February 1 Spain agrees grand social pact

Today is the first day of touch, a social experiment designed to reconnect the Spanish people to one another. Emails and all personal computer access will be blocked after 4 o'clock this evening and restaurants and bars have been given financial incentives to program participatory events. The doctrine is simple – touch someone and touch the world - we are expected to be more tactile, to hug, to kiss and put our arms around strangers and dance in the cobbled squares at dusk. In short we are expected to be more Spanish.

The first televised event is due to start at 6 o'clock in St Michaels square in Madrid where the Moscow Folk Orchestra will perform a selection of European folk songs and traditional dances. Unfortunately this will be without the principal violinist who found out that that being touched by someone isn't always a pleasant experience and has decided to return home on an earlier flight.