made the controver‐ sial decision to ban UK issued Visa credit cards from next year. The de‐ cision is said to be due to increas‐ ing transaction fees. Brexit has been partially blamed for this as fees have risen since the UK left the EU. A spokesperson for Amazon commented: “The cost of accepting card payments continues to be an obstacle for businesses striving to provide the best prices for cus‐ tomers.”

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Deep fake call

DEEP fake porn and nude images are becoming more common with im‐ provements in technology making it easier for those in the business to cre‐ ate lifelike images. Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, believes that women are mainly the target and that these images should be made a sex crime with commensurate penalties.

Including the making and sharing of these images in the ‘sexual abuse’ sec‐ tion of the online safety bill, would al‐ low those affected to seek proper re‐ dress by allowing police to take appropriate action.

Miller took an adjournment debate to the Commons on December 2 in which she outlined the ‘devastating’ impact such images have on the vic‐ tims.

Deep fake images make use of ordi‐ nary photos that are taken with or without the person’s consent and liter‐ ally ‘undressed’ by the software before being shared publicly.

Such images can also be used for videos depicting violent or illegal acts including rape.

Miller said that “Women in the UK have faced a growing problem of im‐

MILLER: Women are targets.

age‐based sexual abuse over the past decade, but the scale of the problem is increasing.” Official figures show the number of image‐based abuse reports have increased by 87 per cent in the last year alone.

Brexit’s role in Amazon ban

and finally...

Amazon customers were notified that the changes will come into force from January 19, 2022. High transac‐ tion fees mean that Amazon: “will no longer accept Visa credit cards is‐ sued in the UK.” Amazon customers with Visa cards that were issued out‐ side of the UK will be okay though as will customers using Visa debit cards, MasterCard, and American Ex‐

GOVERNMENT ministers have thrown Christmas messaging into confusion by offering different advice around socialising this Christmas. In an effort to clarify the situation No 10 has told people to carry on partying. On Thursday December 2, the prime minister’s official spokesperson insisted that this year’s celebrations are down to “individual judgement.” This after it became clear that Science Minister George Freeman let it be known that he had cancelled his work party in light of latest coronavirus developments and instead would be mark‐ ing the festive season via Zoom.

press credit cards. Since Brexit, the cap on transaction fees between the UK and the European Economic Area has been ditched, which has meant that fees have increased.

When customers purchase prod‐ ucts on Amazon UK, the company still processes the payments in the EU. This means high ‘cross‐border’ fees are applied.

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La Diabla arrested SPAIN’S National Police force, in collaboration with the German police, have ar‐ rested Leudis Isaac Corro Ca‐ macho in Hamburg, nick‐ named ‘La Diabla’, on charges of pimping.

Along with Antonio An‐ gles, and the drug trafficker Norbert Kohler, Camacho was on Interpol’s list of the most wanted criminal of‐ fenders and was wanted by Spain.

Police sources have con‐ firmed the detainee was on Interpol’s list for belonging to a European criminal organisa‐ tion that captured and then sexually exploited victims.

Specifically, the detainee, who is also known as Do‐ natella, had the main func‐ tion of recruiting her victims by ‘taking advantage of their economic precariousness.’

According to the sources, she would organise their transport, either via Ger‐ many, or directly to the final destination, which was nor‐ mally Madrid or Barcelona.

Smallest church in world ACCORDING to the Guinness Book of Records, the smallest church in the world is the Santa Isabel de Hungria, which is just 1.96m² in size. It is in the Malaga Province, in the municipality of Benalmadena.

Constructed by Esteban Martin, be‐ tween 1987 and 1994, this tiny place of worship can be found inside the Castillo de Colomares. It is a monument featur‐ ing many different architectural styles.

Mr Martin reportedly built it as a trib‐ ute to the cultural exchange unleashed

ON Friday December 3, the Scottish Government con‐ firmed an outbreak of bird flu among several free‐range hens that tested positive on a commercial premises near Gretna in Dumfries and Gal‐ loway. As a result, and to stop the spread, the area has been put in lockdown. Re‐ strictions to contain the virus, including curbs on the move‐ ment of poultry or eggs, have been implemented.

To prevent the possibility of more cases emerging, it is re‐

Benalmadena’s Castillo de Colomares.

after the discovery of America in 1492

by Christopher Columbus.

The church is dedicated to Saint Eliza‐ beth of Hungary, who dedicated her life

to helping the most disadvantaged people. It has everything necessary to carry out services, being also consecrat‐ ed by the Prior of the Monastery of La Rabida.

Benalmadena is a popular holiday destination among tourists thanks to its high‐quality beaches. But this munici‐ pality has many more tourist attrac‐ tions that should not be missed includ‐ ing the Castle of Colomares, Jardines del Muro, and the cobbled streets of its charming old town.

Bird flu outbreak FREE-RANGE HENS: Restrictions have now been put into place.

ported that all the remaining birds at the location have

been humanely culled. Mairi Gougeon, Scotland’s Rural Af‐ fairs Secretary said, “With the recent disease confirmations in wild and captive birds across the UK, it is not unex‐ pected for avian influenza to be found in birds here in Scot‐ land.

We ask that the public re‐ mains vigilant and report any findings of dead wild birds to Defra’s national telephone helpline. Do not touch or pick

up any dead or sick birds that you find.”

Sheila Voas, Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer, com‐ mented, “We have already made clear that all bird keep‐ ers ‐ whether major business‐ es or small keepers with just a few birds ‐ must ensure that their biosecurity is up to scratch to protect their birds from disease and prevent any contact between their birds and wild birds.”

NEWS

Vaccine waste THE Spanish government has let almost a million vac‐ cines go to waste, allowing them to expire rather than donating them to other countries.

The rapid spread of the new Omicron variant has the whole world on the alert. While in the first world vulnerable people and the elderly are already receiving the third dosis of the vac‐ cine, in Africa only 7 per cent of the population is vacci‐ nated. This is evidence that the Covax mechanism, an al‐ liance of 190 countries with the aim of making sure the antidote reaches the whole world, is not functioning as it should.

This December, the Span‐ ish Ministry of Health will have to throw away hun‐ dreds of thousands of doses that have expired in storage when they could have been donated to countries in the third world.

Specifically, there are 343,000 doses of As‐ traZeneca and around half a million doses of Janssen that have not been used. The ex‐ act number of Janssen vac‐ cines to go to waste will not be revealed until the end of December, when all the batches that have been re‐ turned by the Autonomous Communities and are cur‐ rently in storage expire.

La Palma tribute LA PALMA is paying trib‐ ute to the neighbour‐ hoods most affected by the volcanic eruption of Cumbre Vieja, Todoque, Las Manchas and La Lagu‐ na, by projecting three columns of light as a sym‐ bol of respect and soli‐ darity.

The columns are being projected from the munic‐ ipality of Los Llanos de Ariadne over the Christ‐ mas period.

The La Palma City Coun‐ cil wanted to give some‐ thing to their citizens and create a festive atmo‐ sphere for all to enjoy.

XMAS LIGHTS: A tribute to the people of La Palma.

On the evening of Fri‐ day, December 3, they turned on the Christmas lights and the three columns of light, which can be seen all over the island.

This year, unlike previ‐

ous years, there has not been a formal ceremony to turn on the lights. But the festive atmosphere can still be felt. The De‐ partment of Festivals or‐ ganised the three columns of light in a show of solidarity towards those who have lost their homes.

The mayor of Los Llanos, Noelia García, con‐ siders the columns “a trib‐ ute to the residents of the three neighbourhoods and a sign that we feel close to them and that we are, and will continue to be, a united people.”

NEWS

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9 - 15 December 2021

Food alert in Spain A N E W food alert has been issued by the Span‐ ish Agency for Food Safe‐ ty and Nutrition (AESAN).

They have warned that a ‘chicken shawarma’ spice mix has been discovered to contain undeclared mustard. The ingredient could be a dangerous in‐ gredient for allergy suf‐ ferers.

The agency was noti‐ fied of the issue by the health authorities of the Community of Madrid

through the Coordinated Rapid Information Ex‐ change System (SCIRI).

The ‘chicken shawarma’ spice mix is often used to prepare Turkish food in‐ cluding durums.

Mustard allergies can be serious, but the prod‐ uct poses no risk to any‐ one who does not have a mustard allergy.

The affected product is Shawarma Pollo Halal Madrid in 100‐gram packs. The affected batch

is batch number 4. The product has a best before date of 12/2024.

AESAN has said that the product has been dis‐ tributed in Valencia, An‐ dalucia, and Castilla La Mancha. The product has also been distributed to Portugal and France.

The food agency com‐ mented: “The aim is to verify the withdrawal of the affected products from the marketing chan‐ nels.”

Indonesia volcano erupts A VOLCANIC eruption in Indonesia on December 4 has resulted in a significant loss of life.

The event at Mount Semeru in East Java sent a boiling plume of ash 50,000 feet into the air and residents were forced to flee as the deadly ash cloud engulfed everything in its path. This is the second eruption this year.

By December 7, the death toll was at 34 and more than 2,000 people had been evacu‐ ated according to the head of the task force

for the management of the eruption, Infantry Col Irwan Surbekti.

An Australian organisation which monitors volcanic ash said that the column became dis‐ connected from the summit and moved west at a speed of over 70km per hour at heights of up to 50,000 ft. Semeru, also known as ‘The Great Mountain,’ is the tallest peak on the island and is renowned for its volcanic ac‐ tivity. However, this latest eruption is on a scale not seen in recent times.

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School bullies face jail A N E W law voted in by French parliament will see school bullies face jail time of up to three years as their MPs said society needs “a wake‐up call” to the seriousness of child‐ on‐child harassment. The proposed law was sup‐ ported by Emmanuel Macron’s education minis‐ ter Jean‐Michel Blanquer.

Blanquer said that the support for the law sent a message to the country that “we will never accept the lives of our children be‐ ing shattered,” and added that the law was “a way of enforcing the values of the republic.”

One in 10 French chil‐ dren have reportedly been the victim of bullying and the education minister fears that social media is increasing the potential for public taunting and humiliation.

The draft measure was approved in the Lower House on Wednesday, De‐ cember 1 and if it passes

through the Senate will give France some of the

harshest penalties for bul‐ lying in the world.

A break for Santana

IN a video posted by Carlos Santana on December 2 on his Facebook page, the guitar maestro said he will be taking a break from music, recording and touring.

Santana, who is still regarded as one of the best musicians in the world today, said that “he recently had to make a little visit to the hospital after experiencing some discomfort in his chest.” The musician did not elaborate further other than to say that on the advice of the doctors he would be taking a break from music, to get his health back. Apologising to fans, Santana explained that no one would want to see him play when he is not at his best, so it seemed right that he should take a break and return when he is back to full health.

CARLOS SANTANA: Will return when back to full health.

NEWS

Age waiver suggested for older drivers ACCORDING to UK experts funded by the Department for Transport, drivers who are aged 70 and over should be allowed to avoid prosecution or fines for run‐ ning red lights or driving un‐ necessarily slowly and should instead have their skills assessed.

The Older Drivers Task Force has recommended various ‘lifesaving’ ideas to the government to keep el‐ derly people on the roads for longer. One of the rec‐

ommendations is a manda‐ tory sight test for people who are over 70 and apply‐ ing to renew their licence.

Another recommendation is fitness‐to‐drive checks in England. These are currently only available in a few police forces, such as Hampshire Constabulary.

When a person is be‐ lieved to be an unsafe driv‐ er, a report is sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, which decides on the action. In some cases,

the driver is referred for lessons and offered a re‐ assessment within three months.

Drivers who are sent for an assessment will avoid the usual £100 fine and penalty points for careless driving.

Chairman of the Older Drivers Task Force John Plowman has insisted that drivers that are older are not a major risk.

However, they are more likely to die in a car crash due to their fragility.

Bizum scam warning

USERS who sell their products using the ap‐ plication Bizum on platforms such as Mila‐ nuncios, Vinted or Wallapop have become the new target of cybercriminals, as informed by the Spanish Office of Internet Security (OSI).

The scammers pretend to be potential buyers who are interested in one of the items for sale. They then send a request for money via Bizum instead of sending a pay‐ ment. Vendors who do not read the mes‐ sage carefully before pressing ‘Accept’ will

become victims of the scam and end up losing money.

The solution to the problem is simple: read the message before accepting. If you have already accepted the request for mon‐ ey, it is unlikely that you will get it back.

However, it is still important to report the incident.

You should contact your bank to let them know. Report the incident on the platform and on the criminal’s profile. And report the incident to the police.

Johnson branded clown A C C O R D I N G to the reports in France, President Macron called Boris Johnson a ‘clown’ in a private conversation while on a recent trip to Croatia.

The comment followed a phone conversation between the two political leaders in which they discussed the current migrant crisis.

As they were speaking, Johnson posted a letter to Macron on Twitter in which he made requests regarding France’s handling of the migrant situation.

Macron was quoted as saying: “BoJo talks to me at full speed, everything is going well, we have adult discussions, and then suddenly, he attacks us in an inelegant way.”

He went on to say, “it’s always the same circus.

It’s very sad to see that a

Johnson criticised.

great country that we could do so many things with is run by a clown.”

Just hours after saying those words, Macron made a public statement

of a similar nature in Rome.

He criticised Johnson’s choice of methods for communicating with neighbouring governments, such as Twitter and public comments, calling them “not serious.” He stated that France would be willing to negotiate “when the English government behaves more seriously.”

and finally...

AIRLINE helps out: easyJet holidays are helping families caught out by the new coronavirus rules put in place by Spain since December 1. The company is allowing free cancellations to Spanish destinations up until the end of December for fam‐ ilies who cannot meet the new rules. Spain now requires any‐ one entering Spain from the UK to prove that they are fully vaccinated. A vaccine certificate is needed and both doses must have been given a minimum of 14 days before depar‐ ture.

10 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

9 - 15 December 2021

NEWS

Part-time Tiger 24-hour helplines SPAIN has tabled a draft law to force banks and utility companies to offer a free 24‐hour customer helpline open 365 days of the year. The service phone lines will be staffed with trained workers able to assist the elderly and disabled, rather than the automated messages that are common currently.

The new proposal looks to ban banks and utility companies from charging their customers to get in touch with them via phone, as well as forcing the use of staff instead of answering machines. The idea

is being pushed forward by Spain’s Min‐ ister of Economic Affairs, Nadia Calvino, and the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Al‐ berto Garzon. The two ministers have started to work together to put customer service at the forefront of any future im‐ provements to essential services in Spain.

Bank branches have been closing in the hundreds across Spain in the last few years and these closures have highlight‐ ed the need for more personal and flexi‐ ble service in the sector.

New dinosaur species A NEW dinosaur species characterised by its strange weapon‐like tail has been discovered in Chile.

With a size of approximate‐ ly two metres in length, the small, armoured dinosaur of the Ankylosaurus genus dates from the late Cretaceous Pe‐ riod, from between 71.7 and 74.9 million years ago. Its fos‐ silised skeleton, practically complete, was found in the

province of Magallanes, in the southernmost region of Chile, Patagonia.

The dinosaur, named Ste‐ gourus elengassen, had de‐ veloped a large weapon‐like tail unlike anything previously seen on other types of ar‐ moured dinosaurs, such as the pairs of spikes on the Stegosaurus.

The strange tail had seven pairs of flattened bone de‐

posits at the end of the tail in a fern‐like structure, forming a singular weapon.

“The tail is extremely strange, as it is short for a di‐ nosaur and the end is cov‐ ered with dermal bones (bones that grow on the skin), forming a singular weapon,” said Sergio Soto Acuña, au‐ thor of the study and doctor‐ al student at the University of Chile.

T I G E R W O O D S has an‐ nounced the end of his full‐time golf career. The star claims the car crash that almost cost him his leg has forced him into

semi‐retirement.

The golfing great said he accepts his time competing among golf’s elite is proba‐ bly a thing of the past: “I can still participate in the

Solar eclipse ON December 4 the only total solar eclipse of 2021 took place. It was not visible from Spain or Europe but attracted the interest of astronomers worldwide.

A solar eclipse happens when the light of the sun is totally or partially hidden by an object coming between the sun and the observer. They are classified into three types: total, annular, and partial.

A total eclipse is when the moon completely covers the disk of the sun. A partial eclipse is when the Moon covers only a part of the sun. Finally, the annular eclipse occurs when the disk of the Moon does not cov‐ er the full disk of the Sun, even if their centres are well aligned.

The latest eclipse began at 7am UT (Universal Time), at a point in the Atlantic Ocean to the east of the Falk‐ lands Islands and ended in the Antarctic Ocean.

STATS

32

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

His career now looks bleak.

game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there,” he said. But the future of Tiger Woods’ ca‐ reer in golf looks bleak.

The American has had a tumultuous few years hav‐ ing been in trouble with the police a couple of times over traffic incidents. Four years prior to the accident in February, Woods was found asleep at the wheel of his Merc with the engine running. He failed a drunk driving test and pleaded guilty to the charges.

The damage to his leg and the after‐effect of five back surgeries has had a major impact on his elite golf career. “I think some‐ thing that is realistic is play‐ ing the one‐day tour events, never full‐time, ev‐ er again ‐ but pick and choose, just like Ben Hogan did,” he explained.

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

12 EWN

9 - 15 December 2021

www.euroweeklynews.com

EUROPEAN PRESS

EUROPEAN PRESS DENMARK

Bumper bonus

Clock silenced

THE world’s largest toymaker, Lego, is rewarding all 20,000 employees with a special bonus and an extra three days holiday after a bumper 2022. Growing demand in China and the pandemic are given as reasons for the high six month sales revenues of €847 million.

DENMARK’S talking clock ‘Frøken Klokken’ (Miss Clock) was switched off at the end of November by communication company TDC after 82 years. The company said the number of callers had fallen dramatically since the 11.6 million calls registered in the first year back in 1939.

THE NETHERLANDS Pig whisperer

Donate a tree

FORMER vet Kees Scheepens, the 19th generation in a long line of farmers, is changing the shape of pig farming. Scheepens is putting the animals’ welfare and their sustainability first by changing how they are raised and fed, resulting in ‘happier meat’, less barn smell and emissions.

THE charity Senay Boztas, is asking for donations of ready to plant saplings. These can be dropped off at 200 locations around the country and will be replanted on farms, in cities and on private land. The plan is for their 3,000 volunteers to plant one million trees.

BELGIUM Famous fries

Cafe reopens

A STATUE, De Frieteters (The Fry Eater), has been unveiled in Bruges market square as part of the week long celebrations of the country’s famous fries. The statue, unveiled by Flemish Minister of Agriculture and Food pays homage to the golden fry.

ONE of the oldest in the world and the oldest in Bruges, Café Vlissinghe has reopened following its closure due to the pandemic. The cafe, which originally opened in 1515, has hardly changed in its 500 years, having survived world wars, revolutions and hordes of tourists.

GERMANY Surprising choice

Test cancelled

THE outgoing chancellor surprised everyone with her choice of music for the elaborate military ceremony. Leaving the post after 16 years, Angela Merkel chose just one song (the norm is three) for the military marching band to play, a song by punk legend Nina Hagen.

A DRIVING test examiner got a surprise when the person he was due to test arrived behind the wheel. The examiner, who cancelled the test, called the police and now the driver faces an investigation for driving without a licence. He told police he didn’t want to be late.

FRANCE Flying taxis?

Paris second

PARIS is testing large scale drones that they intend using during the 2024 summer Olympics. With around six million people expected to attend the games, the hope is that by establishing two ‘flying taxi’ routes that travel times will be shortened and congestion relieved.

TEL AVIV has overtaken Paris as the most expensive city in the world, after jumping five places in the ranking in the annual survey by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Paris now occupies joint second spot with Singapore followed by Zurich and Hong Kong.

NORWAY Doctors rule

Electric ship

THE year 2021 is expected to be another record one for the number of doctorates issued by Norwegian universities, and the fourth in a row. Foreign nationals accounted for 43 per cent of those issued in the first half of the year specifically in mathematics, science and technology.

FERTILISER producer Yara has acquired the world’s first fully electric, self-steering container ship, the Yara Birkeland. The 80metre-long feeder will replace road haulage between Yara’s Porsgrunn plant in southern Norway and its export port Brevik, about 14 kilometres away from next year.

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

9 - 15 December 2021

EWN 13

Advertising Feature

TWO WEEK REVIEW ALTHOUGH they blew up only a week ago or less, the currency direction over the fort‐ night was forged by the emergence of the Covid Omicron variant and a change in the Federal Reserve’s attitude to inflation. Over‐ all, the safe‐havens were the winners and the commodity‐related currencies occupied the back half of the field.

Sterling was somewhere in the middle; neither a genuine safe‐haven nor a commod‐ ity currency. That being the case, it was on average unchanged over the two weeks.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey spent part of last week mixing it with in‐ vestors who, he thought, had been putting words into his mouth. He told the Sunday Times and the Cambridge University Union that he was inclined to scrap forward guid‐ ance on monetary policy altogether, and that he had never said there would be a rate in‐ crease in November.

This week Dr Bailey stayed out of the fray, leaving investors to figure out for themselves whether or not the central bank will make a move at the next MPC meeting on Decem‐

ber 15. They sort of fancy that it will, but Covid Omicron is seen as a possible discour‐ agement.

Investors are rather more confident about the European Central Bank. Everything its leaders have said for the last few months has been aimed at persuading the world that it will be a long time before the conditions are right for higher interest rates.

For that reason, there was almost no ex‐ citement at all when Euro stat announced that Eurozone inflation had risen to a record 4.9% and that producer prices were 21.9% higher on the year. The news did the euro no harm: it is 0.9% firmer on average.

In contrast to the ECB’s studious immunity to inflation, the Federal Reserve chairman ap‐ pears to have undergone a Damascene con‐ version. He told Congress this week that he will consider accelerating the wind‐down of the bank’s asset purchase programme.

Going further, Jerome Powell said he would no longer use the word ‘transitory’ in the context of inflation. He thinks inflation might slow down next year but “we can’t act

as if we are sure.” The dollar took third place for the fortnight behind the even safer Japanese yen and Swiss franc. It added an av‐ erage of 1.3%.

Over the border to the north the Canadian dollar was having less fun. It only lost an aver‐ age of 0.4% but it was clearly not part of the in‐crowd. Covid Omicron and the talk of faster tightening by the US Federal Reserve were mostly to blame.

It certainly had little to worry about in the Canadian economic data. House prices were 11.5% higher on the year, the fastest growth since 2006. Retail sales were up by 4.8%.

Gross domestic product expanded by 1.3% in the third quarter.

The Aussie, which spent November steadi‐ ly losing ground to the US dollar, took anoth‐ er hit from the Omicron‐Fed combination. It weakened by an average of 1.5% over the two weeks, touching a one‐year low against the USD along the way.

It got little help from the Australian eco‐ nomic data. Lockdowns in New South Wales and Victoria contributed to a 1.9% contrac‐

Clarisse Musselwhite is Moneycorp’s Account Manager for Mallorca.

She can be contacted on Tel: +34 902 887 243 • Mobile: +34 687 932 472 Email:mallorca@moneycorp.com.

mallorca@moneycorp.com. tion to gross domestic product in the third quarter. There was light at the end of the tunnel though: the lifting of those restrictions saw activity expand more quickly in Novem‐ ber. The Kiwi had, first, a bad week and then a mediocre one. Investors had been hoping that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand would raise its Official Cash Rate benchmark from 0.5% to 1% last week. They were disappoint‐ ed. Although the RBNZ did lift the OCR to 0.75%, and upped its forecast for rate in‐ creases next year, it was not enough to as‐ suage investors.

There was nothing this week to rekindle appetite for the NZD and it slid a little lower.

Overall it is 2.2% softer, making it the biggest loser of the fortnight.

To find out more about suitable solutions, please call us on +44 (0) 207 823 7400 or email partners@moneycorp.com Moneycorp is a trading name of TTT Moneycorp Limited which is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Service Regulations 2017 (reference number 308919) for the provision of payment services

FINANCE BUSINESS EXTRA Salary rises FOR the first time in history, the average monthly salary in Spain exceeded €2,000 in 2020 according to the the National Institute of Statistics. The average of €2,038 is a rise of 2.8 per cent over 2019 and is the fourth consecutive year in which salaries have risen.

TSB closures THE high street bank has announced further closures to its network in 2022. The closures will leave the bank’s network around a third of the size of when the brand returned to the high street eight years ago. The cut is on top of their 164 closures in 2020.

Oil down OPEC and its allies announced on Thursday December 2, they will increase production from January alleviating the shortage that is pushing prices up. The organisation said it may revisit this decision once the impact of the latest outbreak is known. The price per barrel fell on news of the announcement.

Unemployment drops SPAIN recorded a 74,381 drop in unemployment to record the lowest unemployment levels for November since 2008. During the month, 282,981 people were recruited pushing overall employment as at the end of November to 19,752,358.

Bitcoin City EL SALVADOR plans to build the world’s first Bitcoin City and have it powered by ‐ a volcano. El Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele plans to make the city fully ecological and have its residents pay no tax (except for VAT). His long‐ term goal is to attract investment to this new financial system and use Bitcoin to make ‘El Salvador the financial centre of the world.’

14

www.euroweeklynews.com • 9 - 15 December 2021

STAT OF WEEK

€1,336

In 2020, four out of 10 woman earned less than €1,336 compared to one in five men and six out of 10 young people.

Daughter takes the Zara chair INDITEX, the Spanish high street fashion giant, has appointed Marta Ortega as chair replacing her father and founder Pablo Is‐ la. Otega has worked for the group for 15 years, having joined high street brand Bershka, as a shop floor assistant in London.

Pablo Isla, chairman of Inditex since 2011, has overseen the company’s growth to where it is now one of the world’s largest fashion retailers with more than 6,600 stores globally. Isla, who is well‐known in Spain for his altru‐ ism, is one of the world’s richest

men with an estimated net worth of €68 billion.

Initial reaction to Ortega’s ap‐ pointment is mixed, however the 37‐year‐old has been instrumen‐ tal in the growth of Zara having been credited with strengthening the brand and leading several major campaigns.

Accepting the appointment she said “I have always said I would dedicate my life to build‐ ing upon my parents’ legacy. I have lived and breathed this company since my childhood, and I have learned from all the

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Will land law change?

great professionals I have worked with over the last 15 years.”

Inditex was founded by Aman‐ cio Ortega with his ex‐wife Ros‐ alia in 1975 in Galicia. Today the company owns many well‐ known high street brands includ‐ ing Zara, Pull and Bear, and Stradivarius.

Most of its clothing is made in Spain and nearby countries in‐ cluding Portugal, Morocco and Turkey, helping the firm to achieve its famously fast reaction times to new fashion trends.

Creating your Will with Golden Leaves

I have seen reports that Andalucia has a new land law that offers a possibility to legalise all those houses built on land classified as non‐building land.

Has the new law actually been approved? What are the terms?

DAVID SEARL Yes, the new land law has YOU AND THE LAW been voted by the IN SPAIN Andalucian Parlia‐ ment. However it faces a number of steps before it goes into full effect. Let’s take it by parts. The law is named LISTA, Ley de Impulso y Sostenibilad del Territorio de An‐ dalucía. But the law itself requires the further enactment of a Reglamento, a set of regulations that specify in detail just how the terms of the law are to be carried out.

This can take months. The new law will speed up town planning requirements, change land classification and even allow for the building of new properties in formerly prohibited areas. It will not, however, allow full legalisa‐ tion of those properties which now hold the strange clas‐ sification of AFO, Asimilada Fuera de Ordenaciòn, which prevents them from being demolished and will allow new works to be carried out on them.

The law is a step forward but it remains a long way from full legalisation of these properties.

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

THE OUIGO company, started just six months ago by French train op‐ erator SNCF, has managed to achieve an occupancy rate of 97 per cent on its service between Madrid and Barcelona. During the same period the company has car‐ ried more than one million passen‐ gers, a little more than its main competitor Renfe owned Avlo.

Ouigo said that it has achieved

Telefonica dividends TUESDAY November 30 was the last day investors could buy shares in Telefonica that would qualify for a 2020 year end dividend. The first pay‐ ment amounts to €0.15 per share and is paid this month while the second payment, also for €0.15 will be paid in June 2022.

The shareholder remuner‐ ation policy for 2021 was ap‐ proved at the Telefónica Gen‐ eral Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 23, 2021 and contemplates a remunera‐ tion of €0.30 through a flexi‐ ble dividend.

Each shareholder has three options, the first to receive the cash, receiving new shares is the second option and the last option is to sell the rights on the market.

Home rental prices jump A Will is essential.

MANY expats who have moved to Spain from the UK will have a British Will, but having a Will in Spain is also essential to ensure that your valuables go where you want them to.

At Golden Leaves their expert partners can help you cre‐ ate your Will, to make sure that your valuables go where you want them to. To begin creating your Will, Golden Leaves suggests considering a number of important planning issues, including long‐term care fees and managing your care options. They also say that you should consider what will happen to your assets if your partner remarries after your death and making sure that your children still receive what you intended.

Finally, a Will should also set out if you were unable to manage your financial affairs or personal welfare due to some form of incapacity, who you would like to act on your behalf. To begin creating your Will to ensure your assets go where you want them to, contact Golden Leaves who will put you in touch with their expert partners.

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

Ouigo running high the excellent numbers by changing the profile of the train traveller.

The service is based on providing a fast but inexpensive service with children between the ages of four and 13 paying a flat fee of €5, and those under four travelling for free.

As a result Ouigo has served over 160,000 families travelling with 70,000 children and babies.

The general director of Ouigo in Spain, Helene Valenzuela, high‐ lighted the milestone that “an un‐ known company in Spain a year

INFLATION rates not seen since 1992 are pushing housing rental prices higher, with the 5.6 per cent year‐ on‐year percentage apply‐ ing to many rental con‐ tracts. Idealist the online property portal said that prices have risen to €892 in Madrid and €886 in Barcelona for a 55 square metre apartment. Increases are less in the less expen‐ sive cities with only Zamora experiencing a reduction.

Landlords do have the right to increase rentals in accordance with inflation (CPI), however contracts signed prior to March 31, 2015 can only increase if specifically built into the contract.

In all cases landlords have to give adequate notice of any rise to tenants. ago reached one million travellers in a matter of months.” From this point of view, it is clear that “we have brought that sustainable and digital mobility that the country longed for.”

Achieving the numbers and the reduction in prices is partly down to their trains, double deckers which are unique to Spain, but which can carry up to 509 people.

16 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

9 - 15 December 2021

LONDON - FTSE 100

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on previous page

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 7

COMPANY PRICE(P) 3I Group 1.444,00 Abrdn 241,65 Admiral Group 3.030,0 Anglo American 2.959,5 Antofagasta 1.408,50 Ashtead Group 6.432,0 Associated British Foods 1.966,5 AstraZeneca 8.256,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 740,20 Avast 607,00 Aveva 3.325,0 Aviva 398,47 B&M European Value Retail 629,80 BAE Systems 559,60 Bank VTB DRC 1,236 Barclays 186,04 Barratt Developments 725,40 Berkeley 4.565,0 BHP Group 2.129,00 BP 349,05 British American Tobacco 2.678,0 British Land Company 531,90 BT Group 174,00 Bunzl 2.934,0 Burberry Group 1.871,5 Carnival 1.310,2 Centrica 67,65 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.468,0 Compass 1.563,50 CRH 3.844,0 Croda Intl 9.976,0 DCC 5.854,0 Diageo 3.995,1 DS Smith 380,07 EasyJet 560,80 Experian 3.578,3 Ferguson 12.115,0 Flutter Entertainment 10.935,0 Fresnillo 893,00 GlaxoSmithKline 1.561,80 Glencore 367,80 Halma 3.092,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.306,50 Hikma Pharma 2.262,00 HSBC 442,20 IAG 143,34 Imperial Brands 1.585,47 Informa 509,40 InterContinental 4.717,0 Intermediate Capital 2.228,00

CHANGE(P) 1.447,00 242,40 3.040,0 2.971,0 1.411,50 6.498,0 1.983,0 8.320,0 741,20 610,00 3.329,0 404,00 644,80 561,40 1,252 187,64 732,80 4.600,0 2.131,50 351,70 2.694,0 533,80 175,00 2.935,0 1.877,5 1.324,4 67,90 2.475,0 1.582,50 3.860,0 10.005,0 5.878,0 3.999,5 382,20 571,00 3.587,0 12.155,0 11.060,0 898,40 1.595,00 369,25 3.094,0 1.310,00 2.294,00 445,80 145,78 1.590,00 513,00 4.782,0 2.236,00

% CHG. 1.402,50 238,10 2.997,0 2.859,0 1.372,00 6.200,0 1.952,0 8.188,0 731,20 604,20 3.250,0 398,10 627,60 556,60 1,234 185,46 720,60 4.547,0 2.094,00 347,75 2.640,5 528,62 172,30 2.903,0 1.820,0 1.304,0 67,14 2.451,0 1.555,00 3.788,0 9.838,0 5.792,0 3.960,0 379,00 550,00 3.535,0 11.880,0 10.590,0 889,60 1.552,40 362,50 3.027,0 1.291,50 2.260,00 440,65 141,10 1.569,00 480,80 4.699,0 2.187,00

NET VOL 1,51M 986,84K 71,42K 1,49M 240,04K 279,16K 139,89K 632,19K 3,70M 258,72K 103,67K 813,35K 1,87M 622,42K 424,39K 12,33M 1,98M 36,15K 2,19M 1,56M 2,47M 66,46K 6,26M 233,85K 283,14K 407,73K 2,91M 146,98K 565,04K 151,62K 201,85K 61,97K 1,82M 969,84K 1,68M 155,73K 128,86K 223,56K 70,04K 1,79M 11,24M 98,83K 308,49K 115,12K 5,27M 16,92M 347,17K 4,32M 158,86K 778,18K

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

Intertek ITV 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 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 Taylor Wimpey Tesco Tui Unilever United Utilities Vodafone Group PLC Whitbread WPP

5.732,0 114,55 281,79 2.078,0 755,00 292,00 47,33 6.658,0 740,80 152,10 1.858,00 1.026,40 219,40 8.396,0 29,43 1.617,50 2.797,0 654,10 1.318,00 6.116,0 2.411,41 625,00 771,02 4.758,0 130,91 7,79 1.686,2 1.686,61 1.684,0 797,00 1.662,50 16,35 3.502,0 1.424,75 1.411,50 2.877,0 1.275,00 1.536,11 16.065,0 1.634,00 1.576,00 438,95 165,75 282,82 216,30 3.943,0 1.102,50 112,58 2.986,0 1.102,50

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

5.758,0 115,35 283,70 2.094,0 761,40 294,00 47,38 6.726,0 742,00 153,50 1.859,00 1.027,20 221,30 8.398,0 29,63 1.630,50 2.817,0 656,60 1.330,00 6.237,0 2.411,00 628,00 771,60 4.797,5 132,96 7,82 1.707,2 1.707,11 1.703,6 798,40 1.665,00 16,56 3.517,0 1.439,00 1.415,00 2.888,0 1.279,50 1.539,00 16.065,0 1.639,00 1.591,50 442,80 168,20 283,90 217,10 3.968,5 1.104,00 113,78 3.035,0 1.104,00

5.682,0 113,35 280,70 2.058,0 749,80 291,00 46,59 6.636,0 737,80 150,90 1.829,50 1.016,20 218,60 8.254,0 29,35 1.570,50 2.763,0 653,00 1.317,50 6.109,0 2.374,00 623,80 761,80 4.690,0 129,48 7,65 1.684,6 1.684,25 1.682,0 783,80 1.645,00 16,22 3.494,0 1.399,50 1.380,50 2.847,0 1.257,00 1.515,50 15.750,0 1.616,50 1.568,00 435,90 165,00 280,86 212,40 3.926,0 1.092,50 112,36 2.968,0 1.079,50

105,85K 2,49M 559,06K 117,52K 480,39K 1,66M 50,56M 133,73K 1,49M 1,91M 150,79K 1,14M 5,13M 29,55K 19,60K 333,95K 183,22K 154,27K 4,08M 249,50K 1,28M 1,54M 475,46K 1,11M 10,46M 554,38K 1,31M 1,31M 2,62M 830,10K 8,82K 2,42M 174,10K 1,40M 535,90K 52,84K 676,98K 164,68K 15,90K 3,42M 419,60K 1,27M 4,46M 774,80K 1,62M 828,28K 200,88K 20,74M 98,97K 909,58K

1.17683

0.84958

Units per €

US dollar (USD) ........................................1.1254 Japan yen (JPY)........................................127.71 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................1.0411 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4362 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................10.181

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

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 7

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

PRICE 177,22 2.875,9 3.427,37 208,79 165,32 205,88 201,32 116,23 56,96 54,90 389,47 415,98 206,25 119,89 50,99 162,92 160,24 255,88 73,43 317,87 326,19 168,94 152,17 258,95 1.009,01 459,96 51,06 202,74 138,99 150,40

CHANGE 178,28 2.887,0 3.473,91 211,79 167,88 206,42 203,25 117,45 57,17 55,25 393,60 420,54 208,09 121,15 51,21 163,52 162,60 256,93 73,85 320,10 327,42 171,21 152,38 259,21 1.021,64 461,70 51,93 204,22 139,35 150,74

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 174,00 2,24M 2.812,9 1,09M 3.338,69 3,35M 205,97 3,90M 164,28 102,59M 199,20 11,52M 198,34 2,72M 115,09 8,72M 56,47 22,52M 54,14 24,26M 383,49 1,77M 411,22 4,53M 204,88 4,30M 119,40 4,69M 49,18 38,28M 159,90 8,41M 159,52 10,69M 252,37 3,39M 72,80 12,00M 306,35 21,24M 319,23 28,69M 168,08 5,41M 150,27 8,20M 250,77 7,03M 950,51 26,91M 452,15 4,60M 50,96 21,91M 197,78 10,47M 137,10 9,13M 146,67 12,65M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 7

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

Most Advanced Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Cl A NVR Inc. Texas Pacific Land Corp.

Markel Corp.

Boston Beer Co. Cl A Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. RH Graham Holdings Co. White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. Shopify Inc. Cl A Fair Isaac Corp.

1.80% 2.65% 4.82% 2.82% 6.92% 1.97% 4.73% 4.13% 2.10% 1.29% 4.66%

1.66K 16.04K 37.91K 48.08K 419.86K 243.48K 588.9K 20.67K 19.07K 1.21M 575.73K

HubSpot Inc. -4.38% Ubiquiti Inc. -10.40% Danaher Corp. 5% Mand. Pfd. Series B -1.60% EPAM Systems Inc. -4.00% Generac Holdings Inc. -4.90% Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. -2.18% Wayfair Inc. Cl A -5.59% Biglari Holdings Inc. Cl A -1.78% Cloudflare Inc. Cl A -7.51% West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. -2.43% Bank of America Corp. 7.25% Non-Cum. Perp -0.72%

1.18M 272.75K 1.91K 532.02K 1.5M 2.32M 2.28M 170 7.48M 516.68K 13.86K

Most Declined

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

‘Account Blocked’

BANK ACCOUNTS: Ensure the information held by your bank is up-to-date at all times.

MANY of you may have experienced the ‘account blocked’ or ‘will be blocked’ message when trying to draw money at the cash machine or when accessing your account on‐ line. So when has this hap‐ pened and how do you un‐ block it?

There are many reasons why your account might be blocked, usually it’s the need to comply with Pre‐ vention of Money Launder‐ ing and Terrorist Financing laws. These require the banks to maintain up‐to‐ date information on their clients. Normally all it takes is for you to keep these up‐ to‐date.

Solution ‐ ensure that the information held by your bank is up‐to‐date at all times.

Another possible reason are the anti‐fraud measures in the act that require banks to ‘know their cus‐ tomer’. The law is not unique to Spain and is de‐

signed to stop the financing of terrorism and the laun‐ dering of money. Banks will usually react if the move‐ ment seems unusual or has come from an unknown source.

Solution ‐ keep your bank informed if you are receiv‐ ing funds that are not with‐ in the normal operation of your bank account.

Accounts will also be blocked where the bank has reasonable reason to believe that the account should be blocked, reasons like the death of the ac‐ count holder, disputes be‐ tween joint account holders and post holders in the case of owner associations.

Solution ‐ make sure sup‐ porting documentation is up‐to‐date and the bank is well aware of any changes.

In the case of credit, the bank is required to allow sufficient time to meet the outstanding debt before it can block the account.

Importantly, Banco de Es‐

Novo Banco sells to Abanca PORTUGUESE bank, Novo Banco, has agreed to sell its Spanish subsidiary to A Coruña based Abanca. The deal sees the end of Novo Banco’s retail, private banking and small business opera‐ tions in Spain.

The deal, which is subject to the usual regulato‐ ry approval, is unlikely to have any major impact on Novo Banco’s results. It is expected to strengthen the bank’s capital position and to have a positive impact on its liquidity, part of its strategy to focus on core assets.

All the bank’s operations in Spain including its private banking, small business operations and its 10 retail branches and staff are being trans‐ ferred to Abanca.

paña requires proportional‐ ity to be applied in all cases and at all times.

BUSINESS EXTRA Giphy to be sold THE UK Competition and Markets Authority, has fol‐ lowing an investigation, told Facebook’s owner Meta, that they must sell the GIF library Giphy. Fol‐ lowing concerns about the deal in April, investigators found the takeover ‘could harm social media users and advertisers’.

Fuel profits unreasonable THE RAC has said that fuel retailers are overcharging by as much as 12p per litre for petrol and 10p for diesel with the reduction in wholesale prices not being passed on. The organisa‐ tion has called on the gov‐ ernment to investigate, oil prices having fallen around $10 a barrel at the end of November.

ASDA charters ship BRITAIN’S third largest su‐ permarket ASDA, has char‐ tered a ship in an effort to overcome the logistics issues being experienced across the UK. The ship it is be‐ lieved is being used to bring in stocks required for Christ‐ mas including clothes, toys and festive decorations.

9 - 15 December 2021

EWN 17

18 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

9 - 15 December 2021

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT ONE of the lessons I have learned in life is that it is generally more advantageous to prepare for the worst. With this somewhat pessimistic agenda, all the good occurrences then become a bonus and you are also (hopefully) fully prepared as possible for events that don’t quite pan out as you envisaged.

Blindly trusting everything will be coming up roses, is a sure recipe for head in the sand disaster. In my younger days, I was an avid flower child. I truly believed that love and peace was the answer to all our human shortcomings (and still do).

Unfortunately, I was rudely awakened by the fact that not everyone followed the same ideals. As reality slowly set in and my rose‐coloured glasses subsequently misted up, I began to realise that metaphorically, if I attempted to offer a bunch of flowers to an adversary bearing a Kalashnikov rifle the one who walked away from the encounter would not be me!

Survival in the real world meant reluctantly discarding the floral specs and facing up to a future full of uncertainties.

Failing to recognise, or endeavour to change any calamitous events our future

The worst

may hold is almost criminal naivety. If the German public had only envisioned the ambitions of Hitler, they may just have averted the Second World War! Twenty years ago, I wrote that if the West didn’t curb the unchecked immigration from the Middle East, a few years hence it would be too late because the terrorists would be entrenched everywhere. Since then, radical Islamists have murdered hundreds of innocent UK citizens. You should have heard the ridicule I received for that prediction!

If you want to see what the BLM organisation is truly about just cast an eye over their current website. Diversity it most emphatically ain’t! Emblazoned over their ‘flag,’ big bold letters blatantly announce BLACK XMAS. Parts of the diatribe that follows proclaim, and I quote.

“Black Lives Matter has been encouraging people to ‘dream of a black Xmas’ and intentionally use our economic sources to disrupt white supremacist capitalism.

“Black Friday sales were rolled out weeks in advance and at every turn white supremacist capitalism is telling us to spend our money on things that we don’t

need to reap profits for their organisations.”

The piece then goes on to encourage people to ‘Build Black, Buy Black and Bank Black.’ Their website also has the audacity to condemn the Rittenhouse trial verdict, (where no black people were involved at all!) describing it as “wholly expected, when white supremacy lives and breathes within our institutions and is a reminder of how legal systems are deeply rooted in white supremacy.” There is naturally no mention of the trial taking place simultaneously in another courtroom, where three white men received life sentences for shooting a black man they suspected of stealing. Ironically a reader’s letter published last week accused me of trying to introduce racism into the Rittenhouse’s trial ‐ purely because I stated there were no riots after the verdict. Ha! Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com To read more articles from our columnists and to have your say in the comments go to www.euroweeklynews.com

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

FEATURE

Film Review by Laura Kemp

Streaming now: King Richard WILL SMITH turns from The Prince of Bel‐Air into the King of Tennis in this story of how the Williams’ sisters came to dominate the sport, streaming on HBO Max now.

Legendary actor, film pro‐ ducer and rapper Will Smith (Men in Black) plays Richard Williams in this biographical drama about how Venus and Serena Williams became two of the most well‐known tennis players in the world.

A story of true grit and de‐ termination, when it seems like all the odds are against this family from Compton, USA, King Richard gives viewers a look into how the father of Venus, played by Saniyya Sid‐ ney (Hidden Figures), and Sere‐ na, played by Demi Singleton (Goldie), coached them to the top of the tennis world.

The story intertwines race, family, and poverty issues as the Williams family band to‐ gether to help the sisters live

A story of true grit.

out their sporting dreams.

Richard will tell anyone who will listen, and even those who don’t want to listen, that his daughters are born to be stars and that he has an 84‐page plan to achieve it.

This is a feel‐good film with great acting (it’s Will Smith ‐ need I say more?). However, its authenticity is questionable.

Richard’s estranged family have since hit back at the film, claiming it is not a real portray‐ al of their father and only tells half of the story. Despite this, King Richard is an entertaining, motivational, and humorous movie about never giving up.

It’s also worth watching the end credits for a nice surprise.

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THURSDAY 09/12

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:35pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

FRIDAY 10/12

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9:05pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:15pm 10:00pm

WEDNESDAY 15/12

11:00pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

Pointless BBC News at Six; Weather BBC London News; Weather The One Show EastEnders Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon MasterChef: The Professionals BBC News at Ten

5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm

BBC London News; Weather The One Show A Question of Sport EastEnders Gavin & Stacey Have I Got News for You BBC News at Ten Regional News and Weather Weather

5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm

Final Score BBC News BBC London News; Weather Weather Superman & Lois The Hit List Strictly Come Dancing Michael McIntyre's The Wheel Casualty BBC News

2:45pm 4:35pm

BBC News BBC London News; Weather Weather Countryfile Strictly Come Dancing: The Results Top Gear You Don't Know Me BBC News BBC London News; Weather

6:00pm

BBC News at Six; Weather BBC London News; Weather The One Show Buy Now, Pay Later: The New Debt Crisis?

- Panorama EastEnders Ghosts You Don't Know Me BBC News at Ten

5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm

The Repair Shop Pointless BBC News at Six; Weather BBC London News; Weather The One Show Holby City EastEnders MasterChef: The Professionals BBC News at Ten

6:15pm 7:00pm

Pointless BBC News at Six; Weather BBC London News; Weather The One Show My Family The Repair Shop at Christmas MasterChef: The Professionals BBC News at Ten

6:15pm 7:00pm

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The Real Marigold Hotel Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Strictly: It Takes Two Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Mary Berry - Love to Cook Nadiya's Fast Flavours Surgeons: At the Edge of Life Mock the Week

8:30pm 9:00pm

The Real Marigold Hotel Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Strictly: It Takes Two Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Gardeners' World Winter Specials Vienna Blood Newsnight Weather

8:00pm 8:30pm

Scrooge Christmas Classics: Talking Pictures Flog It! Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!

Far From the Madding Crowd TOTP2 Police Special!

Reel Stories: Sting Sting: When the Last Ship Sails

8:00pm

World's Busiest Cities: Moscow Turkey with Simon Reeve Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Antiques Roadshow The Christmas Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan The Office The Office Run

8:00pm 8:30pm

Great British Menu Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Strictly: It Takes Two Villages by the Sea Mastermind Only Connect University Challenge David Baddiel: Social Media, Anger and Us Two Doors Down

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Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Strictly: It Takes Two Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby Impeachment: American Crime Story What We Do in the Shadows

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Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Strictly: It Takes Two Between the Covers Match of the Day Live: The FA Cup Live at the Apollo Newsnight Weather David Baddiel: Social Media, Anger and Us

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University Challenge Sound of Musicals with Neil Brand The Manchurian Candidate Seth MacFarlane Sings Sinatra at the Proms Secrets of Bones Secrets of Bones Sound of Musicals with Neil Brand Britain's Lost Masterpieces

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm

University Challenge Sounds of the 70s - New Wave Top of the Pops: Christmas 1988 Nick Cave: Idiot Prayer BBC Four Sessions The Old Grey Whistle Test Southern Rock at the BBC Top of the Pops: Christmas 1988

5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

Fred Dibnah's Industrial Age Wartime Farm Christmas The Modern Age of the Coach Stieg Larsson's Millennium Stieg Larsson's Millennium Crime & Punishment The Story of Capital Punishment

6:10pm

The Chronicles of Erne Tracey Emin: This Cultural Life Les Mis at 25: Matt Lucas Dreams the Dream Evita: The Making of a Superstar The Sky at Night Animated Shorts: BBC Introducing Arts A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman

2:50pm 5:30pm 6:30pm 6:45pm 7:00pm 8:00pm

University Challenge The Joy of Painting: Winter Specials Britain's Lost Masterpieces Lucy Worsley's Christmas Carol Odyssey Stigma What We Were Watching Timeshift: Hotel Deluxe Britain's Lost Masterpieces

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

Keeping Up Appearances One Foot in the Grave Dinnerladies Comedy Playhouse: Where It All Began Comedy Playhouse: Impasse Comedy Playhouse: No Strings Gagging for It - TV's Hunger for Radio Comedy

4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

The Joy of Painting: Winter Specials University Challenge Thailand: Earth's Tropical Paradise Write Around the World with Richard E Grant Write Around the World with Richard E Grant Mark Kermode's Christmas Cinema Secrets

4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

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11:30pm 12:00am

11:00pm

ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Saving Money at Christmas: The Big Squeeze? Tonight Emmerdale The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

ITV News

1:30pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Griff's Great New Zealand Adventure Coronation Street I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

ITV News

6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm

Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals ITV News and Weather ITV News London Moneyball Celebrity Catchphrase The Chase Celebrity Special I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

The Jonathan Ross Show ITV News and Weather

4:15pm

The Living Daylights The Pet Show ITV News and Weather ITV News London Sitting on a Fortune The Chase Celebrity Special Walk the Line I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Final ITV News and Weather ITV London Weather

4:10pm

The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Walk the Line Strictly the Real Full Monty ITV News ITV News London The Pembrokeshire Murders

2:10pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm

ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Walk the Line Strictly the Real Full Monty ITV News ITV News London

5:00pm 6:00pm

ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Walk the Line I'm a Celebrity Legends of the Castle ITV News at Ten and Weather

3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm

10:00pm

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7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

Steph's Packed Lunch Countdown Moneybags A Place in the Sun Four in a Bed Bidding Wars The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Luxury Christmas for Less 24 Hours in A&E

4:15pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

Bidding Wars The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Vaccine Wars - The Truth About Pfizer: Dispatches Grayson's Art Club: An Exhibition for Britain Gogglebox The Last Leg The Big Narstie Show

4:15pm

The Great Christmas Bake Off 2020 Channel 4 News A Very Royal Christmas: Secrets from Sandringham Christmas at Chatsworth House Formula 1: Abu Dhabi Qualifying Highlights 48 Hours to Final Victory The Equalizer

7:35pm 7:40pm

The Man Who Invented Christmas Channel 4 News Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Highlights Escape to the Chateau Close to Me Gogglebox The Shape of Water Heineken Champions Cup Rugby: The Big Tackle

6:00pm

Chateau DIY Countdown Moneybags A Place in the Sun Kirstie's Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Jamie: Together at Christmas Guy's Garage

4:15pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

A Place in the Sun Kirstie's Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country 24 Hours in A&E Hot Christmas Have We Got Nudes for You

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

Countdown Moneybags A Place in the Sun Kirstie's Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Kirstie and Phil's Love it or List it Christmas at Castle Howard

4:15pm

8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:30pm

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

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6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

The Christmas Swap 5 News at 5 Neighbours Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty Parking Fines: Are They A Con? Live: Winter on the Farm The New Stonehenge with Rob Bell Unforgiven

12:30pm

On the 12th Date of Christmas 5 News at 5 Neighbours Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty Secrets of the Imperial War Museum The Thames at Night with Tony Robinson 1977: Britain's Biggest 70s Hits

11:45am

5 News Update Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen 5 News Weekend The Wonderful World of Gold Gregg Wallace's Grand Christmas Adventure Louis and Edwina: An Unconventional Marriage

8:30am 11:30am 1:00pm 3:40pm

Surviving Christmas with the Relatives 5 News Update Surviving Christmas with the Relatives Christmas with the Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun Britain's Favourite 80s Toys Cliff Richard's Christmas Story

11:00am

A Nostalgic Christmas 5 News at 5 Top Jobs for Dogs Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty World's Strongest Man 2021 Traffic Cops Casualty 24/7 Ambulance: Code Red Car Pound Cops: Give Me My Car Back!

8:30am 9:00am 12:30pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm

5 News at 5 Top Jobs for Dogs Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty Help My Pet Hates Me The Yorkshire Vet at Christmas: It's a Wonderful Life Christmas Magic at Kew Gardens Casualty 24/7 At Christmas

8:30am 9:00am 12:30pm 1:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm

A Chestnut Family Christmas 5 News at 5 Top Jobs for Dogs Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty The Gadget Show Our Yorkshire Farm Murder in Suburbia Christmas with the Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun

6:00am 7:00am 8:00am

1:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am

12:00pm 1:00pm 1:45pm 3:25pm 3:30pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 11:45pm 12:00am

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6:30pm 8:20pm 10:30pm 1:00am 2:00am

8:30am 9:00am 12:30pm 1:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am

Live: The Football Show Sky Sports News Sky Sports News The F1 Show Sky Sports News The F1 Show Live Mosconi Cup Pool Lomachenko: Relentless Sky Sports News On the Inside: McLaren The Football Show Sky Sports News Live Formula 1 Data in F1 Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Live PGA Tour Golf Live FNF Sky Sports News Live: NFL Fantasy Live Big Bash League Live Big Bash League Live Formula 1 Live Formula 2 Championship Gillette Soccer Saturday Live: SNF MLS Live Sky Sports News Lomachenko: Relentless Super Sunday Matchday Live Grand Prix Sunday Live Formula 1 Live Chequered Flag Live Renault Super Sunday Live WSL Live NFL Live NBC's FNIA Live NFL Early Kick-Off Live Big Bash League The Football Show The Football Show Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Live International T20 Cricket Live EFL Formula 1 Live: NFL Fantasy Live: Total Access Early Kick-Off Live Big Bash League The Football Show Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Live International T20 Cricket Live Bundesliga Live Bundesliga Dettori Live: Total Access Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Good Morning Sports Fans Early Kick-Off Live Big Bash League The Football Show Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Live World Darts Championship Live: NFL Fantasy

The schedules for the television programme pages are provided by an external company: we regret that any changes or errors are not the responsibility of Euro Weekly News.

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

9 - 15 December 2021

EWN 21

Did you survive Covid but now suffer from HOGO? 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

AMID reports in the UK that people aren’t turning up to restaurants or even events for which they’ve al‐ ready bought tickets, are you affect‐ ed by HOGO (hassle of going out) too?

After spending lockdown at home and used to ditching plans and skip‐ ping social events, some are bound to be feeling a bit weary ‐ and wary.

Whilst there’s no excuse for no‐shows in the era of mobile communications, I suspect people book venues to lift their mood currently and then feel that they just can’t face it as the hour draws near.

For some, going out has certainly become less fun. Everything has to be pre‐planned. You can’t get a table at a restaurant, and when you do it’s full of excuses why the service is lacking, Nora Johnson’s opinions

SOCIALISING: However, attitudes have definitely changed, especially in the winter.

dees can make the experiences work.

No matter how fantastic the food, ex‐ citing the film or entertaining the play, these events need to be experienced as a collective event to get the right energy levels and succeed.

Small businesses need our help more than ever this Christmas!

There’s absolutely no excuse for no‐ shows at restaurants etc. in the UK or anywhere else. It’s just selfish be‐ haviour. But seemingly part of a gen‐ eral, ‘It’s all about me’ attitude that unfortunately seems prevalent these days...

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 Cleram‐ bault Code’ (www.nora‐johnson.net) available online as eBook (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, paperback and audiobook. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

the menus are ‘reduced’ for lack of Attitudes have definitely changed ‐ staff or ingredients, and ‘can we have and why not? People, especially in the your table back at 8:30, please?’ ‘And winter, can stay home and watch please be considerate to our staff as movies in HD, get food and drink deliv‐ we have zero tolerance for abusive be‐ ered at reasonable cost in total safety. haviour.’ For these customers, it feels But the retail and hospitality sectors like prices have been hiked to pay for are at risk of dying a slow death be‐ To read more articles from our columnists the extra checks and regulations that cause that’s where we meet other and to have your say in the comments go make going out more of a hassle than people and mingle. That all takes ef‐ to www.euroweeklynews.com it’s worth. fort and only a critical mass of atten‐ are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

22 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

9 - 15 December 2021

CLAIRE GORDON FINDING BALANCE IN AN UNEVEN WORLD THIS week the Stonewall LGBTQ+ charity started their annual Rainbow Laces campaign, partnering with various sports across the UK to draw visibility to the inequalities that remain within active spaces. As soon as any kind of directive is made that brings the existence of LGBTQ+ people to the forefront, there is an immediate backlash from certain members of society and much clutching of pearls ensues. “I don’t mind them, but do they have to push it in our faces? Can’t they keep it to themselves? Why do they need campaigns to talk about these things, just get on with it if you must!”

The irony of people making these sorts of ignorant statements at a campaign aimed at making spaces more welcoming for people is completely lost of course. To many, the fact they don’'t actively seek out LGBTQ+ people to physically harm seems to be the pinnacle of tolerance and acceptance, when this sort of separatism and lack of actu-

Visibility and caution al positive action directly feeds a system that leads to people doing just that.

T he reporting of hate crimes against LG BT Q + people rose sharply at the end of the pandemic.

As restrictions were loosened, it seems that whatever had been holding some people back from attacking members of the community had come loose too. M any may think that has nothing to do with them as they tolerate the existence of people who aren’t like them, but a lot of this violence happens because of a society that allows the ‘othering’ of any characteristic that deviates from the norm. This absolutely begins with the language, jokes and ‘banter’ that too many people participate in.

T he S tonewall campaign this year has a slogan of ‘lace up and speak up’, asking everyone to engage in honest conversation with the people around them about LG BT Q + issues. I am relatively lucky in the sense that for my close circle of friends and family, I am mostly able to do that. While out

and about, however, I am still incredibly cautious. Whether in my small town in Spain (which is better) or back in mainstream spaces in a big city in the UK, my partner and I don’t tend to hold hands. We must be careful about what we say to whom when meeting new people. We have moments when our stomachs drop during conversations when homophobic jokes are made, and we know we cannot feel safe around those people any longer if we did in the first place.

When I bring these things up to people, there tends to be disbelief that this is how people are made to feel in a world where it seems that so much ‘progress’ is being made. I must remind them that if there must be campaigns to generate even the mere conversation around an LGBTQ+ person being allowed into a space, we are very far off feeling safe and welcome.

To read more articles from our columnists and to have your say in the comments go to www.euroweeklynews.com

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

TONI C. EASTWOOD OBE, MBA

#TheWomanBeyond I DO like a great sporting analogy to give us insight and tips for life’s trials and tribulations. So here’s one that I really love. Are you sitting comfort‐ ably? (Sorry I just couldn’t help myself ) Once upon a time (1938 to be pre‐ cise) there was a pistol shooter. He was incredibly good, in fact, he hoped to be the very best.

However he met with a terrible acci‐ dent during combat training and unfor‐ tunately, our Hero has his right hand blown off by a faulty grenade. (OMG ) His right hand was his shooting hand.

(Jeeeze!!!.) All his hopes are lost.

Or are they?

After a depressing month in the hos‐ pital, our Hero decides that he will sim‐ ply learn how to shoot just as well with his left hand. So he started his training, secretly, he didn’t tell a soul.

He trains and trains and trains. And guess what he becomes very good. So

FEATURE

Travel

Toledo: A trip through time T O L E D O is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. It impresses from every angle with its dra‐ matic raised presence on the banks of the Riv‐ er Tagus. Strolling around its streets, you’ll soon discover why it’s called the ‘Im‐ perial City.’ Every twist and turn is like a jour‐ ney through time.

The city satisfies broad tastes from art and architecture to mu‐ sic and gastronomy. It is also known for its warm hospitality, living up to its centuries old reputa‐ tion as a favourite stop off for traders and trav‐ ellers. It’s easy to forget you are just 30 minutes from Madrid in this city that also feels like a fortress. It once marked a strategic defensive site; and that fact just adds to the history.

Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by U N ES C O t h a n k s t o i t s

An impressive city.

blend of different cul‐ tures and religions. The styles change from one street to the next with each building telling a different chapter in the city’s rich history. The era of harmony can be observed in the church‐ es, synagogues, and mosques that decorate the streets.

The historic centre is a walled enclosure and there you’ll see shops full of fabulous swords.

Toledo steel is famous the world over and weapons have been fashioned there for over 2,500 years. It is no surprise tourists come from all over the world.

KEEP SHOOTING

he shows up at the 1939 World Champi‐ onships. Everyone’s shocked to see him there. And they’re even more shocked when he wins.

His Olympic dreams are back on track.

Then enter: The Second World War, and to his dismay the 1940 and 1944 Olympics are cancelled.

So he waits, and continues to train and put the work in.

And finally, he shows up at the next Olympics. He’s now 38.

The world champion asks him what he’s doing there. Our Hero tells him “I’m here to learn.”

He wins.

What’s his name? Well it’s Takács Károly.

Takács was the first shooter to win two Olympic gold medals in the 25‐me‐ tre rapid fire pistol event, and both with his left hand. He was the third known physically disabled athlete to have com‐

peted in the main stream Olympic Games after George Eyser in 1904 and Olivér Halassy in 1928, followed by Liz Hartel in 1952, Neroli Fairhall in 1984 and Oscar Pistorius (shame that’s not what he’ll be remembered for!!) in 2012.

The moral of the story? It’s simple…

Keep shooting… Keep trying…Grab your goals by the horn and keep after them.

Are you stuck trying to achieve a tar‐ get, a Big Audacious Goal? This is a time of year when we typically start to think about what could be, that perhaps WE WANT MORE OUT OF LIFE!!!

What targets are you aiming for? Do you need to re‐aim and get into train‐ ing?

Stay Focused, Keep Positive and Choose to +1 in Every Moment. Fulfil Your Dreams and Awaken Your Great‐ ness!

Love, Hugs, High Fives and Fist Bumps

Toni x Toni Eastwood OBE, MBA #TheWomanBeyond

PS. If you want more out of life. Sign up for our January Visionary Women Programme and in just four, three‐ hour online sessions you could Reach Beyond Your Limits, Soar Beyond Your Barriers and Live Beyond Your Dreams and make 2022 your Best Year Yet. 25 per cent off for Euro Weekly News Readers ‐ Just Quote Offer Code EWN25 ‐ for more info and to book head on over to https://quantumvan tage.co.uk/visionarywomenpro gramme Don’t hold back another moment.

You could be just one step away…

To read more articles from our columnists and to have your say in the comments go to www.euroweeklynews.com

Please do get in touch if you have any questions. Follow me, chat and share your thoughts and network with other fabulous women in my Visionary Women Facebook Group.

@tonieastwood

@SixSecretsToSuccess @VisionaryWomen

tonieastwoodobe

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EW YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION Letters should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.

THANKING YOU

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THANK YOU: From the Lux Mundi Centres on the Costa del Sol.

Dear Sir or Madam, Both Lux Mundi, Torre del Mar and Fuengirola would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to you and all your staff for the excellent coverage you have been kind enough to give both centres throughout the year in your weekly publication.

Kind regards, Patricia Rothwell, Press Officer

he wrote out a chit to collect at the post office if he changed his mind.

I went to the post office and asked why two pieces of cardboard and envelopes warranted €5 each, she duly shrugged her shoulders, so I refused.

A week ago my daughter phoned and told me one of the cards had been returned to her, how ridiculous, they just want money, that’s all.

Maureen Hayes

Import duty

To EWN!

At the beginning of October my daughter sent two birthday cards to my husband, they had the correct postage, £1.70 each.

The postman came and rang the bell and wanted €5 each card duty, my husband refused and

Thank you so much ... very happy to see more supplies of Euro Weekly News in Torre del Mar. Happy Christmas.

Tricia

A LITTLE THOUGHT IN our social media debate last week, we asked if people should still be having Christmas parties in the wake of the new Covid variant. It is a topic that divides opinion with many understandably keen to get back to normality, while others still prefer to remain on the side of caution.

A survey released on December 8 by consumer experts Mintel found that more than

CORRECTIONS

XMAS PARTIES: Most people think that life should just go on.

Stephen Chatt Milne Life must must go on in some form, we just have to take good precautions... without forms of release and traditions being carried on etc etc... then there would be no point to a life... this situation is going to be with us for years to come, so we must get out and have some fun... cheers and Ho Ho Ho x

Deborah Johnson Yes enough is enough.

Kenneth Faktor Carslund Best way to keep Christmas alive is to stop interaction with many different people. Stop going to pubs if you will spend Christmas with anyone who is vulnerable.

Helen Blair Moffat Mason

OUR VIEW

four in 10 British workers say the Covid risk makes them feel uncomfortable about work Christmas parties. Other key stats showed 58 per cent of Brits feel it is important that people wear masks in bars and restaurants, while 61 per cent plan to limit their time in crowded areas before seeing family for Christmas. And 24 per cent of consumers are uncomfortable or extremely un-

comfortable about going to a bar/restaurant indoors.

While we all would love to get back to normal, it is clear there are those who don’t feel ready to throw caution to the wind just yet. For that reason, in this season of goodwill to all, we should all take time to remember that not everyone feels safe and that a little consideration for others can go a very long way.

We need to be careful but get on with living. we need to see family and friends not just at Christmas but all year round, it’s all part of life.

Mark Borrow YES we should party hard, life is too short anyway!

Paul Kelly It’s only Christmas, most don’t celebrate the religious side of it anyway. So really all that is being asked, is slow down on stupid parties.

Sue Quye Wear masks, use gel and don’t hug and kiss, just elbow bump.

Life has to get back to some normality for people’s mental health.

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

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Baby talk works... for puppies A STUDY published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B biology journal has explained that hu‐ mans talk to dogs in a similar way to babies be‐ cause puppies in particular are more responsive to the short phrases and high tone.

People were recorded saying certain phrases such as ‘good boy’ and ‘come here’ while looking at photos of dogs of different ages, human be‐ ings and while not looking at anything.

Not only were the subjects found to employ what we refer to as baby talk when addressing the dog photos, but when the recordings were played back to dogs of different ages puppies paid far more attention to it.

Older dogs, however, appeared not to be as at‐ tentive to baby talk, possibly because as they grow older they are less interested in under‐ standing strangers, scientists suggested.

Dogs are believed to have evolved over more than 30,000 years of close interaction with hu‐ mans to understand them better. This, re‐ searchers claim, has led them to develop com‐ munication skills similar to those of small children.

Dogs react to gestures such as pointing in a way which no other animals do, studies have found. Unlike children, though, dogs take these gestures as a mild order rather than a way of passing on information.

Cats are just as smart A NEW study at a Japanese university is once again backing up the age‐old cat lovers’ theory that felines are just as clever as dogs.

Forty‐nine domestic cats were used for the study at Kyoto Universi‐

ty, which tested their ability to remember which food bowl they had eaten out of after 15‐minute intervals.

The cats, reported psychologist Saho Taka‐ gi, appeared to remem‐ ber exactly which bowls should still contain food, suggesting they had what is re‐ ferred to as episodic memory.

“Cats may b e a s i n t e l l i‐ gent as dogs, as

SMART CATS: May be just as clever as dogs.

opposed to the common view of people that dogs are much smarter.

Also, an interesting speculation is that they

may enjoy actively re‐ calling memories of their experiences just like humans,” the scien‐ tist said.

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SPORT Johanna Konta retires

9 - 15 December 2021

to read more visit www.euroweeklynews.com

TENNIS legend and former British No 1 Johanna Konta has retired from the sport.

Konta, 30, has struggled with a knee problem over the past couple of years, causing her to drop down to 113 in the rankings.

She made an announcement on Twitter saying that she is “Grateful”.

The post read: “This is the word that I’ve probably been used to the most during my career, and is the word that I feel explains it best at the end.”

Konta, born in Australia, moved to Europe to pursue a career in tennis as MICHAEL CARRICK guided Manchester United to an important 3‐2 win over Ar‐ senal on Thursday, Decem‐ ber 2, to keep them among the top teams in the table.

The sensational news though is that only minutes after the final whistle blew, 40‐year‐old Carrick an‐ nounced that he is quitting Old Trafford after 15 years at the club.

KONTA: A hugely impressive career.

a teen, becoming a British citizen in 2012.

She took the British No 1 spot and stayed there for nearly six years.

Scott Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, said: “On behalf of the LTA and everyone in‐ volved in British Tennis, I want to ex‐ press my appreciation to Johanna for her hugely impressive career.

“To reach the semi‐finals of three slams and spend more time as British number one than any other woman since the WTA rankings began shows the level of her achievements. We wish her well in the future, and hope that she will continue to play a role in British tennis in the years to come.”

Carrick quits The former United and England midfielder has been running things temporarily since the sacking of Ole Gun‐ nar Solskjaer. Carrick had been assistant to the Nor‐ wegian, but it would seem he preferred to now exit the club than to continue in a

lesser role under incoming interim manager Ralf Rang‐ nick.

Joining United in 2006, in his 12 seasons Carrick won five Premier League titles, plus he was a Champions League winner. In 2018, he took on a coaching position

at the Theatre of Dreams.

Carrick said: “My time at this great club will always rank as the best years of my career. When I first signed over 15 years ago, I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined winning so many trophies, and I will certainly never forget the fantastic memories both as a player and as a member of the coaching team.”

Hamilton wins action-packed GP LEWIS HAMILTON won the inaugural Saudi Arabia Grand Prix around the high‐speed street circuit in Jeddah on Sunday December 5. In one of the most spectacular races ever witnessed in F1, the Brit prevailed to move dead level on points with his title rival, Max Verstappen.

The night‐time showdown had so many thrills and in‐ cidents, including two red flags. With only one race to go, at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit, a better script for the season finale could not have been written.

The seven‐times world champion led early on, with his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas doing a brilliant job in holding off the challenge from Verstappen in the Red Bull. Hamilton recorded several fastest laps in the pro‐ cess. However, a catalogue of crashes, race suspensions and restarts ensured there were plenty of twists and turns before the chequered flag.

Hamilton had to fight back to claim top spot on the podium ahead of Verstappen with Bottas in third.

This was the first appearance of F1 in Saudi Arabia, which lived up to its claim of being ‘the fastest street cir‐ cuit in the world.’

JEDDAH: One of the most spectacular races ever.