Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 2 - 8 February 2017 Issue 1648

ISSUE NO. 1648

2 - 8 February 2017

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

Fighting tot Cancer battler Leo needs your help By Simon Firth Big-hearted EWN online readers have stepped in to help try to save a four-year-old boy battling a killer cancer. Within hours of the EWN posting details of the brave battle Leo Bermejo is fighting the total on his fundraising website was rising. His parents, Karen and Jorge, need €175,000 (£150,000) to take him to the United States and a renowned treatment centre in Oklahoma. Leo has one of the most aggressive forms of cancer seen in children and has already had several tumours removed. The operations and subsequent chemotherapy have left him brain damaged but his mother Karen says he is fighting back and determined to overcome the effects of his treatment. “He keeps defying all the doctors. He is so happy, when you see him he is playing, he laughs, he does everything.” Little Leo’s next operation is at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Merseyside on February 8. This surgery will remove the last of the tumours in his brain. But they regrow at amazing speed – one of them returned in just seven weeks. Once surgeons at Alder Hey have removed the last of the Turn to page 4

Win a Car! See details on pages 6-7 “This really is Leo’s last hope for a life and we have to take it.” If you would like to help little Leo, the family have set up a page at www.gofundme.com/leothelion3

STARTS TODAY!!!

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LOCAL NEWS

Green fingers TWO men have been arrested for cultivating an enormous marihuana plantation in Cuevas de Almanzora, which was being fuelled by an illegal electricity connection. Having received a tip-

off, police visited an address where they were immediately struck by the strong smell. Once inside, they seized 230 adult plants, 200 seedlings and 14 kilos of dried buds.

Top end trickster A MOVIE-STYLE car thief who stole four high-end vehicles has been picked up by National Police and the vehicles returned to their rightful owners. All of them were appropriated when their owners left the keys in the ignition, allowing the accused to sneak into the driver’s seat before speeding away.

Traffic chaos THE Guardia Civil’s traffic arm has warned that the AL1178 road to the Calar Alto observatory is suffering from too many road users on Sundays. Patrols have been called in almost every week to help decongest the grid lock, with visitors often parking on the road itself, which lacks a hard shoulder, before going for a mountain stroll.

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NEWS

Retail rapture draws near By Matt Ford CONSTRUCTION of the Torrecardenas Shopping Centre in the Vega de Aca neighbourhood of Almeria is now underway. When complete, the 150,000 square metre facility will be the largest in the province. The centre has been conceived as a combination of commercial park and shopping centre, with large retailers generating traffic and smaller shops increasing the average stay.

The centre will be focused towards fashion, leisure and restaurants. SHOPPING CENTRE: Parts will have a cinematic theme. Unlike other centres in the area, it will not be centred on a hypermarket, but will be focused towards fashion, leisure and restaurants. The project is expected to generate around 1,500 jobs, plus an extra 800 pos itions during the c ons truc tion phase. More than 80 per cent of units are accounted for, with Primark, Leroy

Merlin, Media Markt and the Inditex group, which includes Zara, Pull & B e a r, M a s s imo Dut t i , Ber shka and Stradivarius, among the larger brands already signed up. More than 3,000 parking spaces will be constructed, with two floors of subterranean parking in addition to a large open-air space.

The cinema is expected to be among the main attractions for visitors, and parts of the centre will have a cinemati c t hem e such as a huge r ed car pet which is to run around the perimeter of the central gallery. The centre is expected to cost €80 million and should be complete by 2018.

NEWS

Den of crime closed down A PHONE centre and cybercafé in Almeria City from which the owner was allegedly dealing in drugs, smuggled tobacco and stolen goods has been closed down by the National Police. Patrols carrying out routine inspections entered the premises on Calle Mare Nostrum at 1.40am and noted that the man behind the till quickly hid some packages under the counter. The officers decided to search the shop and found a set of precision scales, 53 grams of hashish, 165 grams of marihuana and 6.5 grams of cocaine, all packed in small doses ready to be sold. They also found and confiscated 711 packets of cigarettes with no customs stamps and bearing writing in foreign languages, eight sound systems, six mobile phones and a radial saw which had been reported stolen in Sevilla. The owner, a 36-year-old man, was arrested for allegedly receiving stolen goods and dealing in forbidden substances.

SPANISH FACTS OF LIFE...2 Spanish is the second most widely spoken language worldwide with only Mandarin Chinese used more. Spanish is now spoken by around 500 million people, with that figure pushing English into third.

Language on the up and up MEXICO has the world’s biggest number of Spanish speakers with 121 million, followed by the United States with 52 million, though statistics suggest the US could become the biggest Spanish-speaking nation by 2050, with almost a third of its citizens speaking the language to native level by then. Spain currently ranks fourth on the list with 46 million

Spanish is the official language of 22 countries.

SEVENTY-FOUR families in Purchena, Fines, Lucar, Bacares and Lubrin will be receiving €479,000 in grants to help them renovate their homes. The regional Public Works and Housing department is providing grants amounting to half the cost of work, which will begin soon, under its Plan de Vivienda (Housing Plan). The grants were open to families who owned houses more than 10 years old which required work and had income under a set amount. Work will include structural repairs to guarantee safety, modernisation of water, sewage and electrical systems, redistribution of internal areas to enlarge rooms and make better use of natural light and ventilation.

It was the language used by diplomats until the 18th century.

THE National Police has arrested a 25year-old woman who admitted to breaking into four parked cars after a local resident spotted her in action. The witness tipped off police that a woman was smashing car windows and pilfering items from inside the vehicles, which were parked on Calle Elio Antonio de Nebrija in Almeria City. A patrol was sent to the scene and a woman matching the description provid-

33 Spanish speakers, behind Colombia with 48 million. Spanish is also the second-most studied language globally, with more than 21 million students in 2015. Of these, 7.8 million were in the US, which led the ranking, followed by Brazil and France. It is additionally the third most widely-used language on the internet where its use grew 1,312.4 per cent from 2000 to 2015, even though less than 8 per cent of online traffic is published in Spanish.

BRITISH airline Jet2.com has confirmed it will be bringing up to 28,000 British tourists to Almeria during the

TV 48

Letters 50

Time Out

Beauty 55 Used in 22 countries.

nates, since both languages derive many words from Latin and Arabic. The longest Spanish word is the rarely used medical term esternocleidomastoiditis (25 letters) which refers to a neck muscle complaint. The letter ñ does not exist in Latin and is the only Spanish letter of Spanish origin.

2017 summer season. The airline announced that as of April it will be running twice weekly flights to Almeria from Manchester and Leeds and weekly flights from Edinburgh, East Midlands and Newcastle, with a total of 56,000 seats available for the period. Moreover, its associated tour operator Jet2holidays has closed deals with 26 hotels in the province which it hopes will make the province the perfect Spanish family holiday destination for UK holidaymakers.

Welfare budget approved VERA has approved its 2017 budgets, which the council claim will have positive effects on quality of life and welfare for local residents. Efforts have been made, council spokesman Francisco Vazquez said, to increase amounts set aside for social services and employment and also to broach topics including social integration, promotion of education and culture, sports and citizen participation and give priority to tourism services. The budget totals €16,412,000, a 2.43 per cent increase on

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Health &

Spanish and English share much of their vocabulary through cog-

Bringing the Brits

Leapy Lee

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Spanish is also known as Castilian (Spanish: Castellano) due to its origins in the historical region of Castile, of which Burgos was the capital.

ed was found rummaging about inside a car with a broken window. When officers asked what she was doing, the red-faced suspect confessed to her crimes.

News Finance

The earliest words written in Spanish appear in a series of 12thcentury Visigothic texts which are copies of earlier documents, some dating back to 974-980. The first Spanish grammar was written by Antonio de Nebrija in 1492, the same year that Columbus discovered the New World.

INSIDE VIEW 1 - 29

8 AT-A-GLANCE SURPRISES

Renovations help

Caught in the act

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the figure for last year, in part due to higher IBI property tax income following regularisation of property value registrations last year. With social welfare in mind, the budget includes plans for employment schemes and €110,000 has been set aside for vital social services (water and electricity). Mayor Felix Lopez promised that the budgets had been drawn up with extreme care and would be followed in a transparent, cautious fashion to guarantee they benefit the people of Vera.

Social 57

Albox 64

Property 69

Speedy Gonzalez

Classifieds

THE Guardia Civil has arrested a driver in Almeria City who was caught doing more than three times the speed limit. Patrols were sent to intercept the vehicle, a Nissan GT-R, after it passed a radar on N-347 road from El Alquilan district to the Estadio del Mediterraneo stadium at a speed of 276 kmph on a stretch with a 90kmph speed limit. The Guardia Civil have fined the driver €600 and taken six points from his licence and he also faces being charged with a crime against road safety.

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Motors 76

Sport 79

Postscript to ponder

300m

BIRDS cross the Strait of Gibraltar from Africa each spring en route to breeding grounds in Europe. The 2017 migration pattern is already under way.

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Nuclear clean-up THE arrival of the Trump presidency has led to fears the US will not fulfil its obligations to clean up the Palomares site where a B52 with four H-bombs came down in 1966. The land was left contaminated after the detonators on two of the bombs exploded. Two square kilometres were covered in deadly plutonium. In October 2015 Madrid and Washington agreed the US would pay the €640m bill to remove all the contaminated soil. But Spain’s subsequent internal political turmoil led to a delay and now the US administration has changed. Now there are worries President Trump could turn round and ditch the agreement.

Bills go up HOUSEHOLDS in Spain are braced for big fuel bills as wholesale prices rise and the cold snap forces many families to resort to extra heating. Consumer associations have warned of an increase as high as 20 per cent. Poor weather has hit solar output and the much publicised drought affected hydro-electric projects.

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on SPAIN

Around the nation in 7 stories

Postcard from TENERIFE FOR most people, going out to a restaurant is a social event and usually means getting dressed up. But how would you feel if you were getting dressed ‘down,’ or to put it bluntly, getting your kit off completely? That’s the gimmick, if that’s the right word, at a new restaurant in Tenerife. You go to Innato, you’re led to a changing room and then you don nothing more than a bathrobe. But that doesn’t stay on for long as you’re then taken to your table and encouraged to flash the flesh. A bamboo partition separates you from other diners but there’s an added ‘gimmick.’ While the crockery can’t be said to be the deciding factor in what draws you to any restaurant, should it actually be moving? At Innato you can eat your food off the staff! Vine leaves are strategically placed to protect their modesty. Owner Tony de Leonardis said he got the idea after hearing about a similar venture in London. A so-called aphrodisiac menu served on nude male and female models sounds like a must, followed by what is fast becoming a favourite, a dessert of drizzled melted chocolate with strawberries, which Tony calls ‘Happy Ending.’

Hero officer saves man on man AN off-duty police officer leapt onto the tracks of the Madrid Metro after a passenger collapsed and fell onto the line. The officer was making his way home when he noticed the man was very near the edge of the platform. Suddenly the traveller pitched forward onto the tracks.

The National Police officer jumped down to rescue the man who was unconscious and bleeding profusely. With the help of others the injured man was pulled back onto the platform where the officer put him in the recovery position and monitored him until paramedics arrived.

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Jihadi wife is detained POLICE have arrested a 38year-old Mexican woman suspected of disseminating jihadist ideology. The evidence was found by surveillance of her electronic devices. Her husband, Moroccan national Aziz Zaghnane, was captured in 2016 and subsequently jailed. Since 2015 Spanish security agencies have detained 183 suspected jihadist terrorists.

Truck gang NEARLY 200 robberies have been cleared up after police arrested 38 members of a gang who looted entire consignments of high value goods from HGVs. In a two-year operation police were able to link thefts all over Spain from trucks whose drivers were resting or parked up in industrial estates. When the target was identified, the vehicle was raided by a four to seven-strong team who then distributed the merchandise. In the homes of gang members police found guns, jewellery and drugs.

Paternity leave NEW Spanish fathers can now take up to a month off work after the government doubled paternity leave. The new measure could cost up to €230 million a year to operate. The eventual aim is to offer new fathers the same 16 weeks as new mothers receive. The change in rules also extends to fathers adopting, fostering and those who are self-employed.

NEWS

Only option for tot Leo From Front page

tumours Leo will be left permanently handicapped if he then undergoes conventional radiotherapy. “They have told us it will be extremely damaging for him,” said Karen, who lives with her Spanish husband Jorge and their daughter Sofia, in Vera Playa, Almeria. “He will be destined for a lifetime of disabilities and problems and he will never be able to live on his own or do anything for himself. “That means the only option we have is proton therapy. It’s his only chance to progress. Oklahoma have treated this type of tumour before and they say they’ve had no relapses. We have to do it for Leo.” The stay in Oklahoma and the need for several phases of treatment means the family have just weeks to raise the €175,000 needed to send Leo after surgery at Alder Hey to the USA, before the tumours regrow. “Although there are clinics in Europe, like Switzerland, there is the language barrier to overcome,” says Karen. She says the proton therapy in Oklahoma, which targets the tumour with greater accuracy than any other form of treatment, will be under the guidance of renowned US specialist, Dr Andrew Chang. “He has been in touch with Alder Hey and he has a lot of experience with Leo’s type of cancer. “With proton therapy Leo can still progress. He will still have the chance to learn again, to move his right side, speak again and he won’t have problems that will affect his organs in the future

NEWS

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OUR VIEW A fantastic offer HOW would you like a free car? One of our readers will soon receive one. The Euro Weekly News sees itself as offering an important service to our readers by entertaining them, keeping them up-to-date with local news and hosting a range of different advertisers who allow us to continue to supply Spain’s largest and best English language newspaper free of charge. It is important to us to receive regular feedback so that we are able to offer the type of stories that you the reader likes and to know whether there is anything that we need to change, so from time to time we run reader surveys to find out exactly how we are doing. The more people who respond, the more accurate the information will be and we are delighted that we have managed to obtain an incredible gift for one lucky reader who responds to our survey which will run over a series of weeks in the newspaper, website and Facebook page. Taking less than 10 minutes to complete, everyone who responds will be entered for a free draw and will win a brand new car! Just another example of the care we take to try to ensure our readers can enjoy the paper that they want.

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Invasion of the freeloaders RESIDENTS of San Juan de los Terreros have become increasingly concerned by the presence of camper vans and their occupants. Traditionally, the largely French, German and Belgian tourists, who overwinter in Spain, would park up in front of the beach in nearby Aguilas. However, Aguilas Council recently erected a sign prohibiting camping, leading the convoy to seek an alternative site, with dozens of vans now ensconced near the medical centre in Terreros. There are now so many that rubbish bins are overflowing, and locals have become increasingly cheesed off by their brazen behaviour. Resident Tony Kettle told the Euro Weekly News that there are several campsites with facilities for vans in the vicinity, but the tourists are none too keen on paying for a plot when they can shack up elsewhere for free. “The local council said they were going to build a park for the vans, but nothing has happened,” he said. “Some of them have even set up a petanca pitch next to the medical centre!” “The police don’t do anything and even if they did move the vans on, they would just come back at night.”

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Eviction order for families

NEWS EXTRA

Smoked out AN EIGHTY-YEAROLD woman and two men aged 29 and 54 required treatment for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in the garage of a home in Fernan Perez, Nijar, emergency services reported.

Coke seized GUARDIA CIVIL officers at Almeria airport confiscated 790 grams of cocaine leaves from luggage belonging to a woman who had flown from Bolivia via Madrid.

Lucky escape THE driver of a cement lorry was lucky to escape unharmed when his vehicle overturned at the Rambla de Belen A7 exit in Almeria City.

NEWS

DISCUSSING MATTERS: Good relations between the two institutions are the only way forward.

Heads together By Eleanor Hawkins THE mayor of Almeria City and the head of the Junta de Andalucia regional government have put their heads together and agreed to collaborate for the sake of the city and its people. At an hour-long meeting at City Hall, Mayor Ramon Fernandez-

Pacheco and Susana Diaz discussed matters the Junta is responsible for which have been outstanding for some time. The mayor urged the regional leader to “put her heart behind Almeria’s projects and help make them a reality.” Projects on the list which require regional assistance include approval of the PGOU urban planning docu-

ment for the city, the port-city project and the northern access to the A92 motorway and its connection to the city. Fernandez-Pacheco later said he hoped this had been the first of many meetings and stressed that collaboration and good relations between the two institutions are the only way forward.

ALL but one family were eventually persuaded to leave a residential complex in Almeria City after the council was forced to issue an eviction order. A series of tense moments, which saw 30 Local Police officers turn up voluntarily to help defuse the situation, began on Friday (January 27) when a floor collapsed in a hallway at El Patio residence in La Pescaderia district and a 46-year-old man fell through the gap. Although the man was taken to hospital with a broken arm and extensive bruising his situation was not serious, however an inspection revealed that the same could not be said for the building. The complex, consisting of four apartment blocks linked by passageways, was found to have weak spots which posed a danger to residents, leading the authorities to recommend residents leave for their own safety. Yet most of the 231 people, including 86 children, refused to leave and the council was forced to issue eviction orders for their own safety. Many were unable to prove they were the owners, or legal tenants, of their homes, a fact which made them reluctant to leave, however eventually all but one family left the buildings and were temporarily put up at the local sports centre and youth centre. Work to shore up the weak spots and make the buildings safe began on Sunday and would probably take about a week.

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NEWS

TOURISM FAIR: Major bookings are now expected to be forthcoming.

Bring in the visitors By Eleanor Hawkins MORE tour operators will be bringing visitors to Almeria’s coasts this year, mainly thanks to deals done at FITUR travel fair in Madrid. Major bookings are expected to come in from Dutch operator SRC Reizen, which has included Almeria in its Andalucian tours with stops in Cabo de Gata and the Alpujarra, the provincial council has reported. Portuguese Total Fun has also expressed its intention to continue offering group tips to coastal destinations in Almeria and to include the

province in its new conference tourism packages. Other possible packages include a gastronomy and wine tour planned by Polish LTM, inclusion of Almeria in Brazilian Visual Turismo’s Andalucian tours, Almeria destinations for British Tital Travel’s Over 50’s trips and packages by Lithuanian firm Meness Diena. Familiarisation trips for these operators are planned for the near future. Online promotion has been an important part of campaigns to boost tourism to Costa de Almeria over the last year and meetings were held at the Madrid fair with representatives from some of the most important travel portals.

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!

FINANCE

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Many British expatriates close their UK bank accounts and open new ones in offshore centres once they leave the country. They may not have a choice if their bank does not allow non-UK residents to hold accounts. Nationwide International in the Isle of Man is a popular choice for expatriates in Spain and elsewhere, but it has announced it is closing its doors in summer 2017. The bank will start closing customer accounts from early 2017 It will be writing again to clients with important information and dates regarding the closure of their specific accounts. In the meantime, it suggested that since looking for a new home for their savings can take time, clients should start looking now. The bank has removed any notice requirement on its accounts, and fixed rate bonds can also be closed before the scheduled maturity date, with no penalty. This only affects Nationwide International in the Isle of Man. Accounts held with the Nationwide Building Society in the UK are not affected. Looking for a new home for your savings This is a good opportunity to

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Offshore banking options continue to narrow - Nationwide International to close looking for capital growth to keep pace with inflation over your retirement years, seek advice on how you may be able to generate better returns from your savings.

By Gerald Turner, Partner, Blevins Franks review your savings and consider if a bank is the best place for your money. The Bank of England interest rate has been at historic lows since March 2009 and was cut to an even lower 0.25% following the Brexit referendum. If you need your savings to provide an income, preferably without withdrawing much capital, or are

How long do you need your money to last? This is a sobering question and not one most people can answer with certainty. Underestimate this, however, and your money could run out too soon, leaving you unable to live the lifestyle you want. Life expectancy has been increasing and you need to make sure that your savings will provide the income you need right to the end of your and your spouse’s retirement years. No-one wants to be forced to reduce their quality of life in their later years. You therefore need to establish a strategic savings and investment strategy to preserve the value of

your wealth and income. Remember to factor in the effect of inflation on reducing your spending power each year. Say, for example, you typically spend €5,000 a month. Assuming an inflation rate of 3% a year, in 10 years’ time you could need about €6,720 a month to maintain the same spending, and €9,030 in 20 years. The uncertainty over Brexit has been making some people cautious about investing. However, trying to time when to buy and sell investments has plenty of risks - but the biggest one may be the risk of missing out. Missing just a few good days in a market cycle could significantly reduce your investment returns. Protecting your savings Another issue to consider, when

deciding the best home for your savings, is the level of protection you would get should the financial institution fail. For example, the Isle of Man Depositors’ Compensation Scheme provides individuals with protection of up to £50,000. It is important to ensure that your portfolio is built around your risk profile, and with strategic asset allocation and diversification to reduce risk and meet your objectives. You want to ensure that your portfolio is suitable for you. Take specialist, personalised advice and build a good relationship with your financial adviser so they understand your needs and guide you through the Brexit years and into the future. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com.

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NEWS

The barefoot walker

ILSE LONGUET: The recent snow slowed down her progress. By Eleanor Hawkins A BELGIAN woman has arrived in Almeria on her 1,000+ kilometre walk to raise money for children in Nairobi. Ils e Longue t s e t out from B a rc e lona mor e tha n tw o a nd a ha l f months ago for her latest fundra is ing proje c t: t o w a lk the Spa nish Mediterranean coast barefoot a nd c a rrying her tw o-ye a r-old da ughter Helinah. The 34-ye a r-old e x plained that she spends one month every year in Kenya and also does different things to raise for the children of the Kibera

district of Nairobi. “Many of t he houses there are made of cardboard and people are in a very bad way. There are children who have no water, food, clothes, shoes… nothing,” Longuet said. So far her initial goal of €4,000 has been raised and m or e i s expect ed t hr ough ‘ t he 1,000km barefoot walk’ on Facebook and GoGetFunding once she ar r i ves at her finish line in Gibraltar. Originally Longuet expected her challenge to take 100 days, however the recent snow slowed down pr ogr ess. The mother and daughter cover bet ween 10 and 20

kilometres per day, largely depending on Helinah. “She want s t o pl ay t oo and there are lots of parks and chi l dr en’s pl aygrounds here,” her mother commented. “I wanted to walk barefoot this year and decided to come to Spain because it’s colder in Belgium,” sai d Longuet , who has found people she has met along the way very generous. Some invite her to spend the night at their homes, and she met a ret i r ed Fr ench m an, Antoine, in Denia who decided to accompany her as far as Malaga and provi des l ogi st i c suppor t with his caravan.

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NEWS

Inspections announced ROAD CHECKS: Will be carried out on buses and lorries.

By Eleanor Hawkins THE DGT traffic authority and Guardia Civil will be running technical inspections on buses and lorries on the roads of Almeria with an aim to increasing road safety. Passenger vehicles for more than nine people (including the driver) and goods vehicles of all sizes will be stopped by Guardia Civil traffic officers and examined by an official, qualified mobile test unit. The unit, which will be touring the roads of the province, is equipped to check all mechanical aspects of vehicles to determine their roadworthiness. The announcement came after the DGT reported that 9 per cent of vans, 45 per cent of lorries weighing more than 3,500 kilograms and 1 per cent of buses involved in ac-

cidents with victims in 2015 had not passed their MOTs when the accident happened.

The unit is equipped to check all mechanical aspects of vehicles.

Vehi cl es f ound t o have maintenance deficiencies will be fined between €200 and €500 depending on the severity of the fault, and in the case of severe problems i ncl udi ng f aul t y br akes, tyres or suspension the vehicle will be immobilised. Drivers found to be behind the wheel of a vehicle whi ch has not passed i t s MOT also face fines of between €200 and €500, the DGT stressed.

2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de AlmerĂ­a

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Photo by alvamento Maritimo

NEWS

DINGHIES RESCUED: All the migrants were reported to be in good health.

Busy day for rescuers By Eleanor Hawkins MIGRANTS kept the Maritime Rescue service busy at the weekend, with Polimnia lifeboat collecting 73 people from two separate dinghies in just one day. The first call received at the Almeria coordination centre came from the navy, reporting that Infant Cristina

patrol ship had come across a dinghy about three nautical miles east of Alboran Island. The navy ship remained beside the dinghy while the lifeboat was sent out to collect the passengers, 28 men and three women. Meanwhile a call came in from Morocco informing of the departure of another dinghy from the African coast. Helimer

219 search helicopter was sent out to look for the craft and eventually tracked it down and informed the lifeboat. An hour and a half later the 39 men and three women on the second dinghy were also collected and the lifeboat set sail for Almeria City port, where it arrived at about 8.30pm. All the migrants were reported to be in good health.

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2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

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NEWS

SCHOOL CAMPAIGN: Raising awareness amongst children of the dangers of racism.

Schooling against racism By Eleanor Hawkins VERA Council has been running a campaign at local

schools aimed to nip racism and xenophobia in the bud. Over the last few months the project, created by the Social

Services Department with collaboration from the Education Department, visited Los Cuatro Caños and Angel de Haro primary schools and Alyanub and Palmeral secondary schools. Sessions were held by Immigration Workshop monitor Alicia Lopez Guerrero which aimed to raise awareness amongst the youngsters of the dangers of racism and encourage them to accept and respect all members of the community. Social Services councillor Yolanda Torres explained that the project was launched to favour harmonious social relations, respect and tolerance, “especially in areas where there are many immigrants, turning schools into a meeting point and a place from which to spread democratic values to the whole community.”

Works restarted WORK has resumed on the road between Vera and Garrucha, the width of which is to be doubled to cater for the large amount of daily traffic. The first 2.7 kilometre stretch of the road was widened back in 2006 and now a further 4.3 kilometres are to be worked on to provide quicker, safer travel for locals and visitors. The A-352 is used by up to 14,500 vehicles per day, meaning it more than qualifies to be included in projects given high priority by the Junta de Andalucia regional government.

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2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

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FEATURE

Advertising feature

BREAKDOWN COVER: Standard with every car insurance policy.

Get peace of mind with Linea Directa BREAKDOWN cover comes as standard. No matter what vehicle you drive, breaking down is always a possibility and being stranded on the road is no fun for anyone. Travel assistance from Linea Directa is a comprehensive breakdown cover that comes as standard in every car insurance policy giving you the assurance that help is always just a phone call away. Emergency repairs on the spot If your vehicle breaks down we will provide emergency repairs at the roadside. If we cannot repair your car within 30 minutes we will tow your car to the nearest official garage or one chosen by you, whichever is closest. Linea Directa will also provide you with a replacement vehicle while yours is being repaired. Roadside assistance at home Breakdowns don’t just occur on the road. If your car won’t start, Linea Directa will provide assistance at your home address, an invaluable part of the service if you rely on your car for work.

Customer service in English Breakdowns can happen at any time, but in Spain there’s a good chance your problems will be exacerbated, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. With Linea Directa, their customer service centre speaks English and can quickly provide assistance in your language. Maximum peace of mind Choosing Linea Directa means a 24hr rescue line, 365 days a year. We give priority to vulnerable drivers and aim to respond to every call for assistance within 40 minutes. Seventy-five per cent of vehicles are repaired at the roadside so you can continue with your onward journey. If your car cannot be repaired on the spot, we will take you and up to four passengers either to your intended destination or back to your departure point, whichever you choose. We hope the information provided in this article is of interest.

If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 900 123 026 More information on Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

NEWS

2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

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All the mod cons By Eleanor Hawkins VERA Council’s New Technologi e s De p a r t m e n t h a s implanted a new appointment management system to speed up visits to municipal departments. The Citizens’ Attention Service, tax office, property registry, women’s information centre, consumers’ information centre and municipal emp l o y m e n t se r v ic e support office have all been provided with the electronic system. New Technologies councillor Isabel Belmonte explained that those visiting these offices will now obtain a numbered ticket and electronic displays will announce their turn and desk number, and there will also be a possibility for pregnant women and disabled or elderly people to obtain appointments in advance. “The new system will allow people to carry out their tasks in a quicker, more or-

NEW SYSTEM: To speed up appointments. derly fashion and will avoid c ro w d s a n d lo n g w a its ,” Belmonte promised. “This is another step towards our permanent goal of improving the services w e o ffe r o u r c itiz e n s , a s

w e ll a s mode rnis ing the council and making it more efficient and accessible,” the councillor said, stressing that the software used did not cost the council any money.

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NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

Brexit negotiator warns against Trump BREXIT PAGE By John Smith

FORMER Belgian Prime Minister and European Union chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt has issued a dire warning that Donald Trump ranks alongside Daesh and Vladimir Putin as one of the three worst threats to the unity of the EU. According to the man who had hoped to be president of the European Parliament following Martin Schulz, President Trump was doing all that he could to destabilise the Union with the promotion of the concept of nationalism rather than united federalism. He wants to see Brexit over and done with

as quickly as possible so that a new, younger breed of European politicians can unite the remaining 27 states against the concept of self-interested nationalism which over the years has led to the death of millions of Europeans. In his wish to see the speedy resolution of the UK exit, he made it clear that in his opinion, Britain should be able to negotiate its future relationship with the EU in concert with discussions and negotiations for exit which appears to differ from a view expressed by European president Jean-Claude Juncker at Davos. Clearly he is worried about the elections due in F ran ce , G e rma ny a n d H o lla nd w hic h have all seen a growth in the strength of right wing parties who, if e le c te d , might be te mp ted to follow Britain’s lead.

Guy Verhofstadt.

Photo by Claude Truong-Ngoc Wikimedia

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Gibraltar and Scotland visit the European Parliament IN what turned out to be an eventful day, Gibraltar and Scotland - in some ways an unlikely pair, but not in their rejection of Brexit - were invited to address the European Parliament on January 30. Both parties explained their views and wishes on Brexit to the Committee of Constitutional Affairs which became something of a ‘shooting gallery’ as Spanish MEPs took pot shots at Chief Minister Fabian Picardo during a question and answer session which followed the presentation. Both Mr Picardo and MSP Fiona Hyslop explained the historical background to the referendum result and the fact voters in both areas had overwhelmingly rejected the concept of leaving the European Union and how they hoped to see fairness and compassion from the member states, which would take into account the wishes of the people they represented. True to expectation, the Spanish contingent took the opportunity to complain about Gibraltar’s position and to make it clear that in their minds, the only way forward was either Gibraltar out of the EU with the UK or in the EU with Spanish dual sovereignty. Their vehemence was in contrast to placatory comments made by Spanish Foreign Minister Dastis a few days earlier when he said that Spain would not put Gibraltar at the centre of negotiations over Brexit. Mr Picardo ‘rolled with the punches’ and suggested Spain should not only look to the future but those MEPs attacking Gibraltar should take the trouble to visit and see the Rock for themselves under a British flag as they would never see it under a Spanish flag.

NEWS

2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

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MOJACAR: Wants to attract more twowheeled visitors.

Winter cyclists are a common sight By Eleanor Hawkins MOJACAR wants to make a name for itself as a winter cycling heaven and attract even more two-wheeled visitors to the area. After attending Fitur travel fair in Madrid, Tourism councillor Emmanuel Aguero, accompanied by Hotel Marina Playa manager Maria Victoria Hernandez, headed straight for Belgium to attend Velofollies, an international cycling fair held in Kortrijk.

Velofollies unites all the latest in professional and amateur cycling fashions and also provides many sports tourism opportunities including tours and holidays. The Mojacar representatives held multiple meetings with travel agencies and specialised cycling tour operators and reached some interesting agreements for the town. Mojacar is already the official winter training location for the Belgian national cycling

team and now hopes to attract even more teams and individual cyclists to spend time and money in the area. Aguero said: “Mojacar is in an optimal position to compete in equal conditions with other places such as Calpe, a traditional destination for this type of tourist, and to offer more competitive offers and variety.” The presence of cyclists on the roads of Mojacar has become a common sight during the winter months.

Pushing the tourist attractions THE provincial tourism board has returned from what it deemed a very successful trip to the Holiday World Show in Ireland. Costa de Almeria was one of 18 main attractions within the Andalucian tourism section of Spain’s space at the travel show. The provincial tourism service hopes to attract, with its presence at the main travel shows in Europe, even more visitors to the area this year by pushing its climate, culture, gastronomy, scenery and nature. Spain is the favourite holiday destination for the Irish, in fact according to the

Central Statistics Office of Ireland the equivalent of 36 per cent of the population of the Republic of Ireland visited the country last year. The number of nights Irish holidaymakers stayed in Spain was more than the combination of nights spent in France, Italy, Portugal, Germany and Northern Ireland. The main activities enjoyed by Irish tourists in Almeria and the rest of Spain, according to Turespaña, are visits to the beach (75 per cent), shopping (72 per cent), visiting cities (48 per cent) and leisure activities (42 per cent).

Schools are encouraged to compete ALMERIA Provincial Council will be helping the 54 secondary schools in the province take part in the JACE 2017 (young Andalucians constructing Europe) competition, The competition is aimed at fourth year secondary students

across Andalucia, who will present work on a European theme, in the case of Almeria ‘Europe works for its people.’ Schools have until February 17 to present their projects and the best will be chosen to travel to Mollina in Malaga on April

25-26 and present their work. European Initiatives delegate Carmen Belen Lopez encouraged local youths to take part in the competition and praised a group from Aguadulce secondary school who participated with good results last year.

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COMMUNITY

2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

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Albox Royal British Legion THE guest speaker Milo, and his handler John, gave a wonderful presentation of his life story from rescue dog to ‘explosives search’ dog in the police force in London at the RBL members meeting in January. John Fleet will be the guest speaker at the next members’ business meeting on Thursday February 16 and will be talking about his work on osprey watch in the Lake District. This will be as interesting as Milo’s talk so do please join them at La Parrilla at 11am. For the next four months, from February through to May, the coffee and tapas mornings will be held at the Bar Oasis in Albox (near Price Busters), starting at 11.30am. With good food and good chat do go along, it’s great fun! At all the meetings there is an opportunity to renew your membership, if you have

PEPA quiz night THE charity’s popular quiz night will be held on Monday February 6 at 8pm in Honey Dukes Bar, Oliva. Entry is €1 and a meal of chilli con carne and rice can be purchased for €5. Susan and Clinton Daynes from Dog Grove have kindly donated a raffle prize of a two-night stay for a cat or dog at their facility in Oliva with proceeds going to PEPA. To reserve your place and book a meal please contact Fiona on 678 787 988.

OSPREY WATCH: An interesting talk about work in the Lake District. not already done so, or join the RBL Branch as new members are very welcome and it’s only €23 this year. The Legion does really vital work by providing practical support to serving men and women, vet-

29

erans (ex-service of all ages) and their families. Get in touch for advice, information and guidance on 676 451 780 or email as sistance.rbl.dns@gmail.com. They are there to serve you.

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2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

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NEWS

RUSSIAN PRESS

Cyber games

THE KREMLIN: Accused Facebook of censorship and threatened relatiation. FACEBOOK’S temporary ban of state-backed propaganda channel Russia Today has drawn a harsh rebuke from the Kremlin. The social media site barred RT from any online activity for around 20 hours. A foreign affairs spokeswoman accused Facebook of censorship and threatened retaliation on western media.

Back scratching RUSSIA is now ranked even worse in the corruption sweepstakes. The country is placed 131st out of 176 countries on the Transparency International table, which measures the perception of corruption among people. Russia fell four places last

year and is now ranked alongside Iran and Nepal.

Reverse evolution THE great-great-grandson of famed Russian author Leo Tolstoy was accused of antisemitism. Pyotr Tolstoy is the deputy speaker of the state parliament. In an unprovoked outburst he appeared to accuse Jews of trying to undermine the Orthodox Church. He also repeated a conspiracy theory that Jews masterminded the communist revolution of 1917.

Ante upped THOUSANDS of new defence facilities were built

last year as Russia enjoys a boom in military construction. Radar stations, cadet colleges, camps and airfields are included in the building spree, said to be the biggest since the post-war era. More than 2.5 million square miles were developed in 2016 alone, stretching from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka.

Moscow’s Hobbit A FORMER Moscow lawyer is attracting attention after deciding to live in the forest as a hermit. Yury switched traffic jams for the wilderness, building a shelter 60 miles from the capital. He spends time reading and cooking. He has a pet rabbit, Petrusha, and still uses Facebook.

Nikolei Potter A YOUNG Russian man is making a living off his uncanny resemblance to Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe. Nikolei Posleda from Krasnoyarsk has a loyal online following of adoring fans. He will star in a TV advert, following the footsteps of a Russian bouncer known as the ‘fat Leonardo DiCaprio.’

NIKOLEI POSLEDA: An uncanny resemblance.

FINANCE

Costa de Almería

2 - 8 February 2017

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal

20,006.09

SPANISH banking giant Santander has revealed that whilst overall profits rose in 2016, profits from its UK division which previously accounted for 20 per cent of operating profits saw earning reduce by 15 per cent. The reason for this sudden drop is blamed on the Brexit result causing a drop in the value of sterling against the euro and also a slowing down in attracting new customers to its 123 current ac-

Quote of the Week

€6.2 billion vis the 2016 reported total worldwide profit from Spanish bank Santander and includes a major increase from its operations in Brazil.

count which reduced by half, due in part to a reduction in interest paid on the account. Added to this was the introduction of a new bank corporation tax

surcharge and the need to set aside an additional €134 million in the last quarter of 2016 to cover additional PPI refunds. Its worldwide business has seen

It’s a chance for me to work part-time with one of the world’s most respected firms and a major employer in Britain.” said former chancellor and MP George Osborne on his additional role as a paid advisor to the BlackRock group.

Sky TV looks to the internet

BUSINESS EXTRA

Photo Credit: Steindy flickr.

Spanish corruption HAVING come second in Europe in a poll testing public opinion on country corruption, Spain has now been voted 41st least corrupt in the world according to Transparency International, but was more corrupt than Chile, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Airport duty FOOTBALL: Sky had to dig deep to secure rights. By John Smith AS customers and therefore profits for the Sky Channel go down and Discovery threatens to remove its 12 channels with effect from February 1, it has been announced that Sky may supply its entire service for the first time via the internet. Until now, subscribers have needed to receive the signal via a satellite dish but the pay-TV operation has been hit by companies such as BT who offer an

internet connection featuring many of the channels that Sky offers together with on demand films and sports. The latest round of Premier League football negotiations saw Sky have to dig even deeper into its war chest in order to secure exclusive rights to screen the bulk of the matches live, but as subscribers desert the company, then it has to find new revenue streams elsewhere, with a potential six million new internet viewers.

IN a bid to ensure that Spain continues to be competitive in tourism, Mariano Rajoy has announced that his government will reduce airport tax by 2.2 per cent per annum until 2021 which will see an overall 11 per cent reduction.

Sun tax DESPITE the enormous debts held by the electric companies and the recent hike in electricity charges, the opposition in the Spanish Parliament is calling for the abolition of tax on electricity obtained in the home by construction of solar panels.

British Steel looking up AFTER British Steel was purchased from Indian conglomerate Tata in April 2016, the new owners asked staff to take a 3 per cent pay cut to keep their jobs, but so successful has it been since then that it intends to increase salaries

back to their original level by June. The increase in business is thanks to new orders to supply steel to railways in Algeria and Italy as well as the Hinkley C power station.

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is the record high figure reached by the Dow Jones Industrial Average for the first time in its history following Donald Trump taking over as President of the USA.

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

Santander profits down in UK By John Smith

EWN

an increase of four million customers - meaning it now handles accounts for some 125 million personal and corporation clients - and profits have risen in nine out of the 10 countries in which it operates. Whilst acknowledging that the future UK market appeared likely to be challenging as there will almost certainly be a temporary slowdown in UK corporate growth, the bank believes that it has now supported the UK economy to a greater extent than it had in 2015.

Royal Bliss AFTER 10 years of launching no new product in Spain, the Coca Cola Company has revealed that it will be releasing a range of eight different premium drinks and mixers which will be sold exclusively to the catering trade and will not be available through stores or supermarkets. After reportedly spending €22 million on producing this collection and keeping the brand completely secret until recently, the company has high expectations of success for this specially packaged new range which includes three different tonic waters, orange, lemon and berry flavours as well as soda water and ginger ale.

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LONDON - FTSE 100

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on opposite page

C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 30

PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY Anglo American 1,348.00 -21.00 Associated British Foods 2,405.00 -24.00 Admiral Group 1,785.50 -19.50 Ashtead Group 1,628.50 -10.50 Antofagasta 820.75 -1.75 Aviva 478.75 -6.75 AstraZeneca 4,237.00 -2.00 BAE Systems 593.75 1.25 Babcock International Group 895.50 -1.50 Barclays 227.70 -2.90 British American Tobacco 4,874.75 -45.75 Barratt Developments 469.95 -2.55 British Land Co 580.50 -2.50 BHP Billiton 1,437.75 -12.25 Bunzl 2,083.00 -7.00 BP 481.43 -5.37 Burberry Group 1,637.50 -11.50 BT Group 303.05 0.25 Coca-Cola HBC 1,807.00 -12.00 Carnival 4,326.00 -14.00 Centrica 224.95 -2.05 Compass Group 1,407.00 -10.00 Capita Group (The) 504.75 -4.75 Croda International 3,395.00 -11.00 CRH 2,830.50 -13.50 Convatec Group Ord 10p Wi 244.40 -0.50 Dixons Carphone 316.55 -0.65 DCC 6,282.50 92.50 Diageo 2,209.50 -34.50 Direct Line Insurance Group 352.60 -2.30 Experian 1,546.50 -2.50 easyJet 960.00 -14.00 Fresnillo 1,419.50 -8.50 GKN 346.25 -2.25 Glencore 325.38 -1.97 GlaxoSmithKline 1,520.25 0.25 Hikma Pharmaceuticals 1,854.00 -1.00 Hargreaves Lansdown 1,334.50 -6.50 Hammerson 543.25 -3.75 HSBC Holdings 683.70 -3.90 International Consldtd Airlines 491.30 -6.60 InterContinental Hotels Grp 3,768.50 -16.50 3i Group 694.25 -3.75 Imperial Brands 3,677.00 -39.50 Informa 653.25 -0.25 Intu Properties 265.90 -3.60 Intertek Group 3,434.50 -12.50 ITV 207.70 3.00 Johnson Matthey 3,259.50 6.50 Kingfisher 330.20 -2.30

% CHG. NET VOL -1.53 19,007.40 -0.99 18,936.85 -1.08 5,030.19 -0.64 8,232.23 -0.21 8,251.62 -1.39 19,738.92 -0.05 54,379.56 0.21 18,928.90 -0.17 4,557.95 -1.26 39,414.10 -0.93 91,904.31 -0.54 4,743.70 -0.43 6,028.87 -0.84 30,530.00 -0.33 6,950.42 -1.10 94,548.00 -0.70 7,323.45 0.08 30,085.43 -0.66 6,592.00 -0.32 9,376.02 -0.90 12,464.45 -0.71 22,885.71 -0.93 3,359.06 -0.32 4,449.30 -0.47 23,840.16 -0.20 4,716.71 -0.20 3,694.59 1.49 5,388.17 -1.54 55,819.89 -0.65 4,848.25 -0.16 14,471.07 -1.44 3,952.22 -0.60 10,110.18 -0.65 6,004.09 -0.60 46,127.95 0.02 75,075.58 -0.05 4,487.15 -0.48 6,412.79 -0.69 4,334.78 -0.57 135,861.84 -1.33 10,415.73 -0.44 7,393.08 -0.54 6,780.24 -1.06 35,462.72 -0.04 5,368.39 -1.34 3,668.09 -0.36 5,609.80 1.47 8,252.09 0.20 6,231.78 -0.69 7,388.72

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Land Securities Group 985.00 -7.00 Legal & General Group 241.80 -2.00 Lloyds Banking Group ORD 65.41 -0.46 London Stock Exchange Grp 3,102.00 2.00 Micro Focus International 2,120.00 -5.00 Mediclinic International 792.75 -17.75 Merlin Entertainments 483.35 -0.05 Marks & Spencer Group 339.35 -4.65 Mondi 1,744.50 -28.50 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets 237.70 -0.40 National Grid 917.50 -4.70 Next 3,822.50 -27.50 Old Mutual Group 207.90 -5.30 Provident Financial 2,681.50 -12.50 Paddy Power Betfair 8,125.00 20.00 Prudential 1,565.75 -11.25 Persimmon 1,905.00 -12.00 Pearson 607.50 0.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 6,818.50 -51.50 Royal Bank of Scotland Grp 230.20 -1.60 Royal Dutch Shell 2,179.25 -11.75 Royal Dutch Shell 2,271.75 -14.25 RELX 1,413.50 1.50 Rio Tinto 3,543.75 -23.75 Royal Mail 405.90 -2.80 Rolls-Royce Group 682.25 -3.75 Randgold Resources 6,522.50 -57.50 RSA Insurance Group 575.25 -3.25 Sainsbury (J) 253.85 -0.65 Schroders 2,912.00 -11.00 Sage Group (The) 605.00 -5.00 Shire 4,398.00 9.00 Smurfit Kappa Group 2,101.00 -4.00 Sky 1,004.50 -0.50 Standard Life 347.25 -3.25 Smiths Group 1,522.50 -3.50 Smith & Nephew 1,188.00 -4.00 SSE 1,482.50 -9.50 Standard Chartered 777.90 -3.70 St James's Place 1,079.50 -3.50 Severn Trent 2,244.00 -18.00 Tesco 203.13 -3.42 TUI AG 1,163.00 3.00 Taylor Wimpey 165.90 -1.80 Unilever 3,211.00 -22.50 United Utilities Group 902.00 2.50 Vodafone Group 198.93 5.58 Wolseley 4,931.50 -3.50 Worldpay Group 282.10 0.10 WPP Group 1,871.00 -7.00 Whitbread 3,942.00 -21.00

% CHG. -0.71 -0.82 -0.70 0.06 -0.24 -2.19 -0.01 -1.35 -1.61 -0.17 -0.51 -0.71 -2.49 -0.46 0.25 -0.71 -0.63 0.08 -0.75 -0.69 -0.54 -0.62 0.11 -0.67 -0.69 -0.55 -0.87 -0.56 -0.26 -0.38 -0.82 0.21 -0.19 -0.05 -0.93 -0.23 -0.34 -0.64 -0.47 -0.32 -0.80 -1.66 0.26 -1.07 -0.70 0.28 2.89 -0.07 0.04 -0.37 -0.53

NET VOL 7,954.74 14,487.68 47,228.00 10,736.89 4,825.50 5,949.56 4,893.15 5,543.57 8,599.16 5,518.73 34,307.63 5,683.74 10,441.61 3,957.27 6,733.68 40,948.54 5,818.28 5,113.63 47,899.21 27,536.15 96,948.70 85,584.37 15,150.22 48,579.32 4,082.00 12,724.47 6,018.88 5,954.20 5,644.23 6,660.88 6,469.95 40,128.49 4,859.28 17,258.93 6,963.69 6,049.86 10,247.86 15,130.06 25,920.76 5,659.89 5,202.06 15,450.08 6,762.68 5,399.22 40,955.19 6,065.40 51,239.55 12,495.23 5,616.00 23,657.38 7,145.23

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DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 30

COMPANY 3M AMERICAN EXPRESS APPLE BOEING CO CATERPILLAR CHEVRON CISCO SYSTEMS COCA-COLA DU PONT(EI) DE NMR EXXON MOBIL GENERAL ELECTRIC GOLDMAN SACHS HOME DEPOT IBM INTEL CORP J.P.MORGAN CHASE JOHNSON & JOHNSON MC DONALD'S CORP MERCK AND CO. NEW MICROSOFT NIKE PFIZER PROCTER AND GAMBLE TRAVELERS CIES UNITED TECHNOLOGIE UNITEDHEALTH GROUP VERIZON COMMS VISA WAL-MART STORES WALT DISNEY CO

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 177,48 0,37% 0,66 106M 76,85 -0,10% -0,08 69M 121,95 0,01% 0,01 640M 167,7 -0,84% -1,42 103M 98,99 1,82% 1,77 57M 113,79 -2,37% -2,76 214M 30,98 0,78% 0,24 155M 41,45 -0,86% -0,36 179M 77,7 -0,37% -0,29 67M 85,51 -0,11% -0,09 353M 30,01 -1,02% -0,31 265M 236,95 -1,10% -2,63 94M 138,33 -0,09% -0,13 168M 177,3 -0,76% -1,36 169M 37,98 1,12% 0,42 180M 86,93 0,21% 0,18 310M 113,38 1,38% 1,54 307M 122,86 0,80% 0,98 100M 61,75 0,90% 0,55 170M 65,78 2,35% 1,51 510M 53,19 -0,86% -0,46 70M 31,42 0,45% 0,14 190M 86,72 0,14% 0,12 221M 118,1 -0,03% -0,03 32M 109,7 -0,60% -0,66 90M 162,99 0,15% 0,24 155M 49,6 0,98% 0,48 201M 83,77 0,64% 0,53 155M 65,66 -1,60% -1,07 201M 109,3 1,15% 1,24 173M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 30

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced Pulmatrix, Inc. Oncobiologics, Inc. Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. Air Transport Services Group, Inc Key Technology, Inc. Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. Spartan Motors, Inc. Wynn Resorts, Limited Syneron Medical Ltd. Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Atrion Corporation

$ 3.37 $ 3.74 $ 6.22 $ 16.92 $ 13.38 $ 5.90 $ 9.35 $ 103.08 $ 9.65 $ 6.27 $ 505.35

1.15 ▲ 51.80% 0.68 ▲ 22.22% 0.59 ▲ 10.48% 1.50 ▲ 9.73% 1.18 ▲ 9.67% 0.50 ▲ 9.26% 0.75 ▲ 8.72% 7.58 ▲ 7.94% 0.70 ▲ 7.82% 0.44 ▲ 7.55% 32.25 ▲ 6.82%

$ 4.86 $ 10.09 $ 2.41 $ 2.75 $ 6.36 $ 7.77 $ 27.55 $ 36.70 $ 13.66 $ 12.82 $ 19.65

13.84 ▼ 74.01% 2 ▼ 16.54% 0.39 ▼ 13.93% 0.35 ▼ 11.29% 0.60 ▼ 8.62% 0.7001 ▼ 8.27% 2.35 ▼ 7.86% 2.95 ▼ 7.44% 1.09 ▼ 7.39% 0.98 ▼ 7.10% 1.45 ▼ 6.87%

Most Declined Novan, Inc. The KEYW Holding Corporation Diana Containerships Inc. Avinger, Inc. Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. LEAP THERAPEUTICS, INC. Spark Energy, Inc. Strattec Security Corporation 8point3 Energy Partners LP PTC Therapeutics, Inc. JetBlue Airways Corporation

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Leaders’ speeches grabbing attention Ask the expert Peter Loveday Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com

IT has been a fiery start to 2017, with the markets having to decipher the outcome of speeches given by some of the world’s most powerful political figures, Theresa May and Donald Trump. As a result, Sterling has been the biggest mover; after hitting worrying lows early in the New Year, it has rebounded on the back of British PM Theresa May warning European leaders that the UK is prepared to crash out of the EU if she cannot negotiate a reasonable exit deal. Although May mentioned that the UK could be the EU’s ‘best friend’ if the article 50 divorce talks went well, she also said she was prepared to walk away. This sent alarm bells ringing around the Eurozone as they have a big year coming in terms of political elections in France and Germany. It appears that the PM’s plan is built around 12 principles for a clean Brexit and included a call for the UK to leave the single market and to avoid the EU’s immigration

STERLING: Has been the biggest mover after hitting worrying lows earlier. rules and being subject to the European court of justice. Although the recent fall in the pound has helped exporters, it made foreign holidays more expensive for British tourists and increased import costs for manufacturers. However, one beneficiary of cheaper Sterling has been the UK’s

tourism sector, as a weaker pound makes Britain a cheaper destination for overseas tourists. Whilst all eyes of late have been on the UK and their Brexit plan, there is expected to be a shift in the market to political risks within the Eurozone as the French, German and Dutch elections take place throughout the year.

France is where it will all be happening in April, with potential surprises in store as their government is expected to shift to the right as conservative candidate François Fillon is tipped to beat far right leader Marine Le Pen. Furthermore, they have both argued that France is not a multi-cultural nation, and both are seen as pro-Russia. Should either win the battle of France, significant uncertainty, similar to that in the UK after Brexit, could be sprung across the Eurozone resulting in a potentially deflated euro. Germany’s elections are not anticipated to be half as exciting, as Angela Merkel is expected to be handed her fourth term in office. The political unrest across the Eurozone and rise of the anti-populist parties could be a determining factor into potential Euro weakness. In addition, the European Central Bank are still in the middle of their easing policy which could put further pressure on the currency throughout the middle and back half of the year. Currently the euro is being masked by the state of the pound, however, should Britain’s Brexit plans go like Theresa May plans, the euro is likely to be the victim of some serious pressure. Whichever way it goes, it is likely to be a year where investors are increasingly skeptical, given the events of 2016.

Visit us at our Spanish offices in Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca. Telephone: UK +44 (0) 207 847 9400 SPAIN +34 950 478 914 Email: euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com • www.currenciesdirect.com

“Sell the euro short” says expert AS Prime Minister Theresa May was getting ready to meet Donald Trump, the man who is tipped to become America’s Ambassador to the European Union said he could see the euro crashing within 18 months in an interview with the BBC. Speaking about Europe, Professor Ted Malloch after suggesting that if he was a speculator he would “short the euro,” confident that he would make a profit as it started to lose its value, he also suggested that there would be a huge advantage for Britain if it made a clean break with Europe. He believes that a trade deal between the USA and Britain could be very quickly completed as Donald Trump is a man of action and rejected the thought of any attempt that Europe might take to postpone such a deal until Brexit was completed, even questioning whether it was enforceable. Having been interviewed by the Trump administration in early January, the professor, who is a wellknown figure and writer on financial matters, still awaits a formal

Photo Credit: The White House

By John Smith

MAN OF ACTION: President Trump in meeting with American industrialists. decision, but if he is appointed to the role, his comments, which included a question as to whether the EU itself will still exist, certainly won’t have found favour with President of the Union Jean-

Claude Juncker. He also confirmed his opinion that the much vaunted and equally much criticised Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the USA and the EU was ef-

fectively dead especially as it was possible that forthcoming elections in France, Germany and Holland would actually see additional defections from the EU or at least a major swing in policy.

Malaga company fights malware A COMPANY opened in Malaga in 1998, Hipasec, is the only Spanish organisation invited to participate in a worldwide meeting of cyber security companies in Tel Aviv which has been organised by Google. Their main product which has attracted attention is the free download for Android devices named Koodous which checks all programmes on Android phones or tablets which a user has installed and advises if there are any viruses or malware detected. As an extension of this App, it reports any dangerous discoveries to security programmes and more than 1,700 analysts around the world so that as new attacks are discovered, the international data base of viruses grows and allows for the speedy creation of defences. Currently with some 50,000 users of Koodous, it has identified more than seven million examples of malware and offers users a free daily update on latest virus news.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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Photo Credit: @DavidBowieReal Twitter

Royal Mail David Bowie stamps

SOUVENIRS: The David Bowie stamps to be issued on March 14. By John Smith THE Royal Mail has announced it will issue a set of 10 stamps and a souvenir sheet on March 14 in recognition and homage to the late David Bowie as part of its ongoing tribute to modern British performers. At one time the decision to release commemorative stamps was one which had to be considered very seriously as an effigy (often in cameo) of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II or the Royal Cypher appears on every stamp. For this reason, it was considered inappropriate to be seen to be promoting any commercial concern or to feature any living person who was not part of the British Royal Family, but over the years this rule which was duplicated in many other countries throughout the world has changed dramatically. At the end of the day, a postage stamp is simply a receipt for pre-payment of a delivery service, although it was also used as a propaganda media with stamps being an ambassador for the issuing country as they travel the world on mail. In reality, no country really needs more than a dozen

stamps which show the actual value of the receipt although in certain countries with high illiteracy rates, each value should also have a distinctive single colour border or background which could be easily recognised. This has all changed dramatically with stamps being a major income generator for countries around the world, especially if they are never used for postage and Britain eventually jumped on the bandwagon. The change was gradual, with living people appearing alongside members of the Royal Family and some dead stars of the screen also appearing but all changed when different British sporting teams started to win major events and suddenly it was acceptable to show living players provided that they were part of a team. In 1999 as part of the Millennium celebrations, Freddie Mercury who died in 1991 was shown in concert on a British stamp. What no-one in the Royal Mail admits to having done deliberately was to show drummer Roger Taylor in the background which gave precedence for what was to follow.

Suddenly shots from films and movie posters showing living actors were acceptable and huge successes such as The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter franchises became big business not just for the Royal Mail but also the movie companies that sold them the licences allowing the use of the images. Bowie appeared on the album cover of Ziggy Stardust on a set of music stamps issued in 2010 and since then various members of Pink Floyd have been featured. An American stamp showing Elvis sold in its millions and after regular objections from the Palace because he returned his MBE, Gibraltar was finally allowed to issue a John Lennon set, although Yoko Ono had to stay in the margin of a souvenir sheet. The whole world now issues stamps showing musicians, many having lived hard and died young, but profit sometimes comes before other considerations and this would be a relatively fun and inexpensive collection to put together, starting with Bowie and perhaps adding Spain’s recent Paco de Lucia stamp.

2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de AlmerĂ­a

EWN

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OPINION & COMMENT

2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

Grievances are coming to a head Let’s hope the Trump administration doesn’t get so bogged down in legal and constitutional matters that it is unable to function freely.

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT WELL, whatever your views on ‘PDT’ you must admit that his actions certainly speak louder than his already robust dialogue. Personally I find this trait enormously refreshing. Over decades of newly elected political leaders literally taking years (if ever) to implement the promises and policies they have been elected on, Trump has already put a number of his most controversial intentions into practice. The problem is, in an effort to show he means what he says, he is ‘el jefe’ of a political express train that not only ignores stop lights and stations, but is in danger of not even noticing when the tracks run out! As much as I support Trump’s new approach to national leadership, I would like to have seen him taking a rather more cautious route before implementing some of his

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Taking a new approach to national leadership. more risky aspersions. T h is d o e s n ’t me a n I don’t agree with his policies, ie ‘The Wall’ or barring the residents of certain countries from entering th e U S A (S a udi A ra bia , the biggest terrorist nest of all, glaringly absent from the list!), I

most certainly do. It’s the blanket finality of his decisions that worry me. Things are moving so quickly, that by the time this column goes to press, anything could have happened. Unprecedented rioting all across America.

Trump on the back foot and forced to make concessions to the dissenters. The calling out of the National Guard, civil war, anything. At the time of scribing there is simply no way of knowing. One thing is for sure, many problems and grievances are swiftly coming

to a head and at least we no longer have an Islamic sympathiser making the biased decisions we have had to put up with for the previous eight years. Let’s just hope that the Trump administration doesn’t get so bogged down in legal and constitutional matters that it is unable to function freely. As a final observation, to those who object to the new President’s British visit, I would draw their attention to Mugabe. I didn’t see any petitions or dissenting crowds objecting to visits from this despotic murderer! Keep the Faith. Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.com

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OPINION & COMMENT

It’s a funny old game life, isn’t it? Guest Columnist Today: Marshall Howe I WANTED to be a professional footballer. My Mum wanted me to be a ballet dancer (where she got that from I’ll never know). I nearly succeeded having played at Bury, Oldham and Rochdale but never in the first teams.

I love life here, but will always remember my life in Lancashire and England. After student teaching in Bury I went labouring on building sites and eventually finished up running my own civil engineering business which took me all over the country. Three wives and six children later I’ve finis he d u p i n E sp a ñ a a n d lo v in g it. I wouldn’t change a thing (well apart from the first two wives) and hopefully I will be able to pass on some of the stories and experiences in future articles.

LANCASHIRE LIFE: The East Lancs Railway in Bury. My wife says I should write a book and I did start it once entitled ‘The Escapades of a Lancashire Navvy.’ I used to note stories in a little book as past incidents popped into my head. How it fell into my accountant’s hands I’ll never know, but at our annual review he brought it out and we spent the whole meeting laughing. I don’t know how much tax I paid that year but I know he still charged me

for the session. The book was never returned and I bet he finished writing it under a different name, changed the title and made a fortune - well he is an accountant after all! Earlier I mentioned teaching. It was at East Ward Secondary modern in Bury (it’s gone now) as a PE and maths teacher. School uniform was leather jacket, jeans and hobnailed boots - and that was just the girls! I enjoyed

teaching as it can be very rewarding - children can be ‘entertaining’ to say the least. One morning as I was stood at the side of the hall during assembly and the Head read out his ‘rogues gallery’ list of who he wanted to see outside his office after assembly. “Smith, Jones, Tomkins and Mr Howe.” Two hundred and fifty heads heads swivelled in my direction and laughter and sniggers rippled round the hall. Sure enough I finished last in line outside Mr Bradbury’s office. “What you being done for Sir?” was the question they all asked. I genuinely did not know but it was a first for the school. Apparently a Prefect had booked me in for arriving late three days running (my old Austin A30 kept breaking down). Embarrassed! I made that kid’s life hell, especially when I got him on the football pitch for games lessons. (Not really as everyone could see the funny side). However, I’ve remained punctual for the rest of my life. I still work every day pricing jobs for two of my sons (I wouldn’t know what to do with myself) and I love the life here. But I will always remember my life in Lancashire and England. It made me what I am today and who knows what life has in store and what little adventures are still to undertake? Yes. Life is a funny old game.

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Business 1st, democracy 2nd Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man I HEARD this week the phrase ‘alternative facts’ and of course it could only have come from one source. Donald J Trump, well his press officer actually. Now I’m not the sharpest tool in the box but I know there is no such thing. It’s a pile of BS. It means they are lying, that’s it in a nutshell. This Trump geezer is seriously making me grumpy ! Can you imagine saying to little Johnny ‘Did you break that window?’ ‘No Mum,’ ‘Are you sure because your sister said you did!’ Well let me offer you an alternative fact. HE’s lying! Just like Trump is about the crowds. So you didn’t get as big a crowd as Obama, so what? The man is an embarrassment throwing hissy fits on Twitter at three in the morning. He even called the National Park Service director and told him he wanted him to produce photos to prove it. How about the wall? It started off as ‘I am going to build a wall and the Mexicans are going to pay for it.’ Their answer was pretty concise: ‘We aren’t paying for no f*****g wall.’ It is now ‘We are going to build the wall and the Mexicans are going to reimburse us.’

Do what? My understanding of reimburse is like ‘hey, if you’re going to the shops get me a loaf and I’ll give you the money when you come round.’ Not trying to get $10 billion off someone who has said they ain’t paying for 1,900 miles of wall. Strangely enough, the Mexican President cancelled his visit this week. Reimbursing is not paying get it? I don’t like any politicians they all lie but this geezer is one dangerous nutter. How about the blanket banning of people from seven Muslim majority countries even if you have dual nationality passports which mean Sir Mo Farrah can’t go back! The weird thing is he hasn’t banned the countries that were involved in 9/11, the shoe bomber, Time Square bomber, San Bernardino shooters, Boston Marathon and Chelsea bombers. Maybe it’s because he does business with those countries. Look I know I’m usually writing lighthearted articles but every day I see what’s going on and being said in the USA and it’s not funny. The people taking to the streets to protest last night they all turned up at JFK. I’m going to try and not let him make me grumpy but to be honest I’m going to struggle. Please don’t try and convince me he is going to be good for the USA and the World because you won’t do it ... Ok you can try! Email me at mikesenker@gmail.com.

OPINION & COMMENT

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LEGALLY SPEAKING

Points system for bikes AS part of the series, we answer some common driving questions and keep you updated on the latest driving and road news kindly provided by members of the Guardia Civil based in Torrevieja, Costa Blanca, who set up the N332 website and Facebook page to help break down barriers.

CYCLISTS: Can take to the road without any training or road awareness. THE Spanish Royal Automobile Association, RACE, is proposing the extension of the driving licence points system to cover cyclists. Some other vehicle users would welcome the change, often being critical of the way cyclists use the road, but it is has also been criticised by some, despite the motivation behind the plans being to try to reduce the number of deaths of cyclists on Spanish roads. Manuel Martin, from the cycling group ConBici, has already hit out at the plans saying that it seems “unfortunate that an entity like RACE makes a proposal that is not valid in any country in the world,” adding that the implementation of this measure “would mean almost nobody would use a bicycle.” The group believes that cyclists are the victims and that cars are the most dangerous:

“What you have to take action against is not the bikes, but the cars who are the ones that create the danger.” RACE are also attempting to encourage a plan of coexistence on the road for both cars and bicycles, where both users are taken into account. They want a greater commitment to reduce the incident rate of vulnerable road users. The association points out that the points system has proven usefulness in focusing efforts to reduce incidents and if extended to bicycles, it would have a similar effect and encourage safer cycling and reduce accidents. At the moment, a cyclist can take to the road without any training or road awareness. They are also not necessarily aware of the laws that they have to abide by which are aimed at protecting all road users.

For more news and articles visit www.n332.es or search N332 on Facebook.

Robbery, pillage and theft? It seems to me that Spanish insurance companies omit common risks from policies which an average person might reasonably expect to be covered. As an example I cite one policy that insures against ‘robbery, pillage and theft’ in the home. Perhaps they should consult someone who understands English terminolLet’s keep in mind that insurance policies in Spain are written in Spanish, official language of the country. I feel quite sure that your policy insures you against loss caused by burglary. Any problems you

ogy, because none of these things happen inside a home. There are burglaries or aggravated burglaries. What happens when you report a burglary to police and then make a claim? Will they say such events are not covered under the policy, only ‘robbery, pillage and theft?’ N S (Costa del Sol)

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

have with your insurance company are more likely to be related to the need to

prove that locks, doors or windows were broken in order to justify a claim. When thieves or burglars enter an open house, the owner shares the blame. And, yes, good translations always need careful thought.

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

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OPINION & COMMENT

The ancient mystery that keeps Mojacar majestic! Ric Polansky Ric Polansky moved to Mojacar in 1969 as a pioneer developer. He reads extensively and has travelled in South America panning gold and looking for El Dorado.

I HAVE a friend that for years has been trying to clarify why living in Mojacar is so enchanting. As if a magic wand has been waived over it and all the people living here have been blessed. If you were well read concerning the very darkest past before any history was written, you would gleefully discover that major civilisations that influenced the rest of Europe all happened within just minutes drive from here. Man reputedly crept into the Iberian peninsula about 1.2 million years ago. In nearby Orce (near the cave community of Galera, Granada, driving to Huescar on Almeria’s most northern borders) they claim to have

unearthed the jaw bone of a man from 700,000 years ago. Archeologists from University of Barcelona continue with their excavations. The second most important migrants to the area were the ‘beaker people’ famed for their pottery much resembling bell shaped cups flipped over. Yes, beer producers much influenced by travellers from Greece and possibly Cyprus. The year was 2150 BC and they created one of their largest settlements just outside of Almeria capital, Los Millares. It can be viewed today. Closer to home is the Argar culture with defined settlements in nearby Antas, Cuevas and Murcia. This original bronze age culture thrived and formed further extensions near Sevilla, Galicia and the estuary of Portugal in 1850BC. They were good metal workers and famed for their fine work with gold and silver. A dagger carved a monolith in Stonehenge led

the Hispanophile Gerald Brennan (author of ‘South from Granada’ insists the builders of that great monument came from Almeria). Now, does that make you English feel better about living here? These are all major contributors from Mojacar’s rarely discussed unrecorded past; ghost cultures that led the way in the evolutionary process. Oddly, none of this was known whatsoever if it hadn’t been for a Belgian engineer sent to run the silver mines between Villaricos and Cuevas del Almanzora. All the digging brought up new and unusual finds that so excited Luis Siret that he made it his whole time passion in sorting out these mysterious, but cultured ancestors. The villa where he worked has now been cleared of squatters and can be viewed in Los Herrerias, west from Villaricos. The entire bottom floor of Madrid’s archeological museum con-

LUIS SIRET: His passion was sorting out mysterious ancestors. cerns all of Mojacar’s neighborly civilisations. We have amongst us constantly the vortex of past greatness yearning to thrive again.

Now, if that’s not enough, I am also told by more erudite spiritualists that many major lay lines also flow through our area.

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10:00am

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8:00pm

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E W N 2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

LETTERS

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OPINION & COMMENT

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments straight on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com

Vulnerable left in the cold I WAS very disappointed with my electric supplier here in Costa Blanca when I suddenly lost all power at 9.30pm on a very cold evening. There was a 24-hour emergency number on my bill which I called but no one could speak English so I was transferred to a recorded message which simply said ‘hold on’ in English and then cut me off! It wasn’t until the following morning that I managed to speak to a human who understood me and I explained that at nearly 80, heat and light were important to me. It was no consolation to be told that plenty of others were without electricity as well, especially as prices keep going up. Nine hours later some electricians turned up, checked my property and identified that the problem was not caused by me or my circuit and disappeared around the corner to a box in the road and within a matter of minutes confirmed that the problem was there and they had fixed it. Luckily I’m relatively fit, but there are other old and frail pensioners who could have been seriously affected by more than 18 hours without electricity through no fault of their own. James, San Luis (Torrevieja)

Clinton mania UNBELIEVABLE that the main stream media throughout the presidential campaign have and continue to ignore how corrupt the Clintons are. Thank God she did not get in. Whatever his shortcomings are Trump is preferable. One thing, I don’t think his presidency will be dull as he certainly is a controversial character and to be honest he is a breath of fresh air. Vivienne Pimm

Wincing words HOW many had winced, I wonder, at Theresa May’s grammatical clanger? When delivering her discourse to the world press at the White House she was clearly heard to say at the very end: “...a signifi-

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

Wasting water THE water authorities say that there are water shortages each year and they need to find solutions. If they imposed hosepipe bans there wouldn’t be so much of a problem. Many people hose down their patios regularly and the road outside their house wasting great quantities, leaving rivers on the road. Intelligent people sweep and mop but it seems that this is too laborious. Pete, Nerja

SAVE WATER: By swapping the hose for a brush and mop cant moment FOR president Trump and I to build our relations...” It’s “…for president Trump and ME..” dear lady! Or didn’t they teach you at Wheatlley Park Comprehensive how you never use a subject pronoun after a preposition. Perhaps, aware of your shortcomings, this is the reason why you are in favour of building new grammar schools, like the one Maggie went to in Grantham. RJ Dworakowski, Torremolinos.

Why Trump won WE the people want our lives back. The only way to that basic human need is through the likes of Farrage and Trump.

I recall that oddly, early in 2016 well pre-Brexit, the Americans embraced that theme. Hence the Nigel Donald love affair. Look for more rising out of the melee as the EU flounders for survival. Like it or not they are in a way our saviours and are leading the way out of the assembled political nightmarish trap. Praising them for their outspoken courage and steely held beliefs favouring us, instead of finger pointing, will accelerate that beneficial process into a new world of simple base values we understand. Not couched in ever deeper legal jargon, mired in a litany of rules laws and certificates penned by hordes of PC pompous overpaid parasites. Stand up and be counted. We are witnessing the dawn of a new era. Embrace it. Stand high enough and it will now make a difference. Name withheld

Thank you WE would like to say thank you to John Smith for his editorial on our restaurant in Benalmadena. John is a great guy with the old-fashioned approach of writing everything down rather than using iPads, etc. This impressed us both. We have had great feedback from customers who looked in both your paper and online. Thank you and we will certainly be looking to continue to work with you this year with our advertising. Bob and Linda, Aico Restaurant, Benalmadena.

Weather error IN edition 1647 we stated that Boxing Day in Cuenca last year was the hottest day in Spain for the month of December. This was incorrect and we apologise for the error.

Crime fears

ARRIVING in Spain to stay in Costa del Sol for the winter months I have been the victim of two attempted and one successful robberies, most costly to me in financial and sentimental terms here in Estepona over a twomonth period. I am an experienced traveller and know the precautions one should take, however the tactics and sheer audacity is breathtaking. There appears to be carefully orchestrated teams working with spotters or those casing places then trackers who may also be finally the robbers. Initially I thought that I had been very unlucky but when sharing my experiences with expats living here it is becoming a way of life with both men and women being targeted some more than once. Some gangs use distraction tactics like tripping up in front of their target who naturally goes to help them while a team member slips their hand in from behind to reach for a wallet. I have been to the police on one occasion but it seems nothing can be done. Several retail outlets have cameras but who checks them? Another tactic can occur in a supermarket car park where one member of the team puts a nail into the target’s car tyre and while the victim is distracted with a flat tyre another criminal sneaks into the car and picks up any valuables like phones, handbags, etc. For those living here they are starting to look over their shoulders when out and certainly women are being forced not to carry their usual handbags. This is a not the quality of life that people including tourists expect here. I am concerned that these robberies will escalate into self defensive methods having to be adopted which in turn could have more damaging effects rather than the upsetting physiological stress of invasion of one’s privacy. Name and address withheld

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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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.

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

2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

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51

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SPONSORED BY Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.

Kakuro

EWN

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

‘NOW HEAR THIS - THE NEXT TIME WE LAUNCH TRIDENT... WE DOWN PERISCOPE!!’

YOUR STARS FOR 7 DAYS

Women’s wit

‘

When you’re called a character actress it’s because you are too ugly to be called a leading lady.” Kathy Burke

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Satisfaction with your love life is paramount this week, and the opinion of others seems important to you. Perhaps you are looking for an excuse to make a change. It is possible, however, that a change is not required so much as a different approach. It is not essential to put all your eggs in one basket.

Famous quote

‘

It is easy for me to love myself, but for ladies to do it is another question altogether.” Johnny Vegas, Actor/Comedian

World of English

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) A conversation with a colleague brings insights into how others live and it is quite an eye-opener. Friendships are particularly important this week. You have been dashing around and maybe not enough thought has gone into how you spend your leisure time.

A backward poet writes inverse.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) There is something in you that needs a

‘

LOTTERY

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

Saturday January 28

5

21

IRISH LOTTO

Saturday January 28

13

14

1

Friday January 27

17

34

22

24

7

43

45

25

42

23

28

BONUS BALL

20

7

48

LUCKY STARS

3

8

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Being very much in demand for your talents this week means less time to spend socially, so it's important to make time for loved ones at the weekend. Someone seeking your advice may simply be seeking your approval for an action they are going to take anyway.

Saturday January 28

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Sunday January 29

8

10

15

22

24

41

35

47

51

40

45

17

BONUS BALL

creative outlet. Perhaps you would like to write a book: memoirs, for instance, take up a craft or paint. Learning a new language would also be satisfying. Certainly, food for the brain and soul are what you should be seeking now.

20

5 23

(January 21 - February 19)

Spirituality seeps right through the week. As you are feeling particularly sensuous, invite someone special to

LA PRIMITIVA

EURO MILLIONS

Tuesday January 24

AQUARIUS

LUCKY STARS

5

9

49

REINTEGRO

14

3

REINTEGRO

9

dinner or on a trip. Visit garden centres and plan ahead. The colours and perfumes will be particularly pleasing. CANCER (June 22 - July 23) There may be some opposition to your ideas as Pluto turns this week. Perhaps your natural charm just doesn't seem to be working. As you have helped others in the past, make it clear that you expect a bit of co-operation. It is not through lack of will that some people do not offer help. LEO (July 24 - August 23) This is a week when progress is fast and plans run ahead. Try new ideas and seek information to hone your knowledge. An organisation that is new to you offers insight and social involvement. An offer that thrusts you into the limelight might be avoided at first but would be to your advantage. VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Although you have perhaps been looking to money-making ideas to progress finances, think also of alternatives. Perhaps there are areas of your lifestyle where money could be saved. Items that are not used could be sold for a profit and rid you of clutter. LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Having suffered a bit of a setback last week, you may be feeling less

confident. Revving up your social life will certainly help to bring spirits up again. Be with people who liven or inspire you in some way and avoid boring or moaning folk. SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Thoughts come to you, perhaps in dreams, that are creative and energy boosting. Someone who recently moved out of your sphere is sadly missed but is in some ways still a part of you. A person at work who has been causing you concern needs investigation, but the facts may be less alarming than you suspect. SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) A strong and exciting romantic feeling flows through the week, which is fitting as Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Someone returning from a trip makes you smile and boosts your spirit. People who have been a little bossy of late finally realise that you will not rise to the bait. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) It's a better week for travel with less likelihood of delays. Should you be feeling a little lethargic and sorry about recent events, just count your blessings. Consider raising some money and having fun at the same time by indulging in a garage or car boot sale. Doing something entirely different can boost your mind and activity levels, which can't be bad.

52

E W N 2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

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

Hexagram ANSWER BARRED BITTEN BORATE BRUISE (10) CRISES DIATOM FEEBLE GANTRY INSIDE

LIMBIC NIMBLE SHIFTY SIERRA STREAM TENURE WINTER WRETCH ZODIAC

This week in history 1587 – Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded after being imprisoned for 19 years for her involvement in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I. 1812 – Charles Dickens, British novelist, was born in Portsmouth. 1911 – Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the USA, was born in Illinois. 1932 – Al Capone, the notorious American gangster, was sent to prison for tax evasion. 1939 – American singer and actor Frank Sinatra married his first wife Nancy in New Jersey. 1943 – The Germans surrendered at Stalingrad. 1952 – George VI, King of the United Kingdom, died at the age of 56. 1953 – Sweet rationing came to an end in Britain and saw children across the country head to their nearest sweet-shop after emptying their piggybanks. 1959 – Rock ‘n’ roll star Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash at the age of 22. 1964 – Beatlemania reached the USA as the band arrived in New York to start their first tour of the states. 1966 – The Soviet Union made the first controlled landing on the moon with the Luna 9 spacecraft probe and took the first pictures from the moon’s surface. 1979 – Sid Vicious, bass player with the Sex Pistols, died at the age of 21 from a drug overdose in New York. 1980 – Model Angie Bowie divorced singer David Bowie after 11 years of marriage. 1986 – Pope John Paul II paid a visit to Mother Teresa’s refuge in Calcutta and famously kissed the top of her head when she bent down to kiss his hand. 1987 – Terry Waite, Church of England peace envoy, was kidnapped and imprisoned in Beirut by an Islamic militia group. 1996 – The first genetically modified (GM) food, tomato puree, went on sale in British supermarkets.

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

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Quartz 2 Artery 3 Around 4 Airway 5 Diaper 6 Ruckus 7 Planar 8 Winkle 9 Incite 10 Lawful 11 Dulcet 12 Scalar 13 Feudal 14 Kaiser 15 Faulty 16 Fiddle 17 Fetter 18 Retail 19 Eyeful.

Costa de Almería TODAY

VELEZ RUBIO

HUERCAL OVERA

ALBOX

GARRUCHA

MOJACAR

ALMERIA

weather Alicante TODAY: MAX 18, MIN 12 - C Fri - 18 11 Sh Sat - 19 14 C Sun - 21 13 C Mon - 20 12 Cl Tues - 21 12 Cl Wed - 17 10 C

Bilbao TODAY: MAX 16, MIN 9 - SH Fri - 13 7 Sh Sat - 15 10 Sh Sun - 14 8 Sh Mon - 16 9 C Tues - 16 8 Sh Wed - 11 6 Sh

Almeria TODAY: MAX 18, MIN 11 - SH Fri - 19 10 C Sat - 20 12 C Sun - 22 12 C Mon - 22 12 C Tues - 22 12 Cl Wed - 19 10 Cl

Madrid TODAY: MAX 11, MIN 6 - SH Fri - 10 4 Sh Sat - 13 8 C Sun - 14 5 Sh Mon - 14 4 Cl Tues - 14 4 C Wed - 12 1 Sh

Barcelona TODAY: MAX 15, MIN 10 - SH Fri - 13 9 Sh Sat - 14 9 C Sun - 17 9 Sh Mon - 16 7 Cl Tues - 16 9 Cl Wed - 13 7 Sh

Malaga TODAY: MAX 16, MIN 9 - SH Fri - 19 10 C Sat - 20 12 C Sun - 20 12 Sh Mon - 22 10 C Tues - 21 11 Cl Wed - 17 8 C

Benidorm TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 11 - C Fri - 18 10 C Sat - 18 13 C Sun - 20 12 C Mon - 19 12 C Tues - 20 12 Cl Wed - 17 9 C

Mallorca TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 10 - C Fri - 16 10 Sh Sat - 17 11 C Sun - 18 10 Cl Mon - 16 7 C Tues - 17 9 C Wed - 16 8 Sh

RETAMAR

ADRA

ROQUETAS

TOMORROW

VELEZ RUBIO

HUERCAL OVERA

ALBOX

GARRUCHA

MOJACAR

ALMERIA

RETAMAR

ADRA

ROQUETAS

SATURDAY

VELEZ RUBIO

HUERCAL OVERA

ALBOX

GARRUCHA

MOJACAR

ALMERIA

RETAMAR

ADRA

S: Sun

TIME

www.euroweeklynews.com

Cl: Clear

F: Fog

ROQUETAS

C: Cloudy

Sh: Showers

Sn: Snow

Th: Thunder

Euro Weekly News strives for accuracy, but cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of published forecasts

TARGET: • Average: 5 • Good: 7 • Very good: 10• Excellent: 13

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION demo dime dome dorm drum emir firm form from fume idem mend menu mien mind mine mire mode more morn moue muon norm omen rime demon demur denim dimer femur fermi forum fumed fumer mined miner minor mired moire mound mourn odium rimed rumen deform firmed formed frenum fumier inform merino minder modern monied murine remind fermion mourned uniform informed unformed UNIFORMED

NEW ON DVD The Girl on the Train Directed by: Tate Taylor Starring: Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Lisa Kudrow Based on the bestselling novel this thrilling story follows the life of Rachel Watson left devastated from her recent divorce. As she is making her daily commute on the train to work, she notices a couple (Megan and Scott) who live in the house a few doors down from where she once lived with her husband. Each day as she passes by she begins to daydream about this ‘perfect couple’ and the perfect life they must lead. However one morning she witnesses something shocking and finds herself inexplicably involved after it is reported on the TV that Megan is missing.

OUT

2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

page

Enjoy filling in the following puzzles and check the answers in next week’s edition

Cryptic

Code Breaker

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC

Quick

Across:

Across 1 Cook Delia felt poorly (5) 4 Hold up picnic container? (6) 9 Glad law was changed for this bird (7) 10 Greek deity is in charge of alarm (5) 11 Soundly study the plant (4) 12 Sister holding quiet girl’s hand tool (7) 13 Camp bed in the discotheque (3) 14 Morning doctor on rounds (4) 16 Mets returned a bit of the plant (4) 18 Prosecute Johnny Cash’s boy (3) 20 Till ICI change, it's forbidden (7) 21 Support some of your gender (4) 24 The summit of the damaged piers (5) 25 Holiday garland guaranteed (7) 26 Burns out the Spanish engine (6) 27 Paper cover on bed Down 1 Sausages, but no starter, makes one furious (6) 2 Stop in the small house (5) 3 Will, from the rear, looks dowdy (4) 5 Value a quiet compliment (8) 6 As an act of contrition the writer gets the cane, unfortunately (7) 7 Soldiers with rope and log (6) 8 Criticise British final (5) 13 Trick Greek island firm (8) 15 Part of Guatemala is expecting physical discomfort (7) 17 Didn't see fog, it's said (6)

53

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Crossword

EWN

1 Peerless, 7 Stair, 8 Artichoke, 9 Ran, 10 Mint, 11 Rapids, 13 Staged, 14 Caesar, 17 Chides, 18 Fast, 20 Rue, 22 Narrative, 23 Enact, 24 Vehement. Down: 1 Psalm, 2 Estonia, 3 Lock, 4 Slogan, 5 Lairs, 6 Grander, 7 Seminar, 12 Defiant, 13 Scarlet, 15 Seaside, 16 George, 17 Cedar, 19 Treat, 21 Sake.

QUICK Across:

18 Yet motionless (5) 19 Feel bitter but enters anyhow (6) 22 Wake up in wondrous excitement (5) 23 Tobias Smollett's secret is prejudice (4)

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 7 represents L and 19 represents T, so fill in L every time the figure 7 appears and T every time the figure 19 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Across 1 Full supply (6) 4 Hide from view (5) 8 Happen again (5) 9 In accordance with fixed order (7) 10 Yarns (7) 11 Bucket (4) 12 Travel on snow (3) 14 South American country (4) 15 Small cut (4) 18 Weep convulsively (3) 21 At a distance (4) 23 Atrocity (7) 25 Invoke admiration (7) 26 Similar (5) 27 Expect to be true (5) 28 Allow (6)

Down 1 Examine in detail (6) 2 Surround (7) 3 End of the line (8) 4 Barred room (4) 5 Country estate (5) 6 Not often (6) 7 Meet at a point (5) 13 Bring into being (8) 16 Part of the skull that encloses the brain (7) 17 Bold (6) 19 Give help to improve (5) 20 Discover (6) 22 More than sufficient (5) 24 Fixed charges (4)

English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.

1/23 Pole star, 3 Cautious, 9 Retreat, 10 Plain, 11 Eerie, 12 Caddie, 14 Supper, 16 Vienna, 19 Paella, 21 Stoic, 24 Trout, 25 Cassock, 26 Randomly, 27 Arms.

Down: 1 Perverse, 2 Later, 4 Attack, 5 Tepid, 6 Ovation, 7 Sane, 8 Serene, 13 Pancakes, 15 Platoon, 17 Insist, 18 Cancel, 20 Lotto, 22 Odour.

ENGLISHSPANISH Across: 1 Loaf, 3 Ache, 8 Apple-tree, 9 Sometimes, 13 Guarantee, 15 Skin, 16 Foca. Down: 1 Left, 2 Abajo, 4 Car, 5 Even, 6 Apretar, 7 Revista, 10 Enero, 11 Eggs, 12 Aula, 14 Ahi.

CODE BREAKER

Across 1 Lancha de socorro (8) 7 Vestir (5) 8 Trozo (pedazo) (5) 9 Earthworms (9) 11 Journey (5) 12 Italia (5) 14 Indoloro (8)

Down 1 Tapa (de caja) (3) 2 Mops (for floors) (8) 3 Great grandmother (9) 4 Anfibio (9) 5 Ciervo (4) 6 Delegado (8) 10 Grapes (4) 13 Sí (3)

E W N 2 - 8 February 2017 / Costa de Almería

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Good Me, Bad Me

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Highest ever football transfer fees paid

TOP 10 Football’s 2017 January transfer window has just closed and one of the highest transfer fees paid was for Oscar’s move from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG. The transfer fee paid was an eye-popping €60 million but that’s small change compared to some. Here we take a look at 10 of the highest transfer fees ever paid that will really make your eyes water!

the fact it occurred almost eight years ago was Ronaldo’s transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid in July 2009. The transfer fee paid by Real Madrid for the Portuguese left winger, one of the world’s most renowned players, was €94 million.

1. Paul Pogba In August last year Pogba went top of the list with a record €105 million transfer fee paid by Manchester United to Juventus for the talented French midfielder. Almost as surprising as the phenomenal fee was the fact that this was a return to the club where he had started his football career until he left in 2012 to go to Juventus after failing to sign a new contract with Manchester United.

4. Gonzalo Higuain Argentinian centre-forward Higuain made the move from SSC Napoli to rival team Juventus in July last year follow-

By Ali Land THIS compelling, dark and chilling tale is told through the eyes of 15-year-old Annie whose mother is a child serial killer. T he only way out f o r Annie and to make h e r mother stop is to turn her in to the police. With her mother locked up A n nie is given a n e w name , M illy, and place d with a foster family. However, her emotions are all over the place as she is being prepared for her mother ’s imminent trial. She struggles to sleep and is plagued with guilt over her mother ’s actions . I s there any truth to the saying like mother like daughter? She wants to be goo d , but can she? Good me, bad me. books@euroweeklynews.com

2. Gareth Bale Bale was the previous record holder of the highest transfer fee after his transfer in the 2013/2014 season from Spurs to Real Madrid. Welsh right winger Bale signed a six-year deal with Real Madrid who paid €101 million for him in September 2013. 3. Cristiano Ronaldo Still featuring in the top three despite

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

PAUL POGBA: Top of the transfer list.

Boggled

ing a month of transfer speculation. Juventus paid a transfer fee of €90 million for Higuain who proved his worth when he scored the winning goal for the team in his debut match against Fiorentina.

7. Angel Di Maria On August 26, 2014 Maria signed a five-year deal with Manchester United who forked out €75 million to Real Madrid for the Argentinian right winger. However, less than a year later he was on his way out again signing for Paris Saint-Germain on August 6, 2015.

5. Neymar At just 21 years of age, the youngest record maker in our top 10, Neymar made history when he transferred from Santos FC to FC Barcelona for €88.2 million. According to the CIES Football Observatory the Brazilian left winger currently has the highest estimated transfer value which is sitting at €246.8 million.

8. James Rodriguez Colombian Rodriguez changed teams in July of 2014 going from Monaco to Real Madrid for a transfer fee of €75 million which made him the most expensive Colombian football player. The attacking midfielder/winger has been hailed as one of the best midfielders of his generation.

6. Luis Suarez Suarez transferred to Barcelona in July 2014 when they paid Liverpool €81.72 million for the

9. Kevin De Bruyne Attacking midfield player De Bruyne transferred from VfL Wolfsburg to play in the the English Premier League with Manchester City in August 2015. Manchester City had to spend €74 million, a club-record fee, to obtain the Belgian national.

Uruguayan player. Although his record transfer fee made headlines, the controversial centre-forward is probably better known for his biting incidents, particularly at the 2014 FIFA World Cup which resulted in him being banned for nine international matches.

10. Zinedine Zidane The longest record holder in our top 10 he was also the oldest when Real Madrid signed him from Juventus at the ripe old age of 29. Back in August 2001 Real Madrid paid a record €73.5 million for the legendary French attacking midfielder who ended his career at the club in 2006.

TARGET:

SCORING:

• Average: 16

4 letters: 1 point 5 letters: 2 points 6 letters: 3 points 7 letters: 5 points 8 or more letters: 11 points

• Good: 23 How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules? • The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally. • Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms. • No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice. • No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.

Sudoku

• Excellent: 42

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION idol idle gold bail bailey bald balded bale bean belay belt belted axil axle aide aided aloe alto altho diode dial dialog dole dolt dote doted doth detent dodo elide elided elan eolian eddo keloid hoax hold hole holey holt hoke hokey heed

Word Ladder BLOW

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

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

• Very good: 33

CHIP BACK

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

BLOW SLOW SLOP SLIP SHIP CHIP

BOOKS

TIME OUT

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Solution BLOW SLOW SHOW SHOP CHOP CHIP or

54

& More and more men are loving fake tan HEALTH BEAUTY

MORE and more men are turning to the bottle. The bottle of fake tan that is. According to Mintel research, from August 2015-September 2016, the usage of self-tan among Britain’s men rose from less than one in 10 (9 per cent) in 2015 to as many as 14 per cent of all Britain’s males in 2016. Figures showed that young men are the biggest fans of faking it and in 2016 almost three in 10 (27 per cent) of men aged from 16-24 used self-tanning products. This was an increase from 16 per cent in 2015. Tanning salons are also proving popular amongst younger men, with 25 per cent of men aged 18-24 having

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used a tanning salon in 2016 compared with 21 per cent of women of the same aged group. But it is not just self-tan which is proving popular among the nation’s men. Products such as pre-tan accelerator, gradual tanners and oral tanning supplements have also increased. While self-tan product usage has seen the greatest increase amongst men, Britain’s women remain the most likely to use self-tan. Today, 18 per cent of women use self-tan and 19 per cent use gradual tanner. Roshida Khanom, Senior Beauty and Personal Care Analyst at Mintel said: “The in-

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crease in usage of self-tan is growing rapidly amongst the nation’s men, driven by the popularity of self-tan among high profile celebrities including Mark Wright, Rylan Clark

Tanning salons are also proving popular amongst men. and even Ed Balls. “Today’s men are reflecting on their image and responsibilities and how to express their masculinity. With younger men focusing on their appearance more, the self-tanning sector could see a boost.”

Whilst many of us want a healthy glow and the safest way to do this is from selftan products, the Mintel report also said in 2016 there was an increase in the use of SPF products, protecting against the sun’s harmful rays. It a ls o s how e d a dults have a good general knowledge when it comes to regular sun protection, with 52 per cent agreeing that you should reapply sun protection after being in the sun for 30 minutes. However, there is a certain lack of understanding about the actual sun care ratings and protecting against UVA and UVB rays.

FAKE TAN: Self-tanning products have seen an increase in usage amongst men.

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Bio-printer can design 3D human skin A TEAM of Spanish researchers say they have designed a prototype bio-printer that is able to create 3D human skin. The group, from the Carlos III University of Madrid, worked with other research teams and the University Hospital Gregoria Marañon in Madrid on the project and said they can create “fully functional” skin suitable for use in research, testing cosmetic products and, in future, be able to be transplanted into patients. It has been developed as a step further to the system using ‘in vitro’ where a small biopsy of a patient can be used to create skin in three weeks. This sort of treatment

is already used in Spain to treat burns patients. The bio-printer replicates the natural structure of the skin, along with a first outer layer, the epidermis, and a deeper and thicker, dermis. The printer works on biosafety conditions to avoid contamination and it is currently in the process of seeking approval by different European regulatory bodies to ensure that the skin produced is suitable for use in transplants to patients with burns and other skin problems. The team hope as technology improves and research continues, that one day they will be able to use 3D bioprinters to produce hearts.

Genes of others affect our health THE genes of your roommate could affect your health, so choose who you live with wisely. Scientists say a study has revealed how much another person’s genetic traits affect our own lifestyles, particularly those we live with. It has been previously known that other people influence your own behaviour and well-being, but it was not known that there was a genetic basis for this. The study was carried out at the European Bioinformatic Institute (EMBLEBI), and looked at social genetic effects between mice in the same cage. It is hoped studying this sort of social genetic effect will help researchers to learn more about the mechanisms behind how people influence one another and this could also be vital information for doctors in helping treat illnesses.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Ask The Doctor

Brought to you by

Is it normal for our hearing to worsen as we age?

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. A PROGRESSIVE loss of hearing, due mainly to the loss of elasticity in the structures within the ear related to hearing, can be considered a normal part of the ageing process. What are the most common causes of hearing loss? Different causes of hearing loss are possible. The most common is due to sound transmission being affected. Over time, the structures within the ear become more rigid, losing their flexibility which means sound is not perceived correctly. Other possible causes include neurological issues such as damage to nerves related to hearing. What should we do if we suddenly realise we can’t hear as well as we used to? The first thing to do is to see your GP who will send you as quickly as possible to see a hearing expert. Sometimes it is also useful to visit spe-

cialised hearing centres for a hearing test. Are there any treatments and/or solutions? There are various different options to treat this loss. The most common, when needed, is a hearing aid. Surgery is also a possibility. Will everyone end up having hearing problems as they get older? Not everyone, although a large percentage of people suffer different degrees, from minor changes to severe loss, as they get older. Can anything be done to avoid it? Obviously taking care of our ears, avoiding exposure to excessive acoustic contamination and good hygiene will help avoid premature hearing loss although the loss associated with ageing is mostly unavoidable.

If you have any questions for Dr Perez Belmonte, please send them to: jefemedico@helicopterossanitarios.com

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Children march for world peace ALL 380 pupils of Nijar ’s Atalaya infant and primary school took part in a charity walk on Monday to mark World Peace Day. The walk, organised by the school in collaboration with the council’s Culture, Education and Festivities Department, raised funds for the Spanish Red Cross. It also served to raise awareness amongst the children of the

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fact that there are people who suffer severe poverty and need assistance and to promote a healthy lifestyle. “I’m proud to see the whole school community getting behind this activity in which the real goal is solidarity with those in need,” said Social Welfare councillor Victoria Calatrava, who attended the event to cheer the youngsters on.

Tasting the wine TIJOLA Council and the Guadalinfo Centre are running a wine tasting class (in Spanish) tomorrow evening, Friday February 3, at Restaurante El Poligono at 9pm. Wine expert and director of Cambium Ingenieria y Medio Ambiente Juana Reche will be leading the class, which in collaboration with Guadalinfo will be broadcast live online via the centre and the town hall’s websites. This will be Tijola’s second wine tasting class and the council has also recently run beer and gin tasting sessions. To sign up to take part visit the Guadalinfo Centre on Calle Garcilaso de la Vega number 5 or call 950 107 345.

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A day of classics By Eleanor Hawkins HUERCAL-OVERA’S first classic car and motorbike meet was deemed a great success by the council, with more than 50 vehicles turning up to take part. The event was organised by the Tourism Department and Asociacion de Coches Clasicos del Marmol and saw the vehicles travel through S a n t a Maria de Nieva, Urcal, El Gor and San Francisco, stopping off at the Museo del Agua, before continuing through the streets of the town centre and parking on Plaza Mayor, where locals and visitors flocked to ogle at

CLASSIC CARS: The first meet was declared a great success. the cars. Participation, Tourism councillor Monica Navarro said, exceeded expectations and the event was welcomed by local motor fans and attracted visitors from nearby towns and villages includ-

ing Vera, Albox and Lorca and others further afield. The event is expected to be repeated in the future and is part of the council’s plans to promote and consolidate Huercal-Overa as an inland tourist destination.

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SOCIAL SCENE

A birthday treat indeed By Eleanor Hawkins DREAMBEACH Villaricos electronic music festival will be celebrating its fifth birthday this summer and the organisers are adding to this year’s edition’s wow factor on an almost weekly basis. The latest announcement to add extra oomph to the already impression line-up announced at Fitur travel fair in Madrid came last week, when the organisers reported that DJ David Guetta had confirmed his attendance. Dreambeach, which was named Best Festival at the Vicious Music Awards 2016, added another 25 names to the ever-growing list of performers which now includes more than 60 popular names. Running from August 10-15 on the beach in Villaricos, the festival will include perfor-

David Guetta / Joris Voorn / No Dollls. mances by Andy C, Angerfist, Anna, Audiotricz, Barely Alive, Borgeous, Borgore, Carl Cox, Chase & Status (DJ set & Rage), Code Black, Critical Soundsystem feat Kasra & Em-

peror, Cuartero, David Guetta, Dillon Francis, Don Diablo, Ferry Corsten, Fernanda Martins, Flug, Gonçalo, High Contrast, Horacio Cruz, Joris Voorn, Joseph Capriati, Julian

Jeweil, La Mala Rodriguez, Loco Dice, Maya Jane Coles, Marco Carola, Marshmello, Matador (Live), Mollie Collins, Netsky (Dj), Neonlight, Nervo, Nicky Romero, No Dolls (Candy Cox vs Daniela Haverbeck), Noisecontrollers, Noisia ‘Outer Edges’, Oliver Heldens, Paco Osuna, Paula Caznave, Popof, Project One (Live), Radical Redemption, Sander van Doorn, Seth Troxler, Spartaque, Sub Focus, Svetec, Tchami, Quintino, Wilkinson (Live), W&W and Yves V y Josevi. For more information or to buy tickets (prices start at €60 or €80 including camping) see www.dreambeach.es.

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Craft beers are becoming big business in the UK

AM I the only one who watched the inauguration of Donald Trump, secretly waiting for him to turn around to Obama and utter the immortal words,

with Garry Waite

T

HOSE of you who were born after 1966 can only remember the World Cup of that year from those who continue to reminisce about how England won it (the first and only time!!). However it is still very close to many people’s hearts and prompted the TV series Tina and Bobby, based on the life of the fist golden couple of football. It made me smile when Tina was giving birth and Bobby yelled (from a safe distance) “Go on put your back into it!!” Hardly a calming and caring way to encourage the poor girl in labour sounded more like what the team manager would shout from the sidelines!! I NEVER met Booby Moore but I have met, a couple of times, the legend that is Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, the only footballer to have scored a hat trick in a World Cup. The first time was when I was running Tikitano Beach Restaurant on the ‘New Golden Mile’ just outside of Estepona. He was dining there with his family at the same time as the, then very popular boy band ‘Blue.’ Duncan James came over and asked me whether I would approach Sir Geoff and ask him if the boys could have a photo taken with him. I tend to dissuade any guests from disturbing other guests for autographs or photos, but as Sir Geoff’s daughters had already spotted the band I ventured over to ask him if it would be possible. I think he had already been informed who they were, but he seemed quite astounded they should want a picture taken with him. He didn’t seem to realise that nearly 40 years later those that were not even born at the time, consider him a legend!! MY REVELATION last week that I was given a bottle of Prado Enea Gran Reserva 2009 to try, prompted a local wine shop to offer me a bottle of Gran Reserva 2007 from bodegas Rioja Alta SL from the same style of stables as Muga and Ardanza. I was told that I may find this one even more exciting. Still with plenty of time left in the bottle, I found that the freshness of the vintage and its relatively young age gave the wine a youngish character that I quite liked, combining developed notes of meat, spices, leather with vanilla and balsam with almost cherry/wild berry -

like aromas. The palate feels balanced and elegant, with fine-grained and fully resolved tannins and great acidity. Great with beef, game and rich red wine sauces. It is a blend of Tempranillo with 10 per cent Mazuelo aged for four years in well-seasoned American oak barrels. THIS ASPIRES to be the classic Gran Reserva - polished, silky and elegant with familiar old style Rioja overtones. Not sure which of the two I prefer. I might have to buy myself a couple of bottles to try again. Just like the Enea not a quaffing wine as this comes out at around €39. HAD LUNCH with a pal the other day at the very popular eatery, Vovem, in Nueva Andalucia, Marbella. Specialising in meats from different parts of the world it is obviously very popular with carnivores. I have known my friend for many years and when we first met he had his meat well done. When I suggested that he may prefer his meat a little less cooked making it less dry he said he didn’t like to see blood in meat. I explained that

Unlikely ‘fan’ bedfellows?

there is no blood in meat and that it is purely the colour of the juice. Something I have been telling people for years, unsuccessfully! Now people say ‘in that case I don’t want to see the juice!’ But for the first time that I can remember, someone else was banging the same drum. Don’t The very quaff it at charming manageress, Nicothis price letta, explained to my colleague when once again he said he didn’t want any blood, that there is no blood in meat. Good to find somebody that agrees with me!! Still, we have got him from well done to medium rare 12 years on!! ALSO HAD a very pleasant lunch last week with Marbella Business International at Da Bruno sul Mare in Marbella. This is a monthly occurrence, a gathering of likeminded folk who enjoy nothing better than a chat, a decent meal and copious amounts of quality grape juice! There is always a guest speaker, some more interesting than others, but always informative. On this occasion the gatherered masses were treated to a tasting of craft beer from an unusual source. Now craft beers are big business in the UK and giving it’s support of real ale over the years it’s not

surprising that it would become the centre of artisan and craft beers. But the tasting on Friday came from Danish Brewery Gran de Select, based in Manilva, near Sotogrande, and is the passion of partners, Mads Sorensen and Frederik Avenstrup. Both experienced wine producers, they turned their skills to manufacturing craft beers. Their mission is to demonstrate that beer can offer a gastronomic experience and be much more than just a thirst quencher. The Gran de Select beer, is brewed with inspiration from and using techniques of vinification to obtain a unique, sophisticated beer with personality. GRAN DE SELECT allows carefully selected ingredients plenty of time to work. This results in a beer with a soul and a fantastic taste that improves with time. The beer carbonates without additives and has a higher pressure in the bottle, which provides a sparkling beer, like Champagne. It is unfiltered, unpasteurised, and has no preservatives, additives or extracts. ON THAT NOTE I will bid you farewell until next week and should aspiring restaurateurs need some help or advice, please do not hesitate to contact me. A toast to Good Food, Good Wine and Good friends.

Champagne life style Beer pocket money

You’re Fired!’

THE following beers are at present being produced. Pilsner A light-coloured and bubbly beer, suggesting Champagne. An ideal companion for hors d’oeuvres, starters and fish courses. Also ideal as an aperitif. Alc.vol. 6% Reserva A strong and tasty beer, ideal for red meat and spicy dishes. Alc.vol. 7.8% Vintage Cristian A dark and different beer to round off the meal. Ideal for cheeses and desserts. Alc. vol. 8%. SERVE and enjoy the same way as wine. Chill the bottles in a wine cooler and serve in wine glasses. Having Champagne corks, the beer should be uncorked in the same festive, ceremonial and cautious manner as Champagne. BEER pairing in restaurants has fast become one of the most fashionable ways to drink beer with food. The UK has many such restaurants and in Spain Gran de Select is served in Martin Berasategui’s restaurant one of the finest in the world. If any reader would like more information about these beers, send me an e-mail.

Garry Waite is a well-known foodie and restaurateur as well as a Hospitality Management Consultant. If you are contemplating setting up an operation in Spain, or indeed having problems with an existing project contact him on garrywaite@euroweeklynews.com.

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OPINION & COMMENT

Photo Copyright pixinoo Shutterstock.

Want to get a weighty issue off your mind? Nora Johnson

Breaking Views Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/nora-johnson

FEELING fit, fabulous and fantastic? No, thought not. Feeling fat, broke and Brex-bewildered instead? Well, be grateful January is over! January is the month for New Year ’s resolutions, self-flagellation, weird diets, alcohol bans and sheddin g t h e e x c e ss e s o f th e Christmas season currently hanging aro u n d y o u r wa i s tlin e. Bu t spoiler alert: fad diets etc don’t work and will make you heavier in the long term. After numerous years of intensive research and applied probabilistic and nutrition technology, I can exclusively reveal that the definitive solution to the combined issues of weight, shape, well-being and fitness is a non-complex combination of eating less and exercising more. Can I please have a fat fee for this earth-shattering scoop?

WEIGHT PROBLEMS: Fad diets don’t work and will make you heavier in the long term.

Moreover, with its miracle weight-loss solutions and ongoing craze for juicing, superfoods and ‘clean eating,’ the nutrition world is a seemingly endless machine of Trump-like ‘post-truths’ and ‘alte rn ativ e fac ts . ’ B ogus c la ims about ‘chlorophyll oxygenating

the body’ or ‘chocolate being an octave of sun energy’ aren’t just irritating, they’re dangerous; they supplant useful, evidence-based information. The public are being misled, and that upsets the many good nutritionists out there. Ever helpful, though, just as

Theresa May has her 12-point Brexit plan, here’s my own fivepoint Weight plan to gauge if you do have an, err, weight problem: 1. If your doctor has to call the zoo to use their weight scales to weigh you.

2. If emergency services have to cut out entire sections of walls in your home, in order to evacuate you to A&E. 3. If your bed comes equipped with a crane and pulley bars. 4. If your photo is being used as the ‘before’ image in the ‘beforeand-after ’ adverts for the latest miracle diet-o-rama. 5. If you’ve ever been asked to leave an ‘all you can eat’ buffet because quite simply you’ve terrified the restaurant staff and patrons who have never seen anyone gorge like that before. Well, I’ve made my own belated resolution. For the rest of 2017, I won’t even look at any new diets. It’s remarkable. I feel better already. Nora Johnson’s psychological/suspense crime thrillers ‘No Way Back,’ ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.norajohnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.99;£0.99) and iBookstore. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

Is there a decision that you need to make? Sally Trotman www.sallytrotman.com Sally Trotman is a qualified Counsellor who works with Astrology, Numerology and the Tarot. Each month she will deliver the forecast as an intuitive tool to aid increased self awareness.

HOW can you learn to love yourself and others more this month? Read your Astrology, Numerology and Tarot Forecast for February and find out how you can make the most of the month ahead... Astrology: Go with the flow! Sun in Aquarius : This month the sun is influenced by the airy and visionary sign of Aquarius. Spend time with friends and family this month, talking about your hopes and dreams for the future. Creating a strong network of colleagues, friends and family is vital in order to feel supported and safe. Spend time this month strengthening your interconnectedness with those around you. Ask for help where you need it to achieve the goals which are most important to you this year. Take action where you can, then let go and flow with where life is taking you. Aquarius is a free spirited and open minded sign. Cultivate these characteristics

and discover the benefits of relaxing into the flow of life, trusting in yourself and the universe to take you exactly to where you need to be. Get in tune with the moon : The full moon this month on February 11, is in the sunny sign of Leo. What gives you the greatest feeling of confidence? Focus on your strengths this month and aim high! Leo the lion will give you the energy you need to fulfil your most important goals. This generous and passionate sign is encouraging you to live life to the full and to give thanks for all the abundance in your life at this time. Remain present for every feeling you have now affects your future. Make a commitment to yourself to feel good today. On Sunday February 26 the New Moon in sensitive Pisces gives you the opportunity to become more aware of your deepest truth. Take time out for yourself on this day to reflect on the year so far and follow your heart when considering a new direction this month. Numerology: Feeling indecisive? Number two : Is there a decision you need to make? Wise decisions

that you make for the good of all will bring you the most peace. When you take a decision based on your own truth, the universe works behind the scenes to ensure that everyone ultimately benefits. If you have an important decision to make this month, evaluate all the options, listen to your intuition and when clear, act decisively and with absolute belief that you are following your truth. The number two can indicate a fork in the road, a new perspective or change of direction in some way. Listen to the truth in your own heart and then act decisively knowing that you can trust yourself to make the right choices for you. The Tarot: Learning to listen The second card in the the Major Arcana Tarot deck is the High Priestess. This spiritual woman sits on a throne with her foot on the new moon, a cross hanging from her neck. The theme of listening to your own truth continues with the influence of this card this month. Once you know what is true for you, communicate honestly with those around you. Truth has a vibration that causes others to trust you intuitively. Speak from the heart and

focus on the good and positive. Communication is also about listening to others, and be truly present. Practise this kind of listening and your relationships will improve. Be aware of what you say and try not to get involved in gossip. Instead speak from a place of inspiration and honesty and watch your relationships improve beyond measure! February Special Offer! Sally Trotman offers personalised Astrology, Numerology and Tarot Consultations via Skype, Facetime and telephone. Sally also offers couples compatibility reports to bring insight into your most significant relationships. Throughout February Sally is offering 30minute consultations via Skype, Facetime and telephone for just £25. Here is a testimonial from one of her clients: ‘Sally, the

compatibility report was so spot on. Seriously you have confirmed so much for me regarding my relationship. You are bang on with what my partner is like, and although you’ve never met him, it’s like you know him. Thank you so much for your help.’ Georgie, Tring, UK. Visit Sally’s website today and book in! www.sallytrotman.com. FEBRUARY: Spend time with family and friends this month.

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

PODEMOS was in the right place at the right time. It grew from discontent crystallised by the 15-M movement when thousands occupied Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. “They call it democracy but it’s not,” they chanted as they mistakenly equated democracy with prosperity, a forgivable misconception as the two often go hand in hand. “No, no, no, they don’t represent us” was another cry, this time aimed at the PSOE socialists and the Partido Popular. Podemos, inflated by Pablo Iglesias’ television programmes, emerged as a party from that movement but as it plunges into its party conference, the five principal founders are tussling over power, ideology and mundane organisation. The cracks are visible as the foundations falter and without some serious underpinning Podemos sympathisers could again find themselves with noone to represent them.

Simple arithmetic IN 2008 the PSOE socialist party had

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OPINION & COMMENT

Tussle for power

Broken promises ALLEGEDLY Susana Diaz, president of the Andalucia Region and hugely influential in the PSOE, backed Pedro Sanchez in the 2014 primaries on the understanding that he would eventually stand down as secretary general. This would have given her a shot at the 2015 general election. If this is true, Sanchez reneged as usually happens, as pacts like these normally backfire. Look what happened to Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.

Plain speaking MADRID: Thousands occupied the Puerta del Sol. 236,572 paid-up members. By September 2016 this had shrunk to 186,000. The rot set in towards the end of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s last term in office when - through no fault of his government - the global crisis traumatically changed

many life-styles. By the 2011 general election, the PSOE was losing 18.4 paid-up members a day, rising to 20.4 with Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba as secretary general. Matters improved only slightly with Pedro Sanchez, losing 14.3 members a daily.

The PSOE will hold primaries next May and the membership will play a huge part in deciding who will head the party. Incredible as it may seem, without an influx of new members 186,000 people could decide the future of the 138-year-old party. Something doesn’t add somewhere.

DONALD TRUMP has eliminated Spanish from the White House website. This is in keeping with Trump’s ‘America First’ slogan, with its pre-war connotations of isolationism. But Spanish is the US’s second language and however much he fights against it, this is one tide he cannot keep back.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Jobs for locals

ALBOX COUNCIL: Improving the town and providing work for 53 people.

By Eleanor Hawkins ALBOX Council will over the next few months be providing work for 53 people under Junta de Andalucia regional government employment schemes. Altogether the council has received €357,611 from the Junta and will be employing 24 people under the Emple@joven

youth employment scheme and another 29 under the Emple@ 30+ scheme. Employment councillor Sonia Cerdan explained that t he wor ker s wi l l be em ployed to carry out tasks in benefit of the community including works, maintenance and cleaning of public streets, squares, parks and gardens, tourism ser-

vices and promoting sports and culture activities. Mayor Francisco Torrecillas welcomed the first of the new workers and said he hoped their time with the council would be productive and benefit their futures and local residents. “We’re meeting two goals at once: improving the town and providing work for 53 people,” he said.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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ZURGENA: Work to include new pavements and drainage systems.

Striving for improvement By Eleanor Hawkins WITH renovations on Plaza de la Cruz in Zurgena almost complete, workers will soon be moving to the rest of the neighbourhood to build new pavements and renew drainage systems. The work will be carried out using €263,742 from the PFEA rural employment scheme and also aims to improve pedestrians’ safety by installing bollards to keep traffic off the pavements. Before laying new surfaces, explained Works and Services councillor Noelia Garcia, workers

will be installing new cables for street lights and better drains to avoid flooding. “Work on Plaza de la Cruz has gone at a more than satisfactory rate, so soon we will be starting on the rest of the jobs aimed to improve quality of life considerably for residents of De la Cruz’s neighbourhood, most of which locals have been demanding for some time,” the councillor said. Other tasks which Zurgena Council intend to tackle under the PFEA scheme include improving green areas, installing irrigation systems and building paths.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Getting ready to race By Eleanor Hawkins ALMERIA Provincial Council and Olula del Rio Council are busy with the final preparations for the Valle del Almanzora Trail sports competition. Planned for February 26, the competition is expected to attract more than 400 participants and the three separate categories will see runners pass through seven different municipalities in the area: Olula del Rio, Purchena, Oria, Campillo de Purchena, Somontin, Urracal and Lucar.

400 participants are expected to take part.

The physical form of those taking part will be toughly tested in Trecking-

Running with a 28-kilometre route, Trail-Running with a 55-kilometre route and the 75-kilometre UltraTrail BTT race. Although open to all participants, the tough conditions are likely to see some of the top runners of the province take part and attract plenty of spectators, the provincial council has said.

TOUGH TEST: Some of the top runners will take part.

New park now under construction ALBOX Council has started work to build a new park and leisure area on a small abandoned plot on Calle Puerta Purchena in the San Antonio neighbourhood. The municipally-owned plot, which had been abandoned for more than 10 years and had collected large amounts of rubbish and rubble, has been cleared and a children’s playground will be built there. Local Mayor Francisco Torrecillas explained that the waste ground is located behind the building that houses the music conservatory and faces Calle La Cañada. The new park, the mayor said, will include trees and gardens and will improve quality of life for local residents. “We’re transforming and beautifying the town bit by bit,” Torrecillas claimed.

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NEWS EXTRA

No time PSOE spokesman Ricardo Zuñiga has resigned from his post as a councillor in Macael for personal reasons, claiming he has insufficient time to do a good job due to his profession and academic career.

Cleared out WASTE grounds in Albanchez which had for years posed a health and safety risk due to semi-demolished buildings have finally been cleared with €10,000 in funds from Almeria Provincial Council.

Saying sorry ARBOLEAS Mayor Cristobal Garcia has apologised on behalf of the council for not managing to solve all the problems in the village last year and pledged to work even harder in 2017.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Creating jobs for the local jobless By Eleanor Hawkins REGIONAL Employment delegate Miguel Angel Tortosa Lopez has paid a visit to Tijola and Seron to see how regional and European funds for employment schemes are to be spent. Altogether the Junta de Andalucia regional government and European Social Fund have provided €184,000 which will allow 29 jobless people to work for a few months. In Tijola, Mayor Mario Padilla Maldonado explained that 18 people would be taken on to work as builders’ assistants, cleaners, nurses, teaching assistants and painters. Each will be given a six-month contract and will earn between €1,300 and €1,600

per month. In Seon another 11 people will be in work for between three and seven months with salaries of €1,300 per month. One of the tasks they will be carrying out will be creation of a riverside park in La Vega, by Almanzora and Bolonor rivers.

LOPEZ: Visited Tijola and Seron.

Photo by Wikimedia

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V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E W W W . E U R O W E E K LY N E W S . C O M

Colonial controversy By Matthew Elliott FACEBOOK CEO Mark Zuckerberg is preparing to back down from expanding his secretive property empire in Hawaii. The billionaire entrepreneur was accused of behaving like a colonial overlord after filing lawsuits against hundreds of locals in a b i d t o e n l a rg e h is $ 1 0 0 million h o m e o n t h e is lan d o f Kauai. H awa i i ’s h i st o r i c a l la n d la w s mean th a t h u n d r e d s o f ‘n ativ es ’ technically own tiny parcels of land on Zuckerberg’s recently acquired 100 acre estate. Land is traditionally considered a collective responsibility and generations ago people who worked the soil were granted small pieces of it as payment. But m a n y Ha wa i i a n ’s h av en ’t kept the paperwork to prove their ancestors own the land, paving the way for savvy American lawyers to query ownership in so-called ‘quiet title’ lawsuits. Zuckerberg’s legal army set about demanding that hun-

dreds of locals prove their property rights, expecting to clear the entire estate of small title owners.

Hawaii’s historical land laws mean that hundreds of ‘natives’ technically own tiny parcels of land on Zuckerberg’s recently acquired 100 acre estate.

The backlash, however, has been imme n s e. T h e 32-ye a r-old a nd world’s sixth richest man has been accused of colonialism and embarrassed by the publicity. At Christmas he and his wife wrote that the wanted to ‘plant roots’ in Hawaii and ‘join the community,’ a task made a little harder by infuriating the entire population.

B A N K IA ha s la unc he d a free tool that allows anyone to discover the market price of any home in Spain. People can even obtain a detailed report on the property, local facilities, and its price evolution in recent months. The tool can describe the socio-economic condition

SPAIN: Now one of the best places to invest in real estate.

Europe’s vision for 2017 SPAIN is now one of the best places to invest in real estate in Europe as political turmoil grips the continent. Investor expectations for 2017 have been undermined by political uncertainty, especially in the UK, but Spain fares very well in recent reports. PwC has released its European Real Estate Market Trends 2017 analysis. The global law firm surveyed almost 800 top real estate managers to get their thoughts on the year ahead. Low inflation and low interest rates were largely considered to consolidate Europe’s global positioning as a top property investment destination. But Brexit, and upcoming elections in France and Germany, led to most man-

agers expecting a lower return on their assets compared to 2016. Yet more than three-quarters of those questioned believed the impact of Brexit will be largely confined to the UK. Spain meanwhile was highlighted as an up and coming destination with Madrid and Barcelona among Europe’s top cities, only slightly behind the German powerhouses of Frankfurt and Berlin. Investors also suggested that alternative property markets will see huge growth this year. Student housing, nursing homes, hotels, and new urban residential areas will draw massive international investment this year across the EU.

MARK ZUCKERBERG: Planting roots.

Did you know? of the ne ighbourhood, transport services, nearby shops and schools, and information on the local real estate market. It ha s only be e n a c tive for jus t ove r a w e e k

and has seen t housands of ‘simulations’ carried out online each day. Developed in partnership with property portal Ideali st a, t he t ool est i m at es prices based on previous

offers and counter offers collected by Idealista. It also has a mortgage simulator which can estimate monthly costs based on loan calculations and the property’s intended use.

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Growing conditions for the Sun Parasol or Mandevilla By Graeme Tyrrell THE wet, wet weather this winter is enough to keep even the most enthusiastic gardener out of the garden. Waterlogged soil is best not walked on if it is for growing plants. The compaction of saturated soil is very damaging as even when it dries out the effects of compression last and cause clods of soil in summer that are difficult for plant roots to penetrate. This doesn’t mean no gardening. Indoor gardening is always a possibility. Tropical species are a very popular form of indoor plant for indoor gardening. They give a different range of plants that cannot be grown in the outdoor Mediterranean garden. If you grow tropical plants in pots they can grace the terrace or balcony in summer and be retired to the indoors in winter or they can be a permanent indoor feature in a bright, warm area of the home. A favourite that is hardy and fast growing in the right conditions is the impressive glossy leaved trumpet flowered Mandevilla, also called the Sun or Summer Parasol. It originates from tropical Central America where it is a climbing plant. It was named after British explorer and diplomat Hen-

ry Mandevilla who first botanically identified it. A Mandevilla needs plenty of sunlight or it will not flower profusely. It is very cold tender so must be kept in a warm place above 10°C throughout winter. They will thrive in a large container with a good soil mixture and will grow over a metre a year in good conditions and up to seven metres in length on maturity. It will need a trellis or structure to grow up or along to give it support unless you keep it very well pruned in autumn when flowers are less frequent. Pruning is also recommended to encourage multiple stems to spread growth by creating more branching to have a more intensive flower display. Prolific flowering can be further promoted by pinching off the spent flowers and as flowers form mostly on the current year’s growth, the pruning is done in a way to encourage this new growth. If you are moving the container from outdoors for winter hibernation and protection from cold, you can submerge the container in water for at least a few minutes to flush out any ants or other bugs that you don’t want inside. Wash the upper part of the plant also and allow the plant to dry and drain well after soaking before moving inside. In winter when temperatures drop it is best to reduce wa-

IF you have a small garden, or balcony, you can still make the most of it and create a stylish place to relax. First of all, play with light and mirrors to make your little oasis look bigger than it is: hanging mirrors will give an illusion of space or you could consider laying a trellis over a large mirror to make it look like

Photo by Barbara Siebert Shutterstock

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MANDEVILLA: Needs plenty of sunlight or it will not flower profusely. tering so the soil mix is just moist as excess water amplifies the cold effect around the roots. Low light intensity in winter usually stops it flowering. This can be true in summer if indoors without sufficient light. The leaves may drop in winter if exposed to cold. If this happens reduce water to just moist until new leaves start to form. If necessary, repot in spring when growth starts due to the roots filling the container. This will help it last for many years more.

Small but stylish there is another garden on the other side. Focal spotlights and mounted wall lights can add ambience in the evenings and give an impression of style. Even a tiny balcony or patio has space for a table and chairs if you can put them away when

not needed. There are many folding bistro sets available which take up little storage space when not in use. If floor space is sparse, you can still have plenty of plants, and opt for hanging baskets or a wall garden.

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Pablo likes to soak up the sun when at home AFTER their daily run around the campo, there is nothing that Pablo, and his fur family Peggy, Poppy and Bella like more than a snooze. Pablo likes to soak up the sun. Their owner Jose has lived in Alicante, Spain for many years, and over those years she has acquired and rescued many dogs. At one time she had nine, all cared for at home. Now her fur family are reduced but all very much loved. Jose has always used her local kennels, which both she and the dogs have loved for the last 14 years. The kennels are healthy, and well-designed with the help of the local vet. Now the dogs are getting a little older - Peggy is nearly 13 and Poppy is 11 - she is thinking about alternative solutions for pet care when she goes on holiday a couple of times a year. HouseSitMatch was mentioned on David

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the Dogman’s TRE radio show and she began to think maybe that might work for them. She contacted me and we started talking about options, the kind of sitters who are available and could she look at experienced mature house-sitting couples who in particular were dog lovers. And so we have started to work together to build her online profile, her advert to promote the house-sit assignment and to find suitable sitters to move in and care for her dogs at home in their own environment. Do you need a house or pet-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either housesitter or homeowner now with a 20 per cent off introductory offer using coupon code PERFECT20. To find a house pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com.

House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! To find a pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com or call Lamia on 00 44 (0) 777 214 2742.

Cats are just as smart A NEW study at a Japanese unive rs ity is onc e a ga in backing up the age-old cat lovers’ theory that felines are just as clever as dogs. Forty-nine domestic cats were used for the study at K yoto U nive rs ity, w hic h te s te d the ir a bility to re member which food bowl they had eaten out of after 15-minute intervals. The c a ts , re porte d ps ychologist Saho Takagi, appeared to remember exactly w hic h bow ls s hould s till c onta in food, s ugge s ting they had what is referred to as episodic memory. “Cats may be as intelligent as dogs, as opposed to the common view of people that dogs are much smarter. Also, an interesting speculation is that they may enjoy actively recalling memories of their experiences just like humans,” the scientist said.

SMART CATS: May be just as clever as dogs.

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Travel

The pearl among emeralds By Eleanor Hawkins THE Alhambra Palace and Generalife gardens in Granada are one of those places everyone in Spain should visit at least once. History, stunning architecture, gardens and water features fill the complex, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984 and just missed out on becoming one of the seven new wonders of the world. Described by Moorish poets of bygone times as a pearl set in emeralds, the fortress and palaces tower over Granada’s Albaicin district, cutting an easily recognisable silhouette against the surrounding woods. The Alhambra began with construction of a small fortress, the Alcazaba, on the remains of a previous Roman fortification in 889 AD but was then mostly forgotten about until the mid-13th century. Moorish emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada ordered the palace and walls built and in 1333 Sultan of Granada Yusuf I turned the complex into a royal palace. The last remaining Islamic stronghold in Spain, the Alhambra was conquered in January 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs Fernando and Isabel, who set up their Royal Court

ALHAMBRA: One of those places everyone in Spain should visit at least once. within its walls to take advantage of the luxurious Moorish constructions and water management, which was virtually unknown to Castilians at the time. It was in fact to the Alhambra that Christopher Columbus travelled to seek support from the monarchs before embarking on his journey which resulted in discovery of the Americas. Just 6,600 visitors per day are allowed into

the Alhambra, meaning it is advisable to buy tickets in advance. Although they can be obtained on the day at the door, queues are generally extremely long and tickets sell out very early in the day, therefore it is advisable to book online well in advance. Entry tickets cost €14 for adults and €9 for Spanish and EU pensioners and students, who must prove their status. Children under

12 do not have to pay but must obtain free tickets from the ticket office as these are checked during visits. While it is perfectly possible to visit under your own steam and wander at will, guided tours are highly recommended as they provide a great amount of interesting information. Official tours are available for groups and there is also the possibility of booking private tours. For more information see www.guiasgranada.com or call 958 225 226. Sensible shoes are a must as it takes three to four hours to see everything. Wheelchairs are available for loan although they run out quite quickly. Between October 16 and March 15 the Alhambra is open to the public from 8.30am to 6pm every day except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. From March 16 to October 15 the opening hours are extended to 8.30am to 8pm. Due to the fact that access is limited to 300 visitors at a time in the Nasrid Palaces, for many the best part of the complex, tickets will include an exact time for this part of the visit. It is recommended therefore to plan to start your visit there and continue on to the rest afterwards to avoid missing your slot.

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Mercedes CLS55 - “Braking in this car is so brutal it would be less painful to actually hit the tree you were trying to miss.”

Some might say...

Malaga event a triumph THE fourth annual Retro Malaga event was a huge success, with over 22,000 classic car enthusiasts visiting the Palacio de Ferias in Malaga City. Perhaps the most striking difference to previous years was the diversity and quality of models on display, with particularly impressive displays, with more than 50 Porsches and 30 Ferraris proving particularly popular. The congregation of Ferraris was in honour of the 70th anniversary of the Italian manufacturer, with models on display including a 1956 250 GT Speziale, an F40, an F488, a Testarossa, a 550 Maranello, a 360 Modena and a contemporary La Ferrari. Seat also celebrated its 60th birthday with a cracking display of family vehicles

from the 1960s onwards. Vehicles from Malaga’s Automobile Museum included a stunning 1955 Porsche Speedster, a 1937 Cord Sportsman, and a 1939 Lancia Astura. An extensive classic motorcycle section included a special display of Ducatis built by Spanish firm Mototrans since the 1950s, including a 500 Desmo, a first series 24 hours, a 350 Vento and a 250 Strada, among others. Outside the main hall, owners of classic cars and other vehicles were able to display their beloved machines, with over 1,000 to whet the appetite. With record numbers of visitors, Retro Malaga has clearly become a reference p o i n t o n t h e c a l e n d a r o f c l a s s i c c a rlovers in southern Spain and beyond.

FERRARIS: Thirty were on display.

DUCATIS: A special display by Mototrans.

Motoring shorts

Smuggled treasure A CLASSIC MercedesBenz considered so valuable it was hidden from the Nazis, has been auctioned in America for over €6 million. The 540 K Special Roadster is thought to be the last of its kind built before the Second World War. Produced in Germany f r om 1936- 40 t he m odel was one of the largest cars of its time, spanning 17.5ft. It has a 5.4 litre engine and was ultimately smuggled out of the Soviet Union to the United States. It was restored by a specialist dealer in Arizona in 2012 and sol d by RM Sotheby. The auct i oneer has described an incredible surge in interest in pre-war classic cars. It will bring its classic auction roadshow to Europe in spring.

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ROAD TEST by Nick Fletcher

Renault Kadjar COMPACT crossovers have been big sellers in recent years, taking more than 10 per cent of the overall new-car market, and demand shows no sign of abating so there is certainly plenty of room in the sector for the steady flow of new contenders. Among them is the Renault Kadjar - and lest you wonder, Kadjar is an invented word, blending French words which loosely mean quad and agile! Launched in the UK just over a year ago, the Kadjar has an 18-model range offering three engines, two gearboxes, four trim levels and two-or four-wheel drive. The crossover sector is laden with great models including Mazda CX-5, Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, the new Peugeot 3008 and the new SEAT Ateca but though rivalry is acute, the

Kadjar holds a few aces. With prices starting at £19,145 (€22,235) it is more spacious, better equipped and cheaper than some opposition models, and is arguably more visually striking. The popular choice for many will be the well-kitted midrange Dynamique Nav models, priced at £22,745 (€26,416) in diesel form. This latter model is the one I tested recently, powered by a 110 hp 1.5 litre diesel engine good for 113 mph and with a 0-60 mph time of 11.9 seconds and with combined fuel economy of 74.3 mpg. Kadjar is smooth, quiet and has a nimble driving feel, precise steering, and well-tuned suspension giving a near-perfect balance of composed cornering and exceptional ride comfort. The six-speed manual gearbox is slick and precise and for those who want an auto, a CVT version

is available. In the cabin, neat design touches and use of quality materials gives the Kadjar an upmarket appearance and it offers more standard equipment than you usually get for this price. Features include alloy wheels, auto lights and wipers, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, seven-inch touchscreen, sat-nav, Bluetooth, roof rails, dual-zone climate controls, lane departure warning and eco driving mode. It is spacious inside - more

occupant and boot space than a Qashqai for instance. With all five seats in use, there is 472 litres of space, boosted to 1,478 litres with the seats folded - and you do get a flat multi-position boot floor. However, cabin stowage spaces are surprisingly minimal. Kadjar has been around for a comparitively short time, but already made an impact. Its sleek and striking profile, sharp pricing and generous equipment levels give it a distinct edge in its class.

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Top 2017 contenders FINALISTS have been selected for the 2017 European Car of the Year. Seven contenders are in the running to take the prestigious title from the nifty Vauxhall Astra. They will undergo testing and be voted on by an elite panel of expert judges before the official winner is declared in March. Volvo will be hoping to lift its first Euro Car of the Year trophy with the Volvo S90. The Swedish manufacturer looks set to

go toe-to-toe with Mercedes in the estate car market this year. Peugeot is in the running with its zippy upgraded SUV the 3008. Nissan has reconfigured its Micra. 2017’s model features a well-received smart interior and bolder design. The Citroen C3 plays to the hip brigade with its fully integrated HD camera allowi ng dr i ver s t o shoot t hei r very own road film. Toyota’s stylish new CHR looks good but seems at

cross purposes, officially being a ‘coupe high rider.’ From Italy there’s the Alfa Rom eo Gi ul i a whi ch i nvokes the Quadrifoglio and the brand’s old racing days. Stand out favourite is the Mercedes E-Class, considered one of the finest cars of the decade so far. The German brand hasn’t won this award since 1974.

MERCEDES BENZ: The EClass stands as favourite.

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Big games ahead in football, Six Nations rugby and the Super Bowl Tony Matthews International Sports A former player and now the world’s most prolific author of football books with almost 150 published since 1975, Tony is also the sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio and lives on La Pilica in the Sierra Cabrera Mountains overlooking Turre. Costa de Almeria

FOOTBALL: THE result of Saturday’s Chelsea-Arsenal derby at Stamford Bridge could effectively decide the 2017 Premiership. Defeat for the Gunners, fresh from a 5-0 FA Cup win at Southampton and with manager Arsene Wenger serving a four-match ban, could end their hopes of winning the title which they last won in 2004. But victory for Chelsea (comfortable 5-0 FA Cup victors over Brentford) will set them up for their fifth Premier League success in 12 years and a first for manager Antonio Conte. If Arsenal win or draw, the chasing teams, Liverpool at Hull, Manchester City v Swansea and Spurs v Middlesbrough, must also gain victories to stand a chance of overhauling Chelsea. Like Hull and Swansea, Crystal Palace and Sunderland are involved in a relegation battle, and they meet in a vital ‘six-pointer’ at Selhurst Park, also on Saturday… manager Sam Allardyce against his former club. Reigning champions Leicester, still in trouble, visit Manchester United 24 hours later. In the Championship, it’s Newcastle v Derby, Brentford v Brighton, Reading v Ipswich and Leeds v Huddersfield. Leagues 1 and 2 leaders Sheffield United and Doncaster, play Wimbledon and Morecambe respectively, while at the basement it’s Cheltenham v Newport. Celtic, SPL leaders by 22 points and unbeaten in a club record 27 games, visit St Johnstone while Rangers

play Ross County. In La Liga on Saturday Barcelona (2nd/42 points) play Athletic Bilbao, followed on Sunday by Real Madrid (top/46 points and 30 winners over Real Sociedad last Sunday) v Celto Vigo who, last week, knocked them out of the Copa del Rey, leaving this week’s semi-finals as Barcelona v Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo v Alaves. The African Cup of Nations final takes place on Sunday with Burkina Faso and Cameroon looking strong. Finally, the transfer window closed on Tuesday. RUGBY UNION: This weekend the 2017 RBS Six Nations Rugby Union tournament – without doubt, the world’s greatest oval ball competition of all – gets underway. Scotland and Ireland start the ‘scrumming’ with their Saturday afternoon match in Edinburgh. Later in the day England, missing four top players, face France at Twickenham and Italy meet Wales (captained by Alun Wyn Jones) in Rome on Sunday. All matches are live on TV. OTHER EVENTS: • There are several ‘warm up’ friendlies ahead of the Rugby League season which starts a week tonight. • On Sunday, 72,000 fans will attend the US Super Bowl in Houston’s NRG stadium between New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. • Three tennis tournaments begin on Monday in Ecuador (Quito), France (Montpellier) and Bulgaria (Sofia). • Preston (UK) stages World Grand Prix snooker: February 6-12.

• The Tour of Qatar cycle race starts on Monday. • Austria hosts the World Biathlon championships: February 8-19. • There are one day cricket internationals this week involving South Africa v Sri Lanka and New Zealand v Australia while the India v Bangladesh Test Match starts on February 12. • On Saturday, Chris Eubank junior fights Fijian Renold Quilan for the IBO World Super-middleweight title. GENERAL ROUND-UP: • Last week’s fourth round FA Cup upsets saw Wolves win at Liverpool (the Reds’ third home defeat in a

SERENA WILLIAMS: Wins her 23rd Grand Slam after beating sister Venus.

RBL QUIZ DON’T forget my RBL charity quiz at the Beachcomber, Mojacar Playa, tomorrow night (8.30pm).

row, last suffered in 1998… and they played Chelsea last night); Oxford beat Newcastle; Millwall k’od Watford; Fulham ousted Hull (who’s Abel Hernandez missed two penalties in two minutes); Sutton United stunned Leeds and Lincoln defeated Brighton. Linc oln a nd Sutton a re the eighth and ninth nonLeague teams to reach the la s t 16 s inc e the Se c ond World War, and Lincoln last played at this stage in 1902. Wycombe were beaten 4-3 ‘late on’ by Spurs. The fifth round draw took place on Monday. • Manchester United, despite a second leg s/f defe a t a t H ull, w ill me e t Southa mpton, c onquerors of Liverpool, in the FLC final on February 26. ROGER FEDERER: Beat Nadal to win his 18th Grand Slam.

• Ex-Charlton defender Dave Shipperley has died, aged 64. • Tot t enham can pl ay home PL games at Wembley next season. • Nigel Clough will follow his father Brian as Nottingham Forest’s manager. • Italian club Palermo have appointed their 11th manager in two seasons. • Roger Federer (v Rafael Nadal) and Serena Williams (versus sister Venus) won their respective Australian singles finals. It was Federer’s 18th and Serena’s 23rd Grand Slam victories in the ‘open era.’ Serena is one behi nd Margar et Court’s all-time record of 24 titles. • Jeung-hun Wang won t he Doha Golf Classic.

• Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke will captain England and Rest of the World football teams in a charity golf tournament at the Belfrey in June. • ITV viewers saw Many Clouds, the 2016 Grand National winner, collapse and die last Saturday after victor y i n t he Chel t enham ’s Cotswold Chase . • In cricket, England won the first T20 game, India the second; the third took place yesterday. • 90,000 fans will watch heavywei ght s Ant hony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko fight at Wembley in April. • Leo Santa Cruz beat Ireland’s Carl Frampton on points t o wi n t he WBA world featherweight crown in Las Vegas.

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A victory for Chelsea over Arsenal this weekend could set them up for their fifth Premier League win in 12 years, a first for manager Antonio Conte.

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Aguilon golfers brave the weather 19th Hole WIND, rain, snow… what is going on? The members are used to these individual elements now and again, but not all at once and persisting for many days! For the individual stableford on Wednesday January 18 the bitterly cold wind on an overcast day did nothing to add to the enjoyment of the golfing experience, however all the players managed to finish their rounds before the rain set in. What proved to be amazing was the number of good scores posted. Results: 1st Lynne Whibley 41 pts, 2nd Kevin Manser 38 pts on a card play off, 3rd Mark Newall 38 pts. Tw o s: R o y Ha tto n , N o rma n Ridgeway 3rd, Kevin Manser on the 8th and 17th, Phil Miles, Dave Sharp 8th, Ian Jenner 14th, Peter Ayres, Mark Newall 17th. Wednesday January 25 was the Cam p b e l l L a m o n t Q u alifie r. A lthough a little windy to start with the day developed in to a calm sunny day and after months of struggling to

Golf Society

COMPETITION WINNERS: Lynne Whibley (l) and Derek Manning (r). ma k e a g o o d s c ore , the me mbe rs again made hay while the sun shone, with lots of good scores returned. Results: 1st Derek Manning 41 pts, 2nd Roy Lewis 40 pts, 3rd Roy Bishop 39 pts.

Twos: Mark Newall 12, Peter Ayres, Derek Manning 14th, Ian Jenner, Roy Lewis 17th. For further information log on to the club’s website aguilonmembers club.com.

ON Thursday January 26, the 19th Hole Golf Society played a two division Stableford competition at the Aguilon Golf Resort. The weather and course conditions were perfect. The day proved that ‘girl power’ is alive and kicking with Sharon Stevens taking the top honour in division one and three ladies taking first, second and third places in division two. John Ball had a rare ‘two’ on the third hole. Results: Division one: 1st Sharon Stevens 39 points (17) 2nd Ber ni e Obr i en 37 points (24) on card counter back 3r d Mi ke Esposi t o 37 points (12).

Division two: 1st Karyn Esposito 37 points (34) 2nd Chrissie Dow 34 points (33) 3rd Zeta Denyer 30 points (35). Nearest the Pins: 3rd Paco Ocana Gr aj al , 8t h and 14th Mike Esposito, 12th John Kennedy, 15th in two Chr i s Gl edhi l l and 17t h Nekana Galindez Twos: 3rd John Ball, 12th John Kennedy The 19th Hole Golf Society arranges weekly games around the area playing Aguilon every other week. For more information call 610 340 653 or email gs19th hole@hotmail.co.uk.