Issue No. 1902
16 - 22 Dec 2021
Back to basics PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, the Diputacion, is assisting 98 town halls with human resources and payroll man‐ agement. Eugenio Gonzalez, who heads the Diputacion’s Help for Municipalities de‐ partment, explained that ensuring town halls had sufficient staff and pay‐ ments were made on time guaranteed that they could continue to provide essen‐ tial services. It was a “maximum prior‐ ity” to ensure that town halls, groups of municipali‐ ties and consortiums had personnel capable of or‐ ganising staff, dealing with the payroll and keeping up to date with regulations and changes in the law that affected salaries, contracts and leave amongst other is‐ sues. “This translates into fighting depopulation,” Gonzalez declared.
COSTA DE ALMERIA • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
POINSETTIAS FOR EQUALITY
Photo credit: Almeria Red Cross
CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN: Red Cross promotes equality in the workplace.
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16 - 22 December 2021
from Front page » SHOPS in Almeria City once again joined forces with the Red Cross to promote equality in the workplace. As the Red Cross organisation has pointed out, despite advances in equality, the position of women in the employment market is still very different from that of males. Eighty shops collaborated with the Pascuero por la Igual‐ dad (Poinsettias for Equality) campaign, which
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Women still at a disadvantage
the Red Cross’s Employment Plan organises each year via its Social Business Challenge. This has the double objective of raising so‐ cial and corporate awareness regarding the plight of the unemployed and at the same time boosting purchases in small and medium family‐run businesses. Between December 7
and 10, each establishment belonging to the Almeria Centro associations presented a tick‐ et to each customer who could then take it to the Red Cross stall in Puerta de Purchena to receive one of the 500 poinsettias that were given away. Along with their purchases they also received one of the campaign’s carrier
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bags bearing the slogan, ‘Contrata sin im‐ porter edad, genero o procedencia’ (Hire re‐ gardless of age, gender or origin) that had been provided by the Red Cross. Meanwhile, the organisation is providing a free mediation service that links professionals from different sectors who are seeking work with Almeria Centro businesses to cover vacancies arising during the Christmas period or at other times.
Magical Xmas
Photo credit: Vera town hall
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CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS: Vera inaugurates its Magical Christmas programme.
MORE than 8,000 people visited Vera over the recent Constitution Day long weekend. The town hall’s Navidades Magicas (Magical Christ‐ mas) programme included switching on the lights which, as Festivities councillor Amparo Garcia revealed, drew hundreds of people to the Plaza Mayor where they en‐ joyed a pyro‐musical spectacle with fireworks, music, confetti and artificial snow. “The same show was put on days later in Almeria City, underlining the importance that we have attached to the Christmas illuminations and decorations this year,” Garcia said. The same day saw the inauguration of the Christmas market and a spectacular Nativity Scene with more than 300 figures covering 50 square metres inside the Con‐ vento de la Victoria. The first edition of Vera’s Comer por Navidad (Eat at Christmas) gastronomic fair, the next event in the Navi‐ dades Magicas programme, will be held between De‐ cember 15 and 22 in the Plaza de Abastos, showcasing the province’s best food products.
Police stop pyromaniac
ADRA’S Local Police recently prevented an alleged fire‐rais‐ er from endangering homes and greenhouses in La Curva. Alerted by alarmed residents who reported seeing a man set fire to bushes near their properties, a patrol car was sent out to La Curva although the suspect fled on spotting the police. Officers finally intercepted him under the bridge over the old N‐340 but when they attempted to identify him, the man ignored their re‐ quests. During the ensuing struggle the presumed pyro‐ maniac kicked and punched the officers, injuring one of them after biting him on the arm. The tussle continued inside the patrol car as they took the suspect back to the sta‐ tion before transferring him to Adra’s Guardia Civil post. On arrival the overwrought detainee needed a health check by the medical team owing to his highly agitated condition, Guardia Civil sources said afterwards.
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NIBS EXTRA All lit up MORE than 300,000 low‐ consumption LED bulbs are illuminating Vicar this Christ‐ mas. As well as street deco‐ rations, the lightbulbs adorn a new tree in front of the town hall, a 60‐metre multi‐ colour tunnel requiring more than 45,000 light‐ bulbs, an outsized Christ‐ mas bauble, a Nativity Scene and giant snowman.
On watch NIJAR’S bicycle lane be‐ tween the San Isidro and Campohermoso districts will be equipped with 72 CCTV cameras at its inter‐ sections with the principal roads in both neighbour‐ hoods. By installing the surveillance cameras, the town hall hopes to monitor and regulate traffic while re‐ ducing hold‐ups.
Well annoyed GERGAL and Alboloduy res‐ idents, whose domestic wa‐ ter comes from the same artesian well, are protesting at their ‘almost black’ tap‐ water. They are now calling on the provincial council, the Diputacion, to sink an‐ other well so they can have the good‐quality water sup‐ ply they are entitled to.
Cold comfort IN mid‐November when temperatures began to plummet outside Spain, prices paid for Almeria veg‐ etables started to rise. As Almeria’s greenhouses gradually reach peak pro‐ duction, exports to central and northern Europe are now fetching higher prices than in previous years, with a demand for tomatoes, cu‐ cumbers and peppers.
Prison payout SPAIN’S prison authority, In‐ stituciones Penitenciarias, was ordered to pay €200,000 compensation to a staff member at El Ace‐ buche prison who was trapped by a sliding door, fracturing his sternum and suffering post‐traumatic stress. Security measures should not endanger staff.
16 - 22 December 2021
A sweet festive tradition LAST weekend Huercal‐ Overa celebrated Pasty Day, an activity that goes back more than 15 years. Organised by the Residents Association in the Centro His‐ torico (Old Town), the Dia de la Empanada was originally introduced to ensure the sur‐ vival of almond turnovers, one of Huercal‐Overa’s tradi‐ tional Christmas sweetmeats. The event, which was held at the Aula Municipal Gastro‐ nomica, raises money for lo‐ cal charities, with funds from
Photo credit: Huercal-Overa town hall
PASTY DAY: Fundraising with sales of Huercal-Overa’s almond turnovers.
sales of the turnovers going this year to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Virgen del Rio residence for the el‐ derly. Almond turnovers are an indispensable part of a Huercal‐Overa Christmas, with relatives and friends meeting up to prepare them together. Although the recipe passed down from genera‐ tion to generation is essen‐ tially the same, each family introduces its own secret variation to put their individu‐ al stamp on the sweetmeats.
A handmade Christmas tree HUECIJA (population 486) inaugurated a Christmas tree with a difference on December 8 in the town’s Plaza del Covento. The tree was created from hundreds of overlapping cro‐ cheted diamond‐shaped motifs that were made by 28 local women, topped with a star and adorned with the traditional
Carols in Turre TURRE Evangelical Church’s annual carol service will take place on Sunday December 19 at 10.30am. The church is situated on Avenida de Almeria at the top end of the main road go‐ ing through Turre. This will be a service with a mixture of old and new car‐ ols, followed by refresh‐ ments and mince pies. “The service runs for about one hour,” said Alan Bishop. “We would love to see you and enjoy time together singing those carols that you WRITER Bob Wareham re‐ cently contacted the Euro Weekly News with details of the latest version of his www.moviesmadeinspain.co m website. Movies Made in Spain is a non‐profit making, educa‐ tional project to promote cin‐ ema tourism. It explores the effects of, and reasons for, so many international films that have been made, and contin‐ ue to be made, in Spain. “There are few important
loved from when you were a child.” Following the recent appeal for items for the Food Bank, the church would like to thank all those people who contributed with food and donations to help those people who are in need of help. “Please remember that this does not just apply to Christmas, but the whole year round, and any dona‐ tions would be gratefully re‐ ceived,” Alan said For enquiries or more in‐ formation, please contact Alan on 617 914 156.
Almeria’s starring role directors or stars who have not filmed in Spain,” Bob commented, while pointing out that although Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracey did not, both Lauren Bacall and Katherine Hepburn did. “They created a cinematic heritage here which may ex‐ plain why Spanish actors and
Christmas lights. The lighting‐up ceremony was preceded with a traditional chocolatada of hot drinking chocolate and a gift for each of the women, after which adults and children alike followed a route of QR codes, stopping to sing carols in differ‐ ent parts of the town.
Ready for 3 Kings LOS GALLARDOS is al‐ ready preparing for its fa‐ mous Auto Sacramental on January 6. This local enactment of the arrival of Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar in Bethlehem has been held since the mid‐19th centu‐ ry, interrupted during the Civil War but revived soon afterwards. As well as the Three Wise Men, the proces‐ sion includes shepherds, Roman centurions, slaves and pages, all of whom require costumes. Via its social media pages, the
directors are so successful to‐ day,” he added. “The updat‐ ed website contains pho‐ tographs taken on my recent visit to Almeria, where I was fortunate to have the invalu‐ able help of Jose Enrique Martinez,” Bob said. Almeria Province has, of course, played a starring role for decades thanks to El Cid, Lawrence of Arabia and the unforgettable Spaghetti Westerns.
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town hall announced that preparations are pro‐ gressing well and thanked local volunteers for their help in making new costumes and ensur‐ ing that young and old will be able to take an ac‐ tive part on the great day. Los Gallardos’ Auto Sacramental is the only event of its kind in Alme‐ ria Province and the town hall applied for Declara‐ tion of Tourist Interest status last September, al‐ though it has already re‐ ceived recognition from the Diputacion provincial council as one of the area’s ‘most singular fes‐ tivities.’
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Looking for the Fat One THE first prize in Spain’s National Christmas lottery has landed seven times in Almeria Province. Called El Gordo owing to its fat prizes, the win‐ ning number was sold twice in Almeria City ‐ the first time in 1896 ‐ twice in Ejido, and on one occasion in Tijola, Roquetas and Vicar. This year Jesus Ibañez, who runs the city’s Num‐ ber 13 lottery administra‐ tion, has put El Gordo within reach of local pun‐ ters by giving away four tickets each day between December 13 and 17 in his own mini‐treasure hunt. As he has done since 2019, Jesus has hidden four vouchers for a Christ‐ mas lottery ticket in and around Calle Artes de Ar‐ co, hoping to bring a little life back to the neighbour‐ hood. He conceals four vouch‐ ers bearing the number 47017 on street benches, lampposts, low‐lying branches and other hiding places. Once found, these can be exchanged for a decimo or 10th of an en‐ tire ticket that is the most usual way of acquiring Na‐ tional Lottery at Christmas or any other time. Jesus has also reserved a decimo for those whose homes and lives have been affected by the La Palma volcano. He has to go out at the dead of night to hide the vouchers to avoid being seen, he said: “I feel I am being watched all the time, but it’s worth it.”
and finally... BEACH-CLEANING onslaught. Following two postpone‐ ments through bad weather, the San Jose’s Club Nautico finally cleaned the Genoveses and Cala‐Higuera beaches. Volunteers from the ISUB Diving Centre, with backup from their own boats and the yacht club, also helped to clear rubbish from the seabed at both beaches and the San Jose Marina. In all they removed approximately a ton of rubbish and litter, most of it plastics, and Club Nautico sources revealed that it intended to continue tackling the ‘huge’ environmen‐ tal problem year‐round.
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16 - 22 December 2021
Nurses needed
Walking football raising funds
ON November 13, 2021, FC Los Amigos Walking Football Club held a Charity Cup fundraising tournament at Campo De Futbol Turre. A total of €520 was kindly donated and subsequently presented to the Protección Civil in Turre, who have used the money to purchase much needed ‘Walkie Talkie’ equipment. The tournament was played on a straight league basis involving six teams. Amigos fielded two teams as did Malaga and the remaining two were Esquina and Benhavis, with the eventual winners being Esquina.
LOS AMIGOS: Donated €520.
Omicron confirmed in Andalucia THE first cases of the new Omi‐ cron coronavirus variant were confirmed in Andalucia on Decem‐ ber 9. Jesus Aguirre, the Minister of Health, revealed there were two cases in the province of Cadiz,
and another one in Almeria Province. He said that there were also four other suspected cases. All three patients had mild symptoms and went into isola‐ tion. None have needed to be ad‐
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mitted into hospital. Two of the infected had been on flights to South Africa, while the third was infected locally. In the latter case, it seems the patient contracted the virus while travelling in An‐
dalucia during the recent holiday. The minister explained that, for now, the Omicron variant appears to be less virulent than previous strains of the virus, although it may be more transmittable.
TORRECARDENAS hospital is adver‐ tising for temporary nursing staff to cover Christmas leave and holidays. This follows the dismissal of 100 nurses last October, but although hospital sources maintained that there were 129 more nurses than before the pandemic, unions repre‐ senting health professionals strongly criticised the Torrecardenas man‐ agement. “It is inexplicable that they should sack more than 100 Torrecardenas nurses in October and then find themselves short of personnel at Christmas,” they said. To add to this, of the hundreds of nurses that were sacked throughout Spain last October, most have now been hired by private health insur‐ ance companies, further adding to the shortage problem.
Almeria fishermen protest EARLY in the morning of Tuesday December 7, the Almeria Fishing En‐ trepreneurs Association (Asopesca) staged a rally and released a state‐ ment saying that EU plans will cut their fish‐
ing days drastically. The application of EU Regulation 2019/2022, which applies a multi‐ year plan for trawling in the western Mediter‐ ranean, will establish the maximum number of
days the trawl fleet will be able to fish in 2022, in addition to a possible cap on red prawn. The 2020 cut meant a 10 per cent reduction in fishing days, in addition to the days missed due to the Covid‐19 pandemic. The European Commis‐ sion’s proposal for 2022 establishes a reduction of 7.5 per cent as well as a maximum catch of 800 for red prawns. The Andalucian Federa‐ tion of Fishermen’s Guilds and the Andalucian Fed‐ eration of Fishing Associa‐ tions are in total rejection of this new reduction pro‐ posed for 2022, as far too many fishing days have been lost already over the previous two years. The association has urged the government of Spain to reject any other reduction until the year 2025 or 50 per cent of the Andalucian fleet and 2,000 jobs could be at risk.
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16 - 22 December 2021
Age Support first Xmas Gala AGE SUPPORT ALMANZORA recently held their first Annual Christmas Gala at La Parrilla restaurant in Albox. Everyone had a great night, the five‐course meal was delicious, the room sparkled for Christmas and the entertainment was bril‐ liant. Vanya Ager, President of Age Support, praised the staff from La Parrilla, their efficiency and attention to detail on the night. She also thanked the volunteers from the charity who had helped make the night such a success, Liz Carey, Sue Robinson, Margaret Ridyard and Diane Walsh and to Richard Tolman who was the official photographer. The entertainment was amazing, featuring big band, smooth jazz and rat pack music, huge thanks go to Anne and Ian Moir and Deb‐ bie Davis for all their hard work preparing for the evening and giving their time to help raise funds for the charity.
The Gala girls who helped to run the event.
Margaret with Santa.
The evening was support‐ ed by Breeze FM represent‐ ed by Bobby Gray and Geoff Murrell who provided the dance music, called the raf‐ fle and introduced the spe‐ cial guest, Santa ‐ who had come with gifts for all and, with his helpers, provided amusement for everyone in‐
Vanya with Santa.
cluding the Spanish staff who were particularly de‐ lighted to see him. Vanya had worked ex‐ tremely hard to make the evening such a success and thanks go to her and to ev‐ eryone who came along, hopefully this is the first of many Christmas Galas.
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16 - 22 December 2021
Hero sells medals
A R O Y A L M A R I N E sol‐ dier who was recognised for his bravery in com‐ bat has sold his seven medals for £150,000 to ‘provide opportunities’ for his children. Sergeant Major John Thompson, 43, a single father of three from De‐ von, served in Northern
SOLD MEDALS: To provide for his children.
UK booster drive
BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on December 12. In a special pre‐recorded broadcast, he warned the country of the im‐ pending danger brought about by the new Omicron Covid variant. As part of an ‘Emergency Omicron Boost,’ he urged every person aged over 18 to take ad‐ vantage of the booster jabs. The third dose of the vaccine will be made available much
quicker than first anticipated. Speaking directly from Downing Street, the PM said: “No‐one should be in any doubt: there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming, and I’m afraid it is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need. “But the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose ‐ a booster dose ‐ we can all bring our level
of protection back up.” He concluded, “At this point, our scientists cannot say that Omicron is less severe, and even if that proved to be true, we already know it is so much more transmissible ‐ that a wave of Omicron through a population that was not boost‐ ed would risk a level of hospital‐ isation that could overwhelm our NHS and lead sadly to very many deaths. So, we must act now.”
Ireland, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The medals included a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) for ‘selfless and courageous actions.’ Before selling the medals, he said that his children already “know their daddy is a hero.” The medals were valued at between £120,000 and £140,000 by auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb, how‐ ever, they sold for a whopping £150,000. Sgt Maj Thompson, known as Tommo, said before he sold the medals: “The money will enable me to provide the best opportunities for them (his children) as they grow up. “Being a father is the most important role I’ve ever had, which I didn’t fully appreciate when I was running around Iraq and Afghanistan, and I’m doing this for them.”
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Digital Nomad Visa
SPAIN is set to introduce a Digital Nomad Visa to attract digital workers to the country and help them ‘set up in Spain.’ The measures have been approved in draft form and will now be sent to the Span‐ ish Parliament. The digital no‐ mad visa will attract people from other countries to Spain and allow them to work re‐ motely while contributing economically to the country. Under the new scheme, people would be able to work remotely in Spain for up to six months. This would apply to residents in non‐European Economic Area (EEA) coun‐ tries as well as people from
countries in the Schengen Zone. EU passport holders will also be able to apply for the scheme. Economic Minister Nadia Calvino commented on the scheme and said that it has been created to “attract and retain international and na‐ tional talents by helping re‐ mote workers, and digital no‐ mads set up in Spain.” The Minister pointed out that registration fees will not be needed and that new companies will be easy to cre‐ ate: “Startups are the founda‐ tion of the new digital econo‐ my; they generate highly skilled jobs and have high growth potential.”
and finally...
RECORD PRICE. Originally forecast to sell for around $70,000, a Harry Potter first edition sold for $471,000 at an auction in the United States. The price is a record for a 20th century work of fiction. Written by J K Rowling, the 1997 hardback British edition of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,’ with a colour illustration on the cov‐ er, was described by Heritage Auctions as “"magical, in‐ credibly bright and so very near pristine.”
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16 - 22 December 2021
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Booster jab extension
S P A I N is to consider extending its booster jab rollout to people aged be‐ tween 50 and 59 years old. Now, the country is offering booster jabs to people aged over 60 years. The booster jab inoculation is pro‐ gressing unevenly across the au‐ tonomous communities. Galicia is steaming ahead and has called for the age group for booster shots to be low‐ ered. On December 13, Galicia called on the Public Health Commission to low‐ er the age range for booster jabs to people aged over 50 years old. The is‐ sue would need to be recommended by the vaccines committee first before being discussed by the directors of
VACCINES: Calls for age to be lowered. public health. According to sources in the vaccines committee, dropping the age limit was not on the agenda for the meet‐ ing to be held yesterday, December 15, but it could be added as it is al‐ ready being discussed elsewhere.
Pool death inquest Airport chaos inconclusive
FAT H E R-O F-T W O, An‐ drew John Openshaw was in Tenerife for a friend’s stag do when he fell into an empty swimming pool and suffered a ‘catas‐ trophic brain injury’ that later cost him his life. He was found by emer‐ gency services in an unre‐ sponsive condition, dressed only in his boxer shorts. An inquest that concluded on December 10 has proved inconclu‐ sive. His family believe he was attacked before the fall in February 2014. He was given just 48 hours to live, but survived three more years until he passed away on July 15, 2017, at Salford Royal In‐ firmary due to multi‐or‐ gan failure. Friends and family had raised more than £30,000 to bring him home to Leigh, Greater Manchester. On the day before the fall, he had been seen
consuming ‘an unknown but significant quantity’ of alcohol. Senior Coroner for Greater Manchester West, Timothy Brennand, said: “The precise circum‐ stances as to what caused Andy to fall into the emp‐ ty swimming pool cannot be established.” Mr Openshaw was later questioned by police, helped by an intermedi‐ ary, and made an allega‐ tion of an assault before his fall. “These were investigat‐ ed by police and not deemed to be a viable ba‐ sis for the institution of criminal proceedings, as the veracity of the allega‐ tions cannot be verified,” said Mr Brennand. Andy’s wife Laura spoke at the inquest and said: “I am a firm believer that the truth never changes. I truly believe that there was something untoward that night in that country.”
SPAIN’S Airlines Association (ALA) has urged the govern‐ ment to act urgently and asked the Ministry of the In‐ terior to hire more border staff at Spanish airports, fearing that Brit holidaymak‐ ers will be put off visiting Spain. The ALA said there has been “chaos” at airports and that thousands of passen‐ gers have missed flights due to a huge queue at Madrid airport. Other airports affected in‐ clude Alicante, Malaga, Barcelona, Palma de Mallor‐ ca, Ibiza and Gran Canaria. Because of Brexit, tourists from the UK now need to have their passports stamped every time they en‐ ter and leave the Schengen Zone, including Spain, and Brits are only allowed to visit Spain for 90 days out of ev‐ ery 180 under the new laws. It’s thought that the new Brexit legislation has led to massive queues at border controls in Spain.
Earthquake hits Granada ACCORDING to the National Geographic Institute (IGN), Alhama de Granada in the Granada Province was hit with an earth‐ quake early on Tuesday December 14. The quake registered at a magnitude of 3.2 on the Richter scale. According to reports, no one was in‐ jured by the quake and no material dam‐
age was reported. The National Geographic Institute said the quake hit at just after 5.30am. The im‐ pact of the earthquake was reduced as it hit at a depth of 53 kilometres. No emergency calls were received and so far, no injuries or damage to property have been reported.
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16 - 22 December 2021
THE UK’s first gay dads are set to make history again as they look to register their new triplets’ birth certificates with three parents listed on the document. They are set to welcome the triplets after a £1 million jour‐ ney to complete their IVF fami‐ ly through an American surro‐ gate. Barrie Drewitt‐Barlow, 51, is celebrating the news with fi‐ ance Scott Hutchinson, 26, and ex‐husband Tony, 56. It was 21 years ago that Barrie and Tony became the first British same‐ sex couple formally registered as parents. In 1999, Barrie and Tony went to court to be allowed to have both their names on the ON December 10, one very honest citizen gave the Mu‐ nicipal Police of Valladolid €1,000 in cash. It came from an ATM machine of a BBVA bank in the city. According to Municipal Police, the woman went up to two police officers in the street and handed them the money. She explained that she had found it in the ATM machine of the BBVA bank located at the intersection
Gay dads make history
Choking baby saved ON December 11, offi‐ cers from the National Police were able to save a young baby’s life. The baby had been choking
MODERN FAMILY: Are set to welcome triplets. birth certificates of their chil‐ dren who were born through a surrogate, the first time in Eu‐ rope a same‐sex couple had given birth in this way. They were allowed to be ‘Parent
Honest citizen of Calles San Maria and San‐ tiago. The bank’s office said that they are still trying to locate the owner of the €1,000 through the acknowledg‐ ment of a receipt found.
One” and ‘Parent Two’ on the document. This time, they will look to change the law again and have three parents listed on the cer‐ tificates. With the data protection law, it is not possible to use all the information shown on the receipt, so the mon‐ ey is still being kept at the bank in the hope that the owner will come looking for it. The police commented: “Fortunately, there are still very honest people around. We will always applaud these gestures of civility.”
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and was unable to breathe. According to the Na‐ tional Police, the incident took place in the
Capital coup plans FOLLOWING the failure of Donald Trump’s case to keep documents relating to the January 6 storming of the capital private, the attack panel have started to receive the paper‐ work. One of these is a PowerPoint that set out the plan for Trump to stage a coup. The presentation titled ‘Election Fraud, Foreign Interfer‐ ence & Options for 6 Jan,’ which was turned over by for‐ mer White House chief of staff Mark Meadows makes sev‐ eral recommendations on how to stage a coup. This includes the suggestion Trump declare a national security emergency that would enable him to stay in office. The existence of the presentation and the fact that Meadows was in possession of it at the time, suggests at the very least that Trump and his allies were aware of the efforts to stop Biden from becoming president. Understood to be 38 pages long, the presentation is based on already debunked theories about election fraud, all of which were tested in court and failed. Theories ranged from China controlling the election system in some states, to the late Hugo Chavez having rigged the voting systems.
Villaverde district of Madrid. The emergency services received a call to say that a young baby was semi‐conscious “ap‐ parently because she had choked on an object.” Public Safety officers rushed to the scene of the incident to help the 13‐month‐old baby girl. When the officers arrived on the scene they found the child was not react‐ ing to any stimulus. The girl also had her eyes closed. The officers stepped in and per‐ formed the Heimlich ma‐ noeuvre. The baby soon started to cry and began breathing again. Due to the nature of the incident, the police officers rushed the baby and her mother to the hospital in the police car. The baby who had luckily been saved by the offi‐ cer’s quick actions re‐ ceived medical attention at the hospital.
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16 - 22 December 2021
EWN Community Guides: How to avoid internet scams in Spain THE internet has brought many of us a way to stay in touch with loves ones abroad, buy from our favourite brands
around the world and book our travel. Surfing the web also has its downsides though, and the
rise in online scams is one of them. But how do we protect our‐ selves from internet scams? The Spanish office for inter‐ net users, OSI, said there are five main ways to protect your‐ self when online, including when on your mobile, tablet and computer. 1. Configure your devices OSI said it is important to make sure all your devices are set up to protect you against harmful viruses and scams. They recommend installing anti‐virus software on all your devices, installing any updates on it, not clicking on any links that are sent to you that look dubious and never to connect a USB to your computer if you do not know where it’s from. 2. Establish secure internet connections Having WiFi at home with‐ out a password not only allows other people to use your inter‐ net, potentially slowing your
There are several scams common online be aware of these.
connection, but could also al‐ low others to steal your details. OSI recommends that you should put a good password on your WiFi. They also recommend tak‐ ing care when using public WiFi without a password, by not logging in to any services while connected to a public network and avoiding making banking transactions, online purchases or any other task that involves the exchange of private data. 3. Safeguard your infor‐ mation OSI recommends protecting the information we share on‐ line by configuring privacy op‐ tions on social media profiles and controlling who has access
to your posts. 4. Be careful with your on‐ line activity Many browsers offer the op‐ tion to remember information about us, including auto saving our passwords. However, this can be used by hackers so OSI recommends avoiding this. 5. Have information about the most common scams There are several scams that are the most common online and OSI says you should be aware of these. They include phishing scams, fraudulent job offers and sellers claiming to sell items for much lower than their normal price to get access to your banking details.
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Christmas travelling BRITS wanting to head abroad to Spain will still need to be fully jabbed. Spain is sticking to its tight entry rules ahead of Christ‐ mas. The rising number of cases of the Omicron vari‐ ant is a major concern. Spain updated its travel restrictions on December 14 and is only letting fully vaccinated holidaymakers into the country. This in‐ cludes people heading in‐ to Spain from a country that is on Spain’s at risk list. For Brits heading into Spain on holiday, Spanish rules mean that travellers will have to prove they have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency or by the World Health Organi‐ sation in the form of a vac‐ cination certificate. Trav‐ ellers will also need to have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days before they arrive in Spain.
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16 - 22 December 2021
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Berlin vaccine wristbands Bishop stripped of power WITH calls for retail shopping in Berlin to become easier under the city’s newly en‐ forced ‘2G’ restrictions, the answer may lie in ribbons. The so‐called ribbon regu‐ lation provides wristbands for vaccinated Germans so that they don’t need to re‐ peatedly show their vaccina‐ tion status at every store. The wristbands can be used for those who have recov‐ ered from the virus as well. The managing director of
the trade association Berlin and Brandenburg, Nils Busch‐Petersen said: “We hope that this will relieve the employees and take some pressure off.” Businesses must clearly regulate the conditions for this, and the first shopping centres have already applied the scheme. Many trade as‐ sociations have requested the introduction of such rib‐ bons and they could become widespread soon. Germany’s
famous Christmas markets have already started using the system to ease the work‐ load on staff. A spokesman for the health administration said: “There are no objections from our side. In Berlin, most shops are only open to vacci‐ nated and people who have recovered from Covid‐19. A negative corona test result is no longer enough. Excep‐ tions include supermarkets, drug stores and pharmacies.
Priti Patel for PM
HOME SECRETARY Priti Patel is said to be considering taking a run at being prime minis‐ ter and Conservative party leader. Boris John‐ son has been fighting off rumours regarding alleged government parties that were held while the rest of the country obeyed lock‐ down rules last year. Johnson apologised last week after footage of a mock press conference was leaked. It showed former spokesperson Allegra Stratton joking about a Christmas party that should not have taken place. The footage was reportedly shot on De‐
cember 22 last year. Only a week before this a party was said to have been held at Downing Street. During the film, multiple staff could be seen joking about a party. Stratton commented in the leaked footage: “This is recorded … This fictional party was a business meeting and it was not socially dis‐ tanced.” Confidence is said to be waning in the prime minister and MPs could possibly call a vote of no confidence. Patel had backed John‐ son as leader of the Conservative Party in 2019.
A CO N T R OV E R S I A L Spanish bishop has been stripped of his church powers after abandoning his clerical career to mar‐ ry a novelist known for her transgressive erotic novels, some of which contain references to Sa‐ tanism. Xavier Novell i Goma was Spain’s youngest ever bishop when he was appointed to the Catalan municipal‐ ity of Solsona in 2010, aged just 41. Novell was a highly controversial member of the church, having supported and partici‐ pated in so‐called gay conversion therapy, and for being outspo‐ ken about his support for regional indepen‐ dence. He found him‐ self at the centre of more controversy at the end of August 2021 when he resigned from his post on ‘strictly personal grounds.’ It soon emerged he
The bishop fell in love.
had fallen in love with a 38‐year‐old clinical psy‐ chologist named Silvia Caballol, a novelist known for her transgres‐ sive and erotic books.
Sources say that the bishop confided in friends at the time and said: “I’ve fallen in love with a woman for the first time in my life, and I want to do things right.” In a statement re‐ leased on December 11, the Spanish Episcopal Conference said that Novell had automatically forfeited his powers after marrying Caballol in a civil ceremony last month.
and finally... TV SERIES. Acclaimed British filmmaker, 83‐ year‐old Ridley Scott has revealed that a pilot project is well underway to bring his movies ‘Bladerunner’ and ‘Alien’ to television screens in the form of a series. ‘Bladerunner’, starring Harrison Ford, and Rutger Hauer, hit cinemas back in 1982, and was an instant enormous suc‐ cess. ‘Alien’, another of his huge sci‐fi franchis‐ es, went on to spawn a whole trilogy of adven‐ tures in outer space.
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Rare gold coins recovered TWO valuable coins have been discovered by officers from the National Police in Leon and Ciu‐ dad Real’s Saceruela. The coins are tremisses, and one of them is said to be unique and very valuable due to its previously unknown onomastic variant. The first coin was recovered as part of an operation carried out by the National Police to de‐ tect and recover items of histor‐ ical interest. Officers discovered that a person in Leon had found a coin when they were refur‐ bishing a house. The person was contacted and asked to come to the police headquar‐ ters. The officers then recov‐ ered the coin. The coin was checked out by specialists and discovered to be a tremís of Sisebuto, a Visigothic king who reigned between 612 and 621. Markings on the coin suggest that it was minted in the Murcia Province. This is only the third specimen of a Visigothic coinage with this provenance to be discovered. This makes the coin exceptionally rare which in‐ creases its value considerably.
VALUABLE COINS: Discovered by police officers.
The coin has now been given to the Provincial Museum of Leon. Officers from the National Police recovered the second gold coin in Saceruela. Officers
were able to trace the person who had advertised the coin on social media. After travelling to the town, they recovered the coin.
NEWS
Spain-shaped town IN 2019, Spain had 8,131 mu‐ nicipalities spread throughout its territory. In recent years, the merger of towns and small cities has been the order of the day, due to economic and functional problems after the economic crisis. Municipalities usually have their boundary dictated by whatever area they cover on the map of Spain. But one town with just 14,000 inhabi‐ tants, was custom‐built to re‐ semble the outline of Spain.
Badia del Valles is just 20km from Barcelona and is the birthplace of one of Spanish football’s most celebrated players, Sergio Busquets. It was built in the 1970s, with the idea of reproducing the map of Spain. Thus, some of its streets represent the ter‐ ritory of the country, even with the corresponding boundaries. They are all located within the town’s outline in their corre‐ sponding position on a map of Spain. For example, Calle Al‐
garve is located where the bor‐ der between Spain and Portu‐ gal would be. This unique municipality was created to alleviate the high concentration of immigra‐ tion in Catalonia that came from other parts of Spain. The Ministry of Housing planned more than 12,000 social hous‐ ing units, although in the end only about 5,000 were built. Juan Carlos I, and Doña Sofia, were invited as guests at the grand opening of the town.
Track and Trace breach A PUB landlord has apologised after abusing the NHS Track and Trace service to send a creepy text to a young woman who visited his bar. In his statement, James Karran, who owns St Canna’s Alehouse in Cardiff, said he was “sorry for letting down his community” after sending this message to the woman: “Just so you know you’ve got a super pretty face, so you’re allowed to not wear a mask at the bar. Everyone else must wear one.”
The following day, there was a message left on the bar’s Facebook page from the woman’s part‐ ner. It read: “Last night my partner was the vic‐ tim of a GDPR breach. She went into this estab‐ lishment, filled out the Track and Trace. She proceeded to order a drink at the bar, but the barman/ owner told her to remove the mask as he couldn’t hear her apparently, but only for this man to see what she looked like. Then [he] took her details from the Track and Trace sheet and
PUB LANDLORD: Sent a creepy text message to a young woman who visited the bar.
messaged her illegally. My partner then left the establishment as soon as she had this creepy text.” The pub did not issue a response until almost a month after the incident, on December 10, but said they will donate a Saturday night’s takings to Women’s Aid.
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16 - 22 December 2021
Diana’s legacy at risk
PRINCESS DIANA had cham‐ pioned the international cam‐ paign against landmines. This worthwhile cause has been put at risk as the British gov‐ ernment has reduced its funding by 80 per cent. Support from the UK has been used to help disarm mines in countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Vietnam, Zim‐ babwe, Myanmar and South Sudan. This support has helped numerous people over the years and protected them from the danger of landmines.
PRINCESS: Campaigned against landmines.
Two years ago, Prince Har‐ ry visited Angola and fol‐ lowed in Princess Diana’s footsteps. He previously com‐ mented on the UK’s role in
Coffee doubles AROUND the globe, the price of coffee is said to be skyrocketing. In the last 12 months alone, prices have shot up by 102 per cent. It is expected that prices will continue to increase into the New Year. Consumers have not seen many price increases so far but this could change. After water, coffee is the second most consumed beverage in the world. Numerous factors are causing the price of coffee to increase. Coffee prices are increasing due to production issues in Brazil and Colombia caused by droughts and floods. An increase in demand along with high energy costs and increasing transport costs are also bumping the price up.
clearing landmines. Accord‐ ing to Harry, the UK had sup‐ ported landmines being cleared “through funding and the expertise brought by UK specialist organisations such as the HALO Trust and Mines Advisory Group.” If Princess Diana were still alive Harry believes that she would still be fighting for this cause. CEO of Mine’s Advisory Group (MAG) Darren Corma‐ ck, commented on the cuts: “It’s not right that children face being burned on the way to school. That shouldn’t be the kind of deadly equation that people have to calcu‐ late.”
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Fake document crackdown
IN a combined effort, the UK and Spain are cracking down on crooks using fake documents to help people gain Spanish citizenship. Officers from the Spanish Na‐ tional Police have been working with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Inter‐ pol to thwart an organisation focused on faking certificates and diplomas needed to obtain Spanish citizenship. During the joint operation, more than 30 people have been arrested and offi‐ cers managed to identify more than 1,600 clients who had paid money to the criminal organisation. Payments made to the organisation for their services had been between
€1,000 and €4,500. To obtain Spanish citizenship, language competency (DELE) and cultural knowl‐ edge (CCSE) titles are required. It is thought that more than 1,300 people had obtained these documents from the criminal organisation already. The documents are legally issued by the Cervantes Institute under the over‐ sight of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice. Twenty‐nine people were arrested in Barcelona and one of the leaders of the gang was arrested in the UK. The majori‐ ty of people using the service were from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.
Electric shock
ELECTRICITY prices continue to spiral out of control. After the most expensive Saturday and Sunday prices in history, December 13, set a record cost for Mondays. The average price of electrici‐ ty on the wholesale market reached €268.21/MWh. This is an increase of 4.37 per cent on the day before.
The record costs came even though prices tend to relax compared to weekdays, due to the decrease in electricity de‐ mand. The maximum price was reached between 9pm and 10pm, when it hit €315.43/ MWh. The cheapest time was between the hours of 5am and 6am when it was €217.71. Wholesale prices have a di‐
rect impact on the regulated tariff to which almost 11 million consumers in the country are connected. This serves as a ref‐ erence for the other 17 million who have contracted their sup‐ ply in the free market. The constant rise in prices in the electricity market in recent months is being blamed mainly on high gas prices.
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NEWS
Monkees star dead at 78 MICHAEL NESMITH, singer with 1960’s pop group The Monkees, has died at the age of 78. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death on December 10. It is believed the singer‐ songwriter died of natural causes, not long after finish‐ ing a recent tour with the leg‐ endary band, including for‐ mer bandmate, Micky Dolenz. “With infinite love we an‐ nounce that Michael Ne‐ smith has passed away this morning in his home, sur‐ rounded by family, peaceful‐ ly of natural causes,” said a statement from his family.
Famous for always wear‐ ing his trademark bobble hat, he played his iconic custom‐ built Gretsch guitar on most of the band’s hit records in‐ cluding ‘Daydream Believer’ and ‘I’m A Believer’, penned by Neil Diamond. The Monkees rose to fame in the mid‐60s after being formed for a televi‐ sion show, a fact that never sat well with Mike. In the show, aired between 1966 and 1968, the four members would get up to all sorts of
Mike had a solo career.
antics and play their hits. This led the record compa‐ ny to release their songs and they became a huge success
all over the world, selling mil‐ lions of records. Mike had a solo career af‐ ter leaving the band.
Drug haul at airport THE Guardia Civil have an‐ nounced they found 20 kilos of heroin at Lanzarote Airport and have taken a man into custody. The 46‐year‐old man had the drug shipment con‐ cealed in his luggage and has been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking. It is one of the biggest seizures of this type of drug that has been carried out on the Canary Islands in recent years and comes after anoth‐ er cache of 10 kilos was dis‐ covered at Gran Canaria Air‐ port at the end of October. That shipment was found up‐ on a passenger travelling from Brussels. The announcement was made a week after the inci‐ dent, which occurred on De‐
cember 4. Suspicions were raised after a passenger who arrived on a flight from Ams‐ terdam began to act anxious in the presence of the officers on duty. They began to see other signs that something was amiss and began a ran‐ dom stop and search.
They found four parcels la‐ belled as flour for making con‐ fectionery. The contents were tested for the presence of opi‐ ates and the results were posi‐ tive. The merchandise was seized, and the passenger de‐ tained for the alleged crime against public health.
and finally... A NEW batch of measures are being trialled by Meta, Face‐ book’s parent company, to help creators. Namely, they plan on testing a feature to provide live chat support with users who have lost access to their accounts. Through this support line, the creators of Facebook and Instagram can solve differ‐ ent problems in people’s accounts, as well as solve doubts about recent functions of the platform, such as Instagram Reels.
Car smoking ban doubt THE Spanish Ministry of Health announced proposals to increase tobacco taxes and increase smoke‐free places before 2023. These spaces in‐ clude the terraces of estab‐ lishments and private cars. Some Spanish law experts
including Juan Jose Bestard, President of the Sanitary Sec‐ tion of the Madrid Bar Associ‐ ation, have questioned the constitutionality of banning smoking in cars and other measures proposed. According to Bestard, the
ban on smoking in one’s own vehicle would have a “com‐ plex application.” This, he said, is because “there is legal coverage as long as it seeks to protect the health of passen‐ gers. If the passengers are children, then yes, but there would be no justification for prohibiting a person smoking alone in the vehicle, unless it is appealed that it constitutes a distraction to the driver,” Bestard pointed out. “That would be a different matter, in the same way as eating, or looking at the mo‐ bile phone behind the wheel. But, limiting a smoker’s right to smoke while alone is de‐ batable.”
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16 - 22 December 2021
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Santa apology Phantom jellyfish
A ROMAN CATHOLIC diocese in Sicily has had to issue an apology after its bishop told a group of children that Santa isn’t real. The diocese of Noto said Bishop Antonio Stagliano was trying to underline the true meaning of Christmas. The diocesan communications director, the Reverend Alessandro Paolino, said Mr Stagliano was also trying to explain the story of St Nicholas, a bishop who gave gifts to the poor and was persecuted by a Roman emperor. Quotes from the bishop appeared in the local
media saying that Santa doesn’t exist and that his red costume was created by Coca‐Cola. “First of all, on behalf of the bishop, I express my sorrow for this declaration which has creat‐ ed disappointment in the little ones and want to specify that Monsignor Stagliano’s intentions were quite different,” Mr Paolino posted on their Facebook page. “We certainly must not demolish the imagi‐ nation of children, but draw good examples from it that are positive for life,” he added.
Massive planet discovered A GROUP of astronomers has discovered one of the biggest ever planets orbiting an ex‐ tremely hot two‐star system. This, despite previously be‐ lieving that such an environ‐ ment was too inhospitable for a planet to form in. The planet was discovered by Markus Janson, a profes‐ sor of astronomy at Stock‐ holm University, and col‐ leagues, according to research published on December 8 in the science journal Nature. Janson and his colleagues found the planet using the
very sophisticated Spectro‐ Polarimetric High‐contrast Ex‐ oplanet REsearch instrument (SPHERE) on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. Named b Centauri (AB)b or b Centauri b, they described the planet as an “alien world experiencing conditions com‐ pletely different from what
we face here on Earth and in our Solar System.” The planet is 10 times big‐ ger than Jupiter, making it one of the biggest ever found. Moreover, it revolves around the binary star at 100 times the distance than Jupiter does from the Sun, one of the widest orbits ever recorded.
STATS
1,792
The Eiffel Tower has 1,792 steps.
ONE of the ocean’s most elu‐ sive creatures stunned ma‐ rine biologists when it glided in front of their underwater cameras. The giant phantom jellyfish has only been spotted in the wild around 100 times since
humans first discovered it in 1899. The creature lives in the so‐called ‘twilight zone’ be‐ tween 1,000 and 4,000 me‐ tres underwater. Researchers at the Mon‐ terey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in America
Holiday fatalities OVER the Constitution and Immaculate Conception long weekend, 12 people lost their lives on Spain’s roads. In 2020, when movement restrictions were in place between the autonomous communities due to the coronavirus, 13 people lost their lives during the same holiday period. According to the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), in the space of six days from 3pm on Friday, December 3 until midnight Wednesday, December 8 a shocking total of 10 fatal accidents occurred on Span‐ ish roads. These 10 fatal accidents claimed the lives of 12 peo‐ ple. One of the accidents took place on a motorway while the nine other accidents occurred on conven‐ tional roads. The majority of the accidents occurred on Sunday, December 5, with seven fatal accidents taking place. So far this year over 900 people have died in accidents on Spanish roads.
Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!
were stunned at the sight of the massive creature. “This ghostly giant is a rare sight,” they wrote. “The bell of this deep‐sea denizen is more than one metre (3.3 feet) across and trails four rib‐ bon‐like arms that can grow to more than 10 metres (33 feet) in length.” It measures the same length as the biggest fish in the sea, the whale shark, and is around half the length of a London bus. This amazing creature is also used as a haven for other smaller crea‐ tures who swim within the jel‐ lyfish’s structure for cover from larger predators.
Ghostly giant’s a rare sight.
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NEWS
Extortion arrests Big tip waitress fired
FOLLOWING an investigation by the Judicial Police Brigades of the Denia Police Station, five people have been arrested for extorting money from dating website
users. The arrests come after complaints from four affected individuals. All the victims had either used dating websites or had responded to dating ads on-
Mercadona pay rise for all staff MANAGEMENT at Mercadona, Spain’s largest super‐ market group, are aware of the tough times its staff have endured during the pandemic. With inflation at its highest in a long time, the company has rewarded its staff with a cost of living increase this year. Juan Roig, Chair of the group, says that it is impor‐ tant as a “socially responsible company” to continue applying initiatives to satisfy the people who make up their workforce. He expects the inflation rate to continue at its current high level, saying that it is un‐ likely to fall below 5 per cent before the end of the year. As a result, the company will raise the salary of its workforce from January 1 to bring it in line with infla‐ tion that is to apply the CPI rate at the end of the year. That way the company says, employees do not lose purchasing power.
line. In all cases they were contacted either through text messages or via instant messaging platforms. They then threatened physical harm unless they were appropriately compensated, or they would share the information with family members. The police think that the messages were sent using an automated system and to large numbers of people, in the hope that someone would respond. Once contact had been made, the perpetrators would research the targeted individual to make sure they knew as much as possible about their potential victim. That information was then used to decide the amount of money demanded. Three men and two women of Spanish and Brazilian nationality were arrested, each with their own role in the operation. The investigators believe that the criminals netted around €150,000 over the last year.
RYAN BRANDT, a wait‐ ress at the Oven and Tap in Bentonville in Arkansas, was fired after refusing to hand over her share of a £3,300 tip. The customer asked for the money to be shared specifically be‐ tween Ryan and another waitress. Local company owner, Grant Wise, turned up at his wife’s favourite restau‐ rant with around 40 guests. Mr Wise called in advance to tell the restau‐ rant of his plan to tip just one or two members of staff and that his tip was not to be shared. Each of his guests contributed £75. After they tipped Ryan and another waitress, the restaurant manager de‐ manded the pair hand
Waitress refused to share her tip.
over the tip and sacked Ryan when she refused. A few days later, Mr Wise heard the news and re‐ turned to the restaurant to demand his money back, but the owner refused to speak to him. Mr Wise posted on so‐ cial media, “I’m saddened to hear the girl we tipped the other night has been
fired from her job. I don’t fully understand why this would happen.” He continued, “Nonetheless, I’m commit‐ ted to showing her that there are great people in the world that will do good when they can.” He subse‐ quently set up a Go‐ FundMe page which has raised £6,580 so far.
Text warning
MANY people are getting ready for Christ‐ mas and buying their Christmas presents on‐ line. Fraudsters are trying to take advantage with a text message scam. According to TSB Bank, criminal gangs are using text messages to pretend to be delivery companies. The scammers originally ap‐ proach their victims by sending a text mes‐ sage which asks the victim to register details to allow them to track a parcel. The victims hand over personal information without thinking too much about it. A few days later the victims are rung up by
someone who claims to be from their bank. The scammers then use details gained from the text message to convince the victim that their bank account has been targeted and ac‐ tion needs to be taken immediately. Victims are then convinced to transfer money to a ‘safe account.’ At this point, the Christmas stealing fraudsters have won and take off with the victim’s savings. The scammers have already conned one person out of £4,000 and another out of £7,000 by pretending to be from the Royal Mail, DPD and Hermes amongst others.
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Plastics report
A NEW report by the Food and Agriculture Organisa‐ tion of the United Nations (FAO) has said that al‐ though the use of plastic in agriculture has made it possible to increase pro‐ duction, plastics in agricul‐ ture are bad for people’s health. The report, which calls for new and innovative solu‐ tions, says that plastic is used in many forms in agri‐ culture from the protection of plants and soil to irriga‐ tion and pesticides. They es‐ timate that around 12.5 mil‐ lion tonnes of the product are used every year, almost half of which is in Asia. In ad‐ dition, around 37.5 million tonnes are used in packag‐ ing of food products, 80 per cent of which is not recycled and ends up in the environ‐ ment, landfills, and incinera‐ tors. Plastic that is not recy‐ cled is known to degrade rather than to break down,
ending up as micro‐plastics which are being dispersed around the planet and mak‐ ing their way into the food chain. More specifically the report said: “Despite the many benefits, agricultural
plastics also present a seri‐ ous risk of contamination and harm to human and ecosystem health when damaged, degraded or dis‐ carded in the environ‐ ment.”
Mandatory vaccines ruled out DURING a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday December 7, the majority of the European Union’s Health Ministers took a stand against the idea of adopting legal measures to force mandatory vaccines on European citizens. This strategy has also been discouraged by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which believes that such a move should only be considered as an ‘absolute last resort’. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Com‐ mission, although it is outside her powers, had recently rec‐ ommended opening a debate about mandatory vaccination to end the huge number of around 150 million people still un‐ vaccinated in the EU. Europe has several states with high vaccination levels, in‐ cluding Spain, Ireland, and Portugal, while countries like Bul‐ garia have only 25 per cent vaccinated, and Romania, 38 per cent. The Austrian representative was allegedly the only one who mentioned the idea of making vaccination mandatory. He explained the measures that his government plans to take, and, in statements to the press, several ministers spoke out against his idea.
NEWS
Ireland border concerns THE deputy premier of Ire‐ land has said he will raise concerns with the UK gov‐ ernment over their pro‐ posed plans to bring in ad‐ ditional paperwork for non‐Irish and non‐UK citi‐ zens, including those from the EU, when crossing the Irish border. Under the Nationality and Borders Bill, they would need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisa‐ tion (ETA) to enter the UK, including Northern Ireland, creating a hard NI border. The bill is currently going through the House of Com‐ mons. Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty said about the plans: “The British govern‐ ment’s intention to intro‐ duce a requirement for travel clearance for EU citi‐ zens, who are not Irish citi‐ zens, to cross the border in Ireland is disgraceful and shameful and undermines the Good Friday Agree‐ ment and the Common Travel Area.” He raised his concerns
IRISH BORDER: Proposed plans are worrying.
with Leo Varadkar in the Irish parliament on Thurs‐ day December 9 as he claimed it would threaten livelihoods and the tourism sector in the northwest and place stress on residents. He said: “Ireland once again faces the prospect of
the collateral damage of a Tory government in West‐ minster that doesn’t give a damn about Ireland, and it’s so divorced from the re‐ ality of life on the border that it could even counte‐ nance such a measure like this.”
and finally... A CAMEL which escaped from a drive‐through nativity scene in Bonner Springs, Kansas in the US, led police on a chase for a whole day before it was caught. The escaped camel notched up speeds of 40mph as officers in a ‘commandeered’ golf cart chased it along the street. The police were surprised at how fast the animal moved as they described the event as something out of ‘just another cop movie’. One officer jumped out of the golf cart to finally lasso the camel and return it to the show.
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SANNA MARIN, the prime minister of Finland, has apologised for going out clubbing in Helsinki after having close contact with a confirmed case of Covid‐19. The Foreign Minister from her govern‐ ment had tested postive just a few hours before she went out for the evening on Saturday, De‐
Finnish PM apology cember 4. The advice she was initially given was that there was no need for her to isolate due to her full vaccination record, but later a mes‐ sage was sent that re‐ versed that decision and
Olympics boycott IT has been announced that no UK gov‐ ernment minister or official will attend the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. In a statement Boris Johnson said that this effectively amounts to a diplo‐ matic boycott of the event due to be held in Beijing, China in 2022. The news comes as the US and Aus‐ tralia announced diplomatic boycotts of the games because of human rights concerns. Johnson was pressed at PMQs, say‐ ing that no diplomats were expected to go to the games. However, he added: “I do not think that sporting boycotts are sensible and that remains the policy of the government.” Athletes from the countries boy‐ cotting the games will still be compet‐ ing.
recommended self‐isola‐ tion until after a negative result. Critics have jumped on her decision to not originally self‐iso‐ late until after she had been tested. The prime minister has said that the
message that changed the advice given was sent to her work phone, which she had left at home. The message clari‐ fied she should avoid so‐ cial contact until proven negative. She claims that
as soon as she saw the text on Sunday, she sourced a test immedi‐ ately and the result was negative. The criticism from her opponents came as a gossip maga‐ zine published pho‐ tographs of the Finnish PM out at the Butchers Club, where she stayed with friends until 4am.
Work party survey
TO party or not to party? The return of the office Christmas party is being met with some reluctance, as the lat‐ est research from Mintel reveals more than four in 10 (41 per cent) British workers say the risk of catch‐ ing coronavirus is making them feel uncomfortable about going to a work’s Christmas party. Fear of catching Covid‐19 remains high, as 43 per cent of consumers now say they are worried/extremely worried, about catching the virus, like the 44 per cent who said the same in early November 2020. But it’s not just office parties that are
making consumers nervous, as one in four (24 per cent) Brits are uncom‐ fortable/extremely uncomfortable about going to a bar or restaurant in‐ doors. One potential reason for lingering discomfort around socialising could be that the majority (61 per cent) of Brits say they plan to see their fami‐ lies at Christmas and don’t want to put anyone at risk. Meanwhile, 44 per cent of Brits say they are planning on having a smaller Christmas (with fewer people) this year, compared to before the pan‐ demic.
NEWS
Marin has been criticised.
Case now settled
ACTRESS Sienna Miller has settled her case against The Sun newspaper after almost a decade of pursuing it through the High Court. She has claimed the paper “very nearly ruined her life” by allegedly “leaking” the news that she was pregnant after her claim that they un‐ lawfully gathered information about her. In a statement read out on her behalf, she has told how she felt her choice was “brutally” taken away from her by the paper and their publishers, News Group Newspapers (NGN). The legal action was begun by Miller as she claimed she was the “victim of unlawful informa‐ tion‐gathering by various journalists and execu‐ tives at The Sun,” and that a medical records trac‐ er was hired by them to discover more about her pregnancy. NGN has denied the allegations of any illegal acts but has settled with Ms Miller for “substan‐ tial damages” without admitting liability.
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NEWS
Camels beauty show ban Suicide capsule legalised DOZENS of camels have been barred from a Saudi Arabian beauty contest be‐ cause of Botox and other ar‐ tificial touch‐ups. The annual pageant, King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, is a prestigious event in Saudi Arabia with $66 million awarded to those breeders whose camels are deemed to be the best in breed. With so much on offer, breeders will go to any lengths to win. This year the authorities de‐ cided to put an end to cheat‐ ing by disqualifying 40 camels that had received cosmetic treatment. Entrants in standard
CAMEL FESTIVAL: Annual pageant.
beauty competitions will recognise many of the prac‐ tices including face lifts and botox injections, but per‐ haps what they may not recognise is the reshaping of humps, necks, and posture.
Such is the scale and ex‐ tent of the technology in use, judges of the month‐ long festival in the desert northeast of the capital Riyadh have been forced to act.
EUTHANASIA or assisted sui‐ cide is legal already in Switzer‐ land. The country has taken one step further and has now approved the use of an assist‐ ed suicide capsule. The Sarco capsule or machine was de‐ signed by Nitschke and Alexander Bannink. The designers hope that their assisted suicide machine will allow people to die in a dig‐ nified manner. The person who wants to die is placed in‐ side the capsule. Once activat‐ ed the capsule makes the per‐ son fall asleep where they then die painlessly. The ma‐ chine uses nitrogen to help the person die without pain. The person wanting to die
CAPSULE: Can be used around the world.
can activate the machine using a button inside the capsule. If the person is paralysed, then they can activate the machine by just blinking. The capsule can be made with a 3D printer so can be used around the world. Once activated the machine
sucks out oxygen from the air until only 1 per cent remains. The patient will start to lose consciousness within seconds of the process being started. Death will occur within five to 10 minutes and will be pain‐ less.
British Airways axes flights MORE than 2,000 flights have been grounded until March 2022 by British Airways. A spokesperson said that it is not due to worries over the Omicron variant or coronavirus travel restrictions being put in place. British Airways commented: “Like other airlines, due to the continuing Coronavirus pandemic we are operating a reduced and
dynamic schedule.” Some countries in Europe are already begin‐ ning to re‐implement lockdowns to try to keep the virus at bay. The travel industry has been relieved though as initial reports suggest that the Omicron variant leads to mild symptoms. Not much is known about the new variant at the moment.
Trump 2024 optimism DONALD TRUMP said his base would be ‘very an‐ gry’ if he did not decide to run for president again in 2024, as the date for his announcement comes closer. Trump has long teased that he will an‐ nounce another crack at the presidency after the 2022 midterms have been completed. Radio show host Hugh Hewitt spoke to the for‐ mer president on December 8: “I want to talk to you about 2024. You know your base better than anybody, you know, the people who come to the rallies. If Donald Trump decides not to run again in 2024, who out there will that base flock to?” Trump replied: “If I do decide that I think my base is going to be very angry.” He added, after some pushing from Hewitt, “They will be very an‐ gry, I think we have a couple of people that are ‐ would be very good. But it’s, you know, very early. It’s very, very early.” Trump told Hewitt that he’s optimistic about 2022 and 2024 as Republicans vie to retake the House, Senate and later White House.
Test subjects wanted
A NEW study is looking for test subjects for antiviral Covid treatments. Partici‐ pants must be over the age of 18 and have certain underly‐ ing health conditions. Partici‐ pants must have Covid symp‐ toms which began in the last five days and have taken a PCR test that came back posi‐ tive. The study will be carried
out by the University of Ox‐ ford and will test whether new antiviral treatments for Covid‐19 can help people in the early stages of the illness recover faster and therefore reduce the number of people being admitted to hospital. You can register via the Ox‐ ford University website www.panoramictrial.org.
NEWS
www.euroweeklynews.com
16 - 22 December 2021
Pension divorce limit
THE Supreme Court in Spain has set limits for granting an ‘indefinite’ compensatory pension after a divorce. The court considers that it is nec‐ essary to investigate whether the partner can earn an in‐ come in the future and sup‐ port themselves. The factors considered include age, health, education and whether there are children to take care of. A compensatory pension is a benefit that one former spouse receives from the oth‐ er. This occurs when the breakdown of the couple cre‐ ates an economic imbalance compared to the situation when married. The new limits were first set out in a ruling in Novem‐ ber. The Supreme Court par‐ tially upheld an appeal from a man who had been ordered to pay a considerable com‐ pensatory pension by the Madrid Provincial Court. He had originally been ordered to pay €2,000 indefinitely. The Supreme Court has dropped this to a period of
Factors to be considered are age, health, education and children.
five years and to a payment of only €1,000. The man had agreed that his wife who had stopped working to look after the fam‐ ily should receive a compen‐ satory pension. However, he
disagreed that it should be an indefinite pension and that it should be for such a high sum. The Supreme Court partial‐ ly agreed with him and limit‐ ed the amount to be paid and the duration.
Tesco strike
TESCO warehouse workers and drivers are set to cause chaos in strikes just days before Christmas. The supermarket has said it will make sure shelves re‐ main fully stocked during the strikes from Unite and the US‐ DAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers). Union representatives have said that the dispute involves some 6,000 workers at distribution centres after a 4 per cent annual pay rise was rejected. A spokesperson for Tesco said: “Our distribution col‐ leagues have worked tirelessly through the pandemic in or‐ der to keep products moving for customers. We are disap‐ pointed that some have voted to proceed, and we have contingency plans in place to help mitigate any impacts.”
Adele bans unvaccinated
ADELE is returning after a four‐year hiatus. Fans though have been shocked
after she banned anyone who is not vaccinated from her concerts. This will also
No smoking in cars
THE Spanish Ministry of Health has finalised an ambitious com‐ prehensive plan against smoking that introduces, among other issues, the prohibition of smoking in cars, the generic packag‐ ing of tobacco brands and limiting electronic cigarettes. The European Union and the WHO now have ambitions to achieve a ‘tobacco‐free generation’ in Spain. For this and ‘before the year 2023’ it will propose to increase smoke‐free spaces, including electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, such as terraces of bars and restaurants and the vicinity of public buildings. The Ministry of Health also wants to adapt all the regula‐ tions against smoking ‘to the changes produced in the market with the appearance of new products and achieving progress in the regulation of smoke‐free spaces.’ These smoke‐free spaces also include ‘certain spaces of the private sphere’ such as ‘private vehicles.’ In addition, they want to stop the increasing covert advertis‐ ing and promotions on social networks and platforms of new tobacco products. Spain plans to reach the goal established by the WHO of a relative reduction of 30 per cent in tobacco consumption by the year 2025.
include people who have only had a single dose of the vaccine. The 33‐year‐old British su‐ perstar announced last month that she will perform to 4,000 people a night in a run of concerts from Jan‐ uary 21. The concerts will take place every Friday and Saturday after that until mid‐April. Seventy‐six‐year‐old Sir Rod Stewart will also be per‐ forming at the same venue which can hold 4,300 peo‐ ple. He will allow unvacci‐ nated fans to attend though so long as they wear ‘masks at all times unless eating and drinking.’ Attendees will also need to have ‘a temper‐ ature check at the venue en‐ trance upon arrival.’
STATS
76
Halley’s comet passes the Earth every 76 years.
Adele to appear in concert.
EWN 25
26 EWN
16 - 22 December 2021
www.euroweeklynews.com
EUROPEAN PRESS
EUROPEAN PRESS DENMARK
Irish Hamlet
Plastic triumph
ALAS poor Hamlet, he wasn’t Danish but Irish according to research undertaken by medieval scholars. It is understood that the character was based on Amlothi whose tale was recorded in the 12th Century Deeds of the Danes and it is now believed that his name is not Scandinavian.
A REPORT by the Dansk Erhverv chamber of commerce suggests the average person in Denmark only used 32 plastic bags in 2021 which is four years ahead of schedule on an EU directive that requires all member states to average under 40 bags per person by 2025.
THE NETHERLANDS Art attack
Ironic fine
WHO needs another Rembrandt is a question being asked on Dutch social media, after the government there put up €150 million towards a €175 million price tag that the Rothschild family want for his The Standard Bearer? Many suggest the money would be better spent elsewhere.
THE Dutch tax office is being fined €2.7 million by the data protection authority AP for discriminating against dual national families who were targeted in a childcare benefit scandal. Ironically as no individual employee has to pay, the fine will come from taxes collected.
BELGIUM Poor publicity
My Corona Risk
AN investigation undertaken by a group of three Belgian media companies has revealed that charity Poverello, an organisation which says it is there to help the poor, owns €50 million’s worth of real estate and has €14 million in the bank.
HEALTH platform Citizens on the Move has helped create Europe’s first online platform My Corona Risk which assesses the chances of becoming infected with the coronavirus and how severe the infection will be based on questions about their location, precautions taken and state of health.
GERMANY Fake news
Green credentials
THE German news agency DW has made it clear that a Facebook post entitled ‘Mistletoe, anyone?’ supposedly showing a DW article featuring hundreds of German anti-vaxxers kissing is not only fake, but uses a kiss-in photograph taken 10 years ago in Chile.
THE new Minister for Food and Agriculture, Cem Özdemir of Turkish descent who represents the Green Party in the German coalition government kept true to his beliefs by turning up at the presidential palace on a bicycle to collect his certificate of appointment.
FRANCE Happy ending
History sold
A MOUNTAINEER discovered a metal box in the snow near Mont Blanc in 2013 which contained a number of precious stones and it transpired that the box was from an Indian aircraft which crashed 50 years earlier. Now he has shared a €300,000 reward with the local council.
NAPOLEON first came to power following a coup in 1799 and so popular is he still that the jewel encrusted sword that he carried as well as five of his guns were sold at auction in the USA to an anonymous buyer for $2.9 million (€2.56 million).
NORWAY Sadly missed
Sad tree
THE late Kim Karen-Christine Friele was accorded the highest honour a Norwegian citizen can receive with a state funeral attended by members of royalty, the government and hundreds of admirers as she was remembered as the woman who had done the most to champion Norwegian gay rights.
THERE are tongue in cheek suggestions that because Manchester United sacked Norwegian football hero Ole Gunnar Solskjær that the annual Christmas tree sent to Trafalgar Square was below par and that London should be encouraged to buy a new tree and send the bill to Oslo Council.
EUROPEAN PRESS
www.euroweeklynews.com
EUROPEAN PRESS FINLAND
Light marvel
Biogas production
AS temperatures drop considerably in part of northern Finland, a natural phenomenon means that pillars of light are created when moisture in the air turns directly into ice crystals and they can reflect the light of a street lamp as they descend very slowly towards the ground.
THE southern Finnish port of HaminaKotka is doing its bit to help reduce pollution in the Baltic Sea as it has started the process of transforming the waste water discharged from arriving freighters into biogas that can be used as fuel for commercial vehicles.
IRELAND Fishy story
Disruptive solicitors
USING EU funds, the Irish Government plans to have 60 small fishing trawlers decommissioned whilst other European Union based fleets will continue to have access to Irish waters. Despite a payment of €12,000 per tonne of weight of each trawler, small communities may be wiped out.
IRISH law does not give any absolute right for a person arrested to be given access to a solicitor but in practice this does happen, however a new law being considered may give the Garda (police) the right to ban ‘disruptive’ solicitors from interviews.
ITALY Confession accepted
Christmas tree
A PRIEST aged 40 has confessed that he used money from the collection plate in his church in Tuscany to buy drugs which he then sold at sex parties and has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison by the court.
ACKNOWLEDGED by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest Christmas tree which is made up of lights and is 750 metres tall, it towers above the mediaeval town of Gubbio and its 700 lights are ‘adopted’ by residents who dedicate each light to their loved ones.
PORTUGAL Street brawl
Amazing space
IF Covid wasn’t enough, football hooliganism has returned to Lisbon where police had to break up a brawl between Benfica and Ukraine’s Dynamo Kiev supporters prior to their Champions League game leaving 12 in hospital and 54 arrested. Benfica eventually won 2 - 0.
SOMETHING went wrong with the snagging list in the 200-year-old Santa Maria do Castelo church in Tavira as what is believed to be an abandoned space for a small altar has just been discovered when a display case containing a statue was moved for renovations.
RUSSIA Clever marketing
Billionaire club
A BAKERY in St Petersburg has stormed the Russian internet with a video showing what appears to be Timothée Chalamet, star of the latest Dune remake, staring lovingly at a cake, but in fact it is a remarkable local lookalike who is the star.
EVERY year, Forbes magazine publishes details of the world’s richest people and the countries they come from. As we get near to the end of 2021, they estimate that Russian billionaires have a combined wealth of €556 billion, putting them third in the list behind American and India.
SWEDEN ABBA Mania
IKEA names
FORMED in 1989, British tribute group ABBA Mania is now being sued by the four members of ABBA who have just released their first new album in 40 years and are launching a virtual stage show. ABBA object to the words original and official in advertising.
A NEW campaign by the Swedish tourist office called Discover the Originals, has selected 21 popular IKEA products with names associated with different locations in Sweden and described them so that customers will recognise that they are not just toilet brushes or waste paper bins.
16 - 22 December 2021
EWN 27
FINANCE BUSINESS EXTRA Xmas lunch CHRISTMAS comes but once a year and this may be important to British family finances as according to analysts Kantar, the cost of lunch on December 25 will be higher than last year, with a 7 per cent hike on turkeys and 5 per cent on Brussels sprouts and Christmas puddings.
Bid rejected THE proposed takeover of mutually owned insurance company LV= by US investment company Bain Capital was only supported by 69 per cent of the members (shareholders) when a minimum of 75 per cent was required even though the offer on the table was £530 million.
Solar petrol REPSOL now has 272 service stations in Spain which are powered by solar panels on forecourt roofs just two years after it launched its green energy programme and plans to have installed the panels on a total of 400 locations by the end of 2022.
Cecilia for rent WITH fears that there will be insufficient staff available to man the pumps in pubs around Britain, even with the return to work from home, due to the Omicron variant, some landlords are considering employing Cecilia, a robotic bartender available to rent at £1,500 a month.
Fish wars DESPITE threatening Britain with sanctions if fishing licences weren’t granted to small French fishing boats, the Macron Government and the EU have now agreed a compromise. With other more newsworthy events catching the headlines, the British Government alongside those of Crown Dependencies, Guernsey and Jersey issued 83 additional licences, less than demanded but more than expected. In theory this should stop a Calais blockade on British goods, but much will depend on how many French fishermen were not granted licences and still feel hard done by.
30
www.euroweeklynews.com • 16 - 22 December 2021
STAT OF WEEK
€66.577
billion is the latest estimate of the cost to Spain of the bail out for banks following the financial crisis and this may still increase according to the Court of Auditors.
Spain wants new startups TRUE to its word, the Spanish Gov‐ ernment is in the process of woo‐ ing new startup companies and foreign workers to the country as it wants to catapult Spain into the forefront of the digital economy. It can afford to offer very attrac‐ tive deals to new employers and their workers thanks to the fi‐ nance guaranteed by the EU Re‐ covery Fund and it clearly plans to use the money received both as a grant and cheap loan to kickstart the new tech economy. On Friday December 10, Minis‐ ter of Economic Affairs and Digital
Transformation, Nadia Calviño an‐ nounced that the new Startups law was ready to be presented to parliament for final approval ex‐ plaining that with this regulation to promote innovative en‐ trepreneurship, Spain is going to be among the most attractive countries for the creation of star‐ tups, “thinking very especially of the generation of opportunities for young people and in attracting investment and talent.” In essence, the government will lower corporate tax to 15 per cent from the current 25 per cent for
LEGALLY SPEAKING
Grants for electric cars? I know that Spain for some years has offered grants for purchase of new cars and tax rebates when you junk your old car. Is this still in effect and how would I find out about it? M L (Costa del Sol)
Yes, it is DAVID SEARL called Plan Moves III and is YOU AND THE LAW now limited to IN SPAIN grants for all‐elec‐ tric and hybrid vehicles. It offers no grants for gasoline‐ powered vehicles. The plan went into effect in September and will run over the next three years. It offers total aid of €67.5 million. Specifically the maximum amount an indi‐ vidual can receive would be €7,000 if he buys an all‐elec‐ tric or a plug‐in hybrid vehicle and junks his present car more than seven years old. If he does not junk his old car, the grant drops to €4,500. The grant does not apply to ve‐ hicles whose range is less than 90 kilometres, so it cannot be used for mobility scooters. Private persons can get grants of 70 per cent to install charging stations. The best way to inform yourself is simply to go to your automobile dealer. He wants to sell you a car, so he will make sure that you get the best deal possible. Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana and Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.
FRACKING is an important source of energy in the USA and was promot‐ ed by the Conservative Government under David Cameron in the face of considerable criticism from environ‐ mentalists. Although the go ahead was given for tests to be undertaken in the Midlands and north of England with companies looking to extract gas in particular, a decision was made by Whitehall to ban any large‐
startups and will cut taxes for for‐ eign workers who move to Spain to take up jobs in these companies or to become digital nomads, working for overseas companies but from a Spanish base. For generations, bureaucracy has been considered a stumbling block for smaller businesses wish‐ ing to set up in Spain, but Calviño has indicated that the new law will make it far simpler to set up a company online without need for notary or registry costs and wom‐ en will be encouraged to be part of this digital revolution.
What is a pre-paid funeral plan?
WHILE many peo‐ ple plan their next night out or holi‐ day, most do not think ahead to their funeral. From what type of service to have Pay for your funeral in advance. to the music, plan‐ ning a funeral can be difficult, but a Golden Leaves funeral plan can help prevent your loved ones from having to plan it for you in a different country and another language. Golden Leaves Funeral Plans aims to support grieving fam‐ ilies during these times. Its international division offers expat prepaid funeral plans in Spain. Purchasing a funeral plan with Golden Leaves en‐ ables you to plan, design and pay for your funeral services in advance. Pre‐planning and pre‐paying at today’s prices ensures that your preferences are closely followed and respected, and the funeral fees stipulated in your plan are guaranteed to be paid, no matter how prices rise in the future. Most importantly, you can take comfort knowing that your family is spared the emotional and financial burden of organising and financing your funeral in the time when they are least able to cope. Contact Golden Leaves to begin choosing the right pre‐ paid funeral plan for you.
www.goldenleavesinternational.com enquiries@goldenleaves.com Facebook: goldenleavesspain
Possibility of action scale fracking following a number of minor earthquakes in 2019 which were blamed on the fracking experi‐ ments. Understandably those who had been involved in investing in equipment, licences and testing were aggrieved by the decision and re‐
quests were made for the govern‐ ment to reverse the decision which was not forthcoming. Now however, according to The Daily Telegraph, those involved have warned the British Government that they are considering taking legal action to try
Point of law A COURT decision in Ger‐ many may impact the whole of the work envi‐ ronment throughout the European Union as after having his initial claim re‐ jected by a lower court a man who worked from home has had his appeal upheld. Very simply, as a home worker employed by a company, he claimed that as he fell down the stairs going from his bedroom to his study where he worked, he was entitled to be covered by his em‐ ployer’s accident liability insurance. Whilst the Spanish Gov‐ ernment encouraged home working, the actual law concerning accidents in the home is undefined, but this may act as a use‐ ful precedent.
Industrial unrest WHILST there was little indus‐ trial action in Spain during the period from March 2020 until the end of summer 2021, things are beginning to esca‐ late with a number of demonstrations on the streets. Farmers in Oviedo rode their horses around the city complaining about the rise in prices in almost everything, except their produce. Metal workers in Cadiz Province became embroiled in quite violent conflict with the police and one of the main roads to La Linea de la Frontera was closed by strik‐ ers. Now for Christmas, expect strikes from delivery drivers and even El Gordo lottery sellers. to recover some or all of the estimat‐ ed £500 million that they have spent. Should this go to court and if the government lost, the compensation would have to be paid by taxpayers at a time when Britain is suffering from high electricity prices and the fear that important gas supplies from Russia could be cut off because of the UK’s stance against Russian policy on the Ukraine.
32 EWN
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LONDON - FTSE 100
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on previous page
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 13
COMPANY PRICE(P) 3I Group 1.412,00 Abrdn 238,30 Admiral Group 3.076,0 Anglo American 2.976,5 Antofagasta 1.395,00 Ashtead Group 6.270,0 Associated British Foods 1.933,0 AstraZeneca 8.154,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 734,80 Avast 614,40 Aveva 3.276,4 Aviva 395,25 B&M European Value Retail 642,80 BAE Systems 546,92 Bank VTB DRC 1,224 Barclays 183,08 Barratt Developments 735,40 Berkeley 4.744,0 BHP Group 2.169,50 BP 342,85 British American Tobacco 2.749,0 British Land Company 515,20 BT Group 176,73 Bunzl 2.979,0 Burberry Group 1.831,5 Carnival 1.307,9 Centrica 67,02 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.473,9 Compass 1.527,00 CRH 3.804,0 Croda Intl 10.403,7 DCC 5.656,0 Diageo 3.954,0 DS Smith 392,40 EasyJet 517,54 Experian 3.645,5 Ferguson 12.485,0 Flutter Entertainment 10.940,0 Fresnillo 874,90 GlaxoSmithKline 1.606,60 Glencore 373,25 Halma 3.152,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.321,50 Hikma Pharma 2.220,00 HSBC 437,75 IAG 134,96 Imperial Brands 1.584,50 Informa 500,80 InterContinental 4.629,0 Intermediate Capital 2.200,00
CHANGE(P) 1.414,00 238,90 3.087,0 2.991,0 1.398,50 6.271,0 1.950,5 8.161,0 735,80 615,80 3.291,0 396,20 646,20 551,20 1,224 183,46 738,00 4.761,0 2.183,00 345,30 2.763,0 520,80 178,50 2.985,0 1.836,5 1.317,2 67,70 2.478,0 1.532,00 3.810,0 10.435,0 5.710,0 3.970,0 394,00 530,80 3.651,0 12.495,0 11.060,0 875,20 1.609,80 374,00 3.154,0 1.336,50 2.228,00 440,05 137,86 1.593,00 503,60 4.666,0 2.201,00
% CHG. 1.393,00 236,50 3.067,0 2.959,0 1.379,00 6.193,1 1.924,5 8.109,0 731,80 613,60 3.259,0 393,90 640,20 546,80 1,180 182,30 729,40 4.712,0 2.163,50 342,65 2.749,0 514,80 175,55 2.960,0 1.821,5 1.296,6 66,92 2.455,0 1.519,00 3.776,0 10.275,0 5.652,0 3.936,5 388,50 516,60 3.620,0 12.370,0 10.920,0 860,40 1.598,20 370,85 3.130,0 1.315,00 2.204,00 436,45 134,86 1.579,50 500,40 4.629,0 2.173,00
NET VOL 54,09K 228,22K 22,06K 344,00K 79,29K 4,66K 48,80K 179,45K 80,57K 141,78K 11,98K 777,01K 102,67K 167,83K 2,96M 1,30M 127,32K 13,23K 439,64K 4,15M 317,28K 133,16K 2,58M 29,72K 64,10K 129,42K 2,11M 36,29K 178,07K 46,64K 35,97K 6,39K 157,10K 346,65K 577,14K 45,88K 8,85K 16,17K 63,64K 703,41K 2,43M 21,90K 25,63K 29,18K 2,37M 3,25M 88,72K 138,49K 16,70K 8,89K
COMPANY
PRICE(P)
Intertek ITV J Sainsbury Johnson Matthey Land Securities Legal & General Lloyds Banking London Stock Exchange Meggitt Melrose Industries Mondi National Grid NatWest Group Next Norilskiy Nikel ADR Ocado Persimmon Phoenix Prudential Reckitt Benckiser Relx Rentokil Rightmove Rio Tinto PLC Rolls-Royce Holdings Rosneft DRC Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B Sage Samsung Electronics DRC Sberbank Schroders Scottish Mortgage Segro Severn Trent Smith & Nephew Smiths Group Spirax-Sarco Engineering SSE St. James’s Place Standard Chartered Taylor Wimpey Tesco Tui Unilever United Utilities Vodafone Group PLC Whitbread WPP
5.764,0 111,03 272,80 2.011,0 748,20 294,20 46,12 6.632,0 737,80 149,00 1.838,50 1.046,84 216,60 8.228,0 29,55 1.588,20 2.817,0 649,80 1.302,50 6.154,0 2.406,00 625,40 769,40 4.833,5 121,38 7,64 1.655,90 1.656,0 1.652,6 828,57 1.628,50 15,90 3.434,0 1.402,65 1.409,00 2.916,0 1.225,48 1.508,00 16.300,0 1.628,75 1.615,50 426,20 167,91 285,45 218,70 4.006,0 1.117,50 113,09 2.881,0 1.109,50
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
NET VOL
5.768,0 111,45 275,50 2.046,0 752,80 294,70 46,33 6.714,0 739,60 149,40 1.840,50 1.049,60 217,30 8.296,0 29,75 1.612,88 2.825,0 650,60 1.312,00 6.164,0 2.408,00 626,60 772,40 4.857,6 123,12 7,73 1.665,20 1.664,8 1.661,6 829,80 1.631,50 16,05 3.443,0 1.407,38 1.412,00 2.948,0 1.233,00 1.508,00 16.325,0 1.633,52 1.616,00 427,70 168,28 285,95 222,80 4.010,5 1.121,00 113,50 2.907,0 1.119,00
5.706,0 110,35 272,50 2.008,0 748,00 292,70 45,98 6.612,0 735,60 148,30 1.818,50 1.045,20 215,80 8.154,0 29,41 1.583,00 2.801,0 643,80 1.300,50 6.096,0 2.396,00 621,80 766,40 4.812,0 121,18 7,60 1.654,50 1.655,0 1.651,0 821,80 1.624,00 15,76 3.413,0 1.397,00 1.401,00 2.906,0 1.221,00 1.496,50 16.130,0 1.623,00 1.607,00 423,80 166,04 283,30 217,50 3.990,0 1.114,00 112,32 2.846,0 1.102,50
8,27K 486,76K 191,78K 34,90K 64,92K 612,64K 20,38M 67,47K 35,03K 446,81K 59,57K 156,17K 1,20M 12,48K 53,65K 24,71K 26,20K 75,88K 330,52K 65,01K 80,83K 85,06K 102,84K 44,18K 4,89M 261,27K 501,62K 515,68K 770,15K 233,42K 1,60K 748,06K 10,15K 387,76K 102,32K 14,32K 113,34K 39,71K 5,32K 15,40K 27,34K 537,15K 196,88K 749,86K 634,72K 227,74K 67,06K 4,94M 26,78K 378,45K
1.17275
0.85141
Units per €
US dollar (USD) ......................................1.12671 Japan yen (JPY)......................................128.116 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................1.0427 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4362 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................10.138
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 D ECEMBER 13
COMPANY 3M Alphabet C Amazon.com Amgen Apple Boeing Caterpillar Chevron Cisco Coca-Cola Goldman Sachs Home Depot Honeywell IBM Intel J&J JPMorgan McDonald’s Merck&Co Meta Platforms Microsoft Nike Procter&Gamble Salesforce.com Tesla UnitedHealth Verizon Visa A Walmart Walt Disney
PRICE 177,10 2.973,5 3.444,24 210,89 179,45 205,06 203,46 118,34 59,25 56,28 391,06 415,40 209,81 124,09 50,59 165,49 159,82 264,97 72,62 329,75 342,54 169,06 155,46 266,03 1.017,03 478,23 50,19 213,40 141,03 152,71
CHANGE 177,94 2.988,0 3.518,54 214,45 179,63 209,00 205,90 119,20 59,34 56,32 398,86 415,61 210,04 125,33 51,07 166,69 161,70 265,27 73,23 335,03 343,00 170,24 155,80 270,57 1.020,98 478,48 50,33 214,25 141,30 154,66
CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 176,11 1,54M 2.947,1 1,04M 3.410,00 2,97M 210,01 2,73M 174,69 112,53M 203,48 6,00M 202,11 3,31M 116,87 9,07M 57,91 19,22M 55,07 23,09M 388,66 1,88M 410,26 2,56M 205,82 3,24M 123,36 4,96M 50,05 22,58M 164,65 6,32M 159,13 10,12M 262,43 2,35M 72,25 11,39M 326,37 14,21M 334,79 36,99M 167,33 4,71M 153,43 6,88M 264,44 3,48M 982,53 19,66M 471,01 2,38M 49,99 17,90M 210,86 8,65M 137,57 12,52M 151,45 9,24M M - MILLION DOLLARS
NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 13
COMPANY
CHANGE NET / %
VOLUME
Most Advanced Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Cl A 1.54% NVR Inc. 1.23% AutoZone Inc. 1.89% White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. 1.84% UBS AG FI Enhanced Large Cap Growth ETN 1.67% Credit Suisse FI Large Cap Growth Enhanced ETN1.67% Markel Corp. 1.15% Oracle Corp. 15.61% Chemed Corp. 2.72% Martin Marietta Materials Inc. 2.83% Anthem Inc. 2.70%
1.57K 12.8K 161.27K 22.67K 35 575 39.15K 45.82M 98.69K 550.65K 1.22M
Most Declined Shopify Inc. Cl A Wayfair Inc. Cl A Sea Ltd. ADR HubSpot Inc. Generac Holdings Inc. Cloudflare Inc. Cl A Cooper Cos. United Rentals Inc. Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. Cl A Fiverr International Ltd. GXO Logistics Inc.
-2.23% -7.80% -6.62% -2.12% -3.44% -6.47% -2.17% -2.45% -1.03% -5.62% -7.61%
794.29K 2.75M 7.21M 577.85K 756.68K 5.64M 379.35K 599.97K 153.56K 749.57K 2.31M
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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Credit: @ThierryBreton Twitter
Mobile roaming with no extra fees
DEAL REACHED: Part of the negotiating team.
MOBILE roaming with no extra fees for EU residents is to be extended until 2032 after the presidency reached a deal with Euro‐ pean Parliament. The EU’s successful roam like at home scheme will be extended until 2032, ac‐ cording to the provisional agreement reached on De‐ cember 9 by negotiators from the Council and the European Parliament. The updated roaming rules will ensure that peo‐ ple can continue to make calls, text and browse the web while travelling in oth‐ er EU countries, without the fear of a shock when they get their bill, after the current roaming regulation expires on June 30, 2022. The ‘roam like at home’ policy has made communi‐ cation easier and cheaper whenever people are trav‐ elling in Europe and is con‐ sidered one of the greatest success stories of the digital single market. The revised roaming reg‐
ulation adjusts the maxi‐ mum wholesale prices to ensure that the provision of retail roaming services at domestic prices is sustain‐ able for operators through‐ out the EU although the fair use policy, which is de‐ signed to prevent perma‐ nent roaming, will contin‐ ue. It increases transparency for services that may be subject to extra cost, and will also protect customers from bill shocks resulting from inadvertent roaming on non‐terrestrial mobile networks when on ferries or aeroplanes. The provisional agree‐ ment reached is subject to approval by the Council and the full European Parlia‐ ment. Unfortunately for those who have contracts with UK based mobile suppliers there will be no such pro‐ tection, due to Brexit, al‐ though Three are unlikely to start charging before May next year and O2 offer
Improvement of 15 fishing ports THE Junta de Andalucia is to invest in the improve‐ ment of 15 fishing ports as the Ministry of Agricul‐ ture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Develop‐ ment has allocated almost €8.2 million to carry out work. This was confirmed on December 8 by Minister Carmen Crespo, who emphasised that this financial aid would cover 86 per cent of the total investment on these projects. The beneficiary ports are Malaga, Fuengirola, Velez‐Malaga, Marbella and Estepona in Malaga Province; La Linea, Chipiona, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Puerto de Santa María, Barbate and Cadiz in Cadiz Province; Punta Umbria, Isla Cristina and El Rompido in Huelva Province and the port of Almeria.
some free roaming, but EE and Vodafone are charging already.
BUSINESS EXTRA Profits up THE Frasers Group in the UK has seen its pre‐tax profit soar by 75 per cent to £186 million in its lat‐ est half‐year results thanks to the reopening of stores following lock‐ down and a continued growth in its online busi‐ ness, although an Omi‐ cron Christmas may see a slow‐down.
Cherry picking LOOKING to boost its eco‐ nomic forecast depart‐ ment, the European Cen‐ tral Bank has appointed Oscar Arce, former direc‐ tor for Economics, Statis‐ tics and Research at the Bank of Spain as new di‐ rector general of its eco‐ nomics department, an important role which in‐ volves growth and infla‐ tion forecasts.
Flat line LATEST information from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that GDP (Gross Domestic Prod‐ uct) rose just 0.1 per cent in November, well below the forecast 0.4 per cent growth due to ongoing sup‐ ply chain problems and staff shortages and this may get worse.
16 - 22 December 2021
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34 EWN
16 - 22 December 2021
LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT JUST how far back are we going with these accusations of so‐called ‘historical’ racism? Thoroughly respectable citizens are now finding their careers and very livelihoods in jeopardy, merely because years ago they may have used a term or word that today isn’t considered acceptable. As ludicrous as it may seem, you can bet that one day some woke committee, or another will suggest bringing the creators or participants of ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ or ‘The Black and White Minstrels’ to book. It truly wouldn’t surprise me if compensation wasn’t sought from (ironically) the BBC, or some production company involved in these programmes of yore. Well, it’s all payback time, isn’t it? The recent testimony of cricketer Azeem Rafiq was a case in point. His tearful account of experiencing racism in cricket and his naming of Michael Vaughn, who (a decade ago) was one of those censured, was enough despite a public apology, to just about destroy Vaughn’s whole distinguished career. At the hastily called public enquiry, the bleeding‐heart committee, with compassionately furrowed brows, delivered unctuous apologies, while the Yorkshire cricket club
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Payback time
awarded him £200,000 in ‘compensation’. The fact that this same ‘sportsman’ had himself been accused and admitted making several anti‐Semitic and racist remarks some years ago, was conveniently omitted. He was also brought to book for harassing and sending vulgar messages to a 16‐year‐old girl. The biased media of course completely brushed over these facts, which never saw the light of day again. From my experiences in apartheid South Africa, where the black community hated both the white and Asian ‘Cape coloureds’ (and vice versa) and Saudi Arabia, where I employed quite several Pakistani men, I can quite categorically state that the majority were the most blatant racists of all. The UK’s ethnic immigrant minorities are no strangers to racial inequality. Whereas much of British so‐called racism has been steeped in light‐hearted humour and comedy (Manuel!) in their own countries of origin, many ethnic communities have experienced years of violence and hatred provoked by their different cultures and religions. The woke brigade are a gift from heaven for many of
these people and they will take every opportunity to make us all feel bad, while they craftily milk it for all its worth. The recent case of actor Jussie Smollett, who faked his own racist and homophobic attack, is a similar case in point. I reiterate once again that I am not condoning racism in any form; but I won’t be sucked in by the crocodile tears of the ‘offended victims’ as if they are bewildered by it all, when their own societies have been steeped in it for eons. Yet another American court case will be decided next week. Gird yer loins for the violent reactions and blanket left‐wing media coverage if the American white female police officer, who allegedly shot a black man by mistake, is found not guilty ‐ incidentally a verdict I would completely agree with. Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon and Wed 1pm till 4 To read more articles from our columnists and to have your say in the comments go to www.euroweeklynews.com
Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
FEATURE
TV & Film Review by Laura Kemp
Streaming now:
‘And Just Like That…’
THE highly anticipated spinoff of the iconic TV show Sex and the City ‐ which ran from 1998 to 2004 ‐ has debuted on HBO Max with its first two episodes. The series continues from where it left off in the 2010 movie ‘Sex and the City 2’, following Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her girlfriends in New York. There are some surprises in the spinoff so if you don’t want any spoilers, look away now. Shockingly, sex‐obsessed Samantha is no longer with us. The first time we see Carrie, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis), the group is waiting to be seated at a restaurant. However, Samantha (Kim Cattrall) is missing. Even though fans knew Cat‐ trall wouldn’t be involved in the reboot (allegedly due to her feud with Parker), her fate wasn’t known. But now we discover she has moved to London. Back in New York, Carrie
has moved with technology and is now an influencer. “Wow, Instagram, podcast,” exclaims Miranda. “I guess you’re passing as younger, too.” So far, there’s been no sex. For a show that was originally based on four single women and their relationships, the re‐ boot is surprisingly tame. The only person who seems to be having sex is Miranda’s horny teenage son, Brady. The biggest surprise is that John Preston (Mr Big) dies at the end of the first episode. He is seen getting off his Peloton exercise bike and heading into the shower, sending a text to Carrie. He then falls to the floor, appearing to suffer a heart attack. Carrie returns home to find his body propped up against the show‐ er wall. As she cradles his lifeless body in her arms, the episode ends with Carrie’s iconic voiceover: “And just like that... Big died.”
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38 EWN
16 - 22 December 2021
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FEATURE
WHAT BURGLARS DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW! even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbour hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and listen. If he doesn’t, he’ll just return to what he was doing. It’s human nature! To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a great way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invi‐ tation. And, if you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in the house. Sorry if it happens to be yours … But no hard feelings, eh? Just doing MY job.
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
WHEN I was last in the UK, I caught up with an old friend who’d just been bur‐ gled. She was livid as she’s most partic‐ ular about security. But not half as par‐ ticular as the burglar himself. Here are some things he WON’T be telling you as you’re about to leave your house for your Christmas or New Year holiday ... Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your windows or delivering your new freezer. And hey, when I was working in your garden thanks for let‐ ting me use the bathroom where I un‐ latched the back window to make my return that bit easier. I just love your flowers. They tell me you have taste. And taste means there are nice things within. In fact, those toys your kids leave outside always make me wonder what type of elec‐ Nora Johnson’s opinions
BURGLAR: Will break a window to enter, even if it makes a little noise.
Nora Johnson’s psychological crime thrillers ‘The Sentinel’, ‘No Safe Place’, ‘Betrayal’, ‘The Girl in the Woods’, ‘The Girl in the Red Dress’, ‘No Way Back’, ‘Landscape of Lies’, ‘Retribution’, ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora‐johnson.net) available on‐ line as eBook (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, paperback and audiobook. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.
tronic games are inside! alarm system. Another point: I always knock first. If Sometimes I carry a clipboard. Some‐ you answer, I’ll ask for directions times I dress like a gardener and carry a somewhere or offer to clean your gut‐ strimmer. You see, I do my best never To read more articles from our columnists ters. (Just don’t take me up on it!) to look like an old lag. And two things I and to have your say in the comments go And, remember, a loud TV or radio can hate most? Loud dogs and nosy neigh‐ to www.euroweeklynews.com be a better deterrent than the best bours. I'll break a window to get in, are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
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FEATURE
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TONI C. EASTWOOD OBE, MBA
#TheWomanBeyond I SAID I liked a great sporting analogy and here is another ‐ there is always so much we can learn from sport in life ‐ if we stop to think about it!!! Jack Nicklaus once said that the real key to being a great golfer was “playing badly well.” I love that. It’s one thing to play well when ev‐ erything’s good. It’s an entirely different thing to be able to play well when things aren’t go‐ ing so smoothly. Jim Afremow, one of the world’s leading mental toughness coaches and author of The Champion’s Mind calls it being “ugly but effective” and having “good bad days.” So, we need to master the art of hav‐ ing good bad days. How do we do that? What’s the trick? Well, first, and I am talking from ex‐ perience here, expect to have some rough days and to do silly things on oc‐ casion.
16 - 22 December 2021
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GOOD BAD DAYS
I’m not sure which golfer said it but, they expected to have x number of bad shots in any given round, so when they had the inevitable bad shot they didn’t lose it. They just said, “Yep. There’s one!” And then they moved on. We need to do the same thing in life. We need to expect mistakes, the proverbial to hit the fan and rough patches when we’re not as connected as we’d like to be. That’s the first step. Then we don’t fall into a destructive cy‐ cle of wondering what’s wrong with us. We just need to acknowledge we’re not at our best and take the next baby step. (No big deal ‐ LOL!!!) Now here’s what we DON’T want to do ‐ all the stupid things we tend to do when we’re stressed. I know you know what I’m talking about. I like to call those habits ‘kryp‐ tonite.’ The stuff that, for whatever reason, we tend to gravitate toward
when we can least afford to be se‐ duced by them. What are they for you? They’re different for each of us. You know those sirens who tempted Odysseus and his sailors ‐ making them crash into the rocks? Did you know that they sang a different song for each of the different sailors? Yep, sneaky eh! What’s your song ‐ the one that leads you on a path that results in you crash‐ ing into the rocks and turning what could have been a good bad day into a really bad day? Expect the challenges. Know your bad habits (Kryptonite). Steer clear of the rocks. Stay Focused, Keep Positive and Choose to +1 in Every Moment. Fulfil Your Dreams and Awaken Your Great‐ ness! Love, Hugs, High Fives and Fist Bumps Toni x
Toni Eastwood OBE, MBA #TheWomanBeyond
PS. If you want more out of life. Sign up for our January Visionary Women Programme and in just four, three‐ hour online sessions you could Reach Beyond Your Limits, Soar Beyond Your Barriers and Live Beyond Your Dreams and make 2022 your Best Year Yet. 25 per cent off for Euro Weekly News Readers ‐ Just Quote Offer Code EWN25 ‐ for more info and to book head on over to https://quantumvan tage.co.uk/visionarywomenpro gramme Don’t hold back another moment. You could be just one step away…
To read more articles from our columnists and to have your say in the comments go to www.euroweeklynews.com
Please do get in touch if you have any questions. Follow me, chat and share your thoughts and network with other fabulous women in my Visionary Women Facebook Group.
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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.
INEQUALITIES
From our Facebook
BREATH OF FRESH AIR: Claire Gordon’s column in complete contract to the view of Leapy Lee.
What a breath of fresh air to read Claire Gordon’s column last week in complete contrast to the views of Lee, in her statement quote! (The irony of people making these sorts of ignorant statements at a campaign aimed at making spaces more welcoming for people is completely lost) While she is specifically referring to LGBTQ+ everything she has said also applies to the continual ignorance shown by her fellow columnist towards the BLM movement who are only asking that more tolerance should be shown towards all genders. Thankfully the majority of the public through these organisations are now seeing the importance of equality as shown by the hundreds of thousands at football matches when every week the taking of the knee is widely applauded. Many thanks Ramon
Last week’s Leapy I don’t always agree with you... but I really thought your article last week was spot on ... I really loved the statements from Sheikh Rahid too... Regards
Import duty Yes I had the same problem, this time with a parcel from the UK, I had to pay €23.64, God knows where they got this amount from. But that’s what I had to pay at the Correos to get my parcel. But I didn’t know it also applied to Xmas cards. So there will be no more parcels and maybe Xmas cards and birthday cards now. Susan
Bollotics! Will you be partying with your family in the UK this year? While, 50,000 new cases are being spread daily by the partially masked partying, socialising, sport and concert attending home population, new restrictions will now apply to triple vaccinated Brits living in mask protected Spain, hiking the cost of seeing them this Christmas. Recent revelations have confirmed that Covid restrictions can be disregarded by government members and their cronies, and ‘lying’ has now been reclassified as ‘denying’. Welcome to bollotics! The new way to exercise power. A disgruntled grandad
Janet
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME THE lead up to Christmas has been a tense time for everyone. In the UK, rows have erupted over breaches of public trust as the government asks people to follow guidelines that they seem to neglect themselves. Meanwhile, in Spain and elsewhere, there are fears of another wave of the pandemic just as everyone could sense normality returning. But amongst the gloom,
CORRECTIONS
OUR VIEW
there are always moments of joy and cheer that restore your faith in humanity. On Sunday, December 12, fans of Sevilla-based football club Real Betis carried out their annual tradition of bringing soft toys to their pre-Christmas home game. Following a signal, the toys are tossed onto the pitch and then collected by local charity groups and distributed to needy children around the
city. The initiative is aimed to ensure that no child goes without a gift at Christmas. The sight of thousands of furry creatures raining down in the stadium from home and away fans is a heart-warming sight. It is a lovely gesture that brings a new meaning to the phrase ‘The Beautiful Game.’ It is also a reminder that despite our differences, we can come together in the name of a worthy cause.
CHILDREN’S VACCINATION: It is doubtful they will be useful.
Tom Batley Children who catch the virus are mainly asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms, they can also spread the virus whether vaccinated or not, so I can categorically say neither of my children will be getting this jab and most parents I know say the same!
Nikki Dean Absolutely not! Until these trials are completed and FULL implications and long term side effects are established, they shouldn’t even be thinking of moving on to the children!! NO NO NO!
Norman Shaw Absolutely yes, everyone should be vaccinated (unless for medical reasons) including children.
Christine Moore Children need to build up their natural immunity. The vast majority of kids that get infected are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms.
Louise Catterall Definitely not. Children have a 99.997 per cent chance of surviving Covid yet the jabs have had no long term testing and results so far show they are causing paralysis, heart attacks, myocarditis and even death.
Ruma Jordan This is not a normal vaccine, it’s an mRNA treatment ... until the trials have finished and proven safe these should not be forced on anyone!
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
46 EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
16 - 22 December 2021
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? WHILE winter may be a time when we traditionally hiber‐ nate a bit, getting a little more sleep than normal, for many of us colder, wetter weather can still take its toll, leaving us looking tired. Lack of sleep can leave its mark all over our bodies, giv‐ ing us dry hair, chapped lips, dull skin, and bags under our eyes. Luckily, it is possible to undo a lot of this damage by simply getting an extra hour or two of sleep a night, as well as upping your intake of water and fresh fruit and vegetables. In the meantime, there is al‐ so plenty you can do cosmeti‐ cally to hide any evidence of tiredness. One of the biggest markers of a healthy, well‐ rested body is shining hair, skin, and nails. Fake the look by using a deep conditioning mask on hair, left on for at least 10 min‐ utes, preferably under a warm towel. Next, apply plenty of serum or leave‐in conditioner to the ends of hair to restore mois‐ ture and create a sheen. For
an added boost, apply any natural oil ‐ even olive oil ‐ to the very ends of the hair be‐ fore going to bed at night be‐ fore washing out thoroughly the next day. Tiredness and wintry condi‐ tions can also leave us with chapped or dry lips. Reverse this damage by cre‐ ating your own lip scrub by mixing brown sugar with equal parts honey and gently massaging this onto your lips before rinsing off. Next, apply a thick balm, making sure to reapply regu‐ larly throughout the day and before bed. Now you can deal with your skin by using a gentle chemical
FEELING TIRED: It is possible to look wellrested while still tired.
exfoliant to slough off dead skin cells, revealing a glowing complexion. Alternatively, use a face mask containing vitamin C, which also works to brighten the complexion. Either way, finish with a massage using a gentle facial oil, which will help to boost the circulation and tighten the skin, leaving you glowing. Finally, if you still feel like you need an extra boost, there are multiple beauty products available which will cover up signs of tiredness. The first step to brighten the complexion is starting off with an illuminating primer under any foundation or tinted mois‐ turiser. This will create a subtle glow and leave you looking naturally rested. Finish off with a light‐reflect‐ ing concealer under the eyes, applied in the shape of an in‐ verted triangle stretching down towards your cheek‐ bone rather than a traditional half‐moon shape. This will draw attention away from bags, leaving you shadow‐free.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Removing scars WE all have them. Whether from an injury, surgery, ill‐ ness, or burn, most people will end up with a scar at some stage. While scars can remind us of our body’s remarkable ca‐ pacity for survival and heal‐ ing, there are some times when we don’t wish them to be particularly prominent. In this case, there is plenty we can do to help fade or heal some scars, making them less visible, and also of‐ ten helping to lessen any dis‐ comfort, itching or pain they may cause. If you have only recently sustained a cut or burn which you think may scar, unless on the advice of a doctor or pharmacist, it is important to let any scabs or open wounds heal before you be‐ gin to treat them. Similarly, if you think there is any chance a wound may be infected, or you have suf‐ fered a bad burn, seek medi‐ cal advice. Once the cause of the scar
SCAR TISSUE: Scarring can be prevented or removed.
has healed, you can now take steps to help limit any future redness or change in texture by massaging oil into a recent scar, keeping skin hydration levels up and pro‐ moting the creation of colla‐ gen. For a burn, aloe vera gel can work particularly well. Al‐ so remember it is important to limit any sun exposure to the damaged area as this can make any scarring worse. For marks which you may
have had for some time, and are perhaps white or raised, it is necessary to take a differ‐ ent approach. While keeping skin moisturised will still help with older scars, there are other alternatives which may help more. There is some evidence to suggest silicone gels or patches applied to the area can make a marked differ‐ ence to scarring, including those which are particularly red or inflamed.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
www.euroweeklynews.com
Why weight?
WHILE much of the focus on fitness sur‐ rounds aerobic or stretching exercises, we are increasingly learning how beneficial muscle mass is to our overall health. While some people ‐ especially women ‐ worry that weight lifting will result in an overly muscular appearance, experts claim it is perfectly possible to receive all the bene‐ fits of increased muscle without bulking up. In fact, quite the opposite is true; weight lifting can actually make us look trimmer. The benefits of building up muscle are many, and they start with the fact that mus‐ cle is much more compact than fat, meaning if you convert existing fat stores into muscle you will actually look more compact since the muscle will take up less room. Equally, if you are concerned by a lack of skin firmness, or even loose skin, muscle will help to plump it back out, giving skin a more taught appearance. The health benefits of weight lifting are even more impressive than the aesthetic ones, however. Muscle can actually burn fat, even when your body is at rest. This means as your lev‐ els of muscle increases, so does your metabolism and ability to burn fat. This in turn can help to cut the risk of obesity, in‐ sulin resistance and even type 2 diabetes.
Muscle mass also improves bone density, an issue particularly important for women. Also, when we strengthen our muscles, this helps to force our body to sit and stand up properly, improving our posture. Apart from the other benefits, increased muscle mass will of course make us stronger, helping with our quality of life, par‐ ticularly as we age. So how do you build muscle without bulk‐ ing up? Firstly, as with every form of exercise, it is important to always consult your doctor be‐ fore changing your routine, and never over‐ exert yourself. With strength training for those aged over 50, it is also important to take care to protect the joints. Experts say that you should begin strength training using weight of at least five kilos, which they say will provide enough re‐ sistance to build strength without bulking up. Now, you should work all muscle groups, for example by performing bicep curls for the upper arms, and squats holding weights in each hand to work the legs and bottom. Finally, remember to hold in your ‘core’ muscles ‐ the ones in your lower abdomen ‐ as you exercise, which will help build strength in your stomach and back.
16 - 22 December 2021
EWN 47
48 EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
16 - 22 December 2021
FEATURE
GO LOCAL THE EURO WEEKLY NEWS has urged its readers to support lo‐ cal businesses in the community by shop‐ ping locally in recent times. Now things are heading back to nor‐ mal, we challenge you to maintain that habit by supporting local high streets, markets, butchers, greengrocers and all of the wonder‐ fully quirky inde‐ pendent businesses in your area. Local businesses make our villages, towns and cities what they are. They add unique character. They are convenient. And they offer excellent produce from known suppliers. The joy of shopping locally means that independent busi‐ nesses can support the local community. You may find something a euro or two cheaper online but have you considered where your money is actually go‐ ing? By shopping locally you’re putting food on a local family’s table
BUY LOCAL: By shopping locally, independent businesses can help support the local community.
and there is nothing better than giving back to the communities that have given us so much. Local stores sup‐ port charities and they sponsor local sports teams. In many cases, they are much more than just a business, they’re a legacy. They may have supported generations of the same family. Like‐ wise, brand new local stores and bars may help the genera‐ tions of the
future fulfil their dreams and ambitions. Remember, your local store is going up against multi‐ nationals and chains. They can’t win that battle on their own. So give
them your support. Spending your mon‐ ey locally will make a real differ‐ ence to the local econo‐ my. Local businesses recirculate a g r e a t e r share of ev‐ ery euro they receive at lo‐ cal level. They create locally owned supply chains and they invest in their employees. So remember. When you go shopping ‐ go local!
To advertise here contact us on:
951 386 161
FEATURE
www.euroweeklynews.com
16 - 22 December 2021
EWN 49
Advertising Feature
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 11 YEARS! GRUPO PLATINUM ESTATES ELEVEN years in business, 11 years of realising dreams and changing lives! Providing client services to people from around the world. Our clients all have differ‐ ing wishes and needs. For some, it’s a holiday home, others it’s a lock up and leave rental invest‐ ment, but for many of our clients, it’s about a new life in the sunshine, a complete lifestyle change! THANK YOU!! Caroline Smith (founder and owner of the business), would like to thank every single person who has supported her and the team over the past 11 years. She considers the secret of her success is having a passion for what she does and being considerate about how she does it. These personal values have been shared and adopted by the multilingual team working around her at Grupo Plat‐
GRUPO PLATINUM ESTATES: The team are celebrating their success to date.
inum Estates. As a business the aim is to provide out‐ standing client service and access to all of the services needed for each and every
client, whether buying, selling or renting, from any country when helping make dreams come true and providing essen‐ tial support at every step. Offering total
confidence, Complete Property Manage‐ ment and a key holding service. Originally from the UK, Caroline has an impressive curriculum vitae. Before mov‐ ing to Spain, Caroline worked predomi‐ nantly in finance and customer services with Barclays Bank. Starting at the bot‐ tom of the ladder aged 16, she moved through the ranks to become a Bank Manager, Financial Advisor, Mortgage Broker and Customer Ser‐ vices Manager. After moving to Spain and working for several years in the property industry along the Costa Levante, Caroline launched Grupo Platinum Estates on De‐ cember16, 2010. It’s not been an easy road to success, there have been bumps along the way, but overall it’s been an enjoyable jour‐ ney. She and her team continue to strive for excellence and celebrate their success to date. “Happy Birthday to Grupo Platinum Estates.”
We are waiting to make more dreams come true, so contact us now: Grupo Platinum Estates via the website, or either of the Almeria offices: Calle Mar Rabiosa 1, San Juan de Los Terreros, 04648 Pulpi, Almeria. Or Ronda de Las Buganvillas 12A, 04621 Vera, Almeria. www.grupoplatinum.com • Tel: 950 466 112 WhatsApp 666 687 251
Advertising Feature
Introducing the Postbox Terreros
WE are pleased to recom‐ mend this service to you and hope you will love it as much as the people who already signed up, and enjoy the benefits. Av a i l a b l e t o p e o p l e i n a l l areas. Eleven years in business Grupo Platinum Estates. Secure post and package receiving service now available for all. Customers with full time homes, holiday homes, lock up and leave, or rental investment, asked how they can ensure the safe receipt of every letter and package when they are not always at the property? Worried about the risk of letters arriving contain‐ ing confidential or valu‐ able information, when
BEFORE: A letter box on the gate that is easy to open.
they are not able to re‐ ceive it in person? ∙ Community boxes that are open to everyone and it is easy to remove these items. ∙ A letter box on the gate that can be easily en‐
AFTER:: Every letter and parcel delivered to a secure box.
tered into at any time of day. ∙ How will I know if I re‐ ceive letters or parcels? if I am not there to check the box or the dreaded Covid‐19 stops me moving around again?
Everyone can now be sure that every letter and parcel will arrive to a safe and secure box with their name and address on it. And when the letter and parcel arrives, they will be notified by email.
More information take a look at the website https://postboxterreros.com/
50 EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
16 - 22 December 2021
FEATURE
Travel
CLAIRE GORDON FINDING BALANCE IN AN UNEVEN WORLD AS the UK has been boiling with rage about Christmas parties held in No 10 a year ago, a new bill has passed through parliament that has made second class citizens out of more than six million British people. Anyone granted British citizenship can now have it taken away with zero warning, a move branded unconstitutional by human rights lawyers. It also gives immunity to border force staff if people die during their operations and allows them to transfer refugees to offshore ‘processing centres’ where they can be detained indefinitely. T he B orders and N ationality bill has been deemed dangerous and unethical by critics, yet it passed through the Commons after just nine minutes of debate, with its main backer, Priti Patel “delighted.” Little has been written in the press about this, as the space has
Smoke and mirrors Skiing in Spain
been taken up with Christmas quizzes, cheese and wine, and leaked videos. While I support holding the government to account for breaking rules and showing disregard for the people they are supposed to represent, we must remember to stay alert. For every scandal, something worse may be lurking. For every furore that fills column inches, there’s something else could be sneaking its way in. Just as Matt Hancock was conveniently thrown to the wolves as another controversial bill had its first reading, Allegra Stratton and others will provide cover as this unethical law-making is waved through. The next piece of democracystealing, rights-stripping law will come via the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill, legislation that would not look out of place in an authoritarian regime. Effectively banning the right to protest, it takes away the democratic right to dissent and the voice of people who are dispro-
portionally affected by government policy. Again, spearheaded by the Home Secretary, who made serious amendments to the bill while people looked the other way. Patel is dangerous, and that’s why my inkling for what is next is so scary. Boris Johnson has shown himself to be ruthless when it comes to axing people who disagree with his aims. But I think he will soon fall on the sword left out for him. With the news that Patel is making a leadership move, I felt a scared resignation. When Johnson gets the chop, amid the inevitable uproar over this winter’s inescapable Covid deaths, a wolf in home secretary’s clothing will come through the door, and they will spin it like it’s an upgrade. Terrifying. To read more articles from our columnists and to have your say in the comments go to www.euroweeklynews.com
Claire Gordon’s opinions are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
DAVID WORBOYS THE term ‘legend’ suggests ‘a tra‐ ditional story or person, some‐ times popularly regarded as histor‐ ical but not authenticated’, such as King Arthur. It can also mean an extremely famous or successful person, especially in a particular field. Unfortunately, it tends to be used to describe any obscure foot‐ baller who scored two goals in a match for Arsenal or Liverpool 30 years ago, which does not do jus‐ tice to the true (living) legends of the game such as Pele or Messi. This word is used too much to describe the best in their field but not the first in their field ‐ the pio‐ neers. These include Cervantes (the novel), Newton and Einstein (mod‐ ern physics), Haydn (the sympho‐ ny), Darwin (evolution), Freud (psy‐ choanalysis) and Berners Lee (the worldwide web). All of these made huge contributions to the develop‐ ment of various elements of under‐ standing, convenience and plea‐ sure. However, it will be argued
WITH its reputation for sun and sand, Spain is often overlooked as a ski destination. Yet, the country has over 30 ski resorts covering well over 1,000 kms of slopes. Most people are aware of the Sierra Nevada ski resort in Granada, which is one of the most popular due to its proximity to the Costa del Sol and its peaks which reach more than 3,000m. Other popular resorts amongst enthusiasts in‐ clude those in Heusca in Aragon and Lleida in Catalonia, where a good covering of snow is guaranteed every year. There are several re‐ sorts to choose from in each of these locations with Baqueira/Beret in Lleida and Formigal in Huesca ranked among the best with 160km
and 137km of slopes, respectively. Other skiing locations in Spain include the fa‐ mous wine region of La Rioja which boasts a top‐class resort called Valdezcaray with over 20km of slopes. You can also ski in Castilla y Leon, Cantabria, Asturias, and Madrid. The Madrid commu‐ nity has slopes at Puer‐ to Navacerrada and Valdesquí. There is also one resort in Ourense in Galicia offering 10km of slopes at heights above 1,500 metres. With so many op‐ tions, ski and snow‐ board lovers are spoilt for choice in Spain. The ski season generally runs from November until April depending on the location and weather.
PIONEERS AND LEGENDS
Marco Polo - Foremost of the great explorers.
that, had the above persons not made the breakthrough, some‐ body else soon would have done. Newton paved the way, centuries later, for Einstein. Haydn did so for Beethoven. And what about the great explor‐
ers? In the 13th century, Marco Po‐ lo from Venice was the first Euro‐ pean to pursue the silk road, thus discovering the cultures and tradi‐ tions of Asia, staying in China from where he visited Indonesia, Viet‐ nam and India. He also recorded
impressions of Japan and Persia. Two hundred years later, Christo‐ pher Columbus from Genoa sailed west from Cadiz in search of the spice trade in the East Indies (In‐ donesia). In fact, he landed in the West Indies (Caribbean), thus dis‐ covering the American continent in 1492. Further voyages led to the discovery of North and South America. He captured natives and took them to Spain, paving the way for the conquistadores by his exam‐ ple of brutality towards the indige‐ nous. In 1498, Vasco da Gama from Portugal became the first European to reach India by sea. As there was no Suez Canal, he had to circum‐ navigate the southern tip of Africa. Unfortunately, he introduced an early form of European colonialism by enslaving and mistreating many Indian subjects. Ferdinand Magellan from Portu‐ gal sailed east in 1510, to discover the Malay Archipelago. Prior to that, south‐east Asia was unknown
to Europeans. Later he returned to the region by sailing west, becom‐ ing the first European to cross the Southern Ocean which he renamed the Pacific. Here he found the Spice Islands of Indonesia, before dying in a battle in the Philippines. The above three explorers were all sponsored by Spain. James ‘Captain’ Cook (1728‐79) touched neither Asia nor Africa but concentrated on the Pacific. He conducted voyages from the Bering Straits to Antarctica. In 1769, he dis‐ covered New Zealand and a year later Australia. He was murdered on a beach in Hawaii. They all overcame formidable limitations. In those days, travel for Europeans was by foot, horseback or boat. These navigators are above legendary status. To read more articles from our columnists and to have your say in the comments go to www.euroweeklynews.com
David Worboys’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
PETS
52
www.euroweeklynews.com • 16 - 22 December 2021
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Need someone to cherish your pets? 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‐sit‐ ters, 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 philos‐ ophy 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‐
RELAX: Find a reliable and caring dog sitter from a trusted source for peace of mind.
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Here’s what members have said about us ‐ HouseSitMatch found us a perfect house‐sitter… HouseSitMatch found us a perfect house‐sitter while we were away in Canada and we were delighted with the care and attention that HouseSit Match took in helping us find the right person. Ros Morris ‐ Dog owner How do you join? Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch. com ‐ Choose a membership plan ‐ Please note prices go up soon so sign up now on sub‐ scription to secure these prices: • Standard (DIY option) = £69 pa • Premium (with support at each step) = £89 pa
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Dog Marleys want reggae A STUDY carried out in Scotland by the SPCA and the University of Glasgow has revealed that reggae and soft rock are the preferred sounds of dogs in shel‐
ters. Heart monitors were used on shelter dogs to keep track of their stress levels while dif‐ ferent musical genres, including Motown,
pop, soft rock, classical SPCA is planning to in‐ and reggae were piped stall sound systems in through the kennels. its kennels. Although in a similar As Evans pointed out, way to humans the re‐ this will help dogs cope sults showed that dif‐ better with the stress f e r e n t d o g s p r e f e r r e d of institutionalisation. different musical styles, hinting that hounds have their own tastes for more than just lamb chops, reg‐ gae came top of the list for reducing stress levels. Professor Nell Ev a n s s a i d : “ O v e r ‐ all, the response to different genres was mixed highlighting the possibility that our canine friends have their own in‐ dividual prefer‐ ences. That being said, reggae and soft rock showed the highest posi‐ tive changes in be‐ haviour.” MUSICAL STYLES: Following the Dogs have their own tastes. study, the
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CHURCHES LOCAL ANGLICAN (C of E) church services at Mojacar Los Llanos Del Peral and Alhambra. Communion every Sunday in Mojacar at 11am. 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. (10002)
AGM
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 control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, www.britishle gion.org.uk/counties/spain-north ZURGENA Branch meeting on the first Thursday, Coffee Morning on the third Thursday and Buffet & Quiz Night on the last Tuesday of the month all at The Heathers La Alfoquia, for further details please email zurgenarblsecretary@ya hoo.co.uk - (253989)
DRAINAGE
54
LANGUAGE CLASSES
THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. Little dogs €7, medium dogs €7.75, big dogs €8.50, cats from €6.25 a day. 630 234 556 / the5bonehotel turre@gmail.com (292999)
PLUMBERS KNOWLES PLUMBING No 1 for all plumbing jobs big or small. Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 606 807 797 or 684 143 560 (283894)
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Fined for using dashcam in car MANY drivers have invest‐ ed in a dashcam at some point with the idea of fit‐ ting it in their vehicle, maybe in the hope of cap‐ turing insurance footage in the event of their having an accident. Some might use it simply to try and record an interesting event while driving. Others might install one as a form of se‐ curity, to record images while they leave their car unattended. The current laws in Spain do not prohibit the installa‐ tion of such a device in ve‐ hicles. Having said that, a driver in A Coruña found out recently that there is a regulation applying to the consequences of using this type of recording device. Stopped by the Local Po‐ lice whilst out driving, they questioned his having a dashcam on show. He justi‐
fied the use of it by ex‐ plaining that his vehicle had been the subject of re‐ cent vandalism, and that he had subsequently fitted the cam in the hope of catching the perpetrators, or at least scaring them from doing it again with the cam visible. The officers raised the question to the Spanish Agency for Data Protec‐ tion, with the result being a €1,000 fine. He was told that even though the dash‐ cam itself is not prohibited, what is illegal, is to capture images on the outside of the vehicle. They explained that he must have a justified rea‐ son to record external im‐ ages, and that in their opinion, he was not justi‐ fied in capturing images of the innocent members of the public who might ap‐
pear in the view of his dashcam while the vehicle is stopped.
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Verstappen world champion Tennis legend dies aged 83
THE Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit on Sunday December 12 pro‐ duced one of the most dra‐ matic and controversial season climaxes ever seen in Formula One. After two overturned appeals from
Mercedes, 24‐year‐old Red Bull driver, Max Verstap‐ pen, was eventually con‐ firmed as the new world champion. A final lap move saw the Dutchman squeeze past reigning champion, Lewis
Barcelona academy boss accused ON December 10, the 71‐year‐old former head of Barcelona FC’s youth academy, Albert Benaiges, was accused of historic sexual abuse. The allegations, which Benaiges has denied, date back to when he worked as a PE teacher in the Les Corts district of the city, in the 1980s and 90s. It has been claimed that one former student went to the police with a formal complaint, and that others are now expected to follow. No allegations have been made against him by any of the former Barcelona academy players who worked under Be‐ naiges at ‘La Masia’ between 1992 and 2011. Accusations include making children undress in front of their classmates, touching them, showing them pornographic videos, and exposing himself to the children. At least 70 wit‐ nesses are believed to have verified the complaints. Benaiges left his recent role as a football coordinator with Barcelona a day after the allegations came out.
Hamilton, to take the che‐ quered flag. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff lodged two complaints against the re‐ sult following a controver‐ sial decision by race stew‐ ards to allow several lapped cars to move out of Verstappen’s way under the safety car. This gave the Red Bull pi‐ lot the opportunity to ex‐ ploit his new set of soft tyres to accelerate past the Brit and take the win. The new world champion said: “It’s been a very stressful day.2 Adding he would “have a tiny drink” to cele‐ brate his new status.
MANOLO SANTANA, the legendary Spanish tennis player, passed away on December 11, aged 83. He died in Mar‐ bella, which he had called home for many years. Santana won 72 tournaments through‐ out his career, including four Grand Slam titles. The Spaniard won the French Open at Roland Garros twice, in 1961 and 1964, the US Open in 1965 and Wimbledon in 1966. He also bagged a gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Manolo Santana was the most famous tennis player in Spain until the arrival of Conchita Martinez in 1994, and today’s top Spanish player, Rafael Nadal. Nadal posted on social media: “Thank
SANTANA: Won 72 tournaments throughout his career.
The new world champion.
you so much for what you did for our country and for marking the path of so many. You have always been a reference, a friend, and a person close to everyone.” Since 2002, the tennis great has served as honorary president of the Mutua Madrid Open tournament, one of the most important on the ATP Masters calen‐ dar. They posted confirmation of his pass‐ ing on their official Twitter account. Manolo will be fondly remembered by the residents of Marbella. He managed the prestigious Puente Romano Tennis Club, at the hotel of the same name on the Golden Mile, until 1998. He was a popular figure in the community having moved to the area decades ago.