DRONE BLACKLIST

AN airline headquartered in Palma de Mallorca has been added to a US sanctions blacklist for allegedly helping Iran sell drones to Russia. These have been used to target Ukrainian cities and infrastructure in the ongoing

Firm ‘headquartered’ in Palma accused of breaking Russia sanctions

war.

By Walter Finch

Dubai airline iJet, also known as I JET Global DMCC, is accused of collaborating with US-sanc tioned Iranian firm Safiran Airport Services (Safiran) to coordinate flights between Iran and Russia.

The flights allegedly transported Iranian UAVs, personnel, and related equip-

Russia. iJet, which has offices in the Plaza del Olivar in Palma,

Cash Happy

THE number of bankers in Spain who earn more than €1 million a year grew 73% to 221 just after the pandemic. This is compared to the figure of 128 in 2020, according to figures just published by the European Banking Authority (EBA).

The list shows that Spain is fourth in Europe when it comes to the highest number of bankers with salaries over the million-euro mark, only below Germany (589), France (371) and Italy (351).

What’s more, a Spanish banker received the highest salary in the entire European Union in 2021, with a total of €14.67 million for the year.

Salary

The average salary for million-earning bankers in the country was €2.16 million, compared to the European average of €1.8 million.

In its analysis, the EBA pointed to the effect that the variable component of bankers’ salaries has on the yearly figures, meaning that when these lenders have a good year, pay can rise considerably.

Factors that had an influence on strong performance in 2021 include the lifting of many of the restrictions put in place the year before due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the relocation of staff due to Brexit and inflation.

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 1 Abbas, 4 Sell-out, 8 Circa, 9 Bambino, 10 Spaniel, 11 Tenth, 12 Ran dry, 14 Adepts, 18 Motif, 20 Objects, 22 Opening, 23 Heave, 24 Yearned, 25 Diets

Down: 1 Accuser, 2 Bargain, 3 Swami, 4 Subtle, 5 Limited, 6 Onion, 7 Tooth, 13 Ruffian, 15 Package, 16 Sisters, 17 Forged, 18 Moody, 19 Theta, 21 Jihad tions list by the US Treasury. “The United States is determined to sanction people and companies, no matter where they are located, that support Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine,” Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen said in a statement.

“Today’s action exposes and holds accountable companies and individuals that have enabled Russia’s use of Iranian-built UAVs to brutalize Ukrainian civilians.”

Fighters

The Mallorca-headquartered company is also accused of working with the Syrian company Cham Win Airlines to facilitate the transport of Syrian fighters to Russia, according to the Treasury. Ultima Hora reports that the offices listed as housing iJet bear no trace whatsoever of housing the company and are closed for refurbishment. Any individual found to have been doing business with iJet faces the possibility of being sanctioned in turn, while the assets of the airline are liable to be seized and confiscated by US authorities.