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ISSUE NO. 1506

Parking scam solution GANDIA Town Hall is to introduce permits allowing public administration and town hall employees to park in ‘loading and unloading’ bays. The current document is too easily forged, sources have said.

Not here A GAS pipeline will endanger vines and olive groves and destroy irrigation channels, said growers in Monovar, Elche and Algueña. They have asked the regional government to consider a different route.

Finishing off BAD bank Sareb which absorbed nationalised banks’ toxic assets, will finish 281 partially-built Costa Blanca properties. They were abandoned when the developers were overwhelmed by the economic crisis.

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Undersea gas storage to blame for earthquakes THERE is a ‘direct link’ between more than 450 earthquakes registered in September 2013, and the injection of gas into an undersea gas storage facility in the Gulf of Valencia. The National Geographic Institute (IGN) into seismic activity in the area confirmed that over that period there were more than 450 earthquakes in the Gulf of Valencia, the strongest registering 4.2 degrees on the Richter Scale. This area is not normally known for seismic activity, and between 1920 and 2013 had only registered 203 tremors, the strongest 3.3 degrees. Although they did not cause any damage, calls were received by alarmed

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EWN FRONT EXTRA

15 - 21 MAY 2014

local residents who felt 15 of the tremors. Environmental groups have blamed the earthquakes on the injection of gas into the storage

facility, a depleted oil reservoir off the coast of Vinaros, operated by Castor, 1.7 kilometres under the Mediterranean Sea, near a fault line.

In October, the government had to agree, and this has now been confirmed by the IGN, which said that seismic impact studies for the

plant were inadequate. The IGN study also reveals a previously unidentified fault line which was not taken into account. The injection of gas, it says, has accelerated the seismotectonic process. Left-wing party Izquierda Unida has asked for the plant to be closed and for this not to cost money to citizens and users of gas. The Ministry for Industry has said that no decisions will be made on whether the storage facility will be reopened until they have conclusions from several international experts who are evaluating the IGN study. The storage facility was closed in 2013 for safety reasons.

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THIS WEEK IN

EWN News 1 - 34

Finance 35 - 40

Letters JAVEA HARBOUR: Wary reception for Generalit plans.

Troubled waters... JAVEA’S fishing community is uneasy about the Generalitat’s plans to revamp the harbour. “Members are uneasy,” said Moises Erades, president of Javea’s fishing guild. Earlier the town hall called an emergency session to discuss the implications of proposals for the harbour which, like all Spanish ports, is controlled by the regional government.

Broadly speaking the town hall is in favour of the Generalitat’s intention of optimising the port by creating extra moorings and installations to boost tourism. “But the port is not separate from the Duanes district and these proposals cannot be allowed to determine the neighbourhood’s way of life,” argued Javea mayor Jose Chulvi. It was important to

tackle the project from several angles to ensure that once finished, social harmony was maintained together with traditionally free facilities, he said. It was also vital for the Generalitat to respect the economically important fishing sector, Chulvi added. The last word went to Moises Erades: “We shall fight for every inch of our quay,” he declared.

Leapy Lee 55

Daily TV Thu 44 Sun 50 Fri 46 Mon 52 Sat 48 Tues 54 Wed 56

Time out 57 - 60

Classifieds 81 - 83

Sport 87 - 88

Hospital nasties found in parked lorry in Elche streets HOSPITAL waste has been left in an unguarded, unrefrigerated articulated lorry in Elche streets. The company contracted to dispose of this type of waste throughout the Valencian Community parked the vehicle unattended on at least six occasions between November 2013 and last March. In Elche it was seen near a school and sports stadium, complained the “No a la contaminacion” platform. The regional government’s Infrastructure, Transport and Environment department is now investigating the formal complaint from the group. The company concerned denied the allegations although the infraction was confirmed by Elche Town Hall and the Guardia Civil’s nature protection unit, Seprona. Elche’s Local Police inspected the vehicle on one occasion when it had been parked for two days. They found

containers labelled as Group III, indicating that they contained material used for patients with infectious diseases as well as hypodermic needles, scalpels, microbiology cultures and chemically-contaminated items. The company put in an exceptionally low bid for the contract, said the Plataforma, and cuts costs by waiting until the lorry is full before taking the waste for destruction. “If the waste is present in hospitals without endangering patients, what harm is there in leaving it in hermetic containers inside a locked lorry?” asked the company’s manager. The bid for the contract was low because it owned the Castellon site where the rubbish was dumped while its predecessor’s prices were inflated, he said. Nor did he doubt that the complaints originated with this company: “They follow our lorries,” he maintained.

NEWS Full house THIRTY-FIVE cruise ships with 75,281 passengers will visit Alicante in 2015, the cruise terminal concessionary has announced. Eventually this will increase to 70 ships and 150,000 passengers, the company revealed. Old school WORK on the 80 per cent finished Pere Maria Orts Institute in Benidorm came to a halt three years ago. Pupils work in prefabs and teachers fear exasperated parents will seek other schools.

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Eviction protest in Benidorm MORE than 150 members of the PAH anti-eviction group protested outside a Bankia branch in Benidorm. Members blocked the entrance to the branch in Carrer del Pont, just off the Plaza Triangular in the town centre. They chose Benidorm

because they knew that its high profile would attract attention, said a PAH spokesman. They wanted a different negotiator to liaise with the group. The present mediator was ‘unacceptable’, they claimed. Although he will not be

replaced, the bank agreed to advise the association of eviction decisions within 30 days. In the past they have taken months, hindering subsequent attempts to arrive at a solution that could avoid an eviction, the PAH explained later.

Late flowering THERE was a shortage of rose petals traditionally strewn on the streets during Valencia City’s Virgen de los Deamparados procession. Cloudy weather earlier this year has delayed the blooming period, growers said.

‘

ews watch

Neat and tidy

MORE than 15 volunteers cleared the El Pantano area in the Elda countryside of rubbish. All the refuse collected was later separated and classified for recycling.

BLOOD donations dropped in December but rose over Easter and the May holiday, the Valencian Community Transfusions Centre has said. Current reserves are sufficient for four days, the centre said.

Student aid ALFAZ DEL PI has allocated €45,000 for 2013/2014 grants. Of this €30,000 will be equally divided amongst 133 university students and €15,000 is destined for 432 students not at university.

Picked over SAN VICENTE vandals are looting abandoned industrial units which closed during the economic crisis. They are also held responsible for a fire at an empty Ronda Oeste depot.

Switched on CALPE Town Hall will install street lights in Calle Corbeta. Residents have complained about lack of illumination after developers remodelling the street failed to install cables.

Donors needed

COLLABORATION: An important aspect of family life.

Forest fire APPROXIMATELY 8,000 square metres of crops and woodland were destroyed by fire near the Beniarres reservoir. Investigators suspect it was caused by a bonfire of prunings, leaves and refuse.

Burning issue JIJONA is opposing an industrial incinerator planned for the landfill site there. The regional government “takes arbitrary decisions” on incinerators without taking any kind of criteria into account, the mayor said.

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Bugbears

Happy families... TODAY (Thursday) is the International Day of Families, set up by the United Nations in 1992. The day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. An important part of family life is collaborating together towards a common goal and in Spain children could be legally obliged to do housework under a new draft law. Outside the home and school, children and adolescents should ‘respect themselves, the people they interact with and the surroundings in which they live’ and more specifically, ‘respect the environment and help towards its conservation’. The law also refers to children and adolescents respecting the ‘dignity, integrity and intimacy of everyone they relate to, independently of their age, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, disability, physical

Quote of the Week I prefer not to comment, but if you sow winds you reap storms,’ PSdeG-PSOE Councillor of Vilagarcia de Arousa, Pontevedra, Susana Camiño, on her Facebook wall, regarding the death of PP President of Leon, Isabel Carrasco. She was ordered to resign immediately.

or social characteristics, appurtenance to certain social groups or any other personal or social circumstance’. It also refers to them conserving and making good use of public and private resources, facilities and equipment, urban furnishings and any other infrastructures they might use. If the Child Protection law is passed, children under 18 will be legally obliged to do household chores ‘in accordance with their age and regardless of their gender’, as well as participate in family life and respect their parents, siblings and other relatives. The draft law doesn’t set out penalties for children who fail to fulfil these requirements, but it also specifies that children would have to ‘respect school rules’, ‘study as required’ and ‘maintain a positive attitude about learning’. Also at school, the law would oblige them to ‘respect their teachers and other staff, as well as their fellow students’.

Number of the week

1,611

pregnant women gathered in Plaza de Callao in Madrid to break the world record of the largest group of pregnant women in one city, a title which was previously held by Barcelona, where 1,189 people gathered last year.

GROWERS in Alicante Province already threatened by lack of rain must now contend with plagues of insects and particularly greenfly. Almonds and vines are at grave risk, they said.

Minority choice EXACTLY 1,121 of Gandia’s 78,543 population voted to decide their preferred project for the Ahuir beach development. They chose a 10,000-capacity complex with three campsites, swimming pools and two spas.

Factory death A LORRY-DRIVER was killed and two people injured at an Alcoy factory while loading a 2.5-ton piece of machinery. It fell from a crane, instantly killing the 54-year-old driver.

And finally... THE Taliban have announced that they will target Afghan interpreters and translators who have worked with the international troops, including the Spanish, in attacks as part of what they say will be a ‘key year’ to get rid of the ‘infidel invaders’ from their country.

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Natural gas pipeline shock for Calpe man CALPE resident Juan Jose Ferrer has been ill for the last three years. The 60-year-old had no time to visit a property he owns in the Cometa district until a neighbour warned him that the pipeline bringing natural gas to the area had reached his land. Furthermore, Ferrer learnt, a plant had been installed by Redexis Gas. “No-one said anything to me,” he told the local Spanish press. “I went along and saw that around 1,000 square metres was occupied,” he said. Ferrer’s name did not appear on the list of landowners affected by the installations, he found, as his property was erroneously classified as ‘owner unknown’. “But everybody knows me here and the Guardia Civil could have located me straight away,” he added. He would not have opposed having the pipeline on his line: “It’s good for Calpe and I accept it.” But he was appalled at the €5 per square metre that Redexis Gas offered in compensation for land occupied by the plant and €3 per square metre for the pipeline. He is asking for €30,000 and the matter is now in the hands of his lawyers.

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Slim margins for fruit THE Marina Baja’s nisperos are fetching low prices because they are smaller than usual owing to lack of rain. The area is experiencing its worst drought since 1893, statistics show.

PEDREGUER: The gardens at Finca Albarda.

Making the past a tourist attraction

INLAND Marina Alta towns are aware that their past is another tourist attraction. This is the case with the Valle del Pop and the Ses Valls de

Retrobament association, whose members include local institutions, town halls and businesses, in promoting its history. First to feature will be Finca

Remembering VE day A CEREMONY commemorating the end of the Second World War was held at Campello’s French Lycee school. The 69th anniversary memorial was organised by members of the French Ex-combatants Association resident in Spain. It was attended by the former headmistress of the Lycee, Catherine Bellus, President of the Union of French Ex-Combatants, Jean Michel Oranger, and representatives from the French, Belgian and Luxembourg consulates. Campello’s mayor Juan Jose Berenguer and Councillors Lourdes Llopis and Rafael Galvañ were also present. Pupils from Campello and Torrellano schools read speeches in memory of the fallen and left flowers at the entrance to the school.

Albarda in Pedreguer, the Museo del Vino in Jalon and Denia’s Ruta de la Pansa centring on the raisin industry. All are linked to early 17th century immigration when Mallorcan settlers repopulated the area following the final expulsion of the Moors. Their influence remains alive in the Valle del Pop where Mallorcan words are still used and the island’s customs and traditions endure. Pedreguer, Jalon and Denia are highlighted in three tourism routes announced recently by Angel Vives, the association’s president. The project was presented at Finca Albarda, whose gardens recreate those of the Valencian renaissance with native Mediterranean plants and trees.

Top boffins acknowledged THIRTY-FOUR scientists from Alicante and Elche universities are amongst the Spanish scientists included in the ISI Web of Knowledge database. The majority of them specialise in Chemistry, Physics, Neuroscience and Biology.

Problem-free parking CAMPELLO’S Els Furs car park will open at the weekend until June after which it will open daily throughout the summer. No charge will be made for parking, the town hall has confirmed.

Zara chain still interested in acquiring Cine Ideal building ALICANTE City Hall has confirmed that Inditex group is still interested in buying the iconic Cine Ideal.

It has been closed since 2003 and since then none of the enquiries from potential buyers have borne fruit. Every project has fallen through, including plans to convert the cinema, which opened in 1923, into a dental clinic. The clothing group, whose labels include Zara, Zara Home and Massimo Dutti, has not made a written request, clarified Town Planning Councillor Marta-Garcia Romeu. Inditex has so far expressed only verbal

interest in acquiring the listed Art Deco building, but did disclose that it would want to reopen it as a branch of Zara, she said. The group sounded out city hall some weeks ago, requesting information about Cine Ideal’s degree of protection involved and its possible uses, municipal sources revealed. Inditex was informed that the building could be used for commercial purposes and this is as far as the matter has advanced, they said.

NEWS

Barca match fills pot ELCHE Football Club expects takings of €1 million for the team’s match against Barcelona. For the first time this season the stadium was full and the club now expects to be able to settle its most pressing debts. Although the first team were paid in April, other employees and the youth teams are owed their March and April wages, club sources revealed. Despite bumper ticket sales for the goal-less draw against Barca, the 21 per cent IVA value added tax will reduce this to just under €800,000. Unlike the earlier Elche-Real Madrid match where nonmembers paid from €110 to €180 and season-ticket holders were charged between €30 and €60, prices were kept deliberately low. Those without season tickets paid between €55 and €100, while subscribers paid between €15 and €40.

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Rockslides prevented at Javea beaches by safety netting SAFETY nets at the Javea’s Granadella and Ambolo beaches have been examined and repaired. Maintaning the triple-

torsion wire netting that prevents rocks from falling to the beach has a €15,000 budget, the town hall announced. Specialists were

WISH GRANTED: (l to r) Stu McCall, Jody Kirby (Grant a Wish), Head of Year, mayor Miguel Bano, Head Teacher.

School books and charity beer BOOK-X-CHANGE and Grant a Wish presented 150 books in English to the local school in El Vergel. The school is trying very hard to improve its English curriculum and the books will be a great help, explained the school’s principal.

Stue McCall of Book-XChange was also one of the organisers of Benitachell’s Beer Festival, which raised €750 for local charities. It was very successful, he told the Euro Weekly News and plans are already being discussed for 2015.

recently working at the southern end of the Granadella beach, where the netting was installed 10 years ago. Inspection revealed that it had split in some places and was rusty in others owing to the passage of time and weathering. This netting was removed, repaired and reattached once more with stainless steel anchorings. A 300-square metre area of cliff face was repaired in all, as the local Environment department decided to extend maintenance as far as the second cove. The entrance to the Ambolo beach, where a different type of netting is needed to control larger rocks, was also inspected.

GRANADELLA: No safety nets for these experts. Fallen rocks were first removed from inside the netting before it was repaired where necessary. Despite these repairs the

beach, closed because of the danger of landslides, is not officially open to the public, the town hall said.

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Chinese staff kept prisoner in ‘filthy’ conditions THE owner of a Chinese restaurant in Denia and his manager face prison for people-trafficking. They are to stand trial in Alicante after 13 workers were found living above the Denia premises in unhygienic and unhealthy conditions. They were discovered by the National Police on the third floor without windows or ventilation, surrounded by ‘extreme

dirtiness.’ The space where the restaurant’s cooks and waiters lived was blocked by shelving that prevented them from opening the door from the inside. They were practically held prisoner, the Public Prosecution department claimed, and although they were paid they did not have work permits or contracts. Neither were they covered by

Social Security. Both men now face joint prison terms totalling 133 years on 13 counts of unlawful detention and one of endangering the workers’ safety. Two other Chinese nationals also stand trial in the same case for using residence permits belonging to two other people.

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Well-spent

BENITACHELL: Two mayors for a day.

Town hall takeover in Benitachell THERE was a temporary change of government at Benitachell’s Town Hall not long ago. For one day as the annual Fiestas de la Rosa drew to a close, Benitachell had two mayors: Eloi Buigues and Ana Maria Vidal. They were the Alcaldes de San Pancracio - St

Pancras to English speakers - whose feast day in May always falls during the fiestas. A usurping mayor has always been part of the fun, but the town broke with tradition this year by electing two. They were presented to the public on the town hall balcony, wielding their wooden staves of office.

A Finestrat celebration COSTA BLANCA towns, with their large European communities, all celebrated the recent Europe Day. This included Finestrat, where the British and Belgian consuls were invited to join the celebrations. The town has a registered population of 7,831, of whom 4,055 are from other European Union countries. It was a double celebration for Finestrat, however, as the town also celebrated the granting of its town charter in May 1280.

ALFAZ Town Hall rejected Opposition claims that it sold municipal land to balance its budget. The €1.6 million raised covered compulsory purchase payments when the Institute was built, it said.

Cover-up AN Alicante court acquitted two men of raiding a CAM branch in Orcheta at gunpoint. They wore balaclavas making it impossible for witnesses to identify them later, their defence claimed.

Hotel sellout IVANHOE CAMBRIDGE GROUP sold 18 European hotels to investment fund Apollo Management for €420 million. Alicante City’s Holiday Inn Express, located in front of OAMI, was amongst them.

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EWN

Ministry will spy on bank accounts

Leon PP leader shot dead

THE Spanish Government has revealed plans to collect data on all of the country’s 34 million bank accounts. The move, said to be a bid to crack down on money laundering and the funding of terrorist activity, has drawn widespread criticism. The government will be setting up an archive of data on the financial activity of all Spaniards and residents in Spain, according to national daily El País. Banks in Spain will have to supply details of all personal and business current accounts, savings accounts and fixed-term accounts they hold to the Secretary of State for the Economy. Allegedly, the Tax Office, the Military, the General Council of the Judiciary and the Secret Service will then be able to access this stored information. Spain’s politicians and highranking officials will also see their finances come under closer scrutiny. It is hoped that this will aid the country in tackling corruption. Supposedly, the account information will only be able to be accessed with a court order. Once this information has been requested, a number of officials including judges, prosecutors, police officers and intelligence agents will have access to the accounts, assets and deposit accounts included in this database. France and Germany have already adopted similar systems to combat corruption. The new rules are in line with the anti-money laundering recommendations of the 35-country Financial Action Task Force. Legal experts and consumer groups have voiced damning criticisms, questioning confidentiality laws and pointing out that tax-dodgers will just move all their financial assets abroad, to tax havens. An account into which a significant number of people make deposits will be regarded as ‘suspicious’. Transactions over €1,000 will be flagged if deemed suspicious, while all transactions over €30,000 can be checked. According to the rules, transfers of over €3,000 a month will also be checked. Spain’s Economy Ministry has two years to implement the project. Editor says... Page 34

THE president of Leon Provincial Government, Isabel Carrasco, 59, died on Monday, after being shot several times by a woman near her home. According to witnesses, Carrasco, who was also President of the Conservative Partido Popular (PP) in the province since 2004, was on a walkway over the Bernesga River when she was shot at least three times. National Police have arrested two women, a mother and daughter, aged 55 and 35, for their alleged involvement in the killing. Both women are members of the PP and police believe that they may have acted out of revenge since the younger woman lost her position in the provincial government. The women are the wife and daughter of the Police Chief in Astorga. The younger woman had recently learned that she had lost a lawsuit against the provincial government and had been sentenced to pay back amounts which she had been paid as a temporary worker. It is believed the shots were fired by her mother. Mayor of Leon Emilio Gutierrez expressed the city’s ‘pain and consternation’ over the death. All PP electoral activities which were planned on Monday were cancelled, as well as a meeting on Tuesday in Valladolid, which Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was due to attend. Instead he travelled to Leon to take part in a minute’s silence in honour of Carrasco. The opposition Socialist party PSOE sent their condolences and also suspended electoral activities, while their campaign coordinator, Oscar Lopez, travelled to Leon.

ON THE LOOKOUT: Guardia Civil will enforce the new laws.

Spain’s new traffic laws now in effect

ALL drivers in Spain are being advised to familiarise themselves with the new traffic laws which have now come into force. Some of the new laws include: If the Guardia Civil observe a motoring offence and note the vehicle registration number, this provides sufficient evidence to prosecute. There is no need to stop the vehicle. There will be a fine of €600 and a loss of six points for a ‘very serious’ speeding offence. There is a loss of six points and a fine of €500 for lesser speeding offences. Speeding fines can apply for exceeding the limit by just one kilometre per hour.

On some motorways the speed limit is being increased from 120kph to 130kph. However, in some towns the speed limit is being reduced from 30kph to 20kph. If a radar inhibitor/speed camera detector of any sort is installed in the car, the fine is anything up to €6,000 and the loss of six points. A fine of €1,800 will be levied if the car has been involved in a serious or very serious offence and the national police authority (DGP) is not notified of who was driving the car. There will be no loss of points for this. If the vehicle weighs less than 3,500 kilos and has no valid insurance the

fine will be €1,500; no loss of points but the vehicle will be immobilised for one month. If the vehicle is parked and has no insurance then the fine is €800. If the driver doubles the legal alcohol limit, is a frequent offender or refuses to take a breath test then there is a loss of six points and a fine of €1,000. There will also be a loss of four points for a driver who is over the alcohol limit but without doubling it. The same applies for driving under the influence of drugs. Strict rules are being implemented for the Spanish registration of foreign registered vehicles in Spain.

Assistant Producer Bob Gillies visited the area to research venues for the show, and was spotted in Benidorm. Gillies explained that Michelinmagnet Ramsay is on the lookout for different types of eateries, from restaurants to hotels and take-away kiosks. The only requirements are that the venues

WORLDSWILDLIFEWONDERS

UK CELEBRITY chef Gordon Ramsay and his team are heading to the Costa Blanca to search for contestants for the sixth series of hit TV show ‘Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares’. Producer Nicola Lloyd said: “This series will see Gordon travel to Europe’s holiday hotspots to help Britowned establishments.” Recently, the show’s

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Gordon Ramsay coming to Costa Blanca

NIGHTMARE: Ramsay on the way for new show. serve food, and are Brit-owned. The new series of the

show is due to start filming towards the end of May.

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Place-names that reveal Javea history AMICS del Museu de Xabia (AMUX) will discuss the origins of Javea place names on May 21. Javea, which covers a large area and has been continuously occupied since prehistoric times, has a wealth of interesting place names with equally interesting histories, AMUX said.

One example is the outlying district known as Forandons or Falondons and whose name derives from a farmstead that belonged to a Mudejar (a Moor who remained in Spain after the reConquest). His name was Ando and because there was and still is - a spring on the property it was known as La Font de Ando. Over time, this became Forandons. The talk in Spanish and English will be given by archaeologist Ximo Bolufer and linguist Toni Torregrosa, who is a specialist in regional place names, in the Museum’s Soler Blasco meeting room at 8pm.

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Swimming victim

BENISSA: A 19th century riurau.

Riusraus on the guide map

ALMOST two years after planning began, the Marina Alta’s Riusraus route is completed. The project was formally inaugurated in Jesus Pobre at a recent dinner attended by 12 Marina Alta mayors and the regional government’s directors general for Culture and Tourism. Before the Marina Alta cultivated citrus fruit and later turned to tourism, raisins were the area’s principal crop. Once picked, grapes were dried in a long three-

sided shed called a riurau to protect them from the sun and rain. Some were freestanding and others attached to the home of a grower or processor. Although unused, many still exist and Marina Alta town halls are promoting them as cultural assets with special emphasis on rural architecture, the agricultural landscape and local food. A written guide will give details and directions to all the riuraus that can be seen in the area.

A 60-YEAR-OLD swimmer in difficulties was rescued by Local Police officers in La Cala de Finestrat. By then very weak, he failed to respond to resuscitation and died shortly after.

Through-day PUPILS at Javea’s Graull and Vicente Tena primary schools will have a 9am2pm school day. Most parents approve, but it will be impossible to collect them at 2pm, some said.

Sporting read SPAIN’S Olympic Studies Academy presented a collection of books on Olympic themes to La Nucia’s public library. The town became an official Centre for Olympic Studies in January this year.

Late payments threaten local social programmes THE Generalitat regional government is five months in arrears with payments to Alfaz del Pi town hall. Valencia has only just given the order to transfer ‘dependencia’ payments for

the disabled as well the SEAFI service for families and children at risk, announced Alfaz’s mayor Vicente Arques. “Since 2007 the town hall attends the disabled not only in its own municipality but also those from Finestrat, Orcheta, Relleu and Sella,” Arques said. Late payment hindered putting into practice social programmes for the disabled and also engaging professionals to carry them out, he explained. LA NUCIA: The Bulgarian community celebrated. “By the end of the year the Generalitat will not have transferred all the corresponding budget allocation. In practice this is a double cut-back LA NUCIA’s Bulgarian community recently celebrated St for social policies and the George’s Day, one of their most important festivities. disabled.” The saint, who was born in Cappadocia in what is now He would nevertheless Turkey, is as revered in Bulgaria as he is in England - or do everything within his Alcoy - and more than 60 people took part in the power to ensure that the celebrations at La Nucia’s Fuente de la Favara. ‘dependendia’ and SEAFI The ‘Los Balcanicos’ group performed dances to wel- service could continue, come the spring and there were typical lamb-based dishes. Arques pledged.

St George’s celebrations and a spring welcome

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Breathless AIR pollution in Alicante City is at an average of 11 microgrammes per cubic metre and Elche 12, instead of the World Health Organisation’s recommended 10.

Break-up REGIONAL PRESIDENT Alberto Fabra and his wife Cristina Fontanet have announced they are divorcing.

Slow coach THE Mediterranean Corridor rail link is unlikely to reach Alicante Province in 2016 as planned. Remodelling sections in Castellon and Tarragona was causing delays, the Ministry of Public Works admitted.

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Fire precautions start early FIRE-WATCHING will start six weeks early in Denia this year.

The blaze, which destroyed 40 hectares of Montgo woodland, has put the town

hall on its guard, now that rainstarved vegetation and trees are as dry now as they

Tips for trouble-free holidays PETTY theft represented 80 per cent of crimes reported in Alicante Province last year. Tourists are favoured targets, police confirmed during a meeting with the UK consul Paul Rodwell and representatives from the hotel and tourist industries. The National Police prevention team passed on some simple tips that tourists should follow. Visitors should avoid the ‘triles’, groups who trick tourists with rigged street games, they said, and give a wide berth to people with petitions or collecting for phony charities. They are often looking for opportunities to steal from them, so be wary, police warned. Mobile phone theft is increasing, so mobiles should never be left on tables or taken to the beach. Tourists should

ADVICE: British consul, tourism chief, deputy mayor and police chief. look after passports, they said, and take advantage of Operacion Verano to get a free, certified copy from the police and leave the original at the hotel. Paul Rodwell also encouraged hotels to inform guests of the National Police’s SATE office in Benidorm, where victims of

crime are supported and assisted in English to file a police report and make any necessary emergency calls. The SATE office is located in the Centro Municipal Torrejo, Plaza Canalejas and is open from 9am-9pm Monday to Friday and 9am-2pm at the weekend.

would be in late August. The discovery that the fire was deliberately started has prompted the town hall to take early fire-prevention measures which would normally begin in July. “We want to bring surveillance forward as much as possible and to start now if possible,” said Public Safety Councillor Javier Ygarza. Volunteers keep watch at the castle and Les Rotes, he explained, adding: “And ideally the regional government could lend a hand. “We had a lucky escape,” he said about the latest fire. The wind was very strong when it started shortly after 3pm but died down as evening fell, while firefighting aircraft had sufficient daylight hours to quench the flames. Meanwhile, the town hall in neighbouring Javea announced that Proteccion Civil volunteers are also beginning surveillance sooner than usual this year on the Montgo and the woodland areas of Granadella and Tossal Gros.

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Norwegian escapes boat fire unharmed QUICK thinking saved Tron Idar Rishaug’s life when his boat’s engine caught fire off Oliva (Valencia). The 57-year-old Norwegian, who lives in Benissa, immediately jumped overboard with his kayak and made for the shore 800 metres away. “It was very windy and I was making for Denia where I usually moor my boat. Suddenly it stopped and I didn’t think twice about

jumping because the boat was in flames and smoke poured from the stern. I needed to escape,” he said. Seeing the fire, people on the beach called the Local Police, who advised the emergency services and Marine Rescue although Rishaug reached the beach safely in his kayak. “But I was very frightened,” he later admitted to the regional Spanish press.

Riberers get a ribbing MORE than a bone of contention, La Roca de la Salve is becoming a stone of contention. The boulder was once important to the men of Benissa and Senija as they set out for Valencia to work as ‘riberers’ in the rice fields. This was the last point from where they could see the homes that they would not see for months. Thirty-seven years ago, it was moved to make way for the A-7 motorway and placed in the school playground in Senija. Benissa Town Hall recently suggested that it should be re-sited ‘in a decent place’ accessible to both towns. The rock had a starring role in the Comedy Parade during Senija’s fiestas where it was carried by men dressed as ‘riberers’ accompanied by a placard announcing

ROCA DE LA SALVE: Site of the original boulder. “The rock’s already in a decent place.” All good clean fun, the organisers said

afterwards, as neighbourly rivalry has always been a main ingredient of local fiestas.

Smoke signals in Villena A CONTRABAND tobacco haul worth €135,000 was discovered recently in Villena entirely by chance. The emergency services were called when a driver was injured after his articulated lorry ran off the A-31 AlicanteMadrid motorway in the early hours of the morning. The Romanian driver, who has yet to explain how the accident occurred, was transferred to an ambulance while

Guardia Civil officers carried out a routine check on the lorry. The cargo manifest listed nonperishable foodstuffs, suitcases, heaters and items destined for Chinese-run bazaars but they also found 3,300 cartons of Marlboro and Chesterfield cigarettes. The driver, who was taken to Elda Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, is likely to be arrested on being discharged, according to sources.

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Mayor and police at war MAYOR of Callosa d’En Sarria, Batiste Saval, has done away with police patrols in pairs. He has also assigned each Local Police officer a list of duties to be carried out during the working day, specifying monitoring tasks on certain fixed areas, alone and on foot in most cases, day and night, with officers being ordered not to leave their posts except for emergencies. Many accuse the mayor of ‘revenge’ after the police rejected a motion of change proposed by the

mayor, and the delay in payment for reinforcement services during the Moors and Christians fiesta. Mayor Saval, however, denied the measures were a punishment. “I have no war with anyone, I’m the mayor. I say what needs to be done and that’s it,” he declared. Opposition councillor Francesc Guardiola complained about the mayor’s actions, saying it was an “arrogance of the mayor that every time they meet he belittles and insults them.”

Two fire scares

A FIRE forced the evacuation of 12 people from a country house in the municipality of Cocentaina. The blaze, which started on nearby farmland, led to the evacuation as a precautionary measure. Two emergency crews were in attendance. Local firefighters were also sent to Biar Castle where a fire occurred in some bushes following a fireworks’ display to mark the start of local festivities.

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Security guard had 140 weapons A SECURITY guard has been accused of legally buying an arsenal of weapons to then sell on the black market to criminal gangs. The 52-year-old attended a Guardia Civil arms’ action where he purchased several firearms. National Police officers later discovered 140 handguns and rifles at his home in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Alicante City. In addition they found several types of explosives and missiles. The prosecution is calling for a 10-year prison sentence for an alleged crime of illegal possession of arms, ammunition and other illegal weapons. Two other men are

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Alcoy blaze THREE fire engines worked to put out a forest fire by the River Agres in Alcoy. A helicopter also helped to put out the blaze.

Outlet fair

SEIZED: Missiles and explosives stored in home.

BENIDORM’S outlet fair, organised by the Merchants Association, saw 20 businesses take part in the three-day event, with discounts of up to 50 per cent.

Rate hike

ARSENAL: An array of handguns and rifles. also accused of being involved in the crimes, allegedly acting as

middlemen between the buyer of the weapons and the criminal gangs.

ALICANTE City Council is expected to approve a rate hike of 3 per cent on 11 public services including rubbish collection, sports school, nurseries, and services at the municipal cemetery.

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Warehouse blaze A CANDLE is believed to have been the cause of a fire at an abandoned warehouse in Calle Juan Hernandez, next to Elche’s football stadium.

Dani Martin SINGER Dani Martin kicked off his national tour in Elche to around 4,000 fans who chose the songs he performed.

Aitana protest A PROTEST march was held by ecology groups and demonstrators calling for the demilitarisation of Aitana, Alcoy, “as currently you cannot get to the top of Aitana if you are not a soldier,” said one protester.

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More than 300 people arrested for €8 million Social Security fraud THE National Police have arrested more than 300 people on charges of public administration fraud totalling almost €8 million. Three investigations started in Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, Valencia, Madrid, Caceres and Alicante several months ago after companies were identified who were committing Social Security fraud. During the first investigation, the Central Unit Against Immigration Networks and Falsified Documents (UCRIF) in Girona detected 12 fictitious companies established in Barcelona, who were providing fake

work details to foreigners in order that they could claim benefits or residence permits. The second inquiry was conducted in Barcelona and identified three Pakistani men who were setting up fictitious companies. The companies issued fake contracts and then carried out subsequent lay-offs, so that the ‘workers’ could claim benefits. The third investigation uncovered a chain of fake companies operating in Barcelona, with managers of Moroccan origin, again producing fake contracts and simulating redundancies.

IN TOWN: Benidorm brings back tourism fair.

Tourism fair returns to Benidorm AFTER two years away, the Benidorm Bilbao tourism fair returned at the weekend for its 35th edition, bringing together 365 tourism businesses, ready to help promote their services to others. The Tourism Foundation stressed this week the great interest shown in the exhibition and also spoke about the importance of visitors from the Basque Country. The Basque Country is the ninth largest source market to Valencia and out of the Basques who visited Valencia, 50 per cent of them chose Benidorm. Councillor for Tourism, Gema Amor, explained: “Basque tourist loyalty is a constant in our town and has been confirmed once again this Easter.”

Cocentaina boasts increased visitors COCENTAINA tourism figures for Easter 2014 have been announced, showing a positive result for the holiday period. More than half (62 per cent) came from Valencia, followed by 10 per cent from the UK and the rest from other areas of Spain. A total of 147 people visited the town,

compared to just 93 the previous year, with 86 per cent of the visits beginning on the Friday and Saturday, according to the statistics. The Tourist Office had laid on two free guided tours to Palau Comtal over the Easter period, which proved popular with visitors.

NEWS Winegrowers up in arms WINEGROWERS in Valencia are incensed after a new designation of origin (DO) was passed, allowing neighbouring areas to claim their wine as being Valencian. Winemakers have been angered by the decision and have expressed their displeasure to the High Court in Valencia. The wine industry is very proud of its grapes and feels that its reputation could be affected. On the one hand, some believe that there is a logical reason for the classification, to improve prices and profitability. Producers Utiel-Requena warned that Valencia had lost vineyards and production in recent decades, so large exporters had to source where they can. Conversely, others feel this waters down the brand of Valencian wines and that it is misleading customers.

Busy burglar arrested NATIONAL POLICE have arrested a 45-year-old Valencian man, suspected of 11 burglaries in Marina Alta. The officers began their investigation at the end of 2013, after several reports of burglaries by homeowners who reported forced entry through doors and windows and even reported food stolen. From the descriptions provided by numerous witnesses, the officers knew they were seeking a middle-aged man of no fixed abode. The man was arrested as he tried to board a train to Denia. He had a criminal record, and had been in prison in 2013 for robbery.

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Election day BENISSA is offering transport for those wishing to vote in the European Parliament elections on May 25 but are unable to make the polls. Call 965 731 112 to book.

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Valencia waiting lists longer, claims union HOW long is the waiting list for a routine cataract operation? “A long time!” said reader Tony Gee

from Benidorm, who has been waiting for the procedure since last September.

The 78-year-old said his quality of life has been severely affected with his deteriorating

Alcoy aid ALCOY Town Hall is to allocate €120,000 in the 2014 budget plan to help needy families in the payment of certain basic supplies and municipal taxes.

Walk this way COSTA BLANCA Mountain Walkers’ spring schedule can be found at www. cbmwalkers.org with all walkers welcome to join in any of the walks.

SILENT PROTEST: Calls to ‘Bring back our girls’.

Javea women call for release of abducted Nigerian students DOZENS of women in Javea participated in a protest symbolically calling for the release of more than 200 female students abducted from a school in Nigeria last month. Dressed in colourful scarves, the women sat in front of the town hall and asked that

governments put in place measures to end the kidnapping, and secure the release of the girls. The protest lasted an hour and added exposure to the international and social network campaign ‘Bring back our girls’.

eyesight. “My life has been turned upside down. I can’t drive or read and the TV is just a blur,” he said. He recently returned to Villajoyosa Hospital to enquire about when his operation would be, only to be told that patients now currently receiving the treatment have been on the waiting list since February 2013. He said: “I was told I would have to wait another nine months or so. It is a 30-minute operation and you are in and out in a day. My brother-in-law in the UK had it within two weeks.” Tony added: “I have looked into having the operation done privately but I simply don’t have the money.” Tony’s story seems to echo a recent complaint made by the UGT union about waiting lists. They claimed only 24 per cent of patients in the Valencian Community get an appointment within 24 hours, while in Castilla y Leon that figure is a healthier 66 per cent. It also notes that only 13.7 per cent of patients get an appointment with a specialist within 15 days, unlike the 25.4 per cent in Navarra. The report also said that for specialist care (diagnostic tests), patients in the Valencia Region wait approximately 97 days, compared to Murcia’s 54.

NEWS Bouncy castle owner is arrested THE owner of a bouncy castle business has been arrested on grounds of gross negligence. It follows the accident in Alicante City as previously reported in the Euro Weekly News when seven bouncy castles were installed in Calle Teulada at a classic car exhibition. A gust of wind caused the inflatables to escape their moorings and be lifted into the air, resulting in the injury of 26 people, including 13 who required hospital treatment. Police believe they did not have the necessary ground anchors in place and have arrested the 38-year-old man.

Colour gets exciting LEADING companies in Europe are turning their gaze towards the University of Alicante and specifically the ‘Vision and Colour Science Faculty’. Market leaders including Audi, BASF, Saint-Gobain and Merck are working with the research group on more exciting ways to use colour and textures to create dramatic results to be used on cars, in cosmetics, and are currently being used to increase security on banknotes. Glitter and even three dimensional colour effects can increase the appeal for consumers.

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Pensioners cultural week in Alfaz del Pi THE fourth Cultural Week for the Third Age is currently under way in Alfaz del Pi. Running since Monday until tomorrow (Friday), a range of different cultural, sporting and leisure activities have been organised in collaboration with the Pensioners’ Home and Raco de l’Albi. Today (Thursday) sees the screening of the film ‘Amor’ at 8pm at the Casa de Cultura. Tomorrow (Friday) sees a petanca competition take place from 10am at the Hogar del Pensionista and at 7pm the prize-giving for the petanca competition and photo competition in the Casa de Cultura. This is followed by a choir concert at 8.30pm.

Planting trees in Calpe

BOTANIC GARDEN: Homage to ‘Year of the Horse’.

ORCHID ARCH: Horticulture is part of the city planning in Singapore.

A city in a garden

TWO members of the Costa Blanca Gardeners’ Circle North gave a talk about their trip to Singapore. Their presentation included colourful photographs to illustrate the beauty of the country. Sue and Nigel told how horticulture is now part of the city planning. Its aim was to establish world-class gardens

whilst enriching the urban environment and inspiring communities. In 2013, 1,963 trees were planted. The buildings are clothed with plants, there are ‘green roofs’ and natural pathways between buildings high in the sky. It truly is a city in a garden with lush areas surrounding the city skyscrapers. The botanic garden houses architecture and

BENIDORM: The place to go for British holidaymakers.

Brits still love it IT fell out of favour for a while, but now Spain’s Benidorm is the place to go for British holidaymakers. And when they come, they’re looking to stay. At the moment Benidorm is the Spanish resort most popular for Brits when it comes to buying second homes. In the 1970s, Benidorm was the holiday destination of choice for sun-seeking Britons - and now they’re coming back in droves.

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New land registry data shows that the region is the most popular on Spain’s mainland for foreign buyers. The figures show the proportion of villas and apartments bought by overseas buyers has tripled in the past four years to 11.15 per cent. It seems that moneysavvy British buyers are taking advantage of Sterling’s strength against the Euro.

Typically, a threebedroom, two-bathroom villa, complete with pool, is £158,000. It’s been an added boost to the area’s popularity that budget airlines like Ryanair fly to Alicante from many UK airports. Over the years Benidorm has tried to shed its image as a retreat for British lager louts, but it’s still often portrayed as downmarket, as in the ITV comedy ‘Benidorm’.

the innovative ‘super trees’ which contain photovoltaic cells and plants from around the world. The Costa Blanca Gardeners’ Circle North meets on the first Wednesday of every month from October to June in La Senieta, Moraira, from 2pm. For more information visit http://costablancagardeners. weebly.com

CALPE Town Hall is replanting the Ermita park with native Mediterranean trees including mulberries, hackberries and syringe. Dead trees and plants have been cleared to turn the park near the town centre into an area that residents will want to visit, Councillor Ana Sala has said. The department is also applying the regulation that requires the donation of a tree for every one cut down by a private individual, Sala explained. Forty per cent of the municipal nurseries’ trees are obtained this way, she said. Seventeen of these have now been planted in the Ermita park, the councillor added.

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Extra nurses needed WORKERS union the UGTPV believes that the Valencian Region will need more than 16,000 nurses to adequately cover the health needs of the population, improve the cost-effectiveness and to offer nursing care as added value to the welfare state. To mark World Day of Nursing, the UGT said that nurses raise safety standards, prevent complications for patients and save costs to the healthcare system. An information campaign entitled ‘I’m a nurse. We move for your health’ has been developed along with the Foundation for the Development of Nursing (FUDEN) which will visit 55 Spanish cities, including Alicante, Vilareal and Valencia on May 28, 29 and 30 respectively.

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RBL volunteer recognised for 25 years of service A SPECIAL event took place at Benidoleig and District Branch of The Royal British Legion (RBL). President Ron Clements presented a ‘For Merit’ badge and letter of congratulations from the National Chairman of The Royal British Legion to Aldona Wagrocka Stockbridge, for 25 years as an RBL Poppy Appeal volunteer. The presentation was made at the members’ meeting at their headquarters in El Cid, Benidoleig. The president

RECOGNITION: Aldona receives a merit badge from President Ron Clements. said: “Aldona is one of our most successful collectors; a very loyal and keen supporter of the branch, always attending members meetings whenever she can. She also helps at the Poppy Appeal count each November. The Benidoleig and District Branch is very proud to have Aldona as a member.”

Lost Van Gogh painting found A PAINTING by Dutch PostImpressionist artist Van Gogh, missing for 40 years, has reportedly been

recovered in Spain. Reports indicate that tax collectors who were going through the contents of

a safety-deposit box discovered the long-lost work. The artwork, entitled ‘Cypress, Sky and Country’, disappeared from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that the painting, which they say was found in December, measures just over one foot by one foot. According to the authorities, the landscape painting, dated 1889,

bears three seals on the back, indicating that the work resided in different museums throughout the 20th century. The most recent mark appears to be from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. El Mundo says the painting may have been created during Van Gogh’s stay at the Saint-Rémy-deProvence asylum in the South of France - the same place the artist painted ‘The Starry Night’.

Tax savings for Valencians MORE than 240,000 Valencia residents will benefit this year from €40.7 million in regional deductions from their tax bills. The announcement was made this week by the minister and chief of the tax office in Valencia, Manuel Javier Cabrera, who added that the discounts will most benefit those in the middle and lower earning thresholds. The main points in the deductions include an increase from 30 per cent to 50 per cent deduction for large families and the deduction for the purchases of school supplies where families have one unemployed parent. “The Government is on the side of the taxpayers,” said Cabrera, “the reconciliation of family life, the disabled and to boost economic activity. It is necessary to combine budget strategy with active fiscal policies that address both growth and certain personal situations.”

Aldona first started volunteering to help with the Poppy Appeal 25 years ago, as her husband was in the services and Aldona, from Poland, was so impressed with the work the RBL does she would have liked something similar to have been organised in her homeland. If you would like to help with the Poppy Appeal this November, please contact Diana Faver, Poppy Appeal Organiser by emailing rblbenidoleigpo@gmail. com or call 965 587 586.

NEWS EXTRA

Documentary premiere ON Monday, Alfaz del Pi invites residents to view a documentary about the sun and health, made by filmmaker Dane Torben Thoger. It will be shown in the Casa de Cultura at 7pm.

Path works REFURBISHMENT of the pedestrian route from the roundabout from the motorway to Maisa Lloret in Villajoyosa has been approved and will include extending the width to allow pedestrians and cyclists to travel safely.

Sea festival JAVEA'S Councillor for Economic Development, Juan Luis Cardona, has launched the next edition of the Festival of the Sea in conjunction with the Merchants Association of the Port of Javea.

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Parents avoid jail sentence AFTER a groundbreaking agreement between an Alicante judge, the Consell and the Department of Education of Alicante, the parents of an illiterate 14year-old have avoided jail following an urgently agreed programme of education for the child. Special needs education will now be available at the child’s school, and the parents have been ordered to monitor their child’s progress or face six months in jail.

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German employment opportunities for Alicante’s young people FEMPA, the Metal Industry Federation of Alicante Province, has begun a selection process to offer workers jobs and training in Germany in the areas of electrics, electronics, air conditioning and

plumbing. Fempa run their own programmes offering training and work experience and today (Thursday) will see the first group of 20 young people, aged between 18 and 32, fly from Alicante-Elche

to Germany to study in the city of Nürtingenen. Multinational Heinrich Schmid has fully subsidised the students to take a German course and following completion they may be offered a job with the company.

Drought is ‘historic’ THE dry spell in Alicante Province has been described by the Laboratory of Climatology as ‘historic’ and ‘Saharalike’. Just seven litres of water per square metre was recorded between January and April. This is the lowest figure since records began and is just half of the previous record period, 1893,

when 13 litres were recorded between January and April. The head of the Laboratory of Climatology at the University of Alicante and Professor of Geographical Analysis, Jorge Olcina, described the situation as “becoming worrisome” because “we have never had a start to the year with so little rain.”

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La gente As part of our series La Gente, Euro Weekly News reporter Gemma Quinn has been out and about to see what skills, talent and inspirational people can be found on the Costa Blanca. This week she met a ‘groundbreaking’ author...

ORMER lecturer Dr Ian C Hale has written a new book on autism and Asperger syndrome, which has been described as ‘groundbreaking’ for its interest in and connection with the subject and being an easy to read, informative book without any medical jargon. For Ian, the book’s subject was one which was very personal to him, having been diagnosed with autism and Asperger syndrome, meaning he could include his own experiences and anecdotes. “There was a lot of academic literature around but I wanted to make it more accessible to people with autism and Asperger’s and their families, so I wrote something that is scientifically accurate but also personal,” he said, adding: “I’ve had that much feedback, I know it is being well received and that it has made a difference.” ‘I just wanted to show both sides of living with the conditions in a humorous and ultimately hopeful way’

AUTHOR: Dr Ian C Hale.

“It was actually a bet,” he explained. “A friend bet me to write it in 365 days. I took 366 days, but I knew once I started it, I would finish.” It was released as an e-book to keep costs minimal and was an immediate hit in the USA and Britain, and Indonesia also picked it up with a lot of purchases. “An autism specialist in America read it and said I had hit my target audience, which made me laugh as I did not have a target audience. I just wanted to reach people, uncover the history of these conditions with examples of famous autistic and Asperger’s achievers such as Isaac Newton, Van Gogh and Bill Gates, and show both sides of living with the conditions in a humorous and ultimately hopeful way.” Ian’s book can be purchased via Amazon, Vook or his website www.ianchalephd.com

Ian, originally from Bristol and now living on the Costa Blanca, was diagnosed with autism at a relatively young age, but Asperger’s came much later. He achieved his teaching licence at the former Bath College of Higher Education and subsequently a Master’s degree from Bath Spa University and Doctorate from UNESCO. Between these he worked at Bath College for some years, gaining experience across the curriculum, including in the Special Education Department. He then went on to study medicine and genetics, before penning The Ian ha s no Insider’s Guide to Autism helpin g crea w turned hi and Asperger’s. But me te a n dia ne ew an s attention t w despite his professional to d ex o rk answe r the n . Voxsn.com clusive soci achievements, this al eed wa who w fascinating and highly ant an s of clients s created to a unclut privat intelligent man - he is a tered, ged over 18 e envi f r riend o nm share member of Mensa intere ent to discu ly and sts an (someone with Asperger’s ss and d busine to conduct typically has an IQ 10 ss. points higher than their peers) needed some persuasion to put pen to paper.

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Spanish police officer stabbed A POLICE officer was stabbed in Vigo while attending the scene of a bank robbery at an NCG branch. The thieves, who have now been arrested, had just robbed a bank in Coia, Vigo,

at gunpoint. They were fleeing the scene with sports bags filled with cash when they were apprehended by police. A clash between the officers and the criminals ensued, and

Internet ‘increases productivity’ THE internet increases a worker’s productivity but does not reduce the amount of time they spend at work. According to a study, carried out by the magazine Panorama Social, the greater autonomy and flexibility which the new technologies give workers also increases the pressure to be constantly connected; technology also favours the ‘blurring of lines’ between personal and professional life. As far as work is concerned, the study concluded that there is a general tendency in developed countries to reduce the amount of time physically spent at work. This is not due to technology, but rather a further blurring of the lines so there is no real ‘home’ time or ‘work’ time. Sixty-eight per cent of Spanish households are connected to the internet; this is far behind the European average of 88 per cent.

one policeman was stabbed. Two other officers were hurt in the struggle. Following a tip-off, police had been guarding the branch and were nearby when the alarms were tripped.

Several patrol cars made their way to the area immediately. Two men were arrested for the robbery and another, who tried to make a getaway in a vehicle parked outside the

bank, was detained for his involvement. Witnesses described how they heard gunshots - fired by the police - and saw money strewn across the street during the tussle.

‘Emperor’ case continues THE ‘Emperor’ case continues in Madrid with high-ranking members of the National Police force denying ever receiving gifts or cash from alleged Chinese Mafia boss, Gao Ping, or his associates. The Gao Ping/Emperor case involved the ‘Chinese Mafia’ and their activities on Spanish soil including money laundering, tax fraud, smuggling, blackmail and threatening public employees. Angel Luis Olmedo, Chief of the National Police’s Foreign Department in Madrid, said his

MONDAY: Huge amounts were laundered. relationship with Gao Ping and his associates was exclusively to obtain information which was vital to several police investigations, and his contact with members of the Chinese group was

strictly professional. Olmedo underscored the fact that Yongping Wu Liu, from whom they frequently received information, could not be considered a police confidant as he was

working as a businessman and occasionally collaborated with the police giving them information on the gang’s activities. He did admit to being Liu’s guest in a box at Barcelona football stadium but claimed he was ‘on duty’ at the time. According to the police’s internal affairs department, the relationship with Liu was ‘fluid’ and based on mutual interest; for Liu it was keeping the police happy and for Olmedo it was receiving a Serrano ham or a new handbag for his wife.

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Five killed in minibus crash FOUR children and an adult from a youth football team have been killed in a road accident in Extremadura in Southern Spain. Their minibus crashed into a mechanical digger on a country road near Castuera in the South-Western Extremadura region. A Guardia Civil spokesperson said: “A minibus carrying a youth football team had a collision with a digger. “There are four minors and one adult dead.” Emergency services in Extremadura said on Twitter that 13 people were injured in the collision, with 11 taken to hospital. It is believed that at least six of those people are seriously hurt. President of the Extremadura Regional Government, Jose Antonio Monago, said the children, believed to be between 10 and 13 years of age, were on their way home after taking part in a competition. Speaking to COPE radio station, he said: “A death is always a tragedy, but I think it resonates a bit more in everyone’s mind when it is children of such a young age.”

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Odometer fraud easy business AT LEAST 82,000 secondhand cars are sold in Spain each year having had their odometer readings changed. The tool needed to turn back the odometer is available on the internet and very easy to use. Between 70,000 and 100,000 kilometres can be taken away in one go. According to a report issued by the RACC motorists organisation, between 5 and 12 per cent of secondhand cars in Spain have had their odometer altered. To prove how easy it is to do this, the RACC bought their own, illegal

machine from the internet and in four easy steps they had removed 100,000 kilometres from the odometer. The RACC has commented that this puts the consumer at a disadvantage as they pay more for a secondhand car but do not really know very much about its state of repair and this could put them at greater risk of having an accident. The RACC has proposed that the ITV (MOT) stations should be equipped with specialised tools to detect this type of fraud or, alternatively, every time a car has an ITV

16 on trial for Briton’s death THE trial of 16 people for the death of Briton Stephen Mallon, 49, in Competa, in June 2009, is due to be held in Malaga Provincial Court at the end of this month. The public prosecutor is asking for 12 years in prison for one of the accused. Stephen Mallon, a Bournemouth roofer originally from Glasgow had travelled to his holiday home in the village with twin sons Carl and Peter to celebrate their 17th birthday. The two boys and two of their friends were also injured, as well as a man who came to their assistance. On June 5, 2009, a fight involving at least 30 people, mostly aged between 18

and 25, broke out at bar La Estrella after a young man set upon one of the twins, who had allegedly been flirting with his ex-girlfriend. Bottles and flowerpots were thrown and the fight turned into a riot. The bar’s owner attempted to throw out the offenders, but without success. During the scuffle, which Stephen reportedly attempted to break up, he fell from a five-metre wall. His family says he was lifted by three men and thrown over the edge, but others say he lost his balance during the brawl and fell. Despite being seriously injured, the accused continued to beat and kick him. He died in hospital on June 17, 2009.

TURNING CLOCK BACK: Gadget available on the internet. the true amount of kilometres it has covered

should be recorded in the car’s paperwork,

thus eliminating possibility of fraud.

the

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NEWS

BULLFIGHTING: Part of Spain’s cultural heritage, according to the government.

Broadcasting bullfights row

THE Spanish Government are defending their posture on broadcasting bullfights arguing that the practice does not

have an effect on the young. They added that it is not illegal and that current legislation on this matter respects the rights of children. Laia Ortiz, Deputy of the Izquierda Unida political party, had submitted a formal request in writing for the government to revise the measures it is taking to protect the young who participate in, or are spectators of, the bloody fights. The government commented that the 1982 decree which regulates any potentially harmful activities for the young does not mention bullfights; they further stated that the reformed OLD AGE: Linked to gene. law of 1991 “does not establish any prohibition “The study also revealed to minors accessing that the allele (this is one bullfights.” of a number of alternative To this argument the forms of the same gene) government added the reduces the possibilities of 1993 law that protects reaching 100 years of bullfighting as part of the age.” Spanish cultural heritage. Lucía said: “People aged Ortiz stated that she 100 years or over are not would continue to pursue only the peak of the the case until the bloody population pyramid but spectacle was no longer they also represent a televised as, in her healthy ageing model opinion, it was harmful given that they have for children under the delayed, and sometimes age of 14 to witness the even avoided, chronic torture of animals. illnesses that come with The government age and loss of replied that there was no independence. scientific evidence that it “They tend to be was in any way harmful just as healthy as to children. nonagenarians,” he added. The row will rumble on.

Spanish hold the key to long-life SCIENTISTS have been studying the genes of 894 men and women over the age of 100 in Spain and Japan and found a gene linked to longevity. It seems that the secret to a long and healthy life lies in chromosome 9p21.3, which has previously been associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Centenarians live at least 15 years longer than the average person in the West. This propensity for longlife is partially genetic, and it appears that there are a number of gene variants that may hold the key to a healthy old age life. The study looked at 152 Spaniards aged between 110 and 111 years and 742 Japanese people aged between 100 and 115 years. The results have been published in the journal Age. Alejandro Lucía, the main author, said: “This variant may be associated with extreme longevity, particularly among the Spanish population.

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EWN

Prolific author pays a visit UNHEALTHY SNACK: Cocaine, ham and cheese.

Cocaine sandwich arrest in Benidorm NATIONAL POLICE police have arrested a Colombian man after he was found to be carrying a drug-stuffed ham and cheese sandwich. The snack had a somewhat unhealthy filling - 100 grammes of cocaine. Police arrested the 29-yearold man at a Benidorm bus station after they suspected him of drug trafficking. Spain’s National Police released a photo showing the said sandwich with nine small cylindrical plastic capsules spread over cured ham and cheese. Police found over a kilo of cocaine in the man’s Benidorm home as well as marihuana. They also detained his room-mate, a 20-year-old Colombian national. Spain’s close ties to Latin America have made it the key entry point for cocaine bound for Europe.

TODAY at 11.30am, Bernard Fillayson will have presented his latest book at the Forum Mare Nostrum residential complex in Alfaz del Pi. The author was born in 1921 and

has been writing books for 40 years. He spent some of his early adult life in India, Malaya and Singapore. After returning to the UK, he pursued a career in advertising and public

relations, changing later to work in the emerging vending industry. He pioneered children’s sticker books in the late 1980s, before he and his wife moved to Spain. Soon afterwards he began to write a series of esoteric books. Contained in his latest book is a collection of treated a woman who stories from people the had come in complaining author has known along of, among other the course of his life. symptoms, dizziness, a They tell of life-changing dry mouth and increased experiences; events that heart rate. have had a profound effect She explained that she on the contributing had bought some authors, and in turn, on strawberry biscuits from Fillayson himself. two women at the fair. The author wishes to The two women who share these experiences, allegedly sold the alongside his own, in the adulterated cakes have hope that they will help the been remanded in reader to recognise, and custody and stand benefit from, the potential accused of crimes turning point in their own against public health. lives.

Space cakes at the fair A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl had to be taken to hospital after eating cup cakes laced with marihuana, which were bought from a street stall at the Fira per la Terra fair in Barcelona. Her father bought her the cakes without knowing they were adulterated and around two hours later the girl began to feel ill and fell over due to dizziness. She was immediately taken to hospital where

doctors found she had ingested marihuana. The girl stayed overnight in the hospital for observation and was discharged the next day in good health. The police were alerted and began looking for the vendors of the cakes. They soon found two women who were, at that time, selling biscuits which had a very strong odour of marihuana. That same day doctors at the same hospital

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

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FEATURE

Take to the open seas HEARING the purr of the engine, the thrust of the throttle and the wind sweeping through your hair; power boating is fast, fun and frivolous. It doesn’t take weeks to become qualified to drive a powerboat as Euro Weekly News reporter Gemma Quinn found out...

WHO wouldn’t want to play ‘Bond Girl’ for a day and hit the open seas, ripping through the waves on board a speedy little power boat? Not me! Which is why I jumped at the chance to join Serenity Sailing at Torrevieja’s International Marina on a weekend RYA (Royal Yacht Association) Level 2 Power Boat course. It can takes months to learn to drive a car so with no experience at the helm of a boat, I was sceptical as to whether (a) I would actually pass the assessment, and (b) whether I would feel confident enough to take a boat out myself afterwards. But the answer was a resounding ‘yes’ to both. Under the expert guidance of Serenity Sailing founder and school principal Richard Plaster, within minutes his ‘students’ are put at ease and given the all-important practical experience required.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? • What is an RYA Level 2 Power Boat licence?

ALL ABOARD: Gemma Quinn takes on a new challenge as she learns to power boat.

All the theory in the PASSED: Gemma Quinn world will not prepare (centre) passed after the you for the actual feel power boating course with of being in the driving seat and that is the joy Andy Merrett (left) and of this course; it is 90 Warwick Baber. per cent practical with just some basic theory involved like learning about navigation and interpreting weather forecasts. But this all adds to your boating experience. Everything is done on board the Layla Maria, which is a Jeanneau Merry Fisher sports boat with a Suzuki 75 engine. It is the perfect size for practising manoeuvres such as parking, and is fully equipped to train anyone from novice to advanced students. The first important thing to learn is that there are no brakes... time to pay attention. The next, how to call a mayday... I am feeling a little worried now. Slowly but surely is the way forward, particularly around the harbour, learning the laws and sea courtesy as you go along. Richard, who has worked around the globe and been an adventurer training instructor for the British Army in the

It is an internationally recognised power boating ‘driver’s licence’ and is accepted by boat charter companies, the water police and customs. It entitles the holder to skipper watercraft including power/motor boats, jet skis and rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) up to 12m (or 10m if chartering a boat back in the UK).

prestigious British Kiel Yacht Club in Germany, uses his calm and amiable persona to break down each and every part, quickly picking up a student’s ability. Despite there being three of us on board during our course, each at a different level, Richard is able to personally adapt and tailor-make the course to suit everyone, making it a funfilled and rewarding experience. With the basics planted and achieved, he is happy to let you take Layla Maria out to see what she can really do and experience a true bit of power boating. With multi-million-euro yachts sitting in the harbour, boating and yachting are often seen as elitist sports, but Richard explains Serenity Sailing aims to break down those barriers and show what a fun and affordable hobby it can be for all the family, with some overnight moorings costing no more than the average cost of pitching your tent or caravan at a campsite. So, if you want to learn a new skill, achieve a lifelong ambition or simply indulge in a bit of water-sport fun, gaining your power boating licence could be for you, whether you have your own boat or want to simply have the freedom of chartering one. I know I’m hooked. Watch out water...

• Are other courses available?

Yes, Serenity Sailing offer everything from power boating courses to sailing courses with lots of options to cater for novices to highly advanced students. Courses are on board either the power boat or Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35 yacht, or on your own vessel.

LAYLA MARIA: Speed through the open waters on a power boating course with Serenity Sailing.

• What about for youngsters? From August 1-15 they are running boating camps for the over-16s including two-day Start Yachting, five-day Competent Crew and two-day Power Boat Level 2 courses. In addition to the courses, guardians will be on board teaching the teens about blogging, photography and cooking (for those on board the yacht, Serenity). There is already a waiting list for some dates.

EXPERT GUIDANCE: School principal Richard Plaster makes courses fun and fast-paced.

For more information visit www.serenitysailing.com / email enquiries@serenitysailing.com, follow them on Facebook or call 865 774 295. The school is open all day every day. Meetings by appointment only.

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca North COSTA DEL SOL

Prankster fined A BOY, 15, was fined €6,000 by Torremolinos Town Hall for emptying a fire extinguisher at the San Miguel Sports Stadium as a prank.

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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

Popular location

THE Alcazaba (Arab fortress) monument in Almeria City received a record 7,700 visitors during Easter week this year.

Fewer babies

Cheers El Ejido

THIS year there are reportedly more places in kindergartens throughout Malaga Province than required due to the fall in the birth rate, migration and unemployment.

Unpaid fare A MAN, 30, was arrested in Palma for failing to pay the €74.12 fare after taking a taxi from Santanyi to Palma.

Fire controlled A FIRE broke out in a pine forest in Camp de Mar, Andratx, just 200 metres from a villa owned by Claudia Schiffer, and was brought under control within two hours.

New flight AIRLINE Air Nostrum will connect Asturias and Mallorca three times a week with flights on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Hiker rescued FIREMEN from Inca and Soller had to rescue a German hiker who sustained a foot injury and got trapped on the Valldemossa-Deia route.

More bikes BICYCLE circulation on the streets of Palma has increased by more than 26 per cent in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.

NATIONAL POLICE arrested a 36-yearold Romanian woman in Nijar, wanted by the Romanian Authorities since June 2005 for allegedly defrauding €560,000 from 11 companies over a year.

Record Easter

AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI presented its latest model, the Huracan, at the Ascari racetrack in Ronda before a crowd of 500 people.

MALLORCA

Fugitive caught

BEACH users in Cabo de Gata have complained about the bad condition of the disabled toilet; the shed has been vandalised and the toilet is out of service.

New model

A DELEGATION from Andalucia and the Costa del Sol travelled to the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai to meet with airlines and negotiate more flights from the Middle East.

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

Loo complaint

DESPITE being one of the most expensive locations in Spain, business premises in Puerto Banus remain amongst the most sought after by firms.

Eastern flights

NEWS DESK

EL EJIDO will hold its first ever Beer Festival in the Carpa Municipal. The ‘Bier Fest’ will be held during the weekend of June 5 to 8. ELCHE CROWDS: Full house means club could settle some debt.

Barcelona helps Elche pay debts ELCHE Football Club expected to take €1 million thanks to the team’s match against Barcelona at the weekend. The match saw a full stadium for the first time this season, allowing the club to be able to settle it’s most pressing debts such as paying staff and wages of the youth teams. Unlike the Elche-Real Madrid match earlier this season where non-members paid from €110 to €180 and season-ticket holders were charged between €30 and €60, prices were set deliberately low for the Barcelona game in a bid to bring in the crowds, with tickets starting from €15 for season-ticket holders. Their nil-nil draw against Barcelona was enough to ensure Elche remains in the First Division.

AXARQUIA

Bonsai victory THE AXARQUIA Bonsai Club classified second in the international competition held in Lake Garda, Italy; 27 international clubs took part in this high level competition.

Air show MOTRIL is to host the ninth edition of the Andalucia Orion Air Show which will take place on June 22 and can be seen from the Poniente beach to the Granada beach.

Pit bull attack TWO girls, both aged seven, and

a man have been injured by a Pit Bull dog in Benalgabon; the dog was not wearing a lead or a muzzle when it attacked them in the street.

Tapas route

Called up UD ALMERIA midfielder Ramon Azeez has been selected for the preliminary World Cup squad for Nigeria.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Wage rise SAN MIGUEL’S councillor of Hacienda has had a pay rise from €593 a month to €1,200 net in line with his ‘degree of responsibility.’

Tapas route ESTABLISHMENTS interested in taking part in the fifth Tapas Route of Santa Pola, proposed to take place in June should register by the end of today (Thursday) at the Tourist Information offices.

Culture week SANTA POLA has hosted the 18th edition of the Cultural Week of the Third Age, held at the town’s Casa de Cultura.

Murcia promoted

NERJA will hold a Tapas Route around the town for the rest of the month; there are around 12 restaurants and over 20 bars offering a tapa and a beer for €1.80.

MURCIA’S tourism board is in Milan, Italy, to promote the region’s tourism at the ‘La Spagna a Milano’ event.

Handball championship

Cars hit

THE SPANISH Federation of Handball has chosen Almuñecar to host the finals of the women’s championship which will take place from May 23 to 25.

A VAN crashed into six parked vehicles in Torrevieja, shunting them along to the point that the last car moved on to the crossroads, hitting a travelling vehicle.

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca North

S CANDINAVIAN P RESS

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Stories making headlines in Europe

GERMAN PRESS Train crash

BRITISH PRESS Not disappointed NORWAY - The Dalai Lama has said he holds no grudges against the Norwegian government after they decided not to meet him on his trip to Oslo in order to avoid further damaging their fragile relations with China.

Text message NORWAY - The Norwegian Air Shuttle staff announced a strike after the airline’s management brought weeks of negotiations to an angry conclusion with a text message threatening to close three of their four bases in Norway if the workers went on strike.

Firefighter’s baby

the Mediterranean.

LONDON firefighter Ross McClaren, 33, delivered a baby at the scene of a large fire using only the midwifery skills he learnt from watching television series ‘One Born Every Minute.’

Nando’s tattoo

GIANT jellyfish are likely to be drawn to the West Country as a heat wave draws them into British waters. Marine experts are warning bathers that the stingers may float over from

CONSTRUCTION giant BAM will renovate the Feyenoord football stadium in Rotterdam for €200 million if the City Council agrees. The plan is to turn it into a stadium for 70,000 spectators for football as well as concerts.

SMART DRUGS: Help students to stay awake.

RUSSIAN PRESS OLYMPIC skier Maria Komissarova has picked Spain over Russia to treat her after being left paralysed from the waist down at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Komissarova is set to continue her treatment at a clinic in Marbella.

Feyenoord stadium

ONE in five British students has admitted to taking ‘smart drugs’ to help them improve their academic performance. These drugs help them to stay awake and study longer according to a survey.

Portuguese Men o’War

DENMARK - Over a third of Danes (38 per cent) call in sick when in actual fact they are perfectly fine. Danish companies lose over 814 million kroner due to staff ‘duvet days.’

DENMARK - A man was badly injured when a propane gas cylinder at a hotdog stand exploded near the entrance to the Eurovision venue on the island of Refshaleoen in Copenhagen. The explosion caused beer cans to shoot in every direction.

THE latest and hottest new games console is for dogs. The CleverPet consists of three touch pads and a feeding pod. This educates, entertains and feeds the pet all at the same time.

Drugged students

Spanish rehabilitation

Gas explosion

Doggy games

A SURREY teenager has had the Nando’s logo tattooed on his backside. Bradley Holman, 19, is so obsessed with the chain restaurant and their Peri Peri sauce that he had their cockerel inked into his skin while on holiday in Crete.

Sick days

duty-free import of certain goods known as the Generalised System of Preferences.

Putin celebrates VLADIMIR PUTIN celebrated a decade as President amid high tension with the West over the Ukraine and slowing economic growth. Russians describe him as intelligent, competent, experienced, decisive and attractive.

Moon colony RUSSIAN newspaper Izvestia has reported that Russia has plans to put a manned colony on the moon as soon as 2030 and is racing to dispatch the first robotic rovers to explore the lunar surface two years from now.

$196 million

Plug pulled OBAMA has announced that the US plans to pull Russia from a programme that allows the

THE RUSSIAN government is to give Crimea $196 million to subsidise transport links and infrastructure between the two countries in an attempt to save a tourist season that is likely to be decimated by the ongoing crisis in the region.

DUTCH PRESS Fast exoplanet DUTCH astronomers from the observatory in Leiden discovered for the first time the rotating speed of an exoplanet. Bèta Pictoris b, circling a star in constellation Pictor and discovered in 2008,

EUROPEAN PRESS

rotates so fast that a day lasts only eight hours.

Internet speed THREE quarters of internet consumers by telephone or television cable do not get the speed their providers promised. Clients

with ADSL get 39 per cent and clients with cable get 54 per cent of the promised speed.

Clean cars EMISSIONS from new cars in 2013 were 8 per cent lower than in 2012, EEA reports. This makes

FIVE people were injured in a crash when a train smashed into a digger on the tracks near Munich. The train driver was seriously injured while the four construction workers suffered only minor injuries.

800 letters A POSTWOMAN, who had seven previous convictions for fraud and six for theft, has been sentenced to two- anda-half-years in prison after she was found guilty of throwing away over 800 letters instead of delivering them.

Jeweller raids A JEWELLER in western Germany has turned to robbery in a desperate attempt to save his failing business. The 48-year-old carried out a series of raids on other jewellery shops and a bank.

Ring busted ELEVEN people have been arrested in Saxony-Anhalt for running an international paedophile ring. The group is accused of distributing child porn as well as using a five-year-old girl to entice other victims.

Angel’s rules ACCORDING to a former member of the Berlin Hell’s Angels the group has strict laws banning its members from drinking alcohol and travelling by train or bus. The only exception to the alcohol rule is the gang’s annual party.

the vehicle fleet of new cars in The Netherlands the cleanest in Europe.

No difference COSMETIC dermatologist Jetske Ultee has found that according to ingredients listed on packaging, there is no difference between day creams, night creams, eye creams or serums.

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15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

EWN

Architect Frank Gehry wins Spanish arts prize US architect Frank Gehry has won Spain’s top annual arts award. The world-renowned architect was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts yesterday (Wednesday May 7). Gehry was given the prize in ISABEL PANTOJA: May be going to prison.

Prison time for La Pantoja

SPANISH singing icon Isabel Pantoja, involved in a Marbella land scandal, might be sentenced to another one year, three months and one day in prison for money laundering. This extra time, bringing the new total to three years, three months and one day, would mean that she has to physically go to prison rather than remain free with a suspended sentence. She was originally sentenced to two years for the illegal trading of land in the ‘Malaya’ case; the prosecution is asking for the extra time as they consider that the singer committed two crimes and, as such, the sentence should reflect this.

recognition of decades spent creating eye-catching buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The jury opted for Canadian-born Gehry, 85, as winner of the €50,000 prize for his work that has “defined

and driven architecture in the past half-century.” Gehry’s best-known creations include the Bilbao Guggenheim, a silver mass of curved titanium and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Odometer fraud easy business A MINIMUM of 82,000 second hand cars are sold in Spain each year with their odometer readings having been changed. The tool needed to change the odometer is available on the internet and very easy to use. With each use between 70,000 and 100,000 kilometres can be taken away. According to a report issued by the RACC motorists organisation between five and 12 per cent of second hand cars in

GADGET NEEDED: To erase the kilometres. Spain have had their odometer tricked. To prove how easy it is to do this the RACC bought their own, illegal, machine from the internet and in four easy

steps had erased 100,000 kilometres from a car. The RACC has commented that this puts the consumer at great risk as they pay more for their

car but they don’t really know very much about its state of repair and this could put them at greater risk of having an accident. The RACC has proposed that the ITV (MOT) stations should be equipped with specialised tools to detect this type of fraud or, alternatively, every time a car has an ITV the real amount of kilometres it has done should be recorded in the car’s paperwork thus eliminating the possibility of fraud.

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

A note from the

NEWS

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Editor

Here we go again…

ET more intrusive legislation is planned by the Spanish Government. Now it wants sweeping new powers to examine bank accounts. It wants to collect data from all of Spain’s estimated 34 million accounts and allow a wide range of government bodies access to the information, including the Tax Office, Police, Military, Secret Services and the Judiciary. And as usual the excuse of it being part of the war against terror, corruption and tax avoiders is being trotted out. Well, that may be the case, but it is nothing more than a snooper’s charter. The old line ‘if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear’ just does not wash. History is filled with regimes which collated as much information about its citizens as possible in order to

keep them under the thumb. The next step is to use such information gleaned to demand that law-abiding citizens justify the contents of their bank balances; in other words, guilty until proven innocent. Some public authorities in Spain already have the power to simply dip in and take money from private accounts with little or no explanation. Combine that with the power to examine the accounts first, and it becomes seriously worrying. What then is to stop the taxman seeing you had, say, €30,000 deposited in your account and simply deciding that 40 per cent of it belonged to the government, and just helping himself? Far-fetched maybe. But who trusts the politicians and civil servants? Not many in Spain. Particularly when it comes to money.

SEIZED PACKAGES: The reptiles were found in plastic boxes.

Live reptiles sent by post

GUARDIA CIVIL in Algeciras have discovered live reptiles in boxes, which were being sent through the post. The animals were in plastic boxes, which allowed for no ventilation, and did not meet the standards required for the transport of live animals. The boxes were being sent to an address in Barcelona from the Canary Islands and were spotted by postal workers whose job it is to scan the packages. They alerted police to the fact that they suspected live animals were inside some of the boxes. As the animals might have died due to

the way they were packaged, the boxes were opened and the police found reptiles including two Tokay geckos, four Rhamaholeon Brevicaudatus chameleons and one Agama agama. The packages were listed as containing ornaments and had false senders’ addresses. The Spanish postal service prohibits the sending of live animals through its system. For the moment the animals are all being looked after by Castellar de la Frontera Zoo and they have all recovered from their ordeal.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca North

business & legal

MOTORWAY group Abertis announced first quarter net profits of €125 million. Although this was 11.6 per cent less than in 2013, traffic on Spanish roads grew by 2.7 per cent, its first increase since 2007.

Luxury on the cheap in Spain NON-EU tourists spend 90 per cent less in Madrid than in London or Paris. For every euro spent in Spain’s capital they spend €2.2 in Munich and €3.5 in Milan, found international consultants Global Blue. In London or Paris this rises to €9.5. The difference is unfair, Spanish analysts say, not least because it is often possible to find the same products at lower prices in Madrid. The Spanish daily ABC decided to do its own research and found that a trophy watch of the type sought by Asian tourists costs €70,162 in

Madrid without IVA value-added tax, compared with €78,057 in Italy or €74,270 in France. The cheapest capital outside Spain was the UK, where it costs €71,266. It was the same story with bags, again without IVA, with a designer handbag that cost €24,367 in Spain selling for €24,981 in London and €25,149 in France. The luxury goods market for tax-free tourism is not sufficiently exploited, the ABC study concluded, especially now when it could contribute to the country’s economic recovery.

saw a 16.2 per cent increase compared with last year and sales of 282,301 units gave the best result since 2010. It is hoped that by the end of the year total sales will reach 820,000 cars - well above last year’s 722,703, however, still short of the industry’s 1.2 to 1.3 million objectives.

usiness extra

Sharp-eyed inspectors THE government is creating a National Office to fight clandestine employment. Over the last two years, work inspections uncovered 161,381 irregular jobs and saved the government €7.6 billion.

Tax backtrack AIRPORTS authority AENA confirmed that it will freeze airport taxes in 2015. Thanks to increased domestic and international air traffic it decided to forego a planned 4.5 per cent increase.

Insurance chief loses pension THE ex-president of the Mutua Madrileña Automovisitica insurance company has lost his €13.9 million pension pot. Ramirez Pomatta, who was president of the mutual insurance company between 2002 and 2008, resigned two days before the board was due to change the rules regarding “excessive and disproportionate” pensions. He did so to be sure of receiving his

previously-agreed pension, the Supreme Court heard. Ramirez Pomatta was entitled to resign as a director, said judge Ignacio Sanchez Gargallo, but the circumstances in which he exercised that right and his purpose in doing so, knowing that the board would vote to change the pension regulations, was “an unreasonable exercise of his rights.”

Natali Glado / Shutterstock.com

PIVE allowance for taking old vehicles off the road. There was also increased demand for more vehicles from car-hire companies preparing for the Easter rush, said manufacturers’ association Anfac and concessionary associations Faconauto and Ganvam. The first quarter of 2014

STAT OF WEEK

Car sales increasing

MONTH-ON-MONTH vehicle sales rose by 28.7 per cent in April to 80,174 units. Car sales are always regarded as the economic climate’s barometer and the Spanish sector has now enjoyed eight consecutive months of increases. These were stimulated by government subsidies like the

EWN

BIG RISE: Good news for the economy ?

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca North

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C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 440.15 Admiral Group PLC 1438.00 Aggreko PLC 1660.50 Anglo American PLC 1630.25 Antofagasta PLC 790.50 ARM Holdings PLC 898.75 Ashtead Group PLC 864.00 Associated British Foods 2979.50 AstraZeneca PLC 4623.00 Aviva PLC 525.75 Babcock International 1221.50 BAE Systems PLC 406.85 Barclays PLC 255.43 Barratt Developments 375.45 BG Group PLC 1262.00 BHP Billiton PLC 1945.00 BP PLC 502.95 British Amrcn Tobacco 3462.00

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -2.77 -0.63 13.00 0.91 18.00 1.10 26.50 1.65 21.50 2.80 13.00 1.47 10.00 1.17 35.00 1.19 22.50 0.49 1.50 0.29 -1.36 -0.11 1.80 0.44 -4.70 -1.81 -2.10 -0.56 -2.00 -0.16 48.50 2.56 2.00 0.40 44.15 1.29

NET VOLUME 1,000.26 128.59 153.02 2,772.58 978.19 1,114.72 644.12 203.19 1,064.61 1,847.21 297.96 1,520.87 19,300.28 1,608.65 1,644.37 4,122.58 5,681.00 1,047.35

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PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 141.34 88.84 36.44 131.10 105.06 125.03 23.02 67.78 101.95 26.42 157.20 77.71 26.30 190.08 100.91 54.01 102.93 55.21 39.54 73.45 29.03 82.39 40.87 91.30 116.99 76.95 48.48 210.81 79.20 81.95

+0.51 +0.22 +0.04 +0.53 +0.12 -0.06 +0.002 -0.32 -0.37 -0.02 -0.20 +0.66 -0.04 +1.17 +0.41 -0.35 +0.98 +0.38 -0.10 +0.40 -0.14 +0.23 +0.14 +0.06 -0.03 +0.06 -0.01 -0.09 +0.51 +0.35

+0.36% +0.25% +0.11% +0.41% +0.11% -0.05% +0.01% -0.47% -0.36% -0.08% -0.13% +0.86% -0.15% +0.62% +0.41% -0.64% +0.96% +0.69% -0.25% +0.55% -0.48% +0.28% +0.34% +0.07% -0.03% +0.08% -0.02% -0.04% +0.65% +0.43%

2.1M 2.3M 15.0M 2.5M 2.8M 4.8M 22.6M 3.7M 8.9M 17.4M 2.6M 4.3M 20.3M 2.3M 5.7M 12.4M 3.6M 12.4M 29.6M 2.4M 39.0M 7.3M 8.5M 1.6M 2.2M 3.5M 14.5M 2.9M 4.9M 5.4M

1.22667

0.81512

C O M PA N Y

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 1.86 -22.16 -7.80 -2.00 12.00 9.00 10.00

0.26 -2.49 -2.04 -0.12 0.79 0.82 0.42

NET VOLUME 1,123.10 2,322.53 12,279.97 183.21 241.23 475.89 102.12

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

$ 6.48 $ 33.57 $ 7.13 $ 23.08 $ 15.09 $ 12.79 $ 28.65 $ 27.52 $ 5.81 $ 12.40 $ 15.71

1.16 ▲ 21.80% 5.22 ▲ 18.41% 1.04 ▲ 17.08% 3.17 ▲ 15.92% 2.04 ▲ 15.63% 1.70 ▲ 15.33% 3.78 ▲ 15.20% 3.35 ▲ 13.86% 0.70 ▲ 13.70% 1.39 ▲ 12.62% 1.73 ▲ 12.37%

$ 31.38 $ 21.83 $ 19.06 $ 8.965 $ 32.679 $ 10.57 $ 6.68 $ 2.06 $ 47.36 $ 8.42 $ 9.47

9.99 ▼ 24.15% 5.98 ▼ 21.50% 3.95 ▼ 17.17% 1.845 ▼ 17.07% 6.631 ▼ 16.87% 1.96 ▼ 15.64% 1.02 ▼ 13.25% 0.27 ▼ 11.59% 5.76 ▼ 10.84% 0.97 ▼ 10.33% 1.01 ▼ 9.64%

Most Advanced RadNet, Inc. Matrix Service Company BioScrip, Inc. Black Box Corporation Tuesday Morning Corp. Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. Universal Display Corporation NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. Borderfree, Inc. Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.

Most Declined Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. Rocket Fuel Inc. Aceto Corporation Scientific Games Corp Insys Therapeutics, Inc. Depomed, Inc. Himax Technologies, Inc. ChyronHego Corporation Air Methods Corporation Silver Standard Resources Inc. Gencor Industries Inc.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Centrica PLC 317.50 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1421.50 Compass Group PLC 976.75 CRH PLC 1684.00 Diageo PLC 1855.75 easyJet PLC 1736.50 Experian PLC 1053.50 Fresnillo PLC 836.75 Friends Life Group Ltd 299.95 G4S PLC 249.00 GKN PLC 378.80 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1611.50 Glencore Xstrata PLC 328.97 Hammerson PLC 581.75 Hargreaves Lansdown 1214.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 604.70 IMI PLC 1539.50 Imperial Tobacco Group 2626.50 InterContinental Hotels 2184.00 International Consldtd ... 391.15 Intertek Group PLC 3048.50 ITV PLC 187.10 Johnson Matthey PLC 3304.00 Kingfisher PLC 414.55 Land Securities Group 1085.50 Legal & General Group 226.00 Lloyds Banking Group 77.01 London Stock Exchange 1848.50 Marks & Spencer Group 455.95 Meggitt PLC 477.35 Melrose Industries PLC 287.05 Mondi PLC 1039.50 National Grid PLC 853.25 Next PLC 6482.50 Old Mutual PLC 206.20 Pearson PLC 1125.50 Persimmon PLC 1363.50 Petrofac Ltd 1206.50 Prudential PLC 1382.50 Randgold Resources Ltd 4591.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 4806.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 881.25 REXAM PLC 502.50 Rio Tinto PLC 3323.75 Rolls-Royce Holdings 1004.50 Royal Bank of Scotland 325.05 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2576.25 Royal Mail PLC 559.75 RSA Insurance Group 481.95 SABMiller PLC 3195.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 401.60 Sainsbury (J) PLC 336.65 Schroders PLC 2610.00 Severn Trent PLC 1890.00 Shire PLC 3326.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 917.00 Smiths Group PLC 1324.00 Sports Direct Internatnl 764.00 SSE PLC 1507.50 Standard Chartered 1288.00 Standard Life PLC 388.40 St James's Place PLC 791.50 Tesco PLC 293.52 Travis Perkins PLC 1736.50 TUI Travel PLC 441.05 Tullow Oil PLC 895.50 Unilever PLC 2639.50 United Utilities Group 832.00 Vodafone Group PLC 225.03 Weir Group PLC 2687.00 Whitbread PLC 4157.00 William Hill PLC 352.35 Wm Morrison Sprmrkts 197.00 Wolseley PLC 3393.00 WPP PLC 1267.50

CHANGE -1.00 -31.00 5.50 19.00 5.25 51.36 5.00 20.06 -0.06 0.80 1.60 -1.90 3.49 -2.50 5.00 8.70 13.00 36.00 -1.00 6.30 21.00 -1.87 6.00 -5.60 -6.00 3.60 0.65 9.00 -2.07 -1.49 -2.53 24.00 -1.56 19.27 0.40 -12.00 8.00 29.00 13.00 53.00 -20.00 3.00 0.00 140.00 3.64 -0.16 0.50 2.20 385.50 -16.00 5.10 0.80 8.00 25.00 16.50 6.00 5.00 -5.00 -3.88 -4.00 1.90 4.50 -3.33 21.00 -3.50 -3.00 0.35 9.50 -1.70 22.00 58.00 1.30 -0.57 4.00 1.92

% C H G. -0.31 -2.14 0.57 1.14 0.28 3.05 0.48 2.46 -0.02 0.32 0.42 -0.12 1.07 -0.43 0.41 1.46 0.85 1.39 -0.05 1.64 0.69 -0.99 0.18 -1.33 -0.55 1.62 0.85 0.49 -0.45 -0.31 -0.87 2.36 -0.18 0.30 0.19 -1.06 0.59 2.46 0.95 1.17 -0.41 0.34 0.00 4.39 0.36 -0.05 0.02 0.39 399.48 -0.50 1.29 0.24 0.31 1.34 0.50 0.66 0.38 -0.65 -0.26 -0.31 0.49 0.57 -1.12 1.22 -0.79 -0.33 0.01 1.16 -0.75 0.83 1.41 0.37 -0.29 0.12 0.15

VOLUME 3,563.73 117.35 1,038.11 530.63 642.28 620.12 547.89 291.90 1,236.25 1,044.67 882.57 2,674.40 10,463.50 268.91 116.34 10,456.04 111.38 846.99 275.82 6,426.96 80.99 7,855.26 55.23 2,047.82 386.62 7,792.14 25,057.28 94.36 1,423.91 697.20 836.88 430.35 2,486.70 116.84 3,529.11 669.23 327.99 1,135.58 2,110.22 102.62 370.76 1,083.85 203.77 3,158.60 916.65 3,211.22 1,518.33 294.45 1,647.44 485.31 1,118.68 3,015.99 61.27 205.33 663.78 1,162.60 100.63 457.88 1,110.70 978.75 2,121.73 990.48 4,966.04 196.70 336.14 725.22 1,035.61 572.60 24,175.94 63.22 138.00 831.76 2,970.95 162.18 802.94

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca North

THE Bank of Ireland must pay €103.5 million compensation for a failed Spanish deal. Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that the Irish bank reneged on its May 2007 agreement to acquire the Plaza Imperial Shopping centre in Zaragoza. It had agreed to pay €360 million for 100 per cent of 1.7 million shares in Procom Desarrollo Comercial, jointly owned by Procom Desarollos Urbanos and Cecosa Hipermercados (Eroski). The Supreme Court recognised that Procom had received other offers from entities ‘of recognised prestige’ including ING Real Estate, Commerz Grundbesitz and Quinlan Private. Instead Procom chose the Bank of Ireland offer. The transaction was negotiated through the bank’s privatebanking division, which intended to provide €140 million. The remainder was to be financed by the German bank Hypo Real Estate although

Output continues to rise SPANISH manufacturing continued to rise in March, the fifth straight month of increases. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE) output was rising at an annual rate of 0.6 per cent. While the consumer sector continued to decline - consumer durables production fell 4.8 per cent output of business equipment rose 3 per cent while materials like textiles and chemicals used during the manufacturing process rose by 2.5 per cent. The modest but now sustained growth in output followed five years of falls that started with the implosion of the property market in 2008.

CREDIT Canadian Pacific.

No luck for the Bank of Ireland

PAY UP: €103.5 million bill for Bank of Ireland. the conditions of the agreements between the banks were never communicated to the vendors, the Supreme Court pointed out. Hypo Real Estate withdrew its offer in September 2008 and Procom and Cecosa were advised that the finance operation had fallen through

owing to ‘persistent adverse market conditions and the specific circumstances of the project.’ Unable to meet the terms of the contract, Bank of Ireland then took back the €40 million it had already advanced, prompting legal proceedings from Procom and Cecosa.

In December 2011, the Madrid Provincial High Court decided in their favour and ordered Bank of Ireland to pay €103.5 million plus €12.65 million in interest. “Bank of Ireland acted in bad faith,” the Supreme Court ruled, confirming the high court sentence.

Who wears the pants in business? MOST will be familiar with the wisecrack: “I am the boss in this house and I have my wife’s permission to say so.” You have got to believe it. Had I not caught on to the fact that it is the woman who makes the buying decision I would have starved. Time after time I have seen sales fall through because the salesman ignored the client’s wife or secretary. Fail. Our culture portrays man’s role as a decision maker. It is theatre. Selling is a balancing act in which it is necessary to empathise equally with the lady partner. When selling properties abroad I focused equally, often a little more so, on the client’s wife. However, if successful, it was the man who gave it the nod. My after sales practice was to ask which of them had actually made the decision to buy. In only one instance had the man made that decision. The others ruefully conceded that the wife had given it the final nod. Had she not done so the sale would have fallen through. Clients were often single women and either travelled alone or with a female relative. I can’t remember my sales partner in Spain not closing. Occasionally a single man would go on his own.

DECISION: Make sure the real boss agrees.

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

It was a waste of time. Only once did I make a sale. Modern man, I am sorry to say, finds making a decision harder to do than does a woman. Far less sure of himself he will pro-

crastinate. It got so bad that I would not send a man on a viewing trip unless he was accompanied by a woman. Property is one thing close to a woman’s heart but over the years I have sold payphones to businesses, building services, a retailer, and trade association accreditation. Other salesmen covering a wide diversity of products and services agree with me. A tip from a former Rolls-Royce Sales Manager: “The worst mistake you can make in business is to procrastinate.”

EWN

April showers work on the jobless DESPITE discouraging unemployment figures for 2014’s first quarter, April’s were buoyant. The increase in employment was the best ever for this month, with a 2.3 per cent fall in the number of people registered as unemployed. There were 111,565 more people in work than in March, the Ministry of Labour announced. Although unemployment fell by only 50,202 after seasonal adjustments, the reduction is still a record for April. “Seasonally adjusted employment fell for the ninth consecutive month,” said the junior minister of Labour Engracia Hidalgo. “Such a prolonged reduction has not been seen since 1999,” she added. Although 4,684,301 people are without jobs in Spain, there was further good news with another 133,765 people paying into the Social Security system as bars, restaurants and hotels took on more staff over Easter. The ministry of Labour figures followed the National Statistics Office (INE) report on the first quarter of 2014. If, as some analysts claim, INE figures are more reliable than the Labour ministry’s, then employment in Spain is still being destroyed. Approximately 5.9 million people - 25.9 per cent of the work force were out of work between January and the end of March, according to INE. The government is confident that the unemployment rate will drop to 23.3 per cent in 2015 although it will not fall below 20 per cent until 2017.

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca North

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL BUSINESS EXTRA

Well-heeled advice for a prosperous future A NEW book by a Canadian writer, an author specialising in finance for females, says young women may be intimidated by a lack of financial knowledge but are eager to learn and better at money management then young men. One of the main issues her book addresses is that there is no point saving money unless there is also a plan for spending it. She has a good point. If we have no particular goals in mind in regards to our savings, it is so easy to just spend money carelessly on stuff that we probably don’t even want, but that just might tickle our fancy in the moment. That’s because money is only good for one thing spending it - so the trick is to decide what’s important

Miami express road works CONSTRUCTION company OHL won a €180.5 million contract to design and construct express lanes on two 20.9-kilometre main roads in Miami’s metropolitan area. It must complete the work within 1,175 days.

Loose change A look at finance for females

SAVING: Start early.

Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

More oil

to you and make sure you don’t waste a limited resource on impulses or poorly thought out sprees. If you want a holiday, to buy a new computer or put a down payment on a property, the trick is to make this particular goal a priority in your life. Discuss it; write it down to make it appear more tangible and then focus your energy on saving to make this goal become a reality. This way, every time you are tempted to spend frivolously, you will have

A TOTAL of 1.752 billion tons of olive oil was produced in the last six months, 188 per cent more than during the same period in 2012-2013. Exports increased 72 per cent to 514,800 tons.

Going digital more self-control to say ‘no’ because saving for your goal will be more important. It’s all about creating the correct mindset to save. Other top tips in the book include:

Liable for taxes if you live in Spain… Q. My husband and I became Spanish residents last year. We both receive our state You and the pensions in the UK and I have a small NHS pension. Do we have a choice as to whether Law in Spain we pay any necessary tax on our pensions in By David Searl Spain or in the UK? We are now about to sell our property in the UK. Will we be liable for Capital Gains tax on this sale, as we own an apartment in Spain? If we are liable for capital gains tax, will we receive any tax relief because we are now Spanish residents? L.C. (by email) A. If you are official residents of Spain, holding the EU citizen certificate of registration, you are liable for Spanish taxes on your worldwide income and assets. You should ask your nearest UK Consulate about the individual form on which you declare you now pay income tax in Spain and request you go off the UK tax books and onto the Spanish tax registry. You do not have a choice. If you own property outside Spain worth more than €50,000, you must file Spanish Form 720 declaring these assets. If you sell your UK property, you will be liable for UK Capital Gains Tax and also for Spanish Capital Gains Tax because you are a tax resident of Spain. You can claim relief from one of these taxes. Consult a Spanish tax advisor. Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

- Talk to your children, especially your girls, about money. The more they know, the better they’ll be able to make good choices. - Start savings as soon as possible. The sooner you

start, the greater the benefit and set of security. - Avoid ‘bad’ debt, borrowing for consumption rather than to buy an asset that will gain in value. - Invest in yourself.

TELEFONICA’S €725 million offer for 56 per cent of Digital Plus has been accepted by media group Prisa. That raises Telefonica’s stake to 28 per cent of the pay TV company.

No cutbacks on First Communion expenses MAY means First Communions in Spain. Despite the economic crisis families are not cutting back in this area, although spending will vary depending on where they live. Parents in Madrid spend most - an average of €3,245 - found a survey by the FUCI consumers’ association. Next comes Valencia (€3,150), Barcelona (€3,118) and San Sebastian (€3,045) but families can expect to spend least in Tenerife (€1,665) or Caceres (€1,780). Half of any First Communion budget is eaten up - literally - by a formal meal costing from €40 to €60 a head for 30 or so guests. A girl’s dress costs approximately €225 while the sailor suit generally worn by boys comes in at between €40 and €60. Photographs, videos and mementoes of the occasion for the guests add a further €238 to €630 to the bill, plus €200 for a children’s entertainer. Nineteen per cent of parents told the FUCI survey that they were later dissatisfied with some aspect of the services they contracted. A third blamed

COMMUNION: No expense spared. the meal, 26 per cent were unhappy with photographs and 12 per cent with the clothes. Parents should plan carefully and always request written estimates for the meal and photographer, FUCI advised.

OPINION & COMMENT

Caring charity made life a pleasure again MY name is Patti Lee, I am 83 years old and live alone. Last October I had to have a hip operation, after which I spent a little time recovering in a nursing home. When they said I could go home I was so worried about how I was going to cope. A friend advised me to get in touch with HAH (Help at Home) who immediately came to my aid. How could I have coped without their wonderful care team? I couldn’t get dressed or do essential tasks, but they took this on, and for many days helped me, taking me to appointments and out for coffee and walks. They made life a pleasure again. Janet and Chris in particular have become firm friends and still visit me regularly, helping with difficulties and appointments, etc. My little dog and I look forward so much to their visits. Janet wrote down some very important facts on what to do in an emergency, and following a fall where I cut my leg quite badly, I followed her instructions. I was able to get help and I am convinced that this saved my life! Their volunteers are all so helpful and they work extremely hard, and their service is free. I could not have managed without them, and would like to thank them all for their time, care and friendship. They all deserve a medal! Patti Lee, Mar Menor (Murcia)

Surprise packet I WROTE to ‘Your Say’ not long ago about successfully seeing off someone posing as a Microsoft engineer. Now I must warn about another scam. My anti-virus recently warned me that I’d received a threat in an email, which I saw in the preview pane was supposedly from FedEx. They had tried to deliver a parcel while I was out and to please open the following link and print out their receipt, it said. Much as I’d like to receive a parcel, I was expecting nothing and zapped the offending email. Do the same! T Freeman (by email)

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Letters 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

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WE love the ever-changing views of Montgo from our viewpoint on Gata Residencial. The helicopters water-bombing the recent woodland fires were amazing. Tom Miller, Gata de Gorgos (Alicante)

I SEE emigrants returning to Spain are making a lot of noise because they are being taxed on pensions which they obtained whilst working abroad and did not declare on their tax returns. My late wife and I declared taxes on all our incoming monies. In my wife’s case, four pensions from England, in my case, two. We, as foreigners knew we had to do so. I believe those emigrants returning also knew. Why were they allowed to escape those taxes for so long? M J Barnett, Los Gallardos (Almeria)

Three rules IN response to Tom Harksworth, there are at least three things we in the West can do to help those in the Third World. Work to ameliorate the effects of climate change. This will benefit all mankind eventually, but especially those living in regions of the world where survival is marginal at best. Work to stop agribusiness, mining corporations and businesses which use (abuse?) the cheap labour available in poor

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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countries while abusing natural resources and exporting the profits. For example, the use of precious land water in India to produce a drink, Coca Cola, which is of no benefit to anyone but the shareholders. Also the aggressive marketing of GM seeds (see http://www.nation.lk/edition/lens /item/24886-geneticallymodified-seeds-in-india.html for a brief overview). Sadly, corruption of local politicians is part of the problem which is used by corporations to attain their goals. Education, especially of women. This simple resource has been shown to lead to reduced birth rates especially when girls are educated as well as boys.

Plate dilemma

YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

Taxing position

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This in turn leads to a more sustainable population. Helena McGinty, Alhaurin El Grande (Malaga)

Identity crisis I CAN’T understand how anyone would shut out the sound of sparrows, even when they make a racket. Unlike the correspondent who complained about them, I like having them around. Instead of complaining, he could try enjoying the shenanigans when they have an avian version of a punch-up, usually over a female. My problem is a pigeon. Not all pigeons, just one pigeon. There are many where we live, as the locals raise them for the pot and racing although there’s a worrying margin for error over confusing the edible with the speedy. One spends all of its time on a telephone cable beside our house. I had thought it was cooing until my neighbour said it seemed to be saying “Quien eres tu?” (who are you) over and over again. She’s right and dammit, that’s what I hear the ruddy bird repeating all day long. Who am I? I’m beginning to wonder. Alec Morris (by email)

REGARDING non-Spanish numberplates, who’s supposed to monitor them and issue the fines? I have lived on my urbanisation for eight years and there are cars on UK and other countries’ numberplates that I see, and have seen, all the time I have been here. These cars have no road tax and no MOT, so any insurance they do have will be null and void if they are involved in an accident. Maybe insurance companies should stop insuring cars not reregistered in Spain. Tony Barker, Orihuela Costa (Alicante)

Coffee raiders I WAS saddened to see in the Euro Weekly News that Starbucks are about to invade El Corte Ingles. Many years ago I lived in the centre of Madrid, in the barrio of Malasaña close to the Gran Via. Then the city was still very Spanish with families and friends promenading late into the evening, bars and pavement cafés buzzing, no drunks and little violence and the wonderful siesta during the hot summer afternoons. It was this Spanishness that led me to move there from London. One day I noticed that a recently-empty shop on Calle Fuencarral had been leased by yes you’ve guessed it - Starbucks. I realised then that the area was doomed! Within a year the whole character of the area had changed. What had been a ‘village’ with the streets full of ‘proper’ shops (the hardware shop, the bakers, several butchers and little family-run corner shops) was transformed into a ‘High Street Anywhere.’ The local traders had been made offers they couldn’t refuse, and their old shops were replaced by bland big business as Levi, Muji, Pepe and the rest moved in. All for the sake of an overpriced liquid tasting nothing remotely like coffee. A Wade, Benahavis (Malaga)

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.

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

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OPINION & COMMENT

Was there life before classical music? I

CAN only imagine what introduced me to good music. Certainly there was little to be cheery about in post-war Britain. A ration book austerity that today’s youngsters cannot imagine was the cross we all had to bear. In our 1950s’ humble home with its four-station radio, we kids were told to hush when John McCormack, the love duet from Madame Butterfly or prelude from La Traviata was playing. I could see merit in good classical but was tonally seduced by Country Music and the 60s Mersey Sound when I reached my teens. Afterwards I lost my appetite for music. Instead I focused on other interests but had some inclination towards military and brass bands. BBC 3 Radio was pretentious, discordant and heavy. It treated we plebs with contempt. BBC 2 did condescend to provide a few hours of light classical mostly on a Sunday evening such as Your 100 Best Tunes.

Mike Walsh

Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.

How do I define good music? By what we know to be popular, not what we are told is popular. Pulling into a garage my car was to be MOT tested. A summer’s day, the windows were down and I seem to recall a CD track from La Boheme was playing. What a conversation stopper! It was like one of those classical music flash mobs now so popular. Staff and customers were enchanted and their reaction was a sheer joy. How I jumped for joy when I heard a programme, dedicated to popular classical, was to go on the air from September 1992. Classic FM was going to return to the people their music. After all, classical music composed by mostly lower-class musicians is the art of the working classes. I looked forward to recovering our soul music from the

CLASSIC FM: The popular radio show returned people to their music. snobbish bien-pensant set. That morning I was like a kid at Christmas when at 6am the first track was played by the station’s Nick Bailey. I am no great fan of Handel’s Zadok the Priest, but it was certainly music to my ears that golden dawn. Classic FM hoped that 2.8 million listeners would be attracted to its revolutionary departure from tedious non-pop

discordance. By Christmas 4.3 million were tuning in every week and Classic FM was Britain’s fourth most popular radio station. I felt vindicated. The popular station collected more silverware (almost) than did Liverpool FC. It is now listened to by 5.6 million people every week and in 2013, Classic FM was named UK Radio Brand of the Year at the Sony Awards.

Having retired to Spain I can still tune in by using my laptop as long as I guilefully enter my old UK postal code. Mediterranean Spain’s broadcasters ignore demand for good music. Is this an own goal? The Costas attract people of all nationalities who have a distinctly sophisticated middle-brow taste in music. Karaoke just doesn’t do Beethoven, Mahler or Mozart.

Boomerang kids - nowhere to go 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

CCORDING to a recent Eurofound report, almost half of Europe’s young adults 36.7 million people - live with their parents. And it’s not just those finishing their education who can’t afford to live independently, but those in their 30s too. The data underlines the predicament of ‘Generation Y’ - better educated than its predecessors, but doomed nevertheless to a gloomier future than its parents’ generation: the anomaly of more and more adults stuck living in their childhood bedrooms or, worse, sofa surfing. The pollster, Ipsos Mori, reveals similar results in the UK: “Our generational analysis of attitudes in the UK has shown how much pressure the youngest generation feel under… This echoes the Eurofound research - it’s not just those straight out of school or university who are finding it more difficult to get going

YOUNG ADULTS: A recent report found that almost half live with their parents. with independent lives, it’s people well into their 20s and 30s.” We often read in the UK press about young people who can’t afford to move out of the parental home - so-called ‘Boomerang Kids’ - because there simply aren’t the jobs to pay for rents or mortgages. Reasons given range from

immigration to the economy, to the loss of Britain’s manufacturing base to the lack of vocational qualifications. And yes, each plays a part, but probably the last one’s most overlooked by the red-tops in favour of the latest immigration/benefits /expenses scandal. Too many young people get educated

in subjects not related to the job market. Britain needs a workforce with workrelated qualifications. School-leavers lose out, too, because they lack the basics: they don’t know how to dress neatly, turn up on time or adopt an appropriate form of speech at job interviews (“Yeah, like dunno!”). Why do Eastern Europeans, among others, so often have the necessary skills and discipline? Resilience is crucial: many give up before they even start. The British education system and government agencies are geared around knowledge, with skills in second place and attitude not even on the map. So, not only are more young people unable to get jobs but to move out of the family home. More and more ageing parents are running themselves ragged bringing up kids who’ll, in turn, inflict their inability to look after themselves on their own partners. Boomerang Kids indeed. OK, had enough of this, next immigration/benefits/expenses scandal please! Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Retribution’ and ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/ eBook (€0.89; £0.77) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca

FEATURE

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It’s the personal touch that matters at Casper’s, your friendly local bar C

ASPER’S BAR in Albir is a hidden gem tucked down the side street opposite Consum supermarket. Owners Hazel and Steve Thomas have run the establishment for five years and have built up quite a reputation as having some of the best home-cooked chips Albir has to offer. The chips are not the only reason to tuck in to one of their meals. Their Sunday roast is popular amongst regulars and visitors alike with their choice of beef, pork and chicken served with fresh vegetables. They are known for their generous portion sizes and this also applies with Fish and Chip Friday, with generous, full pieces of fresh Icelandic cod, served in Steve’s own beer and saffron infused batter. But don’t take their word on how good the food is, customers give it rave reviews: “We always have Sunday lunch here. It is the best around,” said Jackie and John Shippam, who have been going to Casper’s for more than two

HIDDEN GEM: Casper’s Bar in Albir. years.“Steve goes that extra bit and caters for individuals, and he knows what we like,” they added.

Belgian regular Lemoine agrees: “The food is very good and they look after you as well. Last time it was

11pm when we arrived after our flight and they were still open and asked if we needed anything for our apartment as it was late and everywhere was closed.” It is the little touches like these that have made Casper’s a truly friendly local and it is always a hub of activity. There are cribbage competitions on Mondays, Spanish lessons on Wednesday and Friday afternoons with author Gwen Cookson (whose books Simply Speak Spanish and Simply Speak Spanish 2 are on sale in the bar), a fun quiz with Drew the Piper on a Thursday, darts matches on Friday nights and live sport on TV every day. So there is always something going on to entertain everyone. So whether you pop in for a quick drink, a bite to eat or to join in with the fun, you are guaranteed great service from these friendly owners.

Casper’s is open 11am-late, closed Tuesdays. Call 600 836 360.

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

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FEATURE

15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

EWN

Should the minimum wage be kept? ECONOMIC powerhouse Germany is prospering despite having no minimum wage. Cases of people being paid €1.54 an hour have been uncovered. Meanwhile, Spain remains in the economic doldrums, but does have a minimum wage of €645 a month. Should Spain abolish its minimum wage to make the market more flexible, or should low-paid workers be protected from potential exploitation?

OHN COOPER, from Albir, Costa Blanca, was shocked to hear that Germany doesn’t have a minimum wage in place and believed it was important for Spain to keep theirs. “They definitely need to keep the minimum wage, the poor will just get poorer and it is not fair on the workers.” John, who, after six years of living in Albir, is going back to the UK this week with his wife, does think the minimum wage of €645 a month is OK. “At the moment with the economy the way it is I think this is average and fair as everyone is struggling,” he said.

STREET TALK Clifford Salter, aged 54 and now retired, from Alfaz del Pi, Costa Blanca, could see both sides of the argument having been an employer and an employee over the years. He said: “Hiring people and keeping a company going is hard enough so sometimes even paying people the minimum wage is difficult. I think if a lot of companies now who are

ADRIAN CARMICHAEL: Good social conscience.

JOHN COOPER: Minimum wage needs to stay.

struggling were able to take on casual staff even if they can’t pay them the minimum wage, it gives someone work experience and keeps the economy going. But also, as an employee, we always want more money and

don’t want to feel exploited or taken advantage of.” Adrian Carmichael, 35, on holiday in Benalmadena, Malaga, from his Bristol home, agreed with having a minimum wage. “As long as it is not at a stupidly high level. Low-paid workers do need protection from exploitation. People should be given the chance of earning a reasonable living. If a boss cannot pay a low minimum wage then he should not be in business. Of course, that might make some goods and services more expensive, but the public just has to accept that.” Adrian added: “I am surprised that Germany does not have a minimum wage, but generally it is a country with a good social conscience. The people do seem to be well looked after, so maybe a minimum wage is not needed.”

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FINANCE

EUROPEAN PRESS

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15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

EWN

Don’t Underestimate Succession Tax Succession tax hits most families in Spain, even when one spouse inherits from the other. Yet many people do not take steps to protect their families from this tax. The Valenciana succession tax regime is more beneficial than the State one, but only applies if you are ‘habitually resident’ in the region, i.e. living here for the five years up to your death. The 75% deduction for immediate family only applies if the beneficiary is also a habitual resident. Here are some examples of the impact of this tax. Mr and Mrs Smith have lived in Valencia for three years when he dies. He leaves property worth €300,000 and €500,000 in local bank accounts to his wife, who remains in Spain. Mr Smith’s objective was for his wife to have access to the funds as needed, and help their grandchildren with university fees. Mrs Smith finds herself faced with a succession tax bill of €158,000 when she inherits the assets from her husband, and the grandchildren have to pay tax on the money they receive.

By Robert Croizat, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks When Mrs Smith dies, her children will also pay tax when they inherit her assets. Mr and Mrs Jones have property worth €300,000 and €500,000 invested in stocks and shares offshore. They have lived in Valencia for six years, and Mrs Jones remains resident here after her husband dies. Since they are habitually resident, her succession tax bill is lower at €40,000. Mr and Mrs Davis have

property worth €500,000 and €1,500,000 in the bank. They have only lived here three years when Mr Davis dies, and his wife has to pay €602,683 in succession tax. Mr and Mrs Hughes also have property worth €500,000 and €1,500,000 invested offshore. Having lived in Valencia for over five years when Mr Hughes dies, his wife pays much less succession tax bill than Mrs Davis - at €143,500. Note that in all four cases, succession tax will be paid a second time when their UK resident children inherit the assets when the wife dies. Also, tax is always payable on death, whether the funds are required or not. None of these couples took advice on their succession planning. If they had done, the situation could have been very different. If they had placed their assets in a trust, no succession tax would have been due on death. Tax is

only paid when funds are distributed from the trust, and then only if paid to a Spanish resident beneficiary. So, for example, if the widow needs €50,000 which is paid from the trust, she will pay tax at €4,949. If she needs €50,000 to be paid to the trust while resident in Valencia, she will pay Valencia succession tax at €1,243. When €30,000 is distributed to the children in the UK to pay university fees, no succession tax is due. Trusts can be a useful wealth management tool for various reasons: • Retain assets outside Spain so potentially avoid Spanish succession tax • Manage wealth for different residents • Individual family reasons such as spendthrift children • Unsuitable marriage/divorce • Avoid forced heirship • Avoid probate on trust assets

• Manage assets for different beneficiaries e.g. minors • Keep assets outside estate of beneficiaries until required • UK domiciles and nondomiciles can avoid or reduce UK inheritance tax Succession tax is a complex tax, and trusts are a specialist area. Professional advice is essential if you wish to avoid or mitigate this tax for your family, and make sure you use arrangements which suit your objectives. 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.

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

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7:05am The Hoobs 7:30am Transworld Sport 8:30am FIM Superbike World Championship 9:00am The Morning Line 10:00am Weekend Kitchen with Waitrose 11:00am Frasier 11:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 11:55am The Big Bang Theory 12:25pm The Big Bang Theory 12:50pm The Simpsons 1:20pm The Simpsons 1:45pm Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 2:45pm Channel 4 Racing 5:10pm Come Dine with Me 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 8:05pm The Restoration Man 9:00pm Grand Designs 10:00pm X-Men: First Class 12:35am Top Gun 2:35am Brazil 5:00am Hollyoaks Omnibus

7:00am Emmerdale Omnibus 9:35am Coronation Street Omnibus 12:00pm Tom Daley Goes Global 12:55pm Britain's Got Talent 2:00pm Britain's Got More Talent 3:00pm You've Been Framed! A-Z 4:05pm Totally You've Been Framed! 5:10pm The Iron Giant 6:55pm Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith 9:50pm Britain's Got More Talent 10:50pm You've Been Framed! 11:20pm Celebrity Juice 12:10am Britain's Got Talent 1:30am Britain's Got More Talent 2:35am Viral Tap 3:15am Dads 3:35am Dads 4:00am Teleshopping

SkyMoviesDrama/

Chicago (Film, 2003)

3:30pm

SATELLITE CHANNELS/ Sky1/ 9:00am The Fantasy Football Club 10:00am Football's Funniest Moments 11:00am Soccer A.M. 1:00pm World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars 2:00pm David Attenborough's Micro Monsters 2:30pm David Attenborough's Micro Monsters

3:00pm David Attenborough's Micro Monsters 3:30pm David Attenborough's Micro Monsters 4:00pm Futurama 4:30pm Futurama 5:00pm Modern Family 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm Modern Family 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm Modern Family 8:00pm Futurama

8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Arrow 10:00pm Revolution 11:00pm 24: Live Another Day 12:00am The Full Monty 1:45am Futurama 2:00am Road Wars 3:00am Road Wars 4:00am Road Wars

SkyMoviesComedy/ 5:30am Stepping Out 7:25am Groundhog Day

•Catherine Zeta-Jones •Renée Zellweger •Richard Gere •Queen Latifah

9:15am This is 40 11:35am Godzilla Special 12:05pm American Pie: The Reunion 2:10pm Look Who's Talking 3:55pm Look Who's Talking Too 5:25pm Look Who's Talking Now! 7:10pm Groundhog Day 9:00pm American Pie: The Reunion 11:00pm This is 40 1:20am For a Good Time, Call... 3:00am Casting Couch

Jailed for killing her cheating fella, Roxie hears of legendary attorney Billy Flynn. Can Flynn get her off the hook, or will he take the case of murderer Velma?

SkyMoviesDrama/ 11:35am Hyde Park on Hudson 1:20pm Dangerous Liaisons 3:30pm Chicago 5:30pm Failure to Launch 7:15pm John Tucker Must Die 9:00pm The Notebook 11:10pm Dangerous Liaisons 1:15am Cinderella Man

SkyMoviesAction/ 7:20am Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

BBC3/ 8:00pm Doctor Who 8:45pm Top Gear 9:45pm Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 12:05am Family Guy 12:27am Family Guy 12:49am Family Guy 1:11am Family Guy 1:35am American Dad! 1:57am American Dad! 2:20am Him and Her 2:49am Him and Her 3:18am Him and Her 3:47am Him and Her 4:16am Him and Her

Family Guy (Animation, 1999) BBC 3 from 12:05am to 12:27am Cult animated comedy at its funniest. When Peter wins a maid for a week on a game show, Quagmire falls in love and the couple marry. But Quagmire is a bachelor to the core and it is not long before he is looking for a way out. Meanwhile Lois stops breast feeding Stewie, who, as a result starts going through withdrawals. Starring Seth McFarlaneGuest Starring Bryan Cranston (The Dad from Malcolm In The Middle).

BBC4/ 8:00pm BBC Young Musician 2014 9:30pm Sounds of the 70s 10:00pm Wallander 11:40pm The Old Grey Whistle Test

9:10am The Bridge on the River Kwai 11:55am Skyfall 2:25pm Hugh Jackman: Becoming Wolverine 2:55pm The Fast and the Furious 4:45pm 2 Fast 2 Furious 6:40pm The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift 8:30pm Skyfall 11:00pm The Fast and the Furious 12:55am 2 Fast 2 Furious

70's Gold. 1:10am The Comet's Tale 2:10am The Sky at Night 2:40am The Horizon Guide to Space Shuttles 3:40am The Search for Life: The Drake Equation

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

SUNDAY TV

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ITV2/

07 am

7:00am Breakfast 10:00am The Andrew Marr Show 11:00am The Big Questions 12:00pm Sunday Politics 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm Weather for the Week Ahead 2:15pm Countryfile 3:10pm Flog It! 3:50pm Escape to the Country 4:35pm Points of View 4:50pm Brazil with Michael Palin 5:50pm Lifeline 6:00pm Songs of Praise 6:35pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 7:35pm BBC News 7:50pm Regional News 7:55pm Weather 8:00pm Countryfile Spring Special 9:00pm British Academy Television Awards 11:05pm BBC News 11:20pm Regional News 11:25pm Weather 11:30pm Imagine... 1:15am City of Men 2:55am Weatherview 3:00am BBC News

7:00am Preview 7:10am Affair with a Stranger 8:35am Safari 10:00am Gardeners World 10:30am The Beechgrove Garden 11:00am Athletics 1:30pm Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 3:00pm Inspire 3:30pm Gymnastics: European Championships 5:30pm Triathlon World Series Japan. 7:00pm Athletics 8:00pm Australia with Simon Reeve 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Dylan Thomas: A Poet in New York 11:20pm Edge of Darkness 1:05am Sus 2:35am Catch a Fire 4:10am Countryfile 5:05am Holby City

7:00am CITV 9:25am ITV News 9:30am Weekend 10:25am May the Best House Win 11:25am Murder, She Wrote 12:25pm Love Your Garden 1:25pm ITV News and Weather 1:35pm Big Star's Little Star 2:40pm The Chase 3:35pm Britain's Got Talent 4:55pm You've Been Framed! 5:20pm Midsomer Murders 7:20pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 7:45pm Catchphrase 8:30pm Off Their Rockers 9:00pm Vera 11:00pm Perspectives 12:00am ITV News and Weather 12:15am Aviva Premiership Rugby Highlights 1:15am The Store 3:45am Motorsport UK 4:35am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 5:20am ITV Nightscreen

7:15am Cooper Tires British F3 7:40am How I Met Your Mother 8:05am How I Met Your Mother 8:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:55am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:25am Frasier 9:55am Frasier 10:30am Sunday Brunch 1:30pm Secret Eaters 2:35pm The Big Bang Theory 3:05pm The Big Bang Theory 3:35pm The Simpsons 4:05pm The Simpsons 4:30pm Tooth Fairy 6:35pm Deal or No Deal 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm Four Rooms 9:00pm For the Love of Cars 10:00pm Fargo 11:05pm The Wolfman 1:05am Dorian Gray 2:55am Southland 3:40am Utopia 4:50am Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners 5:45am Four Rooms

7:00am Beauty and the Geek 7:45am The Hot Desk 7:50am Emmerdale Omnibus 10:45am Coronation Street Omnibus 1:10pm The Mighty Ducks 3:25pm Nanny McPhee 5:25pm Britain's Got Talent 6:45pm Britain's Got More Talent 7:45pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope 11:00pm Viral Tap 11:45pm Saw II 1:50am Mom 2:20am Viral Tap 3:00am The Vampire Diaries 3:45am Teleshopping

SkyMoviesDrama/

1:00pm

SATELLITE CHANNELS/ Sky1/ 10:00am Godzilla: Special 10:30am The Amazing SpiderMan 2 Special 11:00am World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars 12:00pm WWE Experience 1:00pm Modern Family 1:30pm Modern Family 2:00pm Futurama

2:30pm Futurama 3:00pm Futurama 3:30pm Modern Family 4:00pm Modern Family 4:30pm Modern Family 5:00pm Modern Family 5:30pm The Simpsons 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm About a Boy

7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Ones to Watch 9:00pm The Simpsons 9:30pm Futurama 10:00pm Hawaii Five-0 11:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00am A League of Their Own 1:00am A League of Their Own 2:00am Road Wars 3:00am Road Wars

•Gerard Butler •Jonny Weston •Elisabeth Shue •Abigail Spencer

SkyMoviesComedy/ 10:30am So Undercover 12:15pm Grumpy Old Men 2:05pm Grumpier Old Men 3:55pm Liar Liar 5:30pm Fun with Dick and Jane 7:10pm The Mask 9:00pm The Incredible Burt Wonderstone 10:50pm The Cable Guy

Chasing Mavericks (Film, 2012)

BBC3/ 8:00pm Great Movie Mistakes Not in 3D. 8:25pm Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End 11:00pm In the Flesh 12:00am Family Guy 12:22am Family Guy 12:45am American Dad! 1:07am American Dad! 1:30am Jonah From Tonga 2:00am In the Flesh 3:00am Tyger Takes on Porn 3:55am In the Flesh 5:30am American Dad!

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Film, 2007) BBC 3 from 8:25pm to 11:00pm Captain Jack Sparrow is hopelessly trapped in Davy Jones' locker after a harrowing encounter with the dreaded Kracken, and now Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must align themselves with the nefarious Captain Barbossa if they hold out any hope of saving their old friend from a fate worse than death.

BBC4/ 8:00pm BBC Young Musician 2014 10:30pm A Writer's Journey From There to Here 11:00pm Eric and Ernie

A surf-mad Santa Cruz teenager asks a local legend to train him up to take on one of the world's biggest waves.

12:30am Kings of Rock 'N' Roll 1:30am Rock 'n' Roll Britannia

SkyMoviesAction/ 9:35am The Lone Ranger 12:05pm Hugh Jackman: Becoming Wolverine 12:35pm Fast and Furious 6 2:50pm Gladiator 5:30pm Appaloosa 7:30pm The Lone Ranger 10:00pm Fast and Furious 6 12:15am Speed

SkyMoviesDrama/ 9:10am The Break-Up 11:05am Never Been Kissed 1:00pm Chasing Mavericks 3:00pm The Four Feathers 5:20pm 13 Going on 30 7:05pm Never Been Kissed 9:00pm Chasing Mavericks 11:00pm The Break-Up 12:50am Hide Away

2:30am The Doors - The Story of LA Woman 3:30am The Final Frontier? A Horizon Guide to the Universe

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

MONDAY TV

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BBC1/

BBC2/

ITV/

CH4/

ITV2/

07 am

06 am

07 am

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Fake Britain 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Caught Red Handed 12:30pm Call the Council 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm The Link 4:00pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Panorama 10:00pm DIY SOS The Big Build 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather 11:35pm Have I Got a Bit More News for You 12:20am The Guess List 1:00am The Graham Norton Show 1:45am Weatherview 1:50am BBC News

7:00am Preview 7:20am Homes Under the Hammer 8:20am Caught Red Handed 8:50am First Time on the Front Line 9:20am Countryside 999 10:05am Permission Impossible: Britain's Planners 11:05am Real Lives Reunited 11:35am Click 12:00pm BBC News 12:30pm World News 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Instant Restaurant 2:45pm One Man and his Campervan 3:15pm Pallisers 4:05pm Coast 4:45pm Great British Garden Revival 5:45pm Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets 6:15pm Flog It! 6:55pm Party Election Broadcast 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 10:00pm The Battle to Beat Polio 11:00pm The Culture Show 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am The Story of Women and Art

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 12:25pm ITV News 12:30pm This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV News and Weather 3:00pm Jo Frost Family Matters 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Ejector Seat 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Gino's Italian Escape 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm All New It'll be Alright on the Night 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Benidorm 12:35am Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey 1:30am Jackpot247 4:00am UEFA Champions League Weekly 4:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 5:10am ITV Nightscreen

6:50am Deal or No Deal 7:45am According to Jim 8:10am 3rd Rock from the Sun 8:35am King of Queens 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am Undercover Boss USA 12:00pm Come Dine with Me 12:30pm Come Dine with Me 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Come Dine with Me 1:35pm Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Come Dine with Me 2:40pm French Collection 3:40pm Countdown 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Draw it! 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Britain's Most Extreme Weather 10:00pm The Island with Bear Grylls 11:00pm Man v Weird 12:00am Gogglebox 1:00am Random Acts 1:05am Fargo 2:00am Scandal 2:45am Southcliffe 3:40am Mr Drew's School for Boys

7:00am Emmerdale 7:25am Coronation Street 7:55am Coronation Street 8:25am You've Been Framed! 8:45am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 9:30am Dinner Date 10:30am The Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30am The Real Housewives of Miami 12:30pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 1:30pm Emmerdale 2:00pm Coronation Street 2:30pm Coronation Street 3:00pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 4:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:10pm The Real Housewives of Miami 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 Mom 10:30pm Mom 11:00pm The Shawshank Redemption 1:50am Two and a Half Men 2:20am Two and a Half Men 2:45am Dads 3:05am Dads

SkyMoviesDrama/

Sky1/ 9:00am Modern Family 9:30am Modern Family 10:00am Futurama 10:30am Futurama 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm Hawaii Five-0 1:00pm Hawaii Five-0 2:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles

4:00pm Stargate Atlantis 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Simpsons

9:30pm Modern Family 10:30pm A League of Their Own 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 1:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00am Hawaii Five-0 3:00am Hawaii Five-0

SkyMoviesComedy/ 9:00am Best in Show 10:45am Godzilla Special

•Orlando Bloom •Kirsten Dunst •Susan Sarandon •Alec Baldwin •Jessica Biel

11:15am Life 1:15pm The Campaign 2:55pm 2 Days in New York 4:45pm As Good as It Gets 7:15pm Best in Show 9:00pm Life 10:55pm The Campaign 12:25am Nature Calls 1:50am Weird Science 3:25am Head of State

5:30am American Dad! 8:00pm Snog, Marry, Avoid? 8:30pm Snog, Marry, Avoid? 9:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 10:00pm Barely Legal Drivers 11:00pm Russell Howard's Good News 11:30pm EastEnders 12:00am Family Guy 12:23am Family Guy 12:46am Family Guy 1:10am Barely Legal Drivers 2:10am In the Flesh 3:10am Russell Howard's Good News 3:40am The Cariad Show 3:55am Barely Legal Drivers

Russell Howard's Good News (Comedy) BBC 3 from 11:00pm to 11:30pm Topical comedy show hosted by Russell Howard, who offers his unique perspective on the big stories dominating the media across TV, online and in print, as well as picking up on those sometimes overlooked things that make him smile.

BBC4/

Elizabethtown (Film, 2005)

6:50pm

SATELLITE CHANNELS/

BBC3/

Drew's life takes a turn for the worse when he loses his job, his girlfriend and his father within a few days. But things start to look up when he meets Claire, a flight attendant with enough positive energy to power Elizabethtown, the rural Kentucky town he's travelling to. Romantic comedy.

SkyMoviesDrama/

SkyMoviesAction/

10:40am First Night 12:45pm The Top Ten Show 2014 1:00pm Sparkle 3:05pm Now is Good 4:55pm Medicine Man 6:50pm Elizabethtown 9:00pm Cold Mountain 11:40pm Trouble with the Curve

10:10am King Kong 1:20pm Men in Black 3 3:10pm The Karate Kid 5:25pm The Karate Kid, Part II 7:30pm Hugh Jackman 8:00pm Assault on Precinct 13 10:00pm Men in Black 3 11:50pm Mean Machine 1:35am Lethal Weapon 3

8:00pm World News Today 8:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 9:00pm What Do Artists Do All Day? 9:30pm Only Connect 10:00pm Hinterland 11:35pm The First Georgians: The German Kings who Made Britain 12:35am Ford's of Dagenham Dream 1:35am Only Connect 2:05am What Do Artists Do All Day?

2:35am Stanley Spencer: The Colours of the Clyde

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

TUESDAY TV

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07 am

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Fake Britain 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Caught Red Handed 12:30pm Call the Council 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm The Link 4:00pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 10:00pm Happy Valley 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather 11:35pm Imagine... 12:40am Jindabyne 2:40am Weatherview 2:45am BBC News

7:00am Preview 7:05am Homes Under the Hammer 8:05am Caught Red Handed 8:35am Call the Council 9:20am Countryside 999 10:05am Watchdog 11:05am Real Lives Reunited 11:35am HARDtalk 12:00pm BBC News 12:30pm World News 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm A to Z of TV Gardening 2:05pm The Super League Show 2:45pm One Man and his Campervan 3:15pm Pallisers 4:05pm Coast 4:45pm Great British Garden Revival 5:45pm Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets 6:15pm Flog It! 6:55pm Party Election Broadcast 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm RHS Chelsea Flower Show 10:00pm Watermen: A Dirty Business 11:00pm Later Live... with Jools Holland 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Thalidomide - The Fifty Year Fight 1:20am The Good Old Days 4:20am This is BBC Two

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 12:25pm ITV News 12:30pm This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV News and Weather 3:00pm Jo Frost Family Matters 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Ejector Seat 6:00pm The Paul O'Grady Show 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 9:00pm Endeavour 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The Cube 12:35am Wild Britain with Ray Mears 1:00am Jackpot247 4:00am Loose Women 4:45am ITV Nightscreen

7:00am Countdown 7:45am According to Jim 8:10am 3rd Rock from the Sun 8:35am King of Queens 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am Undercover Boss USA 12:00pm Come Dine with Me 12:30pm Come Dine with Me 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Come Dine with Me 1:35pm Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Come Dine with Me 2:40pm French Collection 3:40pm Countdown 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Draw it! 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Embarrassing Bodies 10:00pm Mr Drew's School for Boys 11:00pm 16 Kids and Counting 12:05am Coppers 1:05am Random Acts 1:10am Pokerstars.Com EPT London 2:05am KOTV Boxing Weekly 2:30am Transworld Sport

7:00am Emmerdale 7:25am Coronation Street 7:55am Coronation Street 8:25am You've Been Framed! 8:45am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 9:30am Dinner Date 10:30am The Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30am The Real Housewives of Miami 12:30pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 1:30pm Emmerdale 2:00pm Coronation Street 2:30pm Coronation Street 3:00pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 4:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:10pm The Real Housewives of Vancouver 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 Duplicity 2:15am Two and a Half Men 2:40am Two and a Half Men 3:05am Life's Funniest Moments 3:25am Teleshopping

BBC3/ 8:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 9:00pm Gavin and Stacey 9:30pm Gavin and Stacey 10:00pm The Call Centre 11:00pm Sweat the Small Stuff 11:30pm EastEnders 12:30am Family Guy 12:52am Family Guy 1:15am American Dad! 1:35am The Call Centre 2:35am Sweat the Small Stuff 3:05am Barely Legal Drivers 4:00am The Call Centre

Gavin and Stacey (Sitcom, 2007) BBC 3 from 9:00pm to 9:30pm Comedy series about the longdistance relationship of Essex boy Gavin and Welsh lass Stacey.

BBC4/ 8:00pm World News Today 8:30pm Great British Railway Journeys

SkyMoviesComedy/

Notting Hill (Film, 1999)

1:30pm

A selfeffacing bookshop owner bumps into a major American movie star and falls instantly in love.

SATELLITE CHANNELS/ Sky1/ 9:30am Futurama 10:00am Futurama 10:30am Futurama 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm Hawaii Five-0 1:00pm Hawaii Five-0 2:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 4:00pm Stargate Atlantis 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Game Changers Special with David Beckham 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons

8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Hawaii Five-0 10:00pm The Full Monty 11:45pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:45am Hawaii Five-0 1:40am Hawaii Five-0 2:35am NCIS: Los Angeles 3:35am NCIS: Los Angeles 4:30am Road Wars 5:00am Gatwick

SkyMoviesComedy/ 6:30am Monsters University Special 7:00am When Harry Tries to Marry

8:35am Vinyl 10:05am The Guilt Trip 11:45am Starsky and Hutch 1:30pm Notting Hill 3:40pm Happy Gilmore 5:20pm Stir Crazy 7:15pm The Guilt Trip 9:00pm Starsky and Hutch 10:50pm Notting Hill 1:00am Stir Crazy 3:00am How to Make Love to a Woman 4:35am Happy Gilmore

SkyMoviesAction/ 5:30am The Karate Kid 7:40am Resident Evil:

9:00pm Ocean Giants

•Julia Roberts •Hugh Grant •Richard McCabe •Rhys Ifans

Retribution 9:20am The Karate Kid, Part II 11:20am The Next Karate Kid 1:15pm Man of Steel 3:45pm The Poseidon Adventure 5:50pm Dante's Peak 7:45pm Tombstone 10:00pm Man of Steel 12:30am Bloodsport 2:10am The Man with the Iron Fists 3:55am Mad Max

SkyMoviesDrama/ 5:10am The Remains of the Day

10:00pm Crusades 11:00pm The Horizon Guide to Space Shuttles

7:25am A Star is Born 10:25am Ask the Dust 12:30pm Return 2:20pm Coach Carter 4:40pm Cinderella Man 7:10pm Hitchcock 9:00pm Coach Carter 11:20pm Dead Poets Society 1:35am Burning Man 3:35am The Space Between 5:10am The Cup

TCM/ 6:00am The Juggler 7:30am Gunsmoke 8:30am Gunsmoke 9:30am Decision at Sundown

11:00am Young Guns of Texas 12:30pm The Fighting Lawman 1:50pm Gunsmoke 2:55pm Gunsmoke 4:00pm The Longhorn 5:25pm The China Syndrome 7:45pm Harper 10:00pm The Fugitive 12:30am 3,000 Miles to Graceland 2:50am The Fugitive 5:00am Off Set 5:45am TCM Shorts

12:00am Hidden Histories: Britain's Oldest Family Businesses 1:00am The Viking Sagas 2:00am Ocean Giants 3:00am The Horizon Guide to Space Shuttles 4:00am Crusades

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

EWN

Schools’ celebrity obsession is beyond belief LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

FEATUREFLASH / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ITH just a few weeks before local schools close for the summer (break out the Valium!) I thought it appropriate to include UK schools in a few moans this week. Once again the British educational system is in disarray. This week’s disclosure that one of Britain’s biggest exam boards is introducing socalled ‘popular culture’ questions into its A level exams is almost beyond belief. Example: Q. Analyse the transcript of Claudia Winkleman and the film critic Danny Leigh discussing the film ‘Spiderhole’ on the TV show Film 2010. You couldn’t make it up, could you? Where are these idiots coming from? Don’t ask me. No, to my mind the only real answer to all this nonsense is a reversion to the highly successful post-Second World War era. At between the ages of four

OTHERS THINK IT and five you went to mixed infants school. At seven or eight you transferred to junior school, also mixed. There you were groomed for the 11 plus, three Rs exam. (No questions on ‘Dick Barton Special Agent!’) Those who passed went on to grammar school, which ultimately offered the opportunity for pupils to enter university. Those who failed the exam were given the chance of attending technical college for whatever skills they wished to pursue, or alternatively moved to senior school where they left at 15 or 16 and went into normal jobs; many accepting the offer of an apprenticeship in various occupations. Also, if you wished, at senior school, you could often stay on for a further year and take your GCEs, a higher educational

WRONG QUESTIONS: Claudia Winkleman transcript not fit subject for A levels. certificate presenting a much wider selection of job opportunities. And that was that. It worked perfectly, until left-wingers decided to ‘improve’ it. Now it’s complete chaos and they’re all stumped! And of course the PCs are still walking tall among us.

I recall the headteacher reprimanding both pupils and parents for their offsprings playing ‘gun games’. Apparently, he objected to the children pointing their fingers and saying bang! Personally, I can’t remember a time in my childhood when

hours of leisure weren’t filled with Cowboys and Indians. ‘Gotcha, you’re dead’ and the sound of your pistol or rifle, imitated faithfully through clenched jaws and tightly pursed lips, was a part of growing up. We saw no evil in it. All our ‘victims’, took part in the next game. And that’s all they were, innocent games of childhood. I can’t remember one of my particular ‘posse’ ever turning into a mass murderer. It is a society of violent computer games and a ‘dumbed-down’ education system that has created these young psychopaths. These human rights and PC do-good bunglers are the true reason our young are running riot. Gawd. Will no one rid us of this troublesome bunch of selfsatisfied, incompetent morons? Somehow the signs are not good. Keep the Faith Love Leapy leapylee.co.uk

Top-ups and envelopes N

OT long ago the PSOE’s parliamentary spokeswoman Soraya Rodriguez listed her PP colleagues’ past salary topups. These were possible thanks to the party’s alleged double accounting and its fabled ‘black money’ cash box, Rodriguez said. All immediately rose to the bait without listening carefully. “En mi puta vida he cobrado un sobre” - something like “I’ve never had an envelope in my bloody life” - the government’s vice president Soraya Saenz de Santamaria exclaimed afterwards. She was referring to the notorious envelopes of undeclared money allegedly slipped to leading party lights. But Rodriguez wasn’t talking about the bribes or kickbacks of political financial scandals. She was talking about declared expenses and top-ups while the PP was in opposition, claiming that the party could afford them thanks to dubious donors and dodgy donations.

Cassandra Nash

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

Family fortunes IF there were municipal elections tomorrow the PP would lose Madrid City Hall. Incumbent Ana Botella says she wants to repeat as mayoral candidate, but no longer seems a good bet. It will be interesting to see how Mariano Rajoy handles this, as Botella is the wife of ex-president Jose Maria Aznar who is no longer a Rajoy fan. If Botella is chosen, this shows that he still defers to his one-time mentor. If Botella is discarded it will indicate that he doesn’t care about upsetting him. Watch this space.

Unlike others there has never been the remotest whiff of scandal attached to Saenz de Santamaria. But it never looks good when someone denies something they’re not accused of.

Evil trade PEPPER gas has replaced rubber bullets to repel illegal immigrants storming their way into Melilla, Spain’s enclave in North Africa. Something has to be used, according to Abdelmalik El Barkani, the central government delegate there, as immigrants are “aggressive.” These are people only seeking better lives, he conceded, but added that this was no excuse for aggression. People traffickers are the true culprits, El Barkani said, sidestepping the one huge question that no-one ever

ANA BOTELLA: No longer seems a good bet. answers. Why is so little done to prevent them playing on the immigrants’ misery and preying on their money?

It’s not cricket SPANISH town halls throughout the country must fly the Spanish flag in a ‘permanent and preferential’ position. Eighty town halls in Cataluña refused to comply while a hundred or so local councils are sending local taxes straight

to the regional government instead of Madrid. As though that weren’t enough, a spectator at a recent match between FC Barcelona and Getafe who was wearing a Real Madrid shirt was “asked to leave” by security when he took his jacket off. It was for his own safety, he was advised. Despite the implications of the flags and the taxes, the football incident could nevertheless have occurred years ago. After all, football has never been cricket.

E W N 15 - 21 May 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th

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