A retired Spanish doctor who has been campaigning to maintain face-to-face customer services at banks, presented a petition in Madrid on Tuesday with more than 600,000 signatures to the secretary of state for the treasury, Carlos Cuerpo, at the Economy Ministry. He also presented his petition to the Bank of Spain. Carlos San Juan, aged 78 and from the Valencia Region, used the slogan of ‘SoyMayorNOidiota’ (‘I’m old, not an idiot’) for his campaign against the Spanish banks’ growing use of digital services. 

Europe Calling

Spanish Banks Profit Up Customer Sevice Down

PARENTS have blasted a school's decision to go permanently "meat free". Students at Barrowford Primary School near Nelson, Lancashire, are only offered vegetarian dinners - and kids are also urged not to bring meat in their packed lunches. The new rule was brought in last year, but a letter informing parents of the change was only sent out on Thursday. 

Unilateral School Meals Veto on Meat

The Queen has used her Platinum Jubilee message to the nation to back the Duchess of Cornwall in a significant move to shape the future of the monarchy on her historic milestone. In a statement that ends years of uncertainty, Elizabeth II has expressed her 'sincere wish' that Camilla be given the title when Charles ascends to the throne, telling the public 'I know you will give them the same support you have given me'. 

Queen Camilla

According to data from the European Active Population Survey, published this Tuesday, February 1, by Eurostat, Spain finished 2021 with the highest unemployment figure in the entire European Union. An unemployment level of 13 per cent was recorded in December, a figure that is only close to Greece at 12.7 per cent, and which, moreover, is double the European average of 6.4 per cent.December was the seventh consecutive month in which Spain leads with this statistic in Europe. ‘The data once again reflects the progress of Spain’s recovery,’ Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted. El paro baja y ya encadena 10 meses consecutivos de descensos, algo que no había sucedido en toda la serie histórica. Los datos vuelven a reflejar el avance de la recuperación en España. No nos detenemos. Trabajamos para combatir la precariedad y seguir creando empleo de calidad. 

Confrusing Employment Data in Spain

Cyclists are already asserting their new powers as they take to the middle of the road legally for the first time today after a major revamp of the Highway Code. Under the new rules, cyclistsare now advised to ride in the centre of lanes on quieter roads, in slower-moving traffic, and when approaching junctions, to make themselves as visible as possible. A teacher who was banned from working in schools after it was discovered he had been posting images of students onto a Russian website used by paedophiles has landed a job as a lecturer at Lancaster University. Emma Raducanu has said she no longer feels safe in her own home after a stalker visited it three times and stole her father's shoe as a 'souvenir', a court heard yesterday. Dr Konstancja Duff, then 24, had intervened in a police stop and search in East London in May 2013 by trying to hand the detainee a card showing him his rights and declining to give her own name. Cliff Richard…........the worst time was the middle of the night, when he would jolt awake in the darkness, heart pounding, pulse racing. Mel Gibson says he believes the Catholic Church should undergo a 'housecleaning' following years of scandals that have destroyed its reputation. Crowdfunders are paying for puberty-blockers taken by children, as well as for operations by private surgeons who remove teenagers’ breasts or construct them, remodel their genitalia to simulate a penis or vagina, and remove internal female or male anatomy — including the womb— to match their preferred sex. Sitting down with the minister and industry representatives, including Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, Prince Charles told them: ‘It just occurred while we’re making rather a mess of this planet, that it might be useful to have an environmental management agreement for space.’ 

Mis-Management Everywhere

The Ukraine crisis has entered Spanish domestic politics, showcasing division within the coalition government over Spain’s participation in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led effort to deter Russia from escalating the conflict further. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the Socialist Party (PSOE) has run into open objections from his governing partners in the leftist Unidas Podemos, and is instead finding support in the main opposition Popular Party (PP). A major initiative to promote renewable hydrogen projects across all sectors of the economy in Spain has been launched, led by global energy company Repsol. The Spanish Hydrogen Network project, known as ‘SHYNE’, brings together 22 companies and 11 associations, technology centres and universities, with the goal of promoting renewable hydrogen projects throughout Spain to speed up the expansion of this renewable energy source as part of the government’s target of decarbonisation. A new Banksy exhibition entitled ‘Banksy: the Art of Protest’ is on at Barcelona’s Museu del Disseny and displays over 70 works from the elusive artist. Long renowned as one of the most important artists of the 21st century, the Banksy exhibition also includes a range of multimedia exhibits from private collections. During the first 16 days of November, around 20 or so coordinated Twitter accounts described Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as “handsome” 100 times and “gorgeous” another 39 times. Second delight of the week is the decision by culture secretary Nadine Dorries to freeze the BBC licence fee for the next two years. This almost unbelievably biasedoperation simply must be curbed. The Duke of York last night set himself on a 'collision course with the Palace' who will be 'horrified' by his insistence on facing Virginia Roberts in a US court to deny claims they had sex three times when she was 17. She says this amounts to rape, sexual assault and battery. His lawyers said last night that the royal 'hereby demands a trial by jury on all causes of action asserted in the complaint' because he denies 'any and all wrongdoing'. The Catalan parliament has passed a resolution to rehabiliate the memory of more than 700 women who were tortured and executed as witches over three hundred years ago.. 

Difficult to find any Good News

The president of the Association of School and College Leaders, Pepe Di'lasio, told The Times: 'This is a nationwide issue.' Research published last year found that one in five 11- year-olds at secondary school weren't able to read to the expected standard. The UK is 14th in international league tables for reading, according to Pisa tests which evaluates the reading of 15-year-olds in 70 countries. ........................................ 

Books, Exams, Uniforms, Drinking and Bikes

join @tedrrywhitehead discussing #tennis #politics #health #spain #uk 

Who's Making Headlines?

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said this week's talks between Russia and the West over escalating tensions in Ukraine could end today if the US and NATO are not willing to show 'flexibility'. Among Mary Onuoha's most prized possessions is the small gold cross she has worn around her neck every day of her life since childhood, a symbol of this 61-year-old nurse's devout faith. 'Every time I look at it, I think of Jesus, His love, how much He loved me, and the need for me to love Him back,' she says. They're opinionated and outspoken, but the feisty cast of Loose Women could usually rely on sisterly unity to temper any tantrums - until now........ that drama behind the scenes is blighting ITV's hit daytime show after a succession of stars had a bust-up with long-serving panellist Coleen Nolan. Boris Johnson faced fresh sleaze claims last week after it emerged he had helped advance a pet project of the Tory donor who paid for the Downing Street flat revamp. Universities have no excuse for cancelling face-to-face teaching and students should complain to the watchdog if they feel short-changed, the Education Secretary has said. The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged people to get vaccinated 'to look after their neighbours'. In a BBC Radio 4 interview, Rev Justin Welby said that while he is not in favour of compulsory jabs, he believes in encouraging rather than condemning those who have not yet had the vaccine. Midwife Kathryn, 28, and her husband Will, 29, an intensive care doctor, from Bristol, wowed audiences of ITV's Limitless Win on Saturday night , after bagging the £500,000 jackpot. Appearing on ITV's Lorraine today, the couple revealed £50,000 of their winnings will be donated straight to charity, adding that they already give away a chunk of their yearly earnings Glasgow residents are being offered free earplugs and blackout blinds due to disturbance caused by the filming of HBO Max's upcoming Batgirl film, which saw crew members erect graffiti-covered boards featuring Batman, teacups and crabs onto walls on Monday. 

Media Priorities Wrong

Former King of Spain Juan Carlos wants to return home and does not care about possibly damaging the Royal Family's reputation by doing so, an expert has claimed. Juan Carlos, 83, who abdicated in 2014 in favour of his son Felipe VI, 53, has been living in Abu Dhabi since summer 2020 after becoming the target of several probes in Spain over his financial dealings. However, the elderly royal is reportedly hoping to see out his final years home, despite a majority of the Spanish public opposing his return. Speaking to The Times, Pablo Simon, a professor of political science at Carlos III University in Madrid, explained Juan Carlos 'does not care' whether his actions damage his son and his family. 

Will ex-King Juan Carlos return to Spain?

GPs are being encouraged to send them on a six-week course, where they will learn to write jokes and perform stand-up routines. A pilot scheme is being launched in Bristol this month, designed to help people suffering from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress 'see the funny side' of their predicament. The courses are being run by comics including Angie Belcher, who is described as Comedian-in-Residence at Bristol University. She sounds a laugh a minute. (Somehow I didn't expect the NHS would be hiring Chubby Brown or Jim Davidson to teach 'vulnerable' individuals how to tell jokes.) 

NHS Comedy Initiative

The Lady who married a Tree

December Riot police used water cannons and tear gas on demonstrators to disperse masked protesters who had set fire to plastic bins and rubbish in the street to block the road. Police used water cannons to disperse protesters as thousands of people marched through the streets towards the headquarters of the European Union, shouting 'Freedom! Freedom!' The Pope said while on board the papal plane on return to the Vatican: 'It is something that throughout history has not worked. 'In history, many dictatorships have tried to do these things. I'm thinking of Napoleon, the Nazi dictatorship, the Communist one.' He added that the EU is 'necessary' but it needs to avoid stirring up divisions among its member states. According to the most recent National Statistics Institute data, inflation in Spain is on its way to new highs not seen in the previous three decades. On the back of rising food and gas prices, Inflation in Spain accelerated in November to its highest level in nearly three decades. - In Spain's Euroweekly News.............. 

Spain and aspects of the Economy

Birmingham City Football Club offers its respects to little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes..... Supporters at the home match with Cardiff will be invited to pay tribute to Arthur after six minutes — his age, in years, when he died at the hands of his stepmother Families have told of their 'disgust' after trespassers urinated and vomited on the memorial garden for the victims killed in the Manchester Arena terror attack before its official opening. Premier Sanna Marin, 36, was seen enjoying a night out at the Butchers nightclub with friends on Saturday - so much so that she did not leave until 4am. Finland has seen some of the lowest rates of Covid-19 in Europe, with just 1,277 cases recorded on Saturday compared to a staggering 56,739 infections in Germany. Unearthed documents revealed the BBC's pension fund has undisclosed interests in six Chinese firms. One of these is the China Overseas Land and Investment, a subsidiary of state-owned China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which has already been blacklisted by the United States government, according to a report by the Mail on Sunday. Actors playing characters from some of William Shakespeare's most popular plays should be taught about sexual ethics, an academic has warned. David Beckham is under yet more pressure over his multi-million pound deal to promote the 2022 World Cup after homosexuality was described as being ‘against human nature’ on a Qatari TV channel run by a close friend. 

Football's New Role

The fashion world is now seeing its very own Succession moment play out in real life. mirroring the series, which sees a father grooming his children to take control of his empire, Spain's richest man and Zara founder Amancio Ortega has announced his youngest daughter Marta Ortega Perez, 37, will take over as chair of the retailer's parent company Inditex, bypassing her two older siblings. Dogs that are only fed once per day may be less likely to go to develop age-related conditions like gastrointestinal, orthopaedic and liver disorders, a study has found. University of Arizona-led experts analysed data on more than 24,000 pet dogs for links between feeding rates and cognitive function and health outcomes. A school has urged parents not to let children watch Squid Game after young pupils were found viewing 'gory, explicit' scenes on TikTok and mobile game apps. The Netflix TV series sees debt-ridden contestants tackle survival tasks for a mammoth cash prize. 

Shopping in Spain Zara

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