Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 15 - 21 July 2021 Issue 1880

THE BEST FINANCE NEWS ON PAGES 30 - 33

15 - 21 July 2021

Almeria flights DUE to increased demands flights between Almeria and Sevilla will start to take place on Thursdays from late September. This was recently boosted after Sunday flights were added on July 1.

There are now seven weekly flights between the two cities.

COSTA DE ALMERIA • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

WALK FOR LIFE

Fire quenched INFOCA, the Junta’s forest firefighting unit took only two hours to stem a fire that broke out at 7.38am in Purchena, preventing it from spreading to a nearby electricity transformer.

Turn to page 4 » PRESENTATION: A €2,700 cheque thanks to sponsored walks and funds raised by Cafetastic and The Garage.

FREE • GRATIS

Bird in the hand

Photo credit: Walk for Life Arboleas

Issue No. 1880

News

The people’s paper

ROQUETAS has launched www.birdwatchingroquetasdemar.com, Almeria’s first birdwatching website.

Available in English and Spanish, the website gives extensive in‐ formation on the birds inhabiting or visiting the area, together with details of observation posts, routes and safety directives.

Roquetas Town Hall pointed out that the website will indirectly help local businesses by providing another out‐of‐season offer.

US Fish and Wildlife Service recently presented birdwatching as a niche tourist option moving “billions of dollars” each year, revealed Roquetas Tourism and Beaches councillor Francisco Barrionuevo.

“The town hall is committed to promoting nature tourism be‐ cause Roquetas is more than sun and sand,” the councillor said.

“At the same time this initiative needs to be developed in a sus‐ tainable and responsible manner,” he declared.

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NEWS

Hospital to get €13.5 million outpatients building

TORRECARDENAS University hospital in Almeria will get a new outpatients building with a €13.5 million investment.

Torrecardenas University Hos‐ pital in Almeria is to have a new outpatient building after it was approved on Tuesday July 6, by the Junta de Andalucia, with a

€13.9 million investment in the project, further enhancing, im‐ proving, and expanding the net‐ work of the Andalucian Health Service (SAS).

This new addition to the hospi‐ tal will solve one of the existing weak points in its daily operation, as its ambulatory activity is cur‐

Hospital investment.

rently scattered throughout dif‐ ferent parts of the hospital. The new block will integrate all outpa‐ tient activity into one space, thus freeing up space in the rest of the hospital, and freeing up staff to be able to deal with the patients of their own departments. The de‐ sign will reportedly incorporate a

consultation area with 119 spaces, 29 special test cabinets, a Medical Day Hospital and Oncolo‐ gy Day Hospital, Image Diagnosis Area, with room for Comput‐ erised Axial Tomography, a high‐ resolution ultrasound room, Mag‐ netic Nuclear Resonance room, and a secretarial office.

Summer playroom launched for children VERA has launched its Summer playroom for children to be held at the ‘Bayra’ House of Culture, Youth, and Children during July and August.

Pre‐school and primary educa‐ tion students will have a morn‐ ing classroom and an extension of hours until 3pm, which means an extension to the usual sched‐ ule of 9am to 2pm.

The range of activities cov‐ ered will be adapted to both Ear‐ ly Childhood Education and Pri‐ mary Education, to include workshops ‐ some of them bilin‐ gual ‐ on computer science, healthy habits, art, dance, sports, science, English, storytelling, re‐ cycling, and many games, in ad‐ dition to visits to different parts of the municipality, such as the

Mini Dreambeach broken up OFFICERS from the Cuevas del Almanzora Guardia Civil broke up an illegal ‘mini dreambeach’ style par‐ ty at a farmhouse on Saturday morning, July 10. The party was organised, and came complete with elec‐ tronic music and security staff.

The party was taking place at a private farmhouse in Las Gachas. The property had allegedly been rent‐ ed out for a get together of about 20 people. The par‐ ty though had been advertised on social media and in the end over 300 people turned up to party the night away.

When the officers arrived at the party they discov‐ ered electronic music along with security staff. The of‐ ficers were able to discover that two people had al‐ legedly organised the party and they have been charged accordingly.

Anyone wanting to attend the party had allegedly been charged an admission fee upfront before they were given the location of the party.

beaches and the local water park.

The Summer toy library will have 17 monitors hired through a specific work agency, among which will be personnel trained to take care of children with spe‐ cial educational needs, with the aim of making the municipal toy library an inclusive and tolerant place for children of diversity.

Good fairground fun ON Friday July 9, Huercal de Almeria opened their ‘Huercal Park’ fairground. The fairground will be open until July 25, but health conditions need to remain good for it to stay open.

The stunning fair will have plenty to keep everyone amused including a children’s mo‐ torbike track, bumper cars, ice cream par‐ lours and a pirate ship.

The city council has allowed the fair to go ahead and they hope that everyone will en‐ joy it and that the fairground sector will make up some of the economic losses they have sadly suffered during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The mayor of Huercal de Almeria, Ismael Torres said: “In Huercal de Almeria the inci‐ dence at the moment is very low and while conditions remain like this we will continue to maintain this park.”

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NIBS EXTRA Vice ring THE National Police dismantled a network dedicated to people trafficking and prostitution, arresting 17 people in Almeria Province and five in Marbella. The women, practically all Eastern European, were lured to Spain with false job offers, only to find themselves forced to work as prostitutes.

No hold-up THE Almeria, Poniente and Levante-Alto Almanzora health districts expected to receive 5,000 fewer vaccines this week from Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna compared with supplies sent in the preceding week. Despite the shortfall, mass vaccinations have still been going ahead in all three areas, the Territorial Health Delegation confirmed.

Lighting up ENERGY company Endesa will spend €662,000 on improving electricity infrastructure in Almeria City. The project focuses on renewing the existing network, computerising power distribution with the latest technology and innovative techniques, while installing new transformers throughout the capital that will respond immediately to voltage spikes or other problems.

Jump to it HUERCAL DE ALMERIA’S newlyinaugurated Parkour Park has been named after Alex Segura, a local ‘influencer’ whose social media pages have more than one million followers. Huercal-born Alex is an expert in the activity which involves moving rapidly through an urban environment by running, jumping and climbing over obstacles.

Going, gone JOSE CHRISTIAN CALLEJO, El Ejido councillor for Internal Administration and Personnel who was third in the Vox party’s local hierarchy, resigned from the party and left his town hall seat. His departure follows that of Juan Jose Bonilla, Vox’s former Number One and party spokesman, for personal reasons.

More staff ANDALUCIA’S Health service, SAS, is engaging 25,000 health professionals to cope with the Covid pandemic during the high season, a 28 per cent increase on summer 2020. A total of 2,354 contracts have been allocated to Almeria Province, although the greatest number - 5,414 - corresponds to Malaga Province.

15 - 21 July 2021

Projects treated with love JOSE MANUEL RODRIGUEZ URIBES, Minister of Culture until last Saturday’s Cabinet reshuffle, visited Almeria a day before his substitution.

Rodriguez Uribes, now succeeded by Miquel Iceta, toured different cultural projects financed with funds from the 1.5 per cent Public Works levy allocated to cultural purposes.

Speaking before his visit, Rodriguez Uribes referred to the efforts of the institutions and the world of the arts to keep culture alive “in difficult circumstances” like those of the past year.

During his lightning tour of the capital, Rodriguez Uribes vis-

ALMERIA INVESTMENT: Jose Manuel Rodriguez, accompanied by local and provincial dignitaries visits local projects. ited the monument to Almeria’s victims of the Mauthausen concentration camp in the Almadrabillas park adjoining the rehabilitated Cable Ingles jetty.

The minister was also shown the Hospital Provincial, Almeria City’s only remaining 16th century building, where restoration has revealed a 37-metre cof-

fered ceiling, the longest of its type in Spain.

Asked about the Ministry’s stance on supporting UNESCO’s World Heritage site status for the marble quarries of Macael and Los Millares, Rodriguez Uribes explained that as far as he knew, the Ministry had not yet received a request from the Junta de Andalucia.

“We shall study it lovingly,” he pledged, adding that a request from the Diputacion provincial council for collaboration of restoring the “Blood Wedding” property, Cortijo del Fraile, would be treated with equal care.

Dog fighting ring brought to justice ALMERIA is named in a Madrid court case that will bring to trial 23 alleged members of a dog‐ fighting ring. When the hearing begins in February 2022, the Public Prosecutor will rec‐ ommend prison terms totalling 102 years for the network’s members who were active in Madrid, Canarias, Almeria, Alicante, Murcia and Malaga.

The organisation bred dogs belonging to

Not-so-innocent A NIJAR man received a three‐ year prison term and must pay a €1.9 million fine for growing mari‐ huana hemp.

Police found almost 6,000 of the plants in a Los Vergeles green‐ house belonging to a grower who until 2019 had cultivated cour‐ gettes, peppers and watermel‐ ons.

The sentence is a first as the law increasingly pursues growers who cultivate hemp, ostensibly for industrial uses but in reality destined for the marihuana trade.

The seeds used were certified for legal use to grow plants con‐ taining less than 0.2 per cent THC, the drug’s active ingredient.

Nevertheless, as the Almeria Criminal Court judge pointed out, the legality of the seeds was not the sole requirement: “The one question in dispute centres on how the defendant intended to use the hemp plants.”

The Guardia Civil’s criminal in‐ vestigation officers, the Judicial Police, found the plants hung up to dry, while their buds had been removed and packed into two bags hidden in a caravan skylight.

Analysis also revealed that the plants contained between 2 and 3 per cent THC, well above the limit for hemp.

dangerous breeds, teaching them to be ag‐ gressive, doping them with testosterone to strengthen their muscles and training them on treadmills “to the point of exhaustion,” ac‐ cording to the Public Prosecution department.

Dogs that were seriously injured during fights were later used as sparring partners in training sessions and killed when they were of no further use, the court will hear. The Nation‐

al Police dismantled the ring in 2017 following a raid on a dog fight in Guimar (Tenerife), ar‐ resting eight of the accused and rescuing 226 dogs. Most were in very bad condition and 42 eventually died.

The remainder were taken to Salvando An‐ geles sin Alas (Saving Angels without Wings) and the Public Prosecutor is also asking for considerable compensation in this respect.

Better location for new station CUEVAS DEL ALMANZORA’S Local police have new headquarters in Carretera del Pantano.

“This new station is more functional and accessi‐ ble for the public than the old premises at the Castil‐ lo,” declared Cuevas mayor Antonio Fernandez Liria at the inauguration. The old building will eventually house the Municipal Tourism Office and the Fishing in Antiquity Museum, he added.

The new police station has a 153‐square metre first floor with a reception area, work areas including an operations room where officers can monitor CCTV cameras, a meeting room and toilets. The

ground floor houses the archive, storeroom, chang‐ ing rooms, showers and a dining room as well as an extensive parking area for towed‐away vehicles.

The town hall has spent €150,000 on totally reha‐ bilitating the building, together with €40,000 from the Diputacion regional council. “This is a modern, comfortable and useful installation that is complete‐ ly adequate for the Local Police’s needs and provides better working conditions for our officers,” Fernan‐ dez Liria said. “And as we promised, we have sited the new police station in a strategic position in a bet‐ ter location.”

A 55-year-old problem SPAIN’S Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) is not obliged to clear 50,000 cubic metres of radioactive soil from Palomares. The Na‐ tional High Court in Madrid rejected by three votes to two an ap‐ peal from the Ecologistas en Accion environmentalists, request‐ ing that the CSN cleaned 40 hectares of Palomares land. This was contaminated during the notorious 1966 nuclear incident when four hydrogen bombs were released during a mid‐air colli‐ sion between a US B‐52 bomber and a refuelling aircraft.

Two of the bombs scattered several kilos of plutonium in the Cuevas de Almanzora district of Palomares. The US forces later removed 4,810 drums, each filled with 208 litres of soil, but left behind 50,000 cubic metres of contaminated earth. Spain has attempted to persuade the US to at least remove the worst‐ contaminated soil for years and in 2015 appeared to make progress with a Declaration of Intent from the Barack Obama administration.

This stalled when Donald Trump reached the White House al‐ though Spain continues to maintain that a definitive solution lies with the US which has facilities for storing radioactive waste.

Meanwhile, Ecologistas announced they will lodge an appeal.

Keep it clean ADRA’S town hall reminded growers that they must dispose “adequately” of agri‐ cultural waste and crop residues. This ap‐ plied to all growers, declared Adra’s Envi‐ ronment and Agriculture councillors, Antonio Sanchez and Francisco Lopez.

It was vital on several counts, they said, but not least because it affected the im‐ age of Adra’s important agricultural sector as well as environmentally‐friendly prac‐ tices, they stressed. After a walk through the town’s agricultural areas, the council‐ lors could see that most were clean.

“This demonstrates that the majority of Adra growers comply with regulations, but we have to continue with this aware‐ ness campaign to reach the few who still do not dispose correctly of rubbish,” Sanchez said.

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Remember her name A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl died after being run over on the evening of Tuesday July 6, in Roquetas de Mar. Now the family of five‐year‐old Leire, who was mown down by a drunk driver, asked people to call her by her name.

“Don’t remember her as the girl they killed outside Mer‐ cadona, call her Leire, give her a face,” her fa‐ ther declared to a Telecinco interviewer.

The driver, a soldier from the Legion sta‐ tioned in Viator driving with a Cuba Libre in the passenger seat, was later charged and re‐ leased.

In Roquetas, resi‐ dents took to the streets to protest, al‐ though Leire’s family asked them to respect the decision while ad‐ mitting they were sur‐ prised.

“I don’t blame the judge, I understand that the law is the law,” said Deborah, Leire’s aunt.

“He is doing his job and it will have cost him his life and soul to let that person go,” she said, pointing out that this was obvious from the statement from the judge assigned to the case.

“This judge perfectly understands the pre‐ sent moment, under‐ stands your pain, but there are no legal grounds for remanding the accused,” he wrote.

Leire’s father, David, also thanked the Le‐ gion, whose general and high‐ranking offi‐ cers have visited the family.

It was not the Le‐ gion’s fault that the driver who killed Leire was a soldier, Deborah said, although she hoped that her niece’s death might help to change the law.

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Can coffee reduce risk of Covid?

A STUDY led by Northwestern University in the United States has revealed that certain foods can protect against the poten‐ tially deadly coronavirus. Scien‐ tists discovered that drinking a minimum of two to three cups of coffee each day can reduce the chance of becoming ill with the coronavirus by around one‐ 10th.

Drinking more coffee than this could pose other health risks though. Other dietary factors were also found to help reduce the risk of Covid and this includes eating vegetables. Having been breastfed as a baby also featured in the study and proved to lower the risk of Covid.

Scientists discovered that eat‐ ing processed meat such as sausage and bacon could possi‐ bly increase the risk of severe Covid.

“Although these findings war‐

COFFEE: A minimum of two to three cups per day can reduce the chance of becoming ill with Covid. rant independent confirmation, adherence to certain dietary be‐ haviours may be an additional tool to existing Covid‐19 protec‐ tive guidelines to limit the spread of this virus,” said re‐ searchers.

The study was published in the Nutrients journal and said that: “nutritional status influ‐

ences immunity, but its specific association with susceptibility to Covid‐19 remains unclear.”

The study had looked at the “the association of specific di‐ etary data and incident Covid‐19 at the UK Biobank (UKB).” The records of around 40,000 adults had been used and factors such as daily intakes of coffee, pro‐ cessed meat and fruit and veg‐ etables were analysed.

“Individual exposure to Covid‐ 19 was estimated using the UK average monthly rate of positive cases by specific geo popula‐ tions. Logistic regression estimat‐ ed the odds of Covid‐19 positivi‐ ty by adjusting dietary status for baseline sociodemographic fac‐ tors, medical history and other lifestyle factors,” said the study.

Scientists believe that coffee provides certain health boosting chemicals that can enhance the body’s immune system.

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from Front page »

An incredible grand total D E S P I T E awful weather, C afetastic and T he G arage completed the sixkilometre W alk for L ife route in A rboleas on June 5.

T hey did it in memory of D arren’s wife, Natalie, who passed away earlier this year from cancer, raising €2,290 in sponsorships.

“Wow! We are amazed,” said Judi Bedford-Keogh, Walk for Life’s pub-

licity manager and a member of the charity’s committee.

The Garage, who are also donating €10 to Walk for Life for any full vehicle service, raised a further €410, bringing an incredible grand total of €2,700.

“Thank you so much and thank you to all the sponsors, as this will help so many people,” Walk for Life said.

Police brings down internet fraud

THE Guardia Civil has arrested 16 people from a criminal organisa‐ tion dedicated to internet scams.

The organisation allegedly in‐ fected the computer equipment of the victims and impersonated the Post Office, the Tax Agency, the Treasury or the DGT. The organisation would use malicious software that would be installed in victim’s computers using a technique known as

‘email spoofing’. They then would be able to steal large amounts of money from the vic‐ tim’s account.

In the operation, known as Aguas Vivas, officers were able to block transfer attempts of €3,500,000, after analysing over 1,800 emails. Twenty crimes of fraud have been found, with a to‐ tal amount of €276,470, of which €87,000 have been recovered.

They also carried out two searches in Madrid in which doc‐ umentation, mobile devices and computer equipment have been seized. The investigation began over a year ago following several complaints filed by various offi‐ cial bodies across Spain of the in‐ fection of their computer equip‐ ment with some type of malicious software.

Officer killed in helicopter crash A POLICE officer has been killed in a helicopter crash while chas‐ ing an alleged drugs boat in San Roque, Cadiz. The incident took place at 12.20am on Sunday, July 11, next to Sotogrande beach.

The 60‐year‐old customs surveillance officer reportedly died after the helicopter they were using to carry out surveil‐ lance crashed into the water to prevent drug traffickers from entering the coast of Cadiz. De‐ spite wearing a life jacket the deceased officer was trapped inside the helicopter without being able to get out while it sank.

A Customs Surveillance boat, which was also participating in the pursuit, rescued the two survivors and recovered the body of the officer.

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15 - 21 July 2021

13 held for trafficking

A SEX trafficking gang who lured people into prostitution has been brought down by Spanish and Romanian police.

The network, who used the

‘loverboy method’ had been lur‐ ing in victims by seducing them and promising them a better life overseas.

Thirteen people were arrested

Correos and Renfe join up SPANISH postal service Correos is reported to be studying the creation of a joint company with railways operator Renfe to make a parcel delivery service by train, while at the same time allegedly analysing the viability of also directly providing an air transport parcel service.

PwC Asesores de Negocios (PwC) has been commissioned by Correos to prepare a business plan that analyses the possibility of creating a new entity owned 50 per cent by Correos and 50 per cent by Renfe, with both being public companies.

The project, as published on the state contracting portal, and as stated in the award certificate, has a budget of €224,445, and an execution period of two months, without the possibility of modification or extension.

This possible move by Correos looking to form this new ven‐ ture, comes at a time when the government, together with ADIF and Renfe, has said it wants to promote the transport of goods by rail.

and 16 buildings were raided by the Spanish and Romanian Na‐ tional Police in two crackdowns that took place in Spain in Febru‐ ary and in Romania in June.

On Thursday, July 8, Europol announced that 25 victims ‐ 24 Romanians and one Bulgarian ‐ had been identified. Nine of the victims were located in Romania and 16 in Spain.

The gang would traffic the vic‐ tims to Spain where they would be taken to nightclubs and sexu‐ ally exploited. The criminals would then take the victims’ earnings and leave the country, avoiding travelling by plane.

During the raids, police also seized mobile phones, digital equipment, €40,000 in cash and five bank accounts.

A similar network was brought down in October last year by French and Romanian police in which three women, who were said to be the sus‐ pects’ girlfriends, had been traf‐ ficked to France to work as pros‐ titutes. The suspects used the victim’s money to buy them‐ selves real estate and luxury cars in Romania.

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15 - 21 July 2021

Cheers to beers!

ACCORDING to a study carried out by a group of Spanish researchers from the Spanish National Research Council CSIC, in collaboration with the Forum for Beer and Lifestyles Research (FICYE), and published in the current edition of medical journal Nutrients, one or two beers a day is the amount that has been established as ideal, according to the study.

Dr Ascension Marcos is the director of the Immunonutrition group of the Department of Metabolism and Nutrition of the Institute of Science and Technology of Food and Nutrition (ICTAN), of the CSIC, and one of those responsible for the study into moderate beer consumption and cardiovascular health.

“The available scientific evidence supports the health benefits of moderate beer consumption in adults, and according to the review, a moderate alcohol consumption of 196g a week for men, and 112g a week for women would set the daily margin on one or two beers - between 400ml and 700ml - if you break the weekly total down into well-distributed amounts,” the researcher said. Moderate beer consumption leads to a lower cardiovascular risk, and lower mortality in general, a lower risk of diabetes in men, an increase in the density of bone mass, reducing the risk of fractures, especially in the elderly. And they say beer is not associated with general or abdominal obesity.

New national service

NEW GUIDELINES: A document outlines the reform of the National Security Law. ANY person residing in Spain of the legal age shall soon be obliged to carry out so‐called ‘personal tasks or benefits’ as required by the authorities, following new guidelines being drawn up by the National Security Council ‐ if a state of crisis is declared in the country.

Should this happen, again, all

citizens ‘without exception’ must comply with the orders and in‐ structions issued by their local au‐ thorities.

This order is being established in a document outlining the reform of the National Security Law that is being prepared by the government which incorporates some of the lessons learned during almost a

Sanchez condemns Haiti death THE President of Spain, Pedro Sanchez condemned the assassina‐ tion of Jovenel Moise, the president of Haiti. He has called for unity in the country in a bid to overcome the crisis. Moise died during an attack on his residence by a group of unidentified people. Sanchez took to Twitter on Wednesday July 7 and voiced his condolences to Moise’s family. “Spain firmly condemns the assassination of the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise,” said Sanchez and expressed Spain’s solidarity “with the Haitian people”.

year and a half of the health crisis.

In the event that a state of crisis is declared in Spain (‘situation of in‐ terest to National Security’ is the name given by law), the authori‐ ties may seize any type of proper‐ ty. What the articles do make clear is that the measures adopted will be gradual and proportionate to the situation to be faced and will be limited to the time strictly nec‐ essary to overcome the crisis situa‐ tion.

The duty concerns not only all citizens but also companies and le‐ gal entities to collaborate with the authorities to overcome whatever crisis faces the country. The text is based on Article 30 of the Constitu‐ tion, according to which ‘Spaniards have the duty and right to defend Spain’.

NEWS

Investment scam OFFICERS of the Spanish National Police and Mossos d’Esquadra, in an operation coordinated by Eurojust and Europol, have dismantled a boiler room scam that used the name of famous Spanish celebrities and others to lure investors into their fraudulent money schemes.

Eight individuals have so far been arrested, two of them in Malaga and Madrid, five in Bulgaria and one in Israel. All have been accused of fraud and money laundering throughout Europe using fraudulent investment schemes after having more than 300 complaints registered against them in Spain.

Investigators estimate that the total amount of money netted by the criminals exceeds €8 million in Spain and €30 million across the rest of Europe and was obtained between 2018 and 2019. In business, the term boiler room refers to an outbound call centre selling questionable investments by telephone. It usually refers to a room where salespeople work using unfair, dishonest sales tactics, sometimes selling penny stocks, private placements or committing outright stock fraud. The investigation began with the receipt of several complaints, through Euuopol and from different countries throughout the European Union - all of them regarding investment scams involving cryptocurrencies and diamonds.

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India on hold for now THE government has extended the mandatory 10-day quarantine for travellers arriving in Spain from India until July 24 to prevent the spread of the variant of coronavirus detected in that country.

The measure extended on July 9 is mandatory for all travellers arriving from any airport in India, with or without stopovers, during the 10 days after their arrival.

15 - 21 July 2021

Eight held on drug crimes

Zero drownings target NIJAR aims for a zero drowning target this summer at the Cabo de Gata as it reinforces the life‐ guard service in the natural coves along the coastline.

The city council of Nijar has increased the number of life‐ guards in the coves and beach‐ es along the Cabo de Gata nat‐ ural park coastline.

There are now 30 lifeguards on duty and they are equipped with defibrillators, oxygen ther‐ apy and first aid kits. In fact, they have everything they need to provide first aid to beachgoers and swimmers in the event of an accident.

The non‐urban beaches of the area will have 12 life‐ guards on duty and they will tour the different coves in all‐terrain vehicles on a peri‐

odic basis.

The lifeguard service also has two 4.5‐metre‐long boats along with a 7.5‐metre boat too. This will allow the life‐ guards to assist from the sea as well as from the shore.

The lifeguard service will run from 11.00am to 8.00pm from Monday to Sunday.

In a bid to help out swim‐ mers in distress in these rural areas 14 rescue rings have been set out to help swim‐ mers who get surprised by waves or currents.

Anyone who comes into trouble in the sea will be able to seek them out and hang on while they wait for rescue.

The rings have been anchored to the sea floor and it’s hoped that they will save lives.

OPERATION: Saw eight people arrested by the Guardia.

EIGHT people have been arrested in Almeria over a drug-related shootout.

The Guardia Civil have finished their ‘Operation Manomares’. The operation saw eight people arrested for attempted murder, illegal possession of weapons and a crime against public health. The people were arrested in the El Ejido neighbourhood of ‘Pozo de tía Manolica’ in Matagorda.

On May 2 emergency services received a call saying that multiple people were shooting at a house with firearms. The call came into the 062 operational communica-

tions centre.

Guardia Civil patrols rushed to the scene of the attack. They verified that the attackers had left the building and began to collect evidence of the shooting.

Guardia Civil officers visually inspected the house and found multiple impacts on the outside of the building. They also discovered that some bullets had gone through the windows of the house and into the building. The officers also discovered several pistols in the house.

In the final part of the investigation Guardia Civil officers were

able to track down the shooters.

The homes of the perpetrators were then searched after this was authorised by the judicial authority. During the searches officers from the Guardia Civil discovered several pistols which were ready to fire. They also found both shotgun and pistol ammunition and multiple large bladed weapons.

In addition to the weapons, Guardia Civil officers also seized three kilograms of marihuana buds which were ready to be sold.

They also discovered a crop of 200 marihuana plants. The gang were referred to court on July 7.

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Red Cross Volunteers clean up beaches VOLUNTEERS of the Span‐ ish Red Cross have been out on a large collabora‐ tive waste collection cam‐ paign in 22 provinces of the country, working in 73 natural enclaves to clean up beaches.

Volunteers from the province of Almeria hit the beaches in Roquetas de Mar and Aguadulce through the promotion of the Migration Centre and the local assembly of Roquetas de Mar. This campaign was the Red Cross’ contribution to a ‘1m2 against garbage beauty’ which is being pro‐ moted by SEO/BirdLife and Ecoembes.

The programme not on‐ ly collects waste but also raises awareness ensuring that it is disposed of prop‐ erly.

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NEWS

Masked students in September SCHOOLS in Andalucia are plan‐ ning on reopening in September with face‐to‐face classes but stu‐ dents will have to wear a mask during classes and recess.

Online education will only be available to students in the third year of ESO or for schools in areas where the health alert is level three or four. The Andalcuian Ministry of Health and Sports said on July 9 it will publish its di‐ rectives soon in order to give schools time to prepare ahead of September.

Like the last academic year,

BUBBLES: Students will stay in same physical space. students will also be organised in ‘bubbles’, “the students will occu‐ py the same physical space in the classrooms and complementary services ‐ desk, seat, workplace, school cafeteria ‐ in order to be able to identify contacts in the

event of contagion more precise‐ ly. The classroom that the coexis‐ tence group uses and the recre‐ ation spaces, the use of the toilets or the use of common areas must be clearly delimited,” the ministry decreed last year.

2,100 migrants perish at sea IT has been estimated that nearly 2,100 mi‐ grants have died trying to reach Spain in the first six months of this year.

The death toll is close to figures recorded for the entire year of 2020, according to the non‐ governmental organisation Caminando Fron‐ teras (Walking Borders).

In a report published on July 8, the organisa‐ tion found that 2,087 people had died or disap‐ peared at sea while trying to reach Spain in the first half of this year. The migrants were from 18 nations, mainly in West Africa but also from Bangladesh, Syria and Yemen. The majority of the deaths (1,922) were because of shipwrecks en route to the Canary Islands, according to Info Migrants.

“It’s been a horrendous year,” Helena NIGHT CLUBS in Andalucia could face closure in August if people do not exercise “pru‐ dence,” the President of the Junta de Andalucia has warned.

The President of the Junta

Maleno, an activist who leads the NGO, said at a news conference held to present the organisa‐ tion’s report.

The NGO pointed out that the death toll is five times higher than those registered in the first six months of last year and the highest it has ever been since it began recording migrant deaths at sea 14 years ago.

The dangerous conditions on the notoriously dangerous Atlantic archipelago is part of the rea‐ son for the increase in deaths. Maleno also blamed this year’s increase on the use of inflat‐ able boats to cross the route and inadequate co‐ operation between the rescue services of Spain and Morocco. She added that there is also a lack of rescue attempts to save boats even when the NGO raises an alarm.

Clubs shut in August? de Andalucia has warned night clubs across the region could face closure in August if

people do not act to halt the spread of the fifth wave of Covid that is sweeping across Spain.

Juanma Moreno said on Ju‐ ly 8 only “prudence” can pre‐ vent the imposition of new restrictions and he called on young people to be especially careful and vigilant.

Moreno’s comments come as Valencia will impose fresh re‐ strictions on night clubs be‐ ginning at midnight on Satur‐ day, July 10.

On July 8, Valencia re‐in‐ troduced restrictions and is urging people to wear masks outdoors.

The Generalitat is also seeking powers to impose curfews in high‐risk areas be‐ tween 1am and 6am, limit the number of people who can meet at home to 10, and halt the sale of alcohol in shops and supermarkets af‐ ter 8pm.

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Parties are on hold THE Leisure Association of Ibiza has acknowledged the fear that the sector ‘will continue to stop’ and that the reopening of the clubs may be now delayed until the end of July.

Association manager Jose Luis Benitez had hoped that premises could fully reopen in mid‐July after verifying the re‐ sults of a pilot test held in Ibiza almost two weeks ago. “ In Ibiza, we have not opened,” he said on July 7. “We are closed and we have done a pilot test that has been wonder‐ ful, but it is true that things are getting complicated due to ex‐ ternal causes and the only thing we will do is abide by what [the authorities] tell us.”

Benitez said he is “rather pes‐ simistic” about being able to open for at least two months this summer.

“It has been shown that things if you want, can be done well, but if what is being done wrong is not controlled, in the end, we all pay,” he added.

Renewing your UK passport WHILST there have been horror stories of people waiting months for a new passport and even the UK Gov website warns that it could take up to 11 weeks, the reality appears to be much better at the moment.

There are a number of ways of apply‐ ing for a new passport and many large towns have businesses which for a rea‐ sonable fee will facilitate the re‐ newal on your behalf, but if you are computer savvy, then it is al‐ so possible and fairly easy to re‐ new online.

Provided that you are a British National and want to simply re‐ new your expiring

passport, then visit https://www.gov.uk/ overseas‐passports.

You will be asked a number of short questions and then taken to the actual application form where you will be re‐ quired to complete and submit an ac‐ ceptable digital photograph (which you can either take yourself or ob‐ tain from a local photog‐ rapher). There are very clear rules about what is ac‐ ceptable and you can even check if the photo you have is ok and it will either be accepted

Credit: Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing Street

EASY TO APPLY: Boris Johnson has his own new passport.

or what is wrong with it.

Once you have completed all of the documentation and submitted your pho‐ to, you need to pay the current fee of £86.00 + £19.86 return courier fee for a standard adult passport if submitted on‐ line (paper applications may cost more).

Once all of that is done, you will receive a confirmation that the order has been ac‐ cepted and an address to which to return the passport being replaced which in‐ cludes the reference number of your ap‐ plication. To be on the safe side, it is best to send the passport via some form of registered postal delivery or courier.

Once received by the passport office, they check that you are entitled to a re‐ placement and issue the new passport.

At all times, they will keep you updated on developments from the date of apply‐ ing for the passport to actual receipt which most recently have been just three weeks.

There are slightly different require‐ ments for the replacement of lost passports, first time passports and children’s passports, but all are clearly explained on the web‐ site and it is even possible, al‐ though expensive, to ob‐ tain a temporary, one use only, passport for emergencies.

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!

NEWS

Netflix scouts NETFLIX is scouting for more film‐ ing locations for The Crown after shooting key scenes for the series in various parts of Spain previous‐ ly.

The Crown, which costs $13 mil‐ lion to produce per episode, kicked off in 2016 with Claire Foy starring as a young Princess Elizabeth. Sea‐ sons 3 and 4 fast forward in time to Prince Charles’ early years and ill‐fated marriage to Diana Spencer.

In 2019 it moved filming to Spain taking advantage of varied land‐ scapes to stand in for Australia, Greece, and even parts of America.

The area around Tabernas in Almeria was the setting for Charles and Diana’s getaway weekend in rural Australia during a gruelling tour of the country. El Toyo, also in Almeria, was used to stage shots of Brisbane airport. The Palacio de Congresos in Torremolinos made a convincing Los Angeles Airport.

Sotogrande and several towns in Cadiz were also used as locations for Princess Margaret’s tour of America in 1965.

In Jerez, the Finca La Penuela was used as a set for homes in America and the Convent of Santo Domingo set the stage for Prince Philip’s mother’s time in Greece.

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NEWS

Reality is reality THE Archbishop of Granada, Javier Martinez, believes that Spain is “on the way to a third dictatorship, in one way or an‐

other, because laws are im‐ posed that go against the com‐ mon good.”

He also said Spain’s new eu‐

Carer emptied senior’s bank account

NATIONAL POLICE in Madrid have arrested a domestic worker who, when the elderly man she cared for died from coronavirus, emptied more than €35,000 from his account and used his bank card for online shopping.

The pensioner’s family denounced the fraudulent transactions from the bank account of their relative, who died in March 2020, in the middle of May of this year. The fraudulent purchases were made between the months of March and September 2020 when the funds ran out. The complaint was filed late because of pandemic-related delays.

The researchers found that the card charges came mostly from purchases on the internet that included appliances, furniture and food.

The investigations targeted a 45-year-old Spanish woman of Ecuadorian origin who had cared for this person for a long time.

The woman was charged with fraud and other offences on Wednesday July 7.

thanasia law was “an offence to human reason.”

The archbishop made the re‐ marks in his sermon on Sunday July 4 in Granada.

“The trans law, for example, converts sentiment into a legal category. It is not the first time it has happened. In the 30s and 40s of the last century, the feel‐ ing of superiority of the Aryan race resulted in millions of deaths when it became law,” he argued.

Believers, he said, must start “learning anew to be free in the face of these two laws, which are also an offence to human reason in many ways.”

“This does not mean any judgement on any person, of any kind, or transsexual of any kind.

But reality is reality, it cannot be changed. Whoever is born a man will always be a man. Whoever is born a woman will always be a woman. Regardless of the hor‐ mones that they put in them, or the operations that they do to them,” he added.

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Farmers fury at meat campaign Ryanair sets up customer panel

A NEW campaign launched by the Minister for Consumers, Alberto Garzon, encouraging Spaniards to eat less meat has been met with stiff resistance and ridicule.

Spain’s Minister for Consumers, Alberto Garzon, on July 7 launched a Twitter campaign #MenosCarneMasVida - less meat more life - however the move has angered the Minister for Agriculture Luis Planas, the opposition, the Junta de Andalucia, and livestock farmers across Spain. Garzon told media outlets that livestock farming is bad for the environment, that people should eat meat less frequently and only buy quality meat from sustainable farms.

Agriculture Minister Luis Planas was quick to point out that Garzon had not consulted him ahead of launching the campaign. Planas, a member of PSOE, said the campaign “does not make sense” and “this campaign is as wrong as the one that sugar kills.” Garzon is the leader of Izquierda Unida, who joined the government as part of Podemos, who in turn formed a coalition with PSOE placing Pedro

Sanchez as President.

Right-wing Vox lambasted Garzon’s campaign for “demonising the consumption of meat” and said his pronouncements underscore how out of touch the ruling socialist coalition is with ordinary Spaniards.

Six livestock associations have

penned an open letter to Garzon against the campaign.

“It is worrying that a minister of the Government of Spain makes a series of erroneous or unfocused statements, and through public channels, trying to create an artificial confrontation with a sector,” they wrote.

RYANAIR has announced its Customer Advisory Panel, comprising seven customers from six European countries. Having received over 10,000 applicants from 16 countries across Europe Ryanair’s seven successful candidates will travel to Dublin for the

New Picasso at the Prado

THE Prado Museum in Madrid has unveiled a newly acquired painting by Pablo Picasso, Buste de Femme 43, painted in 1943.

The painting is a donation to American Friends of the Prado Museum from the Aramont Art Collection of the Arango Montull family.

The Prado Museum has also been gifted the Portrait of Philip III by Velazquez by American Friends of the Prado Museum.

“American Friends’ actions are certainly great news for Spain and all those who visit our country attracted by our artistic and cultural heritage.

A painting from one of our greatest artistic geniuses which up to now had been in a United States’ private collection will be displayed in public thanks to the Arango Montull Family’s and American Friends’ generosity, for all of those who love Picasso’s work, our museums

PICASSO: A newly acquired painting. and culture,” said Javier Solana, Chairman of the Board on Tuesday July 6.

Because of Covid-19, the Prado’s revenues declined 75.5 per cent from €33.1 million to €8.1 million due to an 84 per cent decline in ticket sales from an all-time record of visitors in 2019 and a 90 per cent decline in Prado Store and restaurant revenues.

first of the Customer Advisory Panel meetings in September 2021, coming together to provide feedback and recommendations that will help Ryanair continue to improve its guest services.

While interest was strong across all markets, the UK trail-

blazed ahead with almost a third of applicants, closely followed by Ireland (20 per cent) Although the airline has not revealed the participants’ second names, the group includes Jaime, 47, from Ibiza and Naomi, 34, from Belfast, now living in Madrid.

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Jet2 targets Mum’s fear over Samuel Amber countries JET2 has announced it is reopening flights and holidays to amber list countries following the government’s announcement that vaccinated travellers will not need to quarantine after coming back to the UK. The airline confirmed it will be offering holidays to 40 green and amber list countries this summer.

“This is the news that UK holidaymakers have been looking forward to, as it finally signals a meaningful restart to international travel,” CEO of Jet2, Steve Heapy, said.

“We will be restarting flights and holidays to all Amber List destinations from July 19 onwards and we are ready for the wave of demand that this long-awaited and very welcome news will bring. We know how many customers want to jet off on our flights and ATOL protected package holidays, and we are ready to fly them away.

“Our team of colleagues could not be more excited to take customers on their much-awaited holidays and to deliver our award-winning VIP customer service.”

“With the government looking to unlock restrictions from July 19, we have been calling for international travel not to be left behind,” he said.

JET2: Restarting flights.

T E N S I O N S are high after the recent death of Samuel Luiz in La Coruña, with one mother sending a shocking message to her gay son that shows her fear for him and for others.

So far, police have arrest‐ ed four people as alleged perpetrators of the horrific attack. According to some the crime is not being con‐ sidered as a homophobic at‐ tack, but Samuel’s friends said that he was beaten while his attackers shouted ‘faggot’. His friends certainly consider the attack to have been homophobic.

Samuel had his whole life to live and was working as a nursing assistant helping others. He had been out

Samuel was beaten. with his friend Lina and the pair had decided to make a video call to another friend Vanessa and this was when everything went wrong.

The reaction of the LGBTI community saw thousands of people take to the streets on Monday, July 5, to con‐ demn discrimination and the shocking crime which took place at the weekend when

Samuel was beaten to death.

Many people in the LGBTI community are now afraid and they have shown this in messages posted across so‐ cial media networks. Fami‐ lies are also fearful for their loved ones.

One son took to Twitter to share a message that his mother had written to him via WhatsApp. It reveals the shock that many people are feeling at the moment, and their fear.

“In Coruña they have killed a boy for being homo‐ sexual. Please, no kissing in the street, no holding hands, no nothing,” said the mes‐ sage from the young man’s mother.

Creation of insect-sized robots ENGINEERS have created an insect-sized robot that can swerve and pivot with the agility of a cheetah, giving it the ability to traverse complex terrain and quickly avoid unexpected obstacles.

Small, robust robots like these could be ideal for conducting search and rescue operations or investigating other hazardous situations, such as scoping out potential gas leaks, US researchers said on July 7.

NEWS

Doses for 70 per cent of EU THE European Commission says that it will have enough doses of the vaccine against Covid-19 to be able to vaccinate 70 per cent of the adult population of the EU by the end of July.

“We have set a goal of vaccinating 70 per cent of the adult population,” said Stefan De Keersmaecker, Health spokesman for the Community Executive said on Tuesday July 6.

“We believe that a sufficient number of doses will be administered this month to allow the member states to achieve this goal,” he said.

Almost 62 per cent of the adult population in the EU already received at least one dose of the vaccine and more than 40 per cent of those over 18 years of age are fully vaccinated, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. But there are disparities. Belgium leads the table among the EU states, having already vaccinated 88 per cent of the adult population with at least one dose, Bulgaria has only some 17 per cent of first doses administered.

Spain, for its part, has vaccinated about 65 per cent of those over 18 years of age with at least one dose.

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‘Treat all regions fairly’ THE President of the Junta de Andalucia, Juanma Moreno, has called on Madrid to treat all autonomous communities fairly amid claims that it is preparing to offer tax incentives to companies to return to Catalonia.

“It is unavoidable and urgent to restore a climate of understanding, cooperation and solidarity in Spain that avoids territorial inequalities and fosters convergence, economic and social, in the country,” Moreno told the Andalucian parliament on Wednesday July 7.

Madrid owes Andalucia €10.835 billion in debts accumulated since 2009 and he criticised the government for dispersing Covid 2020 fund by GDP not population.

By doing so Madrid was “giving more to those who have the most” Moreno said.

Andalucia received €2.199 billion in Covid funds, 13.7 per cent of the total despite having 18 per cent of the Spanish population. Each Andalucian received €261 while the average for Spain was €340 per inhabitant.

Moreno criticised the government’s decision.

Covid 2021 funds will be distributed according to population, and Andalucia will get €2.357 billion extra.

“At this decisive moment, all communities should have the same opportunities for recovery,” he said.

“The logical question, which the government must answer, is why was the same criterion not followed in 2020? Why is the adjusted population criterion not maintained in the rest of the financing of the autonomous communities? Even more so when the current Minister of Finance was the main defender of this criterion and admits that the distribution punishes Andalucia,” Moreno added in reference to Finance Minister Maria Jesus Montero who previously was head of Andalucia’s finances.

NEWS

No bulls in Pamplona THE streets of Pamplona were empty on July 7, as the San Fermin bullrunning festival was cancelled.

The streets of Pamplona would usually be packed as people celebrate the famous San Fermin bull-running festival. However, authorities cancelled the fiesta for the second consecutive year because of Covid concerns.

The eight-day festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people from around the world each year, where people would drink, dance and run with bulls. After last year’s fiesta was cancelled because of the health crises, it was also decided in February that to hold the fiesta this year would be too risky. Veteran bull-runner Antonio Manzanera, 55, from Murcia said he felt an “immense sadness” at the cancellation.

“Running is what we like the most… But we understand that due to the pandemic it has been cancelled, and we came with the same hopes this year and next year we will continue.” The cancellation is also causing businesses, some of which rely on the fiesta for nearly a fifth of their annual income, to struggle.

“The streets are empty, the balconies are empty,” said Roberto Bueno who owns a traditional cafe in the old town of Pamplona.

Although, for others, another bull-free San Fermin is a cause for celebration. “There will be no bullfights, which fills us with satisfaction. We believe they are not necessary,” said animal rights group AnimaNaturalis.

Andalucian university students

THE president of the Junta de Andalucia, Juanma Moreno has announced that Andalucian uni‐ versity students who study abroad will be vaccinated soon.

Moreno, reported on Thursday July 8, that the Ministry of Health and Families will activate the vac‐ cinations “as soon as possible,” al‐ so meaning that the process that had been started with Erasmus students is extended.

Those over 18‐years of age who meet some of the following criteria will get the Janssen dose: • Who have travelled before September 15 outside of Spain for work or study reasons for a long period (minimum time of 21 days) • Residents of Andalucia who

are pursuing university studies in another autonomous community and are going to carry out Eras‐ mus or similar studies abroad • Monitors for summer camps and campuses “Our wish is that, before the new course begins, most of the university students are vaccinat‐ ed. We work on that planning, al‐ though it will depend on the number of vaccines that we re‐ ceive,” Moreno added.

In relation to the pandemic, Moreno has affirmed that during this time universities have been forced to accelerate the transi‐ tion towards a more flexible and open approach to teaching, with technologies playing an essential role.

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Delta variant dominant

THE Delta coronavirus vari‐ ant is now dominant in at least four regions in Spain, and it is spreading rapidly despite the ongoing coron‐ avirus vaccination pro‐ gramme.

The strain was originally discovered in India and is now spreading throughout Spain at astonishing speeds.

The delta variant is domi‐ nant in at least four regions of Spain: Valencia, Navarre, Madrid and Catalonia.

Reports from the Ministry of Health regarding coron‐ avirus variants on June 14, show that from the samples they analysed 11 per cent of infections were due to the strain. Many experts though

England charged by UEFA UEFA have launched an investigation after Kasper Schmeichel, the Danish goalkeeper appeared to have been targeted with a laser pen at the Euro 2020 semi-final on July 8.

A laser pen apparently targeted the goalkeeper shortly before England’s Harry Kane took a penalty. England are being investigated for other issues too such as crowd disturbances and fireworks going off during the game. England will also be investigated as fans booed the Danish national anthem.

European football’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body have confirmed that they have launched disciplinary proceedings against England.

If England are found guilty of the offences, then the English FA could face a variety of fines from €500 for each firework that went off, up to an €8,000 fine for the laser pen.

The fact that the Danish national anthem was also booed

by England fans could gain a further financial penalty too.

think that the strain is spreading at a faster rate.

But the situation has changed drastically in the following 14‐day reporting period.

The number of young peo‐ ple being infected by the coronavirus is rising rapidly and the 14‐day cumulative incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants is 814 in the 20‐ 29 age group.

According to data collated

by Spain’s autonomous re‐ gions it is believed that the Delta strain is actually re‐ sponsible for 32 per cent of new infections. This is con‐ siderably higher than the Ministry of Health’s figure of 11 per cent.

Experts worry that young people will spread the virus onto elderly people. “The point that’s worrying is that young people could spread the virus to the elderly, even if they are vaccinated,” said the head of Microbiology at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, Tomas Pumarola.

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Sanchez questions Catalan fund PRESIDENT Pedro Sanchez said Madrid will study the legality of a Catalan public fund cre‐ ated to cover the fines imposed on ex‐officials by the Court of Auditors.

If the €10 million fund is legal, the courts can accept the money; if it is not, it cannot be used to pay fines imposed on dozens of offi‐ cials for their roles in promoting and facilitat‐ ing Catalonia’s 2017 independence bid, Sanchez said.

“We have always maintained that every‐ thing that is approved by all the regional gov‐ ernments has to be subject to the law. There‐ fore, we are going to study the decision that has been taken and, from there, if it is subject

to the law, we have no objections; and if it is not subject to law, then obviously we will have to appeal it. It’s been subjected to an objective study right now. I cannot say anything else,” Sanchez said on July 6.

Meanwhile opposition to Barcelona’s pro‐ posal is mounting among Spain’s opposition parties charging that it amounts to a great swindling of the Spanish public purse.

On July 7, the government of Catalonia cre‐ ated a €10 million fund to cover fines meted out to former officials. The Court of Auditors in Madrid said they have until July 15 to pay up.

Forty former officials were handed fines, some in excess of €2.5 million on June 30.

Health experts curfew THE Alert Report of the Ministry of Health has pro‐ posed that Spain close nightlife and study the pos‐ sibility of applying a new curfew in the face of rising coronavirus infections.

Health technicians on July 5 said they consider it nec‐ essary to take measures “urgently” to stop the trans‐ mission of the virus, and

they want to limit operating hours for bars and restau‐ rants.

In addition, they advocate suppressing the celebration of mass events if compli‐ ance with prevention mea‐ sures cannot be guaran‐ teed.

The health experts also said that hotels and other areas of accommodation

should be used to quaran‐ tine people if they can’t property isolate at home.

“While the increase in transmission continues, the action protocols must be adapted to a mitigation sce‐ nario that allows the priori‐ tisation of resources and flexibility of processes for adequate monitoring of the situation,” the experts said.

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NEWS

UK labour shortage UK employers are struggling with the worst labour short‐ age since 1997 as the number of overseas workers drops due to Brexit and Covid. The labour market is also being hit as the UK reopens from lock‐ down.

Employers in Britain are struggling to recruit staff as British businesses reopen after lockdown. Businesses are also seeing recruitment issues as the number of overseas work‐ ers has dropped too.

The Recruitment and Em‐ ployment Confederation (REC) and the accountancy firm KP‐ MG have both issued warnings over the potential risk to the UK economy and its recovery.

The UK is currently experienc‐ ing acute labour shortages the likes of which had not been seen since 1997.

Many areas of the economy are facing this issue and top of the list are areas including transport and logistics, hospi‐ tality, manufacturing and con‐

Children learn languages faster than adults

SMALL children learn language at a pace far faster than teenagers or adults. One expla‐ nation for this learning advan‐ tage comes not from differences between children and adults, but from the differences in the way that people talk to children and adults.

For the first time, a team of re‐ searchers developed a method to experimentally evaluate how parents use what they know about their children’s language when they talk to them. They found that parents have ex‐ tremely precise models of their children’s language knowledge, and use these models to tune the language they use when speaking to them. The results are available in an advance online publication of the journal of Psy‐ chological Science.

“We have known for years that parents talk to children dif‐ ferently than to other adults in a

lot of ways, for example simplify‐ ing their speech, reduplicating words and stretching out vowel sounds,” said Daniel Yurovsky, assistant professor in psychology at Carnegie Mellon University.

“This stuff helps young kids get a toehold into language, but we didn’t know whether parents change the way they talk as chil‐ dren are acquiring language, giv‐ ing children language input that is ‘just right’ for learning the next thing,” he added on July 4.

Adults tend to speak to chil‐ dren more slowly and at a higher pitch. They also use more exag‐ gerated enunciation, repetition and simplified language struc‐ ture. Adults also pepper their communication with questions to gauge the child’s comprehen‐ sion.

As the child’s language fluency increases, the sentence structure and complexity used by adults in‐ creases.

struction. The issues are also found in higher paid sectors such as IT, finance and engi‐ neering.

“We need action from busi‐ nesses and government to reskill and upskill furloughed and prospective workers now more than ever, as the increas‐ ing skills gap in the workforce has the potential to slow the UK’s economic recovery,” said the head of education, skills and productivity at KPMG UK, Claire Warnes.

Climate change causing fear A NEW Eurobarometer survey shows that European citizens believe climate change is the single most serious problem facing the world.

More than nine out of 10 people surveyed consider climate change to be a serious problem (93 per cent), with almost eight out of 10 (78 per cent) considering it to be very serious. When asked to pick out the single most serious problem facing the world, over a quarter (29 per cent) chose either climate change (18 per cent), deterioration of nature (7 per cent) or health problems due to pollution (4 per cent).

In terms of policy response, nine out of 10 Europeans (90 per cent) agree that greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced to a minimum while offsetting remaining emissions to make the EU climate-neutral by 2050. The survey was released on Monday July 5.

Close to nine in 10 Europeans (87 per cent) think it is important that the EU sets ambitious targets to increase renewable energy use.

45M tourists expected this year SPAIN’S government has said it is set to welcome nearly 45 million international tourists this year, despite the travel restrictions in place across Europe.

Tourism Minister Maria Reyes Maroto said Spain will receive a large number of international tourists later this year. “We expect

around 17 million international tourists during the summer, and many will be British because it is a market that is very faithful to Spain,” the minister said on Thursday July 8.

The government’s figure of 45 million tourists is around half the 83.5 million visitors the country received in 2019.

To read more stories like this go to www.euroweeklynews.com

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T H E reason why men are now more likely to get Covid than women in the UK has been revealed.

According to scientists, Euro 2020 may be the reason why men are now one third more likely to catch the potentially deadly virus than women. Imperial College L ondon have performed a study and this

Why men are more likely to get Covid shows that between June 24 and J uly 5 one in 170 people in England were infected with the virus.

This is the first time that an infection rate difference has been spotted between men and women. Scientists

believe that this difference may be due to men having ‘more social activity than usual’ due to Euro 2020.

Steven Riley, professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College London believes that the increased

rate currently seen in men is linked to several factors.

“There’s lots of evidence that mixing inside is more likely to result in transmission than mixing outside,” said Professor Riley on July 7.

HACKERS are demanding companies pay them almost €60 million to restore encrypted data held by them after launching a massive cyberattack last week.

The hackers suspected to be behind a mass ransomware attack that affected hundreds of companies worldwide late on July 4,

“If I had to speculate about the impact of the Euros, I would first think about the possible impact - much, much more broadly than when we are around London - I would think about the increased probability that peo-

€60M demand

have demanded almost €60 million to restore the data, according to a posting on a dark website.

The demand was posted on a site typically used by the REvil cybercrime gang, a Russia-linked group that is counted among the

Germany lifts ban on the UK

A COVID-RELATED travel ban on people from the UK and four other variant-hit countries was lifted by Germany on July 7. The restrictions, which also applied to Portugal, Russia, India and Nepal, were relaxed, with fully vaccinated travellers not required to quarantine. The countries are now reclassified as “high incidence areas”, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said. However, non-vaccinated people will still have to quarantine for up to 10 days, with the option to end isolation early with a negative test on the fifth day. The five countries have until now been classified as ‘virus variant areas’ because of the spread of the Delta variants, which were first identified in India. Although German citizens and residents were exempt from the ban, they were required to quarantine for 14 days when they arrived in the country.

NEWS

ple are mixing inside more frequently than they otherwise would,” he said.

“So, my first thought wouldn’t immediately be to the stadium and the immediate surrounds, it would be about the more general behaviour of the population, but we don’t have results that address that directly in this study,” he said. cybercriminal world’s most prolific extortionists. The gang has an affiliate structure, occasionally making it difficult to determine who speaks on the hackers’ behalf, but Allan Liska of cybersecurity firm Recorded Future said the message “almost certainly” came from REvil’s core leadership. The group has so far not responded to any attempt by authorities to reach it for comment. REvil’s ransomware attack, which the group executed on July 2, was among the most dramatic in a series of increasingly attention-grabbing hacks.

The gang broke into Kaseya, a Miami-based information technology firm, and used their access to breach some of its clients’ clients, setting off a chain reaction that quickly paralysed the computers of hundreds of firms worldwide.

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15 - 21 July 2021

Rare albino stag

A RARE albino stag has been spotted by hunters in forests in Malaga Province.

The video which Club de Caza, Spain’s largest hunting magazine obtained, shows the stag in all his glory, his coat com‐ pletely white and his antlers are pale pink as opposed to the usu‐ al brown.

According to Jera y Sedal the stag is extremely rare as it is esti‐ mated that only one in 30,000

deer suffers from albinism and they are highly prized among hunters. As far as the magazine knows the video was shot in Malaga Province. It is not the first time the animal has been seen, but the magazine says this is the best recording of it they have seen.

Albinism is the result of cells that cannot produce melanin, the pigment needed to colour skin, scales, eyes and hair. This

genetic condition gets passed to offspring when both parents carry the recessive gene. When albinism is present, the animal can appear white or pink.

Aside from appearance, these animals often have problems re‐ lated to albinism, such as issues with eyesight. Melanin helps eye development, so without it, irises, retinas, eye muscles and optic nerves may not form prop‐ erly.

PSOE wins Granada mayoral race PSOE candidate, Francisco Cuenca, has been elected mayor of Granada after a tumultuous month in the Nasrid city.

Two Ciudadanos (Cs) councillors, former mayor Luis Salvador and his deputy, Jose Antonio Huertas, voted against their own party’s instructions for PSOE and now face being expelled from the Cs over the July 7 vote.

There were no abstentions. Fifteen votes in favour of Cuenca, 10 from the PSOE, three from Unidos Podemos and two from the Ciudadanos, compared to 12 for the Partido Popular (PP) candidate Francisco Fuentes, who had

six from his own party, three from Vox and the remaining three from independent councillors.

Vox’s candidate, Onofre Miralles, who put himself up as runner just 24 hours before the ballot, voted for Fuentes in the end.

Cuenca is now Granada’s fourth mayor since 2016.

The political crisis which led him to power was precipitated by the Partido Popular (PP) abruptly withdrawing from a coalition with the Ciudadanos (Cs) in June when the Cs mayor, Luis Salvador, refused to rotate the post with the PP.

Fish fats ease migraines A DIET higher in fatty fish helped frequent migraine sufferers re‐ duce their monthly number of headaches and intensity of pain compared to participants on a diet higher in vegetable‐based fats and oils, according to a new study published in the BMJ on

Friday July 2.

The study of 182 adults with frequent migraines expanded on the researchers’ previous work on the impact of linoleic acid and chronic pain.

Linoleic acid is a polyunsatu‐ rated fatty acid commonly de‐

New pacemakers can dissolve and disappear

THE first-ever transient pacemaker has been created which dissolves into the body when it is no longer needed and disappears.

The stunning new technology means less danger for the patient and potential cost savings too. The device is wireless, does not require batteries and is fully implantable for temporary use. The technology is expected to greatly improve patient care in the future. The stunning new pacemaker was revealed by scientists at Northwestern and George Washington Universities on Tuesday July 6.

The transient pacemaker is battery free, has no wires and disappears when the patient no longer needs it.

The tiny device can be used in patients who only need a pacemaker temporarily. This could be when they are waiting for a permanent pacemaker or after having surgery and need a helping hand for a little while.

rived in the most Western diets from corn, soybean, and other similar oils, as well as some nuts and seeds.

They found that a diet lower in linoleic acid and higher in levels of omega‐3 fatty acids, like those found in fish and shellfish, could soothe this pain pathway inflam‐ mation.

Participants all received meal kits that included fish, vegetables, hummus, salads, and breakfast items. One group received meals that had high levels of fatty fish or oils from fatty fish and lowered linoleic acid. A second group re‐ ceived meals that had high levels of fatty fish and higher linoleic acid. The third group received meals with high linoleic acid and lower levels of fatty fish to mimic average American intakes.

The diet lower in vegetable oil and higher in fatty fish produced between 30 per cent and 40 per cent reductions in total headache hours per day, severe headache hours per day, and overall headache days per month com‐ pared to the control group.

To read more stories like this go to www.euroweeklynews.com

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15 - 21 July 2021

FINLAND has been named the best country in the world for Quality of Life, according to the latest CEOWORLD magazine 2021 report.

Scandinavia did very well in this report with Denmark second and Norway third, Belgium fourth and then Sweden fifth. The rankings measure global perceptions of 165 nations chosen because they contribute most to the world’s GDP. More than 258,000 people

Top quality life

around the world are asked to evaluate the countries based on 10 metrics ranging from stability to transparency to equality. The CEOWORLD report explained that being safe, politically stable, and having a well-developed public health system drove Finland’s quality of life ranking to the top of the Best Countries 2021 list. Sixth to 10th places were taken by

NEWS

Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Germany and Japan respectively with the UK coming in at 11 and Spain 20, whilst the worst countries included Syria, Sudan, North Korea and surprisingly the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat which is placed 50 lower than war torn Yemen. In order to determine the rankings, researchers at the CEOWORLD magazine analysed and compared 165 countries across 10 key categories: Affordability, Eco-

Bye-bye plastic ear buds and straws EU’s Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Directive came into effect on Saturday July 3, which means that many common items made with single-use plastics are now banned in the bloc.

Cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, stirrers, chopsticks, straws, expanded polystyrene single-use food and beverage containers, and all oxo-degradable plastic products are on the list of products that are banned from being placed in establishments across the EU. The objective of the EU Directive is “to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, in particular the aquatic environ-

No more plastic straws. ment, and on human health, as well as to promote the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products and materials.”

Single-use plastic products are used once, or for a short period of time, before being thrown away. The 10 most commonly found single-use plastic items represent 70 per cent of all marine litter in the EU, and up to 85 per cent of all marine litter in the EU is plastic.

“This is the latest in a series of measures we’re taking to reduce plastic waste and better manage the waste we do produce. Our future depends on us rapidly changing the way we produce products; this will contribute to a much wider effort to address climate change,” said TD Alan Farrell, Fine Gael Climate Action Spokesperson.

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15 - 21 July 2021

NEWS

New sexual consent laws SPAIN’S government has ap‐ proved tougher laws on sexual consent with the new bill known as ‘Only yes means yes’.

The government hopes to crack down on sexual harass‐ ment and sexual violence with this new legislation. The ‘Only

yes means yes’ proposed law in‐ cludes laying out the offences related to sexual consent and it is hoped that the sexual culture of Spain will change with the proposed law.

“Consent is recognised only when a person has freely

9,000 called violence hotline in June

OVER 9,000 calls were made to the phone service for victims of gender violence in June.

The telephone service for victims of gender violence 016 received 9,049 calls in June, 10 per cent more than in May and 6 per cent more than in the same month of 2020, a figure that is the second-highest since this phone service started operating in 2007.

The minister against Gender Violence, Victoria Rosell, said that the highest figure was registered in August 2016, when 9,916 people called the service.

Couple or ex-partner issues account for the majority of calls - 87 per cent - Rossell said on Wednesday July 7.

Support is also provided through WhatsApp on the number 600 000 016 and minors can contact the ANAR Foundation telephone number 900 202 010.

demonstrated it through ac‐ tions which, in the context of the circumstances of the case, clearly express the person’s will,” says the new bill.

The bill went to Parliament to be voted on after it was ap‐ proved by Spain’s cabinet on Tuesday, July 6. It will probably take several months before it passes through Parliament though.

Maria Jesus Montero, a spokesperson for the govern‐ ment considers the proposed law to be “a decisive step for‐ ward” to protect women. She also believes that it will “make us, without doubt, better as a society.”

“We have to transform our sexual culture, placing women’s consent at the centre of how we see things,” said Montero.

With current laws in Spain victims need to prove how dur‐ ing an attack they were the vic‐ tim of violence or prove how they fought against their attack‐ er. For many this new bill can‐ not come soon enough.

To read more stories like this go to www.euroweeklynews.com

EUROPEAN PRESS

www.euroweeklynews.com

EUROPEAN NIBS DENMARK

FRANCE

Tree huggers

Fire damage

AFTER activists occupied a tree for three weeks on Amager Fælled a 223-hectare nature reserve in Copenhagen protesting about planned construction, they were removed by police but the Planning Appeal Board ruled that work must be halted until January to protect vulnerable wildlife.

AS if losing Notre Dame Cathedral to fire wasn’t bad enough, the Paris city authorities and public health officials have been named in a legal complaint for failing to safeguard the health of people living nearby due to lead pollution caused by the fire.

THE NETHERLANDS Musseling in THE Dutch mussel industry has been granted €900,000 by the European Union in order to fund a marketing campaign to persuade youngsters in the Netherlands to include the crustacean in their diet.

Some 10 million kilos of mussels are gobbled up each year mainly by those over 50.

BELGIUM

NORWAY High flyers NORWAY’S Trade Minister Iselin Nybø took the unusual step of publicly criticising the senior management of Norwegian Air after it transpires that despite using public money to support the airline and making segments bankrupt, two directors were each paid bonuses of Kr11 (€1) million.

FINLAND Nasal vaccine

TWO armed men entered a camp run by the Flemish scouts and guides for children aged nine to 11 in the early hours of July 6 and stole credit cards, wallets and mobile phones from various adults who were awake using threats of violence before escaping.

ROKOTE Laboratories has been promised some €9 million to enable further development and to start clinical trials on a nasal spray which will act as a Covid vaccine. The vaccine has been formulated by the University of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland.

GERMANY

SWEDEN

Big Brother

Suspected murder

FROM August 2, the authorities will require all German citizens applying for a new government-issued ID card (currently 62 million exist) to give their fingerprints which will be stored electronically on the card. Until now, this was a voluntary procedure for ID cards although obligatory for passports.

AN express train running from Malmö to Hässleholm, travelling at around 180 kmh hit and killed an adult and two children who were on the track. Although Swedish police have been reticent to release much information, they are investigating the possible murder of the children.

Be prepared

15 - 21 July 2021

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FINANCE BUSINESS EXTRA Corte Ingles card IN order to take advantage of the resurgence of consumer spending in Spain, Financiera El Corte Ingles (which is 51 per cent owned by Santander Bank) wants to expand its in store credit card so that it may be used to purchase goods from other companies.

Inflation target FOR the first time in more than a decade, the European Central Bank has reviewed its economic strategy and confirmed that although it wants to keep inflation at 2 per cent, it concedes that this may not be possible and can fluctuate.

Bank merger HAVING received shareholder approval four months ago, the merger of Unicaja and Liberbank is still pending as although it has now received approval from the CNMC, it is still awaiting the formal Spanish government ok but hopes that it will be forthcoming by the end of July.

Ocado expands UK grocery technology company Ocado has signed an agreement with the Alcampo group in Spain to develop a Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) to serve the Madrid region from 2024, with additional CFCs to be announced. They will also co-operate on improving delivery to online customers.

Italian problem ALTHOUGH highly successful, Barcelona based food delivery company Glovo is rarely out of the news as different governments take exception to some of its activities. Having been told by a Spanish court that its workers should be treated as employees not self-employed it now finds one of its overseas arms under scrutiny. A report by Reuters reveals that the Italian Data Protection Agency has given its subsidiary Foodinho 150 days to change its computer algorithms in order to avoid discrimination against staff.

30

STAT OF WEEK

www.euroweeklynews.com • 15 - 21 July 2021

€12.877 billion

is the amount that the Spanish Tax Agency says that it collected in 2020 through its actions to fight fraudulent tax evasion.

Morrisons may soon be American AMERICAN money seems destined to find a home in Britain’s fourth largest supermarket chain Mor‐ risons which unlike oth‐ ers mainly generates its own produce.

Last month it turned down a bid from private equity firm Clayton, Du‐ bilier & Rice (CD&R) worth £5.5 billion (€6 bil‐ lion) claiming it did not accurately reflect the worth of the company.

This month however it

has accepted in principle, subject to shareholder approval, a £6.3 billion (€6.9 billion) bid from an‐ other US equity firm Fortress Investment Group.

Fortress in particular appear to be anxious to ensure that they are not seen as pirates or asset strippers and their pro‐ posal appears to be couched in terms which will satisfy both the unions representing the

LEGALLY SPEAKING

supermarket’s 110,000 staff as well as the UK Government.

Now, a third US in‐ vestor, Apollo Global has indicated that it may be interested in launching its own bid but has not as yet made a final decision.

In the meantime, in an‐ ticipation of a higher price, Morrisons shares have risen from around £1.80 (€1.98) in January to £2.67 (€2.94) on July 5, the day after the offer

was made which was 5 per cent higher than the offer price.

One of the many at‐ tractions to investors is the fact that Morrisons hold a contract with Amazon UK for same day grocery supply to cus‐ tomers ordering online and with Amazon already opening its own super‐ market in London, there are some expectations that it too may enter into the bidding fray.

Planning your own funeral

Was policy mis-sold?

For 10 years I entrusted an insurance agent with my household and two car policies. Pre‐ miums increased after a few claims for burst or leaking pipes. My agent reduced my premium by reducing the building value. When claiming for a burst pipe 10 months later, they deducted 17.5 per cent due to un‐ der insurance. The agent’s calculation was under‐val‐ ued by 17.5 per cent. In other words they under‐sold the policy, but the agent ducked the error. To add fur‐ ther insult, the agent sent me a renewal policy for the following year which showed the same mis‐selling er‐ ror. What are my rights against the agent?

Your rights against an insurance company YOU AND THE LAW include seeking com‐ IN SPAIN pensation if they have underpaid a claim or if you can prove that they failed to inform you fully. In your case, the first misunderstanding is that your ‘agent’ is not an agent; he is an insurance broker. He may deal with several different insurance companies. There is no error of calculation here. However, if the broker did not ex‐ plain to you that under‐valuing your property means that your payment is reduced by the same percentage, then you have a possible case.

DAVID SEARL

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

THE British Financial Institutions are looking for ways of attracting money back to London and on Wednesday July 7, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) saw a historic first.

Following a practice which is not unknown in the USA , a Fintech company simply called Wise be‐ came the first ever direct listing of a tech company on the LSE.

ONE of the advantages of having a pre‐ paid funeral plan with Golden Leaves is being able to arrange the funeral that you real‐ ly want.

By planning your own funeral, not only will you get the send‐off you want, you will relieve your family of the burden, both financially and with regards to making decisions.

Planning the details of your own funeral will give you more time to think about what you want, including the following: Where would you like it to be held?

Do you want it to be religious or not?

Who do you want to lead the service?

What readings or music would you like?

Do you want a theme?

What would you like to be wearing?

Do you want any special flowers and/or donations?

Do you prefer burial or cremation?

What type of coffin, headstone or urn do you prefer?

Where do you want to be buried or want your ashes to go?

Most importantly, let your family know you have a funeral plan and give them a list of contacts you want to be informed of your death.

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

Wise now worth £8 billion The founders of the company, two Estonians took the company public using a direct listing, which does not involve raising new capi‐ tal or bringing in new investors like in a formal IPO launch.

Many investors remember the recent relative failure of the tradi‐ tional IPO launch of Deliveroo

which due to its structure did not attract investment by large institu‐ tions.

This was effectively a three‐hour long auction which saw prices start at £1 and shoot up to £10 for shares priced at £8 and this raised a staggering £8 billion (€8.8 bil‐ lion).

Sanchez under pressure SPANISH President Pedro Sanchez is under pressure to provide tax breaks to encourage companies to return to Catalo‐ nia after an exodus to Madrid following the region’s 2017 inde‐ pendence bid.

He has a political dilemma as a failure to do so could cost him the support of Catalan national‐ ist parties who prop up the PSOE in government, Spanish daily ABC reported on July 8.

Any tax breaks will rankle Madrid which recently re‐elect‐ ed Madrilenian president Isabel Díaz Ayuso of the Partido Popu‐ lar as the community has bene‐ fited from the exit from Barcelona.

Other autonomous commu‐ nities such as Andalucia are also unlikely to be impressed.

Catalonia’s debt is also con‐ cerning, as the region is €79.1 billion in the red.

Spain and UAE AS President Pedro Sanchez visits the Baltic States, his Secretary of State for Trade, Manuel Muñiz held a virtual meeting with his op‐ posite number from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi on July 7.

With the participation of pro‐ fessional bodies from both coun‐ tries, a memorandum of under‐ standing was signed to confirm the wish that the UAE has to work more closely with Spain to organ‐ ise cross investments.

“The signing of this agreement will contribute to achieving sus‐ tainable growth in investment flows between the two countries, and allow the creation of perma‐ nent channels of communication between Emirati and Spanish business owners,” said Dr Al Zey‐ oudi.

According to Kristo Kaarmann and Taavet Hinrikus who founded the company in 2010 when they were both working in London, Taavet was being paid in euros and Kristo in sterling, but both hated the thought of paying exchange commission to banks so created their own exchange and transfer company with low customer charges.

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

LONDON - FTSE 100

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C LOSING P RICES J ULY 12

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) 3I Group 1.195,00 1.202,00 Admiral Group 3.220,0 3.316,0 Anglo American 2.913,5 2.977,5 Antofagasta 1.395,50 1.440,00 Ashtead Group 5.564,6 5.570,3 Associated British Foods 2.140,0 2.180,0 AstraZeneca 8.706,0 8.711,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 648,80 649,80 Avast 500,40 500,60 Aveva 3.973,0 3.975,0 Aviva 400,20 406,90 B&M European Value Retail SA552,20 553,20 BAE Systems 533,33 537,48 Bank VTB DRC 1,284 1,318 Barclays 169,32 172,87 Barratt Developments 692,20 708,60 Berkeley 4.737,0 4.772,0 BHP Group 2.231,00 2.255,00 BP 305,92 310,50 British American Tobacco 2.768,0 2.773,5 British Land Company 507,20 518,60 BT Group 185,00 187,95 Bunzl 2.570,0 2.571,0 Burberry Group 2.036,0 2.092,0 Carnival 1.519,4 1.557,2 Centrica 52,04 52,40 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.570,0 2.572,0 Compass 1.488,00 1.527,00 CRH 3.578,0 3.641,0 Croda Intl 7.694,0 7.704,5 DCC 5.886,0 5.968,0 Diageo 3.441,5 3.452,5 DS Smith 418,40 426,80 EasyJet 895,62 946,81 Experian 2.974,3 2.976,3 Ferguson 10.365,0 10.400,0 Flutter Entertainment 12.660,0 13.000,0 Fresnillo 795,20 808,20 GlaxoSmithKline 1.429,60 1.430,79 Glencore 312,30 318,90 Halma 2.815,0 2.814,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.661,00 1.667,00 Hikma Pharma 2.622,00 2.632,00 HSBC 405,68 411,10 IAG 177,95 184,96 Imperial Brands 1.588,00 1.591,50 Informa 495,90 509,00 InterContinental 4.726,0 4.832,0 Intermediate Capital 2.142,00 2.149,00 Intertek 5.612,0 5.622,0

% CHG. 1.191,00 3.182,0 2.904,0 1.389,00 5.525,2 2.139,0 8.614,0 638,60 495,60 3.915,0 399,10 543,80 529,60 1,282 169,02 692,00 4.727,0 2.225,00 305,85 2.756,5 505,40 184,60 2.550,0 2.030,0 1.518,8 51,70 2.559,0 1.488,00 3.575,0 7.633,2 5.858,0 3.425,0 417,30 895,26 2.941,8 10.300,0 12.660,0 792,60 1.418,61 310,87 2.768,0 1.650,50 2.615,03 405,68 177,81 1.580,66 495,50 4.723,0 2.133,00 5.578,0

NET VOL 89,83K 96,02K 332,03K 218,25K 6,58K 151,34K 336,35K 297,97K 169,58K 38,92K 1,16M 340,82K 78,37K 61,76K 1,59M 208,26K 25,70K 720,58K 934,53K 276,97K 212,56K 2,14M 77,73K 89,77K 196,90K 1,52M 45,39K 349,51K 60,74K 8,90K 22,44K 267,93K 398,61K 427,40K 16,18K 20,19K 31,14K 107,01K 224,59K 1,07M 80,08K 78,92K 8,70K 385,82K 1,74M 39,51K 502,85K 36,41K 37,46K 28,00K

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

ITV J Sainsbury Johnson Matthey Land Securities Legal & General Lloyds Banking London Stock Exchange Meggitt Melrose Industries Mondi National Grid NatWest Group Next Norilskiy Nikel ADR Ocado Persimmon Phoenix Prudential Reckitt Benckiser Relx Rentokil Rightmove Rio Tinto PLC Rolls-Royce Holdings Rosneft DRC Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B Sage Samsung Electronics DRC Sberbank Schroders Scottish Mortgage Segro Severn Trent Smith & Nephew Smiths Group Spirax-Sarco Engineering SSE St. James’s Place Standard Chartered Standard Life Aberdeen Taylor Wimpey Tesco Tui Unilever United Utilities Vodafone Group PLC Whitbread WPP

122,05 280,70 3.089,0 683,00 264,50 46,00 7.945,8 436,10 155,35 1.966,50 942,24 200,10 7.764,0 33,15 1.937,00 2.948,0 687,20 1.353,00 6.491,0 2.021,00 511,06 654,40 6.046,4 97,44 7,64 1.443,4 1.443,20 1.416,2 698,80 1.743,00 16,16 3.591,0 1.323,22 1.181,00 2.652,0 1.561,50 1.619,36 14.127,9 1.538,50 1.524,50 446,10 280,50 160,50 234,17 347,87 4.290,0 1.039,00 118,14 3.051,0 959,20

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

124,22 284,90 3.157,7 690,40 265,40 46,65 7.958,0 445,70 159,25 1.976,00 945,20 202,90 7.882,0 33,15 1.942,00 3.016,0 692,00 1.377,00 6.512,0 2.021,00 511,20 654,80 6.118,5 100,74 7,71 1.459,4 1.458,31 1.429,2 700,00 1.757,50 16,34 3.607,0 1.326,00 1.182,50 2.660,0 1.570,00 1.633,48 14.128,6 1.543,00 1.527,00 452,70 283,40 164,05 238,36 358,00 4.305,9 1.041,00 119,06 3.142,0 968,60

121,75 280,70 3.089,0 681,40 262,70 45,92 7.858,0 434,80 155,05 1.955,95 938,00 200,00 7.762,0 33,05 1.908,00 2.946,0 682,95 1.350,50 6.418,0 2.003,00 507,84 647,94 6.023,0 96,63 7,60 1.443,0 1.443,00 1.411,8 690,01 1.740,00 16,14 3.579,0 1.313,50 1.170,50 2.608,0 1.559,50 1.610,42 13.959,3 1.525,50 1.515,75 445,90 279,50 160,20 234,10 346,27 4.270,0 1.027,40 117,78 3.047,0 959,00

148,37K 883,58K 8,50K 38,72K 612,91K 10,55M 58,16K 258,36K 998,48K 7,44K 953,51K 2,54M 16,57K 0,19K 146,43K 43,67K 168,26K 312,86K 119,98K 37,35K 30,21K 23,81K 38,15K 6,40M 230,71K 844,98K 46,69K 1,45M 40,44K 5,62K 149,60K 20,48K 404,64K 42,80K 65,45K 291,82K 24,75K 4,31K 179,96K 14,17K 827,57K 511,46K 353,01K 1,36M 409,58K 38,83K 50,52K 8,03M 95,07K 210,90K

1.16777

0.85519

Units per €

US dollar (USD) ......................................1.18524 Japan yen (JPY)......................................130.495 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................1.0855 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4372 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................10.344

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 J ULY 12

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

PRICE 201,00 2.591,5 3.719,34 245,20 145,11 239,59 217,42 104,07 53,74 54,46 350,42 371,76 322,09 224,34 141,52 55,99 169,75 155,77 235,68 77,99 277,94 161,00 137,03 245,06 656,95 412,11 56,07 238,47 140,30 177,04

CHANGE 201,90 2.597,0 3.748,00 245,93 145,65 240,38 218,59 104,23 53,93 54,52 350,71 372,15 323,31 224,60 141,98 56,11 170,37 156,15 236,23 78,69 278,05 161,96 137,65 248,00 658,91 413,25 56,23 239,45 140,84 177,52

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 199,25 2,45M 2.578,9 755,47K 3.693,40 3,75M 241,71 1,61M 142,65 99,89M 236,22 12,39M 214,40 3,16M 102,36 8,57M 53,29 14,67M 54,18 10,85M 345,27 13,02M 364,95 2,64M 320,18 2,59M 220,74 2,16M 140,84 3,90M 55,31 18,71M 169,24 6,12M 152,58 13,69M 233,06 2,56M 77,94 6,01M 275,32 23,92M 160,51 5,00M 136,84 5,95M 244,09 4,21M 644,69 18,14M 410,64 2,08M 55,62 13,76M 237,42 5,62M 139,93 5,06M 173,93 7,87M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES J ULY 12

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

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

Biglari Holdings Inc. Cl A Shopify Inc. Cl A Markel Corp.

AutoZone Inc. Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3x Shares BlackRock Inc. Direxion Daily Regional Banks Bull 3X Shares Snowflake Inc. Graham Holdings Co.

2.47% 3.41% 5.83% 2.16% 2.31% 1.76% 11.39% 2.83% 12.67% 7.67% 2.80%

1,187 41.02K 1,150 1.258M 75.89K 177.50K 64.19K 764.50K 477.45K 9.867M 28.27K

Most Declined U.S. Bancorp Dep. Pfd. -1.80% Capital Senior Living Corp.

-8.90% Cable One Inc. -0.19% Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. -6.62% PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index ETF-2.06% ResMed Inc. -1.22% MediaAlpha Inc. -6.57% Vanguard Extended Duration ETF -1.75% Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3x Shares -8.34% S&P Global Inc. -0.57% Eli Lilly & Co. -0.90%

425 17.22K 29.94K 62.594M 44.55K 623.35K 366.31K 122.22K 2.547M 1.535M 4.030M

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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Credit: WH Smith Press Centre

WH Smith’s airport stores

AIRPORT-BASED: InMotion is a major presence in the USA. IT was announced on July 8 that WH Smith will open 18 technology and accessories stores at UK airports.

Following the decision by Dixons Carphone to close all of its UK airport concession stores in April of this year, WH Smith applied to take over some of the vacant outlets and will operate its InMotion subsidiary in a number of ma‐ jor UK airports including Lon‐ don Heathrow, London Stanst‐ ed, Manchester, London Luton, Birmingham and East Midlands.

InMotion is the largest air‐ port‐based digital accessories retailer in North America, comprising 117 stores across 43 airports in the United States, with a presence in nine of the top 10 and 22 of the top 25 busiest US airports.

It sells a range of technology

and digital accessories from the leading brands in the cate‐ gory, includes premium head‐ phones and earbuds, travel ac‐ cessories, mobile power, portable speakers and action cameras from suppliers such as Apple and Samsung.

The company expects to in‐ vest around £15 million (€16.5 million) up to August 2022 in refitting and stocking the shops but says that in a fully recovered travel environment, it anticipates that these stores will deliver sales of c.£60 mil‐ lion (€66 million) per year.

Although business has suf‐ fered in its travel division with sales running at around 48 per cent of 2019, its High Street shops are seeing much better results at 86 per cent of 2019 turnover.

The liquidity position re‐ mains strong and at the end of

Looking up THE Spanish economy is forecasted to grow by 6.2 per cent in 2021 and 6.3 per cent in 2022, according to the EU’s latest interim economic forecast.

The EU’s economy is forecast to rebound faster than previously expected, as activity in the first quarter of the year exceeded expectations and the improved health situation prompted a swifter easing of pandemic control restrictions in the second quarter, the European Commission said in a statement on Wednesday July 7.

“The EU economy is set to see its fastest growth in decades this year, fuelled by strong demand both at home and globally and a swifter-than-expected reopening of services sectors since the spring,” said Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for Economy.

June 2021, the company had cash in hand of £95 million (€105 million) and their re‐ volving credit facility of £250 million (€275 million) remains undrawn.

BUSINESS EXTRA Huge fine THE European Commission has imposed a fine of €875 million on three German car manufacturers, Audi Porsche, BMW and Volkswagen, all part of the same group, accusing them of violating anti-cartel regulations with regards to their technology to reduce diesel emissions.

Pandemic profit ON July 8, UK based Watches of Switzerland reported full-year sales of more than £905 million (€995 million) and increased profits as sales of luxury watches increased by 16 per cent. It now plans to expand into Europe and strengthen its position in the UK and USA.

First purchase BRITISH investment fund Stirling Square Capital Partners has made its first major venture in Spain by purchasing Sustainable Agro Solutions (SAS), a Catalan based natural fertilizer group for an undisclosed amount which is understood to be in excess of €150 million.

15 - 21 July 2021

EWN 33

34 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 July 2021

FEATURE

DO YOU BELIEVE UFOS EXIST?

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT I BELIEVE that to deny there are other forms of intelligent life in the universe is either breathtakingly arrogant or an almost frightening naivity.

The human brain is not actually geared to take in the vast numbers of planets and stars, or even conceive the sheer volume of galaxies that exist in the endless expanses that we refer to as ‘space.’ If you could count the grains of sand on this planet of ours, which includes all the deserts and vast depths of our oceans, you still wouldn’t even be coming close to the sheer magnitude of stars that could be capable of sustaining some form of life in the infinite reaches of the universe.

It stands to reason that these beings could be thousands, possibly millions of years in advance of us in intellect and intelligence. To the manifestations existing in these unknown dimensions, travelling through time and space would be a mere bagatelle. Distances themselves

Trip to Pluto anyone?

would have no meaning and even time, as we perceive it, would have ceased to exist.

Is it not then perfectly feasible that these advanced races would welcome some time to chill out, in much the same way as we need to occasionally switch off and relax?

Vacations and scientific expeditions would, I think be something of a priority in the worlds of these ancient wonders of creation, and I can truly visualise some holistic ‘Happy Holidays’ brochure informing its

customers that you can partake of the ‘Grand Planetary Tour,’ which takes in a selection of other worlds at different stages of their evolution.

Naturally, any set of beings advanced enough to have access to this type of holiday, would be far too intelligent to ‘interfere’ with any other primitive races they would be observing on their galaxy cruise.

This is why I believe that most of the thousands of UFO sightings reported over the years have probably been glitches or errors on

the part of the organisers. (These cheapo travel companies are all the same!)

The wonders of creation are fully intended to be beyond our wildest imagination; but to maintain we are the only cluster of beings that exist and there are no other ultra‐ intelligent manifestations ‘out there’ I actually find totally inconceivable!

‘Where shall we go this year darling?

Shall we do the Earth, Pluto, Sun all inclusive? Too passé? Well what about a trip down that newly

discovered Black Hole’? ‘Ok, that’s a great idea; just make sure we don’t have to isolate when we get there!’

Is this Patel woman for real? Her new mind boggling smoke and mirrors solution to the ‘boat immigration’ problem is to introduce prison sentences of up to four years for those deemed guilty of this ‘offence’.

At the moment it costs £45,000 a year to keep one person incarcerated.

This amount could probably be tripled if you take into account the legal fees and court cases that, due to the UK’s ludicrous ‘uman rights policies, would automatically precede any punishment. Just what planet does this particular alien exist on?

‘Beam me up Scotty.’

Keep the faith.

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland. Mon. Wed. Fri. 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

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 July 2021

EWN 35

ARE MASK-DITCHERS THE NEW ANTI-VAXXERS NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist.

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

WITH the government easing Covid restric‐ tions, is England being condemned to be split into two hostile tribes between mask‐wear‐ ers and mask‐ditchers ‐ beset by distrust and maybe violence?

But then this is an age when people define their identity not by what they are for, but who they are against ‐ ‘the other’. Once more, it's Leave / Remain; Right / Left; Nanny State / Libertarianism; Pro‐Vaxxers / Anti‐ Vaxxers. All the good people are on one side.

Again.

Whether you’re a right wing culture war‐ rior or a left wing libertarian, invariably ‘the other’ is not only ‘stupid’ but ‘malevolent’.

Any vital nuanced thinking and debate are buried under an avalanche of lazy, polarised opinion.

Basically, accept risk and accept the conse‐ quences! If you’re considered at a level of risk

TWO SIDES: Don’t belittle others for being cautious. and aren’t jabbed (voluntarily) and become infected: tough luck. Don’t blame others or the system. If your employer demands you are jabbed and lose your job: tough luck. You made a choice ‐ don’t blame them for doing what they also feel is right.

If you wish to wear a mask still, do that. It’s absolutely OK. If you chose not to, then that’s OK too.

Don’t belittle others for being cautious.

They may have lost loved ones in the most painful and loneliest way. It may also have

been your actions (or lack of) indirectly that killed them.

Finally, I’d like to see more police on the streets to provide a reassuring face to this re‐ turn to ‘normality’. To push back against any rise in personal physical attacks in a poten‐ tially toxic atmosphere of acrimony, distrust and quite possibly violence and to be able to recognise the troublemakers walking down the streets. People with agendas can bleat on about convenient ‘facts’ to support an argu‐ ment, but they’d be better off spending their energy looking forwards not backwards.

This is a steady walk to victory not a race for the finish line. So, as the great face mask face‐off begins in England, which camp are you in?

Nora Johnson’s psychological crime thrillers ‘The Sentinel’, ‘No Safe Place’, ‘Be‐ trayal’, ‘The Girl in the Woods’, ‘The Girl in the Red Dress’, ‘No Way Back’, ‘Landscape of Lies’, ‘Retribution’, ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora‐johnson.net) available online as eBook (€0.99; £0.99), Ap‐ ple Books, paperback and audiobook. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

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

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

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

ROSE TINTED GLASSES Dear Leapy, Your article Rose-tinted glasses, has echoed observations myself and many others have noticed over the last few years. This is a very worrying trend which in no way reflects real life.

Well done and keep up the good work.

P Manser

Brits in Spain

Authorities’ view is clouded.

The way in which some Brits are being treated by the Spanish authorities is a disgrace.

Consider. An English couple who are keen to move to Spain receive an email which is in Spanish, is protected so that one cannot copy and paste it to a translation site. The couple are told by telephone that their application is rejected and there is no right of appeal. Their application was rejected because they were one day late registering with the Padron. One day late because the office was closed. They meet all the requirements to support their application but because of the one day when the Padron’s office was closed they now have to return to England and start the whole application process again. Sadly, although most Spanish people are caring and considerate, there are some who are ‘not very nice’.

Kind regards Tony Gee

Council Tax Exemption for Prayer Rooms In reply to G Nicholson’s letter asking whether it is true that ‘any Muslim in the UK who declares his house a place of worship is no longer required to pay council tax’. This is in fact untrue.

Such rumours have been spreading across social media and forums for well over a decade, and over the years have inspired a number of different versions. However, despite this rumour’s persistence, it isn’t based on reality.

In 2013 this rumour sparked a petition on the No 10 website which garnered 272 votes before it was removed as being misleading and factually incorrect.

In 2018 this rumour surfaced again with a question in the House of Commons. The reply is available in the House of Commons Library and states that this claim and others like it have ‘no basis in Council Tax law’. It added: ‘It is not possible for owners of domestic property to avoid council tax by claiming that their property, or part of it, is used for religious purposes’.

NOT THIS TIME IT seems unlikely that Gareth Southgate will receive a knighthood which would have been a good bet had England not been defeated once again by penalties.

Love it or hate it, the football has been a pleasant (for most) distraction from the problems that continue to affect most of the world.

There is also a major learning opportunity as to whether allowing such large crowds at both Wembley and Wimbledon will see even greater spikes in Covid-19 infection and either way, those who were effectively guinea pigs will have helped the scientists construct new

CORRECTIONS

From our Facebook

In 2021 this rumour was given another lease of life after a TikTok video of someone asking a smartphone assistant the question as to whether Muslims can avoid paying Council Tax via the aforementioned loophole went viral. In the video the smartphone assistant appears to confirm the rumour. However this video - if anything - demonstrates the unreliable nature of asking questions to smartphone assistants.

In this case the voice assistant merely parroted the archived and discredited petition mentioned above, giving the impression that the assistant was answering the question and using the UK government as its source.

It is true that ‘places of worship’ are exempt from Business Rates in the UK. However, those looking to become exempt and wish to certify their building as a place of worship have to register according to the ‘Places of Worship Registration Act 1855’.

This Act requires that those registering provide comprehensive details regarding the property including a floor plan and details of an average weekly timetable of events taking place in the building must be provided. In addition details of fire precautions and access, ventilation and lighting and other health and safety issues normally associated with public access would be required under the Health & Safety At Work Act. It is also likely that planning permission would be required as this is a change of use and this would require details of issues such as parking and access and the council would have to take into account the effect on the amenity of the area.

It is worth noting that in general only Public places of worship are exempt from Council Tax and that this exemption applies to all religions. There are other exemptions relating to accommodation attached and used solely to support the act of worship to cover things such as convents and monasteries.

The reality is that merely setting aside a room in which to worship in an otherwise residential address doesn’t exempt you from Council Tax, regardless of which religion you follow.

Best regards C Browning

OUR VIEW

ways of planning for contagion.

By and large it was a relatively trouble-free event although how ticketless ‘fans’ could break in to Wembley and stay to watch the match is beyond belief.

Apart from the disappointment for England with the result, the worst thing has been the racial abuse on social media to the three black players who did not score from the penalty spot.

This is sadly an example of how cowardly fools hide behind computer screens to spew out hatred assuming that they will remain anonymous and let’s hope that the

police will discover their identities and charge them.

Here in Spain, those bars and restaurants offering access to watch the matches have certainly done very well out of the campaign and certainly the British spend will have been a very welcome boost for the owners who suffered so much from lockdown.

There is at least one consolation for the three lads who didn’t score as Gareth Southgate alongside teammates Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle earned a decent crust from their Pizza Hut advert in 1996.

RACIAL ABUSE: Followed the penalties of the EURO 2020 final.

Kate Faet Smith Absolutely disgraceful behaviour.

Sharon Terry Ban all of them from social media, and fine them.

Avril Butt Not a football fan but guys you all did your best, so well done for your achievement.

Brian Francis If they absolutely have to blame anyone it should be the manager who failed to see the obvious. That the Italian substitutions were taking the game away from us. He failed to bring on a couple of pacey players until it was too late. Well done Mancini for having the courage to go for it. You made your own luck.

Elke Bailey Unbelievable. There are too many hooligans calling themselves fans.

Linda Tubb They are not football fans, they are ignorant racist morons.

By all means criticise a footballer for missing a penalty but I fail to see what that has to do with the colour of their skin!

Antonio Aragonés Don’t pay them the compliment of calling them fans. They aren’t interested in the football. It’s just a vehicle for their xenophobia and ignorance.

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

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

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

Advertising Feature VOSS HOMES EXCLUSIVE TO VOSS HOMES - An immaculately maintained, homely, spacious, three bed, two bath detached two storey villa of 121m2 with H&C air con, private, low maintenance gardens / driveway (full plot size 197m2) and use of two large communal swimming pools and gardens. Walking distance into the village of La Alfoquia with shops, restaurants, bank, doctors, vets, bowling green and much more.

Four mins drive to Zurgena village, six mins drive to Arboleas, 12 mins drive to Huercal-Overa and Albox and 25 mins drive to coast at Mojacar, Vera and Garrucha.

The community fees are ONLY approx €512 PER YEAR. Rates (IBI) are €268 per year plus rubbish collection of €148 per year. The property has great long term rental potential €450 per month plus bills is achievable. Some of the furniture is also for sale.

Downstairs the house has a large open plan living / dining room with H&C air con and wood burning fire.

15 - 21 July 2021

Property of the week 119,950

Villa Buena in La Alfoquia Next is the fitted kitchen with patio door leading out to the rear garden with seating areas.

Also downstairs is the third double bedroom with built in wardrobes. There is also a family shower room with walk in shower room.

From the living room marble stairs lead up to a landing with a door leading out to a terrace with country views and out to the communal pool area.

Upstairs are also two very large double bedrooms. One to the front has a walk in dressing room and good size terrace with great views.

The second double bedroom looks out to the rear of the property and pool area.

This bedroom has fitted wardrobes

EWN 45

HOMELY VILLA: This property is well maintained and has low maintenance gardens and two communal swimming pools available.

For more information and to arrange a viewing of Villa Buena VH1880 please call Voss Homes on 0034 950 616 827 or 0034 678 002 006 or visit our offices.

euros

and both have H&C air con. There is also a family bathroom.

The garden is private, low maintenance, walled and gated and wraps around the house. To the side is an attractive imprinted concrete driveway for one / two cars plus there is plenty of safe on-road parking.

To the side and rear there are the gardens and seating areas with garden shed and built in bbq plus a lockable access gate directly into one of the swimming pools and communal garden.

Voss Homes is a British family-run business with an office in this village of La Alfoquia and the thriving, nearby market town of Huercal-Overa. We look forward to helping you find your ideal property in Spain.

46 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 July 2021

Tan-tastic:

how to stay bronzed WE spend hours in the sun trying to get bronzed and look good, but after a few days back in the colder weather, any reminder of the endless hours patiently sunbathing soon fade; here are a few tips to help keep you looking tanned and healthy.

Preparation of the skin is vital to

achieve a glowing tan, always moisturise the skin daily, there is no such a thing as over moisturising.

Days before take time to exfoliate the skin thoroughly and apply liberal amounts of moisturiser.

Apply as often as possible, peeling skin is not attractive!

Once you are happily settled at your holiday destination, use sunscreen. Higher factors for the first few days are

recommended until you have the basis of a tan then you can lower the factor.

Always use an after-sun cream, preferably one containing A loe V era that helps repair the skin.

W hen showering use cool water. Hot water can strip the skin of oils essential to retain a good tan. It is advisable to use a hydrating shower cream or oil rather than a gel or a foam.

If you need to exfoliate after your holiday, do so very gently. Dead skin cells can make the skin appear dull but do not scrub!

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

STAY MOISTURISED: Always use after sun.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

All in the mind W H I L S T we may have read about Meghan Markle’s strict meditation routine in the days leading to her wedding or Goldie Hawn’s summer holiday to a retreat in Greece, the relatively new practice of mindfulness is still an unknown practice that most of us are still unacquainted with.

Rooted from ancient Buddhist traditions, the modern version of the mindfulness movement began in 1979.

Kabat-Zinn; a professor from Massachusetts Medical School who worked on pain relief in his patients discovered that patients tried to mentally escape or avoid the pain, but this inner struggle resulted in creating more problems, mental anguish and exhaustion.

By teaching them a mindful approach to the pain, he could relieve distress and improve overall health.

Mindfulness is a natural quality that we all possess, we just need to focus on the art of creating space for ourselves time to think, breathe and be aware of our actions at that present moment.

The benefits of practising mindfulness in adults, children and in the workplace are overwhelming. Proven positive outcomes include the following:

Decreased stress, better health, more energy, reduced depression symptoms, assistance in recovery, improved academic success and enhanced ability to deal with illness.

To learn the art of mindfulness needs consistent practice as quoted by Buddha - ‘Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.’

So, to begin the process set a time limit each day that will be viable, take a seat in a place that makes you feel calm and start by noticing your body. Feel the sensation of your breath as you inhale and exhale.

When you notice your mind beginning to wander and your attention leaves the sensations of the breath to think of other things -simply return your attention to the breath.

Don’t be judgemental to yourself or obsess over the content of your thoughts, just go back to experiencing the awareness of your breath so you too can feel the amazing benefits of this calming form of meditation.

Remember - ‘Mindfulness is the act of being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling at every moment without interpretation or judgement.’

HEALTH & BEAUTY

www.euroweeklynews.com

Choc milk boosts recovery

CHOCOHOLICS will be happy to learn that chocolate milk is one of the best drinks to boost recovery after exercise.

According to a recent survey, chocolate milkshakes allow athletes to exercise for six minutes longer than advertised sports drinks as well as improve heart rate and lactic acid levels which could cause cramping.

The chocolate and milk combined contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats and electrolytes unlike the more traditional drinks which often do not contain proteins.

The research was conducted at the Sadoughi University in Iran, Study author Dr Amin Salehi-Abargouei said, “Chocolate milk contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, flavonoids, electrolytes, and some vitamins which make this drink a good choice for recovery in athletes.

“The take-home message is that chocolate milk is a lowcost, delicious and palatable option for recovery and provides either similar or superior effects compared with commercial drinks.”

One-hundred-and-fifty participants were used in the experiment and asked to complete a number of tasks from running and cycling to gym work. Their post-recovery process was then analysed with tests done on heart rates, levels of lactic acid and tiredness.

Kim Spaccarotella from Kean University in Union, New Jersey, was not involved in the study, but agreed with the research, saying, “Any food that provides carbohydrate, protein, fluid and electrolytes and is well-tolerated will help promote recovery.

“In addition to chocolate milk, other popular choices are cereal with milk, smoothies, sandwiches or soup. A small meal will even work, if the athlete is feeling hungry.”

MILKING IT: One of the best after exercise.

15 - 21 July 2021

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48 EWN

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15 - 21 July 2021

FEATURE

Keep those biting bugs at bay EMMA WALLSWORTH SUMMER has arrived and so have our biting bugs, mosquitoes and stinging insects, so make sure you are prepared.

Make your own bite and wasp sting relief soft salve at home.

Ingredients: • 17g of organic beeswax • cup of organic olive oil • cup of organic coconut oil • 5 drops of lavender essential oil • 5 drops of calendula essential oil • 5 drops of peppermint oil Method: 1. Add water into a pan and heat.

2. In a glass jug add grated beeswax 3. Place jug into pan of hot water (water should only reach halfway up your jug) 4. Melt wax and stir with a wood skewer.

5. Once wax is melted add your olive oil and coconut oil 6. Once all melted take off the heat and add your chosen essential oils 7. Pour into heatproof jars and leave to set.

STING RELIEF: You can make at home.

Essential oil health benefits: Lavender essential oil can erase nervous tension, increase blood circulation, cure res‐ piratory problems, sanitise skin and scalp and calm pain.

Calendula oil blends well with other floral oils and oils that also provide good antibacte‐ rial and antiseptic properties.

Peppermint can be attributed to the pres‐ ence of menthol and other biochemicals which have been tested to repel bugs, cock‐ roaches, and mosquitoes. You can always prepare a safe bug repellent with the use of peppermint oil as a base, although it can be applied directly to keep the bugs and mosquitoes away.

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

50 EWN

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15 - 21 July 2021

FEATURE

GO LOCAL

THE EUROWEEKLY NEWS is urging its readers to support local businesses in the com‐ munity by going local now that the lockdown has end‐ ed and for your all your shopping this year, instead of feeding online giants and superstores.

We challenge you to redis‐ cover your local high streets, markets, butchers, green‐

grocers and all of the won‐ derfully quirky independent businesses in your area.

Now that the Covid‐19 pandemic appears to be un‐ der control, it is a good idea to try and support many lo‐ cal businesses by ordering online and making use of any click and collect services they can operate, especially if you are unable to get out

due to health reasons or any other restrictions.

The joy of shopping local means that independent businesses can help support the local community.

Although it may be a euro or two cheaper elsewhere or online, consider where your money is actually going.

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

Many local stores support local charities, support and sponsor local sports teams and in many cases the small independent stores are actu‐ ally much more than just a small high street shop, they’re a family’s legacy, of‐ ten passed down through numerous generations and support not just the current owner but the generation before.

For those stores which are new, that extra couple of eu‐ ros spent there are support‐ ing someone’s dream and ambition, and also the courage it took them to step out alone, which is no easy

task. It takes quite a large chunk of money to set up an independent store and com‐ pete with the multinational and chains.

So be sure to pre‐order your meat from a local butcher and get your spuds from a local greengrocer, let us revive that community spirit and get to know our neighbours again.

You could also consider purchasing gift vouchers from local businesses to help them over the coming weeks, thinking outside the box can often lead to some fantastic ideas.

Why not buy a meal for two, an hour’s tattoo time at a local studio, a hair cut at a local salon or an online study course for someone looking to change their ca‐ reer path.

As people are struggling with finances thinking about what friends and family may actually need is important too. Whilst it’s nice to give a glamourous gift perhaps pre‐ paying a family member’s phone bill for the month would actually be a better gift. Helping people alleviate stress and worry, give the gift of peace of mind

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 July 2021

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

To advertise here contact us on:

951 386 161

through these difficult times.

Choosing to spend your money locally will really make a difference in the re‐ covery of the local economy.

When we buy local, our money stays local, and it strengthens the local econo‐ my in two ways. First, buying local keeps money circulat‐ ing within the local econo‐ my.

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

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

Money circulating through the local economy benefits everyone who is a part of

each transaction. For exam‐ ple, let’s look at a local farmer growing produce.

First, they sell to a local restaurant, which in turn prepares the fresh produce and sells it to local cus‐ tomers.

The farmer pays its local employees and the restau‐ rant uses revenue from sales to buy supplies from a neighbourhood hardware store. This example illus‐ trates how the recirculation of money in the local econo‐ my leads to a stronger finan‐ cial foundation for our neighbours and communi‐ ties.

Buying local also fuels new employment and job oppor‐ tunities for people within our community.

Studies show, locally owned businesses employ more people per unit of

sales and retain more em‐ ployees over time.

A fantastic example of how to support your local community is with a Charity Gift certificate, why not do‐ nate to your loved one’s favourite cause.

Just remember to still fol‐ low the latest government advice and any guidance businesses have to keep ev‐ eryone safe in the future.

EWN 51

PETS

52

www.euroweeklynews.com • 15 • 21 July 2021

SPONSORED BY

Do you need a pet-sitter this summer?

IF you are planning a trip later this year you still need to plan early for pet and house‐sitters.

Perhaps you are already mak‐ ing plans for a staycation get away. Even if you are planning just a short trip, you’ll know that you simply can’t travel with some pets. Young pets in particular may benefit from staying behind so they can fol‐ low their routines at home. So, plan ahead.

Take a moment to plan ahead for pet and house‐sitters, if you have trips planned later this year. Now is the time to get ready. We will help you as much as we can. Our philosophy is that we are all in this together.

These are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com 2. Choose a Premium ac‐ count (£89 per year) to ensure you can help online when need‐ ed 3. Create a profile with ph‐

Mature pets prefer their own space.

tos of your pet and the house 4. Post a house‐sit advert stating your plans for your next holiday Covid permitting Do you need a pet‐sitter in 2021? Then get started right now.

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HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our net‐ work for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday.

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

Imaging technology is critical for adequate diagnosis and SENSITIVE detection of lesions is necessary to determine appro‐ priate therapy and to monitor therapeutic results. New technolo‐ gy in digital radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and MRI scanning are now widely available in veterinary medicine.

Diagnostic imaging plays an essential role in the diagnostic workup and/or staging of small animal cancer patients. For some tumours, it is also an essential tool for surgical and radiation ther‐ apy planning.

CT is often the preferred method to evaluate a variety of can‐ cers including lung cancer, thoracic, abdominal and bone tumoors as the images allow confirming the presence of a tumoor, mea‐ sure its size, precise location and the extent of the tumoor’s in‐ volvement with other nearby tissues.

MRI is especially useful in imaging the brain and spine, as well as the soft tissue of joints and structures of bones.

High‐quality diagnostic imaging plays an important role in pro‐ viding an accurate diagnosis, which is why Anicura Marina Baixa Veterinary Hospital has heavily invested in the best, state‐of‐the‐ art imaging equipment in veterinary medicine.

Rescue pets FOR years it has been medically documented that companion animals, like dogs, cats, rabbits and birds, help people live longer and healthier lives.

Being responsible for caring for an animal often gives new meaning to someone who is liv‐ ing alone or who is far from loved ones. Pets can help elder‐ ly people keep an active lifestyle and may help fill a void left by living alone.

For working families taking on a rescue pet should take into consideration that they have time for a new family pet. Chil‐ dren should be encouraged to help and go to dog training classes which are educational, social and a lot of fun.

Seniors may want to consider adopting an older adult animal instead of a puppy or kitten or rambunctious ‘teenage’ pet.

Older pets are more likely to be calm, already house trained and less susceptible to unpre‐ dictable behaviour. Animal shel‐

ter staff can help potential adopters find the most suitable animal.

Seniors should not be en‐ couraged to take on a large dog, many seniors take on a dog far too powerful for them. Obvi‐ ously if you live in an apartment then you have a small dog.

Dog’s lives evolve around odour; I always recommend bathing a rescue pet as soon as possible. By doing this you wash away the old identity and allow the dog to get his new identity.

Take your new pet for a walk around the area of yourhome as soon as you are able. This al‐ lows your new pet to learn the new smells of the area.

Ensure all doors, gates etc to the home are secure and that you have a microchip or tab on the collar with your phone num‐ ber.

Try not to smother the dog and keep in mind that now is the time to set the rules of your home.

15 - 21 July 2021 • www.euroweeklynews.com

53

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trol. 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/coun ties/spain-north ZURGENA Branch meeting on the first Thursday, Coffee Morning on the third Thursday and Buffet & Quiz Night on the last Tuesday of the month all at The Heathers La Alfoquia, for further details please email zurgenar blsecretary@yahoo.co.uk (253989)

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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 tbuddyhhvisits@gmail.com . If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in con-

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Communion at Los Llanos every Sunday except the last Sunday in the month when there will be Prayer and Praise all at 11am. The Alhambra service has moved to the Peruvian church in Albox and Communion is held on the second Thursday of the month at 11am. Priest in charge Rev Vincent ORAM. For further information, please go to The Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida web page. Or contact Tony Noble 950 069 103.

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ESTATE AGENT VOSS HOMES are a professional, British family-run Estate Agents with an office in Huercal-Overa town. They specialise in selling and renting properties in the Huercal-Overa, La Alfoquia, Zurgena & Taberno area.

Andy, Anna, Jess, Adele, Hannah, Amy & Karen look forward to helping you buy, sell or rent your ideal property. Please call 678 002 006 for more information (283824) www.euroweeklynews.com

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54 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 July 2021

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack IT’S one of those cars that’s been a staple of city streets for decades, the preserve of young first time drivers and more mature drivers who have downsized as their mo‐ toring requirements lessen. In its latest form though the Nis‐ san Micra bears no resem‐ blance to its forebears. Gone are the rather dumpy, bug eye looks in favour

Nissan Micra Tekna of a modern, sharply styled city car.

Prices start from €16,711 (£14,340) with four trim lev‐ els, just one engine, a 1.0‐litre, three‐cylinder turbocharged petrol, and a choice of five‐ speed manual or CVT auto‐ matic

gearbox. All have four doors and the Micra looks particu‐ larly snazzy when you open the door.

My top‐line Tekna model was finished in optional Pas‐ sion Red paintwork (€670/£575) with an interior that had light grey highlights

on the seating and dash.

Standard fare is good with even lead‐in models equipped with auto lights and wipers, Bluetooth, air conditioning, power door mirrors, tyre pres‐ sure monitoring system and a plethora of safety kit. My Tek‐ na model (€22,614/£19,405) added a Bose sound system, navigation, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, parking sensors, cruise control, rear view camera, automat‐ ic air condition‐ ing and key‐

less entry and start.

It’s a smart place to be with plenty of room at the front and, considering its diminu‐ tive size, reasonable space for the rear passengers, so the Micra fits a lot in to its small frame.

The steering is a little light on the move, better in town, but responds well enough and the ride is pretty decent even over rough surfaces.

The CVT automatic gearbox is a smooth operator but rather slow to respond and lengthens the 0 to 100 kph dash by two seconds over the

MOTORING

already moderate perfor‐ mance of the manual. Ease the right foot and the auto box is fine, but try a more spirited start and things get quite noisy and not much in the way of forward motion.

Personally, I would opt for the manual gearbox to make the Micra a really useable and likeable city car.

With such a lot of competi‐ tion the Micra has its work cut out against the likes of Ford’s Fiesta and Vauxhall’s Corsa, to name just two. However, the Micra beats, significantly in some cases, the competition on price.

It also has the more edgy and unusual looks, plus higher levels of tech. It’s moved into a car for the young and trendy with equipment to match.

Facts at a Glance Model: Nissan Micra Tekna CVT Engine: 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol developing 99hp Gears: CVT automatic Performance: 0-100 kph (62 mph) Petrol 10.9 secs Maximum Speed Petrol 183 kph (114 mph) Economy: Petrol 5.6 l/100km (50.4 mpg) WLTP Emissions: 105g/km WLTP Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

A sharply styled car.

MOTORING

www.euroweeklynews.com

Huge fines for BMW THE European Commission found that Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen group, Volk‐ swagen, Audi and Porsche, breached EU antitrust rules by colluding on technical de‐ velopment in the area of ni‐ trogen oxide cleaning.

The Commission has im‐ posed a fine of €875,189,000.

Daimler was not fined, as it revealed the existence of the cartel to the Commission. All parties acknowledged their involvement in the cartel and agreed to settle the case.

“The five car manufactur‐ ers Daimler, BMW, Volkswa‐ gen, Audi and Porsche pos‐ sessed the technology to reduce harmful emissions be‐ yond what was legally re‐ quired under EU emission standards,” said Executive Vice‐President of the Com‐ mission Margrethe Vestager on Thursday July 8.

“But they avoided to com‐ pete on using this technolo‐ gy’s full potential to clean better than what is required by law. So, today’s decision is about how legitimate techni‐

cal cooperation went wrong.

And we do not tolerate it when companies collude. It is illegal under EU Antitrust rules. Competition and inno‐ vation on managing car pollu‐ tion are essential for Europe to meet our ambitious Green Deal objectives. And this deci‐ sion shows that we will not hesitate to take action against all forms of cartel conduct putting in jeopardy this goal,” she added.

The car manufacturers held regular technical meetings to discuss the development of the selective catalytic reduc‐ tion (SCR)‐technology which eliminates harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx)‐emissions from diesel passenger cars through the injection of urea (also called ‘AdBlue’) into the ex‐ haust gas stream. During these meetings, and for over five years, the car manufac‐ turers colluded to avoid com‐ petition on cleaning better than what is required by law despite the relevant technol‐ ogy being available.

More specifically, Daimler,

BMW and Volkswagen group reached an agreement on Ad‐ Blue tank sizes and ranges and a common understanding on the average estimated Ad‐ Blue‐consumption. They also exchanged commercially sen‐ sitive information on these el‐ ements. They thereby re‐ moved the uncertainty about their future market conduct concerning NOx‐emissions cleaning beyond and above the legal requirements, so called ‘over‐fulfilment’, and AdBlue‐refill ranges.

This means that they re‐ stricted competition on prod‐ uct characteristics relevant for the customers.

That conduct constitutes an infringement by object in the form of a limitation of technical development, a type of infringement explicitly referred to in Article 101(1)(b) of the Treaty and Article 53(1)(b) of the Euro‐ pean Economic Area (EEA)‐ Agreement.

The conduct took place be‐ tween June 2009 and Octo‐ ber 2014.

15 - 21 July 2021

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Vehicle sales increase REGISTRATIONS in Spain for electric, hybrid and gas vehicles (cars, quadricycles, commercial and industrial vehicles and bus‐ es) increased in June 2021 by 126.8 per cent compared to the same month in 2020, to 35,413 units, 34,457 of which were registrations for passenger cars.

Total sales for the year saw the purchase of these vehicles rise by 134 per cent, to 149,014 units.

For the passenger car mar‐ ket, the figure was 133.41 per cent in the first quarter, main‐ taining a growing rhythm that with 141,878 registered units already account for one out of every three passenger car sales, managed to surpass for

the first time purchases of diesel cars.

The increase in registrations up to June this year places the total share of this type of vehi‐ cle at 26.7 per cent of the glob‐ al market in Spain. The regis‐ tered sales of 110,118 units of non‐plug‐in hybrids this year, represented 19.73 per cent of the total market.

Compared to June 2020, all types of alternatively powered vehicles managed to increase their sales, representing 31 per cent of the total market. Pure electric vehicles registered the highest increase in the month, with a growth of 226.8 per cent, with 2,967 units.

Similarly, plug‐in hybrids and conventional hybrids follow

SALES RISE: On electric, hybrid and gas vehicles.

the trend of recent months, with a growth of 206.7 per cent and 122.2 per cent, respective‐ ly. For their part, gas vehicles (LPG, GN and LNG) achieved a lower increase than the rest of the alternative vehicles, with a growth of just 7.7 per cent.

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Novak Djokovic wins Wimbledon 2021

NOVAK DJOKOVIC’S win at Wimbledon on Sunday July 11 ‐ his third successive crown on the famous Cen‐ tre Court grass ‐ takes him into the tennis history books, level with Spain’s Rafa Nadal and Switzerland’s Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles each.

With this victory, Djokovic is the first male tennis play‐ er ‐ since the Australian legend, Rod Laver, back in 1969 ‐ to win the opening three Grand Slam tournaments of a tennis season, and is only the fifth player in history to achieve that.

The 34‐year‐old Serb was involved in a thrilling 6‐7 6‐ 4 6‐4 6‐3 battle with the 25‐year‐old Italian, Matteo Berrettini, who was making his first‐ever appearance in a Grand Slam tournament final, and he certainly didn’t let himself down, as he captured the first set after a tie break.

A crowd of 15,000 witnessed a magnificent display of tennis from both players, who maybe suspected a shock was on the cards when the No1 seed lost the first set, before fighting back to win the next two sets in a true champion’s style, as, remarkably, today’s set was only one of two that he dropped during the whole of the SW19 fortnight.

Berrettini saved two match points at 5‐3 in the fourth set, before being unable to return the third serve, slicing it into the net, and a joyous Djokovic collapsed to the hallowed grass with his arms stretched out wide, clearly emotional after his incredible achievement, while the

DJOKOVIC: Involved in a thrilling final.

Italian had very contrasting emotions, crouched double, hands on knees, after an admirable effort.

Speaking after his win, the champion said, “Winning Wimbledon was always the biggest dream for me when I was a kid. A seven‐year‐old boy in Serbia con‐ structing a Wimbledon trophy with improvised materi‐ als and standing here with a sixth real trophy is incredi‐ ble. It is amazing.”

Adding, “It was more than a battle. I would first like to extend my congratulations to Matteo, his family, and his team for a fantastic tournament. A tough match today, obviously I know that it’s not the best feeling losing in a final, but I’m sure that there’s a great career ahead of you. As Matteo said, it’s just the beginning and I truly be‐ lieve in that. Matteo has an incredible game, very pow‐ erful, an Italian hammer ‐ I felt that!”

Italy are the new Champions of Europe THE moment was finally upon us, England versus Italy at Wembley Stadium, the culmination of one month of international competi‐ tion, leaving just two nations standing to battle it out for the tro‐ phy England have never won, and that Italy last won back in 1968, having since been runners‐up in 2000, and 2012.

Gareth Southgate had tweaked his team slightly, going with a five‐ man defence that featured Atleti‐ co Madrid’s Kieran Trippier, who replaced the young Arsenal striker Buyayu Saka in the starting 11, apart from that, he started with the same team that played Den‐ mark in the semi‐final.

Southgate must be able to pre‐ dict the future, because the player he had introduced was responsi‐ ble for an incredible ball across the box that found Manchester Unit‐ ed’s Luke Shaw in space, and he thundered a shot on the half‐vol‐ ley beyond the stranded Azzuri keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, scoring the fastest goal ever in the history of the tournament, after

only one minute and 57 seconds.

Both teams pressed but there were no real clear‐cut chances, as ITALIAN CAPTAIN: Giorgio Chiellini. both sets of players defended their lines so well, and through a very solid Italian de‐ England’s midfield was superb, as fence, and the game drifted to‐ they went in 1‐0 at the break. wards an extra 30 minutes of play.

Incredibly, in the 64th minute, Extra time saw Jack Grealish England had only their second at‐ take the field, replacing Mason tempt on goal, as John Stones rose Mount, and Mancini surprisingly to meet a corner, forcing Don‐ swapped Verratti for Locatelli, af‐ narumma into a fingertip save. ter Verratti had dominated the And then came disaster for Eng‐ middle of the field for the Italians land, as Chiesa won a corner in the for a lot of the second half.

66th minute, the ball was crossed A last throw of the dice saw to the far post where Marco Ver‐ Man United pair, Jadon Sancho ratti’s header was brilliantly and Marcus Rashford enter the blocked by Pickford, only for the field of play, with three minutes ball to bounce to veteran defend‐ left on the clock, it looked like go‐ er Leonardo Bonucci who couldn’t ing to penalties. fail to score, and Italy were level.

And so, with Pickford saving Southgate dealt a card in the two penalties, Donnarumma 70th minute, swapping Kieran saved penalties from Rashford, Trippier for Saka, and then Hen‐ Sancho, and finally Saka, for Italy derson replaced Declan Rice, but to be crowned the new champi‐ try as they may, there was no way ons of Europe.