Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 24 - 30 March 2022 Issue 1916

24 - 30 March 2022

DON’T FORGET to go forward one hour at 2am on Sunday

Cash injection ALL parties voted in favour of the Diputacion provincial council’s 2022 budget which, at €270.3 million, is the biggest ever.

Allocations included an €8 million cash injection that will be used for multiple projects aimed at generating more wealth and opportunities in Almeria’s 103 municipalities, Diputacion spokesman Fer‐ nando Gimenez announced.

Providing equal opportuni‐ ties for all members of Alme‐ ria’s population, preventing depopulation and strengthen‐ ing the province’s mainstays remained the Diputacion’s principal objectives, Gimenez said.

“Almeria has to continue growing and it is essential for the Diputacion to invest in all municipalities if we are to achieve this,” he added, point‐ ing out that these invest‐ ments were also a response to residents’ demands.

COSTA DE ALMERIA • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

A SAFE HAVEN

Photo credit: David Gonzalez

Issue No. 1916

Turn to page 2 » MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: The team who brought 43 Ukrainians to Canjayar.

FREE • GRATIS

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24 - 30 March 2022

CANJAYAR’S normal pop‐ ulation of around 1,200 increased by 43 on March 19.

The additional inhabi‐ tants are all from Ukraine and 13 of them are or‐ phans aged between six and 17.

They can now live safe‐ ly in Canjayar thanks to David Gonzalez, an As‐

from Front page »

A happy ending turian living in Laujar del Andarax who works as a mountain guide, and for‐ mer policeman, Ramon Ortiz.

With transport provid‐

ed by Almeria travel com‐ pany Frahermar, David and Ramon were able to set out for Poland with supplies for Ukrainian refugees forced to leave

their invaded and devas‐ tated country.

Once there, they planned to pick up the or‐ phans and as many adults as they could and, as David told the Spanish media, once the party were in Canjayar, every‐ thing went according to plan.

“It is a happy ending for Ramon, for me and for this big family that we have brought with us.

We don’t even know how to explain it,” he said.

“Everything turned out

the way we hoped and now we’re here, we know that people are going to help us.”

The actual journey was over, David added, but he said he was aware that the children and families they had brought to Spain would be starting out on another, very important journey.

“Everything is ready so they can live here com‐ fortably,” said Canjayar’s mayor Juan Jose Romero.

“We shall find help for them, especially the or‐ phans, although the mothers with children will eventually be able to work and we shall help them look for employ‐ ment.”

NEWS

Committed to equality ADRA’S month‐long programme of Interna‐ tional Women’s Day events ended with the traditional gala at the municipality’s Cultural Centre.

There were awards for their services to promote equality for Isabel Rodriguez, prin‐ cipal of the Municipal Theatre School, and Rosario Fernandez who is in charge of the Public Internet Access Centre in La Alqueria.

Presenting both women with their awards, Adra’s mayor Manuel Cortes said he was committed to working to achieve a March 8 event that was devoted entirely to celebrating the day, instead of having to fight for women’s rights.

“At the town hall we are putting into prac‐ tice policies which in‐ clude a vision of gen‐ der that can serves as a roadmap for the town we want,” Cortes said.

“Our new Equality Plans will indicate the path to follow, so that we can break down the barriers that wom‐ en have to deal with,” he added.

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NIBS EXTRA Good start ALMERIA City celebrated Tomato Day on Saturday March 19 in honour of one of the province’s most im‐ portant crops. The day start‐ ed with a workshop that of‐ fered the opportunity of breakfasting at a symbolic price on the Spanish classic of toast, olive oil and grated raw tomato, plus coffee.

Heavy work AS Easter approaches, Nijar brotherhoods are rehears‐ ing for the Holy Week pro‐ cessions, although a group from the Los Nietos district are still seeking volunteers to carry the Jesus Cautivo statue. “We aren’t asking for anything, just commit‐ ment to take part in a two‐ hour, peaceful procession,” a spokesman insisted.

Strike action GUARDIA CIVIL and Nation‐ al Police officers reported 17 incidents on March 15 and 16 when Alicante Province pickets tried to divert non‐ striking lorry drivers or pre‐ vent them leaving parking areas. Central government sources also revealed that three people who blocked roads were arrested for “endangering persons and merchandise.”

Inland exodus ALMERIA Province has a population of 706,000 in‐ habitants but only 170,000 now live in its inland towns and villages. According to the latest available statistics this has resulted in 21 mu‐ nicipalities where no babies were born in 2020, while Al‐ cudia de Monteagud has seen no births since 2012.

Cutting down SANTIAGO LAFUENTE, multinational Aqualia’s Spanish director, an‐ nounced that although Almeria Province’s popula‐ tion has grown by 30 per cent in the last 30 years, it now needs less water, con‐ suming 30 cubic hectome‐ tres in 1993 compared with the present 16 cubic hec‐ tometres.

24 - 30 March 2022

Arsonists target school VANDALS caused considerable material damage after they started a fire at the Mediterra‐ neo high school in Garrucha on Sunday March 13.

Alerted by the 112 Emergen‐ cy Service, the Bomberos de Levante fire brigade and Protec‐ cion Civil volunteers extin‐ guished the blaze affecting the entrance, reception area, of‐ fices, staffroom and some class‐ rooms by 3am.

Guardia Civil investigators found that the intruders had managed to remove the school’s CCTV cameras before trying unsuccessfully to set fire to fireproof desks in the class‐ rooms.

Photo credit: Almeria Junta

VANDAL ATTACK: Junta delegate Maribel Sanchez Torregrosa visits Garrucha’s Mediterraneo high school.

Two days later, 270 of the In‐ stituto’s 570 pupils were able to return to the school, although the remainder were still having

Call a cab!

THREE HUNDRED Almeria taxis now display the Jun‐ ta’s 900 200 999 helpline for women.

The cabbies have joined the campaign launched by the Andalucia Institute for Women (IAM) and An‐ dalucia’s Federation of Taxi Drivers (FAAT) to pub‐ licise a free, anonymous and confidential service for victims of gender vio‐ lence.

The 900 200 999 num‐ ber provides attention, advice and information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, explained Maria Montagut, the IAM pro‐ gramme’s Almeria asses‐ sor.

Taxis that support the scheme not only display the helpline number on their doors, but drivers can also supply cards with the same number.

“Enquiries from Almeria Province to the 900 200 999 number rose from 3,956 in 2020 to 4,184 in 2021, an increase of al‐ most 6 per cent,” Mon‐ tagut said.

“Calls about gender vio‐ lence grew by 52 per cent from 689 in 2020 to 1,049 last year.”

The IAM coordinator al‐ so revealed that gender vi‐ olence accounted for al‐ most 82 per cent of all calls to the helpline.

Montagut thanked Almeria’s Provincial Union of Taxi Drivers for their in‐ volvement and commit‐ ment to equality and free‐ dom from sexist violence.

“At the same time, we should work from a posi‐ tion of unity, cooperation and collaboration in order to advance more rapidly in promoting equality and eradicating gender vio‐ lence,” she said.

to work from home by the end of the week.

Officers are now following leads to identify the arsonists,

sources said.

Posting on their social media accounts, Garrucha Town Hall condemned the attempt to burn down the school and called on the local population to provide any information they might have regarding the fire.

Repairs will cost more than €100,000, according to Junta de Andalucia sources, who re‐ vealed that Garrucha Town Hall will be responsible for cleaning and repainting the damaged ar‐ eas.

“The more extensive repairs will be carried out by Andalu‐ cia’s Education department,” the same sources said.

Motorhome-friendly Huercal-Overa HUERCAL‐OVERA hosts the first edition of its Feria Auto‐ caravaning between April 22 and 24.

“This is a new venture for a type of tourism that is enjoy‐ ing a boom throughout the country,” Huercal‐Overa’s mayor Domingo Fernandez said on announcing the event accompanied by Tourism councillor Belen Martinez.

Vera continues investing COUNCILLORS approved Vera’s €21.7 million Budget at the last plenary meeting.

After two years of the pandemic, the town hall has pro‐ duced a Budget establishing Vera as Levante’s most important municipality, with more growth and potential than any other in the province, Finance councillor Alfonso Perez Redondo said.

This year’s projects include more parks, improved street lighting and a new library, announced Perez Redondo who highlighted the town hall’s “large‐scale investment policies” since 2021.

“Those were the municipality’s largest‐ever, with contracts put out to tender that topped €7 million,” Perez Redondo said.

“We shall continue on the same course in 2022,” the coun‐ cillor added, citing the €584,459 allocated to the new library and €600,000 for landscaping the area surrounding the Charca del Gato lagoon.

Street lighting for the Asprodalba road will amount to €65,000 with another €740,000 assigned to the family park in the Cabuzana district.

Listing town hall outgoings of €9.3 million, Perez Redondo announced that the local government would not cut back on social spending but intended to maintain this at the same level as last year.

This will account for 6.3 per cent of the town hall’s 2022 Bud‐ get, the councillor said.

“Our municipality is al‐ ready established as a mo‐ torhome area, with dozens bringing in national and inter‐ national visitors each day,” Fernandez said.

“With this fair, we are go‐ ing further in establishing ourselves with the sector, both for tourists and the companies linked to mo‐ torhomes.”

Belen Martinez revealed that the fair would include an exhibition area, food trucks, a Beer Fair, children’s amuse‐ ments, live music and ample parking: “The idea is for all those attending to enjoy both the event and our mu‐ nicipality.”

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Mojacar gets a bus station THE Junta’s Public Works department has put out to tender a €650,000 con‐ tract to build Mojacar’s new intermodal bus sta‐ tion.

More than 40 interur‐ ban buses and coaches stop in Mojacar each day, increasing each summer when Mojacar’s popula‐ tion multiplies by four, said Eloisa Cabrera, the re‐ gional government’s terri‐ torial delegate, as she em‐ phasised the need for the new transport hub.

After the Public Works department and Mojacar Town Hall signed the agreement last Decem‐ ber, they are now looking to secure bids for the con‐ tract, Cabrera said.

The new building on a 5,607‐square metre plot on Avenida de Andalucia, would be completed by the end of this year, the delegate added.

“The hub will provide an adequate public transport service that guarantees the safety of passengers entering or leaving the vehicles and offers shelter in extreme weather conditions,” she said.

The bus station, with a waiting room and public lavatories, will be big enough for four buses to park at the same time and include a taxi rank as well as stops for Mojacar’s own urban buses.

and finally...

FRESH fish off the menu. Almeria Province’s fishing fleets are remaining in port owing to the high price of gasoil.

They have seconded the joint decision to cease fishing recently announced by Spain’s national Fishing Confeder‐ ation, Cepesca, which represents Almeria’s boat owners and local associations, together with the National Feder‐ ation of Fishing Guilds.

The fishing sector stoppage continued until Wednes‐ day March 23 when representatives asked the central government to take immediate steps to reverse a situa‐ tion which makes it inviable for boats to put to sea, ow‐ ing to the “unprecedented” increase in energy prices.

Fuel accounts for half of the fishing fleet’s overheads, and the price of gasoil has doubled in the last few weeks, Cepesca said, while the transport strike had also caused ‘serious harm’ to the sector.

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Solely on Boris’s orders A SENIOR official at the Fo r e i g n , C o m m o n w e a l t h and Development Office (FCDO) has become the second whistleblower to come forward over the Afghanistan evacuations.

According to Josie Stewart, it was “widespread knowl‐ edge” that the decision to evacuate Pen Farthing’s an‐ imals “came from the prime minister.”

Raphael Marshall previ‐ ously blew the whistle on the issue and said that it was the PM who made the decision on Nowzad. Stew‐ art now claims that the for‐ eign affairs select commit‐ tee has been lied to by civil servants.

Stewart said on March 21: “I have tried to imagine

but cannot conceive of any way this could have been an honest mistake. I feel a strong sense of moral in‐ jury for having been part of something so badly man‐ aged and so focused on managing reputational risk and political fallout rather than the actual crisis and associated human tragedy.

“From what I heard and saw, Nowzad staff were in‐ cluded as a late addition only in response to this ‘PM decision’. This oc‐ curred against the previous judgement of officials. I do not find it credible that Philip Barton, or those who drafted his letter dated January 17, 2022, would not have been aware of this.”

Road to rail A NEW €120 million scheme to encour‐ age freight traffic in Spain to shift from road to sustainable rail transport has been approved.

The scheme, which will run until June 2026, aims to promote rail as a more environmentally friendly means of transportation, as well as contributing to the greening of rail transport.

The support will take the form of di‐ rect grants to compensate freight com‐ panies for the cost difference between road and rail transport based on the ac‐ tual volumes of freight shifted from road to rail transport The EU’s Margrethe Vestager said on Monday March 21: “The €120 million scheme approved today will contribute to improving the competitiveness and greening of rail freight transport in Spain. It will also support the shift from road to rail, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, while lim‐ iting possible distortions of competi‐ tion.”

NEWS

U-turn on electricity A PROPOSAL to cap the cost of electricity has been scrapped by the Spanish and Portuguese Ministers of the Environment.

On Friday March 18, Teresa Ribera, the Minister of the Envi‐ ronment, along with her Portuguese counterpart, Joao Matos Fernandes, announced a joint proposal aimed at capping elec‐ tricity prices. Their plan was to set a limit of €180/MWh, which was to be presented to the European Commission.

The idea has now been abandoned due to a lack of support from other EU member states. It is unclear what new measures, if any, can be proposed to the EU. Aelec, the employers’ association of the large electric utilities, has demanded government intervention. “Use European funds, and avoid measures that may affect the energy that has already been purchased by consumers,” the association said on March 18.

and finally...

HORRIFIED by the images emerging from Ukraine, profession‐ al tennis player and philanthropist Roger Federer said on Fri‐ day March 18 that he was donating $500,000 (€451,000) for Ukrainian children harmed by the war. He said having children makes you even more aware of how terrible the situation in Ukraine is.

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24 - 30 March 2022

Platinum pub hours

TO celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, pubs will be allowed to stay open an extra two hours.

The government has con‐ firmed that pubs in England and Wales will be given a two‐hour licensing exten‐ sion and boozers will be able to serve drinks until 1am during the Jubilee weekend.

The Platinum Jubilee cele‐ brations will mark 70 years

on the throne for Queen Eliz‐ abeth. The extension will ap‐ ply on June 2, 3 and 4.

The opening hours have been extended to allow peo‐ ple to “celebrate the longest‐reigning monarch in the United Kingdom,” Home Office minister Kit Malt‐ house said on Monday March 21.

An impact assessment is being put together to go

along with the extension or‐ der. To mark the occasion, London will host a Platinum Jubilee Pageant. The event will feature acts from across the UK and the Common‐ wealth. It is expected that more than 5,000 people will be involved in the pageant’s performances which will feature music, circus acts, theatre shows and street arts.

Terror threat lowered

THE Northern Ireland‐related terrorism threat level has been lowered from severe to substantial. It is the first time the threat level has changed in 12 years.

Substantial means that a terrorist attack is likely and might well occur without fur‐ ther warning. The decision to change the threat level has been taken by MI5, inde‐ pendently of government ministers.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, said: “This is the first time the threat level in Northern Ireland has changed since 2010 and shows the signifi‐ cant progress that Northern Ireland has made, and continues to make, towards a

more peaceful, more prosperous and safer society.

“It is a testament to the ongoing com‐ mitment to protecting the peace process and tackling Northern Ireland‐related ter‐ rorism, and the tremendous efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and MI5 for their hard‐won gains over the past decade.

“However, it is not a time for complacen‐ cy. There is still a minority who wish to cause harm in Northern Ireland. As ever, the public should remain vigilant and re‐ port any concerns they may have to the police,” he added on March 22.

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Hero dog at work

A JACK RUSSELL terrier has become a hero in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. His name is Patron and he is in charge of sniffing out and detecting mines and explosives laid by Rus‐ sian troops.

Dressed in a tiny mili‐ tary vest, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service (DSNS) have hailed him as a vital member of their team.

Patron has already helped deactivate more than 90 explosive de‐ vices, the DSNS said on Saturday March 19.

“By the way, he likes cheese a lot, so our boys are taking advantage of the occasion and are p a m p e r i n g h i m , t o l o‐ cate the mines and ex‐ plosives,” they added.

There are believed to be more than 750 dogs working in mine detec‐ tion programmes in some 23 countries.

PATRON: Has helped deactivate more than 90 explosives.

Hipra vaccine HIPRA laboratories are hoping to put the first Spanish Covid‐19 vaccine on the market in June.

Carles Fabrega, director of the company’s Human Health divi‐ sion said they hope to get the green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in May or early June.

Hipra would then enter the industrial manufacturing phase which, after months of preparing the antigen, would last just over two weeks.

According to Fabrega, researchers are currently evaluating the vaccine’s ‘safety and tolerability’ before presenting the final doc‐ umentation to EMA. Some 3,000 volunteers have worked in the Hipra laboratories in Girona and research carried out in different hospitals in Spain with some 2,500 people has already been completed.

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NEWS

NASA debut

NASA has debuted its new Space Launch System with the giant rocket taken down to the pad at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida to conduct a dummy count‐ down.

NASA has plans to send a test rocket around the moon later this year ahead of plans to send a manned mission within the next five to seven years.

The enormous rocket, al‐ most 100 metres tall, is de‐ signed to be much more pow‐ erful than the Apollo vehicles of the late 1960s and 1970s with the ability to travel be‐ yond the moon as well as to carry significantly more equip‐

ROCKET: Was moved on a massive mobile launcher.

ment.

The rollout on Friday March 18 gave NASA the first oppor‐ tunity to see the rocket and all its different elements fully stacked together.

Priests and nuns THE number of Catholic priests and nuns in Spain is in steady de‐ cline, according to the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE).

Members of the priesthood fell by 12.3 per cent and the num‐ ber of nuns has decreased by 19.8 per cent since 2015.

During the same period the number of working monasteries fell by 109. The issue for the church is twofold. The number of priests and nuns retiring or dying is increasing while the number of people joining seminaries is falling. In 2019, there were 1,203 seminary students but only 1,028 signed up for the current aca‐ demic year, the CEE said on Sunday March 20.

Hocus pocus

A 71-YEAR-OLD who became the UK’s first official witch af‐ ter being given permission by Inland Revenue to use the term on her tax return, has filed her first return including income and expenses for po‐ tions and spells.

Cassandra Latham‐Jones was given what is believed to be unique approval to register as a self‐employed ‘village witch’. That registration al‐ lows her as a self‐employed ‘witch’ to write off certain tax‐ deductible expenses including ingredients for potions.

Latham‐Jones has been a witch and official wise‐wom‐ an for the village of St Buryan in Cornwall for more than 30 years. The trained nurse and qualified counsellor offers ser‐ vices including tarot card reading, rituals, sea magic, dark arts, spells and wart charming. In addition, she car‐ ries out other duties such as

counselling and community services. She says she became a witch after meeting fellow witches and maintains she is “no different from anyone else in the service industry” but with “slightly unusual ex‐ penses.”

“They told me I needed to register with the Inland Rev‐ enue, so that’s what I did. It turns out I was a bit of a pio‐ neer because no one has done it before,” she said on Sunday March 20.

The rocket was moved on a massive mobile launcher that is over 120 metres high and weighs more than 5,000 tons.

Lego Zelensky AN American compa‐ ny, Citizen Brick, has produced a Volodymyr Zelensky Lego figurine that has so far raised more than €130,000 for victims of the war in Ukraine.

The company, which overprints Lego and other figurines, sold the miniature Zelen‐ skys for €90 each along with Molotov cocktails in the Ukrainian colours for €9.

Funds raised were donated to Direct Re‐ lief and other charities and the toys are now sold out.

Lego, whose fig‐ urines were used and who wishes to remain apolitical, said on Thursday March 17: “This initiative has ab‐ solutely nothing to do with the Lego Group.

It’s the work of an in‐ dependent retailer which has no connec‐ tion to the company.”

and finally...

WHEN most of us are getting shorter, one old lady has bucked the trend as the Eiffel Tower grows by six metres. On Tuesday March 15 a new digital radio antenna was attached to the top of the Paris monument, raising the height of the steel structure to 330 metres. The new antenna, a DAB+ (digital audio) was air‐ lifted onto its peak by helicopter, in a delicate operation.

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Ghastly Madeley GMB fans want ‘ghastly’ pre‐ senter Richard Madeley ‘per‐ manently’ replaced and in‐ stead want Martin Lewis to take over the role. Madeley was absent on Monday March 21 and Lewis filled in for him, to the delight of many viewers. One viewer wrote on social media: “I can’t watch Mon‐Wed when ghast‐ ly, tactless, Toryboy Richard Madeley is on. He’s got no depth of knowledge and is unwatchable. The other two have empathy and interesting backgrounds.” Madeley has admitted to alienating fans before: “I remember once, on a perfect summer’s morning I was walking along the cliff near our house in Cornwall and as I came round a bend in the path, I saw this large man coming towards me. He said, ‘I just want you to know that everything you’ve ever done, everything you’ve ever said, everything you ever will say or do, I loathe and despise.”

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Leona Lewis pregnant SINGER Leona Lewis is expecting her first child with her husband Dennis Jauch and the couple is said to be “over the moon.”

Leona came to fame in 2006 when she won X Factor. Speaking before the couple wed Lewis revealed: “We’re so ready to do this. Dennis is the most kind, considerate person I’ve ever met.

He’s been my rock through my crazy ups and downs and everything I’ve gone through in my life.”

She later described the pair’s Bud‐ dhist wedding ceremony as “just the most beautiful day, full of love.”

“It was so special to be able to bring together everyone we love. There were

THE annual World’s Happiest Countries survey has ranked Fin‐ land as the world’s happiest country for the fifth year in a row Its neighbours Den‐ mark, Norway, Swe‐ den and Iceland also score well on healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, social sup‐ port in times of trou‐ ble, low corruption

SINGER: Expecting her first child.

a lot of tears. The room already had so much good energy and having all the love in there was really powerful,” she added.

Finnish bliss

and high social trust, generosity in a com‐ munity where people look after each other and freedom to make key life decisions.

Spain ranks 29th and the UK ranks 17th.

Both Ukraine and Russia are in the bot‐ tom half of the table

and Afghanistan takes bottom place.

Jan‐Emmanuel De Neve, the report’s ed‐ itor, said: “The rank‐ ings are a stark re‐ minder of the material and immate‐ rial damage that war does to its many vic‐ tims.”

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NEWS

Caribbean tour ROYALS William and Kate have launched a Caribbean charm offensive on a tour to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge landed in Belize on Saturday, March 19, but the start of the trip was dis‐ rupted by a small group of protesters.

Around 20 people attend‐ ed a protest at a cacao farm.

Prince William is the Patron of the Flora and Fauna Inter‐ national charity which owns the farm’s land. The protesters said the land is ancestral so belongs to the public and is not “Crown land”.

The couple’s itinerary was

ROYALS: On a tour to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

changed as a result. Howev‐ er, the rest of the tour pro‐ ceeded as planned with a ra‐ diant Kate being dubbed “the belle of Belize.”

Arnie calls for peace FILM star and ex‐Califor‐ nia Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has taken to social media to make an impassioned plea to Russian troops in Ukraine warning them to not be like his father.

Schwarzenegger’s fa‐ ther fought for the Nazis in the Second World War leaving him broken physically and mentally, according to the Austri‐ an‐born actor.

In a video message posted on Thursday March 17, the 74‐year‐ old spoke of his “affec‐ tion and respect” for the Russian people ever since meeting his hero bodybuilder Yuri Petro‐ vich Vlasov at the young age of 14.

Urging them to learn from the plight of his Austrian father, he said there are “moments like

Respect for the Russians.

this that are so wrong and then we have to speak up.”

In a direct message to Russian troops in Ukraine, he warned: “Every bullet you shoot, you shoot a brother or sister.”

Red Nose Day

DESPITE rising living costs and the after effects of the pan‐ demic, the British have once again opened their wallets and purses as Red Nose Day raised £42 million (€51 million) for charity. By contrast £55 million (€65 million) was raised in 2021. Some of the funds raised will benefit organisations pro‐ viding aid to those affected by the war in Ukraine.

Broadcast from the BBC studios in Salford for the first time, the show included a star studded line‐up with comedy sketches by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, Matt Lucas and David Walliams. A number of stars had to pull out of the show due to Covid‐19 including host Zoe Ball, Kylie Minogue and Joel Dommett. Other famous faces joining the fundrais‐ ing event included Tom Holland, Courteney Cox, Lulu, Paul Rudd, Chris Kamara, Vic Reeves, Jeff Goldblum, Clive Myrie, Jamie Dornan and Gordon Ramsay.

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Becker in court TENNIS legend Boris Beck‐ er is on trial in London over charges relating to his bankruptcy. He is ac‐ cused of concealing his Wimbledon and Aus‐ tralian Open trophies, several properties and around £1.8 million.

The court case, which opened on March 21, is the latest twist in the for‐ mer Wimbledon champi‐ on’s troubled post‐playing career that ended in bankruptcy in 2017. At the time his debts were esti‐ mated to be in the region of £50 million.

The 54‐year‐old, a six‐

BECKER: Faces prison if found guilty. time Grand Slam singles champion, faces a maxi‐ mum of seven years in prison if found guilty.

The court was told in preliminary hearings that Becker owned a flat in Chelsea, London, as well as two properties in Ger‐ many, which were unde‐ clared between June and October 2017.

Becker is also accused of removing hundreds of thousands of pounds by transferring it to other ac‐ counts, including to for‐ mer wife Barbara Becker and estranged wife Sharlely Becker.

The court also heard that he hid 75,000 shares in Breaking Data Corp, an artificial intelligence firm.

Becker denies nine counts of failing to disclose his assets, seven charges of concealing property, two counts of removing property required by the receiver, five counts of failing to disclose details of his estate and one count of concealing debt.

Resident in London and fluent in English, Becker apparently will use an in‐ terpreter when giving evi‐ dence in a trial expected to last three weeks.

NEWS

Madeleine investigation THE 11‐year investigation

by Scotland Yard into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann may come to an end this year.

In May 2011, four years after she vanished, the Operation Grange in‐ quiry was launched. Its funding is set to run out on March 31 but the file could be re‐opened if sig‐ nificant new evidence comes to light.

A request has been submitted to the Home Office by the Metropoli‐ tan Police asking for a fi‐ nal grant. If approved, that would carry the in‐ quiry on to the end of September and bring the total expenditure on the investigation to approxi‐ mately £13 million.

May 3 will be the 15th anniversary of Madeleine vanishing in 2007 from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on Portu‐ gal’s Algarve. She was just three years old at the time.

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Lost boys found TWO young brothers who became lost in the Amazon jungle during the rainy season have been found after nearly four weeks.

The indigenous boys aged six and eight, got lost trying to catch small birds on February 18.

Glauco and Gleison Ferreira were taken to hospital with malnutrition, but it is believed that they will make a full recovery.

Hundreds of residents spent weeks looking for the two boys, who disappeared at the worst possible time of year with the rains making walking and searching difficult in the muddy and murky conditions.

T h e s e a r c h w a s c a l l e d o f f o n Fe b r u a r y 2 4 but eventually a man cutting wood found them on March 18 just six kilometres from the village of Palmeira, where the boys live in the Lago Capana protected land reserve.

NEWS

The Queen is hiring

ON ARRIVAL: Refugees will undergo simple tests.

Health help

UKRAINIAN refugees entering Spain will not have to fill out the Spain Travel Health securi‐ ty document to prove that they have been vaccinated against Covid‐19, the Ministry of Health announced on Fri‐ day, March 18.

They will however have to undergo a symptom check on arrival by sea or air, and those

not already jabbed will be ad‐ ministered the vaccine.

The measures were given the green light by the Public Health Commission ‘given the exceptional situation that Ukraine is experiencing’.

Each refugee “will be of‐ fered vaccines according to age and risk condition, and in the case of children and ado‐ lescents, vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough, and Haemophilus influenza B,” the Ministry added. Special attention will be paid to preg‐ nant women, or people in a situation of vulnerability.

Across Spain, 5,500 hospital beds have been made avail‐ able for refugees, of which 1,184 are paediatric.

THE Queen is hiring for a Buckingham Palace makeover and for the right applicant £30,000 could be on offer. Her Majesty is look‐ ing for a painter and decora‐ tor to help complete a makeover at her iconic Lon‐ don address. The Palace has more than 700 rooms and the decorator will be respon‐ sible for adding ‘decorative finishes’. The deadline for the full‐time position is Saturday April 3. The Buckingham Palace renovation is expect‐ ed to cost £369 million. The makeover is controversial

though as more than 100,000 people have signed a position saying that the Royal family should cough up the cash for the refurb. The advert reads: “It’s adding the decorative finishes, for peo‐ ple to appreciate for years to come. Working in such uniquely historic environ‐ ments means you’ll have the opportunity to expand your existing skills.

“You’ll regularly handle specialist wall coverings, sign‐ writing and use specialist paint finishes, such as mar‐ bling and gilding,” it adds.

and finally...

DINO’S IN THE SAND is the new sand festival in Belgium’s Mid‐ delkerkse which will run from July 1 to September 11 this year.

In 2021, there were more than 100,000 visitors who turned up to the first festival of its kind in the town and organisers were staggered by the response. This year, it’s moving to a new loca‐ tion on the beach at the Arthur De Greefplein to try to ensure that residents are not inconvenienced by the number of peo‐ ple who turn up and with 6,000 tons of sculpting sand available there should be plenty of exhibits to be viewed.

FEATURE

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Take control of your finances in an uncertain world The last few years have emphasised how uncertain life can be. Brexit and the pandemic have now been followed by the worrying and upsetting events in Ukraine.

Life feels more uncertain again.

This perhaps makes it more important for us to take control where we can, particularly when it comes to our family’s long-term future and security.

So here we take a look at the key wealth management considerations we should review from time to time.

Pension planning Our pension funds are usually key to our long-term financial security, so take care to do what is right for you. The UK pension freedoms may no longer be ‘new’, but they can still cause uncertainty when deciding what to do with yours, and each option has pros and cons. You also need to establish the local tax implications and what works best for Spain residents.

Many expatriates have chosen

By Fiona Keogh, Private Client Manager, Blevins Franks

to transfer UK pensions to Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) for the advantages they can offer. But they do not suit everyone – you may find it more beneficial to reinvest your funds into Spain-compliant investment arrangements or leave your pension in UK. Also, the UK has recently made changes which make transferring to QROPS more difficult. Take personalised, regulated pensions advice.

Your savings and investments It is impossible to control what happens in the markets, what geopolitical events may cause volatility or prices to rise; we can’t know what interest rates will be ten or twenty years from now.

But we can take steps to build an investment portfolio that: • is based around our risk profile, circumstances, time horizon and objectives; and • includes suitable asset allocation and diversification to control risk; and • is designed to provide capital growth over the longer term to beat inflation so you can maintain your spending power through retirement.

the plan can pay off.

Geopolitical events, like those we’re currently seeing, can cause unsettling market turbulence, but it’s not time for knee-jerk reactions or shortterm changes - history has shown that ‘timing’ markets is incredibly difficult. Investing is a marathon not a sprint, so being patient and sticking with

Tax planning The way you structure your assets and wealth can make a significant difference to your tax bill. You need to make sure your arrangements are structured appropriately for your life in Spain as well as your particular aims, circumstance, goals and risk appetite.

Estate planning While we cannot avoid death, with good estate planning we can control who receives our assets and when. Is your legacy on track to go to your chosen heirs according to your wishes and with minimal taxation?

Take care to understand the succession laws and inheritance tax in Spain, as well as the pros and cons of using the EU succession regulation ‘Brussels IV’ to override ‘forced heirship’ rules.

You need a strategy that achieves your wishes while making the process straightforward and tax-efficient for your heirs.

Are you taking advantage of tax-efficient structures available in Spain? Besides tax savings, these may offer additional benefits such as currency and income flexibility and estate planning advantages.

Ultimately, cross-border tax and financial planning is complex. While you can do some groundwork yourself, you will benefit from talking to a specialist adviser with in-depth knowledge of the Spanish tax regime and its interaction with UK rules. They can help you take advantage of available tax, investment, pensions, and estate planning opportunities to ensure you do what works best for you and your family, today, tomorrow and the future.

Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should seek personalised advice.

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com

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NEWS

Sharon Osbourne show SHARON O S B O U R N E will front her own prime time current affairs pan‐ el show, The Talk, on TalkTV. The new show will see Sharon team up with her good friend, Piers Mor‐ gan, who has his own show, Piers Morgan Un‐ censored, on the chan‐ nel.

Rebekah Brooks, Chief Executive of News UK, the company responsible for launching TalkTV, said: “Sharon has built a unique and hugely suc‐ cessful media career, combining strong views and opinion with a lot of warmth and fun. Her un‐ bounding energy will make her show com‐ pelling viewing, and we are delighted to give her a new home at TalkTV.” Sharon will welcome five famous faces onto her show for one hour each weeknight to de‐ bate topics including crime, politics, health,

and entertainment.

The show will air later this spring. “I’m excited to be working with News UK, the panel, and my good friend Piers. Watch this space for some ex‐ citing and lively de‐ bates,” Sharon said on March 17.

Teaming up with Piers.

Historic aid allocation

SPAIN will allocate a total of €31 million for hu‐ manitarian aid, of which €23 million will go to Ukraine and €8 million to other countries in the re‐ gion through a comprehensive emergency humani‐ tarian response package.

The allocation, the largest in Spanish history and channelled through the Spanish Agency for Inter‐ national Development Cooperation, will respond to appeals from the United Nations and other in‐ ternational organisations in the shape of an ex‐ traordinary call for humanitarian action grants for NGOs, as well as the provision of an emergency hospital for possible deployment in border coun‐ tries.

After the first shipment of more than 20 tons of medicines, equipment and medical supplies to Poland on March 2, a convoy of 30 tons of humani‐ tarian aid was sent to Moldova and a second ship‐ ment of medicines and medical supplies to Ukraine, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, worth almost €1 million. More direct assis‐ tance is envisaged as the needs of Ukraine and neighbouring countries become clearer.

More tourism jobs THE number of affiliated workers linked to tourism activities increased by 305,246 workers in February, reaching a total of 2,309,687, according to figures released by Turespana.

At the end of last month, those employed in tourism ac‐ counted for 11.7 per cent of the total number of employees in the national economy and the year‐on‐year growth trend in the number of affiliates that began in June last year continued, reaching a year‐on‐year rate of 15.2 per cent.

“The good employment figures in the tourism sector show that the protection plan rolled out by the government to pro‐ tect businesses and workers, as well as the health manage‐ ment of the pandemic, have proved effective and have al‐ lowed us to maintain and also generate new jobs in a key sector of our economy,” said the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto on Thursday March 17.

STATS

1

A human loses about 1 million skin cells per day.

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Increased interest rates

THE Bank of England’s Mon‐ etary Policy Committee has voted in favour of increasing the interest rate from 0.5 per cent 0.75 per cent. With the ongoing war in Ukraine, fur‐ ther increases could be seen this year.

Eight members of the com‐ mittee voted in favour of the move on Thursday March 17.

Minutes from the Monetary Policy Committee meeting said: “Given the current tight‐ ness of the labour market, continuing signs of robust do‐

Bank of England decision.

mestic cost and price pres‐ sures, and the risk that those pressures would persist, most members of the Committee judged that a 0.25 percentage point increase in Bank Rate was warranted at this meet‐ ing.

“UK activity had been somewhat stronger than had been expected at the time of the February Report and there had been indications that the current tightening in the labour market might not reverse direction as quickly as had been expected.

“The effects of Russia’s in‐ vasion of Ukraine would likely accentuate both the peak in inflation and the adverse im‐ pact on activity by intensifying the squeeze on household in‐ comes,” the minutes added.

Improving energy efficiency THE government in Madrid has agreed to distribute €170 million to Spain’s au‐ tonomous regions to improve energy effi‐ ciency and the circular economy in compa‐ nies in the tourism sector.

The Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, said on March 16 that the funds come from the Next Genera‐ tion EU programme and will contribute to reducing energy costs and the carbon foot‐ print. The government expects that this

€170 million will be able to finance more than 2,600 actions in the accommodation sector, helping to improve efficiency and re‐ duce consumption in the face of soaring electricity prices.

Minister Maroto said that the investment is in addition to the €570 million fund for im‐ proving tourism competitiveness, which will finance actions to improve energy and light‐ ing in tourist establishments, and to develop the circular economy.

GLOBAL chipmaker Intel has unveiled plans for a new plant in Germany as part of its plans to spread its pro‐ duction capacity across Eu‐ rope. The €17 billion plant is part of a planned €80 billion investment programme for the next 10 years that will see plants being established in a number of other Euro‐ pean countries.

Intel said on March 15 that their goal is to create “a next‐generation European chip ecosystem” that will help tackle the ongoing glob‐

NEWS

Intel’s new plant Planning expansion.

al shortage of semiconduc‐ tors, as well as work to ad‐ vance the technology.

A shortage of semiconduc‐ tors has plagued the conti‐ nent’s car making industry

with demand from east Asia affecting supply, an issue the company hopes to resolve by making the EU self‐suffi‐ cient.

The initial investment is said to be in the region of €33 billion, of which €17 bil‐ lion will go to the new plant, with the remainder being used to improve facilities in Ireland and to establish a de‐ sign and research centre in France.

Spanish shipbuilding boost THE government has approved the Strategic Project for Naval Recovery and Economic Transformation (PERTE), which aims to mo‐ bilise a total investment of €1.46 billion and contribute to the creation of around 3,100 quality jobs.

The Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, said the project is based on public‐private partnership and will allow the transformation of the naval indus‐ try’s value chain through its diversification towards marine renewable energies, the de‐ velopment of low‐emission ships, its digitali‐ sation, the improvement of its environmen‐

tal sustainability, as well as the training of its workers.

Maroto said on Wednesday March 16 that the project responds to the govern‐ ment’s commitment to promoting a driving industry for our economy, which will also contribute to Spain’s industrial autonomy.

The Naval PERTE will promote the collab‐ oration of the different industrial actors, contribute to the modernisation of the sec‐ tor and increase its competitiveness by around 15 per cent, with an annual growth rate in the naval industry of 9 per cent, Maroto added.

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!

OPEL CROSSLAND 1.5D 120cv, 17.000Km YEAR 2021

21.800€

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Portable battery

SUITCASE SIZED: Will fit in the average car boot.

Reception centres open SPAIN has opened four reception centres for Ukrainian refugees, including a centre in Alicante.

The Minister for Inclusion, Jose Luis Escriva, said the gov‐ ernment is committed to a “rapid deployment of Reception and Referral Centres in Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante and Malaga to facilitate the care of displaced persons and offer emergency shelter to those who need it.

“We have strengthened our reception network, in coordi‐ nation with other public administrations and third sector en‐ tities, and with a new family reception programme. Spain has been one of the fastest European countries to transpose this directive and also one of those that has adopted it most ex‐ tensively, as we have extended the subjective scope of appli‐ cation to groups that we consider should also be protected,” he said.

The reception centres are multifunctional. “Firstly, they re‐ ceive displaced persons from Ukraine and give them an initial orientation. Secondly, they enable the completion of work and residence permit procedures within 24 hours and finally, they decide on the referral of those in need to the most suitable places available, following in‐depth interviews,” Escriva said.

A BRITISH company has launched what it be‐ lieves is a world first, a portable electric vehicle battery pack that will al‐ low drivers to recharge their car wherever they are.

Essentially a spare bat‐ tery in a suitcase, the battery pack will fit in the average car’s boot for use when needed.

The ZipCharge Go, which will be available for de‐ livery early 2023, was designed like a rolling suitcase and is intended to provide a backup when a charging point is not available.

According to research conducted in the UK more than a third of the population would not consider an electric vehi‐ cle because of concerns about keeping it charged. The unit uses state of the art bi‐direc‐ tional charging that al‐ lows the battery to be fully charged within one hour providing extra mileage of roughly 32 to 65 kilometres depending on the car.

NEWS

Major supply crunch IN the face of the emerg‐ ing global energy crisis triggered by Russia’s in‐ vasion of Ukraine, practi‐ cal actions by govern‐ ments and citizens could achieve significant re‐ ductions in oil demand in a matter of months, re‐ ducing the risk of a ma‐ jor supply crunch, ac‐ cording to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The IEA’s 10‐point plan for achieving this in‐ cludes reducing speed limits on highways by at least 10kph, as well as in‐ troducing ‘car‐free Sun‐ days’ in cities. They also want to promote car sharing and restrict ac‐ cess by car to large cities based on licence plate numbers. Teleworking at least three days a week would save some 400,000 barrels, including the ef‐ fect of reducing the im‐ pact of using car air con‐ ditioners in summer.

If all 10 measures were adopted, it would lower oil demand by 2.7 million

barrels a day within four months, the IEA said on Friday, March 18.

Green drones

THE Royal Air Force (RAF) has launched its first successful drone using an alternative to fossil fuel. Under Project Vermeer, the RAF flew a four‐metre drone with synthetic fuel. Synthetic kerosene is entirely fossil fuel‐free, made by mixing raw materi‐ als with high sugar levels, such as food waste, with bacteria to create an oil substance that is then converted into aviation fuel using chemicals and heat. Air Vice Marshal Lincoln Taylor said: “The RAF needs to ensure that we are at the forefront of tech‐ nology to safeguard our own resilience and operational capa‐ bility, whilst minimising our damage to the environment.

“Fuel scarcity and cost will only ever increase in its impact on our operations and synthetic fuels for our aircraft are one po‐ tential solution to this situation as we look to secure the objec‐ tives of the next generation RAF of tomorrow,” he added on Wednesday March 16. As the process does not require large‐ scale infrastructure, synthetic kerosene can be made any‐ where, making it an attractive option for military deployments around the world.

STATS

87

The longest time between two twins being born is 87 days.

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NEWS

Password sharing NETFLIX is cracking down on password sharing and users could soon be charged extra for sharing passwords outside of their household.

Netflix features include sep‐ arate profiles and multiple streams on its standard and premium platforms, but some people are sharing ac‐ counts between households, to the company’s financial detriment.

Includes separate profiles.

The streaming company said in a statement on March 16: “For the last year we’ve been working on ways to en‐ able members who share out‐

side their household to do so easily and securely, while also paying a bit more.”

According to Netflix, the first option is to add an extra member at a reduced cost.

The other is to transfer a pro‐ file to a new account.

Netflix added that they will be testing out the new fea‐ tures in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru before “making changes anywhere else in the world.”

Inclusive Britain

THE British Government has published its land‐ mark Inclusive Britain strategy to tackle racial and ethnic disparities and ensure fairness across the UK. Inclusive Britain was developed in response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Dispari‐ ties’ independent report which made 24 rec‐ ommendations to tackle ethnic disparities.

Minister of State for Equalities Kemi Bade‐ noch said: “I strongly believe that Britain is the fairest and most open‐minded country in the world, but there is more we can do to foster in‐ clusion and enable everyone to reach their full potential.

“We are building trust through improving po‐ lice scrutiny, promoting fairness in the work‐ place with new evidence‐based resources that work, tackling serious youth violence which dis‐ proportionately affects certain communities, and fostering inclusion by designing a new Model History Curriculum telling the story of the making of modern Britain.

“The causes behind racial disparities are com‐ plex and often misunderstood. Our new strate‐ gy is about action, not rhetoric and will help cre‐ ate a country where a person’s race, social or ethnic background is no barrier to achieving their ambitions,” he added on March 17.

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NEWS

Amazon Prime

AMAZON has been accused of intentionally making it harder to quit Prime.

The company is alleged to have launched a project code‐named ‘Iliad’ to bam‐ boozle Prime users with questions and offers before they could eventually get to the web page where they could end their subscription.

Figures included in leaked documents show that can‐ cellations dropped by up to 14 per cent with fewer mem‐ bers navigating through to the final cancellation page.

Whilst the initial project is no longer in use, a version of the original is still active to‐ day.

Multiple complaints have been filed in a number of countries asking for investi‐ gations to be opened into Amazon Prime’s cancellation process.

Amazon denies any wrongdoing. Jamil Ghani, Vice‐President of Amazon Prime said: “Customer trans‐ parency and trust are top pri‐

orities for us.

“By design we make it clear and simple for cus‐ tomers to both sign up for and to cancel their Prime

membership. We continually listen to customer feedback and look for ways to improve the customer experience,” he added on March 15.

Ukrainian drivers

UKRAINIAN refugees’ driving licences will be valid in Spain for at least one year, the government announced on Tuesday, March 15.

The new measure was approved by the Director Gen‐ eral of Traffic, Pere Navarro, and is a “response to the ex‐ traordinary and exceptional nature of the situation cre‐ ated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the magnitude of the massive influx of displaced persons.”

Under the new rules Spain recognises the “validity of the Ukrainian driving licence to drive in Spain for a peri‐ od of one year after obtaining temporary protection, as long as the driving licence is valid and the holder is of the age required in Spain to obtain an equivalent Spanish li‐ cence.”

Ukrainian licence holders will also be able to swap their driving licences for a Spanish licence if they choose to.

STATS

38

The largest snowflake ever recorded was 38cm across.

EUROPEAN PRESS

www.euroweeklynews.com

EUROPEAN PRESS DENMARK

Little Mermaid

No smoking

COPENHAGEN’S iconic statue of The Little Mermaid became an unexpected casualty of the Russian invasion of Ukraine when on Sunday, March 13, it was sprayed with the letter Z (currently recognised as support for Russia) followed by an equal sign and a swastika.

INTENT on eliminating the culture of smoking from Denmark, the government intends to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born in 2010 and after, so that eventually it will become a smoke free country, although recreational cannabis smoking is illegal there but still takes place.

THE NETHERLANDS New epidemic

Blaming Russia

NOW that the country seems to have learnt how to keep Covid-19 more or less under control, Holland is now officially in the grip of a flu epidemic, with the number of people diagnosed with the disease ‘rapidly increasing’, according to national health institute RIVM.

BOTH The Netherlands and Australian governments have announced that they are taking legal action against the Russian government as they present arguments to the International Civil Aviation Organisation blaming Russia for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 caused by rebels firing a Russian supplied missile.

BELGIUM In tune

Shrimp champion

ABOUT 100 violinists, mainly children, with the youngest being four years of age, took part in a mobile concert in the streets of Antwerp to support Ukraine and to raise money for the victims of the Russian invasion on Saturday March 12.

THE Royal Order of Horse Shrimp Fishers has chosen self-styled ‘shrimp town’ Oostduinkerke as the site for the first Belgian shrimp peeling championship which is due to be held on June 26, with participants expected from across Belgium and even France where the world championship is held.

GERMANY Inaugural flight

Chip boom

FOR historical reasons, there were never many flights between Berlin and the USA due to the problems with East Germany and all flights stopped in March 2020, but on March 28 2022, United Airlines will start its first flight from Berlin BER Airport to Newark in New Jersey.

ALTHOUGH it’s not a short-term solution, US micro chip manufacturer Intel said that it is to invest €17 billion in building a new site in Magdeburg by 2027, possibly influenced by financial support as well as a huge requirement from German automobile manufacturers.

FRANCE Secrets revealed

Corsican autonomy

AS workers prepare to rebuild the spire of Notre Dame damaged in the 2019 fire, the cathedral is revealing new secrets, including several previously unknown tombs and a human shaped sarcophagus made of lead, which archaeologists believe dates back to the 14th century.

WORRIED by an insurgence of violent nationalism on the island of Corsica, birthplace of Napoleon, the French government has finally announced that it may be prepared to discuss some form of autonomy for the island in the event that it is returned to power following the upcoming elections.

NORWAY NATO chief

Bomb shelters

NATO’s popular Norwegian secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg has been the subject of some controversy as he was recruited to become Governor of the Bank of Norway, but now he is reportedly being urged to extend his stay at NATO after October 1.

A LAW requires that all Norwegian bomb shelters should be ready for use within 72 hours of an alert, but due to the end of the Cold War the majority have been used as storage and there is only space for half of the population.

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EWN 23

FINANCE BUSINESS EXTRA Madrid investment ALLIANZ Real Estate has made its second PRS (private rental sector) investment in Spain with the ac‐ quisition of nine prime residential buildings in the Chamartín district of Madrid for €185 million, follow‐ ing its first investment in Barcelona and Madrid last year.

In administration SHIRTMAKER TM Lewin has been forced to call in UK administrators for the second time in less than two years, as more people work from home and therefore don’t need so much formal wear. Hav‐ ing closed its 150 shops, it em‐ ployed 50 staff for its online only business.

New name IN order to promote its commit‐ ment to renewable energy, Ence Energia a subsidiary of Spanish pulp producer and energy group Ence has changed its name to Magnon Green Energy, the group announced on Wednesday March 16 and will introduce a new, self‐ explanatory logo.

Chef wars TV celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo will be the avatar face of a new cooking‐themed play‐to‐earn game Big Town Chef and he is looking for investors in the game which will allow players to pro‐ duce their own fresh vegetables, trade virtual ingredients and com‐ pete in cook‐off battles.

Air Europa THE on/off sale of Air Europa to IAG is back on again as a new agree‐ ment is in place between IAG sub‐ sidiary Iberia and the airline owned

by Globalia. In return for a seven‐ year unsecured loan of €100 million to Globalia (subject to approval from its current lenders), Iberia will have the exclusive rights to negoti‐ ate an agreement to purchase dur‐ ing the coming 12 months. If at the end of the loan period, it is not re‐ paid in full then IAG will be entitled to take a 20 per cent share of Air Europa. In addition, in the event that a bid comes in from any other airline, IAG will have preference if it matches the offer.

www.euroweeklynews.com • 24 - 30 March 2022

26

STAT OF WEEK

£807 million

was the reported turnover made by UK pub chain Wetherspoons for the last six months of trading to January 31 which resulted in a £13 million loss.

P&O Ferries sack 800 staff THURSDAY March 17 was a day of turmoil at P&O Ferries after it was revealed that the company would be making major redundancies fol‐ lowed by an announcement that its 800 sailing staff would be losing their jobs with immediate effect.

Early on that day, all sailings were suspended ahead of a major an‐ nouncement from the company as rumours circulated that the compa‐ ny, which has 20 ships, would be go‐ ing into liquidation, although this was denied by the company.

According to the British press, a P&O Ferries spokesperson said: “We have made a £100 million (€119 mil‐ lion) loss year on year, which has been covered by our parent DP World. This is not sustainable. Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now.

Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries.

“These circumstances have result‐ ed in a very difficult but necessary decision, which was only taken after seriously considering all the avail‐ able options.

“As part of the process we are starting today, we are providing 800 seafarers with immediate severance notices and will be compensating them for this lack of advance notice with enhanced compensation pack‐ ages.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “I am very concerned about the news from P&O Ferries this morning and we will be speaking to the company today to understand the impact on workers and passen‐ gers.

“Important to note other opera‐ tors continue to run cross Channel routes, so passengers and goods can flow, but I am working with the Kent Resilience Forum to min‐

imise disruption.”

It is understood that the company will initially be using agency staff to reinstate its services within the next week or so and will be recruiting for‐ eign sailors to secure its long‐term future.

After the announcement of the redundancies, the Nautilus union chief said: “The news that P&O Fer‐ ries is sacking the crew across its en‐ tire UK fleet is a betrayal of British workers. It is nothing short of scan‐ dalous given that this Dubai owned company received millions of pounds of British taxpayer’s money during the pandemic.

“There was no consultation and no notice given by P&O. Be assured the full resources of Nautilus Inter‐ national stand ready to act in de‐ fence of our members. We believe it is in our members’ best interests to stay onboard until further notice.”

What is a Green Funeral Plan?

IF you are a lover of nature and conscious of the environ‐ ment, consider a Green Funeral Plan with Golden Leaves.

A Golden Leaves Green Funeral Plan can be paid for with a one‐off sum or in monthly instalments for a fixed term period of up to five years, making it an environmen‐ tally friendly, as well and financially friendly, option.

A Green Funeral Plan with Golden Leaves can include options for natural and biodegradable coffins made of sustainable materials including wood, willow and wool.

There is also an option for a Reflections coffin, which can be personalised with a design or image of your choosing.

There are three categories that you can choose from: the Glade, Meadow or Woodland. Each of these Green Funeral Plans differs in the level of services provided by the funeral director, the number of vehicles required and the style of coffin selected.

GREEN: Options for natural or biodegradable coffins.

To speak to the friendly team at Golden Leaves or to find out more, email enquiries@goldenleaves.com today.

A SERIES of new laws concerning road transport of goods went through the Spanish Parliament without any votes against on Thursday March 17.

This decree was first debated last year but clearly came to prominence due to the road haulier’s strike which is beginning to have some ef‐ fect and was championed by Minis‐ ter of Transport Raquel Sánchez.

Although the strike is not support‐ ed by the main driver’s unions, there are still a significant number of inde‐

Hauliers strike pendent drivers who are deter‐ mined to cause disruption so that their demand for a reduction in fuel costs is acted on.

The new laws will make it easier for lorry drivers to work in as much as they will not be required to load and unload lorries, nor will they

have to stick to agreed prices if fuel costs increase prior to the work be‐ ing undertaken.

Until such time as there is a posi‐ tive reduction in fuel prices howev‐ er it seems unlikely that the hauliers will be placated and will continue to travel in convoy to

Finnish cooperation THE Finnish Government is keep‐ ing a close watch on the Spanish recovery plan which focuses on green and digital transitions and has made it one of the biggest re‐ cipients of the EU recovery pack‐ age.

Thanks to this and the fact that Finland is heading on a similar path, the Minister for Develop‐ ment Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari, accompanied by a business delegation, visited Madrid from March 20 to 23 to promote cooperation between Spain and Finland.

During the four‐day visit, he met with a number of different Spanish ministers and introduced them to the 14 Finnish companies travel‐ ling with him which have expertise in different kinds of digital solu‐ tions.

Another food concept THE successful UK arm of Dallas based Wingstop which has more than 1,700 locations worldwide, announced on Thursday March 17 that it now has its eyes set on the Spanish market.

It plans to open four ‘ghost kitchens’ in Madrid, the first two as early as March 31 to offer a de‐ livery only service in Spain’s capital city before intending to expand across the country opening restau‐ rants through a franchise model.

“We are excited to bring the flavour of Wingstop to Spain ini‐ tially, leveraging a delivery‐only method. By embracing our en‐ trepreneurial spirit, in just 12 weeks from planning to execu‐ tion, we’re getting Wingstop in front of consumers in Madrid,” said Wingstop Vice President EMEA, Lisa Paton. slow traffic generally.

After reports of intimidation of drivers who are continuing to work, the government has announced that it plans to mobilise 23,000 police offi‐ cers in order to ensure driver’s safety and to break up jams.

The matter of reviewing fuel prices for hauliers which is apparent‐ ly being considered by the govern‐ ment will be the deciding factor as to whether the strike continues for any length of time.

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C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 21

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) 3I Group 1.359,00 1.366,00 Abrdn 206,70 209,40 Admiral Group 2.594,5 2.614,0 Anglo American 3.790,5 3.804,5 Antofagasta 1.689,00 1.693,50 Ashtead Group 5.482,0 5.520,0 Associated British Foods 1.751,5 1.755,5 AstraZeneca 9.560,0 9.569,3 Auto Trader Group Plc 680,60 682,00 Avast 571,00 572,20 Aveva 2.549,0 2.611,0 Aviva 427,40 428,20 B&M European Value Retail SA582,20 583,20 BAE Systems 722,04 733,60 Bank VTB DRC 0,010 0,010 Barclays 171,10 172,18 Barratt Developments 570,00 570,20 Berkeley 4.128,0 4.145,0 BHP Billiton Ltd 2.645,67 2.651,50 BP 371,40 371,60 British American Tobacco 3.173,5 3.197,0 British Land Company 518,00 520,80 BT Group 180,05 180,20 Bunzl 2.880,0 2.885,0 Burberry Group 1.737,0 1.740,5 Carnival 1.337,8 1.347,0 Centrica 79,85 79,90 Coca Cola HBC AG 1.708,0 1.737,5 Compass 1.703,50 1.709,50 CRH 3.441,0 3.470,0 Croda Intl 7.558,0 7.594,0 DCC 5.884,0 5.892,0 Diageo 3.735,0 3.744,5 DS Smith 335,60 340,40 EasyJet 525,60 542,00 Experian 3.050,0 3.063,0 Ferguson 11.075,0 11.075,0 Flutter Entertainment 9.354,0 9.570,0 Fresnillo 732,20 745,00 GlaxoSmithKline 1.609,00 1.610,91 Glencore 489,80 492,55 Halma 2.521,4 2.543,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.043,00 1.051,00 Hikma Pharma 2.066,00 2.082,00 HSBC 501,00 503,50 IAG 140,94 142,44 Imperial Brands 1.604,50 1.617,00 Informa 591,80 597,00 InterContinental 5.260,0 5.278,0

% CHG. 1.350,50 206,50 2.570,0 3.666,5 1.636,50 5.462,0 1.740,0 9.506,7 674,40 569,00 2.521,0 422,40 578,20 720,00 0,010 170,56 560,60 4.096,0 2.599,50 363,50 3.166,5 516,60 178,35 2.868,0 1.700,0 1.328,4 78,62 1.693,5 1.693,00 3.428,0 7.496,0 5.862,0 3.726,0 334,10 522,20 3.038,0 11.000,0 9.328,0 730,00 1.602,80 480,55 2.510,0 1.028,00 2.053,00 498,50 139,70 1.601,50 589,40 5.214,0

NET VOL 90,89K 394,34K 44,86K 391,74K 183,96K 50,59K 52,12K 11,52K 269,36K 101,04K 48,45K 577,18K 84,62K 1,60M 0 4,60M 502,14K 35,95K 374,85K 7,03M 352,95K 158,73K 1,35M 21,56K 116,63K 61,65K 1,74M 104,42K 229,35K 264,50K 23,24K 10,69K 263,51K 289,47K 721,37K 111,32K 20,12K 30,44K 101,39K 95,85K 4,24M 37,52K 118,95K 61,88K 3,27M 3,63M 206,73K 558,31K 30,21K

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

Intermediate Capital 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 Sage Samsung Electronics DRC Sberbank Schroders Scottish Mortgage Segro Severn Trent Shell 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

1.739,50 5.148,0 84,00 264,40 1.921,5 767,40 274,81 49,05 7.940,0 761,60 131,60 1.540,50 1.136,11 216,80 6.478,0 1,89 1.142,00 2.270,0 638,30 1.087,50 5.833,0 2.308,00 511,00 676,20 5.721,0 93,47 0,60 698,80 1.436,50 0,0453 3.262,0 1.013,00 1.325,50 2.961,0 1.992,8 1.257,36 1.508,50 12.815,6 1.684,50 1.474,00 508,00 145,18 278,74 236,40 3.447,9 1.088,70 128,18 2.786,0 1.079,00

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

1.763,00 5.168,0 85,00 265,40 1.927,0 770,60 277,60 49,53 8.100,0 765,00 133,15 1.565,00 1.138,80 218,60 6.504,0 1,89 1.198,50 2.302,0 642,00 1.107,00 5.892,0 2.314,00 512,60 679,60 5.731,0 93,95 0,60 708,00 1.440,00 0,0453 3.279,0 1.014,50 1.331,50 2.969,0 1.998,0 1.267,00 1.510,50 13.025,0 1.694,50 1.484,50 510,40 145,95 279,55 238,10 3.451,0 1.093,00 128,22 2.809,0 1.087,00

1.735,50 5.122,0 83,74 262,60 1.904,5 764,40 274,50 48,91 7.896,0 761,00 130,75 1.538,00 1.129,00 214,40 6.446,0 1,89 1.142,00 2.259,0 636,80 1.067,50 5.832,0 2.295,00 507,80 672,79 5.572,0 92,76 0,60 697,40 1.425,50 0,0453 3.245,0 1.000,00 1.321,00 2.933,0 1.954,2 1.251,50 1.494,50 12.810,0 1.678,50 1.466,00 503,60 144,30 277,60 229,80 3.404,0 1.083,00 127,10 2.779,0 1.067,00

31,47K 19,93K 1,44M 258,30K 55,88K 125,87K 1,27M 30,41M 66,66K 74,86K 907,64K 69,14K 352,12K 3,81M 19,92K 0 230,83K 123,55K 234,38K 523,35K 67,82K 420,18K 384,50K 19,98K 339,33K 7,37M 0 101,33K 3,06K 0 54,40K 905,99K 239,31K 36,78K 1,75M 200,98K 97,83K 6,11K 217,06K 108,99K 179,25K 1,23M 1,24M 1,26M 482,11K 120,95K 6,87M 31,80K 655,15K

1.18982

0.84105

Units per €

US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0960 Japan yen (JPY)........................................131.89 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................1.0302 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4415 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................9.6671

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

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 21

COMPANY 3M American Express Amgen Apple Boeing Caterpillar Chevron Cisco Coca-Cola Dow Goldman Sachs Home Depot Honeywell IBM Intel J&J JPMorgan McDonald’s Merck&Co Microsoft Nike Procter&Gamble Salesforce.com The Travelers UnitedHealth Verizon Visa A Walgreens Boots Walmart Walt Disney

PRICE 148,32 190,72 236,25 163,98 192,83 220,91 161,73 55,97 60,10 62,39 345,38 340,74 194,72 128,76 47,45 174,84 140,10 238,92 79,11 300,43 131,24 150,15 218,80 180,31 506,12 50,80 219,11 47,36 145,44 140,30

CHANGE 148,45 191,00 236,40 164,48 193,38 221,70 161,73 56,42 60,30 63,43 346,77 340,74 194,92 128,93 47,60 177,00 140,85 239,19 79,74 301,00 131,46 150,87 219,58 180,48 510,68 52,29 219,26 47,45 145,57 140,73

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 145,22 7,88M 184,84 8,71M 232,75 7,62M 159,76 123,96M 190,10 12,81M 218,00 4,10M 158,78 23,18M 55,54 51,72M 59,71 30,08M 61,81 9,51M 337,30 5,74M 332,30 9,39M 189,80 8,73M 126,37 7,46M 46,35 46,13M 173,66 13,78M 138,46 23,06M 235,99 5,31M 78,63 21,04M 292,73 43,07M 126,70 10,27M 148,24 15,54M 208,30 12,17M 177,27 3,94M 501,56 5,04M 50,80 70,17M 210,29 14,57M 46,47 11,36M 144,11 10,39M 138,30 11,20M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 21

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+73.55% +59.77% +54.90% +54.21% +52.42% +50.28% +42.04% +41.40% +39.86% +38.05% +36.29%

11.09M 412.01M 34.97M 301.72K 134.69K 23.00M 70.00M 1.30M 4.80M 2.10M 2.60M

-37.75% -31.63% -28.95% -26.94% +-25.00% -22.78% -22.50% -22.32% -20.75% -20.69% -18.13%

87.80K 2.77M 4.02M 2.63M 23.37K 1.81M 5.74M 973.09K 964.77K 286.04K 656.35K

Most Advanced BEST Didi Global Zhihu Connect Biopharma Holdings Rezolute Redbox Entertainment StoneCo 36Kr Holdings Lizhi Redbox Entertainment 111 Inc

Most Declined Bt Brands Neptune Wellness Solutions Nymox Pharmaceutical Bright Scholar A Immuron Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holding Ambac BigBearai Holdings HTG Molecular Diagnostics Surrozen OpGen

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Inditex profits up again

Credit: Inditex

PROFITS INCREASE: Óscar García Maceiras and Pablo Isla revealed the figures.

THE Inditex bandwagon just keeps rolling on and 2021 final figures have re‐ turned to pre‐pandemic levels with turnover of €27.72 billion, up 35.8 per cent on the previous year.

As net profit increased by 193 per cent to €3.24 bil‐ lion, executive chairman, Pablo Isla, said on Wednes‐ day March 16 that, “after two years of pandemic, this set of results demonstrates the incredible ability to adapt to any circumstances that characterises all the people who work here, borne from their commit‐ ment and talent.”

The group’s CEO, Óscar García Maceiras, singled out “the leadership demon‐ strated by the company on the digital transformation front in recent years, this places us in an unrivalled position to offer an excep‐ tional level of engagement with our quality and sus‐ tainable fashion.”

Although the bulk of rev‐ enue is still generated in‐ store, online sales reached €7.5 billion, accounting for 25.5 per cent of total sales, reinforcing the company as a global leader in ecom‐ merce.

Despite all of its invest‐ ments in stock, stores, staff, distribution centres and on‐ line development, the group’s net cash stood at a record €9.3 billion at year‐ end, having increased by 24 per cent during the year.

The company outper‐ formed its sustainability targets for 2021, specifically for the use of renewable energy ‐ accounting for 91 per cent of total consump‐ tion.

It opened 226 stores in 40 markets during the year and on January 31, 2022, employed 165,042, up from 144,116 the previous year, with more than 80 per cent of the contracts being per‐ manent and there is no

Sales down UK grocery supplier Ocado has reported a slump in sales in the three months to the end of February 2022.

It believes that there are three main reasons, first‐ ly more people were returning to work and there‐ fore were not ordering so much for home delivery.

Secondly, ever‐increasing prices have made them consider their spend and thirdly because they were able to return to bars and restaurants as restrictions were eased, they were spending more outside of the house.

Although not dramatic, sales dropped 5.7 per cent to £574.7 million and the company is now reducing its annual growth sales forecast to around 10 per cent.

gender pay gap with three times more women than men employed.

BUSINESS EXTRA Sanctions ON March 14, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the phone to his Spanish counter‐ part José Manuel Al‐ bares Bueno about the situation in Ukraine and made it clear that China does not support the in‐ vasion, nor should it be affected in any way by sanctions brought against Russia.

Inflation continues AT the same time as raising the base interest rate to 0.75 per cent on Thursday March 17, the Bank of England warned that due to the ongoing situation in the Ukraine and the rise in energy costs it expects inflation to jump to 8 per cent or more.

Primark online ALTHOUGH it has held out for years, the hugely popular low priced Pri‐ mark clothing store is to ‘bite the bullet’ and of‐ fer an online service due reportedly to a drop in sales during the pan‐ demic and aggressive marketing from Chinese competitor Shein.

24 - 30 March 2022

EWN 29

30 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

24 - 30 March 2022

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT “WHOEVER controls the media controls the mind,” observed 60s’ icon and The Doors’ front man Jim Morrison. He wasn’t alone in this observation of course.

Many, even William Shakespeare, have voiced similar sentiments. Malcom X once reflected: “The Media is the most powerful entity on earth; they can make the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent ‐ that’s power.”

These realities naturally haven’t escaped the leaders of both sides of this horrendous conflict in the Ukraine. Putin’s methods are painfully obvious; shut down all the media sources that disagree with the government ‐ job done. Ukraine’s approach has been a touch more subtle.

Of course, when your country is being destroyed by a monstrous regime and the bodies of innocent civilians litter the streets, the truth is there for all to witness.

That said, President Zelensky’s showbiz acumen is standing him in good stead. His simple green t‐shirt, which he wears for all his interviews and TV appearances, is no accident and has subsequently become an iconic symbol of his country’s struggle with Russian oppression. The picture of a citizen

Media

punching the front of a tank convoy has been widely distributed around the world.

What I am not trying to do here is undermine the pure horror and horrendous criminal actions of the monster that is Putin or the tragic suffering of the Ukrainian people. What I am endeavouring to do is show how very important it is for the media to report all events in an unbiased and truthful way.

This is actually why the press hated Donald Trump. By his use of direct social media, he cut out these middle men and, to their absolute chagrin, virtually castrated their power of public manipulation in one fell swoop.

What is glaringly omitted from the reports of the West’s media are the true reasons Putin felt threatened by the Ukraine. There are in fact quite a number.

The country is highly disposed to far right extremism. Its neo‐Nazi leanings have been well chronicled and if you looked closely at a recently released picture of a female Ukrainian soldier, which was quickly taken down, you would have

clearly seen the Nazi Black Sun symbol on the front of her uniform.

Large numbers of their citizens belong to these fascist groups and they are highly trained, which is why they are doing such a remarkable job holding off the might of the Russian army. These groups pose a very real threat to all defenders of human rights, LGBT activists and left‐wing feminists. They are also anti‐sematic white supremacists. Putin is indisputably correct.

Living next door to one of Europe’s largest armies, with all its Nazi ideology, should indeed give him cause for concern, particularly if they are allowed to join NATO. His method of dealing with it is of course unacceptable.

Keep the faith Love Leapy Leapylee2002@gmail.com.

Expatradioscotland.com Monday‐Friday, 1pm to 4pm.

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

TV & Film Review by Laura Kemp

Bad Vegan documentary

THE four‐part documen‐ tary series Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives on Netflix follows the criminal case of Sarma Melngailis, co‐founder of celebrity‐ favourite restaurant Pure Food and Wine and the ‘it’ girl of New York’s early 2000s vegan food scene.

This series has a minus‐ cule 28 per cent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, however, I think it deserves much higher than this.

Vegan superchef Sarma Melngailis opened her pop‐ ular NY restaurant Pure Food and Wine before meeting a man online who promised, through a bizarre sequence of gaslighting and brainwashing, to make her beloved dog Leon immor‐ tal. Very similar to Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler, Sarma and her mother end up handing over millions of dollars to Anthony Strangis, aka Shane Fox, who called himself a black ops special‐ ist.

The story is told by Sarma herself and her former

members of staff, and we hear first‐hand how Strangis made her believe he was part of some sort of alternate spiritual world where ethereal beings are watching their every move and can somehow make Sarma’s dog immortal ‐ leading to the couple disap‐ pearing on the run for months.

We find that Sarma isn’t Strangis’ only victim and that he previously attempt‐ ed to convince his ex‐wife to poison their child with salt. Told in her own words, his ex‐wife is startling proof that Sarma hadn’t gone completely mad in believing Strangis and also highlights how it can be so easy for abusers to hide their mo‐ tives and convince others.

The story is a frightening look at manipulation, brain‐ washing and psychological abuse. Sarma is a likeable person whose staff adored her until she met Stringis and lost her sense of self and ultimately her success‐ ful business.

THURSDAY 24/03 FRIDAY 25/03 SATURDAY 26/03

4:00pm 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 4:00pm 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 5:15pm 5:45pm 6:30pm 7:10pm 7:20pm 7:25pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:45pm 9:35pm 10:15pm

MONDAY 28/03

SUNDAY 27/03

6:20pm 6:28pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:20pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:25pm

WEDNESDAY 30/03

TUESDAY 29/03

11:30pm 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 8:50pm 9:35pm 10:00pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

Escape to the Country The Repair Shop Bridge of Lies Pointless BBC News at Six; Weather BBC London News; Weather The One Show EastEnders Dragons' Den The Apprentice

5:15pm

Escape to the Country The Repair Shop Bridge of Lies Pointless BBC News at Six; Weather BBC London News; Weather The One Show A Question of Sport MasterChef MasterChef

6:15pm 7:00pm

Garden Rescue Bridge of Lies Superman & Lois BBC News BBC London News; Weather Weather Celebrity Mastermind The Wall Pointless Celebrities Casualty Killing Eve

11:30am

BBC London News; Weather Weather Countryfile Extraordinary Portraits Antiques Roadshow Dynasties II Peaky Blinders BBC News BBC London News; Weather

12:30pm

BBC London News; Weather The One Show EastEnders Clean It, Fix It We Are England Beyond Reasonable Doubt BBC News at Ten BBC London News; Weather Weather

3:15pm 4:00pm 4:30pm

The Repair Shop Bridge of Lies Pointless BBC News at Six; Weather BBC London News; Weather The One Show EastEnders Holby City The Bidding Room MasterChef

4:00pm 4:30pm

Bridge of Lies Pointless BBC News at Six; Weather BBC London News; Weather The One Show EastEnders MasterChef Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr

4:00pm 4:30pm

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

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

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1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 5:00pm 7:45pm 8:15pm 9:00pm

5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

The Sweet Makers: A Georgian Treat Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Lightning Doctors Rick Stein's Cornwall Great British Menu Hospital The Apprentice: You're Hired

8:00pm

Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam Canal Boat Diaries Michael Wood's Story of England Green Book Manchester by the Sea Skint: Hannah Skint: Regeneration Canal Boat Diaries Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam

3:00pm 4:00pm 4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 9:30pm

Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Lightning MOTDx Inside Culture with Mary Beard Gardeners' World Earth's Great Rivers II Live at the Apollo: Access All Areas Newsnight

8:00pm 8:30pm 8:55pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:25am 1:25am 2:25am 2:55am 3:25am

Dusty Dusty Pop Go the Sixties TOTP: 1992 TOTP: 1992 Elton John: Uncensored Amazing Grace Elton John: Electric Prom Classic Soul at the BBC TOTP: 1992 TOTP: 1992 Dusty

3:00pm 4:00pm 4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr Live Women's Six Nations Great British Menu Great British Menu Live Challenge Cup Rugby League Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney Dad's Army Aretha Franklin: Respect Elton John at the BBC

8:00pm 9:00pm

The Normans Arctic with Bruce Parry Hidden Photograph Wogan: The Best Of Yes, Prime Minister Keeping Up Appearances Arctic with Bruce Parry

12:40pm 1:40pm 1:59pm 2:00pm

Marcus Wareing's Tales from a Kitchen Garden Great British Menu Earth's Great Rivers II Figure Skating World Championships Live Challenge Cup Rugby League Saving Lives at Sea Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy The Speedshop

8:55pm

Secret Knowledge: Stradivarius and Me Max Richter's Sleep Skint: Heart of Glass Skint: The Taking of Balgrayhill Street Skint: Unicorn What Do Artists Do All Day? The Sound of TV with Neil Brand The Wonder of Animals

3:00pm 3:04pm 3:05pm 4:05pm 5:00pm 7:00pm

Street Auction The Heights The Customer is Always Right Monkey Planet Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Lightning Doctors Rick Stein's Cornwall Mastermind

8:00pm

The Heights The Customer is Always Right Monkey Planet Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Lightning Doctors Rick Stein's Cornwall Great British Menu: The Finals

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

The Heights The Customer is Always Right Monkey Planet Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Lightning Doctors Rick Stein's Cornwall Your Body Uncovered with Kate Garraway

8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 12:00am 2:15am 2:30am 2:45am 3:15am

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:45am 1:30am 3:00am 3:30am

9:25pm 11:00pm 11:15pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:15am 1:15am

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

12:00am

12:10am 1:40am 2:10am 2:40am

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:15am 1:15am 1:45am

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

10:00pm 11:00pm

Countdown A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed Fame in the Family The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Perfect House, Secret Location Extraordinary Escapes First Dates

Dickinson's Real Deal Lingo ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Grantchester ITV News at Ten and Weather

3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

Countdown A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed Fame in the Family The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Unreported World Grayson's Art Club Gogglebox The Last Leg

3:15pm

Simply Raymond Blanc ITV News and Weather ITV London Weather ITV Racing: Live from Doncaster Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals The Chase: Celebrity Special ITV News and Weather ITV News London Celebrity Catchphrase

11:25am 1:25pm

Dragonheart Couples Come Dine with Me Four in a Bed Grand Designs Location, Location, Location Matt Baker: Our Farm in the Dales Channel 4 News Chernobyl: The New Evidence

3:30pm 4:30pm

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

Channel 4 News One and Six Zeros Britain's Most Expensive Houses Edward VIII: Britain's Traitor King Falklands War: The Untold Story Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Highlights Chernobyl: The New Evidence

3:10pm 4:10pm

7:30pm 7:45pm 8:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

ITV News and Weather ITV London Weather The Pet Show The Masked Singer US Mamma Mia! Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals ITV News and Weather ITV News London Dancing on Ice The Ipcress File ITV News and Weather

Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam Villages by the Sea Neanderthals: Meet Your Ancestors The Golden Age of Steam Railways Ian Hislop's Stiff Upper Lip: An Emotional History of Britain Tails You Win: The Science of Chance

2:30pm 2:55pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Dickinson's Real Deal Lingo ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Holding

12:35pm 1:30pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

Undercover Boss USA Steph's Packed Lunch Countdown A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed Fame in the Family The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News 24 Hours in A&E Rescue: Extreme Medics

3:15pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:55pm 9:00pm 9:58pm 10:00pm

Steam Days Villages by the Sea Keeping Up Appearances Yes, Prime Minister Gods of Snooker Up the Junction: The Wednesday Play The British Garden: Life and Death on Your Lawn Steam Days Villages by the Sea Gods of Snooker

3:00pm 4:00pm 4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 11:00pm

Dickinson's Real Deal Lingo ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Concert for Ukraine ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London

12:35pm 1:30pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

Undercover Boss USA Steph's Packed Lunch Countdown A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed Fame in the Family The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer

2:10pm 2:15pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm

Steam Days Villages by the Sea Secret Life of Farm Animals Putin, Russia and the West The Earth Is Blue as an Orange: Storyville Dog Tales: The Making of Man's Best Friend Steam Days Villages by the Sea

3:00pm 4:00pm 4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 10:30pm

Dickinson's Real Deal Lingo ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Kate & Koji Bradley Walsh and Son: Breaking Dad

12:35pm 1:30pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

Undercover Boss USA Steph's Packed Lunch Countdown A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed Fame in the Family The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Kirstie and Phil's Love it or List it

10:00pm

5:00pm 5:30pm 6:30pm 6:45pm 7:00pm

11:30pm

Dickinson's Real Deal Lingo ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Cost of Living: What You Need to Know - Tonight Joanna Lumley's Great Cities of the World

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

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24 - 30 March 2022

FEATURE

Advertising Feature

Retrospective Licences are straightforward

WHAT TO DO IF A NEIGHBOUR BLOCKS YOUR VIEWS WITH AN UNLICENSED EXTENSION AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR UNLICENSED EX‐ TENSION AGAINST THE OBJEC‐ TIONS OF YOUR NEIGHBOURS. Suddenly a block wall creeps up your boundary wall blocking your views, suddenly your relationship with your neighbour tenses. As the wall rises, the conflict raises, no way back.

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UNLICENSED EXTENSION: The owners of the work will be fined.

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www.euroweeklynews.com • 24 - 30 March 2022

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IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK GO TO WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM FOR THIS WEEK’S ANSWERS

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.

EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAR… Dear Editor, Readers are aware of Vladimir Putin’s satanic genocide in the Ukraine and the people there have three options: 1) Fight to the death 2) Flee if possible 3) Surrender and be carted off to death camps in Siberia Russian people watch State Television and do not know the reality of the war, plus their sons are sent to die in the Ukraine, fighting courageous men defending their own country.

We in the west are doing the best we can, but are limited due to the risk of Nuclear War! God bless the Ukraine and their families.

Yours sincerely, Brian

Such kindness This week I was introduced via a friend here in Mallorca to another aspect of this terrible war. A guy from Romania called Ovi. Ovi has a job, a home, family and is just a normal guy, like most of us, doing normal daily things, just as we do.

Ovi is proof of the flip side of this war and of the kindness of humanity at its greatest. On Saturday he borrowed a friend’s minibus at 3am and drove six hours to the Moldova/ Ukraine border to collect our family fleeing Odessa, three generations of women, children and grandparents.

Once he had the family loaded into the minibus, he drove three hours to his

THE WAR: It is not the people’s fault and they do not deserve it.

uncle’s home where he took the family in. They received food, showers and a warm, safe place to stay for two nights.

Finally Ovi drove them two hours to the nearest airport where we had arranged flights to Barcelona and onwards to Mallorca.

All he asked was money for fuel!

Ovi is a hero, he doesn’t need a gun, he helps fellow humans, neighbours, people who have lost EVERYTHING, people he doesn’t even know. A true inspiration and someone that has touched the hearts of all the refugees he is helping and all of us in Mallorca. Ovi and his family are helping lots of families every week.

Ovi is not alone of course and whilst we sit comfortably in our dwellings on our calm, safe island we should remember the world has a lot of people like Ovi and maybe, just maybe we could all strive to be more like them!

LORRY DRIVERS’ STRIKE ONE effect of any perceived crisis such as the lorry drivers’ strike is people flocking to supermarkets to stock up with what they consider to be necessities.

There have been reports in Andalucia in particular of empty shelves and a lack of some items such as fresh fruit and even toilet paper.

There seems to have been a groundswell of support on social media for those drivers who are taking action, although using your lorry to travel at slow speeds whilst using precious and expensive diesel to complain about the cost of it does seem a little counter-productive.

The Spanish government has taken note however and met with the National Committee for Road Transport (CNTC) with the intention of reaching a deal to end the strike. It appears likely that some €500 million in support by way of a

CORRECTIONS

From our Facebook

Can you imagine that? A world that actually cares about neighbours, friends and even strangers from another country in desperate need.

God bless our new friend Ovi and all the people caring for the refugees who don’t deserve this war.

We will take our whole family into our home now too, until a longer term solution can be found, we just need to find people like Ovi here in Mallorca willing to help resettle the refugees and make them feel safe and welcome.

This war is not their fault, they did not deserve this and neither did any of the everyday people of Europe. None of them wanted to leave their homes and lives.

I’ve never met Ovi, I hope one day I shall. But for sure, I will never forget his kindness to my family.

Sincerely, Martin

OUR VIEW

discount on diesel for ‘professional drivers’ is on the table.

The only problem is that the CNTC does not appear to have any control over the striking drivers, so a deal between a government that won’t speak to the drivers and an organisation that doesn’t represent them is somewhat suspect.

Still, we can hope that things are resolved quickly so that our friends in the hospitality industry, which is vital to the economy, don’t find themselves unable to serve hungry and thirsty customers on top of their ever-increasing costs caused by inflation.

Meanwhile, consumers continue to get the short end of the stick as diesel prices won’t be cut for them and they still have to cope with dayto-day price increases in so many areas.

REFUGEES: Should people be paid to offer them a home?

Debi Pye I do think the Ukrainians need help, it’s just terrible what is happening to them. I also think something needs to be done about the homeless in the UK. I’m currently doing 50 miles in March for Shelter. It upsets me how many people in the UK who are homeless and get no help from the government.

Thank god for homeless charities and good hearted citizens.

Lynne Hayward Unfortunately most people inc pensioners barely have enough to live on themselves.

Joanna Æ May People can’t afford to live with everything going up, of course they will need funding and £350 is not a lot really considering the amount it would cost to put them in a hotel. I do have compassion for these people as they are genuinely fleeing from war.

Beathe Olsen Wright £350/m is far more economical than scrambling to find them accommodation elsewhere. I just think that doing this should state ‘person in need’ and include any homeless/war veteran/ other refugee.

Valerie Hatcher How can you give money to them when you didn’t give it to the Veterans.

Edward Leto Is the same offered to families taking in any homeless person/ family or is the offer just for taking in Ukrainians?

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

42 EWN

24 - 30 March 2022

www.euroweeklynews.com

Natural cosmetics

CO S M E T I C products such as shampoos, soaps, creams and make‐up often contain numer‐ ous chemicals such as parabens, sulphates, ammonia and other substances that can have a harmful effect on our skin and the environment.

Natural cosmetics are an ideal solution to this because they bring us a wide range of benefits straight from nature. They con‐ serve all their active ingredients and are fully effective without any kind of chemical manipula‐ tion, nor do they contain any ir‐ ritating chemical preservatives, artificial perfumes or synthetic colouring. This means that they are ideal for those with sensitive skin, including children and pregnant women. Because of their gentle natural compo‐ nents, our skin tolerates them perfectly. They cause no side ef‐ fects, irritation or allergies. If you make the switch, your skin will thank you.

It is also important to do our part for the environment. Natu‐ ral cosmetics are made using en‐

NATURAL PRODUCTS: An ideal solution as they bring a wide range of benefits.

vironmentally‐friendly ingredi‐ ents, do not contain pollutants and are packaged in recyclable materials. They are cruelty‐free, meaning that they have not been tested on animals.

Purchasing natural and toxin‐ free cosmetics is key to dealing with the mistreatment of the thousands of animals that have to suffer in laboratories for the

testing of traditional cosmetic products. Doing our bit to pre‐ vent animal experimentation costs very little.

We should get used to check‐ ing the packaging of the prod‐ ucts we buy and try to become more aware of what our cosmet‐ ics contain. We should look out for seals that certify the natural origin of the ingredients.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Spring allergies

SPRING is finally here. For many people, this does not just mean better weather and longer days, but pollen allergies that can signifi‐ cantly affect their day‐to‐ day lives. Symptoms may include a runny nose, con‐ stant sneezing, itchy eyes and wheezing.

Luckily, there are several tips and tricks that can help to reduce the unpleasant symptoms of allergies.

Here are a few of them: 1) Identify the type of pollen that is affecting you so that you can try and avoid it. There are as many types of pollen as there are plants.

2) Watch what you eat.

Some foods have an effect on pollen allergy sufferers.

For example, an allergy to birch pollen is associated with raw apples, peaches, pears and cherries.

3) Drink plenty of water.

It is essential to stay well‐ hydrated as you are con‐ stantly losing fluids.

Different pollen types.

4) Be aware of the times when the pollen count is highest and ventilate the house when it is lower, usually just before dawn or in the late afternoon.

5) There are some plants that can help to purify the air and remove pollutants.

If you are not allergic, you can buy areca palms, ferns, date palms, ivy, peace lilies, spider plants and dracae‐ nas.

6) Use a mask outdoors.

Take a shower when you get home and avoid rub‐ bing your eyes, as there may be pollen on your eye‐ lashes and eyebrows.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

www.euroweeklynews.com

Sunflower oil alternatives T H E consequences of the current war in Ukraine are be‐ ing felt in the rest of Europe.

One such c o n s e ‐ quence is the in‐ creased price and limit‐ ed supply of sunflower oil, which has already led many people to look for alternatives.

How healthy a particular type of oil is can be determined by the type of fats it contains (saturated or un‐ saturated) and its smoke point, the temperature at which it starts to ox‐ idise and release harmful com‐ pounds.

Unsaturated fats are generally preferable to saturated fats, al‐ though more recent scientific evi‐ dence has begun to indicate that not all saturated fats are so harmful to health. The smoke point determines what each type of oil should be used for, as some oils may not be a prob‐ lem when used raw, but are not rec‐ ommended for frying.

How healthy is the oil that you use?

Olive oil, espe‐ cially extra virgin olive oil, is considered to be the healthiest oil.

I t i s m a i n l y c o m p o s e d o f m o n o u n‐ saturated fats, which are good for the heart. However, its smoke point is relatively low, so it is best re‐ served for dishes that do not re‐ quire too much heat. Other oils rich in unsaturated fats are peanut oil, walnut oil, sesame oil, avocado oil and organic soy oil.

Coconut oil is somewhat contro‐ versial. It is very high in saturated fats, but according to some studies, it may not have as negative an im‐ pact on health as previously thought. However, moderation is advised. Oils to be avoided include vegetable oil, margarine, corn oil, hydrogenated soybean oil and but‐ ter.

24 - 30 March 2022

EWN 43

44 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

24 - 30 March 2022

FEATURE

GO LOCAL THE EURO WEEKLY NEWS has urged its readers to support local businesses in the com‐ munity by shopping local‐ ly in recent times. Now things are heading back to normal, we challenge you to maintain that habit by supporting local high streets, markets, butchers, greengrocers and all of the wonderfully quirky inde‐ pendent businesses in your area.

Local businesses make our villages, towns and cities what they are. They add unique character. They are convenient. And they offer excellent produce from known suppliers. The joy of shopping locally means that independent businesses can support the local community. You may find something a euro or two cheaper online but

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

have you considered where your money is actu‐ ally going?

By shopping locally you’re putting food on a local family’s table and there is nothing better than giving back to the communities that have giv‐ en us so much. Local stores support charities and they sponsor local sports teams.

In many cases, they are m u c h

more than just a business, they’re a legacy. They may have supported genera‐ tions of the same family.

Likewise, brand new local stores and bars may help the generations of the fu‐ ture fulfil their dreams and ambitions.

Remember, your local store is going up against multinationals and chains.

They can’t win that battle on their own. So give them your support.

Spending your money lo‐ cally will make a real differ‐ ence to the local economy.

Local businesses re‐ circulate a greater share of every eu‐ ro they receive at local level.

They create l o c a l l y owned sup‐ ply chains and they in‐ vest in their employees.

So remember.

When you go shopping ‐ go local!

www.euroweeklynews.com • 24 - 30 March 2022

SPONSORED BY

45

PETS

Getting out and about? Planning a trip or two?

IT’S been rather quiet for us for a year or so, but many peo‐ ple are beginning to make plans again for travel. Are you?

If you are planning a trip lat‐ er this year register now to find pet‐sitters. Even if it’s just a short trip, you’ll know that you simply can’t travel with some pets. Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying in their own home, so they can follow their routines undis‐ turbed. Let us help.

Take a moment to plan ahead for pet and house‐sit‐ ters, whether your trips are al‐ ready in the diary or a firm idea. Now is the time to get ready. We will help you as much as we can. Our philoso‐ phy is that we are all in this to‐ gether. These are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeown‐

er on HouseSitMatch.com 2. Choose a Premium ac‐ count (£89 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house 4. Post a house‐sit advert stating your plans for next year’s holiday Covid permitting Do you need a pet‐sitter in 2022? Then get started right now.

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee.

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

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

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

Do you need a house-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 50 per cent discount using coupon code SUPER50 - an exclusive offer for readers.

To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HouseSitMatch.com IF you have a cat you will know that they simply hate to be bathed. Any attempt to do so might lead to a real cat fight at home. This leads any cat owner to the ques‐ tion of how to clean your dirty muggins after a night out on the prowl.

Cats are actually very clean animals. With their rough tongue, they can

Avoiding cat fights spend up to more than four hours a day licking and preening every corner of their fur to remove dirt and entangled hair.

In addition to their person‐ al grooming, a good option is

BATH TIME: Cats are actually very clean animals.

to use dry shampoo. You simply brush the foam into the cat’s fur to give it a good clean.

Household baby wipes are another alternative. Simply rub them over your cat as

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This way, your cat can actu‐ ally come to enjoy this inter‐ action.

Don’t forget to pay atten‐ tion to your cat’s eyes, ears and mouth.

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For further information, please go to The Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida web page. Or contact Tony Noble 950 069 103. (10002)

46

DRAINAGE

TURRE EVANGELICAL CHURCH We meet every Sunday at 10.30. For worship. We believe you’ll find us ‘relaxed’, welcoming’ and ‘informal’. Find us on Turre’s main street, towards the motorway at the far end on the left. To know more contact 617 614 156 (10021) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - Why not make this year the year you volunteer? Call and see how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Telephone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are housebound or in hospital.

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

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www.euroweeklynews.com

24 - 30 March 2022

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack WITH so much integration of platforms carmakers are in‐ creasingly looking at differen‐ tiating their products from the competition, and within large groups like Volkswagen Audi it is arguably even more im‐ portant. SEAT has progressed

EWN 47

Cupra Formentor Premium Performance this idea with the Cupra range. Originally Cupra were the sports orientated models within the SEAT line‐up but the name is now a brand in its own right, having dropped the SEAT name, with a com‐ plete Cupra range.

While some are very obvi‐ ously SEAT models the Spanish carmaker has produced one model that doesn’t exist within its sister brand. The Formen‐ tor! It’s attached to a rather splendid car, and despite the fact that even the largest en‐ gine in the range is only 2.0‐ litres it sounds fantastic on start‐up. Although this is ‘man‐ ufactured’ sound it does add to the appeal and make it feel something special. With a top power output of 305 bhp the performance lives up to the soundtrack.

Prices start from €34,426 (£28,895) and much of the kit in the top‐of‐the‐line versions finds its way into the lead‐in models too. There’s a 12” touchscreen, full LED lighting,

auto‐dimming rear view mir‐ ror, cornering lights, wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control and keyless en‐ try and start.

The engine line‐up starts with a 1.5 TSi, 147 bhp, through to the 2.0‐litre 305 bhp mentioned earlier. There are manual and automatic transmission choices, all‐ wheel‐drive and petrol/electric hybrids. As ever, especially with VAG products, there is rather too much digitalisation, and a consequent lack of but‐ tons, but familiarity would over time make life easier.

That apart it’s a very nice place to be with, in my top line mod‐ el, extremely comfortable seats and an impressive build quality and the general feel of this being an upmarket car.

At €52,691 (£44,225) it may seem expensive, but look at some of the rivals and it begins to look competitive. Despite the lack of a premium badge it has the advantage of being something different to usual.

SPORT

48

24 - 30 March 2022

to read more visit www.euroweeklynews.com

WHO SAID YOU’RE TOO OLD? Footballers lose TO assume that you are getting old and that you can’t dribble with the same agility is difficult. But now a different variant of football has arrived like a glimmer of hope for those that have football in their blood: it is called Walking Football and is growing throughout Spain.

Walking Football has a lot of benefits for physical and mental health, which are measurable. Players immedi‐ ately start to lose weight, their heart health improves, they gain agility, mobility and, most important, they regain balance. Something very positive, considering that falls are the leading cause of injuries among se‐ niors.

The rules are adapted so there is no running and very little contact. With less stress on the body and no real sud‐ den change of direction or cutting movements, the game allows participants to

Pre-session match warm up... essential.

During the training session. play without apprehension and at their own pace.

Playing the game at walk‐ ing pace is a fantastic way to keep fit and reduce chances of injury and falls.

If you’ve got the game in you, Walking Football sets you free ‐ it’s the game for all abilities and fitness levels.

With no running, jogging or

heading ‐ and tackling with reduced physical contact ‐ Walking Football is a fun and safe way for players to enjoy football and socialise togeth‐ er with the clubs arranging regular social events.

Ideal for anyone who just wants to play football for fun, generally for over 50s some clubs do accept younger

players and also have female members. Walking Football opens the door for players who want to continue play‐ ing, or want to return to the game, or who haven’t played that much before.

Where there’s a will, there’s always another way to play.

To find out more or to find a club local to you or obtain help and advice on setting up your own club contact the following Phil Holme (phil holme2@gmail.com) or Ron‐ nie Waugh (apalmar2011@ hotmail.com) or visit the website www.wfai.info the Walking Football Association of Iberia (WFAI).

STARS: Invested in a firm offering luxury properties.

WAYNE ROONEY, Rio Ferdinand and other high‐profile stars have lost £25 million worth of investments after a property fraud case was dropped.

Ferdinand and Rooney had invested in the Notting‐ hamshire‐based firm Kingsbridge Asset Management. The firm ceased trading in 2010. Investments offered by the firm included luxury properties based in Marbella and Flori‐ da.

The police have now closed the case into the firm after it found insufficient evidence to prove fraud.

Gavin Tyrrell, City of London Police Director of Fraud In‐ vestigation Standards, said: “We conducted a two‐year in‐ vestigation into allegations of fraud against a number of employees of Kingsbridge Asset Management.

“There was insufficient evidence to meet the require‐ ments for a successful criminal prosecution. This view was supported by the Crown Prosecution Service,” he added on Tuesday March 15.