Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 17 - 23 April 2014 Issue 1502

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ISSUE NO. 1502

EWN FRONT EXTRA

Weekday driving danger SEVENTY per cent of accidents occur on weekdays, with Tuesday having the highest number, according to a report by Formaster.

Virgin del Rio returns HUERCAL-OVERA has regained its annual pilgrimage in honour of La Virgin del Rio. The event had been stopped a few years ago.

Taking to the streets COSTA DE ALMERIA is to be promoted in marquees and screens across Spain and social networks as part of a tourism drive.

Holy snappers PULPI has announced its photographic contest. Open to 18-year-olds and over, Holy Week images must be sent to www.pulpi.es by April 25.

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Roquetas wages war on excessive noise ROQUETAS DE MAR Council has submitted new legislation, subject to approval by the city in a few days’ time, in which new measures are set out to combat excessive noise. The ordinance identifies seven different areas, establishing restrictions and limitations appropriate to each. They are: residential, recreational, entertainment, touristic, health/education/cultural, transport and natural. Bars and restaurants with music and entertainment look to be most affected by the legislation, as it refers to sound systems which may be controlled from the Local Police headquarters as already occurs in some areas. In addition, this type of business, as well as sports and cultural facilities including schools, gymnasiums, factories, places of recreation and loading areas must install floating floors to reduce noise and vibration.

Noise limits and restrictions are placed on the use of televisions and DVD music devices. Televisions may not be connected to external speakers or amplifiers and may have to undergo measurements to be authorised. The ordinance devotes a special section to businesses with outside areas, where live music and reproduction is prohibited, including televisions, something which has already caused controversy in the draft ordinance last

year. Failure to comply with the new legislation may result in temporary suspension of licences, existing, new or renewable. There will be limitations on security alarms, which may not sound for more than 60 seconds, a maximum of three cycles, and must not exceed 85 decibels. The regulation also affects household activities. No noisy work may be undertaken outside 8am to 7pm on weekdays and 10am to 2pm at weekends.

As for parties or private events, noise is restricted to midnight, except for Saturdays and the eve of public holidays, when it is extended to 1am. Finally, the Local Police can fine vehicles playing loud music without taking measurements.

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THIS WEEK IN

EWN News 1 - 32

Finance 35 - 40

Letters 47 DEATH SCENE: Roquetas del Mar.

15 years for killing mother

A MAN accused of killing his mother in a ‘schizophrenic episode’ has accepted 15 years in a mental institution. The 29-year-old, who killed his mother in 2012 in Roquetas de Mar, had been sentenced to 18 years in prison. However, this was modified to 15 years in a mental institution following information from a medical expert at El Acebuche prison. The report indicated the man was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. The court considered the evidence

during a two-session hearing. It was stated the man acted under a ‘psychotic break’ when he strangled his mother before throwing her off a fourth-floor balcony. The defendant, who said he had been hearing voices for days, felt he was in ‘hell’ and was compelled to hurt his mother. The prosecution asked for the man to have his 18-year prison sentence upheld because reports by forensic psychiatrists at the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) showed he was aware of his actions.

Daily TV 52

Leapy Lee 54

Time out 56 - 57

Classifieds 81 - 83

Sport 87 - 88

NEWS Meteor shower THE last two weeks of April bring the Lyrid meteors. According to www.earthsky. org the best viewing time is the few hours before dawn on April 22. New judges THE Superior Court of Justice has proposed the addition of 12 new judges to reinforce and support the needs of the judiciary.

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Today these streets are two-way, with low levels of traffic, but with the investment, the streets can include better pedestrian access and cycle lane, as well as parking spaces which are in short supply. The work will convert these streets into a one-way system to incorporate these two parallel streets, as well as on the north and south A-350. Amat explained that these projects are critical to municipalities in the province because as basic infrastructure improves, jobs are created and the foundation for improved municipalities is laid.

PHOTO: Iakov Filimonov / Shutterstock.com

Albox shopping A CHARITY shop has opened on the old site of Forward-a-Dress and will be donating proceeds to help dog charities. Rubber robber GUARDIA CIVIL have arrested a man, 43, accused of stealing 50,000 feet of irrigation rubber from a farm in Cuevas del Almanzora.

Race winners THE fastest man in the 10kilometre Puerto Almeria race was Karim Benmouais who completed it in 31 minutes 26 seconds. Top female was Paula Parra Ramirez in 38 minutes 21 seconds. Tax drops A MEETING in Olula has requested the review of catastral (rateable) values in the area, promising to reduce tax burdens. The cuts are to take effect in the next two months.

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Promoting Almeria

SPORTS reporters Tomas Roncero and Carme Barcelo are to star in a promotional video for Costa de Almeria, as part of a new campaign to boost tourism.

Goods recovered COMPUTER equipment and powdered milk stolen from the hospital in Vera have been recovered by police. They are questioning a minor in connection with the incident.

Occupancy up

Behind bars THE Supreme Court has upheld the five-year jail sentence for a 28-year-old man who shot at a neighbour in Albox for having a fight with his nephew. Happy anniversary THIS year marks the 25th anniversary of twinning between German nature park Altmuhltal and Sierra Maria-Los Velez.

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Cash rolls in for better roads PULPÍ Town Council will benefit from €660,000 worth of investment from the Provincial Municipal Investment Plans 2014/2015 of Almeria. The news was delivered by its president, Gabriel Amat, to an appreciative Pulpi Mayor Juan Pedro Garcia. The funding will go towards streamlining traffic in the centre of Pulpi. The project aims to remodel a section of the old A-350 and its connection to the Avenida Andalucia (formerly A-1021) and the school.

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By George, say it with a book

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PRIL 23 is Saint George’s Day, the National Day of England, as well as having been declared by UNESCO International Day of the Book. This is because April 23, 1616, was the date of the death of English playwright William Shakespeare and the birth of Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. In Cataluña, books have an even more important role in celebrations, as it is customary for sweethearts to exchange books on what is known as ‘La Diada de Sant Jordi.’ The day is also known as ‘Dia de la Rosa’ (Day of the Rose) or ‘Dia del Llibre’ (Day of the Book). Since Medieval times, men gave roses to their lovers to mark this day, and in return, women would give them books. The saying went “a rose for love and a book forever.” With Barcelona being the publishing capital of

Quote of the Week Let’s see, erm... Measures to create employment? Well the truth is that something really strange happened to me, I wrote down the solution but I can’t read my own writing.’ Mariano Rajoy on being asked what he was planning to do about the unemployment situation.

ST GEORGE’S DAY: The National Day of England is shared by UNESCO International Day of the Book. Spain, it is not surprising that in the 1920s, the tradition of giving books began to be promoted in a big way. In Barcelona’s most visited street, La Rambla, and all over Cataluña, thousands of stalls selling roses and books are set up for the occasion and some four million roses and 800,000 books are purchased on this day alone. This is almost half of the total book sales for a year in Cataluña. The colour of the roses has also gained importance, as different colours are said to signify different feelings including love, friendship, happiness, etc.

Number of the week the amount of money spent per €505 isweek by the average European

tourist in Spain, according to a Skyscanner survey. The amount includes flight, hotel, meals out and entertainment.

ALMERIA Tourism Council has announced preliminary hotel occupancy of 79.2 per cent for the start of 2014, up 20 per cent on this time last year.

Food banks COUNTRY-WIDE, Correos (Post Office) has collected more than 24 tonnes of food for the Food Bank of Spain. Almeria collected 855 kilos. The goods are distributed to the needy.

Warm weather TEMPERATURES in the mid 20s have been forecast for the week across Almeria Province. Very little cloud is expected.

Lottery winner BUYER of ticket 01.147 is €600,000 better off after winning the National Lottery at the weekend. The ticket was sold at Galeria N-340 in Bulevard de Vicar.

And finally... Cheating husbands are fuelling the building boom in China. Dormitory towns of concubines are springing up across Southern China to accommodate the mistresses of Hong Kong businessmen.

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NEWS EXTRA

Smugglers to be deported THE smugglers arrested in Almeria on March 6 but subsequently released are being transferred to Madrid where they will be expelled from Spain.

Vehicle fires A 19-YEAR-OLD Mojacar resident managed to set a motorbike and a van alight whilst trying to steal the former. Police arrested him for attempted theft.

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Plans get an airing THE government team met at Arboleas Town Hall last week with the editorial team responsible for the ‘Partial Revision of the General Urban Plan’ of the municipality. The main purpose of the meeting was to outline the document’s latest technical details to convert the initial plans for full approval. Cristobal Garcia, the mayor of Arboleas, said: “It is very difficult to advance these urban

ARBOLEAS TOWN HALL: Government team discussed latest technical details for legalising homes.

processes and we are fully aware of this. However, we know we are on the threshold of Standardisation Urbanisation in Arboleas with the legalisation of all homes including those currently outside of town planning.” The mayor added: “The most important are the 291 Arboleas families who are waiting the

outcome of this hard work.” Garcia revealed that within the set of future actions to be developed, the most prominent and important is “the legalisation of homes that are, today, outside the city limits. “To this end, approximately 200,000 square metres of land would be set aside for

different facilities for the town.” This includes the classification of land for relocating public housing, and the provision of adequate planning for ground which has remained undeveloped in urban areas. During his speech, the mayor stressed that “every time we move a

step further, more obstacles to overcome appear. “We are aware of the complexity involved in the the planning regulations, from every point of view, after spending so many months, weeks and hours on this. “Our job is to solve problems when they affect so many families, because they also affect us.” Garcia went on: “At present, the city of Arboleas is using all its human, technical and financial means to address this situation legislatively and definitively. Finalising these latest technical details for the initial approval of the Partial Revision of the General Urban Plan of the municipality means a step in the right direction. “Our next challenge is to get the green light in their reports for final approval as appropriate, which should be as soon as possible.”

NEWS NEWS EXTRA

More jobs generated THE monitoring committee of the Provincial Development of Agricultural Employment (PFEA) announced the allocation of €8.45 million for 2014, generating around 5,000 employment contracts.

Prices up DESPITE a national fall in house prices, Almeria Province enjoyed a rise of 0.9 per cent according to Spanish property website hogaria.net.

Staff threats A PATIENT threw a chair and computer screen at staff at Torrecardenas hospital when told he would lose his appointment for arriving late. The incident has been condemned by health professionals.

Pulpi success MORE than 200 young people with varying degrees of disability, gathered in Pulpi on April 9 for a petanque tournament.

Road ready COMPLETION of the improvement works between Torrecardenas and Huercal de Almeria is now complete and the road is open again to traffic.

Gymnasts off THE category B gymnasts, Maria, Lola, Carmen, Raquel and Lidia from HuercalOvera, have all qualified for Promeses de Gimnasia and will be heading to Marbella June 6-8.

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250 attend Macael cancer charity lunch No consideration

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MESS: Residents of Mojacar are fed up with litter.

MORE than 250 people from the Almanzora area recently came together for the annual cancer charity lunch, which took place at the restaurant Las Canteras in Macael. This region has numerous local boards and a large number of volunteers, which demonstrates the commitment and solidarity of the locals in the fight against cancer. Loli Senor, appointed by the provincial board of the AECC of Almeria as regional coordinator, spoke of the important work the association is doing across the country, state and region. He explained that the Comarca del Almanzora (AECC) has been working tirelessly since 1993, its main objective being to bring together volunteers, so that they can optimise both the campaigns and the services and activities, as well as making human and material resources available to those that need it most. “We are especially pleased with some of our key achievements in this area,” explained Loli. “One of them was the acquisition of the first mobile unit for early detection of breast cancer, as well as the implementation of the screening programme in

2000, from which women are benefiting from our help. “Another achievement is the programme ‘Mucho X Vivir’ (Live Long X), for women diagnosed with breast cancer. We have a group of 60 women enrolled with our support workers that have benefited from it since 2004,” added the regional co-ordinator. One of the most representative events of the Association in the area is holding this annual charity dinner, organised by the locals and volunteers from several municipalities. This year it was held at the premises of the Canteras Restaurant, organised by local board president Magdalena Serrano of Cantoria, Pepa Cruz the president of the board in Macael, and chaired by Senor Loli, as well as volunteers from Albox. This act did not lack support of local government and representatives such as the president of the provincial board, Francisco Linares Balcazar attended, as well as mayors from Macael and Purchena, Raul Martinez and Juan Miguel Tortosa. Also councillors from Macael, Olula, Purchena and Cantoria were there to

voice their continued support and solidarity with the AECC. Special mention was given to a larger number of shops and businesses in the area who donated a great variety of prizes to be drawn. The AECC was created in 1953, and is defined as a charitable non-profit institution whose objectives are to aid cancer patients and their families, whilst also providing health education to the surrounding population necessary for disease prevention practices.

JUST days after a community clean-up operation by residents, litter louts have struck again between Turre and Mojacar. Tony Matthews, who organised the clean-up said: “This is what the residents of small villas/houses between Turre and Mojacar think! “This area was spotless 10 days ago. Who are these diabolical, inconsiderate litter louts? If we find out, this rubbish will be dumped on their doorstep!”

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NEWS Drugs lab discovered

ENGINES: Stolen from agricultural facilities.

Vicar arrest A MAN, 49, man has been arrested in Vicar on suspicion of the theft of 50 iron bars from a commercial property in Roquetas de Mar. Investigations showed the iron bars for sale in a recycling centre. The bars had markings and brandings recognisable by the owner. With this information, the Guardia Civil were able to identify the thief, and arrest him. Through the course of investigation, police were also able to recover two pumps and four engines stolen from agricultural facilities in the area.

NATIONAL POLICE have dismantled a cocaine laboratory in Los Molinos, Almeria. Four people, three men and a woman, aged between 30 and 47, were arrested in the operation resulting in the seizure of 1.5 kilograms of high grade cocaine, 1.2 kilograms of cutting substances, and more than â‚Ź13,000 in cash. Investigations began in February, when officers detected large amounts of cocaine being trafficked into Almeria City and the surrounding areas. The police identified a woman as leading the operation who, despite lack of official employment, still managed to fund a luxury lifestyle. The premises were being used to produce and distribute cocaine.

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NEWS Credit: By duckiesboss.

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CANJAYAR: Setting of Almeria’s first hotel for gays.

Almeria to get its first hotel for gays THE go-ahead has been given for Almeria Province to have its first dedicated gay hotel. Aimed at more affluent guests, the luxury Rainbow Experience hotel is being built one

kilometre from the town of Canjayar. Situated on a large plot of more than 17,100 square metres, the hotel will have between 10 and 14 rooms in its first phase.

Man ‘offered €10K to rob bar’ POLICE are investigating an armed robber’s claims that he was offered €10,000 by a man to rob his mother’s bar. Almeria National Police have arrested two individuals suspected of a crime of robbery with violence and intimidation. The police were called to a bar on Calleterra Mami in Almeria City at around 11pm on April 7. According to police, a call was made stating an armed man had beaten and tied up the owner and was holding the owner and son at gunpoint. Police arrived quickly and assisted the victims who stated that the aggressor had fled. Police found and apprehended the gunman in nearby Calle Menta. However, he told the officers that the son of the owner of the premises had convinced him to commit the robbery. He then accompanied the police to nearby bushes where he surrendered a sports bag containing a shotgun, a large knife, a balaclava, a pair of gloves and four cartridges. The assailant claimed to have been hired by the bar owner’s son to commit the robbery in exchange for €10,000. After further investigation, police learned that the gun used by the robber was stolen in 2004 in Girona. The investigation also showed that the son had contacted the assailant just before the incident, using the Whatsapp application on his phone, to indicate a time for the assailant to enter, in order to avoid customers, and to facilitate the theft of cash.

The property will consist of three independent cottages with capacity for 20 people. Each cottage has its own dining room, bathroom, and kitchen. Businessman Antonio Adolfo Fornieles is keen to impress. He aims to create “a space of high standards exclusively to an audience of affluent people, so that while the atmosphere is principally reserved for gay clientele, we will also welcome people of any orientation.” There will also be a bar/restaurant. Fornieles explained that it will be built with the traditional atmosphere and architecture of the area, which will be apparent in the decor and the dishes on offer. It will promote traditional cuisine by using local produce. Surrounding the cottages and restaurant will be terraces, gardens filled with flowers typical of the Alpujarra, swimming pools and a gym, among other facilities. Fornieles also suggested the possibility of adding a small astronomical observatory to enjoy ‘one of the clearest skies in Spain’.

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Looking for a homes solution THE PSOE political party has pledged to fight for a solution to the illegal housing problems in Almeria.

Secretary General of the PSOE in Almeria, Jose Luis Sanchez Teruel, stressed that the PSOE “will not look the other way” in relation to the ongoing problem of illegal housing in Almeria while also stating that they have “solutions on the table.” Sanchez Teruel spoke during a meeting with the SUNDAY April 13 saw record numbers of Secretary of Planning and runners descend upon Almeria Port for the 13th Housing PSOE Andalucia, edition of the 10-kilometre race. Pedro Fernandez, and the At around 11am, approximately 1,200 Association Urban Abuses participants left Muelle de Levante, walking Almanzora (AUAN). They and running through the commercial port, the aim to provide a fishing port and past the lighthouse, finishing comprehensive solution again at the Muelle de Levante, close to the to the housing situation, control tower. To encourage the youngsters, through the continued extra races were laid on with various review of current categories, inspiring everyone to get involved. planning regulations and All ages were catered for. guidelines, allowing Medals were awarded for the first three greater flexibility in the runners finishing in each category. The event interpretation of the was organised by Aqueatacamos and is part of legalities to serve the an initiative to get people outdoors and greatest possible number enjoying a healthier, more energetic lifestyle. of people affected.

Record turnout for port race

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Caught in the act THE Guardia Civil surprised robbers while they were in the middle of burgling a block of 14 homes. Those held worked in broad daylight and in view of the neighbours, who thought they were assisting a tenant moving. Telephone operators at the Command Services Centre in Almeria (COS 062) received a report that several people were acting suspiciously in the area, loading goods into a van outside the block of flats in the urbanisation of Almerimar, El Ejido. Police were on the scene within minutes, and observed two people removing goods such as washing machines, refrigerators, ovens and ceramic hobs from the properties which were used by their

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY: Goods were loaded into a van. owners as a second residence or intended for rent.

The Guardia Civil went on to arrest five people in total, each with specific

roles within the organised operation. After the first two arrests, the Guardia Civil began to collate and fully clarify the facts, leading to identifying the five members of a new group formed to commit burglary. They were also able to locate the premises in Vicar where the stolen goods were being stored, the owner of which had been coordinating the group and was responsible for recruiting the other members. The Guardia Civil were able to detain and disrupt this gang, just as they were beginning their organised criminal activity. Proceedings instructed by the Guardia Civil, along with the detainees, have been delivered to the Trial Courts in El Ejido.

FRONT PAGE NEWS: In edition 1500.

Almeria fire damage figures have tripled FIGURES released this week have announced that 2014 has already tripled the average fire damage figures for the last decade, which saw an average of 1,308 hectares being destroyed by fire each year. 2013 saw damage of just 498.4 hectares March’s fire in Sierra de Gador blazed for three days before finally being brought under control by Fire Services, Andalucia’s Military Emergency Unit, the Civil Protection Unit and environmental technicians. Over 1,000 people and various mobile units, including two amphibious planes and five helicopters were brought to the scene to put out the fire and ensure it would not reignite. In its wake, 3,169 hectares were destroyed 3,038 hectares were scrub land and 130 were forest areas. The cause is still under investigation although early reports suggest it was ignited by an electrical cable.

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NEWS EXTRA

Roundabout named

THE roundabout at the entrance to Gador will be named after teacher Rafael Gonzalez Migens who, although Sevillian, has lived in Gador for over 50 years

New lift LAST Friday the new lift at Calle Aire in Mojacar opened, making the Old Town more accessible, especially for those with mobility issues.

Good move THE Guadalinfo centre, in conjunction with Alhama de Almeria Town Hall, has organised a ‘Chess as a teaching strategy’ workshop. Classes are every Wednesday from 6pm.

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150 cases of Parkinson’s are diagnosed each year THE Torrecardenas Hospital in Almeria diagnoses an average of 150 new cases of Parkinson’s disease each year. Neurologist at the hospital, Jesus Olivares Olivares, said: “Parkinson’s disease is more common in men than in women and in most patients is sporadic, although a small percentage of cases, between 5 per cent and 10 per cent are inherited.” Olivares added: “It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in our environment and in Almeria we estimate that it affects 1,500 to 2,000 people.” Most of the new cases diagnosed each year in Almeria affect people over 65, although up to 15 per cent of newly diagnosed are under 45 years of age. “Most of these patients receive neurological care,” explained Olivares. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease which affects the brain structures that

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DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE: Torrecardenas Hospital in Almeria. control voluntary movements. This leads to progressive deterioration of motor function. It occurs when the nerve cells stop producing a neurotransmitter called ‘dopamine’. Manifested by three main symptoms: tremor, restrictions through slow movements, or spasms and stiffness. Likewise, you may also experience other symptoms.

Anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, urinary problems or dizziness are included, among a number of others. Early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are mild and become increasingly noticeable over time. In 80 per cent of patients symptoms start in one side of the body and then increase to include the whole.

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s. However, much is being done to alleviate the symptoms perhaps by mimicking dopamine, or prolonging its effect by inhibiting its breakdown. One of the most important aspects of the treatment of Parkinson’s disease is the maintenance of the muscular tone and motor function, which is essential for the daily physical activity. This can be carried out by exercises to help maintain the mobility of the patient and strengthen those muscles that are usually most affected. Although Parkinson’s disease progresses slowly, its impact on all areas of a person’s life can be devastating. Everything from social interaction to the ability to carry out daily work duties are affected. The loss of independence can be extremely traumatic for the patient, and it is important that they are supported as much as possible emotionally as well as in a practical manner. There are a number of support groups available online and offline to help both sufferers and their loved ones. These groups can be an emotional crutch but also can offer advice in terms of where to find experienced doctors and therapists.

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Almeria pushes for progress ALMERIA City Council has urged the Junta de Andalucia in writing this week, to submit the draft implementing the first of three subphases which form part of the second stage of the rehabilitation project for the Casa Consistorial and Plaza Vieja

in Almeria City. This was in accordance with an agreement signed by both parties in March 2014. The city council’s request comes after the government team had approved the project and implementation of rehabilitation and

reform of both areas, with designs by architect Jose Ramon Delgado Sierra. The total project budget is €7,617,572.59. Paul Venzal (PP) explained within the letter: “We are meeting the timeframe provided by the technical committee for monitoring and the development of the second phase of rehabilitation. We are now waiting for the proposed implementation of the first sub-phase by the Junta de Andalucia.” This underlined the plans to gain the commitment of the two administrations to commence work on the first sub-phase of the three in July.

Plaza Vieja in Almeria City.

Tours of Zurgena’s places of interest THE Department of Tourism in Zurgena is laying on two tours this week in English and Spanish. Participants will learn points of architectural, cultural and historical interest as they are escorted around the town. The tours will take visitors around points of interest including La Ermita del Calvario, the clock tower, Gines Parra park and the church of San Ramon Nonato. Visitors will learn about the Zurgena brotherhoods, as well as their activities, and the

ZURGENA: Architectural, cultural and historical. history of the brotherhood sororities. Councillor for Trade and Tourism Sampo Pentilla explained the tours would “enhance and add value to

all the resources we have in our town.” Tours start at 5pm from the town hall today (Thursday) and on Saturday, April 19.

Fishing projects get approval THE Fisheries Development Group of Almeria which encompasses Adra and Roquetas de Mar has given approval for €280,000 to subsidise five projects in Adra and Roquetas de Mar. According to Antonio Ortiz, the chairman of the Fisheries Development Group, all projects have one thing in common: fishing. The projects are to be completed by the end of July 2015. Part of the funding will be used to develop a new internet marketing strategy to include a web platform with blogging for traders, and a mobile application. It also encompasses a marketing campaign to promote a more modern image of the traders. Additionally, a bar is to be built on the waterfront at San Nicolas, called La Pulpera.

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El Ejido mayor visits local factory THE mayor of El Ejido, councillor for Agriculture, Manuel Gomez Galera, and the councillor for Public Works, Maintenance and Services, Angel Escobar, visited the facilities company Sotrafa SA in the town of El Ejido, to personally view its potential in the manufacture of plastics for agriculture. Sotrafa is a leading company in Europe, which specialises in the production of geosynthetics and whose production is also specialised in diverse application geomembranes for

a large expanding market. The mayor of El Ejido and the council had the opportunity to tour the facilities of this important company in the hands of director Vicente Cejas and deputy Vicente Jose Fernandez Cruz, who personally undertook to guide the visit through the different units of the factory, as well as the laboratory, in which constant analysis and testing to ensure the highest quality of products bearing the company signature are performed. The visit highlighted the magnitude of the production company where they export to half the globe, a wide range of high quality products with very diverse applications in increaevent including 39 singly demanding and officers, and their family competitive markets. Sotrafa SA belongs to members donating their the Armando Alvarez blood. The activity is held at Group of companies, the headquarters of the leader of polyethylene Guardia Civil in Almeria, film in the Spanish and is coordinated market with an annual between the Guardia Civil output of over 290,000 health service and the tons and an average Centre for Blood workforce of over 1,800 employees. Sotrafa has transfusions of Almeria. As always, the event an annual production was well received by the capacity of 64,500 tonnes personnel, who volun- per year, of which 70 per tarily interrupt their cent are agricultural and the working day to donate a division unit of blood, whilst also remaining manufacturing getting their family Geomembranas 30 per cent. members involved.

Guardia Civil give blood THE Guardia Civil went beyond their daily duties in Almeria on April 10 with a morning of blood donations. Since its inception in 2005, the event is held at least two or three times a year, with the recent

Spring Break APRIL 11 - 13 saw Mojacar descended upon by hordes of Spanish youngsters, ready for Spring Break a long weekend of leisure activities for people from across Spain. Two thousand young people enjoyed local tours, pool parties, sporting activities, and dance music from DJs including Bad Beats, Space Elephants, Luis Lopez and JP Candela. Coaches were laid on from major cities around the country for the event which ran from Friday until Sunday lunchtime. Further information about future Spring Break events can be found at website www.springbreakmojaca r.com.

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Gang arrested after 45 burglaries in Almeria THE Guardia Civil have arrested seven members of a gang responsible for burgling 45 homes in coastal developments in Almeria, Vera, Garrucha, Mojacar and Turre. The homes were predominantly used as holiday accommodation or second homes by their owners. The Guardia Civil began the first phase of the investigation in October 2013, analysing a series of burglaries in the area. Throughout the process, the team examined

NEWS EXTRA

Animal traps seized CAGES, set and baited to attract wild boars, discovered on a private reserve in Gador have been seized by Seprona, the environmental arm of the Guardia Civil. They also discovered illegal steel cable traps designed to trap foxes.

Training scheme THE government of Almeria has signed an agreement with Gergal Town Hall as part of a job placement initiative. The 10 organic farming internships will last 120 hours.

Rock on ON Saturday, April 26, Candil de Rock will be at Villa de San Pablo football ground in Huercal de Almeria for a concert. Other acts include El Ultimo Ke Zierre and The Dry Mouths.

HOLIDAY HOMES: Coastal developments were targeted by burglars. patterns and common features in the robberies, confirming the existence of an organised group. The first phase continued until February 2014, when the team were confident they had enough information to fully identify all members of the group. The second phases consisted of arresting all seven identified gang members in a co-ordinated raid in multiple stages. All seven arrested are proved to have been fully active and instrumental in the robberies, forming an organised and developed hierarchical structure, with divisions, specific job roles and a co-ordinated plan of activities. The leader designated objectives and targets for the criminals, and took charge of the overall plan of action. There was also a supervisor, who was responsible for liaising with the leader and the group, providing security cover to avoid detection during the robberies, as well as organising those with the abilities to disable alarm systems.

Four gang members were responsible for surveillance, highlighting particular properties and their owners. In some cases, these four individuals were also responsible for carrying out the robberies themselves. The criminal gang had one person directly responsible for receiving most of the stolen property, and for distributing it afterwards. The seven gang members between them had formed an organised, diligent and well researched plan for raiding the properties, and the organisation was one that the Guardia Civil were keen to disband and prosecute. During the six months of investigation, the Guardia Civil collated and organised important information, concentrating on the gang members involved, whilst also confirming their participation in the 45 robberies in homes between October 2013 and February of this year. This culminated in the multiple arrests, and the recovery of a number of stolen items in

two of the homes raided. They also discovered tools and objects specifically used to facilitate the burglaries. With this organised investigation, the Guardia Civil were able to completely dismantle the group, ending the spate of robberies, which had left the populace of the areas affected reeling.

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A pink tractor helps raise awareness of breast cancer research A MAN who has taken a taste of Spain back to the UK has shown he is a man with a heart. Rochdale based restaurateur Mark Wickham is a familiar face on the Costa del Sol as he flies in regularly to buy genuine Spanish ingredients for his eatery the Rake Tapas Bar. His restaurant has turned into a, perhaps unlikely, roaring success. Not many people would have thought of taking a taste of the Mediterranean to the old mill town of Littleborough, home of good plain English food. But he proved the doommongers who said he was mad wrong when the good people of the town developed a taste for chorizo, Serrano ham, tortillas and paella. Big-hearted Mark was looking for a way to raise awareness, and cash, for the Breast Cancer Care and Awareness charity. He hit upon a novel

PINK TRACTOR: Mark dressed as Superman on his proud journey. idea. He sprayed one of his tractors, a classic vintage 1952 MasseyFerguson, bright pink, dressed up as Superman and drove cross country covering over 110 miles. Unfortunately, the gleaming tractor couldn’t keep up with Mark’s pace and broke down just 30 miles outside his target of Whitby. Mark is, however proud of his attempt: “The reason I did it was to make people more aware about checking for the early signs of cancer. “Using a pink tractor, I thought it would make people think. When I started at 5am in the morning it was really foggy, rainy and cold,

but the support we got from the people of Whitby was amazing. “One man was driving along, he pulled up a bit sharply and rubbed his eyes, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Well it’s not every day you see Superman driving a tractor!” Mark’s efforts have raised over £1,500 so far and the money is still coming in. The tractor is being repaired and Mark has promised to go back and complete the journey. The staff at the Euro Weekly News have decided that it is such a good cause they have foregone their traditional Easter eggs and made a €150 donation. So come, on EWN readers, you too can dig

deep and help the charity. To donate to Breast Cancer Care - Charity Number 1082293 visit: http://www.justgiving.com /Mark-Wickham.

Poorer relations A STUDY has shown that the average pensions paid to women in Spain are 38 per cent less than what men receive. The IESE, the graduate business school of the University of Navarra, has reported that average pension figures for Spaniards are €659 for women and €1,097 for men. The difference is largely due to the short working life of Spanish women, which is the lowest in Europe at only 12.8 years. Men here work for 43.4 years on average.

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NEWS

Guardia Civil on trial for torture TWO Guardia Civil officers are standing trial in Palma Provincial Court for allegedly torturing two Britons while in custody in Palmanova in November 2009. The two men were arrested after a pub fight during which one of them knocked out an off-duty Guardia Civil officer. Two members of the force who handled the

investigation into the alleged torture said the injuries sustained by the two detainees did not appear to be selfinflicted. The accused officers said the detainees sustained the wounds by throwing themselves against the patrol car when they were being taken to the station, and that one of them fell when he was attempting to escape.

They claimed that the two men were “out of control” and that they had had to use force to control them. However, the investigation showed that the stories of the two Britons coincided despite them having been in different cells. One of them claimed he had heard his friend being beaten and the other said he was hit with a truncheon and gloves, kicked in the crotch and that food he was given was thrown on the floor. Two other officers who were on duty said no excessive force was used against the two men, who were violent, while others say they observed strange behaviour that night.

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NEWS

Romanians enslave fellow countrymen AN adult and five minors who were forced to beg on the streets of Ferrol (Galicia) have now been released from custody.

The National Police have broken up a criminal network run by a large clan of Romanians. The 20 detainees specialised in trafficking teenagers from their home country, forcing them to beg for at least eight hours a day and work like slaves the rest of the time. The minors, generally aged between 13 and 17 years of age, were brought to Spain following promises to their Romanian parents that they would be ANDALUCIA is different. That’s the opinion of married to a member of the clan almost 95 per cent of its citizens, according to and would find work there in the a survey carried out by the Centre of construction or agricultural Andalucian Studies. They interviewed 1,000 industries. locals and found that most people felt their Instead of fulfilling these claims region was not like the rest of Spain. the clan members forced their The main differences stated were the victims to beg on the streets in Andalucian character, defined as happy and even the most severe weather and sociable, the climate, and the geography of the to do all the cooking and cleaning area. Less than 2 per cent of those interviewed when they got home. All of the considered Andalucia to be different from the money they earned was taken rest of Spain in economic terms. Andalucians away from them, leaving them were generally pleased with their life there, totally dependent on the clan for giving the region 8.8 points in terms of overall survival. Most of it was then used satisfaction. Nonetheless, 16 per cent would to buy luxury cars. consider going to live somewhere else.

Are they different?

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Businessman’s ‘killer’ girlfriend to be extradited THE Spanish police are waiting for the Slovakian authorities to extradite Mayka Marica Kukocova, 24, suspected of killing her millionaire exboyfriend, Andrew Bush, 48, in Spain. The suspect, who had been in a two-year relationship with the victim until last autumn, fled the scene soon after an incident in which the British jeweller was shot dead. The black Hummer she was driving was found by National Police in the area of Elviria, Marbella. She later handed herself into police in her home country of Slovakia. A public prosecutor is requesting for her to be

extradited and put at the disposal of the National Court. She would then be transferred to a court in Estepona which is handling the case. Sources close to her claim that she acted in self-defence. Police are also investigating how she got from Estepona to Slovakia, more than 3,000 kilometres away, by car, in approximately 28 hours. The victim’s body was found at a luxury property he was renting in the Cancelada area of Estepona, Malaga, last weekend. His partner, Maria Korotaeva, aged 20, from Russia, called the police after hearing shots, and Bush was

found with two bullet wounds to the head. It appears he arrived home following a trip to find his ex-girlfriend waiting for him in the house. She may have been there for several

days. His current partner left and reportedly waited outside in the car. She alerted the emergency services at around 2am because she was unable to get

into the house after the suspect ordered her to get out of the car and fled the scene. Police and firemen jumped over the wall and found the body and the gun beside it.

TOURISM: On the up.

Tourism increasing as unemployment falls NATIONALLY, tourism was up by 4.2 per cent in March and with this rise came another 34,098 new jobs. There were 10.1 million tourists who visited Spain in the first three months of the year. The crises in countries previously popular with tourists, like Egypt and Tunisia, have given a boost to Spanish tourism over the year.

NEWS

More people are living alone MORE than 4.4 million people live alone in Spain, which constitutes 24 per cent of the 18,217,300 Spanish homes. The average number of people living in a home was 2.58 last year and this year it has gone down to 2.53. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE) more women live alone than men and three out of 10 homes have only two people in them. The regions with the most number of people per household are Ceuta and Melilla, with those with the least being in the Basque Country and Castilla y Leon. One in three people aged 25-34 still live with their parents in the family home. This figure rises to one out of two when speaking of those aged 25-29. In a country that used to have many large families, this descent in their numbers is a matter of concern for the government.

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E W N 17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería COSTA DEL SOL

Lottery scammers held NATIONAL Police in Torremolinos have detained three people for allegedly swindling others in the ‘Nigerian Lottery’ email scam.

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News from our editions With six editions and read by more than half a million people, EWN is Spain’s largest free local English-language newspaper

NEWS DESK MALLORCA

Lesser evil for Calvia HOTELIERS in Calvia consider that limiting works with heavy machinery in tourist areas between May and October from 10.30am to 1pm is a ‘lesser evil.’

Olive Oscar

Carts immobilised

MALAGA company Finca La Torre-Finca la Reja is among the Spanish companies which will receive the Mario Solinas prize for 2014. The prize is considered the equivalent of an Oscar in the olive grower’s world.

LOCAL POLICE in Palma stopped three horse-drawn carts from working because they had not passed their compulsory annual checks.

Malaga donations

More light

MALAGA fire service is to donate two fire trucks to NGO Firemen without Frontiers. The engines will be destined to help in the Third World.

Good beaches THE beaches and waters of the Costa del Sol are at a good level of purity, according to a report by the Department of Health.

Hotel occupation HOTELS in the Costa del Sol area are at 65 per cent occupancy and are expected to hit at least 75 per cent before the weekend.

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

More flights RUSSIAN airlines S7, VIM and Orenair have requested more slots at Alicante airport. Alicante is already the second-most popular destination for Russians after Cataluña, with 128,398 arrivals last year.

Sharing knowhow VILLENA fireman Francisco Jose Catalan, a ‘Firefighters without Frontiers’ member, spent three weeks in the Dominican Republic, helping to train local volunteers in fire prevention and extinction.

Firm line ALICANTE City’s municipal tow-away truck will pursue cars parked at bus stops. These often made it impossible for the disabled to use public transport, the Alicante Accesible association said.

Death explained A BODY washed up in Villajoyosa belonged to an 88-year-old Santander woman staying in Benidorm. She was swept away by the sea after suffering a heart attack, police believe.

OWNER HEARTBROKEN: Red tape has meant closure.

Kennels’ nightmare

HUNDREDS of supporters of the Eurasier Dream Kennels in Los Montesinos have signed an online petition protesting against the business’s closure. The kennels were closed earlier this month, devastating owner Lynne Cooper who said she had become a victim of bureaucracy and red tape. Problems arose after Lynne and her partner bought the kennels and moved over from England to ‘live the dream.’ “It has has now become a nightmare,” said Lynne. The couple tried to transfer the licence into their names but were met with obstructions at the town hall. They invested more money in carrying out a range of checks and getting licences at the request of the town hall. “We have done everything they asked and even paid €420 for a fence licence to since be told that no such thing exists,” added Lynne. The issues have resulted in the breakdown of Lynne’s relationship. “The amount of people and the customers we are letting down is heartbreaking,” she said. Lynne is seeking legal advice on the situation.

Nice try A FIND-THE-LADY ‘trilero’ trickster operating on Benidorm’s streets is suing a National Police officer. He arrested him for preventing police from frisking a female accomplice, the man complained.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Three killed on the N-332 THREE people have been killed in a car crash on the N-332 at Torrevieja. A priest was killed in one car as it collided with another being driven by a couple from Toledo.

Residents’ ideas NEIGHBOURHOOD association San Miguel Archangel of San Miguel has presented 242 proposals for promoting

CALVIA Town Hall is installing 1.5 kilometres of new lights along the beaches of Magaluf to help to prevent crimes and vandalism.

Dog park A NEW area for dogs with a surface of almost 2,500 square metres has opened in Son Parera Park in Palma following requests from residents in El Molinar.

Fresh fish FISHERMEN in Cala Rajada have opened a fish shop at the port which will sell freshly-landed fish from 6pm to 7pm.

AXARQUIA

Cruise season steams in

the economic development and living conditions of the municipality.

THE cruise season opened in Granada with the arrival of the MS Prinsendam, which brought more than 30,000 people to the locality.

Infant massage

Motril drugs

NEW mothers in Santa Pola have taken part in an infant massage workshop to help strengthen the bond with their newborns, as part of activities to mark World Health Day.

TWO sales points, in the same building, have been closed down and three people detained for the possession of marijuana in Motril. Police also confiscated €1,755 in cash.

Market hug

Nazarene market

A HUMAN chain surrounded the Central Market of Elche symbolising a ‘hug’ as residents expressed their opposition to the construction of a new market building.

CALAHONDA is hosting a Nazarene market during Easter. There will be falconry exhibitions as well as many stalls selling artisanal products.

Palm Sunday AROUND 60,000 people lined Elche’s streets for the annual Palm Sunday parade. The procession of palms has been declared of ‘International Tourist Interest’ in the city.

Torrenueva Masterchef RESIDENTS of Torrenueva were glued to the TV on Wednesday to watch Cristobal Gomez, son of a local restaurateur by the same name, as he participated in the popular Masterchef programme.

E W N 17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

Internet needed... YOUNG people who don’t use the internet or get involved in social networks are at risk of becoming outcasts. A study by the Reina Sofia Centre found that most of the social activities of 16 to 24-year-olds depend on the internet to some degree. Consequently, those who don’t go online are in danger of being marginalised. With two out of every three adolescents using social networks on a daily basis, they are a fundamental part of life for this age group. Those with no access lose out in terms of building personal relationships and obtaining information, said the centre.

NEWS

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3rd arrest in baby ‘crime’

Paddy’s got talent! A SEVENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD British expatriate was the star of the show of Saturday night’s Britain’s Got Talent. Despite being buzzed by Simon Cowell early in what seemed a dull routine, Paddy Jones and her dance partner Nico Espinosa held their nerve to launch into an acrobatic dance routine that left the audience and judges gasping. A twirling Paddy performed a series of moves that would put competitors 60 years younger to shame with her energy, technique and courage. And that led to a standing ovation from the huge crowd at Birmingham’s ICC where the audition was filmed, an apology from Simon Cowell for buzzing her, and most importantly, Amanda Holden hitting the Golden Buzzer. That puts Paddy (real name Sarah) and Nico straight through to the smash ITV talent show’s semi-finals. Paddy revealed her dreams of becoming a professional dancer ended in 1956 when she married and decided to raise a family. She and husband David finally retired to Gandia on the Costa Blanca, but shortly afterwards, in 2003, he died of leukaemia.

Photo by ITV

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TWIRLING: Paddy and Nico. So the great-grandmother decided to fill the hours in her new life alone by taking up dance again. She walked into Nico’s dance studio hoping to learn Flamenco. The pair hit it off and were soon competing in club competitions around Spain. In 2009, they won the Spanish TV talent competition Tu Si Que Vales before deciding to bring their routine to a British audience.

POLICE in Madrid have made a further arrest in relation to the alleged killing of a baby in 2012. The parents of the baby, a 31-year-old Ecuadorian woman and her Bolivian partner, 27, are already in custody. The third individual to be charged, a 45-year-old man, is the same person who reported the supposed crime. He told police that his girlfriend had given birth to a baby, which later died and was buried in a park by the woman and her previous partner. Police now think the man had known of these events for some time but only reported them after an argument with the baby’s mother. He is therefore considered to be guilty of withholding evidence. A body has not yet been recovered but police have found a bone and the remains of a cardboard box where the pair confessed to having buried the baby.

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Stories making headlines in Europe

S CANDINAVIAN P RESS

GERMAN

BRITISH PRESS Cold amnesia

Horse brawl

Bean warming

NORWAY - A man, found unconscious in a snowdrift with total amnesia in Oslo last December, has been identified by his parents in the Czech Republic. Police are still looking into the circumstances which led to his disappearance and amnesia.

A BRAWL erupted at a horse fair in Hampshire when two warring families set against each other with catapults and batons. Six people were arrested.

FAMILIES in the UK should eat fewer baked beans because of the impact of their ‘smelly emissions’ on global warming.

Cloned dog

Teenage smugglers

BRITAIN’S first cloned dog, Mini Winnie, cost a whopping £60,000. Fortunately this was paid for by winning a South Korean competition to clone your dog.

TWO students, aged 16 and 17, sneaked two rusty old Second World War bombs onto a flight out of Heathrow bound for the USA. Airport authorities are still looking into how this could have happened.

Everyone’s got talent

Hunted NORWAY Police have arrested 12 men on suspicion of the illegal hunting of wolves, which are an endangered species in Norway. Illegal hunters have killed as many as 100 wolves over the last decade.

Record level SWEDEN - The number of people who left Sweden last year hit historic levels when they headed over the borders in droves; most went to Norway or Denmark.

Bargain fruit SWEDEN - A punnet of strawberries went under the hammer in Stockholm for US$27. Last year, they cost US$116. Swedish strawberries are considered a delicacy due to their sweetness.

Lyme disease patients THE Dutch association of Lyme disease patients has raised the alarm about the number of patients who have killed themselves in the past few months because of their hopeless medical situation.

SIMON COWELL’S home-grown hit, the ‘Got Talent’ franchise, has received a Guinness record for being the world’s most popular TV show.

WOLF: Hunted. BOMB: A right caper.

RUSSIAN PRESS Collapse investigation STATE Duma lawmakers have requested an investigation to be opened against former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev for his role in the dissolution of the USSR.

social networks to house Russian users’ personal data on Russian soil.

Dear chair AN online group, dedicated to monitoring state purchasing, has revealed that one government official’s chair cost US$9,300, when it could have been bought online for half the price.

Russia G20 THE Australian Treasurer has lain to rest rumours that Russia might be barred from the G20 Summit in Brisbane over the Crimea annexation, by confirming their attendance.

PRICEY: Careless purchase.

Patriotic maths

Digital gulag MOSCOW lawmakers are trying to expand Russia’s ‘digital sovereignty’ by passing legislation that would require all online

EUROPEAN PRESS

A MATHS textbook is to be removed from the national curriculum, due to the characters not being sufficiently Russian and, as such, ‘not conducive to instilling patriotism’.

DUTCH PRESS Telescope back

Father shot

Horse panic

AFTER two years of restoring the radio telescope in Dwingeloo, radio amateurs, amateur astronomers and schools can use it again for searching the sky.

THE DUTCH father, Van der Lugt, was kidnapped from his home by armed men. He was beaten and then killed by two bullets to the head in front of his house.

SEVERAL deaths among horses have caused panic amongst equestrian centres. The animals became ill and died shortly after eating hay containing the poisonous plant ‘Colchicum autumnale’.

PRESS Asylum seekers THE number of people applying for asylum in Germany has sky-rocketed by 80 per cent in the last year, due to global crises including Syria and Afghanistan.

Satanic trial TWO Satanists went on trial in Tubingen, Southern Germany, for the alleged ‘bloodlust murder’ of a taxi driver outside a cemetery. Apparently, one of them thought he was a character from a Harry Potter book.

Cubs named NOBBY and Nela are the official names chosen for the two polar bear cubs born in Munich’s Hellabrunn zoo. The names were chosen by their ‘godparents’, two benefactors of the zoo.

NSA denial USA spy bosses have denied a request from Chancellor Angela Merkel to look at her own secret service file, which contains over 300 reports on her mobile phone activity.

Toll motorways IN a controversial move, Germany’s transport minister has said that foreigners wishing to use Germany’s motorways can expect to start paying for the privilege from 2016.

DNA brings success THE Cold Case team attached to the The Hague police have succeeded in identifying a man who had been missing for 27 years by the DNA in a leg that was washed ashore on the isle of Terschelling.

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A note from the

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NEWS

Editor

Follow your dreams T

O those who have lived on the Costas it is an all too familiar story. After a lifetime of hard graft, having brought up a family, it is time for many couples to put their feet up and enjoy their golden days. The dream of retirement to the sunny climes of Spain can finally be made a reality with the promise of many years to come enjoying the Spanish lifestyle. But for some that dream can end all too quickly when one half of a happy partnership sadly passes away. What to do far away from ‘home’ in unfamiliar surroundings and maybe no family or friends nearby? Loneliness can soon set in with the partner of a lifetime no longer there for company and love. Such was the scenario for Paddy

Jones when her beloved husband David passed away just months after they moved to Spain. But Paddy is a woman with a strong spirit, and a certain determined glint to her eyes. Grieving as she was, she decided not to sit back and mope, but to go for dance lessons, hoping to learn Flamenco. When she walked into the dance classes of Nico Espinosa it was the first step on a journey which would lead her to perform in front of a TV audience of 10 million in the hit show Britain’s Got Talent. She drew gasps and a standing ovation for her daring and acrobatic routine at the grand old age of 79. A lesson to us all. No matter your age you can still follow your dreams … you never know where they will lead you.

RECOVERED: King Juan Carlos will take back more duties from Prince Felipe.

King finishes his ‘intense recovery’

KING JUAN CARLOS 1 has finally finished his ‘intense recovery’ regime, begun four months ago after a hip operation, and is now allowed by his doctors to reduce by half the amount of exercises he has to do. While receiving new ambassadors at the Royal Palace, the king joked to the ambassador of Oman, Kifaya Miyah al Raisi, that soon he would be “running around the place.” When chatting about his recovery to the Moroccan ambassador, Mohamed Fadel Benyaich, he said he felt a lot better and

this had been achieved through “daily hard work.” A spokesperson for the palace stated that the king’s rehabilitation had gone very well and from now on he only had to do one session per day. Now that he is a little better the king is taking up some of his old duties, previously passed to his son Prince Felipe, and will soon visit Abu Dhabi. It was the king’s fifth operation in 18 months, and is thought to date back to an injury he suffered on a controversial elephant hunting trip he took

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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inance F A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 6 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION // WWW.EWNBUSINESS.COM

17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

business & legal

EWN

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STAT OF WEEK FRAGRANCE and fashion company Puig reported profits of €176 million last year, a 2 per cent increase on 2012. The firm’s turnover of €1.499 billion was up by 1 per cent.

THE Spanish would rather work for IBM than any other company, a survey revealed. The research was carried out by Randstad, one of the world’s largest human resources consultancies for the fifth edition of its yearly awards to Spain’s best-regarded companies. Samsung and Hewlett Packard

were the next most-voted in the electronics sector after IBM. The BBVA group, Santander and Banco Sabadell were the most popular banks and Mercedes Benz, Renault and Volkswagen-Audi came out top in the automobile sector. Air Europa, Iberia and Renfe topped the transport category and

Starting to get money back... DESPITE the financial crisis, preference share sales continued long after it hit. Between 2008 and 2011 the finance sector placed a total of €12.55 billion as bank employees, pressured by superiors, talked thousands of the financially unsophisticated, in many cases, pensioners, into buying high risk products. They ignored the exceptionally small print and no-one bothered to explain that they would have to wait decades - if ever - to redeem their money. Nor were they told that after the second year, interest would be pegged to the Euro

Interbank Offered Rate (Euribor) rate and they were not covered by the European Commission Guarantee Scheme. Scandal-spattered banks and the Spanish stock market regulator CNMV have since pledged that the scandal will never be repeated. Thanks to arbitration, more than 60 per cent of small investors sold preference shares by Bankia, Novagalicia Banco and Catalunya Bank have since received some redress. So far 269,379 clients have received repayment of €1.890 billion, with many more cases due to go to arbitration.

El Corte Ingles, Ikea and Decathlon were the most-valued stores. Desigual, H&M and Inditex were voted favourite clothing labels and Accor hotels, Melia and NH the best hotel chains. Randstad media awards also went to Antena 3TV (Atresmedia), Mediaset and the state broadcaster TVE.

B

usiness extra

Digging for the dirt THE Ministry of Labour will pay data-mining consultants €5 million to track down labourrelated and Social Security fraud. It was not outsourcing, Minister Fatima Bañez claimed but “adaptation to new technology.”

Time to go FORMER socialist Finance Minister Miguel Boyer leaves the board of REE in May. The 75-year-old, who foregoes an annual €147,000, will be succeeded by civil engineer Socorro Fernandez Larrea.

Iberia routes to be reinstated FLAGSHIP airline Iberia, who merged with BA to create IAG, will return to Latin America. Direct flights between Madrid Barajas and Santo Domingo have been reinstated and the Istanbul and Athens routes are returning a year after they were eliminated. All were money-losers but IAG is taking a different view following

productivity agreements with pilots, cabin crew and ground staff. Low-cost Iberia Express begins flying from Barajas to Amsterdam twice daily in July and twice-weekly flights to Stockholm will commence in July. “We are committed long-term to Madrid, Spain and the T4 terminal,” said Iberia.

JEXWEBER.FOTO

IBM most popular workplace IBM: Most preferred company to work for.

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C O M PA N Y MMM 3M Co AXP American Express Co T AT&T Inc BA Boeing Co CAT Caterpillar Inc CVX Chevron Corp CSCO Cisco Systems Inc DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc INTC Intel Corp IBM International Business Machine... JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co MCD McDonald's Corp MRK Merck & Co Inc MSFT Microsoft Corp NKE Nike Inc PFE Pfizer Inc PG Procter & Gamble Co KO The Coca-Cola Co TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc WMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc DIS Walt Disney Co

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 132.39 84.54 35.20 122.07 101.45 117.03 22.47 66.09 96.72 25.43 152.72 75.70 26.18 195.19 96.87 55.30 99.29 55.92 39.21 71.25 29.86 80.76 38.63 85.30 113.93 78.95 47.07 196.63 76.50 77.01

-1.58 -0.82 +0.08 -1.57 -0.81 +0.34 -0.19 -0.38 -0.06 -0.15 -3.26 -1.08 -0.2451 -0.49 +0.33 -2.10 -0.14 +0.07 -0.151 -1.20 -0.75 -0.33 -0.26 +0.31 -0.63 -1.04 -0.40 -4.92 -0.39 -0.50

-1.18% -0.96% +0.23% -1.27% -0.79% +0.29% -0.84% -0.57% -0.06% -0.59% -2.09% -1.41% -0.93% -0.25% +0.34% -3.66% -0.14% +0.13% -0.38% -1.66% -2.45% -0.41% -0.67% +0.36% -0.55% -1.30% -0.84% -2.44% -0.51% -0.65%

2.4M 4.0M 34.6M 3.9M 5.4M 7.0M 47.3M 4.4M 13.4M 37.3M 6.5M 8.4M 36.1M 4.8M 8.7M 47.2M 6.6M 13.6M 34.3M 4.3M 40.8M 11.8M 18.1M 2.1M 3.1M 3.4M 25.8M 7.5M 8.0M 9.2M

1.20780

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -4.00 -2.00 -2.60 -11.00 -1.00 -11.00 -30.00

C O M PA N Y

-0.61 -0.23 -0.73 -0.69 -0.07 -1.01 -1.33

PRICE

NET VOLUME 74.60 92.92 1,105.00 18.46 86.05 44.99 51.52

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced Zygo Corporation $ 19.43 Phibro Animal Health Corporation $ 17 JAKKS Pacific, Inc. $ 8.28 Titan Machinery Inc. $ 19.90 UBIC, Inc. $ 11.48 BofI Holding, Inc. $ 80.45 Achaogen, Inc. $ 13.31 Credit Suisse AG $ 7.37 ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Biotechnology$ 20.86 China XD Plastics Company Limited $ 6.05 EveryWare Global, Inc. $ 4.05

4.75 ▲ 32.36% 2 ▲ 13.33% 0.75 ▲ 9.96% 1.76 ▲ 9.70% 0.99 ▲ 9.44% 6.01 ▲ 8.07% 0.72 ▲ 5.72% 0.39 ▲ 5.59% 1.04 ▲ 5.25% 0.28 ▲ 4.85% 0.17 ▲ 4.38%

Most Declined Arrowhead Research Corporation Retrophin, Inc. LDR Holding Corporation China Mobile Games and Entment Gr Ltd MacroGenics, Inc. RMG Networks Holding Corporation Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. NewLink Genetics Corporation Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Control4 Corporation

$ 13.13 $ 15.36 $ 23.95 $ 15.97 $ 20.38 $ 4.04 $ 3.69 $ 19.97 $ 14.02 $ 24.12 $ 17.44

2.74 ▼ 17.27% 2.89 ▼ 15.84% 3.95 ▼ 14.16% 2.58 ▼ 13.91% 3.11 ▼ 13.24% 0.60 ▼ 12.93% 0.49 ▼ 11.72% 2.54 ▼ 11.28% 1.60 ▼ 10.24% 2.72 ▼ 10.13% 1.96 ▼ 10.10%

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Centrica PLC 334.60 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1493.00 Compass Group PLC 904.25 CRH PLC 1733.50 Diageo PLC 1895.75 easyJet PLC 1668.50 Experian PLC 1054.50 Fresnillo PLC 917.25 G4S PLC 245.25 GKN PLC 373.35 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1535.25 Glencore Xstrata PLC 315.47 Hammerson PLC 558.00 Hargreaves Lansdown 1239.50 HSBC Holdings PLC 618.30 IMI PLC 1499.50 Imperial Tobacco Grp 2486.00 InterContinental Hotels 1893.50 International Conslidtd ... 387.80 Intertek Group PLC 2906.50 ITV PLC 181.20 Johnson Matthey PLC 3131.00 Kingfisher PLC 425.05 Land Securities Group 1020.50 Legal & General Group 210.05 Lloyds Banking Group 72.15 London Stock Exchange 1783.00 Marks & Spencer Group 432.65 Meggitt PLC 466.35 Melrose Industries PLC 288.80 Mondi PLC 982.50 National Grid PLC 809.75 Next PLC 6345.00 Old Mutual PLC 197.55 Pearson PLC 1034.00 Persimmon PLC 1295.00 Petrofac Ltd 1392.00 Prudential PLC 1292.50 Randgold Resources 4711.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 4809.50 Reed Elsevier PLC 872.25 Resolution Ltd 277.70 REXAM PLC 491.55 Rio Tinto PLC 3332.00 Rolls-Royce Holdings 1018.50 Royal Bank of Scotland 305.05 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2341.75 Royal Mail PLC 492.90 RSA Insurance Group 92.97 SABMiller PLC 3142.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 387.90 Sainsbury (J) PLC 313.60 Schroders PLC 2536.50 Severn Trent PLC 1764.00 Shire PLC 2869.50 Smith & Nephew PLC 880.50 Smiths Group PLC 1231.50 Sports Direct Intrntnl... 760.75 SSE PLC 1464.00 Standard Chartered PLC 1331.25 Standard Life PLC 371.35 St. James's Place PLC 758.00 Tesco PLC 282.50 Travis Perkins PLC 1750.50 TUI Travel PLC 419.15 Tullow Oil PLC 831.50 Unilever PLC 2656.00 United Utilities Group 757.00 Vodafone Group PLC 213.05 Weir Group PLC 2478.50 Whitbread PLC 3953.00 William Hill PLC 321.95 Wm Morrison Suprmrkts 201.05 Wolseley PLC 3317.00 WPP PLC 1208.50

CHANGE -0.30 0.00 -5.00 -4.00 22.00 -32.00 -3.00 9.00 -1.10 -4.20 -17.00 3.75 -4.00 -17.00 0.80 -18.00 39.00 -12.00 -4.30 -8.00 -1.80 -29.00 -2.60 -2.00 -1.00 -0.83 -19.00 -2.90 -3.50 -3.62 -16.00 0.00 -43.57 -1.30 -2.50 -19.00 -12.00 -10.00 38.30 77.00 -9.00 -1.12 -8.40 3.22 -14.00 -1.00 -8.50 -2.10 -0.70 32.00 -2.59 4.08 -14.00 -6.00 -5.00 -3.00 3.00 -10.50 -4.31 10.00 -2.18 -6.00 1.30 -19.00 -3.20 3.50 19.00 -1.95 -0.75 -18.75 -79.00 -1.80 -0.20 -10.00 -11.00

% C H G. -0.09 0.00 -0.55 -0.23 1.17 -1.88 -0.28 0.99 -0.45 -1.11 -1.10 1.20 -0.71 -1.35 0.13 -1.19 1.59 -0.63 -1.10 -0.27 -0.98 -0.92 -0.61 -0.20 -0.47 -1.14 -1.05 -0.67 -0.75 -1.24 -1.60 0.00 -0.68 -0.65 -0.24 -1.44 -0.86 -0.77 0.82 1.63 -1.02 -0.40 -1.68 0.10 -1.36 -0.33 -0.36 -0.42 -0.75 1.03 -0.66 1.32 -0.55 -0.34 -0.17 -0.34 0.24 -1.36 -0.29 0.76 -0.58 -0.79 0.46 -1.07 -0.76 0.42 0.72 -0.26 -0.35 -0.75 -1.96 -0.56 -0.10 -0.30 -0.90

VOLUME 917.71 14.23 150.47 111.86 418.95 110.09 146.62 109.79 144.47 856.42 789.93 2,732.61 66.58 72.99 3,204.14 32.70 136.56 30.27 921.51 14.32 1,033.39 21.13 134.55 96.02 1,455.54 12,393.80 25.93 283.18 62.98 150.01 69.41 298.99 14.94 330.94 171.88 54.13 49.24 158.71 59.28 150.76 293.23 398.17 151.87 353.31 383.56 637.67 246.59 235.14 1,146.67 191.22 85.62 626.56 15.97 20.14 166.14 73.87 37.69 305.12 56.83 501.21 179.71 108.40 2,494.80 27.69 47.82 150.14 414.08 67.70 7,591.06 14.41 39.72 103.31 941.69 49.09 275.89

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

EU wins stand-off with China THE EU’s successful tussle with China over customs duty will benefit Spanish wine. China had threatened to slap on duty after Brussels accused China of exporting solar panels at lower than cost price. Until then Spain, which had an endless supply of cheap panels, had few complaints but EU members condemned China’s commercial practices. Brussels caved in and imposed a provisional 11.8 per cent duty on Chinese solar panels in June 2013. In return, Beijing launched an antidumping and anti-subsidy probe into European wine which, it claimed, received state help. China is the world’s fifth-most important wine consumer. France, Spain and Italy between them provide two-thirds of the wine that is drunk there and Spain, which exports 24.4 million bottles a year to China, would have been hardhit by punitive duties. Both sides have now reached agreement.

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17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

37

Two-tier Spain is now paying for past excesses THE economic crisis has widened traditional differences between richer and poorer autonomous regions. Before the economic crisis Cataluña made the greatest contribution to Spain’s national GDP, accounting for 18.5 per cent of the total. Almost six years into the crisis, its 18.8 per cent contribution in 2013 was still higher than any other region’s. Madrid was not far behind and by the end of last year contributed 17.9 per cent of the GDP, 0.15 per cent more than in 2008. The GDP contributions from Andalucia and the Valencia region suffered the greatest reductions, with the former now second from the bottom amongst the 17 autonomous regions. It contributed 13.5 per cent to the national economy last year,

INDUSTRY: Drives Cataluña’s economy.

8.7 per cent less than in 2008. The Valencian Community’s contribution of 9.5 per cent was

10 per cent lower than six years ago. It was the same story with the

Best way of dealing with debt Talking shop Mike Walsh Mike Walsh was for 20 years Regional Assessment Manager for the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Britain’s biggest quality assurance body for businesses.

www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932

THE best way of dealing with debt is to avoid people who expect credit. When people owe you money, for the period it is outstanding, you invest in their business not yours. Some businesses thrive by running their business on clients’ money; debt. These businesses could go to the bank to borrow money. After all, lending money is the bank’s business, not yours. They don’t approach banks because the bank qualifies credit history, sets rules, adds interest and imposes sanctions for those who don’t play ball. You are the soft option. When your business is owed money there is much collateral damage. Why borrow €5,000 plus interest from a bank if you are owed

EWN

CASH PROBLEMS: You can’t afford to invest in your business. a similar amount that is interest free? If you suffer cash flow problems you cannot take advantage of bulk discounts or special offers. You spend time chasing debts instead of promoting your business; you can’t afford to advertise, to invest in your business. Dealing with debt is more problematic in Spain than it is in Britain. For this reason Spain has attracted many shysters who have a cavalier attitude to paying their dues. The disreputable turn to their advantage the difficulties encountered in chasing debt. They work on the presumption that you will write it off and put it down to experience.

The artful dodgers then shamelessly move to the next sheep to be fleeced. The best way of avoidance is to insist on 50 per cent or full payment up-front until a working relationship is established. A genuine client will understand. I know of one businessman who boasted a confidence winning strategy. Having won the confidence of a client he would scam them for a massive amount and do a runner. Now serving time in the UK he will be out in less than 40 months. Not bad for decades of luxurious lifestyle. He still has his yachts, villas and cars to fall back on. Yes, crime does pay.

GDI (the GDP divided by the number of inhabitants) in rich and poor regions. In the Basque Region, Madrid, Navarra and Cataluña this either improved compared with the national average between 2008 and 2013 or did not fall. The country can be split into the half that is industrialised and the half that relied on the construction and property industries. “A crisis regulates past excesses and accentuates structural weaknesses,” pointed out economic strategist Jose Luis Martinez Campuzano. “The objective should cushion the first while carrying out reforms to overcome the second.”

No niche in Spanish high street for foreign banks WITH Citibank selling to Banco Popular, Barclays could be looking to dispose of its Spanish high street business. Other foreign banks like Natwest, Abbey and Lloyds have already thrown in the towel in Spain. “In the Eighties, everybody believed foreign banks would burst onto the scene and consolidate their position, but it didn’t happen. They said the same in the Nineties but again nothing happened,” a Spanish banking source told the national daily, ABC. Instead the foreign banks had an uphill struggle, not least because Spain’s leading banks had the retail market practically sewn up and they never acquired sufficient clients to be profitable. “To succeed in a niche like this, closeness to savers and companies is fundamental. It’s important

to know them personally,” the same source said. There was “a certain rejection” of foreign banks, the banker admitted. This rejection was invariably cited by foreign banks to justify their lack of success here, another banker agreed: “But that’s an excuse: there was no aversion. It never existed.” What did exist, Spanish bankers said, were management blunders and errors of judgement. These included foreign banks’ appetite for the property industry - and the mortgage market, with Barclays and Deutsche Bank sustaining bad debts of more than 40 per cent from the property sector and portfolios bulging with repossessions. Barclays, which has closed 161 branches since 2013, rebuffed rumours that the bank would sell the entire business.

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E W N 17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

A night with your boss in pyjamas!

Loose change A look at finance for females

Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

THE typical modern system of managing a business often sees the boss at the top and the employees at the bottom. The boss being a Grand Emperor ruling over his servants, who nod and genuflect agreeably as they carry out their tasks. It’s true that many employees rarely see their employer and are often almost too scared to ask for an appointment to have a chat about working conditions. This type of environment is not conducive to motivating employees. Rather it leaves them feeling undervalued and resentful.

A recent study on ‘employee engagement’ reveals that a shocking 70 per cent of workers hate their jobs or are completely disengaged. Not good for the bottom line and not good for the health and satisfaction of workers either. But there is a way to change this - have a sleepover with your boss! Slumber parties were once refined to young girls and their friends but nowadays one super successful business has learned that a sleepover can benefit an employer and staff too. Whole Foods is a natural and organic food store across the US, Canada

sleepovers with the boss are commonplace, as the chief executive feels that spending time with and the UK. It opened its colleagues in a more first store in 1980 with the personal setting is the best idea to govern staff in a way to build up a trusting different way. A ‘caring relationship. leadership’ mental“I know this sounds ity was adopted weird, but there’s somethat strives to thing about sleeping in the value and retain same house and then fixing staff. At Whole breakfast or dinner Foods, together that is very much staff a bonding experience,” he said. The caring leadership approach allows all staff to have a say in the running of the company. For example, when a new member of staff starts working they are put in a team and put on SLEEPOVERS: two months Not just for probation. Only young girls. when they are approved by at

Keeping a UK car in Spain I read with interest your article last year in EWN regarding vehicles with foreign You and the registration plates on Spanish roads. We own a holiday home in Mallorca in which Law in Spain we spend the summer. We are not By David Searl Spanish residents. We were stopped by the Guardia Civil and told because we owned a house we needed to supply all paperwork to the authorities within seven days. We complied but have heard nothing since September. What is my situation? C.J. (Mallorca) A. It is true a foreign-registered vehicle owned by a non-resident can remain in Spain all year. The vehicle can be used on Spanish roads for six months in any calendar year. However, this vehicle must be at all times road-legal in its country of registration. This means your car must have an up-to-date MOT from the UK. Otherwise, it is not legal in the UK, which means it is not legal in Spain. The only legal way to obtain a UK MOT is to take the vehicle back to the UK. If I failed to make this clear earllier, I apologise. A Spanish ITV, does not meet the requirement. My advice is to take your car back to the UK and purchase a Spanish-registered car to use on your visits to Spain. If you have not heard from the Guardia Civil so far, they are doing you a favour. Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Tried and true

least two-thirds of their team members in a secret ballot can they stay on permanently. There is a conscious effort made not to promote the ‘jerks’ within the company, while the pay system is nothing like Wall Street. The seven-strong executive team, all earn the same salary, which is capped at 19 times the average pay of a full-time worker. Every meeting is wrapped up with ‘appreciations’ to thank team members for their hard work. It may all sound a little airy-fairy to us cynical Europeans but the proof is in the pudding. Fastforward 30 years and the company now has 80,000 staff across 373 shops in the US alone. The results suggest caring leadership is very effective. Happy staff and big earnings!

DIA supermarkets offer only 33 per cent of manufacturers’ new lines in food, drink, cosmetics and cleaning products. Mercadona sells still less, with just 15.8 per cent.

Late payers SPANISH multinational OHL is claiming €116 million from Algeria’s motorways agency, ANA. The amount arises from a €450 million contract awarded in 2006 to construct a second Algiers ring road.

Low aid SPAIN gave just 0.16 per cent of its gross national income to official development aid (ODA) in 2013, according to new OECD figures compared to an average 0.41 per cent OECD average. The UK gave 0.7 per cent - the level recommended by the United Nations.

Vast majority of downloads ‘illegal’ A NEW report on online ‘piracy’ says that a massive 84 per cent of content like films, music and books acquired online in Spain is unlawfully downloaded. The report, which was commissioned by music, videogame, publishing and movie companies, said that more than half of internet users in the country were downloading content illegally in 2013. The report was brought out last week to coincide with a Congressional debate on intellectual property. But the Culture Ministry was left unimpressed by it, calling it a rough opinion study that had been paid for by interested parties. It added that there had been no chance to analyse its findings. Called the Observatory of Privacy and Digital Content Consumer Habits for 2013, the report says that illegal downloads are growing at a rate of 4.6 per cent. The coalition that commissioned the report says that ‘piracy’ is seriously harming the interests of the authors of

ONLINE PIRACY: High in Spain. the works downloaded and causing huge losses to the companies that develop videogames and make movies. The report called for Google, which is the search engine used by the vast majority of people, should do more to combat piracy.

OPINION & COMMENT

EUROPEAN PRESS

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17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

EWN

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Fotomicar / Shutterstock.com

The institutionalism of Easter, a parade takes place now instead of a procession! Ric Polansky Ric Polansky moved to Mojacar in 1969 as a pioneer developer. He reads extensively and has travelled in South America panning gold and looking for El Dorado.

IN those original years of living here we made purposeful attempts to participate in anything that was truly Spanish. So, along came Easter and of course we attended the processions. We knew Spain was a staunch Catholic country but how much so was revealed in the Easter processions that were dour, mournful and depressing. It was a time of great penitence, of having given up something for the redeemer who gave up his life for the multitude. We were to be remorseful to garner atonement. I was dulled by the slow procession of the different stages and skived off to a nearby bar that I found exploding with like minded repentants like myself that had also bolted for some foamy communion.

ING LOOK IN BACK AR C MOJA

PROCESSION: More staid than they used to be.

My wife attended the boys in true Spanish madre fashion while I concerned myself with the freshness and fullness of the contents of my mug of beer. Our manly chat concerned talk of everything unreligious but pertaining to the importance of life; football, referee’s decisions and rankings in the league. We were all smug and content - together, out doing the right thing in sharing these

important moments of male bonding. We upheld our manly virtues, in that of escaping, drinking sufficiently but not so much as we were satiated and quickly returned to our obligated positions of standing next to our children to be seen and noted by all others. It was a first time viewing for both my wife and myself and we didn’t really know what to expect. Men and women barefoot

walking over glass and mislaid trash in penitence and confirmation of their true beliefs. Some being whipped, others carrying true crosses of immense size while bearing crowns of thorns. It was a shocking display! Disturbing. Very bothersome. I wanted to run away. My wife kindly comforted the boys who were sobbing their eyes out beyond belief. They simply couldn’t take it any more. The live spectacle, the morbid ritual, and perverse reality of real blood flowing. Everyone was crying, uncontrollable. My eldest sobbed: “They were so cruel to Him.” Which was more than evident and overly repugnant to me. So, I whisked him up into my arms and announced that we were departing. Exit stage left to the nearest and furthest bar that might be open. There the kids could run around like monsters and I could drown my grief while my wife gnawed on my ears for making the suggestion we visit the procession in the first place. Today, it’s a parade and is just another showy spectacle of unimportance (unless you go to the right town) wherein those old time values still pertain.

Eureka! The Spanish learn English Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.

T

HE unwillingness of many English speakers to learn Spanish is an unedifying trait. The Spanish, bless them, just sigh and raise their eyebrows. One senses stoic acceptance of their language’s inferiority. Spaniards have little reason to complain. Despite Spain’s economy being largely dependent on English-speaking tourism, just 22 per cent bother to learn English. The Spanish and French are simply not good at playing second fiddle to the superiority of the English language. In Sweden, another foreign country, 86 per cent do speak English. English is now the world’s most commonly spoken

language. Familiar to half the world’s population it is said to be the first international language, certainly of business. This might have something to do with the English-speaking world being superior at international trade. Let us not be too quick to condemn this peculiarity as do others. I am reminded of Joseph Conrad, the Polish writer. His mastery of the English language brought him international acclaim. Sadly, his being beneficiary of our mother tongue was on occasion abused. “The conquest of the earth, which mostly means taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it.” Oh, hark at him! In a tally of European inspired wars from the 12th Century to 1925, the Spanish spent the highest

LEARNING: English is the most common language spoken. percentage of years (67 per cent) at war. England haplessly trailed in third place (56 per cent). Poland by the way, Conrad’s homeland won the silver cutlass with 58 per cent years of war to its credit. If the Spanish can claim the podium for cutlass diplomacy, why not the English speakers for giving the world a language?

That is by-the-by; back to language and the solution is perfectly clear to me. Is it not true that English speakers do not make an effort. However, each time they try to use the lingo, a smart-ass Spaniard says, “Don’t bother, I speak English.” They must be the one in five you must take every day. So here is the cunning plan. The Spanish must accept

English as their mothertongue. Others do; the Paddies and Taffies. It will be necessary to relegate Spain’s pidgin-Latin to an also-ran or linguistic hobby. This is a perfectly reasonable solution, who could possibly argue with it? Keep your sombreros on; no one suggests that Spaniards wear John Bull outfits, fly the Union Flag, get legless at weekends or give up their asses. Just learn English. English is a cosmopolitan language but in truth is not a language at all. English is pidgin European. A linguistic stew, the main ingredients of English being Latin, pidgin-French, German, Arabic, Indian, now Punjabi and a sprinkling of other exotica. You see, the English do know lots of languages. More than those clever Scandinavians and Belgians do. If we can be multilingual, the Spanish can too.

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FEATURE

Line of Duty to return for third and fourth series on BBC Two The cult daytime TV show Coach Trip will return for a 10th series, it has been confirmed. Host and tour guide Brendan Sheerin will once again tour Europe with a selection of holiday-makers, who will all hope to last the full length of the trip and not be voted off. Channel 4 has ordered 80 new episodes after a successful return to the 5pm daytime slot for its ninth series earlier this year. The episodes will be split into four 20episode series. Filming will start on series 10 in the summer.

Richard Shanley

DISHING THE DIRT OF EUROPA DIGITAL

LINE OF DUTY is to return for two more series on BBC Two. The acclaimed police thriller starring Martin Compston and Vicky McClure will air a third and fourth series, comprising six episodes each. The second series, which starred Keeley Hawes as conflicted cop DI Lindsay Denton, attracted an average of 3.4 million viewers across February and March. Creator and writer Jed Mercurio said: “We’re profoundly grateful to the fans who not only watched Line Of Duty but also made it such a talking point, and to BBC Two for this rare and immensely flattering opportunity. For series

EXPLOSIVE CASES: New twists and turns for AC-12 officers. Inset: CULT SHOW: Coach Trip with Brendan Sheerin. three and four, I can promise two explosive new cases for AC12, new guest stars as police officers are investigated for corruption, further twists and turns from the loose ends of series two, and maybe even some surprise reappearances.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama, added: “Line Of Duty shows what the reinvestment of money in drama on BBC Two has achieved - unique, powerful and gripping drama that gets the nation talking. Bringing it

back for two more years is the easiest decision I have made. The only thing to expect from the show is the unexpected so I’m excited to see where the next twists and turns take the series.”

If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europadigital.com. I look forward to your comments and questions.

OPINION & COMMENT

Supply and demand is nature’s way WATCH television any night and there will be at least one plea to save the life of a child who is starving to death or forced to drink filthy water which will cause its death. As a so-called developed nation I suppose we must respond because we can’t stand by and allow this to happen. But this is not a twentieth century problem. It has been like this for thousands of years: famine and drought have been responsible for millions of deaths during the history of this planet. It is the way Mother Nature handles supply and demand not just for the human race, but every species. Millions of pounds have been raised by organisations, governments, and the entertainment industry. Thankfully their efforts have been a great success in saving the lives of thousands of children. But are we not just adding to the problem of supply and demand? I am not suggesting we do not save these young lives, what else can we do? I do not know how many lives have been saved over recent times, but I do know that these children will have grown, married and produced more mouths to feed from still-limited resources. I don’t have a solution. Do you? Tom Hawksworth (by email)

Still at it I WONDER who runs these Microsoft scams. Over the past 18 months or so I’ve had several scam calls. Always a person with a Pakistani or Indian accent addressing me in English although I live in France and answer the phone in French. I think they only target Anglophones, as I’ve not met any French people who have received calls. Sometimes I just tell them that I know it’s a scam, other times I’ve pretended to do what they tell me. I’ve asked them where they’re calling from; once they said the UK but my phone screen showed a Moroccan code. Today they claimed it was California, but

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17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

Letters

Spare the rod

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10, P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29631 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887

Photographs for possible publication should be sent by email with a full caption to: photonews@euroweeklynews.com

HEAVY rain caused problems in Santa Ponsa, including this landslide that I photographed while out walking.

Edward Grummit, Mallorca.

Home cooking WITH regard to the article advocating dry food as best for dogs, I disagree strongly. I feed my two dogs dried food in the morning and either fish, eggs, chicken, chicken liver or hearts in the evening. I buy a chicken carcass cheaply, cook it with carrots in water and give them the meat, which I scrape off, and the carrots. I also do this with bones that I get free of charge from the butcher. Bones that contain marrow they have raw, which they just love. My dogs are very healthy and in extremely good condition. Furthermore, they enjoy their food and never leave any. The only food they often leave behind is the dried food. In addition it costs nothing or next to nothing to feed them this way! Beverley Saunders (by email)

WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:

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Special vocab I HAVE had enough of Spain and the total disregard for Brits. Yes, I know we should learn the language and I know a lot but not when it comes to banking. Trying to get a person in a Spanish bank to talk English is virtually impossible. They take billions from us but that’s where it ends. If I had a business that attracted different nationalities I would make sure I could get somebody to speak their language. It’s a bit like Carrefour. You want to buy? Hey ho, perfect English. Returns? Nobody speaks English! I had Spanish lessons in Spain for two years but banking was not

47

women are just as bad as the men. Derek McMahon (by email)

YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

the number was from Wheaton (Illinois) in the US. Someone locally lost nearly €500 to these scammers, so beware. Rose Marie Hughes, Reynes (France)

EWN

covered, so to people who say I have not tried: rubbish. Jim Massey, Benidorm (Alicante)

Which way to turn I HAVE just read Ulrica Marshall’s article regarding Spanish driving and I couldn’t agree more. If they park on pedestrian crossings, corners or loading bays, as long as the hazard lights are flashing that’s alright then! She also mentioned the lack of use of indicators. Mainly they leave the right or left indicators flashing because they know that eventually during their journey they may have to turn in that direction, so why cancel the indicator? Bless’ em. Bob Hall (by email)

No-brainer I REALLY enjoyed Ulrica Marshall’s article in this week’s newspaper. One instance comes to mind when I was driving towards Los Montesinos at 80 kilometres per hour and a motor-cyclist passed me doing a wheelie. If he had landed on his head he wouldn’t have had brain damage as he obviously didn’t have a brain. Don’t take offence, but the

I RECENTLY saw a cartoon in which the counsel for the prosecution asks of the little girl in the witness box: “And can you see the man who refused to buy you a horse?” It was not until I read Leapy Lee’s article about the new Cinderella law that I understood its significance. That’s the trouble with lawmakers: if they don’t make laws they are out of a job. It was okay when we only had 10 laws but now that there are thousands it is difficult to make sensible new ones. The Spanish suffer from this problem more than most. J Glazer, Nerja (Malaga)

Charity queries I HAVE several questions that have been worrying me for some time now. With regard to charities here on the Costa Blanca, are they really charities? Do they really have charitable status? What do their statutes say? Where does all the money raised really go to? Do they have a committee and an annual AGM with a treasurer’s report available for people to view? I have noticed more and more ‘charities’ appearing over the past 10 years and wonder if they are genuine and if people really benefit from them. I am curious and I wonder if anyone else is? Kelly Boluda, Ondara (Alicante)

Jab request IS the new meningitis vaccine that came out in December 2013 in the UK available here? There was a big hoo-ha in the UK because it wasn’t going to be available on the NHS but I don’t care if I have to pay for it for my daughter. The only problem is that when I asked my doctor here he mentioned the two vaccines my daughter already had as a baby and again as a toddler. He seemed to know nothing about the ‘new’ one! It can’t only be England that’s got it, can it? Sarah (by email)

The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.

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E W N 17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Greed, not need: the scandals that just won’t die T

HERE’S been much press coverage recently concerning the former UK’s Culture Secretary Maria Miller’s controversial expenses and begrudgingly belated resignation. Isn’t it amazing how, once again, senior politicians show how totally disconnected they are from the public mood over their expenses? The humiliating apologies dredged up one after the other, after the scandal broke in 2009, look even more phony and disingenuous now than then. Like bankers, politicians seem to have learned nothing from their misconduct. There’s nothing but hot air, lip service and a stubborn refusal to face up to reality followed by phrases like ‘we’ve all learned the lessons,’ ‘we’ve moved on,’ ‘the system’s

been overhauled.’ I know I bang on about MPs’ expenses, the NHS, the BBC, the police service and so on. My rationale is that by drawing repeated attention to these issues can there be any hope of change. Basically, the whole expenses system is still an easy target. It needs to be looked at from scratch by those with proven experience and a track record in the area. The Government doesn’t think twice about getting the private sector to manage school exams, run prisons and trains and deliver the post. Why doesn’t it use the same formula to police its own expenses? Are you tired too, like me, of hearing the phrase ‘it’s only a few’ who make ‘mistakes’ - about the police, the NHS and any organisation where wrongdoing’s

Nora Johnson

Breaking Views A Costa del Sol resident for a number of years, Nora is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ nora-johnson

uncovered? Now, if that’s the case, why are the majority so incompetent or not up to dealing with ‘the few’ when it happens time and again? It might explain the first occurrence, but shouldn’t repeated wrongdoing ring alarm bells: that wrongdoing’s maybe becoming increasingly par for the course? There’s no justification for what politicians like Maria Miller did in the eyes of the ordinary voter. Ordinary citizens are prosecuted for benefit fiddling and non-

SCANDALOUS: There’s no justification for MPs’ misconduct. payment of TV licences. It’s unlikely there’s a single business in the UK where employees are permitted to act as judge and jury over their own expenses and, if found making a ‘mistake,’ are permitted to ‘apologise’ and get away with it for so long - until forced to resign. Why should Parliament be any different? Oh, I forgot, that’s an entirely

different matter. Truth stranger than fiction? You couldn’t make it up.

Nora Johnson’s thrillers Retribution and The De Clerambault Code (www.norajohnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89; £0.77) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.

FINANCE My last article looked at the reforms to personal tax, savings and pensions announced in the UK Budget. Although the pension news was the biggest element, there are other aspects that may affect expatriates. Capital gains tax The capital gains tax annual allowance increases to £11,000 on 6th April 2014. New legislation will ensure that capital gains made by a remittance basis user in the overseas part of a split year are not charged to tax. The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement had included the announcement that the exemption from UK capital gains tax afforded to long-term non-residents on the disposal of UK property will be withdrawn from April 2015. The budget did not contain any new information on how it would work, but a consultation was later published on 28th March. It looks like only gains arising from 6th April 2015 on disposals of UKsited residential property will be taxed, but we cannot be certain at this stage. As announced in the Autumn Statement, from this April the Principal Private Residence Relief – the period of deemed ownership where a property has been the main home and is exempt from capital gains

EUROPEAN PRESS

www.euroweeklynews.com

17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

EWN

49

The UK Budget – How Does It Affect You? Part 2

By Neil Jenkins, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks tax – is reduced from 36 months to 18. Property tax Where companies own UK residential property valued at over £2 million, there is an annual tax charge – Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) - currently between £15,000 and £140,000, depending on the value of the property.

New legislation will reduce this threshold to £500,000 and introduce a new range of annual charges. This is effective 1st April 2015 for properties valued at between £1 million and £2 million, and from April 2016 for properties between £500,000 and £1 million. With immediate effect, the 15% rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax applying to purchases of residential property by companies will be extended to properties worth £500,000 or more. Any non-UK residents wishing to restructure out of current enveloped structures will need to focus on doing so in good time before next April. Inheritance tax UK inheritance tax is charged on the net value of a person’s estate, after deducting the nil-rate band, any reliefs and exemptions, and outstanding liabilities. Property situated outside the UK belonging

to, or settled by, a non-UK domiciled individual is ‘excluded property’ and does not form part of a person’s estate. Legislation introduced last year allows a deduction for a liability only if it has not been used to acquire, maintain or enhance excluded property, except in a few specified circumstances. Foreign currency deposits in UK banks are not taken into account in determining the value of a person’s estate if the depositor is non-UK domiciled and non-UK resident at death. Legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2014 to treat foreign currency accounts held in UK banks in a similar way to excluded property for the purposes of how liabilities are deducted for inheritance tax. As previously announced, various measures will be introduced to simplify the inheritance tax

treatment of relevant property trusts, including treating retained income as accumulated after five years when calculating the ten year anniversary charge. These changes could have a significant impact on the inheritance tax payable by existing trusts. Most changes are deferred until April 2015, pending further consultation. This is just a summary. It is important to seek specialist advice to clarify how you are affected, particularly when it comes to the interaction between UK and local Spanish taxation, and if you want to explore your new pension options. Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com

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E W N 17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Is ‘for better or worse’ dying out? With a recent survey revealing that nearly a quarter of newlyweds expect to divorce, is

A

NN MARTIN from Benitachell (Alicante) has been married for 35 years. She is shocked by the survey saying nearly a quarter of newlyweds expect to divorce. “There is no point in getting into marriage thinking it will fail.” She added: “I think it is too easy to get out of marriage and to get divorced. Around 80 per cent of my acquaintances are divorced but I’m sure they didn’t get married thinking it would end.” Rebecca Lawson is a small business owner from Fuengirola (Malaga). Although the 29-year-old is young she has traditionalist views. “I think traditional wedding vows should be just that. A vow is not something you go into thinking that hopefully there’s an escape clause. You do it because you are committed, 100 per cent. Otherwise, don’t make the vow,” she said. Darrell Clayton, a DJ from Gata de Gorgos (Alicante), is on his second marriage and really believes it is ‘for

the phrase ‘for better or worse’ dying out? Should people stay together for life, or

STREET TALK

ANN MARTIN: Married 35 years.

should they accept that they may grow apart and split up?

better or worse.’ “I married her purely remarked: “I know so many people for love and it is forever. I would who have divorced who never not survive without her.” He expected to. It’s not that they STAN joked his first marriage to a didn’t love each other at JAYSON: Dutch lady ended because one point. I like to think Maybe it’s “she was very expensive!” that those who say too easy to something like ‘for better or Stan Jayson for worse’ truly mean it at divorce from Mojacar the time. Maybe it’s too easy (Almeria) said he to divorce and go back on those doesn’t want to vows. Maybe they never should have think the phrase is made them in the first place.” dying out, but Allison Beard from Algorfa maybe it is. The 58- (Alicante) has been married since year-old retired 2006. After meeting her husband in engineer Spain whilst on holiday, Allison moved over from the UK a month after getting together as a couple, ALLISON showing that romance is certainly BEARD: alive and well. “Unfortunately, a lot Met husband in of couples do get divorced, many times for reasons out of their Spain and control. But I think it is really sad to moved over think that a quarter of couples go to be with into a marriage union expecting it to him. end,” she said.

The lady vanishes Cassandra Nash

A weekly look and not entirely impartial reaction - to the Spanish political scene

E

SPERANZA AGUIRRE was a former minister with Aznar and is expresident of the Madrid autonomous region. She is regional president of the Partido Popular and her husband is a marquis. In 2008 when Mariano Rajoy lost a general election for the second time running, this very formidable lady tried unsuccessfully to topple him. It is an open secret that Aguirre has her eye on Madrid City Hall, hoping to be chosen as mayoral candidate in the 2015 municipal elections. To the relief of the incumbent Ana Botella, she probably ruined her chances by overreacting to a traffic fine after parking in a Madrid bus lane. Deceptively approachable and amiable, Aguirre showed her imperious side by driving off and knocking over a traffic policeman’s motorcycle. She scarpered, Aguirre said later, because the policemen were sexist,

wanting her to be seen in a bad light and photographed by passers-by. Apart from the photographs she made a better job of it than they did. As for playing the gender card, even her critics believed she was made of sterner stuff.

Justice law backfires SPAIN’s Universal Justice law has already backfired. Aimed at discouraging Spanish judges from investigating human rights’ cases outside Spain, it will hamper the pursuit of common crime. The new law authorising intervention only when offences are aimed at Spain invalidates an anti-drugs operation last March and eight Egyptians who were remanded at the time have been freed. There were no Spanish links to the €60 million hashish shipment destined for Libya that was intercepted in international waters off Almeria last March, ruled national high court judge Fernando Andreu. ESPERANZA AGUIRRE: Thought to be made of sterner stuff.

Clipping the wings of celebrity judges could turn out to cause more trouble than it prevents.

Time and a place CARDINAL ROUCO used Adolfo Suarez’s memorial service to give a political message, implying conditions exist for another civil war. The message was ignored, but the medium was not. Suarez was a practising Catholic but refrained from thrusting his religion down Spanish throats, as at least 50 per cent are anticlerical.

Geography lesson CONDEMNATION of Crimea’s referendum and subsequent annexation by Russia caught Cataluña on the hop. The EU’s disapproval came as a blow to pro-independence Catalans convinced that Brussels will not leave them in the lurch should the region leave Spain. Francesc Homs, who heads the Cataluña regional government’s department of Foreign Affairs, hastened to explain the differences between the Crimea independence referendum and Cataluña’s. “Those who link Cataluña and Crimea deliberately obscure the real situation to create confusion,” said a stern Homs. “Any of our international partners can explain the difference between Barcelona and Simferopol.” Many Spaniards outside Cataluña and some inside would doubtless like to hear them.

www.euroweeklynews.com

SPOTLIGHT RS E IS R T E R RNE V A D CO

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17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

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51

Advertising Feature

Everything you need for the pool... as well as expert advice

NOW summer is here and you’re all getting ready for the visitors coming, now is a good time to visit 1 Stop Pool Shop and see all their new products. The shop has everything you need for the pool as well as a host of other products. These include solar string lights white and multicoloured - to put around your garden. The shop also stocks solar covers/ panels for heating swimming pools, and keeping the pool clean could not be easier with the wide range of cleaning machines and materials available. 1 Stop Pool Shop has special vacuum heads and nets, skimmer socks, glass and sand changes for the filters, pumps and all cleaning chemicals for liner and fibreglass pools. Also stocked are chemicals, leaf blowers for the pool and much more… this month get two x 5kg tubs for only €35. The shop can be found on the Longos courtyard on the Lorca to Baza road at km 73.4.

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Opening hours are from 9.30am to 2pm, Monday to Saturday. Diane and Frank at the shop have seven years experience in the sector so they have the knowledge to guide

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Frank’s mobile 637 582 696, or send them an email: info@alboxspain.com. As Frank said: “We are always available to give you any kind of advice you need. We hope you all have a very good summer and enjoy your pools.”

Advertising Feature

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the perfect solution for keeping those bugs and mosquitos away from your interior or exterior spaces. An innovative new product for 2014 is a pool safety fencing system that provides safety for children and pets and is fully removable when not required. Prices start at just €49 per linear metre fully installed. Awnings, sun shades and toldos in many colours and designs can be supplied and installed to provide shade from the sun, effective protection from wind or even privacy. A wide range of Floplast guttering and drainage solutions are stocked for supply and installation or DIY, you can avoid damp problems and conserve water. GLASS CURTAINS: Usable outside space. POOL SAFETY: Fencing. A wide range of roofing systems are also available glass, polycarbonate, insulated tile effect or even fully retractable roof systems that can be opened manually or with

a simple press of a button. Lifestyle Enclosures are the areas’ leader in fixed or fully retractable insect screening - doors and windows, terraces and balconies, they can offer

Give Lifestyle Enclosures a call on 950 459 060 or 638 063 196 to arrange a no obligation visit or call in to the showroom on the El Real Poligono, Antas to see their wide range of products available.

Calle El Garcel 11, Pol.Ind.El Real, Antas, 04628 Almeria • Tel 950 459 060 http://www.lifestyle-enclosures.com/ Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/LifestyleEnclosuresEurope

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Thursday

Friday

SATELLITE CHANNELS - SkyMoviesAction//

BBC1/

BBC1/

4:30pm The Hairy Bikers' Best of British 5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm MasterChef 10:00pm Parking Mad 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Life and Death Row

4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm The Hairy Bikers' Best of British 5:45pm Flog It! 6:45pm Pointless 7:30pm BBC News at Six 7:45pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm MasterChef 10:00pm Have I Got News for You 10:30pm Outnumbered 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:15pm BBC London News 11:25pm The Graham Norton Show

BBC2/ 4:15pm Planet Earth 5:15pm Coast 6:15pm Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Escape to the Continent 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm Digby Jones: The New Troubleshooter 10:00pm Protecting Our Parents 11:00pm Happy Birthday BBC Two 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/ 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Ade at Sea 10:00pm The Walton Sextuplets at 30 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Mercury Rising

CH4/ 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Fifteen to One 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm Lent Diaries 9:00pm Posh Pawn 10:00pm 15,000 Kids and Counting 11:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown

ITV2/ 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of Miami 6:35pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:30pm Dinner Date 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Tom Daley Goes Global 11:00pm Celebrity Juice 11:50pm Dads

BBC2/ 4:35pm Coast 5:35pm Becoming Jane 7:30pm Escape to the Continent 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Gardeners' World 10:00pm Natural World 11:00pm The Trip to Italy 11:30pm QI

ITV/ 6:35pm The Chase 7:30pm ITV News London 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davis 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Lewis 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:15pm The Bourne Supremacy

CH4/ 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Fifteen to One 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:30pm Unreported World 8:55pm Lent Diaries 9:00pm Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 10:00pm Gogglebox 11:00pm Alan Carr: Chatty Man

ITV2/ 4:50pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:00pm You've Been Framed! 6:35pm Ice Age: The Meltdown 8:15pm Johnny English 10:00pm Knocked Up

TV LISTING

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9:25am Sunday

•Daniel Craig •Judi Dench •Javier Bardem •Ralph Fiennes •Naomie Harris

Saturday BBC1/ 6:15pm Shrek Forever After 7:40pm BBC News 7:50pm Regional News 7:55pm Weather 8:00pm Pointless 8:50pm The National Lottery: In It to Win It 9:40pm Casualty 10:30pm The Guess List 11:10pm BBC News 11:25pm Weather 11:30pm Match of the Day

BBC2/ 6:45pm Easter From Kings 2014 8:00pm Snooker 9:00pm University Challenge 10:00pm University Challenge 10:30pm Messiah at the Foundling Hospital 11:30pm Pop Goes BBC Two

ITV/ 6:35pm Local News and Weather 6:45pm ITV News and Weather 7:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm Britain's Got Talent 9:20pm Amazing Greys 10:20pm Law and Order: UK 11:15pm The Americans

CH4/ 5:40pm Come Dine with Me 6:10pm Come Dine with Me 6:45pm Come Dine with Me 7:15pm Come Dine with Me 7:45pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm Lent Diaries 8:05pm Grand Designs 9:05pm Hostages 10:00pm Taken 11:50pm The Stone Roses: Made of Stone

ITV2/ 4:30pm The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 5:30pm FYI Daily 5:35pm The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 6:50pm Dungeons and Dragons 7:50pm FYI Daily 7:55pm Dungeons and Dragons 9:20pm Britain's Got More Talent 10:20pm You've Been Framed! 11:00pm Celebrity Juice

BBC1/

Skyfall (Film, 2012) Veteran MI6 agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) is off the map. After dropping seemingly to his death on a failed mission, his presumed demise leaves the job of boss M (Judi Dench) on the line. Back in London, her tenure is scrutinised further when a bomb decimates the MI6 building, forcing their operation underground. Chillingly eloquent villain Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) claims responsibility, before holding M to ransom with stolen top-secret information.

Sunday BBC1/ 5:30pm Escape to the Country 6:00pm Lifeline 6:10pm Songs of Praise 6:45pm Pointless 7:35pm BBC News 7:50pm Regional News 7:55pm Weather 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Antiques Roadshow 10:00pm The Crimson Field 11:00pm BBC News 11:15pm Regional News 11:20pm Weather 11:25pm Match of the Day 2

BBC2/ 7:00pm Davis v Taylor: The '85 Black Ball Final 8:00pm Morecambe and Wise in Pieces 9:00pm 50 Golden Years of Sport on BBC2 10:00pm All About TWO 11:40pm Making of Qi

ITV/ 4:55pm A View to a Kill 7:20pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 7:45pm Catchphrase 8:30pm Off Their Rockers 9:00pm Endeavour 11:00pm Perspectives

CH4/ 4:00pm How I Met Your Mother 4:30pm The Simpsons 5:00pm The Simpsons 5:30pm Deal or No Deal 6:35pm Channel 4 News 7:05pm Lent Diaries 7:10pm Hop 9:00pm For the Love of Cars 10:00pm Fargo 11:30pm Heat

ITV2/ 4:15pm FYI Daily 4:20pm Despicable Me 5:15pm Britain's Got Talent 6:30pm Britain's Got More Talent 7:30pm The Lost World 8:30pm FYI Daily 8:35pm The Lost World 10:00pm Quantum of Solace 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pm Quantum of Solace

Tuesday

Monday BBC1/ 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:15pm Regional News 7:25pm Weather 7:30pm The One Show 8:00pm 24 Hours on Earth 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Miranda 10:00pm Jamaica Inn 11:00pm BBC News 11:15pm Regional News 11:18pm Weather 11:20pm Have I Got a Bit More News for You

BBC2/ 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Escape to the Continent 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm Restaurant Wars: The Battle for Manchester 10:00pm Inside Amazon: Business Boomers 11:00pm Rev 11:30pm All About TWO

ITV/ 6:35pm The Chase 7:30pm Local News and Weather 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm I Never Knew That About Britain 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This

CH4/ 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:30pm Shop Secrets: Tricks of the Trade 9:00pm Food Unwrapped Easter Special 10:00pm One Born Every Minute 11:00pm Lee Mack Live

ITV2/ 7:30pm FYI Daily 7:35pm Valiant 8:05pm Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium 9:05pm FYI Daily 9:10pm Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium 10:00pm Shaun of the Dead 11:00pm FYI Daily

4:30pm Spring Kitchen with Tom Kerridge 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Jamaica Inn 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm Regional News 11:35pm Weather 11:40pm Life and Death Row

BBC2/ 6:55pm Party Political Broadcast by the Conservative Party 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Escape to the Continent 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm The Big Allotment Challenge 10:00pm Watermen: A Dirty Business 11:00pm Later Live with Jools 11:30pm Newsnight

Wednesday BBC1/ 4:30pm Spring Kitchen with Tom Kerridge 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm MasterChef 10:00pm Jamaica Inn 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather 11:35pm A Question of Sport

BBC2/ 6:55pm Party Political Broadcast by UKIP 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Escape to the Continent 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm Under Offer: Estate Agents on the Job 10:00pm Ian Hislop's Olden Days 11:00pm Happy Birthday BBC Two 11:30pm Newsnight

ITV/

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm UEFA Champions League 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm UEFA Champions League: Extra Time

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Big Star's Little Star 10:00pm Law and Order: UK 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans

CH4/

CH4/

ITV/

4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Fifteen to One 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Embarrassing Bodies 10:00pm New Worlds 11:15pm The Man with the 10-Stone Testicles

ITV2/ 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of Miami 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm The Vampire Diaries 11:00pm Celebrity Juice 11:50pm Hostage

4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Fifteen to One 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Secret Eaters 10:00pm How to Get a Council House 11:00pm Derek 11:30pm Game Face

ITV2/ 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of Miami 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Through the Keyhole 11:00pm The Sweetest Thing

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www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

A bunch of overgrown schoolboys W

HEN are people going to get it into their heads that most MPs are nothing more than a bunch of immature, overgrown, mainly public, schoolboys? Their antics in the Commons are a continuation of their behaviour in the ‘old school’ debating societies. Likewise, a number of them still retain the sexual practices that are nurtured in the all-boystogether environments they were educated in. It’s the reason former Speaker Betty Boothroyd could keep order far more easily than that Bercow person. Many of them love a dominant woman, a throwback to the nanny and house mistress fantasies of yore. I’ve seen a few of them in action. I remember one wildeyed member approaching me at one of Diana Dors’s more dubious ‘gatherings’ clad in a pair of Y-fronts and a string vest, begging me to take over in the

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT IMMATURE: MPs’ antics in the House of Commons. bedroom as he simply ‘couldn't cope’. I was also acquainted with the boyfriend of the late Lord Boothby who, for services rendered, the Kray twins had ensconced in a Bayswater flat for his lordship to enjoy whenever he felt the urge. I was present when another prominent ‘bowler hat’ was caned for being a ‘naughty boy’. I lost respect for a number of our politicians many years ago. Of course, what, I hear you asking, was I doing in those environments? Ah ha, well I’m afraid you’ll have to read the book for that. (Part Three out this summer - plug plug). The

frightening thing is that our futures are in the hands of these people. Let’s hope that there are enough ‘straights’ in the House to run our country like adults. I know it’s against most popular opinion, but I am beginning to think that Oscar Pistorius’s version of events on that tragic night could possibly be true. He’s obviously an obnoxious, gun-happy young

man, but I feel his story has a ring of truth to it. I know one thing I’m glad it’s not me facing the ‘bull terrier’ prosecutor Nel. Whoever he thought was behind the door when he started blasting away was posing no threat at the time. Therefore, the best he can hope for would be culpable homicide. Nevertheless, it’s a fascinating case and one that has, in the

light of the danger and gun culture that exists out there, made me grateful that I didn’t go through with my intention to emigrate to South Africa in the mid-70s! And that’s about it. Good luck to my little David in his Karate championships this week. Keep the faith Love Leapy Leapylee2002@gmail.com

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CROSSWORDS

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Time Out EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREAK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

Almería weather

NEW ON DVD MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

for next 7 days

The Wolf of Wall Street The Wolf of Wall Street is a black comedy, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland, based on the book of the same name. It tells the story of a stockbroker who runs a company that is involved in securities fraud.

TODAY

VELEZ RUBIO

TOMORROW HUERCAL OVERA

ALBOX

VELEZ RUBIO GARRUCHA ALBOX MOJACAR

ALMERIA

HUERCAL OVERA

RETAMAR GARRUCHA

Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film has won a Golden Globe. It runs to 180 minutes and is rated 18.

ADRA

ROQUETAS

MOJACAR ALMERIA RETAMAR ADRA

project is irksome. A new start that seemed so promising seems to be going off course. A real injection of time and effort will make all the difference, however.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Being unusually uncertain of yourself this week could throw confusion into your ordered life. There is a partnership problem to be sorted out. Let some time pass so that someone close can get the message without feeling pressured.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) You are holding a good hand. Deal with the right people and the rewards are high. There is potential for being cheated out of something that is morally yours, so it may be necessary to be 'difficult' or 'awkward' to get what you deserve.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Some loss of control over a

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Being a brave and forthright soul,

5-Star Quiz

BY GEORGE Next Wednesday, April 23, is the feast day of St George, the patron saint of England, so this week’s quiz is all about famous English people named George 1. Born in Manor Park, London in 1945, which darts player/presenter is widely recognised as one of the game’s biggest personalities, known for his flamboyant entrances in which he makes his way to the stage bedecked in jewellery, wearing a crown and cloak and holding a candelabra to the sound of Queen’s We Are the Champions? 2. Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou is the real name of which English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer? 3. The films Trouble Brewing (1939), Turned Out Nice Again (1941) and Much Too Shy (1942) all starred which British actor, singer-songwriter and comedian, born in Wigan in May 1904? 4. What are either of Prince George of Cambridge’s other two first names? 5. What is singer-songwriter Boy George’s real surname?

FLICKR BY JRC8806N

April 18: Nuria Fergo. Singer/Actress. Born in Nerja, Malaga, this Spanish singer first came to fame in the popular ‘Operacion Triunfo 2001.’ She has taken part in several TV programmes, sold over half a million records, given over 300 concerts and released five albums; she debuted on the music market in 2002 with Brisa de Esperanza.

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it is easy this week to dispel the negative thoughts of others. A relationship that makes you hesitate could be of great benefit to you. There is little to lose by 'going for it'. The outcome could be beyond your dreams, something that you have not had many of lately. SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Hidden forces are working away in the background. These give good and bad influences but life will not be dull this week. Sometimes you wish others would leave you alone more. SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Petty arguments should be

TODAY:

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Let others whinge if they will. Being determined to get your own way, they will stand little chance. Recent disagreements have left a sour taste. In the best of worlds, things will not always go your way. Life would be boring if that were the case.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday April 12

Saturday April 12

Saturday April 12

Friday April 11

26

31

47

14

13 19

4

6

12

22

29

36

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

32

3

33

Mon - 23 14 C Tues - 22 13 C Wed - 21 13 Cl

8

12 30

33

11

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Benidorm Fri Sat Sun -

Madrid

23 14 S 23 13 C 21 13 Sh

CLEAR 22 12 S 21 13 Cl 20 13 C S Sun,

CLEAR

MAX 27C, MIN 12C

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 21 12 C Tues - 21 12 C Wed - 21 13 Sh

MAX MIN

26 11 Cl 25 10 C 19 9 Sh

Mon - 19 8 Sh Tues - 19 7 Sh Wed - 19 7 Sh

Murcia MAX 21C, MIN 11C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 21 16 Cl Tues - 20 16 C Wed - 19 16 Cl

21 16 Cl 21 16 Cl 21 16 C

TODAY:

MAX 22C, MIN 14C

Mallorca TODAY:

CLEAR MAX 21C, MIN 16C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 18 13 Sh Tues - 18 13 Sh Wed - 18 13 Sh

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 22 14 S Tues - 21 14 Cl Wed - 21 15 Cl

24 17 S 24 16 C 22 15 S

TODAY:

Malaga

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 21 13 Cl Tues - 20 13 Sh Wed - 19 13 Sh Cl Clear,

SUNNY MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun Fog,

Sn Snow,

MAX 28C, MIN 13C MAX MIN

31 14 S 29 15 Cl 27 14 C

Mon - 26 14 C Tues - 24 14 C Wed - 24 13 C

C Cloud,

Sh Showers,

Th Thunder

Nonagram How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case C) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

TARGET:

Average: 16

Very good: 29

Good: 20

Excellent: 36

aced, acme, acne, acre, arco, came, cane, card, care, coda, code, coma, come, cone, cord, core, corm, corn, cram, cran, cred, dace, deco, mace, marc, narc, once, orca, race, acorn, acred, arced, cadre, cameo, caned, caner, canoe, cared, carom, cedar, coder, comer, comma, coned, cored, crane, cream, credo, crone, dance, decor, macer, macro, nacre, narco, ocean, raced, recon, candor, canoed, carmen, cornea, corned, craned, dancer, deacon, macron, caromed, command, commend, comrade, crammed, romance, romanced, COMMANDER

4

13

19

22

24

27

REINTEGRO 1

5

PAID

Sunday April 13

Saturday April 12

19

LUCKY STARS 4

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX 17C, MIN 13C

18 13 S 18 13 C 17 13 Sh

SUNNY

MAX 24C, MIN 17C

MAX MIN

Word Ladder

LOTTERY 12

MAX MIN

23 14 S 22 15 Cl 23 14 C

CLEAR

SUNNY

TODAY:

Barcelona TODAY:

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Avoiding a decision will not help this week. Who will deal with this matter but you? A relationship is threatened if you do not make a move. Will loved ones always be there for us no matter how much we neglect them? Why take such a chance?

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Awkward situations usually bring out the best in you and this week proves that. In the longer term, you will be grateful to those making things difficult now.

9

Fri Sat Sun -

forgotten. More important things are afoot. Have you heard about fiddling while Rome burns? This may be you at the moment. Avoid wasting time with certain individuals and projects.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

22

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) In your heart of hearts you know what you want out of life. It is a little timidity of spirit that is now stopping you. I know that recent experiences have sapped your confidence, but I have a message for you.

Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.

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Almeria

SUNNY MAX 22C, MIN 13C

MAX MIN

Sudoku

4

Alicante TODAY:

19

23 37

Move from the start word (PAID) to the end word (BACK) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.

33 53

REINTEGRO 8

BACK

BANK BACK

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Outside influences and pressures make it hard to concentrate. However, finances in particular need attention, so do not be distracted by others trying to put a finger into your 'pie'. Do not be concerned about making changes in your social life.

Your Stars

IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: Taureans can be elusive and even slippery customers. Making use of the element of surprise serves you well. Keeping rivals guessing puts you well ahead of the game in many respects.

PAID SAID SAND BAND

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Be determined not to be intimidated by someone who thinks that they are superior. Decide who you will take advice (or orders) from and stick to it. You are not the person that you were in the past and others need to realise it.

ROQUETAS

1. BOBBY GEORGE, 2. GEORGE MICHAEL, 3. GEORGE FORMBY, 4. ALEXANDER LOUIS, 5. O’DOWD

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CROSSWORDS

Crosswords

17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

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For more information about the sponsor go to www.lineadirecta.com

Cryptic

Quick

Across 7 Understand in depth (6) 8 A Brie I made from the peninsula (6) 9 Dust off a form of poker (4) 10 Hurry preparation for set point (4,2,2) 11 Locks vessel in trees (7) 13 Disc about a period behind bars (5) 15 A Southern state is to test metal (5) 17 Afterwards a learner gets in the side (7) 20 Claret is drunk at these concerts (8) 21 The prime minister went round the queen for a hairdo (4) 22 King discovered echo in ravine (6) 23 A British way found in other places (6) Down 1 Possibly strafe more quickly (6) 2 Some reach a delightful place in Africa (4) 3 Sam is back in the shed very drunk (7) 4 Homes for Queens or the workers (5)

5 Drank demon ale in confusion and found out it was non alcoholic (8) 6 Restricted in E-fit version (6) 12 Someone from Barcelona and Paris, maybe (8) 14 Cover laurel for cable winder (7) 16 Given directions to garden in the

country (6) 18 I brag about revolutionary car safety device (3,3) 19 Horses from the farm are saddled (5) 21 Left some reports (4)

Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 9 represents B and 7 represents Z, so fill in B every time the figure 9 appears and Z every time the figure 7 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Consul, 4 Serial, 7 Discharge, 9 Suet, 10 Asia, 11 Relic, 13 Slogan, 14 Choice, 15 Search, 17 Treats, 19 Hague, 20 Open, 22 Hear, 23 Sapphires, 24 Edison, 25 Snares. Down: 1 Crisis, 2 Suit, 3 Lichen, 4 Static, 5 Riga, 6 Legate, 7 Decorates, 8 Estimates, 11 Ranch, 12 Chore, 15 Snooze, 16 Harp on, 17 Tunics, 18 Stress, 21 Nags, 22 Hera. QUICK Across: 1 Scald, 3 Debut, 7 Academy, 9 Shawl, 10 Audio, 11 Confess, 12 Summer, 14 Fakers, 18 Eminent, 20 Occur, 22 Extra, 23 Luggage, 24 Needs, 25 Clean. Down: 1 Scarabs, 2 Award, 3 Dry ice, 4 Basin, 5 Trapeze, 6 Calls, 8 Erode, 13 Moisten, 15 Among, 16 Surgeon, 17 Stalls, 18 Eject, 19 Evade, 21 Chase.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Flaco, 4 Leave, 7 Margarita, 8 Tal, 10 Dad, 15 Enamorado, 17 Ridge, 18 Ahora. Down: 1 Face, 2 Arm, 3 Otro, 4 Lead, 5 Amiga, 6 Edad, 9 Ataud, 11 Beer, 12 Bone, 13 Baya, 14 Cura, 16 Oro.

English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across 1 Avestruces (9) 8 Hedgehog (5) 9 Used (second-hand) (5) 11 Cup (vessel, amount) (4) 12 Almost (4) 14 Amanecer (4) 16 Each (4) 19 Toalla (5) 21 Free (at liberty) (5) 22 Sirloin steak (9) Down 2 Espinillas (5) 3 Raíz (de planta) (4) 4 Cross (sign, decoration) (4) 5 That (f) (3) 6 Rescue (7) 7 Más joven (7) 10 Triste (persona) (3) 13 Hielo (3) 15 Tree (5) 17 Something (4) 18 There (4) 20 Quién (interrogativo) (3)

Hexagram The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter words into the 19 cells. The letters at the edges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. The word in cell 10 (EITHER) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues. BLOUSE

PRISON

BUBBLE

REPENT

EITHER (10)

RETAIN

ESTATE

ROTUND

GROUSE

SOURCE

GRUNTS

SPLASH

GUESTS

STRIDE

LEADEN

STRIPE

MANGER

TABLET

NURSED

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Funagram Unscramble the name of a famous 19th century German composer: REWARD CHAGRIN FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: SHOOTING STARS, RICHARD WAGNER

Unscramble the name of a famous television comedy panel game (two words): GHOST ARSONIST

Across 1 Extreme (6) 4 Frighten (5) 8 Songbirds (5) 9 Rich and superior in quality (7) 10 Garments (7) 11 Heavenly body (4) 12 See 18 14 List of choices (4) 15 Deficiency (4) 18/12 Defraud (3,3) 21 Dutch cheese (4) 23 Pungent gas (NH3) (7) 25 Of great consequence (7) 26 Sound of any kind (5) 27 Sugary (5) 28 Appealing to the emotions as well as the eye (6) Down 1 Choose (6) 2 Long-winded (7) 3 Busy travel period (4,4) 4 Avoid deliberately (4) 5 Accomplished (5) 6 Complete (6) 7 Body part (5) 13 Large wading bird (8) 16 Place limits on (7) 17 Against (6) 19 Brief halt (5) 20 In the recent past (6) 22 Accord (5) 24 Water vessel (4)

1 Rumour, 2 Closed, 3 Course, 4 Packed, 5 Motors, 6 Clothe, 7 Pamper, 8 Stitch, 9 Aflame, 10 Poised, 11 Theirs, 12 Advice, 13 Trails, 14 Factor, 15 Novels, 16 Raised, 17 Action, 18 Desire, 19 Banner

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

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ealth & beauty H TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EWNLIFESTYLE.COM

Tips to eat yourself slimmer this summer

THE weather is warmer and summer is just around the corner. In a bid to stay trim, try these somewhat surprising slimming methods: Eat with the wrong hand. A lot of people eat out of habit, but by breaking that habit, such as eating with the ‘wrong’ hand can lower the amount of food you eat according to researchers from the University of Southern California (USA). Chew on chillies. A study of 78 people in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluding that chewing chillies or taking supplements containing a key substance in chili, dihydrocapsiate (DHC), can aid weight loss as DHC can raise the body’s metabolism rate and burn more fat.

HANDY: Eating with the other hand helps to lose weight. Make a fist. Clenching your fists for 30 seconds can halt temptation when you have a food craving,

reported the Journal of Consumer Research in 2011. An apple a day. Or more specifically apple peel, as the peel contains an acid which increases muscle and the levels of brown fat which helps the body to burn calories. Dessert for breakfast. Researchers from the Tel Aviv University (Israel) concluded from a study of dieters that those who ate a sweet dessert at breakfast lost more weight over eight months than those on the same calories who had a smaller, lowcarb breakfast. This is believed to be because the metabolism is the most active in the morning and you have longer to work off the calories.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

CHECK: Early detection saves lives.

Testicular cancer seen in young men

TESTICULAR cancer is the most common solid tumour in men between 15 and 35 years. As a result, the Spanish Association of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer (AAA) has launched a campaign to promote early diagnosis within this target age group. Coinciding with the recent World Health Day, the AAA has introduced a campaign using direct language aimed at raising awareness among adolescents and young people

about the importance of overcoming any embarrassment to seek medical checks and advice. President of the AAA, Rocio Nogueroles, said that these campaigns “are key to providing visibility amongst adolescents and young people and their families to this problem. The taboo on cancer worsens the prognosis and survival rate, early detection significantly improves the diagnosis.” A regular routine to selfcheck is advised.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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FOOD & DRINK

& DRINK

ood F

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Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local sport

Almería’s best guide to local restaurants

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The best of Spanish beers SPAIN is better known for its wines but they also produce some excellent beers, here are some of the best of the local amber nectars. Damm Inedit - This beer was created in conjunction with Ferran Adria (of El Bulli fame) and is made with cilantro in the hop mix as well as some orange peel and liquorice. Proof: 4.8º. Price: €3.90 for a 75cl bottle. Alhambra 1925 - This beverage has a distinctive caramel taste followed by a slightly bitter, refreshing aftertaste. Proof: 6.8º. Price: €1 for a 33cl bottle. Mahou cinco estrellas - A real classic and especially refreshing; it has a light acidity and a taste of toasted hops. Proof: 5.5º. Price: €2.70 for a 25cl six-pack. San Miguel 1516 - Spain’s best known brewing house has a

BEER: Not such a simple choice. range of offers, but this one is the top with a fresh, bitter taste. Proof: 4.2º. Price: €0.80 for a 33cl bottle. Cruz Campo Gran Reserva 1904 - This draft is made from 100 per

cent best quality malt. It has an intense and balanced taste with a pleasantly bitter aftertaste. Proof; 6.4º. Price: €1 for a 33cl bottle. So now you know what to order next time you go to the bar.

FOOD & DRINK

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17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de AlmerĂ­a

Carrefour brings out in-store shopping app SHOPPING in an unfamiliar supermarket, when you don’t know the layout, can be a real problem but now supermarket giant Carrefour has brought out an app to help shoppers find the food they are looking for in their shops. C-ou is the name of the app brought out by Carrefour, available for iOS and Android, which will help shoppers find their way around the supermarkets without having to walk down every aisle, examining every single shelf until they finally find what they want. All the app needs is the name, either by brand or generic, of the product being looked for and then it shows a map of the supermarket with a red dot where the product in question is located. Apart from guiding them around the shop the app also informs shoppers of any special promotions and will suggest

C-OU: A shopping app that will find everything for you in Carrefour. recipes based on the ingredients in their baskets. At the moment it is only

available in France but, hopefully will spread out to their franchises soon.

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FOOD & DRINK

Important bubbles in Champagne and cava THESE most festive of drinks wouldn’t be the same without their characteristic bubbles. The bubbles in Champagne and cava form because they go through two fermentation BUBBLY: Should have a life of it’s own.

The best in the world EVERYBODY likes to eat out but some restaurants are truly outlandish and serve imaginative food, some of the best are: El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain. Not just the best in Spain, but voted best in the world 2013. It serves traditional Catalan food with a modern, twist. Quique Dacosta in Denia, Spain. It serves ‘avant garde’ cuisine featuring molecular gastronomy. Azurmendi in Larrabetzu, Spain, serves traditional Basque food with a twist.

processes, the first to change the grape juice into wine and the second to change the wine into Champagne or cava. It is this second fermentation, with yeasts and sugars, which produces an abundance of CO2 which can let out up to 30 bubbles per second. The University of Reims, in France, did a study on the importance of bubbles in Champagne and cava and concluded they were essential not only for the look of the drink but also for the sensation on the tongue; there should be a lot of them, they should not be too big and should have a life of their own!

FOOD & DRINK

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17 - 23 April 2014 / Costa de Almería

Fast and healthy cooking ALTHOUGH we spend less and less time cooking and pay less and less attention to what we eat, paradoxically we are more and more worried about looking after our health, but a lack of time is not incompatible with eating good, healthy meals. Store-bought fast food, usually for the microwave, tends to rely on fats, sugars and salt to tempt our palate but these are bad for the body and high in calories - the same food can be made at home more cheaply and without the added fats etc. Obviously some ingredients take longer to cook than others so with a little organising and planning, the job can get done in a shorter space of time. If one day is set aside to spend a little more time in the kitchen, then we can cook really quickly for the rest of the week; par boiling vegetables and then freezing them is a good way to lessen time in the kitchen, planned meals are always faster than ‘inspirational’ cooking (it is always a good idea to have a meal plan when shopping). There are also many products which are not ‘fast food,’ but are nearly ready to eat and healthy tinned and frozen fish and vegetables, for instance, don’t have the added sugars, fats or salts. Just remember not to sacrifice your health for the sake of an extra five minutes in the kitchen.

PORRA ANTEQUERANA: Similar to gazpacho but thicker.

Andalucia offers varied cuisine ANDALUCIA offers a wide range of delicious and varied foods, although there is a difference between what is eaten on the coast and the interior they are both heavily linked by olive oil, here is a virtual taste trip around a few provinces of the community. Salmorejo is a form of very thick gazpacho which is typical of Cordoba, as are ‘flamenquines’ which are delicious little rolls of deepfried, breaded ham and cheese. Malaga offers the taste tourist the ‘porra Antequerana’ which is similar to salmorejo but served with Serrano ham and boiled eggs; this province also has a tradition of bitter olives and the excellent ‘arroz caldoso’ which is like paella, but creamier. Granada has the tasty ‘habas fritas con jamon’ which is baby beans fried in olive oil with Serrano

ham or the ‘olla de San Anton’ which is a stew, traditionally made after the slaughter of a pig, which is beans and pork but with a deliciously spicy twist.

For tuna lovers Cadiz is the place to go as they offer an exquisite red tuna - very coveted in the Japanese market - simply fried in olive oil.

Honoro Vera: value wine THE Gil family has brought out another wine with a great price/quality ratio; Honoro Vera. It is the perfect wine for lovers of the ‘garnacha’ grape as it is made 100 per cent from this strain. Bodegas Ateca, in Zaragoza, have only been going for six years but already have an excellent reputation for modern, expressive wines. Behind the winery is an old name in the form of the Gil Vera family that have been in the wine business for generations; backing up the ‘new yet old’ theme is vineyard manager, Australian, Michael Kyberd, who brings with him new world wine wisdom.

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ALFOQUIA & ZURGENA

Age support Almanzora

ALFOQUIA & ZURGENA

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Happy 4th birthday to C.A.T.S Services LAST Friday C.A.T.S Services celebrated their 4th Anniversary of trading in La Alfoquia. They had a day of quiet celebration with customers and a striking cake supplied by a local cake company which looked too good to eat. Karen stresses that the strength of her business is from her community centre approach underpinned by her friendly and professional team. She is grateful to her

GRATEFUL: Karen celebrated quietly with customers. customers for their continued support and is continuing to grow the

business with the latest additions of Catz boutique and Crafty Cats.

Zurgena council angry about A-1101 THERE is no visibility or hard-shoulder on the main road which connects several towns in the area. Zurgena Council have petitioned the Department of Development of the Junta to improve the state of the A-1101 from Redia del Almanzora to La Alfoquia. Several neighbours have complained

about the situation citing the lack of visibility or a hard-shoulder as the biggest problems. Luis Diaz, Mayor of Zurgena, has asked for “urgent action” to be taken so that people who have to use the road are in less danger; the petition also includes a request for the road to be lit at night.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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Guido ‘The Assassin’ Antonucci won after forcing a submission.

Guido a step closer GUIDO ANTONUCCI, the founder of The Asylum MMA Almanzora mixed martial arts club in Arboleas, took another step closer in his bid to fight for the BFC (Benaltor Fighter Championship) welterweight belt later this year. Antonucci and three other club members fought in the Benator 4 (BFC 4) show in Torremolinos on March 29. The club fielded four fighters resulting in two victories and two losses.

Thirty-seven-year-old Guido ‘The Assassin’ Antonucci won after forcing a submission from the Almeria favourite Oscar Tirado in the first round. Antonucci remains undefeated and is yet to be taken past the first round. Two more successful fights will lead up to Antonucci competing for the welterweight belt in December. For more information contact their Facebook page at www.facebook. com/AlboxMMA.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Don’t panic! THE impending demise of support and maintenance by Microsoft for Windows XP is the hot topic of the week. What are the implications? How is the security of your computer likely to be affected? Do you have to, as insisted upon by Microsoft, either upgrade (pay through the nose for something that you never actually own) to their flagship Window 8.1, stick with upgrading to Windows 7 or stay as you are? Here are a few points that you might want to consider: Crackers are generally ‘thrill seekers’ wanting to beat the latest and greatest. Do you have anything that someone might spend days cracking your system for? Will your Antivirus and Malware programs, your third party programs (Firefox, Thunderbird, gimp, etc) also stop working after the final date? The short answer is NO! They will

Trevor Spencer Computers continue to be supported by the authors for some time to come (I have found programs for my windows 98 machine STILL out there on the internet!). My choice is NOT to upgrade! I hope that this helps to allay the worries that you might have had about the imminent demise of XP support. As always I will be at Jack’s Bar, Albox, from noon until about 4pm for my regular Friday computer clinic. Advice and diagnosis are always free. Call me on 689 892 745 for information about my services and rates.

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OPINION & COMMENT

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Illegal immigration and nationalism Peter Fieldman London-born journalist and author, Peter spends his time between Paris and Madrid. His novel ‘1066 The Conquest’ available on Amazon or www.1066TheConquest.com

www.pfieldman.blogspot.com

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MMIGRATION and nationalism are likely to be the major issues which will determine this year’s European elections. The controversy over the fences in Ceuta and Melilla, the tragedies in Lampedusa, the case of the ‘Kosovan’ family in France, and the rise of rightwing political groups, has caused panic in the parliaments of Western Europe and the European Union. But why has it taken so long for Europe’s political leaders to wake up to a crisis which has been on a slowburning fuse for so long? Immigration to Western Europe has been based on two factors: the need for manpower to maintain economic growth, and humanitarian reasons refugees and asylum seekers. However, as the European Union increased membership and removed its frontiers and the world became smaller due to ease of travel, advances in communications and globalisation, more people saw the advantages of living in the richer Western European nations. The growing economic wealth of several African countries should have brought more equality, but corruption, exploitation and conflicts have failed to improve the lives of millions of sub Saharan Africans. The Arab Spring was supposed to bring democracy in North Africa. Instead it has brought ethnic and sectarian violence and chaos. The conflicts in Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Sudan and Syria have added to the millions seeking refuge or escaping poverty; people whose one aim is to reach the shores of Western Europe. Illegal immigration, fuelled by people traffickers, has been

increasing for years but Europe’s governments have ignored the problem. The result is that parts of Western European towns and cities have become ethnic ghettos with an increase in crime, delinquency, prostitution, drug dealing, mendacity, sham marriages and benefit fraud. Europe’s Muslim population has found it difficult to integrate fully into western society. It has led to a disillusioned youth without roots, a minority of whom have turned to radical Islam, joined Al Qaeda and engaged in terrorist acts. By trying to impose their customs and laws in the West, Muslims are seen as a threat to social cohesion and our national identity.

The Roma, who are facing discrimination in France, have not been picked on by chance. They have a sad record of setting up illegal campsites, engaging in criminal activities, begging and causing havoc among tourists. Should any country ‘export’ its citizens to another country which then has to take on the burden of looking after families without resources who too often fail to respect the law?

FLYING THE FLAG: Nationality is what binds citizens together. And has anybody considered the long-term economic consequences for the poorer nations when much of their youth leaves? For years Spain and Italy have been in the front line of the influx of boat people from North Africa. The reaction of Italian premier, Enrico Letta, to grant Italian nationality to those who died seems a poorly-placed gesture. In the same way that stepping foot on European soil should not grant some divine right to resident status,

nationality is not a charitable gift to hand out, nor a prize to a foreign mother giving birth to a child, nor should it be considered as a reward for kicking a football around or being able to run fast. It comes from blood, roots, families, culture, language and education. Nationality is what binds citizens together. That is why the United Nations, the Olympic Games and World Cup exist, flying the flag and

Immigration has been based on two factors: the need for manpower, and humanitarian reasons

POORLY-PAID: Romanian and Bulgarian workers are flooding into Western Europe. pumping out national anthems. It is why we have governments and monarchies and above all a legal system. National identity is not about racism or xenophobia. Loyalty to one’s country is drummed into every citizen at birth and nationality should not be treated lightly. But nationality and residency

are being abused. And this is what concerns the silent majority. Instead of a coordinated immigration policy, each EU member state, as well as the European Union, has been making its own rules. The result is chaos. Governments do not seem to have considered the consequences of handing out passports, or allowing foreign residents to vote, while massive illegal immigration, which defies the laws of the country, risks destroying the fabric of our societies. By granting a legal or illegal immigrant resident status, it gives them the right to live anywhere in the European Union, with or without the agreement of other member states. Granting foreigners the right to vote can result in communities with substantial immigrant communities winning local elections and changing the laws to suit their own cultural or religious interests. Six years after the beginning of the economic crisis, while the bankers continue to increase their earnings, Europe’s governments are still cutting back on education, health and public services while increasing taxes. The Western European states are rightly concerned about poorly-paid Romanian and Bulgarian workers flooding into Western Europe, keeping wages low at a time when more than 20 million people are without work, and millions of European families face the loss of their homes and are sinking into poverty through debt. If they wish to remain in power, the main political parties had better take into account the wishes and aspirations of the vast majority of the people whose tolerance has reached breaking point. They are simply saying enough is enough. © peterfieldman

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omes&gardens

HOMES & GARDENS

H Take care when choosing trees SPONSORED BY

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner By Dick Handscombe Spain’s best known expat gardening author about to start his 26th winter cut back.

IT was great to meet and chat with a good number of EWN readers at the recent Homes Gardens and Lifestyle Show in Calpe. One of the questions frequently raised was the planting and care of trees particularly in exposed windy situations. Trees are important ingredients of gardens for their: • Provision of shade

from summer suns • Provision of shelter from winds especially in the winter • Ability with careful pruning to block out the view of surrounding houses • Provision of beautiful displays of blossom, and • Provision of fresh ripe seasonal fruit and nuts. Our bestselling book Your garden in Spain – From planning to planting and maintenance, describes some 46 evergreen and flowering trees and in particular indicates their relative drought and

Trees can be stylish and beneficial for your garden. frost resistances. In addition the book Growing healthy fruits in Spain describes over 50 fruit and nut trees that can be grown in Spain in appropriate microclimates. So with careful choice trees can be planted from the coastal plain to the top of high inland mountains. But care needs to be taken in the choice of the age and size of trees, their planting and initial care. When buying trees recognise that trees direct from the nursery fields with their full root ball covered in earth or dry rooted wil be easier to establish than trees in small pots with trimmed root balls as sold in

GET DUG IN: Be careful with your choice of trees. many garden centres. In general, short trees of one to two metres with good root balls relative to their heights

will be easier to establish in gardens than trees of four to six or more metres with trimmed root balls in small pots relative to their heights. It is important to recognise that trees rely on a good head of leaves to establish the sap flow from roots to leaves to achieve healthy growth. With evergreen trees this is possible all year round, but with deciduous trees, which lose their leaves from autumn to spring, this is only possible from spring to autumn. At this point it is important to look at what is known about the sap flows in plants. Moisture minerals and nutrients flow within plants in three ways. 1. From root tips upwards through plants by osmotic pressure

differences between the cells. This works well on low growing plants but is not a strong enough upward flow for tall shrubs and trees. 2. By capillary action through the conical shaped capillary tubes within outer xylem conduits from root ball of plant to top leaf crown driven by effect of evaporation of moisture from leaves which stimulates movement of moisture/sap. Damage from insect and fungal attacks can interrupt this upward flow and cause trees to die back or become stunted. In mature trees this transportation only occurs in the outer light coloured layers of cells immediately under the bark. The inner darker and harder woody cells create the strength of the tree but do not transfer moisture and minerals etc, essential to further growth. So short trees with a wide leaf crown will be easier to establish than tall trees with just a few leaves and a severely trimmed root ball in a small pot. 3. Transportation of nutrients formed in leaves, including chlorophyll, formed by solar stimulated reactions via phloem cells that thread through the plant structure. Naturally the taller the tree planted and the smaller the root ball, the greater the need for a strong support post and guy ropes.

© Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain. com April 2014.

PROPERTY

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roperty P

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SUPER location, super apartment and super views. Very close to the beach, Perla del Mar is a secure and gated community making it ideal for family holidays. This ground floor apartment has a lovely large terrace with direct access to the communal swimming pool and with sea views. The property comprises: utility patio housing the boiler and washing machine, entrance hallway, well fitted and equipped kitchen with half archway to a spacious living room, master bedroom with built in wardrobes and en suite shower room, guest bedroom with built in wardrobes and guest bathroom with full bathroom suite. The property benefits

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IDEAL: Apartment is perfect for family holidays.

SEA VIEWS: The gated community also has a communal swimming pool. from an underground parking space and air conditioning throughout. This is a very nice property with a light, bright and airy feel. Excellent rental potential!

To make an appointment to view this property, or to look at our extensive portfolio, call in to our office on the Paseo del Mediterraneo 171. If you are looking to sell

your property call us now for a free, no obligation, valuation. We look forward to hearing from you. www.pricebrown.com sales@pricebrown.com

SPACIOUS: Living/dining area.

Luxury housing To buy or to rent, what is best prices stop falling option for you at this time? THE luxury housing market in Spain could be nearing the end of its price fall at least according to the data released by Lucas Fox, one of the biggest estate agencies in luxury housing. Data collected by their offices indicates that the market may be beginning to recover after its 30 to 40 per cent drop since 2007. The rise in sales of luxury housing, which made 2013 the best of the nine year recession, reflects an optimism and confidence from buyers not seen since the beginning of the crisis. The market has benefited from the government’s decision to allow non-EU members to gain legal residency in Spain if they purchase a property worth more than €500,000. This law has translated into greater sales to the Far and Middle East communities and Russians. The areas that have seen the best improvements are Marbella, Mallorca and Ibiza, among others.

THE British mentality has always leant towards buying but in these times of housing crisis the better option may be to rent. At one time renting was considered similar to throwing money away but with the latest conditions to get a mortgage in Spain, between 20 and 40 per cent of the total purchase price must be given as a deposit, it makes more and more sense. Current thinking is that if you want to be in a central, residential zone then it’s better to rent but if you want to be out in the countryside then buying is

the best option. Renting has many benefits for the tenant including no worries about any household repairs such as the washing machine breaking or the walls needing a coat of paint. Also the money saved on the down payment can be put to other uses, there is no feeling of being stuck -just a month’s notice and the property goes back to its owner. IN TOWN: Renting is best, but in the countryside, buying is best option.

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The geriatric check-up CARING for an older cat is directed at preventing premature aging, minimising physical and emotional stress, and meeting the special needs of the elderly. Cats older than seven should have a complete veterinary examination at least once a year - often twice a year is preferred. If the health of the cat is questionable, she should be seen by a veterinarian more often. If symptoms appear, she should be seen at once. The annual geriatric check-up should include a physical examination, complete blood count, blood chemistries, stool exam, and urinalysis. Depending on the results, special liver and kidney function tests, a chest X-ray, and an electrocardiogram may also

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be needed. Some veterinary clinics include checking blood pressure as part of the geriatric exam for cats. Thyroid hormone levels, such as T4, are also important in older cats. Kidney disease is relatively common in older cats easy to be checked for protein leakage. This test may pick up kidney failure very early on so you can take steps to slow its progression. Routine dental care, including scaling the teeth, may be needed more frequently than once a year.

Owners needed for dogs and kittens COCO was abandoned in Turre. A one year old pointer/brown lab mix. She is fully house-trained, used to the car, with a fantastic nature she is very loving, stays by your side when walking, a real sweetie. Very well-behaved but she is not chipped and was abandoned with her pups (now all homed).

For all do g treats p lease call: 971 887 0 07 / 634 1 52 813

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AGING CATS: Important checks. If you see any of the following signs, take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible. • Loss of appetite or weight • Coughing, shortness of breath, or rapid, laboured breathing • Weakness or difficultly moving about • Increased thirst and/or frequency of urination • Change in bowel

function with constipation or diarrhoea • Bloody or purulent discharge from a body opening • An increase in temperature, pulse, or breathing rate • A growth or lump anywhere on the body • Any unexplained change in behaviour.

For your local radio frequency log onto www.talkradioeurope.com

ABANDONED: Four kittens. Four gorgeous kittens are also needing homes, they were found abandoned in a bin, they are about 3-4 weeks old and healthy. Two male, two female, sure to be good mousers/companions/entertainers! If you can offer a home to Coco or the kittens please ring APSA 663 762 642 or see more cats and dogs

for homing on http://www.apsa.org.es/

COCO: Fully house-trained.

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ZUMBA in Mojacar with Alison … Tuesday 9.30am at The New Kimrick and Thursday 9.30am at Jovasport gym… For more info call Alison 666 273 168 (93402) AVON COSMETICS. Tel Claire 691 987 454 avonfrom claire@yahoo.es (223379)

HEATING CARLOS SALIENTE PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES. If it involves water we can help ! w w w. c a r l o s s a l i e n t e . c o m Tel.950 930 900 or 968 969 962 (223307)

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SMALL Fishing Boat for sale, 2m x 1m, blue and white, excellent condition €190. 635 113 172 (220576)

HAIRDRESSERS MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 309 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)

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WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)

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WE BUY, Sell, remove all types of mobile homes. We pay CASH and cover all of Spain. More details call Suzi Caley 616 250 727 / 951 063 059 or email suzicaley@gmail.com (215521)

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INTERPAWS: 20 years’ licensed pet transportation. Competitive rates. Difficult dog? Effective behavioural training in your home. www.interpaws.com, janette@interpaws.com 689 742 289 (218076) SPECIALIST Pet Transport (DEFRA & TRACE). Fixed price €200 per cat or dog (England only) plus €50 Wales and Scotland. Find me on Facebook EDDY PETS (223479)

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PROPERTY FOR SALE FARMHOUSE with plot for sale, close to beach and village. Las Negras. 635 652 975. www.alquilereslasne gras.com (223244)

PROPERTY TO LET MOJACAR BEACH furnished flat to rent for almost a song. Short or long term. 2 bed + 2 baths. Tel 0049 271 3757320 or ferass@freenet.de (220620) FURNISHED apartment to let. Antas village centre. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. No stairs. Close to all amenities, shops etc. €295 + bills per month. 622 013 187 (220586)

PROPERTY WANTED SMALL space urgently wanted around Albox to rent for picture frame workshop. Call 633 364 329 (222751)

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REMOVALS AND STORAGE EUROPEAN removals and transport with scheduled UK routes. UK Company, fully legal, taking loads from 5kg to 24,000kg. Lowest prices and the best service. 952 816 582 or www.fo cus-transport.com

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CAR TRANSPORTER. Call for excellent rates, fully insured, professional service. 951 319 320, email move@freinterna tional.com / www.focus-trans port.com (215605)

2ND HAND FURNITURE

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SWIMMING POOLS GENECO Pool construction. Tel 950 478 086 for no obligation quote (93401)

TILING FLOOR AND WALL TILING SPECIALIST Not a jack of all trades, just a master of one! Call Steve Holman on 697 678 708 (223491)

TRANSLATION INTERPRETER/TRANSLATOR. Hospital, Health Centres, Police, Guardia Civil, Town Hall, Notary, Huercal Overa, Vera & Surrounds. Good Rates. Call Monica on 652 123 607

VETS CENTRO Veterinario ABC La Alfoquia. Traditional veterinary medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, open Mon-Fri 10-2, plus emergency cover Tel 617 516 115 / 950 449 064

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Car giant Bentley goes green with the innovative Hybrid Concept LUXURY car maker Bentley is going green. It is about to unveil its Hybrid Concept - a technology showcase that previews Bentley’s first plug-in hybrid model, set to be a dedicated version of the all-new SUV available in 2017. The Bentley Hybrid Concept will be on display at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on Sunday. As the first luxury brand to present a plug-in hybrid, Bentley leads the way in bringing new powertrain choice to the luxury automotive sector, said Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors. He added: “There is no doubt that plug-in hybrid technology is true to Bentley’s values of outstanding luxury and effortless performance. “Combining our renowned engines with electric power reinforces and enhances both

STYLISH: More ecofriendly Bentley.

principles, and so we will gradually introduce this powertrain across our model range. “By the end of the decade, at least 90 per cent of our production will be available as a

plug-in hybrid. We are proud to be pioneering these developments in the luxury sector.”

Through Bentley’s hybrid system, customers will have a wider choice of modern, powerful and efficient

powertrains. The plug-in hybrid system will offer a power increase of up to 25 per cent together with a 70 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. Bentley hybrids will also be capable of driving at least 50km on electric power alone, allowing for emissions-free city driving with the option of enhanced performance on the open road. The Bentley Hybrid Concept is based on the flagship model in the Bentley family, the Mulsanne. The Bentley Hybrid Concept is joined on the new Bentley show stand in Beijing by three other members of the road-car family. The new Flying Spur V8 makes its Chinese debut, as a new member of the Flying Spur family capable of over 500 miles on a tank of fuel. The new and enhanced 206 mph (331 km/h) Continental GT Speed - the fastest production Bentley ever, with 635 PS and 820 Nm of torque - also makes its Far East debut, along with the new Continental GT V8 S.

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EWN

Toyota announces vehicle recalls amid fears of airbag safety issues

OYOTA has recalled nearly 30,000 cars in Spain for safety modifications covering three issues affecting some RAV4, Hilux, Yaris and Urban Cruiser models. The recalls affect a total 28,957 Spanish registered cars. Worldwide, there have been no reports of any accidents or injuries relating to these issues. Toyota is conducting the recalls as a precaution. Toyota has identified a possible issue affecting the spiral cable assembly in the airbag module fitted to some RAV4 and Hilux models. Due to the shape and location of a retainer for the Flexible Flat Cable in the airbag unit, there may be a risk when the steering wheel is turned of damage to certain circuits that provide connectivity to the airbag. If connectivity is lost, the airbag warning light will illuminate on the instrument panel and the driver’s airbag may be deactivated. The vehicles subject to this recall are RAV4 and Hilux models manufactured between June 2004 and December 2010.

RECALL: RAV4 and Hilux models. All the vehicles affected by this issue are being recalled so that an improved spiral cable can be fitted. The installation will take about one hour to complete; the work will be carried out free of charge. Toyota has found that the spring in the mechanism that locks the driver and, in

three-door cars, the front passenger seats in position on the seat adjustment rail may be under-strength and could break, should the seats be frequently moved back and forward. Should the spring break, the seat may not lock into its adjusted position, and could move in the event of a crash.

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The vehicles affected were built between January 2005 and August 2010. All the vehicles affected by this issue are being recalled for inspection of the springs and, where required, replacement with new ones. The job will take between 40 and 90 minutes per seat. Toyota is aware that the weld which connects the steering column bracket to the instrument panel on some Yaris and Urban Cruiser models might break when the steering wheel is repeatedly turned with full force. The driver may hear an abnormal noise from the bracket area and if the vehicle continues to be driven, it is possible that the bracket will fail, causing the steering column to tilt out of position. The vehicles subject to this recall are second generation Yaris with tilt/telescopic steering wheel adjustment and Urban Cruiser models built within the period September 2005 to February 2009.

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Telefonica gets connected with world’s leading electric car maker TELEFONICA has announced an agreement with Tesla, the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, to LEADING THE WAY: The award-winning Model S.

RE-PLATE MATE Don’t take a chance! Don’t break the law! Take the hassle out of re-registering your vehicle onto Spanish plates We endeavour to better any genuine quotation 490 Euro + Road Tax + CO2 emission tax if applicable

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provide Machine-ToMachine or ‘M2M’ connectivity for the Tesla Model S in Europe. Telefonica and its M2M World Alliance partners will provide connectivity for Model S across multiple countries in Europe, including in Germany and the United Kingdom on Telefonica’s O2 network, in Spain on Movistar, and in the Netherlands on KPN. Telefonica’s global M2M solution - powered by Jasper - will enable connectivity for Tesla’s industry-leading, in-car infotainment telematics including navigation, online music, internet browsing, and remote vehicle diagnostics that relay information about the car’s safety, security and performance to the driver and Tesla service in real time. The Tesla Model S, an award winning five-door sedan, was launched in 2012, with deliveries beginning in Europe in 2013. Its state-of-the-art features include remote driver support and a connected infotainment control centre. The 17-inch touchscreen puts rich content at the fingertips of drivers

and passengers alike, seamlessly integrating media, navigation, communications, cabin controls and vehicle data. The agreement establishes Telefonica as Tesla’s largest European connectivity partner, and is supported by KPN in the Netherlands and Belgium as part of the M2M World Alliance, simplifying Tesla’s deployment of connected cars. Telefonica’s services offer flexible and reliable connectivity solutions for Model S customers across Europe. José Luis Gamo, CEO at Telefonica Multi-national Solutions, said: “As we accelerate our transformation into a digital telco we see lots of opportunities to empower consumers. Connected cars that provide drivers with more information and a better and safer driving experience is a perfect example of this. Tesla is one of the world’s most forward thinking businesses. We share their passion for innovation and are thrilled to be working with them to deliver a superb in-car experience to Tesla drivers across Europe.”

SPORT

Windy Macenas day for Badgers BADGERS Golf Society visited Macenas Golf on Wednesday which turned out to be a windy day for golf. The winner with 36 points, was Lynn Sefton. Alan Thomas was second with 33, followed by Tony Rowbottom in third with 32. Nearest the Pins went to Lynn Sefton, Mike Daily and Alan Thomas who had two. There was ony one Two for the day, going to Danny Caton. Roger Whitehead won Saturday’s competition with 32 points. Badgers Golf Society plays every Wednesday at varying area courses and each Saturday at Macenas for their weekly roll-up. Forthcoming fixtures are: Wednesday, April 16 at Marina; Wednesday, April 23 at Macenas; Wednesday, April 30 at Valle de Este; Wednesday, May 7 at Macenas; Wednesday, May 14 at Marina; Wednesday, May 21 at Macenas; and Thursday, May 29 at Aguillon. Guests are welcome to join the society on both Wednesday and Saturday competitions. Book in either at Badgers Restaurant on Mojacar Playa or by phone on 950 478 525 / 686 038 259. Fixtures can be found on www.badgersmojacar.com.

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Three-horse PL race hots up as Marc and Bubba win in USA Tony Matthews

International Sports A former football player and the world’s most prolific author of football books (more than 100 published), Tony is also the sports reporter for Spectrum Radio and lives in the Cabrera mountains.

Costa de Almeria

THE key Pemiership matches over the three-day Easter holiday are ChelseaSunderland, Manchester City-WBA, EvertonManchester United and Norwich-Liverpool, while last night Barcelona played Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey Cup final in Valencia. The F1 drivers, crews and cars are in China this weekend for the Shanghai Grand Prix, the Aviva Rugby Union Premiership continues with Saracens (76 points) aiming to extend their lead at the top over Northampton (66) and Leicester (63). FOOTBALL - This year’s FA Cup final (on May 17) will feature Arsenal against Hull City. Last weekend the Gunners ‘scraped’ through on 4-2 penalties against the 2013 winners Wigan Athletic while Steve Bruce’s Hull beat plucky Sheffield United 5-3. In the two-legged Champions League semifinals (to be played on April 22 and 29) Atletico Madrid yet to win the trophy - will play Chelsea, chasing a third final in seven years, and Bayern Munich will meet Real Madrid. It could be an all-Spanish final;

DID YOU KNOW?

Another win

* Norwich City striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel has not scored a PL goal for 21 hours 55 minutes!

MOTOGP Reigning champion Marc Marquez of Spain won the second MotoGP of 2014 in Austin, Texas. Dani Pedrosa was second and Andrea Dovizioso third.

even a repeat of the 2012 Chelsea-Bayern final. In the Europa League semi-finals, it’s Sevilla v Valencia and Benfica v Juventus. The first legs take place on April 24, with the return fixtures a week later. Last weekend’s ‘big’ Premiership game saw leaders Liverpool, who had Jordan Henderson sent-off late on, edge third-placed Manchester City 3-2 at Anfield. Chelsea, second, two points behind the Reds, pipped 10-man Swansea 1-0. At the bottom there were vital wins for Fulham, Cardiff (at Southampton for the first time in 50 years) and Crystal Palace while WBA, 3-0 up, had to settle for a point v Spurs. In the championship, Burnley are one win away from joining Leicester in the PL. Derby, QPR, Wigan, Reading, Brighton, Ipswich

and Blackburn are chasing play-offs places. Congratulations to FL1 champions Wolves whose 2-0 win at Crewe set a new points record (93) and clinched promotion at the first attempt. Scunthorpe (76 points), Rochdale (75) and Chesterfield (74) are fighting it out at the top of FL2. Rangers were once again stunned in a knockout competition - beaten by Dundee United in the Scottish Cup semi-final. In the other ‘semi’ St Johnstone beat Aberdeen 2-1. The final takes place on May 17. Luton Town will return to the FL this weekend if they beat Welling on Sunday. And here in Spain, Barcelona (3rd) lost again (1-0 at Granada) while Atletico Madrid (2-0 v. Getafe) and Real Madrid (40 winners over relegationthreatened Almeria) are

19th Hole Golf Society Medal TWENTY-FOUR players arrived at Aguilon on Thursday for 19th Hole’s first round of golf (a Medal Round) on the newly configured course. Peter Easthope easily won the Medal with 71 despite forgetting to change into his golf shoes and teeing off in his beach shoes! Peter Dow had an inspired round recording a 74 to take second place

just pipping Paco Ocaña who scored a 75. In the Ladies Medal, Nekana Galindez scored 75 to take the medal, whilst Christine Dow was second with 79. Brian (Dee) Lowden and Peter Easthope had Two’s (3rd and 17th, respectively). Nearest the Pins went to Gary

Grey (5th), Nick Pogson (12th), and Peter Easthope (17th). The 19th Hole is now arranging weekly games at various area courses in the area. Home course is Aguilon, played fortnightly. To join the 19th hole, ring the secretary on 610 340 653, or email gs19thhole@hotmail.co.uk.

now first and second in La Liga. Ex-Middlesbrough goalkeeper Rolando Ugolini who played with Wilf Mannion in the 1950s, has died in Edinburgh, aged 89 and former Arsenal ‘keeper Bob Wilson has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. And just to let you know, the World Cup kicks off in Brazil in two months time. GOLF - The first major of the season - the US Masters in Augusta - was won for the second time in three years by American Bubba Watson; the bestplaced Brit was Lee

Westwood (7th) while the top Spaniard raider was Miguel Angel Jimenez (4th). CYCLING - Sir Dave Brailsford has quit as performance director of British Cycling to concentrate on running Team Sky. The 50-year-old led Team GB to eight gold medals at both the Beijing and London Olympics and has transformed the sport during his 10-year reign. Shane Sutton takes over his role while Andy Harrison has been named performance director. ATHLETICS - Mo Farah finished eighth in his first London Marathon last Sunday which was won by Wilson Kipsang in a record time of 2.04.27… Edna Kiplagat took the women’s prize and Marcel Huq won the wheelchair event (ahead of David Weir).

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Sir Dave Brailsford Moving to run Team Sky. Turn to Page 87 TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

The history of the FIFA World Cup : Argentina in 1978 By Tony Matthews THE 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the competition, was held in Argentina between June 1 and 25… and to the delight of millions the host country came out as winners, beating Holland 3-1 in the final after extra time before almost 77,000 ecstatic fans inside the national stadium in Buenos Aires.

One hundred countries initially entered the competition but only 16 made it through to the final stages after qualification. England, for the second time running, failed to get to make it to Argentina. As it was in 1974, the top two countries from each of four groups went through to the quarter-final stage. There were: Italy and Argentina (Group 1),

Poland and West Germany (Group 2), Austria and Brazil (Group 3) and Peru and Holland (Group 4). Again the last eight were split into two mini leagues of four, the winners of which met in the final. And it was unbeaten Argentina (who whipped Peru 6-0 on the way) and the Dutch who came through. The tournament’s top scorer with six goals, Mario Kempes and midfielder Ossie Ardiles (soon to join Spurs) were the stars of the final as the Argies powered home in extra-time.

* Next: 1982 in Spain… and joy for Italy.

MARINA PHOENIX: The winners of the Thursday competition.

Some high scores MARINA Phoenix played an individual stableford on Monday, April 7 where Tony King belied his 80 years to score a matchwinning 42 points. In perfect weather and great course conditions, scoring was high with a threeway tie for the places which were decided on countback. Terry Oliver (38) was second, followed by Jim Budd (38) in third. The ladies’ division was won by Linda King (35) with Jackie Dale in second (33) and Rosalie Fardon in third (30).

There were Two’s prizes for Glennys Oliver, Linda King and Tony Cordingley. Thursday’s team game was a Texas Scramble played in threeballs. Scoring was close between all teams with first prize going to Jarlath Staunton, Ali Mahmud and Alf Taylor with 65.4. Marina Phoenix play Mondays (individual) and Thursdays (team game). To join for a €25 green fee, ring Jim on 950 162 727 / 600 353 670 or Rosalie 950 397 117 / 697 512 882.