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COSTA DE ALMERÍA YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

15 - 21 March 2018

Murder probe suspect held A MAN has been arrested in Almeria on suspicion of multiple crimes including homicide, robbery with violence and a crime against public health. An investigation began at the beginning of March when the body of a 48year-old Argentine woman was found at a house on Calle Agua Amarga. According to reports, at first the death seemed to be from natural circumstances but after an autopsy it was revealed that the woman had died by asphyxia. The house where the victim was found was allegedly being used as a point of sale for narcotics; with two rooms in the house found being used for growing marihuana. From that moment the investigation was focused on people who regularly visited the house, including an individual who reportedly didn’t turn up for work on the night of the alleged murder. After further investigation, officers were able to place the man in the house during the hours that the crime is believed to have taken place and police then attempted to locate him. Thirteen hours after the body was discovered, the 40-year-old Spaniard was arrested and charged with crimes against public health, robbery with violence and homicide.

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Laid to rest Thousands attend funeral of Gabriel by Joe Gerrard Thousands of people are estimated to have turned out for the funeral of Gabriel Cruz, the eightyear-old boy whose body was found after a 12-day search. Angel Cruz and Patricia Ramirez, Gabriel’s father and mother, were joined by mourners including Spain’s Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. The funeral took place on Tuesday at Almeria’s Cathedral de la Encarnation and was led by the Bishop of Almeria Monsignor Adolfo Gonzalaz Montes. Police have arrested Ana Julia Quezada, the girlfriend of Angel Cruz, after officers reportedly found the body of the eight-yearold in the boot of her car. Spanish media have reported that she has since confessed to killing Gabriel. Mourners gathered outside the cathedral shouted “You are not alone” and “We are all Gabriel.” Patricia Ramirez thanked everyone for their support and messages of affection when speaking to the media at the service. “I have no words of thanks for all the good deeds from people involved, although this has not had a happy ending,” she said. She added she did not wish for people to talk about Quezada. “This woman does not deserve to be covered, let us not talk about her,” she said. “The little fish is swimming to heaven and I would like all the people to send a fish with a nice word wherever they want,” she added.

Credit: Juan Ignacio Zoido, via Twitter

ISSUE NO. 1706

Newspaper in Spain 2018

FINAL JOURNEY: Gabriel Cruz’s funeral was held this Tuesday with leading Spanish politicians in attendance. Fishes were the eight-yearold’s favourite animal and became a symbol of the search efforts while they were ongoing. Hundreds of people paid their respects to Gabriel when his coffin arrived at a chapel dedicated to his memory on Monday. Around 12,000 people in Almeria City held a five-minute’s silence for the eight-year-old following the discovery of his body on Sunday. King Felipe, the Junta de Andalucia President Susana Diaz, Sevilla mayor Juan Espadas and Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre observed a minute’s silence at a Sevilla conference on Monday. Towns across Almeria also held minute’s silences and authorities in Nijar declared three days of mourning following the news that Gabriel’s body had been

found. Quezada was placed under surveillance shortly after she allegedly found a t shirt at the bottom of the Las Aguilas ravine. It was said to belong to Gabriel and confirmation came later that it had traces of his DNA on it. She was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning after officers saw her remove something from a well on the Cañada de la Soledad farm, in Rodalquilar. Guardia Civil officers who watched her do this then asked to search her car and found Gabriel’s body in the boot, according to police. It has since been reported that Quezada confessed to killing the eight-year-old. She allegedly told police she acted in self defence after he attempted to as-

sault her. Results from a post-mortem examination found Gabriel had died from asphyxiation. The search for Gabriel Cruz page 8

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NEWS EXTRA Fake claim crackdown NATIONAL POLICE in Almeria have identified 10 cases in which the alleged victims falsified or exaggerated their account of events in order to gain insurance pay outs.

Drugs seized GUARDIA CIVIL officers uncovered 480 kilograms of hashish from a stolen Almeria vehicle following a pursuit to Zabal in Cadiz Province, but were unable to catch the suspects.

36 rescued SPAIN’S Maritime Rescue service picked up 30 men, three women and three children from sub-Saharan Africa eight nautical miles from Alboran Island before taking them to the port of Almeria last Thursday.

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Drug debt horror Victim stabbed ‘in front of family’ By Joe Gerrard THREE defendants found guilty of stabbing and beating a man in an attempt to kill him over a drugs debt dispute have each been sentenced to seven years in prison. The court in Almeria City also acquitted the defendants for robbery charges as they did not take anything from the victim. One of the defendants was found not guilty of making t h r e a t s , w i t h t h e c h a rg e s not able to be proved. A fourth defendant was a c q u i t t e d o n a l l c h a rg e s with prosecutors unable to convince the court he had been involved in the crimes. The court heard one of the defendants decided to go to the victim’s home to settle a debt concerning

hashish he was reportedly supposed to transport from Malaga to Almeria. The defendant asked the other two to go with him. The three waited outside the victim’s house until after they saw him, his wife and son leave to get in their car.

The three men began arguing with the victim and pulled him out of the car. The man who had asked the other two to go with him t h e n p u l l e d o u t a l a rg e knife and stabbed him several times in the chest, according to the prosecution. The three defendants also beat the man who was taken to hospital in a critical condition. He reportedly spent 30 days recovering from the wounds. The defendants accepted their right not to testify during the hearings, so the court judged the case on the basis of statements they had given to police following their arrest. Tw o o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s had reportedly admitted to their part in the assault during the police investigation. Officers had forensic evi-

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

JAILED: The court in Almeria found the defendants guilty of assault but acquitted them of robbery charges. dence gathered from the crime scene which suggested they had been involved. The court rejected claims by the prosecution that the assault was aggravated by the use of disguises after

claims that the defendants wore balaclavas could not be proved. The defendants will also be required to pay a total of €4,000 to the victim as part of the sentence.

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Your weekly guide to the UK’s best television

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Transfer resumes WATER transfers from Granada Province’s Negratin reservoir to Almanzora in Almeria have begun seven months after they were first stopped. The transfers will see Almanzora receive 11.5 billion litres of water for irrigation until next May following a rise in water levels at the reservoir.

NEWS, FIXTURES AND RESULTS FROM THE UK AND SPAIN.

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LETTERS Readers’ views on eclectic topics in print and online. P46

Rallying call for equality

MOTORING ALL THE LATEST CAR NEWS PLUS OUR WEEKLY TEST DRIVE P68

THE BIG PICTURE Nº 5

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Finance 27

Leapy 33

Time Out

EL EJIDO’S Hospital de Poniente has taken the first two donations of bone and eye tissue 48 hours apart after two donors were registered. A man donated bone tissue while the family o f a d e c e a se d w o ma n a llowed the donation of her bone tissue and corneas.

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Health & Beauty 52 - 53

Couch Critic

Care workers

FOURTEEN companies have submitted proposals to be considered for inclusion into the master plan for the port of Almeria City. Authorities are now set to study the proposals for the project, which will include restoration work to the Cable Ingles and improved access for walkers.

Assault trial FOUR officers from Nijar ’s Local Police who allegedly assaulted a German man while he was being held h a v e a p p e a r e d in co u rt in Almeria. The policemen stand accused of torture and illegal detention after beating the man following his arrest for allegedly assaulting a Guardia Civil officer.

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GIRL POWER: More than 5 million women downed tools before joining peaceful protests across Spain. WOMEN in Spain are looking to the future after millions took to the streets to mark International Women’s Day. Historic marches took place in more than 200 Spanish towns and cities in a united stand against a range of issues including domestic violence and the gender pay gap. And estimates suggest that more than five million people took part in the two-hour ‘feminist’ strikes that preceded the rally, which was

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Port plans

PLUS THE REGULARS News

Bone donation

ALMERIA CITY and Vicar have the lowest ratios of social service professionals per head throughout the province, according to data. There is currently one social worker for every 12,000 people in the two areas, with the Junta de Andalucia recommended level one per 3,000.

15 - 21 March / Costa de Almería

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backed by 10 unions and some of Spain’s most important female politicians and cultural figures. Public transport was ravaged and some of the marches brought traffic to a standstill as protesters congregated under the slogan ‘If we stop, the world stops.’ The event places Spain at the cutting edge of feminist movements worldwide. The mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena, tweeted “This isn’t only

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about calling for true equality, but also about facing the need to change how the world treats women,” while her Barcelona counterpart Ada Colau said that she joined the strike “to show that without women the world really does stop.” But the Spanish government did not agree, after the ruling Popular Party said that the strike was “for feminist elites and not real women with everyday problems.”

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Albox 58 - 61

Property 62

Pets 65

Classifieds 66 - 67

The total number of news and features which appeared in Issue 1705 of the Euro Weekly News Costa de Almería edition, including 51 local stories.

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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All fired up

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POLL OF THE WEEK Following recent parliamentary debates, should Spain decriminalise insulting the crown? Photo credit; Facebook

LAST WEEK’S POLL: Following recent controversy in Spain, should bars and restaurants be allowed to ban children?

Yes 77%

No 23%

EWN online this week 216,651 Page views CREDIT: Facebook

TOP SET ABLAZE: Valencia’s famous Las Fallas statues. THIS weekend the city of Valencia welcomes spring in style during the annual Las Fallas festival - a loud, boisterous fiesta where the city is literally set alight. The festival started as a celebration of St Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, but has since evolved into a five-day fire extravaganza. The quiet city’s population of around one million more than trebles in size during the celebrations as people flock from across the globe to witness the festivities. The festival is all about the creation of ‘ninots’ - huge lifelike statues made from wood, cardboard, paper-machè and plaster which are paraded through the city streets, then destroyed in a giant firework display at midnight on the dot. The ninots tend to depict lewd, satirical scenes relating to current events and will often make fun of Spanish politicians or Spanish celebrities. These bawdy giants can cost up to €60,000 to create and are crafted by local neighbourhood or-

ganisations. The labour process is intensive and can take up to 12 months to complete so as soon as that year’s festival is over, work already begins for the next event. During the early evening on the final day of the festival, a group of people with axes chop carefully placed holes in the ninots and fill them with fireworks. On the run up to midnight, the streetlights are all switched off, the crowds start to chant and the fireworks are lit as the clock strikes 12. In recent years, the local firemen have come up with methods to protect the town’s buildings from being accidentally set alight by the fireworks, including covering them with fireproof material. Every year, one of the ninots is saved from obliteration by a popular vote. The pardoned statue - called the ninot indultat - is then displayed in the local Museum of the Ninots along with the other lucky escapees from previous years.

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TRAGIC DISCOVERY: The body of Gabriel Cruz Ramirez has been found.

Police find body of missing eight-year-old boy in Spain,‘girlfriend of father arrested’ Explosive ‘weather bomb’ heads to Spain with heavy rain, strong winds and big waves

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Almost whole of Spain covered with severe weather warnings

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TV favourite ‘A Place in the Rain’… sorry ‘Sun’ films in soggy Spain

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DNA of child on t-shirt found during search

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FOR COMMENTS FROM EWN ONLINE TURN TO LETTERS PAGE CORRECTIONS At the EWN, we pride ourselves that reports are accurate and fair. If we do slip up, we promise to set the record straight in a clear, nononsense manner. To ask for an inaccuracy to be corrected. Email: editorial@euroweeklynews.com

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NEWS EXTRA Police numbers fall THERE were more than 100 less National Police and Guardia Civil officers in Almeria at the end of last year when compared to 2011, according to Spanish government data.

Street funds GABRIEL AMAT, the president of the Diputacion de Almeria, has signed a contract approving a €400,000 investment to improve the paving of the streets in the Patio de Armas in Viator.

40th birthday THE mayor of Vicar and the town’s council took part in celebrations to mark the 40th birthday of Almeria’s College of Agricultural Technical Engineers (COITAAL) last Friday.

OUR VIEW ‘Let the kind acts be what remains’ OUR thoughts are with the family of Gabriel Cruz Ramirez. The tragic eight-year-old’s body was found in the boot of his father’s girlfriend’s car 12 days after he went missing in Nijar, Almeria. More than 3,000 people flocked to Almeria’s Cathedral to pay their respects at his funeral on Tuesday, with several high ranking Spanish politicians in attendance. And while much ire has been directed towards the prime suspect in the case, it is the words and advice of the child’s mother, Patricia Ramirez, that should resonate the most. Carrying herself with great dignity throughout the horrific ordeal, she appealed “for rage not to spread any further, for nobody to retweet rage-fuelled things, because that is not who my son was, and it is not who I am.” Her words came after a vengeful social media storm erupted in the wake of Gabriel’s body being discovered, with the suspect even being physically attacked while surrounded by police. And yet the woman who could have been forgiven for feeling the most hatred instead chose to vilify those who reacted with anger to the death of her son. In doing so, she captured the hearts of a nation, and in a world that feels less-tolerant than at any time since the middle of the last century, her unflinching dignity should serve as a valuable lesson to us all.

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15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

THE ONLY WAY IS ESSEX cast have been filming in Barcelona. But seven regular cast members have been axed by ITVBe bosses over their ‘boring storylines,’ according to rumours. Stalwarts Lauren Pope, Courtney Green, Chloe Meadows and Amber Turner are still on board, though, and the quartet certainly turned heads as they flashed the flesh after slipping into some revealing outfits. Lauren, 35, rocked a skimpy white crop top and high-wasted jeans in the winter sun as she strolled alongside co-stars Bobby Norris, Chloe Lewis and Georgia Kousoulou. Elsewhere in the city, Courtney, 22, was snapped in a lacy bodysuit and miniscule denim hotpants as she braved the chilly conditions. Chloe, 25, opted for an all-green ensemble featuring a revealing green blouse with matching trousers as she flaunted her ample curves, while blonde beauty Amber, 24, kept her surgically-enhanced assets under wraps in a thigh-skimming minidress.

She’s a keeper

TRENDING: Sara Carbonero.

o credit TOWIE/Twitt Phot er

Photo credit Twitter

TOWIE crew film in Spain

THE ONLY WAY IS BARCA: Lauren Pope (second from right) and co-stars in Spain.

SHE’S the sports reporter who stole the heart of a world champion goalkeeper. And Sara Carbonero, 34, has another reason to celebrate after an internet firm revealed that she was the most searched-for Spanish woman over the past year. She married former Real Madrid star Iker Casillas in 2016, after the pair shared a famous kiss live on TV in the wake of Spain’s 2010 World Cup win.

Celebs set to seek divine inspiration Photo credit BBC

A PILGRIM’S TALE: The group at the start of their mammoth trek.

IT’S the 790-kilometre trek across northern Spain that attracts hundreds of thousands of walkers each year. And now seven British celebrities have spoken of their experiences on the Camino de Santiago religious pilgrimage after they traipsed from Jean-Piedde-Port in the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. The group included Gogglebox star

Kate Bottley, comedian Ed Byrne, Line of Duty actor Neil Morrissey, M People singer Heather Small, Strictly Come Dancing finalist Debbie McGee, journalist Raphael Rowe and TV presenter JJ Chalmers. Also known as the Way of St James, the hikers’ exploits will be screened in a new three-part BBC Two show entitled Pilgrimage: The Road to Santiago.

Celeb focus Date night WEDD

ED BLISS: THEY’RE the Pen elop e and Javier. Spanish Oscar winners who have been in love for a decade. And Penelope Cruz, 43, and husband Javier Bardem, 49, were all smiles as they attended the Spanish Actors and Actresses Union Awards Gala in Madrid. The couple married in 2010 and recently starred together in the drama flick Loving Pablo, for which they were nominated for best actress and actor, respectively.

Royal welcome QUEEN LETIZIA OF SPAIN completed a busy week of appointments with a charity appearance. The stylish royal, 44, attend an event for Rare Diseases Day at the Goya Theatre in Madrid. And she took to the stage to present an award after chatting to members of the organisation plus victims of the diseases.

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The search for Gabriel Cruz SEVERAL Guardia Civil units were joined by hundreds of volunteers to try and find Gabriel Cruz Ramirez, who disappeared after leaving his grandmother’s house in Las Hortichuelas. A specialist police team made up of forensics officers, underwater officers, dogs and a scientific unit all took part in the search. It began after the eight-year-old was reported missing on Tuesday February 27. In a separate development a man was arrested on Friday March 2 by the Guardia Civil for allegedly breaching a restraining order preventing him from contacting the boy’s mother. A rally under the banner ‘We Are All Gabriel’ took place on Friday March 9 in the town of Puerta Purchena at 12pm to raise awareness of the search. Police were first alerted to the disappearance of the eight-year-old shortly after his parents realised he had gone missing. Gabriel left his grandmother ’s house at around 3.30pm to go and play with her neighbours around a 100metre walk away. His family said he usually spent holidays and weekends at the house in Las Hortichuelas, near Nijar. He did not arrive at the neighbour’s house and was reported

Photo by Guardia Civil, SOS desaparecidos

STOOD DOWN: Jose Manuel Holgado met with Guardia Civil officers to thank them for taking part in the search for Gabriel Cruz (inset.) missing at around 8pm. His parents did not believe Gabriel got lost, which would have been out of character for their son who they said was well behaved. They added he knew the area well and regularly took the route while visiting his grandmother. More than 400 people, including police officers and local residents, searched for the eigh-year-old the following day. They were split into 15 groups which covered 23 search areas across Nijar. Aerial, canine and underwater units were all deployed as part of the search. Ana Julia Quezada

claimed she had found one of his t-shirts near the Barranco Las Aguilas sewage treatment plant on Saturday March 3. By Sunday March 4 the search area had been expanded to a radius of five-kilometres from the track where Gabriel is believed to have been taken from. Leading politicians including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido and Junta de Andalucia President Susana Diaz all offered words of support to the family during the search. The operation to find Gabriel continued throughout the following week until

the early hours of last Sunday when police arrested Quezada on suspicion of killing him. She has since confessed, according to reports in Spanish media. The 43-year-old reportedly told officers that the boy had got in her car voluntarily on the way to his grandmother’s. He then tried to assault her so she acted in self defence to stop him and killed him as a result, according to reports on her police interrogation. Police have taken her to the scene of the crime in order to assist them in their efforts to reconstruct what happened. She is due to have proceedings sent to the courts.

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by Joe Gerrard THOUSANDS of protestors were estimated to have taken to the streets of Almeria and oth e r t o wn s i n th e provin c e f o r m a r c h e s to mark International Women’s Day. Organisers said around 26,000 demonstrators were involved on the day, with police estimates placing the number closer to 6,500. Lidia R o d r i g u e z , th e spokesperson for the Platform for Feminist Action of Almeria, told Spanish media women in the province continued to live with gender inequality. “This afternoon we want to claim that women need non-precarious jobs, that family reconciliation be tak-

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Let’s hear it for the women

MARCHING ON: Protestors were joined by members of the leftist Partido Izquierda Unida for the demonstration in Almeria City. en into account and that women be taken into account and not erased from history. Sexist violence must be eradicated once and for

all,” she said. The marches in Almeria coincided with protests organised nationally as part of Spain’s first feminist gener-

STRIKE: Protestors also gathered in the Plaza Educator for the demonstrations.

al strike. Protestors attended the ma rc he s a c ros s the province, organised by the Platform for Feminist Ac-

tion in Almeria as well as t he l ocal br anch of t he Plataforma Feminista 8-M, last Thursday. They were there to demon-

strate against gender pay gaps, violence and inequality which protestors said continued to impact on women in Almeria and Spain.

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NEWS

1 dead and 3 injured in multi-vehicle smash ONE person has died and three others are reported injured after an accident involving two lorries and three cars in the south of Spain. The accident happened on Monday afternoon on the busy A-7 Mediterranean motorway at El Ejido in Almeria, near the exit towards Las Norias and La Mojonera. One car was crushed between two lorries and a fire broke out engulfing several of the vehicles between kilometre points 410 and 406 of the A-7 in the direction of the Almeria capital. Although firefighters were quickly on the scene they couldnâ€™t save the life of the person who was trapped in the car. The three injured people were transferred to the nearby

Credit: Twitter /@d_cerca

FIREBALL: The scene of the accident near El Ejido. Hospital del Poniente. The road was closed in both directions as firefighters, initially, tried to extinguish the flames from the opposite carriageway when they first ar-

rived on the scene to try and save precious time. Guardia Civil traffic officers are investigating the cause of the crash.

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Photo by Guardia Civil/Twitter

FOUND: Javier was found after being reported missing.

Missing boy found A 13-YEAR-OLD boy who was reported missing in Almeria has been found. Javier Lazaro Martinez had been reported missing by his mother on Monday after disappearing from the Pescaderia neighbourhood. But according to reports, after seeing his picture being spread on social media, the boy called

his parents to tell them that he had voluntarily left home but he was safe. And on Tuesday, the Guardia Civil confirmed that he had been found safe and well and that they had deactivated their search. They tweeted from their official Twitter account: ‘Good news. ‘Javier has been found in good

condition after disappearing. Thank you for every retweet.’ The news comes after the body of missing eight-year-old Gabriel Cruz Ramirez was found in the boot of a car on Sunday. The girlfriend of Gabriel’s father, Ana Julia Quezada, has since admitted to killing the child.

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast! You

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Prison for chicken killer defendant A MAN who allegedly killed four chickens and stole two other birds from a farm in Canjayar has been sentenced to 10 months in prison by a court in Almeria. The court heard the defendant had broken into the farm and taken the birds away in a sack. He was recognised by Guardia Civil officers on video footage shot by a security camera the owner had installed in response to a spate of similar thefts. The owner also told the magistrate the defendant had been recognised in the video by police and that between six and eight birds had died or were stolen. The magistrate also ordered the defendant to pay a €270 fine and compensation worth €69.27 to the victim for the theft and animal abuse crimes.

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Credit: Juan Ignacio Zoido, via Twitter

Child abduction figures highest in region

DISAPPEARANCES: Interior Minister Zoido (centre) delivered the report. ALMERIA had the highest number of child abductions in Andalucia in 2017, according to a report presented by Spainâ€™s Interior Minister. There were six high-risk disappearances out of a total of 343 in the province at the end of last year, according to the Missing Persons Report. The report, put out by Juan Ignacio Zoido to coincide with Missing Persons Day last week,

stated there were 211 active cases in the province at the end of 2017. Almeria came behind Cadiz at 840 active cases and Granada with 352. There were a total of 3,234 missing persons at the end of last year throughout Andalucia, more than half the national total of 6,053. The news comes after police located the body of Gabriel Cruz, from near Nijar in Almeria, who went missing on February

27. The report stated that the number of children abducted in Almeria rose from five in 2010 to 12 by 2017. It also stated that male disappearances were more common, at around 57.2 per cent of the total, and that 6 per cent of missing persons were under 18. More than 29.6 per cent of cases concerned people between 36 and 50, while more than 28.2 per cent were 65 and older.

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Police teach children road safety LOCAL POLICE officers in Mojacar have visited Bartolome Flores School in the town to teach pupils there about safety when out on the town’s roads. Officers gave the four groups of children, aged between 10 and 12, a series of talks as well as activities which included examples of how to use roads safely. A spokesperson from the Local Police road education unit said the programme was of the utmost importance. “Our children are small pedestrians, passengers in many different types of transport as well as potential drivers. “For this reason, it is essential that they gradually learn about all types of road safety,” the spokesperson said. The programme is now in its sixth year. It has been expanded with additional courses since it began following responses from the children involved.

SAFETY CLASS: Children participated in activities and listened to police officers on road safety.

€150,000 in vocational training given THE Junta de Andalucia is to invest almost €150,000 in a tender for a wide ranging construction project for new vocational training spaces in the area. Buildings are to be remodelled to facilitate the teaching of staff

in relation to the public transport services and maintenance vehicles. Plans will incorporate a health and safety geotechnical study and several workshops in the IES Los Angeles School in Almeria City. Works will see the creation (and reconstruction in some cases) of

multipurpose classrooms, in order to expand space for the training. The workshops will all take place in a new and fully renovated automotive warehouse that will include changing rooms and toilets. This project is included in the

Vocational Training programme approved within the framework of the Ministry of Education’s nonuniversity teaching provision. The electrical network will be fully rewired and a lift will be installed in the main classroom for ease of access.

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Tenant trickster arrested for fraud OFFICERS of the National Police have arrested a man on a fraud charge in Almeria. The detainee is accused of advertising rented housing that he did not own on internet platforms. When potential tenants got in touch with him, he arranged for them to meet with the legitimate owner of the house, whom he had already contacted. He then requested a deposit from the victims for the contract, as well as a month’s rent in advance. After receiving the payment the accused then issued a false contract and a fake set of keys. When the victims realised they had been conned they would go straight to the Complaints Office of the Almeria police station, to report the scam. An investigation was set up and the suspect was tracked down and apprehended.

NEWS EXTRA Firefighters open day MORE than 1,000 people visited Almeria City for a F i r e f i g h t e r s O p e n D a y, with visitors having the opportunity to have a look at facilities and learn more about the emergency services’ work last Sunday.

Money saved THE Diputacion de Almeria has saved the councils of the province more than €3.5 million through its economic advisory service which handled more than 1,120 cases last year, according to a statement from the authority.

Road fines AUTHORITIES in Almeria have collected more t h a n € 3 2 m i l l i o n f ro m traffic penalties between January 2012 and Octob e r 2 0 1 7 , a ro u n d 5 p e r cent of the total made in Andalucia according to t h e l a t e s t f i g u re s f ro m the Ministry of the Interior.

€241.2m

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Celebrating La Vieja festival L O CA L S fro m M o jac a r s a id g o o d b y e to th e firs t half of Lent and welcomed the spring as part of the traditional Dia de La Vieja festival last Thursday. The festival, the name of which translates as Day of the Old Lady, is held every year on the Thursday nearest to the halfway point of Lent. It was marked by a trip to the countryside where locals, their friends and families said goodbye to winter a n d h ello to s p rin g with food and drinks. T h e fe s tiv al ta k es its n ame fro m a c o n flic t be tween two carnival characters, Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma. T h e fig u re o f D oña Cuaresma became that of an old woman following her defeat of Don Carnal in the traditional story. S ma ll d o lls , o r Vie ja s , representing the woman are fille d w ith s w e e ts a nd placed on a wooden cross as part of the festivities. It is stuck in the ground and small local children are responsible for breaking it open to find the sweets inside.

The estimated amount of money Spaniards paid in road traffic fines last year according to the Spanish traffic directorate (DGT), a 34 per cent decrease on 2016.

The c hildre n a ls o ha ve the chance to eat the Hornazo, a dessert made from a hard-boiled egg. Food such a s pa e lla is a ls o e a te n by those taking part while they vis it gre e n a re a s s uc h a s Los Gurullos and Las Alparatas, in the case of Mojacar. The Dia de La Vieja is the only fiesta not represented by a saint, but by a pagan figure . The fe s tiva l ha s since been incorporated into the Christian festival calendar in the Almeria Levante region.

Photo by Mojacar council

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FIESTA: Small children typically break open figures of Doña Cuaresma filled with sweets to mark the festival.

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NATIONAL

Hospital receives first donations Photo credit: Hospital de Poniente/Twitter

HOSPITAL DE PONIENTE: Has received its first tissue donations. THE Hospital de Poniente has received its first two donations of bone tissue and corneas. The hospital only joined the Organ and Tissue programme of Andalucian hospitals earlier this year and has now had their first donations, with both coming in the space of 48 hours. The first bone tissue came from a male while the second donation came after the family of a deceased woman agreed to allow the removal of her corneas and bone tissue.

Paseo del Mediterraneo 30, Mojacar Playa, Almeria

T: 950 473 104

E: info@mojacarhomeimprovements.com www.mojacarhomeimprovements.com

On joining the Organ and Tissue donation programme, manager of the Poniente Sanitary Public Agency, Jose Antonio Hernandez, told Spanish media: “The process to join the network of centres included in the donation and transplant programme began at the beginning of 2017 and it has required 11 months of work in which practically all the services of the hospital have been involved, to adapt the processes and operation of our centre to the standards required by the Autonomic

Transplant Coordination, as well as to train all the professionals involved.” As part of the programme, the Hospital de Poniente has reportedly been authorised to receive donations from patients that have died from either brain diseases or cardiac arrests. Pat i ent s can donat e hearts, livers, lungs, pancreases and kidneys as well as corneas and bone tissues, with bone tissue transplants also being performed at the hospital.

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

NATIONAL Photo credit: Guardia Civil

Prima doners caged €36m ‘kebab’ scheme skewered by police A SPANISH police operation against a massive international money laundering operation based on the Costa Blanca and in Barcelona has led to five arrests and 15 people being charged. The criminal organisation, operating both in Germany and Spain, used a network of food establishments to conceal their activities, fronting as kebab meat suppliers. Guardia Civil investigations began in summer 2015 when police officers from the Barcelona-El Prat airport discovered that money was being sent from Spain to Germany on a weekly basis. Running its activities from Barcelona and Alicante, the criminal organisation was transferring large sums of money between the two countries, ranging from €90,000 to €300,000. The group justified the

transfers to the airport authorities as payments of Spanish companies to a German company for kebab meat supply. But the investigation revealed that the Spanish companies did not even run real commercial activities. Police found that the group, operating since 2012, had built up a network of front companies involved in money laundering. The Spanish authorities estimate that around €36 million has been transferred and laundered by the criminal network. Europol has supported the investigation since 2017 by providing analytical and operational support, carrying out data analysis and cross match reporting. As a result of the operation the Spanish Guardia Civil has blocked 36 bank

accounts and 35 credit cards and seized five properties in the province of Alicante worth approximately €470,000. “This investigation shows once again that criminal business is still largely done in cash,” Simon Riondet, Head of Financial Intelligence at Europol, explained. “Professional money laundering syndicates offer cash courier and compensation laundering services for illicit proceeds. Very often networks of front and shell companies are established in order to facilitate the movement of the money and to provide justification for the proceeds. “These activities are further enabled by the lack of cash payment restrictions in some EU countries which allow justifying large cash amounts as payments for

trade activities. “The continued law enforcement seizures of bulk large denomination banknotes and the prevailing trade-based money laundering schemes reinforce the need to discontinue the production and circulation of €500 and €200 banknotes and set an EU-wide framework for restricting or setting a common limit for cash payments.”

KEBAB CASH: The group used food establishments to conceal their activities, fronting as kebab meat suppliers.

Mid-air mayhem A ‘DISRUPTIVE’ passenger on a flight from Manchester to Tenerife forced the aircraft to return to its departure airport and other passengers to suffer delays to their journeys. The man was arrested by police when the aircraft landed back at Manchester and the remainder of the passengers had to spend a night in a hotel before catching a rescheduled flight to Tenerife the next morning. A Ryanair spokesman said, “The flight from Manchester to Tenerife returned to Manchester after a passenger became disruptive in flight. “The aircraft landed normally and the passenger was met by police upon arrival. “Customers were provided with overnight accommodation in Manchester and boarded a rescheduled flight for Tener-

ife early the following morning. “We will not tolerate unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time and the safety and comfort of our customers, crew and aircraft is our number one priority. “This is now a matter for police.” A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said, “Police were called to reports of an intoxicated man on a flight from Manchester Airport. “A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk on an aircraft. “Enquiries into the full circumstances around this incident are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 2329 of 08/03/18, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

NATIONAL

It’s third time unlucky “Incompetent is the one word I would use. Every time he appears to do something, he gets caught.” His latest arrest came after investigators learned of a plan to soak packs of cardboard with drugs and have them delivered to his home in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire. Two of the packages were intercepted by Border Force officers, who alerted the Na-

tional Crime Agency. One of the parcels was replaced by a fake and brought to Dolan’s address by a police officer posing as a Parcelforce delivery driver. He answered the door himself and was later held while leaving the property with the package in a rucksack which also contained cocaine worth €33,600. He has now been sentenced to five years and three

months behind bars after pleading guilty to cocaine trafficking. The court heard that he had also spent three years in an Italian jail after being convicted of drug offences in 2013. According to his lawyer, he owed money to criminals in Scotland after returning from his stretch in Spain. Mr Renucci said: “He was trying to pay it back and took

DRUGS SHAME: Vincent Dolan (inset). the easy option. “He got in touch with a contact abroad.

“This was someone he had shared a cell with while in Italy.”

Snakes on a plane More than 800 illegal animals seized POLICE are quizzing 17 people in Spain after wild reptiles worth more than €150,000 were seized in the Netherlands. Three Spanish men were held at Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport as they waited to board a flight to Madrid with 200 Mexican snakes, lizards, and turtles, including many protected species, in their luggage. A probe revealed the trio to be members of a dedicated wildlife trafficking ring, leading police to swoop on homes

and warehouses in Madrid and Castellon, unearthing a further 600 animals. Many of them were legal species that had been frozen alive, with licences issued to keep them used to sell on. Nine suspects have been remanded in custody and eight others questioned in connection with the plot, which reportedly saw wildlife from America, Asia, Africa and Oceania illegally smuggled to Spain for the black market pet trade. Most of the species in-

Photo credit Guardia Civil

A BUNGLING cocaine trafficker who has previously been jailed in Spain is behind bars for the third time. Vincent Dolan, 42, was sentenced to six years in a Spanish prison in 2006 and must now serve more than five years in his native Scotland. His lawyer Ronnie Renucci said: “It may seem he is an international master criminal, but that is far from the truth.

Photo credit: National Crime Agency

‘Incompetent’ coke smuggler jailed again

OFF THE SCALE: Some of the animals seized were bought legally and frozen. volved were endangered in the wild and highly desired by private collectors, with some fetching as much as €50,000 for a single individual. The gang had a network of

contacts around the world and used drug-trafficking-style mules to bring the animals to Europe, although some were traded ‘legally’ using forged documentation.

E W N 15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

COMMUNITY

A day at the races

CHAMPIONS: Lucky Bar has won the last two years in a row. PLANS are taking shape for this year’s Wacky Races Villaricos event on May 19. Their team are already out and about engaging with sponsors to get their support once again. They want to make sure everyone who comes along has a grand day out. There will be dancers, singers, bouncy castles, super DJ Ian the legend, stalls, tombola and raffle with a main prize of a holiday! The local school will once again provide four or five teams for the junior races which should start around 12.15pm. However they need adult teams to take part in the actual races. They will provide the cart and you need four or five people. Lucky Bar have won in both the last two years so can anyone challenge them to prevent the hat-trick? Wacky Races Villaricos want to thank all their contributors for the 2017 event. They raised a record of over €1,400, most

Anglican Churches Easter Services Palm Sunday March 25, 11am: Eucharist Service - Mojacar Church Eucharist Service - Llanos Del Peral Church Maundy, Thursday March 29, 11am: Eucharist Service and Lent Lunch - Aljambra Church Washing of Feet, 29 March, 6pm: Llanos Del Peral Good Friday, March 30, 11am: Eucharist Service - Mojacar Easter Sunday, April 1, 11am: Eucharist Service - Mojacar Eucharist Service - Llanos Del Peral

of which they distributed by late September to various beneficiaries including the Villaricos Carnival Dance group - Fantasia. Wacky Races Villaricos again provided an air-conditioning unit and a new flat screen TV for a third classroom at Villaricos School in time for the new intake in mid-September. In December they provided text books for the six schools in the Villaricos group to help with English, each of the 190 children received a book appropriate to their learning level. All the gifts they distribute are made possible because of the involvement of the businesses and people of the area. If you want to sponsor, contribute, enter a team or provide entertainment on the day you can contact Wacky Races Villaricos in these ways: Facebook: wackyracesvillaricos Email: wackyraces2017@gmail.com Call: 950 467 590 or 634 368 243.

Mojacar Royal British Legion April Diary THURSDAY April 5, 11.15: Branch Meeting Artisan Centre. Guest Speaker Rosie Harris on Tai Chi. Friday April 6, 7.30: Fish ‘n’ Chip night with quiz at the Oasis Bar, Palomares. Thursday April 19, 11.15: Branch social/coffee morning at the Burladero Bar/Restaurant (opposite Neptuno) Mojacar Playa. Monday April 23, 1pm: St. George’s Day lunch at the Casa Juan, Mojacar Playa. For any of above, contact Christine White on: 697 887 362.

FINANCE

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal

Ticket to ride for train line

Quote of the Week

A THINK TANK funded by Spain claims that Brexit offers the ideal opportunity to negotiate a ‘new status’ for Gibraltar. Published by the Elcano Royal Institute, of which the largest donor is the Spanish government, the policy paper says that it is the first time that Gibraltar has been pressurised to urgently resolve doubts over its status in relation to the European Union (EU). The report added that while the rock may not be one of Spain’s top priorities, the country is keen to

‘

Catalan firms opt for LGBTQ+ focus And they will present their initial proposals at the Barcelona Global Summit later this month. Juan Julia, president of the Catalan Association of Gay and Lesbian Companies and Axel Hotels chain, said change is needed. “We need to alter our model,” he told Spanish media. “Based on case studies from other cities, we should focus on ways to raise the profile of tourists and promote new products to attract gay and lesbian people all year round.”

» BUSINESS EXTRA

Overdue overtime ALMOST 60 per cent of employees in Spain receive no overtime pay, a new study by recruitment agency Adecco has shown, with 46.4 per cent receiving no form of compensation whatsoever and 13 per cent getting only ‘extra breaks.’

On track THE Spanish government is to pump €660 million into doubling the capacity of capital Madrid’s Atocha railway station, which will be able to handle 40 million passengers per year once the revamp is complete, according to development minister Iñigo de la Serna.

Lidl bit less GERMAN discount supermarket chain Lidl has revealed that it reduced prices in Spain by 0.06 per cent last year, while the remaining brands in the sector raised them by an average of 2.1 per cent.

Bogus cash con scotched THREE people have been held in a fake moneyprinting sting. Investigators from Spain’s National Police swooped on five properties in Portugal, seizing €70,000-worth of bogus €20, €50 and €500 bank notes. Most of the forged cash was sent to Spain, but some was recovered as far afield as Austria,

Italy and Estonia. Detectives also seized a heat-stamping machine, coloured dyes, a guillotine, four inkjet printers, a scanner, a computer, rolls of metal tape used to make holograms and several ink cartridges during the raids. It comes in the wake of an 18-month probe after a spike in counterfeit notes was reported in Badajoz, Extremadura during summer 2016.

EWN

The amount raked in by Spain’s big three electric firms Iberdrola, Gas Natural Fenosa and Endesa last year, a 3 per cent year-on-year increase according to official figures. A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 6 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION | WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM/3.0.15/FINANCE

By Matt Ford maintain its strong economic ties with the UK. “Brexit opens the possibility of renegotiating the actual situation of Gibraltar,” the researchers said, adding that the current situation “opens the door to a new status for Gibraltar that is favourable to all involved parties and acceptable to the legitimate interests and aspirations of Spain.” Gibraltar has been a British Overseas Territory since 1713 despite Spain’s repeated claims to sovereign-

I want to put Spain and the UK on the spot… both sides knew there was no evidence.” Moroccan citizen Farid Hilali, 49, who was in 2004 wrongfully jailed over 9/11 reveals that he is seeking €1.8m in compensation.

PRIDE OF CATALUÑA: But Barcelona has fallen down the pecking order.

BUSINESS owners in Barcelona are aiming to transform the Catalan city into a top destination for LGBTQ+ holidaymakers. A number of entrepreneurs have joined forces to create ‘gayfriendly companies,’ with the goal of hosting the Europride festival in 2022. The move comes amid fears that cities including London, Amsterdam and Tel Aviv have moved ahead of Barcelona, traditionally a popular destination in the sector.

€5.6 billion

Rocking good time to talk

Photo credit Partido Popular/Shutterstock

WORK on a €530 million international rail freight corridor connecting Spain and Portugal is underway. The project will link Caia, near the Spanish border town of Badajoz, to Portuguese ports at Lisbon, Sines and Setubal. Combining new and existing rail lines, the corridor will be capable of running 51 trains per day once complete, with an 11 kilometre section already in the process of an upgrade. Bids for the remaining four contracts are currently being invited.

Costa de Almería

15 - 21 March 2018

ty, and its 33,000 inhabitants voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining in the EU in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Around 8,000 Spaniards also commute to the peninsula each day for work. The Elcano report goes on to say that it is in the mutual interest of both countries to examine how Gibraltar might retain links with the EU after the UK formally cuts ties in 2019, although the authors point out that their view does not necessarily reflect that of the Spanish government.

Car firm sets sales record SEAT is aiming to set a new record in the wake of record returns. The Spanish carmaker generated operating profits of €191 million last year, an increase of 24.8 per cent on 2016. Parent group Volkswagen said that spiralling costs were offset by a leap in sales, after the company turned over almost €9.9 billion in 2017. The company sold 468,400 vehicles worldwide, and this year offloaded 78,800 in January and February for a year-on-year increase of 23.1 per cent.

E W N 15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

LONDON - FTSE 100

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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

C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 12

PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY Anglo American 1,705.10 -47.10 Associated British Foods 2,402.50 -204.50 Admiral Group 1,961.25 47.25 Ashtead Group 2,048.00 38.00 Antofagasta 899.90 5.50 Aviva 534.90 15.50 AstraZeneca 4,898.00 112.50 BAE Systems 598.90 -2.90 Barclays 225.51 14.76 British American Tobacco 3,910.25 -363.25 Barratt Developments 510.15 -38.45 Berkeley Group Holdings 3,869.00 13.00 British Land Co 653.80 16.20 BHP Billiton 1,437.90 2.10 Bunzl 2,054.75 14.75 BP 478.18 -0.02 Burberry Group 1,718.75 51.25 BT Group 241.20 1.80 Coca-Cola HBC 2,267.50 -250.50 Carnival 5,243.00 505.00 Centrica 156.58 14.78 Compass Group 1,574.25 22.75 Croda International 4,637.50 5.50 CRH 2,449.50 4.50 DCC 6,940.00 105.00 Diageo 2,380.25 -66.25 Direct Line Insurance Group 376.40 -14.00 Evraz 462.75 25.75 Experian 1,528.75 -51.75 easyJet 1,577.25 14.25 Ferguson 5,362.00 44.00 Fresnillo 1,219.50 -19.00 G4S 258.95 -3.25 GKN 446.30 11.20 Glencore 369.80 -2.27 GlaxoSmithKline 1,336.00 0.00 Hargreaves Lansdown 1,773.75 53.25 Halma 1,231.50 19.50 Hammerson 458.75 3.35 HSBC Holdings 712.45 6.65 International Consldtd Airs Grp 634.50 10.50 InterContinental Hotels Grp 4,674.50 84.50 3i Group 922.90 0.50 Imperial Brands 2,773.25 181.25 Informa 707.80 0.48 Intertek Group 5,112.00 60.00 ITV 154.58 1.38 Just Eat 754.80 -33.60 Johnson Matthey 3,201.50 -48.50 Kingfisher 377.05 26.35

% CHG. NET VOL -2.69 23,979.60 -7.84 20,599.36 2.47 5,428.35 1.89 9,612.74 0.61 8,576.95 2.98 20,411.34 2.35 60,979.51 -0.48 18,770.29 7.00 36,231.96 -8.50 97,743.70 -7.01 5,492.02 0.34 5,154.89 2.54 6,314.02 0.15 29,649.26 0.72 6,785.87 -0.18 94,652.58 3.07 6,876.09 0.75 23,867.14 -9.95 9,242.05 10.66 9,858.10 10.42 7,933.80 1.47 24,457.53 0.12 6,070.06 0.18 20,503.20 1.54 6,058.17 -2.71 60,052.53 -3.59 5,275.88 5.89 6,293.87 -3.27 14,354.22 0.91 6,267.94 0.83 13,271.71 -1.53 8,909.04 -1.24 4,007.77 2.57 7,238.00 -0.61 52,405.08 0.00 66,776.97 3.10 8,127.45 1.61 4,559.49 0.74 3,628.03 0.94 140,637.95 1.68 12,944.75 1.84 8,688.25 0.05 9,045.95 6.99 24,754.24 0.07 5,861.97 1.19 8,150.22 0.90 6,193.09 -4.26 5,232.26 -1.49 6,193.07 7.51 7,612.35

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

Land Securities Group 981.25 Legal & General Group 271.60 Lloyds Banking Group ORD 67.03 London Stock Exchange Grp 3,995.00 Micro Focus International 2,094.50 Mediclinic International 608.20 Marks & Spencer Group 272.15 Mondi 1,991.00 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets 223.20 National Grid 790.90 NMC Health 3,682.00 Next 4,556.00 Old Mutual Group 253.80 Paddy Power Betfair 7,925.00 Prudential 1,837.25 Persimmon 2,737.50 Pearson 758.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 6,004.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Grp 266.30 Royal Dutch Shell 2,318.00 Royal Dutch Shell 2,350.00 RELX 1,681.75 Rio Tinto 3,652.00 Rolls-Royce Group 939.70 Randgold Resources 5,933.00 RSA Insurance Group 567.00 Rentokil Initial 283.90 Sainsbury (J) 245.25 Schroders 3,476.00 Sage Group (The) 708.30 Segro 661.90 Shire 3,106.75 Smurfit Kappa Group 3,179.00 Sky 1,341.25 Standard Life Aberdeen 374.50 Smith (DS) 514.40 Smiths Group 1,620.75 Scottish Mortgage Invstmnt Trst 484.10 Smith & Nephew 1,339.00 SSE 1,234.75 Standard Chartered 799.85 St James's Place 1,177.25 Severn Trent 1,772.75 Tesco 215.90 TUI AG 1,524.50 Taylor Wimpey 188.58 Unilever 3,758.25 United Utilities Group 702.60 Vodafone Group 221.49 WPP Group 1,228.50 Whitbread 3,803.50

CHANGE(P) 64.15 9.10 -0.26 59.00 71.50 -9.20 -5.55 6.50 -4.70 7.20 168.00 -216.00 -2.70 40.00 -9.25 140.50 7.10 194.00 4.50 56.50 62.50 169.25 -74.50 13.90 -101.00 -68.20 11.50 2.25 72.00 12.50 62.90 -85.75 -41.00 3.25 4.10 4.20 10.75 10.50 8.00 -22.25 20.95 24.25 -53.25 3.20 -7.50 0.48 -136.25 0.00 14.49 24.00 -128.50

% CHG. 6.99 3.47 -0.39 1.50 3.53 -1.49 -2.00 0.33 -2.06 0.92 4.78 -4.53 -1.05 0.51 -0.50 5.41 0.94 3.34 1.72 2.50 2.73 11.19 -2.00 1.50 -1.67 -10.74 4.22 0.93 2.12 1.80 10.50 -2.69 -1.27 0.24 1.11 0.82 0.67 2.22 0.60 -1.77 2.69 2.10 -2.92 1.50 -0.49 0.26 -3.50 0.00 7.00 1.99 -3.27

NET VOL 6,868.12 15,742.54 48,658.34 13,595.55 8,728.50 4,475.07 4,526.54 7,297.08 5,305.30 26,669.41 6,991.54 6,773.64 12,529.25 6,767.52 47,540.60 7,870.71 5,882.99 40,483.00 31,470.19 104,125.13 85,790.37 15,946.73 49,669.15 17,055.27 5,623.90 6,486.99 4,856.07 5,296.11 7,628.26 7,542.57 6,055.67 29,380.64 7,560.50 23,034.83 11,064.25 5,471.96 6,278.56 6,608.67 11,593.25 12,655.82 25,655.56 6,110.88 4,232.78 17,194.38 9,060.44 6,146.05 47,792.56 4,766.40 55,376.71 15,621.60 7,207.73

0,88911

1,12432 Units per €

US dollar...............................................................1.23322 Japan yen.............................................................131.446 Switzerland franc.................................................1.17131 Denmark kroner ..............................................7.45020 Norway kroner.................................................9.57804 currenciesdirect.com/mojacar • Tel: +34 950 478 914 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 12

COMPANY 3M AMERICAN EXPRESS APPLE BOEING CO CATERPILLAR CHEVRON CISCO SYSTEMS COCA-COLA DOWDUPONT 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 241,350 99,0500 179,980 354,520 158,250 117,22 45,370 44,82 72,23 74,56 14,9400 270,77 182,1600 159,31 52,1900 118,0400 133,8000 157,2400 55,14 96,540 66,30 36,7700 80,290 142,30 134,07 225,43 49,01 124,51 88,7200 104,7300

CHANGE% CHANGE VOLUME(M) +2,12% 5,010 143.116,52 +2,55% 2,4600 84.978,34 +1,72% 3,040 911.495,70 +1,66% 5,790 207.448,72 +3,03% 4,660 94.107,83 +3,41% 3,87 223.977,19 +2,32% 1,030 224.836,42 +0,83% 0,37 190.753,42 +2,34% 1,65 167.433,50 +0,59% 0,44 315.012,94 +2,89% 0,4200 128.936,25 +1,66% 4,43 102.672,07 +2,37% 4,2200 211.502,63 +1,98% 3,10 146.815,74 +2,86% 1,4500 243.172,80 +2,88% 3,3000 404.044,47 +1,32% 1,7400 357.738,09 +1,81% 2,8000 124.799,73 +0,69% 0,38 148.519,65 +2,23% 2,110 741.873,55 +1,83% 1,19 86.114,00 +0,74% 0,2700 218.976,13 +0,40% 0,320 201.856,77 +1,88% 2,63 38.583,38 +2,14% 2,81 106.754,41 +0,31% 0,70 218.769,23 +0,00% 0,00 199.201,31 +1,87% 2,29 224.444,79 +0,91% 0,8000 261.607,91 +0,67% 0,7000 156.953,65 M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 12

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced Spark Energy, Inc. Coherus BioSciences, Inc. Tintri, Inc. LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited Willdan Group, Inc. Hurco Companies, Inc. PDL BioPharma, Inc. Proteostasis Therapeutics, Inc. Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc.

$ 11.20 $ 11.85 $ 6.55 $ 19.09 $ 4.65 $ 26.54 $ 47.90 $ 3.04 $ 4.12 $ 23.08 $ 17.69

2.60 ▲ 30.23% 2.75 ▲ 30.22% 1.40 ▲ 27.18% 3.09 ▲ 19.31% 0.71 ▲ 18.02% 3.85 ▲ 16.97% 6.15 ▲ 14.73% 0.39 ▲ 14.72% 0.51 ▲ 14.13% 2.85 ▲ 14.09% 2.10 ▲ 13.47%

$ 6.60 $ 2.58 $ 5.25 $ 8.10 $ 2.55 $ 10.76 $ 26.80 $ 90.60 $ 16.16 $ 7.69 $ 5.025

1.06 ▼ 13.84% 0.32 ▼ 11.03% 0.64 ▼ 10.87% 0.85 ▼ 9.50% 0.26 ▼ 9.25% 1.09 ▼ 9.20% 2.41 ▼ 8.25% 8.13 ▼ 8.23% 1.42 ▼ 8.08% 0.67 ▼ 8.01% 0.425 ▼ 7.80%

Most Declined Credit Suisse AG Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. UTStarcom Holdings Corp Calithera Biosciences, Inc. Approach Resources Inc. Credit Suisse AG Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. National Beverage Corp. Credit Suisse AG Rimini Street, Inc. Otonomy, Inc.

E W N 15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

€6m solar storm erupts SPAIN’S biggest research and development centre for renewable energy is unable to spend money. The Solar Platform in Almeria (PSA) has reportedly been handed millions of Euros in European Union grants, but restrictions imposed by the Spanish government have left bosses unable to splash out. Set up in the Tabernas Desert during the 1970’s, the centre is the most important for solar thermal energy in Europe. Ex-PSA director Sixto Malato said: “Spain has installed the equivalent of two nuclear power stations in solar thermal energy plants… if it occupied 1.5 per cent of the world’s deserts, we could generate enough electricity for the entire planet.” The PSA has designed technology used by major power plants in the United States, China and North Africa, and is a popular proving ground for new solar energy systems. Around €6 million-worth of funding cannot be spent after the Spanish Treasury, in 2016, began to roll out measures designed to limit outlay. The latest ruling was approved in January. It blocks public research agencies from spending more than half of their funds until the 2018 National Budget is approved, with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s embattled Popular Party thus far unable to get its plans approved by Spanish Congress. The standoff has seen 14 researchers - 35 per cent of the team - laid off from the PSA, leading to Malato handing in his notice. One of them, a woman who has several children and had worked there for 15 years told Spanish media: “Our problem is due to the state of science in Spain and the scarcity of work opportunities for highly trained people, I used to get the best grades in my class, and now my employ-

Photo credit Change.org

‘LIKE GOING TO WAR WITHOUT WEAPONS’

OFF GRID: Almeria’s Solar Platform.

ment prospects are the most unstable.” The constraints have also impacted on research, with several projects months behind schedule. Waterspoutt has a €3.5 million budget to develop water purification technology for Uganda in southern Africa, but there is no-one in charge of it after the lead researcher was, in February, made redundant. Researcher Eduardo Zarza said how an experimental steam generation system, which is among the platform’s ‘most emblematic’ has been out of action for four months as he is unable to buy spare parts. Malato confirmed that a number of requests for the Treasury to exempt 15 EU science contracts from the spending restrictions have not been answered to date.

NOT GRAPE NEWS AFTER HARVEST SLUMP

Wine prices to increase WINE lovers are facing a price hike in the wake of last year’s catastrophic grape harvest. Global wine production last year fell to its lowest level in half a century after vineyards in Spain, as well as the world’s two other top producers France and Italy, with the weather to blame. Extreme and unseasonal hot and cold temperatures ravaged all three countries, with the areas producing Spanish Rioja and Italian Prosecco coming off worst. Dan Jago, chief executive of posh wine merchant Berry Bros and Rudd, told UK media: “We’ll start to see those [2017] wines coming to the market now and I think for higher volume, lower price wine you will see cost increases. “Prices for things like Pinot Grigio or generic Spanish reds will rise by between 10 per cent and 30 per cent and it’s how much of that retailers will pass on,” said the former Tesco wine business chief. “Prosecco was very hard hit by frost, so there will be less

PRICEY PLONK: The price of Spanish wine could rise by 30 per cent. of it and the price will go up.” According to The International Organisation of Vine and Wine, global wine production plummeted by 8 per cent in 2017 after the worst grape harvest since 1961. The fall is set to see 2.9 billion fewer bottles hit the market this year.

A senior figure in the wine industry said that the sector had endured a ‘perfect storm’ in 2017, with issues affecting wine-growing regions across the planet. “There is price pressure in two places, right at the top end, in premium claret, and in entry level wine,” he

explained. “In a £5 bottle only 50p is for the wine so you are looking at a small increase of say 12.5p… on a £100 bottle of wine you’ve got a material price change. “In a good year producers will try and profit and in a bad year they will try and eat some of the losses, it’s in their interests to do so. At some point prices will have to reflect the cost of production but supermarkets will work hard to keep wine affordable because like eggs, milk and a loaf of white bread, people know the price of a bottle of Pinot Gigio.”

Planemaker to axe 3,700 jobs as jet projects fail to take off AIRBUS has warned that up to 3,700 jobs - including 800 in Spain - could be lost as it downscales assembly of its A380 and A400M planes. The European manufacturer said that the cuts would also affect the UK, France and Germany as issues continue to plague Europe’s priciest civil and military aerospace projects. Production of the A380 super j um bo, t he wor l d’s biggest passenger jet, will be slashed from six to eight per year from 2020. The underperforming project was almost axed until Dubai’s Emirates airline ordered 16 of the planes for €12.85 billion. And j ust ei ght A400M troop transporters will be built, down from a forecast 15 this year and 11 in 2019, after losses soared beyond €8 billion.

Shot in the arm for civil service SPANISH civil servants are to receive their first pay rise since 2009. It comes after unions thrashed out a deal with the government which will see employees receive between 6.1-8.8 per cent boost in wages over the next three years. Civil servants lost 11-23 per cent of their buying power in the wake of the economic crisis. Tens of thousands of jobs axed as Spain imposed austerity measures on the cent r a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , a r m y, justice and public health sectors. The CC OO union confirmed the agreement in a statement after it earlier rej e c t e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s proposed 1 per cent pay hike. “ We ’ r e m o v i n g t o w a r d s an increase that will recover their lost purchasing powe r, ” s a i d C C O O o f f i c i a l Antonio Cabrera.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

SPAIN SLAMMED IN SMOG SMACKDOWN

Green tax reforms looming THE Spanish government is aiming to increase taxes on diesel fuel. A raft of other environmental levies will also be reformed as Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro, revealed that the bulk of such taxation will be managed by the country’s 17 regional governments. And chief among the proposed changes is a move to scrap current tax breaks for drivers of diesel and other highly polluting vehicles. The announcement comes after European Commission (EC) lawmakers in Belgian capital Brussels again slammed Spain over its low income from environmental taxes. In a report on the Spanish economy, the EC officials pointed out that green taxes in Spain last year generated incoming funds equivalent to 1.9 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared to

DIRTY DIESEL: A digital sign warns of dangerous air pollution and (inset) summer smog clouds the air in Madrid. the European Union (EU) average of 2.4 per cent. The document points out “the low level of taxes on unleaded gasoline and diesel,” in particular “the case of diesel, on which Spain applies the minimum excise duty, despite the fact that diesel has a higher carbon and energy content

than unleaded petrol.” It continues: “Taxes on transport only generate half the income in Spain than in the rest of the EU (0.2 per cent compared to 0.5 per cent of GDP).” The EC has issued a number of scathing reports on the situation in Spain since 2012, with

the International Monetary Fund and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development following suit. But while most developed countries have raised tax or applied restrictions on diesel, Spain has done nothing notable to date, according to the report.

The Spanish government is in danger of being hauled before the EU Court of Justice for consistently breaching recommended limits of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Madrid and Barcelona since 2010. NO2 is a by-product emitted by both petrol and diesel motor engines that can trigger breathing and other respiratory problems in otherwise healthy people. In December 2016 Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy pledged to raise an additional €500 million annually through green taxes, but the scheme was shelved shortly afterwards. The government’s latest batch of proposed reforms aims to transfer responsibility to the regional governments, while suggesting that road taxes on the most polluting vehicles could also be raised if local councils become involved.

EWN

New minister choice sparks fear and fury ROMAN ESCOLANO is Spain’s new Economy Minister. The 53-year-old from Zaragoza replaces Luis de Guindos, 58, who recently left to become Vice-President of the European Central Bank. Escolano has resigned from his position as Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), to accept the role. The first major appointment of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s second term in office, the move was condemned by opposition parties and unions. Albert Rivera, leader of the Cuidadanos party said: “The balance is not positive for Spain, because in the end what we gain with de Guindos leaving we lose with Escolano’s march back to Spain.” Secretary General of the CC OO union, Unai Sordo, added that he believes Escolano will continue de Guindos’ approach, “increasing social inequality.”

Losing mental capacity whilst living abroad by Stone King Charlotte Macdonald Contact me at international@stoneking.co.uk

MANY UK expatriates living in Spain own properties in the UK and have pensions and investments in the UK. They rely on their UK assets to maintain their lifestyles (and those of their families) in Spain. If they can no longer manage their affairs in the UK due to a loss of mental capacity, it can cause many difficulties.

“

You can choose a person or people, who you trust, to act for you when you are no longer able.

The best way to avoid the legal and practical difficulties that can occur with the loss of mental capacity is to plan for it in advance by drawing up a document called a ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’ (‘LPA’).

An LPA must be made while you have full mental capacity.

What is an LPA? An LPA is a legal document that enables you to appoint one or more attor-

neys to act for you when you are no longer able to act for yourself. Your attorney can be a professional,

such as a solicitor or a family member or friend. There are two types of LPA: ‘Health and Welfare’ or ‘Property and Financial Affairs’ An LPA must be made while you have full mental capacity. It is therefore important to make one while you are in good health. Why should you get an LPA? You can choose a person or people, who you trust, to act for you when you are no longer able. If you lose your mental capacity and do not have an LPA, then your family (or the authorities) will have no choice but to make an application to the Court of Protection to appoint a ‘deputy’ to look after your affairs, which can be time consuming and costly. Will my LPA be recognised in Spain? Unfortunately there is no international type of LPA which is guaranteed to work in both the UK and Spain. The advice we give to our clients at Stone King, is that if you have assets in both Spain and the UK, your only safe option is to appoint attorneys in both jurisdictions.

If you would like to discuss LPAs contact Charlotte Macdonald or Dan Harris at Stone King LLP by email international@stoneking.co.uk or by telephone on +44 (0)1225 337599.

FEATURE

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

Photo credit Saudi Embassy UK

Money keeps the world going round LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT IRRESPECTIVE of those who would label me a racist. Or the luvvy ostrich brigade, who seem to be in permanent denial, after my recent trips to the UK I can, without fear of contradiction, assure you that the country, particularly the large cities, are positively awash with immigrants. London in particular has an enormous immigrant population. The majority work in the thousands of retail outlets, including shops, petrol stations, restaurants and most taxi companies. They are also firmly entrenched in many infrastructure operations, from councils to postmen, and even gas meter readers. It’s somewhat strange to see my prophecies of some 30-odd years ago, actually come to fruition. To be quite honest I don’t even really care any more. I no longer live there, never will again, and am quite happy now residing in a country that seems to have escaped (so far) the overwhelming influx of these cultures from other lands. Well good luck I say. Perhaps these new 21st century UK residents will make a better job of it. Shouldn’t be too difficult. What did strike me however was the age of

MEET AND GREET: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia with Theresa May last week. the new populace. The majority of immigrants are young Asian men. Consequently a large number of those who now reside in the UK fall into the 30 to 45 age groups. Which means they will all become old around the same time! Wow that’ll be fun! And what happens when the untold millions

of illegals reach their three score and 10? Who on earth will look after them all? Ah well, good luck. One thing is fer sure, it won’t be bothering me. It’s not love. It’s not sex and it’s certainly not charity that makes the world go around. The thing that keeps this old planet spinning happily

through the universe is money, pure and simple. Always has been, always will be. That’s why ultimately, apart from a few diplomatic noises, the usual ‘ongoing investigation’ and a bit of political window dressing, even this latest poisoning atrocity will be kicked around ‘til it finally disappears up its own proverbial. Russia has billions invested in the UK. Imports and exports amount to billions more. You don’t think that in the long run any government is going to risk all that going up the Swannee do you? For the same reason Saudi Arabian hierarchy will always be wined, dined and fawned over by British royalty and politicians. If the Saudis withdrew all their money and dropped out of present and future trade deals, the UK economy would probably collapse altogether. A few thousand deaths and atrocities committed in some far off (extremely poor!) Arab country, will definitely not be allowed to interfere with any of that. And you can happily take that to any bank you like. Many congrats to the EWN for picking up yet another prestigious (AEEPP) award in Madrid last week. Congrats all. Proud to be a part of it. Onward and upward. columnists@euroweeklynews.com

Keep the Faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

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499,500 euros thanks to the large glass area. The kitchen is incredibly modern and has a breakfast bar, as well as abundant storage space top and bottom and a variety of fitted appliances. Heading down a hallway leads to the remainder of the property, consisting in total of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. There are two, spacious double bedrooms with fitted storage, plus a smaller, single bedroom. Both bathrooms have been extensively modernised and fitted with walkin showers. A truly spectacular property that can’t be missed! For more details about this property visit https://www.spanishprop ertychoice.com/ and to find out about Spanish Property Choice, the family-run estate agents who have regularly appeared on Channel 4’s Sun, Sea and Selling Houses.

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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SPECIALNEW

SEMANA SANTA SPECIAL: What to expect from the upcoming

Semana Santa is coming to town With Easter almost upon us for another year, David Noon recounts the weird, wacky and wonderful traditions that make the Semana Santa period so spectacular in Spain TOOD with the Catedral de Santa María de la Sede to my left and the entrance to the Alcázar of Sevilla on my right, my first taste of Semana Santa is one I will never forget. I watched on in awe as spectators lined the streets three or four people deep, scrambling in order to see the cofradias (brotherhoods) clad in all manner of coloured, hooded gowns. Some were carrying candles, others silver staffs, while many more were tucked away, huddled bare-footed beneath the floats that carry religious effigies on board. It was at the sight of the costaleros making their way with the image of the Virgin Mary atop that sent the crowds into raptures. Coupled with the bright colours of the brotherhoods as well as the long, loud blasts on the horns, the beating of the drums and the smell of incense, it is fair to say that my first experience of Spain’s Easter holiday was a sensory awakening like no other. If truth be told, it was one of the more surreal moments of my life and I wasn’t entirely ready for it. And I wasn’t the only one to be overwhelmed by the situation. Next to me, a group of older ladies dressed head-to-toe in black lace wailed in the streets as tears streamed down their faces. It was a kind of emotion that I had never seen before. As Daniel Gil, a

5 tonnes, the average weight of the Pasos (floats)

25-year-old teacher English teacher from Sevilla, tells me ‘Semana Santa in Sevilla is like nowhere on earth.’ “In Sevilla, the emotion during Semana Santa is like nowhere else,” he says. “My father used to carry the floats and now I take my turn. It is a duty and an honour to be a part of the celebrations.

“In all of Spain, Semana Santa is an important week, but in Sevilla hundreds if not thousands of people come out onto the street every day until late at night to be together and to take part.” He adds: “If you are a kid growing up in Sevilla, you always want to be a part of the Semana Santa processions when you are older.” While Semana Santa is celebrated in

58 religious brotherhoods in Sevilla

South America and Easter is a staple of most Western calendars, nowhere on earth quite marks the resurrection of Christ with as much vigour and enthusiasm as Spain. A week of celebrations, traditions and most importantly processions is enjoyed by all as traffic grinds to a halt to allow the ceremonies to take place. In Sevilla, 50,000 robe-wearers take part in the most iconic procession on the planet which sees thousands descend on the country from across the globe every year.

Skeletons, pub crawls and other (lesser-known) traditions

THE National Sculpture Museum donates over 100 images for use during the processions in Valladolid, making it one of Spain’s most artistic parades. • One of Spain’s most unusual (and most politically incorrect) Easter celebrations is held in the town of El Bierzo in León. While knocking back glasses of special wine-lemonade, the locals replace the usual ‘saludos’ with ‘salir a matar Judíos’ (let’s go kill the Jews). The tradition stems from a 14th century dispute between a nobleman named Suero de Quiñones and a Jewish lender, which resulted in a grizzly end for the Jewish lender after he mocked the death of Jesus. • If the sight of hundreds of hooded men wasn’t frightening enough, the Catalan town of Verges in Girona has stepped up the fear-factor a notch. On Maundy Thursday five of its residents, including three children, dress up in skeleton costumes, carry Death’s sickle and dance around the streets to the sound of drums. STRANGE TRADITIONS: Skeletons in Girona. • If you thought get out of jail free cards were reserved for Monopoly, K i n g then think again. Each year, the government choosCharles III in 1759, after a riot broke out in a Malaes a handful of Catholic inmates to be freed from ga prison when inmates found out Easter procestheir prison term. The tradition was brought in by

In total 58 different brotherhoods all take their turn to parade through the street, with some cofradias containing as

sions would be cancelled due to a plague outbreak. They forced their way out, carried Jesus’s image through the streets and then returned to their cells. • In León thousands of thirsty Easter revellers recreate the pub crawl that led to one of the city’s well-known character’s death. In 1929, Genaro Blanco was relieving his bowls against a wall after a day on the cervezas when he was struck by a rubbish truck. Year after year, more followers have joined the bar-hopping procession, the record being 15,000 in 2005. • Much of Semana Santa’s traditions relate to the idea of Christian penance. That is no more prevalent than in the town of Cuenca where participants in the ‘Road to Calvary’ procession mock Jesus on his way to the cross. For 12 hours, members of the public jostle the nazarenos, or penitents, and prevent them from carrying Jesus’s image through the streets. • Although not as gruesome as the ones seen in parts of South America, the Via Crucis in Valverde de las Veras is not for the faint hearted. Participants, known as empalaos, have their bodies strapped to a wooden cross and then walk barefoot through the streets.

WS FEATURE

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

SPECTACLE: Thousands of people flock to streets in Malaga.

g Holy Week COFRADIOS: Nazarenos parade through the street.

many as 3,000 nazarenos (the hooded figures). The hooded nazarenos, are dressed in colourcoded medieval robes to match their cofradia. And their faces are covered to repent en masse and in anonymity. Yet spare a thought for the men crammed beneath the pasos (floats). Weighing up to five tonnes, the pasos can require up to 100 men to carry. As the procession moves forward, there is few more moving sights than the shuffling of bare feet beneath the floats as each man grips the shoulder of the next man in front of him. In the breaks in the procession, you can see the sweat pouring off those carrying the floats, especially during the heat of the day time celebrations. This year, things get underway on March 25 and run through until March 31. While I have never quite experi-

40-50 men are usually needed to carry each float, however the number can be as many as 100

What’s behind the hoods? IT must have been said a thousand times, but the nazarenos worn by the brotherhoods strike an uncanny similarity to the outfits donned by white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan. Of course, there is no political similarity but from a purely visual perspective the site of nazarenos does take some getting used to. While some brotherhoods do don white hoods, they come in all sorts of colours - with purple seemingly the most favoured. But where does the outfit come from? Well, the use of this hat goes back to the time of the Spanish Inquisition. In enacting punishments the members of the Inquisition placed a cap on the head of the condemned.

FAMOUS FACES: Antonio Banderas in Malaga.

50,000 people take part in Sevilla’s processions

enced anything like my maiden (and only) Semana Santa in Sevilla, each procession I have witnessed in the years, cities and towns since has in one way or another been special. For while the rituals can all be traced back to the 16th century and each celebration includes hooded-figures, processions, horns (sometimes at ungodly hours) and effigies of religious figures, every town or city has its own unique take on the Holy Week.

Andalucia is largely considered to play host to some of the most emblematic (and somber) celebrations. Along with Sevilla, Malaga and Granada are also famous for their Easter celebrations. Malagueno-cum-Hollywoodmegastar Antonio Banderas usually makes an appearance at his hometown’s processions and has even joined the ranks in carrying floats in the past. Even in the smaller Costa del Sol town of Estepona, the procession takes an emotional twist as it stops on Calle

Potted dictionary La saeta - Gypsy song Nazarenos - hooded members of the brotherhood Capirote - Pointed hat Costaleros - Men who carry the Pasos Pasos - Floats Cofradias - Brotherhoods/ religious association Mantilla - Lace outfit worn by women Tronos - Golden thrown carrying the Virgin Mary Torrijas - A traditional Semana Santa sweet snack of bread soaked in milk and egg before being fried and served with sugar or honey, and are available all over the country during Holy Week.

NAZARENOS: Hooded figures.

Terraza to allow for (a rather uncomfortable) five minutes of gypsy singing which takes place from a balcony overlooking the effigy of the Virgin Mary. Meanwhile in Madrid around 20 processions take place, in the build up to Easter Sunday. The main event, the Tamborada del Domingo de Resurección, takes place on Easter Sunday at mid-day in the Plaza Mayor. Whichever Brotherhood has been chosen for the year assembles dozens of drummers who beat out a constant

1179 AD is the oldest recorded Semana Santa procession rhythm which echoes around the capital. This represents the earth tremors that were supposed to have occurred when Christ died on the cross. Arguably the most authentic - and sombre - celebrations take place in the region of Castilla La Mancha. While Zamora, close to the Portuguese border lays claim to the oldest Semana Santa celebrations in Spain, dating back to 1179. The city’s population increasing five times during Holy Week, as up to 300,000 people flock to watch the ancient traditions. Salamanca is also steeped in a rich Easter history, with festivities recorded as far back as 1240. Meanwhile, Valladolid’s processions see some of the oldest pasos carried through the streets, with some religious statues dating back to the 16th century. No matter where you are in Spain this Easter, and regardless of your religious inclination, do not complain about the horns blaring throughout the night, or the drums banging during your weekend lie-in. Instead embrace Spain’s take on the Holy Week and let your senses be overcome with the spectacle that is Semana Santa.

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

If help is just a tantrum away When a call centre tells you how important your call is but acts as though it isn’t, there are other options, suggests Terence Kennedy

TECH FOR THE TIMID SUCH a nice man phoned from ‘Windows’ in India the other day, offering to fix a problem my computer didn’t have. Like growing numbers of scamresisters with a nasty streak, I strung him along happily for nearly half an hour before he finally slammed down the receiver with, I presume, a cheery wave of the fist. There are of course real support people out there doing sterling work for those who need help when tech goes wrong or ain’t quite right. Not that the firms that have taken our money for a product with the offer of support always make it easy to get it. An hour on hold while being Vivaldi’d into a coma by customer service is enough to unhinge the sanest of us. So what to do when your shiny new toy refuses to cooperate, your

SUPPORT: Press one if you’re rational. software turns hard or the gadget supposed to change your life won’t even let you change its batteries? Yes you could phone a friend, as the quiz show has it, or even an (expensive) independent technician. Or indeed customer support. But there’s another way. These days there’s pretty much an online forum for everything, peopled by kindred souls ready to give their

time and expertise freely to those using your very same products or services. Buy technology and if it goes wrong (or even if it doesn’t), why not sign up for the user forum that’s sure to exist for it? Simply Google the name of your product and add the word ‘forum’ after it, and you’ll be gob-stoppered at what pops up. The other day I struggled to

mount a memory chip in my computer. Within minutes YouTube had served me up a dozen useful videos, job done. Trust me, whatever has happened to you with your product has happened to dozens, even hundreds of others, so why would you tear your hair out trying to reinvent that wheel? And at least you will never suffer the indignity inflicted so famously on one hapless customer, unable to get her new computer up and running despite nearly an hour online with the call centre assistant. Finally he asked her if she still had the box the computer came in. She did. “Here’s what you do,” he instructed. “You pack it all back in the box, take it back to the store and tell them they should refund your money, because you are simply too stupid to own a computer.” He was of course fired.

FEATURE

Forum fitting TYPE ‘Windows 10 forum’ into a search box and good luck with the 22 million results. Forums linked to product manufacturers are often a safe start. IBM, Dell, Firefox, Adobe and thousands of others all endorse forums linked to their products. Their own support staff may even visit these sites and sometimes help out. Their help is always free. As with my friend from ‘Windows India’, if money is mentioned a rodent should be smelled. Once you get a taste for being part of a dedicated online community, who knows what other heights you may reach? There are forums for geeks, forums for fans, forums for feminists, even forums for those who like joining forums. I did however draw the line at signing up for one I stumbled across last week: www.icechewing.com.

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

Clipping the wings, thrills and spills of no frills airlines 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

THE announcement that British Airways seats are to shrink in order to squeeze more passengers into economy rows on some aircraft is just the latest in a series of changes at the beleaguered airline, struggling to compete with budget rivals. In January 2017, BA stopped free food on short haul flights. The following March it announced it was reducing legroom from 30 inches to 29 inches on some aircraft. However, it was forced to reintroduce a second hot meal and free snacks on long haul flights after customer uproar

when they were removed. Alex Cruz, brought in from budget airline Vueling to cut costs, admitted ‘mistakes had been made’. In 2015, BA was voted number 20 on the Skytrax customer survey. By 2016, it had fallen to 25 and in 2017 fell to 40, worse than Garuda and Aeroflot. I mean, how much further does the former ‘world’s favourite airline’ have to fall? Three years ago easyJet celebrated 20 years as arguably everyo n e ’ s favourite no frills airline, with Norwegian hot on its heels. But it’s Ryanair - without CEO Michael O’Leary fronting it - that’s the more surprising.

RYANAIR: On the up?

In the past I’ve avoided it, only using it if no alternative in terms of timing or destination. However, having recently returned to Spain courtesy of Ryanair (again, no alternative), I was amazed at the change. Those of you familiar with Ryanair will recall the bad old days: the no frills flights but with all the usual trimmings. The non-stop hard

sell from the moment you boarded to the moment you disembarked: scratch cards, dutyfree goods, snacks, rail tickets, babies from east European orphanages. I made the last bit up but you get the message. Finally, at this time of year with Easter just ahead, air travel’s doubtless in many people’s minds. But have you also given a thought to Easter trees? Appar-

ently, retailers don’t want the seasonal decorating craze to end at Christmas. One major retailer’s already reported a 22 per cent rise in sales of Easter baubles this year, featuring chicks, rabbits, sheep, butterflies... Whatever next? ‘Summer’ trees? Nora Johnson’s psychological crime thrillers ‘The Girl in the Red Dress,’ ‘No Way Back,’ ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’

‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-john son.net) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.99; £0.99) and iBookstore. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity. columnists@euroweeklynews.com

E W N 15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de AlmerÃa

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15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

May’s road to Brexit: a road to nowhere BREMAIN IN SPAIN - a group campaigning for the rights of British citizens in Spain and the EU - points out that public reactions to Theresa May’s recent speech have been as mixed as the PM’s own messages. While some have praised May for adding clarity and detail to her Brexit ‘plan,’ others criticised her obvious continuation of delusional thinking and unrealistic expectations. Sue Wilson, Chair of Bremain in Spain, says: “While May publicly acknowledged that the UK cannot obtain everything it wants from any deal, she’s still under the delusion that the EU needs us as much as we need it. May stated that we need to face hard facts and that ‘life is going to be different.’ It was noticeable that she chose the word ‘different’ rather than ‘better,’ so she is no longer pretending that leaving the EU will be beneficial to the UK.” May listed five tests for Brexit: that it respects the referendum result; is a lasting solution; protect jobs; maintains an outward-looking, tolerant democracy and protects the unity of the UK. Wilson continued “Brexit itself, or at least May’s hard version of it, would damage every one of her own tests. May’s insistence in respecting the ‘will of the people’ as of June 23, 2016 is no respecter of democracy or the people if she only considers how they felt at that particular

snapshot in time. So many voters have reconsidered their feelings about leaving the EU, now that the true facts and ramifications are known. The ‘will of the people’ today is demonstrably different to how it was on referendum day and should not be ignored.” The most scathing attack came from Guy Verhofstadt, who said: “Theresa May needed to move beyond vague aspirations. We can only hope that serious proposals have been put in the post. While I welcome the call for a deep and special partnership, this cannot be achieved by putting a few extra cherries on the Brexit cake.” Wilson commented that “May’s red lines are turning pinker by the minute - she needs to wake up and to accept that the EU has rules in place to protect the integrity of the single market and its members, and that the UK is not a special case. “May’s latest catchphrase, ‘ambitious but practical,’ is just another meaningless sound bite. I have written to Number 10 with my own suggestion on a replacement, when they have run out of ideas. I think in relation to Brexit,’pointless and cancelled’ just about covers it,” she concluded. Bremain in Spain is a group campaigning for the UK to remain in the European Union and to protect the rights of British migrants living and working in Spain. www.bremaininspain.com

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FEATURE

LEGALLY SPEAKING Mobile phones may improve road safety WE answer some common driving questions, 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. A TEAM of researchers at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid have been working on a project suggesting that rather than leading to potentially deadly distractions, a mobile phone can help road safety by advising drivers of safer speeds. The technology behind intelligent speed adaptation systems (ISA) has been around since the 90’s, mostly aimed at warning drivers who exceed the speed limit. In theory, the technology can also be used to block the functions of the mobile and even prevent use when driving, although this part of the system has seemingly not been welcomed by many, despite the obvious safety benefits. Through this latest development of the system, the researchers in Madrid have been developing ways that the technology can identify other hazards which may need speed adjustment such as bends, the camber of the road, the elevation etc. It can even take into account the meteorological conditions, which may affect the adhesion to the road or visibility, for example, and the amount of traffic in each section. The technology can also identify the type of vehicle in which it is travelling, adjusting its reports accordingly. The system obtains the information in real time and establishes the safest speed for the next section of the road contemplating and calculating the conditions re-

MOBILE PHONES: Could be used to advise drivers how fast to drive. ported, the stopping distance and the lateral acceleration of the vehicle as objective criteria. To the user, the mobile indicates the level of deceleration necessary. For the definition of the interface, the analysis of the impact on the level of attention required to receive the information of the system is carried out. Although there are no plans to release the system any time soon, the prototype has been tested in a vehicle, with different drivers, analysing their response to warnings and their degree of satisfaction and compliance with the limits set.

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

Can they force him to sell? Can you advise on our situation? We have a holiday home i n S p a i n , o w n e d b y t h re e b ro t h e r s , with shares of A 50 per cent, B 25 per cent and C 25 per cent. Brothers A and

In principle, no, you cannot. The only legal way to force a sale of a shared property is to go to court. Even a minority owner can bring this action. The judge will usually try to mediate among the parties but if they cannot

B are resident in Spain. Brother C is resident in the UK. A and B want to s e l l , C d o e s n o t . C a n A a n d B , w i t h their 75 per cent ownership, override C?

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

agree, the judge can order the property sold at public auction and the proceeds divided among

the owners according to t h e i r s h a re s . T h i s a u c tion generally ends badly for all parties. One way to handle this might be to offer the holdout brother a larger s h a re o f t h e s a l e p r i c e than he is legally entitled to.

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

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION Letters should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com

Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.

I AM writing in the hope that you can warn people about a new con which cost my partner and I money. We were on our way back from Caleta to Torre del Mar and were walking along the sea front when we stopped to look at a property that has fallen into disrepair Suddenly there was a splash and we had both been splattered by what we thought was seagull poo. Within a few seconds a man who was very well dressed appeared on the scene with a bottle of water in his hand and offered to help us clean up. He also had some tissues and helped to clean the disgusting mess off then leaving after about five minutes before we could thank him properly. We then went to a local supermarket where we paid by credit card, but when we got back to the apartment discovered that all €70 in cash had disappeared from Colin’s pocket and clearly the whole thing had been set up by this unscrupulous person, so be warned! Marie and Colin Cooper, Torre del Mar

HAVE YOUR SAY

Photo Credit: Esmee Visser Instagram

A warning about another scam to steal from visitors European Press you got it wrong WE read newspapers in four languages and enjoy yours for local news. But folks if you’re going to print it get it right! P38 European Press, Olympics the Netherlands ... incorrect! We won 20 medals and we were fifth on the medal ranking list! Little Holland ... 17 million inhabitants. Ninety countries took part. We won eight gold, six silver and six bronze medals (where was the UK?) However keep up the good work and we will keep on ‘reading you.’ PS. Correction please next week. PPS. In future I will also read your German and Belgium reports. Karin, Javea

Dutch Winter Olympics Medal Winners. Editor’s note: Karin thank you for your comments. There is a slight misunderstanding as the European Press page just gives snapshots of what was in different papers during the

All letters by email or post should carry the writer’s address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published.

previous week. At that time, the Winter Olympics were still in progress and we simply reported that the Netherlands had just won two medals and of course the team went on to much greater things.

Readers who have missed correspondence can see all letters - which can be edited before publication - posted on: www.euroweeklynews.com.

Police find body of missing boy So very sad to read this - I had been hoping all this time that he would be found safe and well. So sorry for the parents and grandmother, rest in peace little one. Gillian Evans How can anyone be so evil as to harm an innocent child...This is heartbreaking... I was hoping for a safe return. Sweet Gabriel . Polly Anna

Comments from EWN online NOOOOO!!!!! Leave Benidorm alone. I still love it. I do miss the Garveys though. Catherine McGlone

Just so so sad. RIP baby. How anyone could hurt a baby/child is beyond me. Just heartbreaking. Wendy Dickeson

Men jailed over death of homeless Brit

Does Benidorm need a break?

This story makes me feel sick to my stomach. They actually murdered this poor helpless individual. A two/half year prison sentence is a joke. How can anyone do such an evil act? Jay Ellis

Very sad, but I think it’s come to its end now. The humour is desperate, the scripts more and more ridiculous. It’s a shame because it was really entertaining in the beginning and had a great cast. But the minute that guy started dressing as a woman I lost interest, it just wasn’t funny anymore. Jan Andersen-Page Hasn’t been the same since the Garveys left.Went downhill with the new characters!! Jade Hamilton

Not long enough jail time! Regardless of him having a drink problem, and his lifestyle, how can anyone be so cruel? Hopefully karma will catch them! Lesley Molloy Who has plastic ties big enough to do this on their person, sounds to me they were up to no good looking to humiliate someone and their victim wasn't in a fit state to fight them

off, three to one what a dam sin no one deserves this. Marie Ross Main Why did they only get such short sentences? They in fact killed this poor man, how low can you get? Gill Reynolds

TOWIE swaps Marbella for Barcelona Glad they are moving on I wish they would get rid - overrated thick people. Elaine Khodhir Thank the Lord... but Barcelona, really all the culture of the fabulous city will be wasted on these vacuous vile people. Can they just drop this rubbish? Julie Wilkinson

O’Leary threatens to ground planes The answer is obvious - do NOT book any flights with Ryanair, then he won’t have to bother cancelling flights, because there won’t be any passengers to transport, and nobody will be inconvenienced! See how long his business lasts. Phil Murphy

Changing lanes IT must be embarrassing to discover after 56 years that: ‘When you change lanes, the others have right of way.’ It does not matter if the road goes up or down or in circles, also called roundabouts because when you change lanes, the others have right of way. At least in Europe and other places where one drives on our side of the roads. It was probably easier when one had only one lane in and one out from the roundabouts as we did in the 50’s. Then we let the centripetal force rule. Guillermo Ryberg

Roundabout review GOOD DAY to you all. Like Barry J Clark, I too was a driving instructor for a time in Sydney, Australia and I refer back to Barry’s comments on the use of roundabouts here in Spain. My partner’s 19-year-old son recently enrolled in a driving school in Palma... I took a look at his highway code study book which is quite impressively detailed... except for one subject... there are NO, Nada pages describing the rules of a roundabout. Is it a wonder why there is confusion leading to near misses and accidents in this area? Chris Disney, Palma

Trust Leapy TRY as I might I can find nothing to be offended about in your article this week, but I’m betting you will get a deluge of complaints from those who can (and want to). Well done mate, someone has to say these things because it is all ‘emperor’s new clothes’ in the PC world that the UK is turning into at the moment. If someone wrote your column in the UK there would be questions in parliament and MPs calling for you to be sacked for proffering such appalling opinions. A bandwagon would be set rolling, everyone would feel obliged to jump on it, and in no time at all there would be another nail in the coffin of free speech. Angus Silvie

E W N 15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

Nick Horne The Rich Pick Freelance correspondent, London, England THERE are many astonishing hotels in the world, in an occasional series I will look at Rooms at the Top. Not necessarily the top as in height above sea level, indeed many are at sea level, but rather the spectacular offer to the guest. One such is the Corinthia London. Located south of Trafalgar Square on Whitehall Place on the fringe of Clubland and a short walk from royal parks and palaces, the processional route from Palace to St Paul’s Cathedral passes close by, as well as the vibrant theatre district. The Corinthia London is a relative newcomer to the capital first opening in 2011, then rapidly accumulating recognition and awards confirming its status as a Flagship hotel of Corinthia Hotels, a Malta domiciled international luxury hotel company. The Corinthia London offers 294 rooms including 36 suites and seven penthouses, as well as several world class restaurants and bars and a spectacular Spa to luxuriate in when not sampling all that the West End of London has to offer. The outfitting is elegant, even glorious, with furnishings of unsurpassed quality, attention to detail as well as a service culture that not only offers guests original artwork on the walls but chandeliers suspended from ceilings to achieve a level of glamour, even of grandeur. A truly luxurious aspect to the Corinthia London is the space to truly breathe that the hotel offers its guests. Not only in the public spaces

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.

WITHIN taking my first drinks in a Spanish bar I became emotionally linked with that wonderful Spanish habit of receiving tapas served with each drink. Even more, as I drank my way around the neighbourhood I became introduced to each bar and their quality of care for the visiting buyers. Of course some tapas were simple, like a small plate of crisps next to your wine but others were more elaborate and cooked with care and honour. It wasn’t long before the ingenious delectables ruled each outing and I travelled further each day to discover more wonders of Spanish cooking. In truth there is nothing better than arriving in a new town and heading for their best tapas places to wash the dryness from your mouth and a nibble at something. Once you establish your base camp you are free to learn about the new village and what makes it tick.

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FEATURE

Room at the Top at the Corinthia London

OPULENT: A River Suite Bedroom at the Corinthia Hotel.

ELEGANT: Writer’s Penthouse Double Height Lounge, Corinthia Hotel. which are generous yet with private dining rooms and meeting spaces that bring the opportunity for secluded conversations, but also the guest’s rooms. At the most accessible the Deluxe rooms offer an average of 32 to 39 square metres, rising in acreage with the Suites to an average of 46 to

86 square metres. While the Penthouses, each of which is uniquely themed; each has its own private staircase and in some cases its own lift, offer from 100 square metres rising to the Royal Penthouse at 456 square metres. Many with double height ceilings, the rooms are quite probably the

MAGNIFICENT: Victorian Belle Epoch exterior of the Corinthia Hotel London. most extravagant in terms of space in the whole of the capital. The Corinthia Hotel London offers afternoon teas in her lounges and garden courtyards but does not have iconic status in London, it soon will.

Spanish ‘tapas’ still rule, at home and abroad!

TASTY: Perfect accompaniment to a drink. Eat often enough there and you become family peeve to all the inner secrets and village happenings. Of course, none of this happens if the food isn’t good. Tapas rule for the locals and visitors alike. Unfortunately, the ageless custom of serving up tapas to the public has much fallen away with the advent of the fast food fix. Now, one usually has to travel

HOME-MADE: Tapas beat out fast food. afar to find these delicacies. On the beach of Mojacar there is only one place, Egea’s. With the advent of a new establishment in the village, Viento Norte we have doubled up. The old Spanish custom has doubled in value for the local Mojaqueros and is coming back stronger than ever with other bars promising to open for Easter. We could well prosper from a

TOP NOSH: Using all the best local ingredients.

new gastronomy renaissance for the promising influx of tourists coming this year. Something for the local establishments to do to keep pace with the surrounding clean-up of the streets and flowering of plants. Mojacar is most noticeable and deserves special recognition. We don’t need more pizza houses! Problem is, in the old days the local proverbial family bar had

grandmothers in the wings babysitting the younger children and filling their spare time preparing those unique treats that truly take so much time to make. I like the idea of making Mojacar one of the gourmet capitals of southern Spain. We would need more grandmothers (abuelos) in waiting. Nevertheless, the new travellers are much more discerning than those tourists long before.

15 - 21 March 2018

Costa de Almería

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

TO READ MORE

Foods to boost your brainpower

BRAIN GAIN: Eating salmon could keep your mind healthy. IT’S important to maintain a healthy diet to keep your body in good shape and functioning effectively but eating well is just as important for your mind. Paying attention to what you eat can really pay off, whether you need to stay on the ball for your next work meeting or working on a new project. While there aren’t any particular foods that can protect you against age-related brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, making sure you’re consuming

all the nutrients your brain needs will help to promote cognitive health. Eating whole grain foods, such as brown bread, rice and pasta, could help you to improve your concentration and focus as they release a slow supply of energy to the brain in the form of glucose. Omega-3 fats which help the brain to function effectively are found in oily fish such as salmon or mackerel. Good plant sources of these fats include walnuts, flaxseed, soya beans and pumpkin seeds.

Consuming omega-3 fats has been linked to decreasing the risk of dementia and memory loss, while also helping us to manage stress and produce the feel good chemical, serotonin, a natural mood booster. Blueberries could also help to improve short-term memory as they contain protective compounds called anthocyanins, which help to delay short term memory loss according to research from Tufts University, USA.

HEALTH BEAUTY

Wine: friend or foe? THERE has been a lot of dispute about how good drinking wine on a regular basis is for your health. Some studies have suggested wine helps to protect against heart disease, while others reveal that drinking alcohol regularly can damage the brain and cause a wide range of health issues, from liver disease to depression. Consuming small amounts of alcohol could help to protect some people from developing heart problems, according to research from the British Heart Foundation. Red wine especially contains several antioxidants, such as quercetin and resveratrol, which may play a part in helping to prevent heart disease and cancer. However, these antioxidants primarily benefit postmenopausal women and men over the age of 40, and when consumption is limited to two glasses of wine a week. Eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle will also produce the same results and there is still little evidence that wine has the same effect on the health of young people, who are less at risk of heart disease. Health experts advise you don’t drink more than 14 units a week and to make you have several alcohol free days a week to give your body rest. Photo credit; Unsplash

GREAT GRAPES: Wine contains antioxidants which could prevent heart disease.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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Ringing the seeds Dance yourself fit of change PACKED full of protein, vitamins, healthy fats and minerals, protein seeds make the perfect healthy snack. They’re cheap to buy from the supermarket but it’s also easy to just scrape them from a pumpkin and roast them in an oven yourself. The seeds are an excellent source of both magnesium and zinc, which the body needs for energy production, bone and cell formation, and to help heal wounds. Magnesium is also needed to help regulate sleep patterns so eating pumpkin seeds could help to improve sleep. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of antioxidants, which help to eliminate ‘free radicals’ in the body which damage cells, helping to prevent various illnesses. A 2011 study also showed that pumpkin

SEEDY BUSINESS: Pumpkin seeds are a great source of vitamins and minerals. seeds, together with linseed, may help to prevent complications resulting from diabetes, such as high blood sugar levels and cholesterol. They also have hypoglycaemic properties which could help people with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels on a daily basis. Research has also suggested that consuming pumpkin seed oil could improve your bladder health and help to treat urinary disorders. So the next time you’re making a pumpkin soup or stew, remember to save the seeds - they’re the best part.

ZUMBA: Combines dance with aerobics. ZUMBA has undergone an unprecedented increase in popularity in recent years, for good reason. Combining dance with aerobics, the workout is suitable for people of all ages and abilities and has a wide range of benefits. It aims to improve flexibility, posture, metabolism, endurance and strength through combining various dance moves with fundamental resistance training.

The variation of controlled movements with fast, intense aerobic exercise means you burn anything from 300 to 600 calories in an hour as it keeps your metabolism in high gear for the entire time. It also helps to improve your stamina as the classes allow your body to get used to enduring exercise, which can help to make working out easier. As Zumba is a combination of various different dance

styles, such as samba, salsa, merengue, and mambo, it works out diverse muscle groups and gets joints used to different stretches and movements. It also helps to improve coordination, which often gets worse as we get older, by keeping your body in tip top shape. Not only does it help you to keep in shape, it could also improve your mood, releasing endorphins and eliminating stress hormones.

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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FEATURE

‘He really did do well, didn’t he’

TV COUCH CRITIC

Photo credits BBC

by Adam Whalley-Lewis LET’S start this week with a nod to the tribute to Sir Bruce Forsyth on BBC 1, last Sunday. An artist pal who knows a thing about ‘the business’ (‘hola’ from España, Ian) would have been thrilled that Sir Bruce was remembered at the London Palladium. Ian has given many performances at the Palladium and like Sir Bruce, loves this special venue. It was a lovely touch to have Tess Daly host the tribute, with just the right amount of respect and celebration. Stage and screen stars came out to pay homage and quite right too, but for me Lady Forsyth stole the evening. Bruce’s wife is grace personified, you did him proud Wilnelia. Thursday nights on BBC 1 look to be more interesting with the next instalments of two comedy shows which prove good writing can keep tried and tested formats fresh and current. Firstly, Lee Mack and Sally Bretton are back for series nine of Not Going Out. Episode one saw Lee mowing his parents-inlaw’s artificial lawn. When he asks Lucy (Sally Bretton) how it would look if they just said foxes did it, her reply ‘like a John Lewis Christmas advert’was a true gem. The supporting cast are on point too, so this is one to watch.

‘LOVELY TV’: Still Game. HOMAGE TO A LEGEND: Bruce Forsyth and (inset) wife Wilnelia speaks during his tribute show.

Immediately following Not Going Out, Still Game returns to lighten the Thursday night mood even further. Regular readers might remember that I know a thing or two about all things Scottish and yes, I might even have enjoyed a dram in The Clansman, but this is lovely TV in the best comedy traditions. There are some less than politically correct references and some of the humour is too honest for some viewers, but you’ve guessed, I love it. Ford Kiernan (Jack) and Greg Hemphill (Victor) are wonderful and supported by a great cast, including Jane Drennan as Isa. If you don’t know the show (you should get to know it,

quickly) think ‘Only Fools and Horses,’ but in Glasgow and you are some of the way there. Two shows to look back on are the ‘Winter Paralympic’ opening ceremony and the ‘Crufts Final.’ Channel 4 served up both and did a much better job than the ‘didn’t that used to be us’ BBC. I continue to be blown away by the Winter Olympians and although I was surprised by how small the Paralympic teams are, I thought the opening ceremony was wonderful. Now to the ‘Crufts Final.’ Channel 4 did a good job with their coverage. They mixed the usual search for doggie perfection with exceptional stories of how our canine friends act as

support dogs and demonstrate agility and intellect some human-kind folk would be proud of. The final was, very briefly, interrupted by demonstrators who take issue with the Kennel Club’s search for perfection in each Breed, Group and ultimately in the Champion. I’m not going over the arguments here, but I will say that I get a warm glow thinking of the difference some of the dogs made to their human friend’s lives and I thank them for it. Looking forward, Toby Anstis is searching for an Ibizan bolthole via A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun, Channel 4, Saturday. He has a healthy budget and Laura Hamilton to help him. Sunday sees Leicester City take on Chelsea in the last of the FA Cup games this weekend. Gary Lineker is hosting the BBC 1 coverage. I’m not saying where my vote goes on this one... Happy viewing.

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A guide to comfortable living SLEEPCENTRE and HOMECENTRE on Calle Malaga, Albox are preparing for spring with lots of summer styles of bedding in all sizes from single to superking and a wide range of colours arriving weekly. Also new in are summer styles of cushions, soft furnishings and home accessories in florals, nautical, tropical, Bohemian, traditional styles and a new towel range in vibrant colours to complement the existing pastel range. The introduction of rugs to Homecentre in response to customer demand last year has proved extremely popular and the installation this year of a bespoke rug stand allows them to display a wider range for customers to view and feel. The rugs come in a wide range of styles from traditional, oriental, modern, and in all sizes from bedside rugs to runners, circular to large room size. New in is the spring range of inside/ outside rugs, ideal for enclosures, patios, conservatories etc so why not pop in for a look. March has seen Sleepcentre appeal to a wider audience with their appearance on Channel 4’s New Life in the Sun programme as part of the feature

Some of the great items on offer. on Johnathan and Paul and their amazing business The Dandy Lion’s Apothecary. The full range of handmade, natural soaps, candles, shampoo bars, hand cream, lip balm, face masks, facial serums and male grooming products are available in Sleepcentre. Most popular at the moment are the English Rose garden soap and candles, the Bug Buster candle to keep away troublesome insects, the Beeswax furniture polish and the anti-wrinkle reju-

venating facial serum. Sleepcentre has a new ranges of beds and furniture on display, including solid wood, fabric, faux leather, gloss finish, glass and chrome and many more. Something for every budget, size and vision including some fantastic deals for discontinued styles.

New in is a range of summer/winter mattresses with gel, wool or cotton, from budget to premium, to ensure a comfortable temperature controlled night’s sleep. Sleepcentre and Homecentre now have a warehouse facility which enables them to keep huge stocks for immediate delivery and also to store customer orders. Their professional

and experienced delivery team pride themselves on their timely delivery, quality assembly, and customer service. Don’t forget Sleepcentre and Homecentre are open six days a week with quality products on show for you to try and feel, and a friendly and personal shopping experience is guaranteed. Or look online on their website www.sleepcentrespain.com. All major credit and debit cards are accepted.

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15 - 21 March 2018

Costa de Almería

Update on food, drink, entertainments, what’s on and weekly happenings

Vespas buzz into Vera

The pre s ide nts of the Sc oote r C lub of A lme ria a nd the Ve s pa C lub of Aguilas presented the mayor, Fe lix Lope z , w ith a plaque and t-shirt of their re s pe c tive a s s oc ia tions , whilst they were given in response a traditional fivesided vase, the symbol of the municipality of Vera.

Added cheers to Ronda SPAIN is an increasing popular choice among wine tourism travellers. With the nation boasting the by Lorenzo world’s largest land Barbareschi area dedicated to vineyard cultivation, the Serranía de Ronda is among the latest additions to the official wine tourism routes throughout Spain with wines from the area being increasing locally and internationally valued. The region’s historical ties to wine dates back to Roman times when wine was produced in the nearby city of Acinipo (Phoenician for ‘Land of wine,’) and exported back to Rome. Ronda’s proximity to the Mediterranean, its unique micro-climate and geological diversity support cultivation of a diverse range of grape varieties including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tempranillo and Garnacha and gives wines very distinct aromas and flavours. Locally produced wines are bottled under the DOs, or Designations of Origin, of Málaga and Sierras de Málaga. A visit to the wineries in the surrounding countryside can be especially interesting in

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tre during the second half of the 20th century. As an added bonus to both Spanish children and to a number of expatriates, the workshops will be conducted in English. Suitable for youngsters aged between three and 12, tickets for each event which starts at 10am on Tuesday March 20 and Wednesday March 21 cost just €4 and accompanying teachers will be admitted free of charge. To find out more visit the Apollo Theatre website on www.almeriacultura.com.

Flamenco meets Jazz in Almeria

VINTAGE: Vespas and their owners in the Plaza Mayor. light of visitors. The event was organised a s a trib u te to G loria F u erte s , a g rea t lo v e r of Vespas (so named because it sounded like a wasp) and members of the Vera Club of the Third Age reminisced about their youth and experie n ce w ith s c o o te rs and motor bikes.

Learning rock music THERE is a great opportunity for parents and teachers to help their children to learn all about rock music. The group En Espera and El Gran Payaso Paco will be running workshops at the Apollo Theatre in Almeria City where they will take youngsters on a musical journey to the United Kingdom. Using such iconic groups as The Beatles and the Rolling Stones they will help the children obtain a firsthand understanding of the characters and music that made Britain such an important cultural and musical cen-

AS a prelude to the Poetry Week which runs until next Sunday, the Vera Council organised a parade of vintage Vespa scooters. There were 20 different scooters all in fantastic condition driving around the town and ending up in the Plaza Mayor where the machines were left on display to the de-

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BACCHUS CELLAR

RONDA: Wine tourism on the up. September as the harvest gets underway. Among wineries to visit include: Bodegas Chinchilla: In the Ronda La Vieja area, close to Acinipo, a boutique winery with a façade displaying the name given to its wine. Bodegas Descalzos Viejos: Formerly a convent and one of the most visited bodegas due to its historic appeal. Bodegas Vetas: The smallest in Andalucia with just a couple of acres of land and with very low yields, Vetas crafts two treasures, the 100 per cent Petit Verdot and its very own, Vetas Selection. Bodegas F-Schatz: A small family-run winery close to the Roman city of Acinipo that produces several distinctive wines.

A VERY special singer, Sílvia Pérez Cruz will be appearing at the Padilla Municipal Auditorium in Almeria City on June 2. Educated in both flamenco and jazz, she has become extremely popular since she appeared on the Spanish music scene in 2012 with her first solo al-

bum 11 de Novembre which was nominated for album of the year in both France and Spain. Her second album Granada went gold and she has been involved in numerous duets as well as writing for film and theatre. She has received numer-

ous awards for her compositions including a Goya Award and is currently undertaking a tour which is taking her to Brazil and Japan as well as much of Spain. Tickets which will cost between €24 and €30 will go on sale on the Auditorium website shortly.

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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Going green for St Patrick’s Day by Holly Lenny

ON St Patrick’s Day, or Paddy’s Day, as the Irish like to call it, people all over the world claim his or her percentage of Irish blood. Celebrated in major cities across the globe, March 17 is the official celebration date that showcases Irish culture and traditions. The popular day commemorates the Irish patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, who according to legend, is said to have banished all the snakes out of the country and brought Christianity to Ireland. For many the day repre-

GOING GREEN: Revellers getting involved in the Paddy’s Day celebrations. sents an important reference to the Christian faith. However, for the younger generations the festivities revolve around the colourful parades, traditional Irish dancing, singing, street parties and a few pints of Guinness to ‘wet the shamrock.’ Irish business networks and soci al organi sat i ons ar ound t he count r y have

planned numerous events to promote the Irish language, food and customs. With the large Irish expatriate community across Spain, there is something for everyone to guarantee plenty of ‘craic agus ceol’! (fun and music) Each year Tour i sm I r el and t ake a pr oact i ve approach to ‘greening’ many popular and famous landmarks around the world and Spain is no exception. This St Patrick’s Day the Athletic Club Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium will be lit up i n gr een on Mar ch 16. Ot her l andm ar ks i ncl ude Madrid’s Puerta de Alcala and Cibeles fountain, buildings around Murcia, Malaga, Tortosa and Zaragoza, the Tower of Hercules in A Cor uña and t he Mar bel l a Arches. Celebrations in Almeria will take place at the Univer si t y i n Al m er i a f r om March 14 to 17 with its II Jornadas de Estudios Irlandeses (Irish Studies Departm ent ) . The Cal i phat e fortress of the Alcazaba will be l i t up i n gr een, al ong with the Estadio de los Juegos del Mediterraneo and multiple fountains around the city. The Six Nations final between Ireland and England will take place at 3.45pm ( Spani sh t i m e) i n t he Twickenham Stadium, London. With a little luck of the I r i sh, I r el and wi l l be t he gr and sl am cham pi ons of the competition if they win. Let the shenanigans begin!

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de AlmerĂa

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Water flowing in WATER authorities in Andalucia have agreed to reserve up to two hectometres of the volume to be transferred from the Negratin reservoir for household use in Almanzora towns including Albox. The news follows a decision from the Technical Commission of the Transfer of Negratin to resume the transfer from the Granada Province reservoir to Almanzora. Around 11.5 billion litres of water are set to be transferred from Negratinâ€™s reserves to Almeria until May, with the transfer having being ceased last August. The water from the reservoir is set to be used mostly for irrigating crops in Almanzora.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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THE Agrarian Regional Office of Alto Almanzora, based in Albox, hosted a 15-hour course on pest and disease management in Albox last week. The 15-hour course, known as Integrated Pest Management in Almond Trees, covered diseases likely to infect the trees, as well as prevention and control methods. It also covered control strategies for pests likely to harm the trees, including mosquitos, moths and worms. Types of fungi harmful to almond trees were also discussed, according to reports. Jose Manuel Ortiz, the Junta de Andalucia’s agriculture spokesperson, said the course would have been of interest to farmers and for those involved in growing almond nuts. “The adequate control of pests and diseases is a re-

Credit: Somos Albojenses

Pest course held for almond tree farmers

CONTROL METHODS: Albox is famed for its almond growing. quirement for agricultural sustainability. The ultimate goal is to expand professional expectations and help build a strong and sizeable agricultural sector. “We want farmers to be capable of designing better strategies and assimilating

new techniques and innovations,” Ortiz said. The course was organised by the Territorial Delegation of Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development and the Institute of Agricultural and Fishing Research and Training of Andalucia.

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Students’ green project Training RECYCLING containers made by school pupils for a competition organised by Almanzora awareness campaigners have been housed in a building in Albox. The contest was organised by the Almanzora-Levante-Velez Consortium which owns the Albox building where the containers are being kept. It saw students from 18 schools take part with workshops held on the day the winners were awarded their prizes. Pupils made two containers, one yellow and another blue and made of cardboard, which were produced from waste material.

pays ARBOLEAS, along with the village of Seron, has received funding from the Junta de Andalucia to pay for employment workshops that will provide educational and employment opportunities. Arboleas Council has received more than €182,000 to fund the workshop, which will see 15 unemployed people under the age of 25 be trained and work for a year in fields relating to gardening and construction, obtaining a level 2 training certificate afterwards. The workshops aim to help these young people find work by allowing them to attain the professional and practical training needed to improve their employability, while at the same time providing services to the local community.

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THE sparse but dramatic landscape of the Gorafe Desert in Granada, Spain, now features a glass pavilion for those who want to be as close to nature as possible. Called La Casa del Desierto, the project aims to demonstrate the beauty of the country throughout all seasons, allowing guests to lie back, relax and fall asleep under the stars. Standing on a wooden structure, the house is fully glazed with high performance, energy-efficient glass designed to withstand the challenging desert conditions. It includes a bedroom, bathroom, living room covering 20 square metres, and sits on a wide open space

overlooking the landscape. Located in the northern part of Guadix, in the province of Granada, Andalucia, the desert of Coloraos de Gorafe owes its name to the shades of its red sandstone and to the diversity of rock formations in the area. While it is considered to be a particularly uncompromising natural environment, the specialised glass keeps the house warm in the winter, while its solar protection properties ensures the building doesn’t overheat in spring and summer. La Casa del Desierto is a beacon of state of the art design, boasting water filtration and energy generation systems.

Credit: guardiansun.es

Star struck by the desert’s glass house DESERT DWELLING: The house is homage to the multi-purpose nature of glass.

GARDENS DICK HANDSCOMBE IF you are concerned about the quality of fruit available due to the various treatments that they are given to grow, store and transport to just look good for selling, but which often taste way short of how fresh fruit off the tree tastes, then you might consider growing your own. Normally we think that fruit trees will grow too big for the space we may have available, but fruit trees actually produce bigger and better fruit on trees that are well pruned to keep them small. Knowing that you can have fruit on trees that you can keep to less than two metres tall and around a metre wide can allow you to find a space even in a container on a balcony or terrace. The secret to robust, large fruit is in the pruning and thinning. I recently visited a local orchardist who specialises in growing peach trees that he takes directly to sell in the markets. He showed me how over 20 years he had refined the best way to have the best quality fruit was to prune the trees hard, to allow plenty of open space between branches in winter, and to remove over half the fruits forming in spring to have space between the immature developing fruit. This gives less quantity but

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How to have your own premium fruit by pruning and thinning Photo Credit:Armas Vladimir Shutterstock

HOMES

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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GROW YOUR OWN: Peaches ripening on the tree. greater quality, something that the home gardener usually prefers. His trees were less than two metres tall so he could hand pick them without damage to the fruit or himself

and the tree was easily accessible with the wide spacing between branches to access all the fruit. In gardening circles this method is called forcing. Prun-

ing and thinning forces the plants to produce flowers and fruits that are larger and healthier. The reduced number of produce get the benefit of the

whole plant’s root system, powered by more efficient exposure of sunlight to the remaining leaves and fruits due to the thinning out, and shortening of branches.

The technique can be used in the domestic garden to have fruit trees in small spaces, with quality fruit that can be picked fresh when ripe knowing that it has not been subjected to any chemical treatments. You can choose your favourite fruit that will grow in a Mediterranean climate, if you only have space for one, or have as many types as your space and time allows. If you have existing trees that you want better fruit from you can use forcing by removing every second fruit or even two of every three, depending on the quantity over quality that you want. I remove two-thirds of my loquat tree’s fruits to promote the largest fruits, as the trees are normally too abundant in quantity and the edible part of the loquat is small if not forced to become more enlarged. Pruning to maintain a small tree requires shortening the leading branch, forming an open structure of branching from the trunk, removing branches too close to each other and shortening the side branches to the desired length.

PERMACULTURE EDUCATION SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Telephone: 666 33 33 35 info@permamed.org http://permamed.org/

15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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HOMES & GARDENS

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The truth about pool heating costs! THERE are a lot of myths when it comes to pool heating costs because many people still think of gas, electrical or high maintenance solar panel heating systems. However the only solution that is truly economical and fail-safe is the air source heat pump. It is widely used for domestic heating across Europe and requires only a small amount of electricity to extract heat from the air and transfer it to the water. A high quality heat pump ensures you can enjoy your pool 365 days of the year, getting the best out of your investment while swimming in water temperatures of 29°C for less than €2 per day. While the sun shines for free, most sunlight-based systems (such as solar mats or vacuum tubing panels) require you to leave the filter pump running continuously in order to reach proper temperatures, especially on less sunny days. This can boost your electric bill by €300 to €950 a year. Costs to operate gas and electrical heaters can range from €300 to €500 per month and even more, depending on the fuel

IF you want to carve out a space for spending quality time in your garden, for al fresco dining, reading or just to soak up the sun, some well designed decking will do just that. It’s important to think about the layout of your garden when planning your decking, and think how

CHANGE TO POOLWORX: It makes financial sense.

or electrical costs within your region. Air source heat pumps do not require direct sunlight, just the ambient Spanish air is sufficient, making this the number one solution. Poolworx delivers efficient and professional Duratech heat pumps, using high quality PVC and titanium heat exchangers. For each kilowatt consumed by the heat pump, six kilowatts

can be returned to the pool, which means five out of every six kilowatts are free! The professionals at Poolworx find that nine out of 10 visitors to their site - who are looking to install a pool heating solution - choose a heat pump simply because of the dependability, low operating cost and eco-friendly character.

Their customers confirm what the tests and research show; the total average cost amounts to €25 to €90 per month for an 8x4 pool, depending on local climate and usage conditions. Only one day is needed to complete the installation and you’re ready to enjoy your heated pool way before the actual summer swimming season starts. Read more interesting facts and

figures on their website mentioned below. Poolworx guarantees competitive prices with an aftercare service second to none. Their technical staff is trained by Duratech specialists to the same level as their factory technicians in Belgium, which makes their technical service professional and to the point. Contact Poolworx for your no obligation ‘pool specific’ price quote, by calling Spain 643 363 179 or Belgium (+32) 497 408 800 or email albert@poolworx.es. Visit their websites in English at www.poolworx.eu, Spanish at www.poolworx.es or Dutch at www.poolworx.be.

Staying on deck much space you’ll have to use to make the most of it. There’s a wide range of different decking options available to suit your taste.

You could go for wood and create imaginative patterns using different shades, or opt for an environmentally friendly option by using

plastic or wood waste blends. Decking is also good for levelling out surfaces so it’s a great idea if your garden is on a slope or slightly uneven. You could lay out the

decking across two separate levels and have steps linking them. Taking your living room outside is very fashionable right now, so adding a bit of statement furniture with

DECKING HAPPY: Bring new life to your garden.

some stylish cushions and throws will help to create your own outdoor haven. Use bold colours in complementary colours to really make an impact. If you have any old furniture you’re thinking of getting rid of, you could also give it a new lease of life by bringing it outside, as well as giving it a fresh lick of paint of course.

PETS PAGE www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 March 2018

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Does your dog get nervous away from home? WHY do some owners prefer to keep pets at home? New members sometimes call to explain about their dog’s nervous disposition. Scrut is one example; we understand about dogs like Scrut fretting when they lose sight of their owner, we hear about their howling and pining for their owner. Wanting to minimise anxiety the owner asks if we can find a caring sitter to keep them comfortable at home. Why keep pets at home in their own environment? If you are planning a holiday or for a business trip, keep your pets in their own environment where familiar surroundings can be a comfort. What they ‘know’ feels safer, it’s familiar. Why join a network like HouseSitMatch? HouseSitMatch is a managed online network, working hard to ensure that every pet is cared for by checked pet-sitters at home. All our house-sitters go through ID,

Costa de Almería

Flea prevention time David THE Dogman columnists@ewnmediagroup.com

SCRUT is a young nervous dog, who doesn’t travel well. police and background checking to ensure we are happy with their transparency. How you benefit Our membership offers a secure network. We don’t reveal your contact details, or your address. You simply post an advert when you are planning to travel, we publish the advert with your dates and photos of your pets, then house-sitters ap-

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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 house-sitter 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. To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HouseSitMatch.com call Lamia on 00 44 (0) 777 214 2742 or email admin@housesitmatch.com

FLEAS are ugly, nasty parasites that are one of the most difficult critters to get rid of. Which is why, prevention, all year long, is necessary. Fleas are about ¼-inch long, are black/brown in colour, have no wings but do have long hind legs, which they use for jumping from one host to another. Fleas require a host - your cat or dog - in order to survive, as they live off their blood. Fleas particularly like living in grass, which is where your pet will most likely be exposed to them. Outdoor prevention Because fleas burrow deep into the grass, as well as under branches, leaves and soil, one of the most effective ways to prevent fleas from hopping onto your pet is to keep your lawn well groomed. It is also important to rake the leaves as flea larvae don’t like light. Watering your lawn on a regular basis may also help keep fleas from residing there. Another line of defence is topical medications, the best of which are available through your veterinarian. Cleaning Regular house cleaning, such

as vacuuming weekly and regularly washing your pet’s bedding, will go a long way toward preventing fleas. Infestation control If your dog is uncontrollably scratching itself: to determine if the cause is in fact fleas, do a couple of things. Look under your dog’s fur for dark specs. Those black bits are flea dirt, they are actually flea faeces. Pick them off the pet and place them onto a wet paper towel. If the specs morph into something that resembles a bloodstain, then your pet has fleas.

Flea dirt is a lot easier to spot on lighter coloured pets. On darker coloured pets, comb through their fur with a flea comb, its bristles are very close together and it will pull out any flea dirt. Now what? It is impossible to know how long the fleas have been living off your pet, so it is also impossible to locate all the areas within the house where the fleas may be living. Not only do you have to treat your pet, but you also have to treat your entire house.

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15 - 21 March 2018

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In the early years of the 20th century, horses were causing so much pollution with their faeces that cars were seen as the ‘green’ alternative.

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Iconic cars from TV’s Minder to go under the hammer TWO classic cars from hit TV show Minder have been put up for sale. Minder is synonymous for 10 series between October 1979 and March 1994, featuring famous second-hand car salesman Arthur Daley and sidekick Terry McCann. And now Daley’s iconic 1981 Daimler Sovereign and McCann’s Ford Capri MK2, which featured heavily in the show, are set to be auctioned off, along with a host of other memorabilia from the hit 70’s show. Both cars were sold by H&H Classics in April 2016 for just over €94,000 (£84,000) but haven’t been given a guide price as the seller is remaining

MOTORING

ICONIC: The two cars will go up for auction along with much more Minder memorabilia. open to offers. Although both cars are more than 40 years old, the two cars have less than 135,000 miles on the clock; with the Ford Capri having just 88,780 miles and the Daimler Sovereign only 44,108.

Speaking to British media, the seller said: “Since owning this collection, I have since met with Mr Dennis Waterman, Mrs Cole and the main writer Tony Hoare’s partner Linda. “During my meeting with Linda, I was privileged to be

shown Tony’s office where he wrote many of the early Minder series and many others including the Sweeney etc. “The office was also full of Minder memorabilia personal to the couple including photographs, signed posters and more importantly Tony’s own copies of the scripts he had written. Most of this is now included in my very exclusive and unique private collection. “This is an absolute one-off opportunity should a ‘deserving punter’ wish to be the future custodian of this quite unique collection of memorabilia. “I truly believe that this collection should stay as a whole but will consider the thoughts of interested parties.”

SEAT sales soar in 2018 SEAT’S global sales continue to grow in 2018, with Spanish purchases leading the way. In February, the company successfully maintained its sharp increase in sales from the beginning of the year with 39,900 vehicle deliveries, 25.9 per cent higher than the same month in 2017. Sales figures for the year-to-date rose by 23.1 per cent to reach a total of 78,800 cars. In January and February, Spain spearheaded the company’s sales with a total of 17,100 vehicles sold, representing an 18.1 per cent increase, closely followed by Germany, with 13,700 units sold. Other positive markets included Switzerland (2,100), France (4,300), Austria (3,500), the United Kingdom (6,500) and Italy (3,700). SEAT is also growing strongly outside Europe, with Algeria remaining the brand’s fourth biggest market at the beginning of the year after selling 4,700 cars, while sales in Israel also rose by 34.9 per cent with 2,100 cars. SEAT Vice-President for Sales and Marketing, Wayne Griffiths, said: “There has been an outstanding increase in sales in the first two months of the year. “We are one the fastest growing car brands in the industry and are gaining market share in strategic markets.”

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15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería E W N

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THE Nissan Micra has long been a popular hatchback particularly appealing to older buyers, but latest versions vastly widen Micra’s attraction thanks to a cooler and much trendier design. With sharper lines, sporty visual touches and a fluent driving feel, the Micra can take on rivals such as the VW Polo, Ford Fiesta and Citroen C3 with authority. Priced from €13,797 (£12,295), the new-look Micra comes as a five-door, though clever design ‘hides’ the rear door handles, giving it a sports coupe look. More sweeping and flowing body styling further boosts the image and a classy new cabin adds more plus points. There are two petrol engines and one diesel, all giving low emissions and outstanding fuel economy. Entry levels version have adequate kit, but mid and upper range models add further equipment. The flagship Tekna model I tested in 88 hp, 1.5-litre diesel

STATS PANEL Model: Nissan Micra Tekna Engine: 1.5 litre diesel Transmission: 5-speed manual Performance: 0-100 kph 11.9 seconds, top speed 178 kph (111 mph) Economy: 28.5 kpl (80.7 mpg) Emissions: 97 g/km

ROAD TEST by Nick Fletcher form was laden with features which took its price to €21,703 (£19,340). Auto air con, headlights and wipers, cruise control, alloy wheels, DAB radio, smartphone integration, rear parking sensors and rear-view camera were all

Nissan Micra Tekna standard, along with satnav and lots of safety features including intelligent emergency braking and lane departure warning. On the road, the Micra handles sweetly with excellent ride quality and assured cornering.

The 0-100 kph time of 11.9 seconds isn’t that quick but the car is so nimble you don’t really notice. Top speed is 178 kph (111 mph) and emissions are very low at just 97 g/km. Fuel economy is also outstanding, 28.5 kpl

(80.7 mpg). Longer, lower and wider than the previous model, Micra has more head and legroom than its predecessor, and a substantial 300-litre boot, one of the largest in its class, and folding rear

seats extend this to just over 1,000 litres. There are rivals in the hatchback sector which are marginally faster and perhaps more fun to drive, but the visual cachet of the Micra, its low running costs and high level of safety features give it a distinct and more formidable presence in the hatchback market.

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15 - 21 March 2018 / Costa de Almería

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La Liga Preview

SPANISH LA LIGA 2017/18 TABLE

Credit: Twitter

Battle to avoid the drop heats up DEPORTIVO host Las Palmas in a relegation six-pointer on Saturday as the fight to avoid relegation from La Liga heats up. A win for either side would come as a welcome boost with both only managing to pick up just three points each in their last 10 games. Both sides are without a win in six and now find themselves four and five points adrift of safety, with Las Palmas in 18th position and Deportivo 19th. Elsewhere, Barcelona’s march towards the title continues against 12th placed Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. The league leaders strolled to a 2-0 win over bottom side Malaga as they enjoyed more than 75 per cent of possession to give Malaga their seventh consecutive defeat. Malaga, who have not won in over three months, are now 11 points from safety and will need a result against Celta Vigo on Saturday if they are to have any chance of survival. Real Madrid will look to close the gap on Atletico Madrid as they host Girona on Saturday, but will need to be at their best to get past

EWN

STRUGGLING: Deportivo are yet to win under Clarence Seedorf. their opposition. Girona continued their push for European football as they secured their third win in a row last time out thanks to a 2-0 win over Deportivo on Friday. They now sit just a point behind six placed Villarreal, who face a tough tie against second placed Atletico on Sunday.

Weekend’s fixtures in full Tomorrow (Friday) Levante vs Eibar Saturday Deportivo la Coruña vs Las Palmas Valencia vs Alaves Real Sociedad vs Getafe Real Betis vs Espanyol Sunday Leganes vs Sevilla Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Celta Vigo vs Malaga Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid Real Madrid vs Girona

Atletico got back to winning ways after their disappointing defeat to Barcelona with a 3-0 win over Celta Vigo thanks to goals from Vitolo, Correa and Antoine Griezmann. That result leaves Diego Simeone’s side eight points behind Barcelona at the top but only seven ahead of Real. In the weekend’s other matches, Levante host Eibar, Valencia take on Alaves, Real Sociedad play Getafe, travel to Real Betis and Leganes are against Sevilla.

Premier League preview

Credit: Twitter

Liverpool look to get back on track

TEAM

1 • Barcelona

Pts 72

2 • Atlético

3 • Real Madrid

4 • Valencia

5 • Sevilla

6 • Villarreal

7 • Girona

8 • Betis

9 • Eibar

10 • Celta

11 • Getafe

12 • Athletic

13 • Espanyol

14 • R. Sociedad

15 • Leganés

16 • Alavés

17 • Levante

18 • Las Palmas

19 • Deportivo

20 • Málaga

Pts

Champions L.

Europa L.

Relegation

PREMIER LEAGUE 2017/18 TABLE TEAM

1 • M. City

2 • M. United

3 • Tottenham H.

4 • Liverpool

5 • Chelsea

6 • Arsenal

7 • Burnley

8 • Leicester City

9 • Everton

10 • Watford

11 • Brighton

12 • Bournemouth

13 • Newcastle United

14 • Swansea City

15 • Huddersfield Town

16 • West Ham Utd.

17 • Southampton

18 • Crystal Palace

19 • Stoke City

20 • West Bromwich

FA CUP: Quarter-finals BOUNCE BACK: Liverpool will look to get back on track after a 2-1 loss at Old Trafford. JUST four games will take place in the Premier League this weekend as the FA Cup returns for the quarter-finals. Liverpool host Watford in the late kick off hoping to bounce back from their 2-1 Derby Day defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford scored a fantastic first half brace to hand Liverpool, who pulled one back through an Eric Bailly own goal, just their first defeat in their last six games. They host a Watford side that lost their first game in three following two succes-

sive 1-0 wins against West Brom and Everton as they lost 3-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates. Elsewhere, struggling Stoke City host Everton with both sides desperate to get out of their poor run of form. Stoke were easily beaten by champions-elect Manchester City 2-0 on Monday and find themselves in the middle of a relegation battle. Bournemouth, fresh off their 4-1 defeat to Tottenham host a West Brom side who have lost their last six consecutive Premier League games.

Boss Alan Pardew is expected to remain in charge for Saturday’s fixture, despite going down 4-1 to Leicester at the weekend In the weekend’s only other fixture, Huddersfield Town host Crystal Palace.

Weekend fixtures in full Bournemouth vs West Bromwich Albion Huddersfield Town vs Crystal Palace Stoke City vs Everton Liverpool vs Watford

THE FA Cup returns this weekend as the quarter-final stage kicks off with Swansea against Tottenham on Saturday. The Swans reached the quarter finals for the first time since 1964 thanks to Jordan Ayew’s and Nathan Dyer’s second half goals secured a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in a replay. Tottenham also needed a replay against League One Rochdale after a 2-2 draw in Rochdale, but former Swansea striker Fernando Llorente scored a hat-trick in the replay as Spurs breezed past their League One opposition 6-1. Spurs are also likely to have Harry Kane missing after the England striker suffered an ankle injury against Bournemouth and was seen

leaving Wembley stadium on crutches and in a protective boot. Elsewhere, 12-time winners Manchester United host Brighton as they look to retain the trophy they last won in 2016. The Red Devils are yet to concede a goal in this year’s tournament with wins over Derby, Yeovil and Huddersfield while Brighton reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986 with a 3-1 win over Coventry. On Sunday, League One side Wigan Athletic, who famously put out Manchester City in the last round, will host Southampton, who have gotten to this stage for the first time since 2005, while Leicester take on Chelsea in the weekend’s other fixture.

E W N Costa de Almería

15 - 21 March 2018

MAN UNITED boss Jose Mourinho is set to earn a whopping €1.9m for just four days work at this summer’s World Cup. The Portuguese manager will appear as a TV pundit on Russia’s RT TV. Costa de Almería’s best guide to local sport

Spain on brink of Rugby World Cup qualification SPAIN moved one step closer to World Cup qualification as they stormed past Germany 8410 in Madrid. Los Leones ran in 11 tries at a stadium full to the rafters and had King Felipe VI and the Web Ellis Cup in attendance Spain hit the ground running in the first half as full-back Methie Peluchon kicked two penalties in the first seven minutes before Pierre Barthere went over after 13 minutes following a great run by Mathieu Belie. And they didn’t have to wait much longer for the next few

tries as Ignacio Contardi took an inside ball to go over before Spain were awarded a penalty try which saw Germany’s Falk Duwe sent to the sin bin. Spain managed another try before the break thanks to centre Thibaut Alvarez and were able to withstand siege of late German pressure. Los Leones continued where they left off in the second half as straight from the restart Spain won possession and held the ball for 10 phases before Gautier Giboun crashed over. Further tries from Bonan, Thibault Visensang, Sebastien Ascarat, Brad Linklater and a Fernando Lopez double agave Los Leones their best score for over two decades. Spain now head to Belgium on Saturday knowing a win will be enough to secure a place in next Year’s World Cup pool A alongside Ireland, Scotland, Japan and a play-off winner.

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MBC celebrates 4th anniversary MOJACAR Bowls Club held their fourth Anniversary Competition on Tuesday March 6. Seventy-eight competitors entered the tournament, including players from three local clubs. Winners on the day were Janet Jackson, Ian Jackson and Jean Smallwood from Cabrera Bowls Club with Kath Fitzpatrick, Graeme Fitzpatrick and Wayne Roberts from Almeria Bowls Club finishing as runners-up. Senior Director of Servigroup Hotels, Ricardo Escudero, and dignitaries from Mojacar Town

ALL SMILES: The winners and runners-up. Hall were in attendance to officiate the successful event.

Everyone had an enjoyable day and they all appreciated the recently

completed glass clubhouse where refreshments were available.