Euro Weekly News - Axarquia 19 - 25 December 2019 Issue 1798

Your favourite weekly community paper will overcome those awkward deadlines and still publish over the Christmas and New Year! ISSUE NO. 1798

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19 - 25 December 2019

Newspaper in Spain 2017 & 2018

A XARQUÍA - C OSTA T ROPICAL YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

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CHRISTMAS MAGIC Local Police in Malaga have released a heart-warming video to wish residents a Happy Christmas. For the second year running, officers Esther and Badillo let themselves be swept away by the magic of Christmastime.

AND the main star of the show is baby Mirko, who plays the role of Baby Jesus in the r e a l - l i f e Na t i v ity Scene set up in Malaga City centre. As he lays happily in the manger, the two officers s mile d o wn u p o n h i m a s emotions run high. Mirko was recently saved by Local Police in Antequera after he almost died suffocated by his own phlegm. His parents kindly collaborated in the video and enjoyed seeing their baby play the all-important role. Local Police recorded the Christmas greeting in the surroundings of Malaga Cathedral, bringing festivity and joy to visitors and locals. The video begins by showing Esther and Badillo i n t h e i r p a t r o l c a r, w h e n their blue lights suddenly vanish. Suddenly, a myste-

HEART-WARMING: Local Police wished Malaga a Happy Christmas.

rious blue light leads the o ff i c e r s t h r o u g h t h e c i t y centre, as characters from

Bethlehem begin to appear. They finally reach a reallife Nativity Scene, com-

CREDIT: Vessel finder

TRAGEDY AT SEA A TOTAL of 47 immigrants, including one deceased, were rescued on Tuesday morning from a semi-sunken vessel located about 37 miles south of Motril. The 17 women and 29 men, were spotted by an Army plane around 3.30am who put out a rescue call which was attended by the ‘Salvamar Hamal’ Maritime Rescued this morning: Several more died during crossing. Rescue vessel along with members of the Maritime Service of the Guardia Civil. On arrival, they saw about seven or eight people in the water who were rescued, in addition to the deceased, an Asian citizen from Bangladesh who they tried to revive several times without success. According to sources, the rescue was hampered by poor sea conditions. Reports from the Guardia Civil state that, along with the deceased, of Asian origin, and survivors from other areas such as Sierra Leone, Mali and Guinea, there had been several more people who, according to the testimony of the immigrants, died during the crossing but were thrown into the sea.

p l e t e w i t h Vi rg i n M a r y, Joseph and even a mule. Watch the uplifting, fes-

tive video by Malaga Local Police online at euroweekly news.com.

BRAVE SHOP OWNER AN attempted robbery occurred this Monday at a greengrocer's shop on Calle Travesía del Río in Velez-Malaga. Two hooded individuals allegedly entered the establishment and demanded the money from the cash drawer. H o w e v e r, t h e o w n e r, a 52-year-old woman, stood up for herself and threatened them with a knife that she uses to cut the fruit, and after seeing this the would-be robbers fled. “I have been through a bad time, but now I am well,” said the woman who has asked for help from local residents to try to find the perpetrators, who, despite being hooded “looked like young boys.” A witness to the attempted crime stated that the robbers were carr ying at least one knife, although that could not be confirmed by their victim: “They did not threaten me with it,” she said.

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More shots fired

EXPOSED: Local Police feel underutilised.

Frustrated force LOCAL POLICE officers in the province of Malaga are offering to take part in the fight against organised crime. The officers admit they feel underutilised and without access to classified information despite being exposed to risks on the frontline. Every day, more than 2,500 Local Policemen put on their uniform and take to

the streets of Malaga Province. In recent years, they have witnessed the hike in violence caused by organised crime on the Costa del Sol. Just this year, gangs have claimed eight lives in murders motivated by the settling of scores. Last year, bombs were used in the first case of narcoterrorism ever registered in Malaga. Far from taking a step back, Local Police officers highlight that they deal with crime on a daily basis. They are now

Deadly crash

A FATAL accident in Malaga took the life of a cyclist and left two motorists in hospital. The accident between a bicycle and a motorbike on Antonio Machado promenade in Malaga City occurred at around 10pm on Saturday, December 14. The deceased is a 62-year-old man

whose nationality is believed to be foreign. The two occupants of the motorcycle were transferred by 061 emergency services to the Hospital Clínico in Malaga and their current state is unknown. The bikers were a 24-year-old man, who was driving, and a 23-year-old woman, both of Moldovan nationality.

asking for better coordination with other security forces such as National Police and the Guardia Civil, in order to end organised crime in a joint effort. The message has been issued from the main police unions in Malaga, stating that the body wishes to be informed when this type of crime occurs. They assured they didn’t want to intrude on investigations, simply avoid exposing officers to unnecessary danger.

NATIONAL POLICE have dismantled two points of sale frequently used by drug dealers in Malaga City. The local dealers, whose main consumers were students and youngsters, were known to offer marihuana cigarettes for €1. As a result of the operation carried out by police, five people have been arrested. According to a National Police statement, one of the arrestees is a

TENSION is growing in the Las Flores district of Malaga with the third shooting incident in a week. Last Thursday residents called police after hearing shots ring out just after 10pm. Local Police were first on the scene and they found four shotgun cartridge casings in Calle Obispo Bartolomé Espejo. They also saw two people dressed in dark clothes who fled the scene before they could be stopped. In the last week there have been two more firearms incidents in the same neighbourhood. The first of these episodes took place on Sunday. The emergency services received several calls from neighbours who reported that a mass brawl involving more than 30 people was taking place and gunfire had been heard.

The first patrols to arrive, from the Malaga Local Police, found bullet casings on the spot as well as a sickle, a knife and several sticks. Barely 24 hours later, the alarms went off again in the same area. On Monday afternoon, calls were received alerting police to a new fight that, according to sources, was related to the previous day’s fight and in which firearms had also been involved. These two armed incidents are in addition to those which occurred last week in the neighbourhood of La Corta. The National Police has an open investigation to locate and arrest those involved in two shootings that occurred the same night. In the first, a car was shot at, and in the second, a house façade. In total, there have been five shootings in Malaga City in the last week.

Drug dealers dismantled repeat offender who had just finished serving a sentence for drug trafficking. The investigation began in November, when police received confidential information stating that drugs were being sold in La Corta neighbourhood. They discovered that cocaine and hashish were being sold in the

presence of minors in two separate houses, where the dealers had specialised in a ‘joint for €1’ offer. Strong security measures were installed in the homes, including metal bars meant to hinder police and also used to distribute narcotics through them.

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Alternative culture

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Star singer

LEAPY

Artists exhibit THE Museum of Holy Week in Malaga ‘Jesús Castellanos,’ will host until Wednesday January 8 a collective exhibition with works by 20 Andalucian artists. Titled ‘Gloria’ the exhibition will show 21 artistic creations which have a Christmas feel and are viewed from a Christian and contemporary vision.

Reading day TUESDAY was International Day of Reading in Andalucia, and the town hall of Motril organised a reading with 45 students from the Reina Fabiola School. Mayor García Chamorro was in attendance and explained to the children that reading “discovers wonderful worlds” and “we should all read more.”

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Merry Christmas from the EWN family! THE most wonderful time of the year has rolled around once again! And, as a new decade awaits, we can’t help but feel excited for all the adventures that are yet to come. Although this has been a turbulent year for many, we have managed to overcome all of the hurdles together. Brexit gave us much to talk and worry about during 2019. And although the outcome isn’t yet

clear, we await the new change with a positive outlook. As a media company, we come across all of the bad news. But we also see all of the good, and it’s safe to say that it will always outweigh the negative. Your uplifting community stories of courage and success inspire us to do better. At EWN we are ending the year on a high. Along with our readers, we have helped many causes and spread the love where it was within our reach. We are proud of what we have achieved as a

Safety plan THE Provincial Police have launched the ‘Safe Commerce Plan’ to reinforce the presence of officers in commercial areas with a large influx of public in Granada, Baza and Motril during the Christmas period to prevent criminal acts.

Christmas delivery YOUR Christmas edition of Euro Weekly News will be distributed on Friday, December 27 rather than Thursday, December 26, due to the festive holiday. A very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all of our loyal and valued readers and advertisers.

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LAST weekend Velez-Malaga were hosts to the first edition of Vélez Go!, an event dedicated to manga, video games and alternative culture. More than 1,300 attendees enjoyed interactive stands featuring different fashion, cosplay, videogames, manga, anime and board games, an activity organised by the town hall and Fusion Freak.

DEPUTY MAYOR of Almayate, Belén Zapata, announced during the presentation of Christmas activities in the municipality of Velez-Malaga that on December 28 and 29, residents can enjoy performances of the traditional Living Bethlehem of Almayate. This year’s event will star the Torrena singer Marta Sango.

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New health centre MAYOR of Nerja, José Alberto Armijo, has indicated that the General Secretary of the Territorial Delegation of the Ministry of Health in Malaga has already confirmed the acceptance of the plot of about 3,700 square metres where a new centre will be built. After a meeting held last Friday, the councillor was certain of the beginning of the administrative procedures for the formation of the relevant public deed of free transfer, “which occurs more than a decade after the town hall of Nerja agreed just 10 years ago.” Armijo is now satisfied that something has come of efforts made in recent months and said: “Now it is time to materialise this procedure in the shortest possible time and focus the effort on the approval of the Functional Programme as a preliminary step to the drafting of the construction project of the future health centre of Nerja.”

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Community and plan to continue this into the New Year. Christmas is a time to enjoy with the most special people in your life, so hold your loved ones close and enjoy the festive season. Our readers and clients complete us and our big EWN family. From the bottom of our hearts, we wish you all the merriest of Christmases, may you enjoy a joyful and prosperous New Year. From all of us at Euro Weekly News, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

23 TIME OUT 25-28 HEALTH & BEAUTY 29 SOCIAL 30 PETS 33 SERVICES

Science for all THE Department of Social Welfare of Rincon de la Victoria has announced the holding of an informative day of games and scientific experiments for the whole family, which will be held on Saturday, December 21, coinciding with the National Day of Children with Cancer. The event, is part of the state programme ‘Science for all,’ promoted by the Scientific Foundation of the AECC, “With the aim of bringing science and research closer to the population and creating a scientific vocation among the youngest,” explains deputy mayor, Elena Aguilar, who expressed her commitment to “continue supporting the different initiatives proposed by the association, which exercises work fundamental for people with cancer and all their relatives.” The initiative will take place on the Avenida del Mediterráneo, next to the Tourist Office of Rincón de la Victoria, from 12pm to 2pm for free.

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NEWS CREDIT: Ayuntamiento de Motril

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CREDIT: Ayuntamiento de Motril

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FILM SCREENING FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Supporting children and adolescents with cancer.

Movie night D E P U T Y M AY O R o f Social Action, Inm a c u l a d a To r r e s , president of the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC) in Motril, María Dolores Martín, and owner and manager of Motril Cinema, José Julio Juarez, recently announced the film that will be screened on December 22 at the Motril Cinema with takings to be partially donated to the AECC and the Aladina Foundation. The choice is the family comedy ‘Los Rodríguez y el Mas Alla’ directed by Paco Arango and starring Edu Soto, Mariana Tre-

viño, and Geraldine Chaplin, the daughter of Charlie Chaplin. Torres thanked Juarez for his support of the Spanish Association against Cancer and the Aladina Foundation which provides comprehensive support to children and adolescents suffering from cancer. María Dolores Martín thanked the collaboration of the town hall and José Julio Juárez for the initiative and highlighted the work and dedication that her entity carries out with the children. Martín has asked the people of Madrid to be supportive of the association, as ‘they always are’ and invited them to go to the cinema on December 22.

A SHOCKING REALITY: The most effective weapon to save a life.

Life saving

IN recent years, people’s awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation has become such a shocking reality that many social groups have been taking part in learning techniques and training that are the most effective weapon to save a life in the event of an emergency situation. On Tuesday, December 17, the municipal sports hall of Motril became a site showing the commitment to preventive training, oriented not only towards schoolchildren and high school graduates, but to any resident

MOTRIL Town Hall’s Maintenance department confirmed that the electrical earth spike in Plaza de la Aurora is required by law. Rides and swings for children have been installed in the Plaza over Christmas and the concessionary company has been setting them up there for 11 years, the department explained. The provisional earth spike is necessary for the protec-

who wanted to learn something as basic as acting upon a cardiorespiratory arrest and, with it, giving a vital opportunity to the sufferer. Councillor for Health of Motril, Susana Peña Gómez, congratulated the entire team of organisers of the day, highlighting the human and social value of such an activity “its importance is clear because it is about learning to help and at the same time giving others the choices that can help us at a crucial moment,” said Peña.

Mystery solved tion of the public using the Plaza’s attractions, Maintenance technicians explained. Although fixing the earth spike was the responsibility of the concessionary company, the Administration was obliged to ensure that regulations were observed, and a Maintenance official has filed a report certifying that the device complied

with existing regulations. “These spikes are necessary and obligatory for the protection of the public using electrical installations,” the department stated. “No electrical risk is involved and this system ensures that should the insulation fail, any discharge from metal components will return to the ground.”

Important heritage THE cultural visit announced for this December was centred on the Church of the Incarnation. It was celebrated last Sunday, under the coordination of the municipal archeologist Elena Navas. According to Navas, the initiative was to “publicise the Church of the Incarnation of Almuñecar, whose heritage is of enormous importance, for the building in itself and for the

large number of works of art it contains inside.” She went on to say: “For many people, it has been a real surprise to discover that the Parish Church of Almuñecar presents architectural elements of a fortified building, prepared for defence and military use, something very necessary throughout the 17th century when pirate attacks were very frequent on the coast of Granada.”

CULTURAL VISIT: La Iglesia de la Encarnacion de Almuñecar.

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THE mayor of Malaga shows no signs of slowing down, as he is set to celebrate his 77th birthday and 20 years in office. On December 21, Francisco de la To r re w i l l c e l e b r a t e his birthday after almost two decades at the helm of Malaga City. It seems as though the mayor isn’t thinking of

Doctor under attack A PATIEN T has been charged with attacking a public authority figure after grabbing a doctor and throwing them to the ground in a health centre in Malaga City. The events took place around 1pm on Thursday, December 12, when the patient began shouting at reception and threw ornaments from the centre’s Christmas tree. Staff and other patients asked the alleged aggressor to stop and called the doctor for help. The doctor tried to calm the patient but instead was thrown to the floor by the attacker, who grabbed him by the feet. The physical aggression did not injure the doctor, but a patient who had been trying to mediate was hurt when the accused seized her by the wrists as he tried to throw her. When police arrived, the alleged aggressor resisted them and officers were forced to request reinforcements. A trial has been set for March 2021 and Malaga’s Medical Association has spoken out after the attack, strongly criticising this type of violence in medical centres. President of the Association, Juan José Sánchez Luque, has deemed the violent act as intolerable and insists that health professionals shouldn’t have to be subjected to daily insults, threats and physical aggressions.

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A Mayor celebration stepping down any time soon and his recent antics show that he is still in his prime. Recently, he went viral after dancing with Antonio Banderas at the

inauguration of the Christmas lights. And he has also been act i v e o n Tw i t t e r w h e r e h e replied to Mariah Carey in a tweet. After the singer

thanked Malaga for including her music in the light s h o w, t h e m a y o r i n v i t e d Mariah to spend some time in the city. However, in a turn of bad translation, he

actually sent condolences to the popstar after using the word ‘sympathy’ instead of ‘best regards.’ Like other Britons living in Malaga, she probably

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laughed the mistake off. Nonetheless, the mayor continues working with enthusiasm, a word he claims to adore. Even opposition mayors have att e s t e d t o h i s v i t a l i t y, a l though most of them are waiting for de la Torre to finally pass on the baton.

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CREDIT: Zurich Maraton Malaga

Doing their best for animals HAPPY New Year from everybody here at Costa Animal Society! It’s going to be 2020, imagine that. Another decade begins and the Costa Animal Society (CAS) will soldier on doing the best we can to help the homeless, abandoned and/or abused animals in Nerja and its near environs. Despite a sense of always feeling overwhelmed, progress on the issue of animal rights and welfare has been made in recent years in Spain. Not from the politicians of course (aside from an exemplary few) but primarily from the under-40 Spaniards who appear to have a sense of justice, conscientiousness and compassion, certainly surpassing that of previous generations. The Costa Animal Society would encourage you to visit the website of the Partido Animalista PACMA (https://pacma.es), the Spanish political party that ‘works for animal rights, environmental protection and social justice.’ Unfortunately, the website is only in Spanish, but you can always Google translate. They are at the forefront of the issue of animal rights in Spain and are growing quickly. The only way the issue of animal abuse is going to be solved is if the laws on the books are enforced and new laws enacted and that is what

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RECORD-BREAKIN G: Athlete Tsegaw smashed the women’s records.

Race to success

PORTIA: She has found a loving, permanent home.

PACMA is all about. There are happy tales to tell - Portia was adopted from the Costa Animal Society (CAS) towards the end of 2008 by a nice retired lady and lived a wonderful life in a home for over 10 years. Unfortunately, her owner passed away early last year and her family could not take Portia, so she was returned to the care of CAS and placed in kennels. She has since found a new permanent home.

But there are more rescue animals available for adoption and a loving home. If you would like to meet one of the animals under CAS’s care and are looking to adopt or are willing to foster a pet please contact Kurt and Laura at 952 521 426 or Fiona through the CAS website www.casnerja.webs.com, or Facebook page \casnerja. To find out more, visit: costaanimal society@gmail.com.

THE 2019 edition of the Malaga Marathon was a great success after more than 7,000 runners took part. The wind subsided and the sun came out for the athletes who came from all corners of the world, as runners proudly displayed their international flags. Around 4,200 people crossed the finish line and the Zurich Malaga Marathon saw Kenyan Martin Cheruiyot take home the victory with a record time of 2:10.08. In the women’s category,

Selamawit Getnet Tsegaw from Ethiopia also broke the city’s current record by three minutes with her time of 2:57.56. The Malaga Marathon keeps growing in size, becoming one of the best races in the country. However, half of all the runners are foreign, with organisers hoping to increase the number of local participants. Only 15 per cent of participants were women, another figure that the competition hopes to improve on in future editions.

Run for fun and charity ALMUÑECAR’S 10th San Silvestre Charity Run will be held on Friday, December 27. “The run, which is not competitive, has made a place for itself in the calendar and its principal object is to raise money for the local branch of Spain’s national cancer charity, the AECC,” explained David Jimenez, president of Club de Atletismo Sexitano. Fancy dress was the object of the Run, he said, with prizes for the most original costumes, not the fastest time. “First prize in the adults’ category will be a ham and dinner in Restaurante Los Geranios, with a shoulder and a bottle of oil for the runners-up and a shoulder for third place,” Jimenez said. The children’s prizes were a surprise, he added, and there would be a draw of gifts for all participants.

It costs €2 to register for the Run at Deportes Olympia and Perfumeria Jacinto in Calle Trinidad. “Participants will also be able to register in Plaza de la Constitucion up to an hour before the Run starts,” Jimenez said. This begins with the children’s category at 7pm while the adults’ 3.5-kilometre run will set out at 8pm from Plaza de la Constitucion, along the town centre’s principal streets up to Castillo San Miguel before returning to the town hall, Jimenez explained. The president of the AECC in Almuñecar, Concepcion Garcia, thanked Atletismo Sexitano and the town hall’s Sports department for their support, and announced that there would be a stall selling therapy craftwork and buñuelos (small doughnuts) to raise funds for the association.

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Photo credit: Motril town hall

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WHATSAPP LAUNCH: Luisa Maria Garcia Chamorro (second right) introduces the scheme.

Informed with WhatsApp M O T R I L To w n H a l l has introduced a municipal WhatsApp service, sending information from all departments to users’ phones. All those signing up will receive direct information regarding social, cultural and sp o r t i n g e v e n t s, e mployment offers, municipal announcements and alerts as w ell as d e a d l i n e s f o r ta x payments. “Sig n i n g u p t o th e scheme has been simplified to the maximum,” explained the head of the town hall’s

In fo rma tio n Te c h n o lo gy section, Antonio Huertas. Users need only to access the whatsapp.motril.es webs ite, reg is ter th eir p h one number and finally add the 618 723 866 number to their list of contacts, Huertas explained. He emphasised that users can only receive municipal co mmu n ica tio n s v ia t he WhatsApp number. “It cannot be used to hold specific or private conversations or to answer queries. It is a one-way channel,” he said. M o tril’s ma y o r L uis a

Maria Garcia Chamorro als o c omme nte d tha t ma ny people still wanted written information about municipal events and announced that, as it has over Christmas, the town hall will continue to dis tribute la rge numbe rs of printe d programmes. Garcia Chamorro added that Motril residents may continue to contact the town hall regarding any type of urban problem or suggestion via the C uide mos M otril (We look a fte r M otril) s e rvic e on the www.motril.es website.

High and dry MALAGA City is about to break a new record, as 2019 is on track to become the driest year in the capital in almost 80 years. To date, rainfall registered at the meteorological station at Malaga airport marks 181.2 litres per square metre, around 344 litres below average. Since official records began in 1942, the State Meteorological Agency hasn’t registered a year as dr y as the current one. Rainfall is still far below the driest year in Malaga City to date, when 267 litres fell per square metre in 1985. The forecast for December so far isn’t predicted to remedy the situation. Head of Prediction at the Meteorological Centre, José María Sánchez-Laulhé has assured that 2019 has a big possibility of officially being Malaga’s driest year. He explained that he remained hopeful but, that considering the prospects of rain-

fall for the month, it would be very difficult to exceed the current record. The meteorologist added that according to seasonal models, rain in Malaga City would be lower than usual. This year, September was the wettest month, with most of the water falling on September 14. The heavy rain saw DANA forced to activate a red level warning and around 60 litres fell per square metre at the airport. The weather caused numerous incidents in the capital and floods in neighbouring towns such as Alharín El Grande, Villanueva del Trabuco and Archidona. Another rainy month was April with some showers during Easter celebrations. October only saw five litres of rainfall per square metre and is highlighted as the ninth warmest month of the century, with temperatures 1.3 degrees Celsius above the normal values.

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Expats Guide to

Spanish Life Sponsored by Golden Leaves For more information about the sponsors go to www.goldenleavesinternational.com

Donating blood in Spain LIVING in Spain can bring with it an array of issues which may not have been encountered when living in the UK. There are lots of things to consider, and we are here to help try to make the transition and life in Spain a little easier by compiling a series of helpful facts and figures relating to a variety of topics. In Spain, Blood Components and Services are provided by 17 Regional Blood Transfusion Services. Despite their autonomous operations management, every regional service is fully incorporated into a unique and common Public National Health System, supplying a cohesive blood transfusion care to all citizens, residents, and visitors in Spain based on 100 per cent voluntary and non-remunerated blood donation. For more general information, visit www.msps.es. Anyone who has lived continuously in the UK between 1980 and 1996 (a minimum of one year) will not be able to donate blood in Spain due to the risk of transmitting mad cow disease. Similarly, there are restrictions if you have received a blood transfer in the UK. However, each region may have different rules about donation. Call the donation helpline on 935 573 500. Alternatively, visit www.donorsang.gencat.cat to find out if you are eligible. If you are eligible, you can give blood at your local hospital, or via the Spanish Red Cross (Cruz Roja) at one of their clinics, or in one of their mobile units. You can check dates and locations by visiting www.donarsangre.org. A donor card is not necessary to give blood. On the first visit you will have to provide DNI, NIE, passport or a driving licence. If you are already registered in the Blood Bank, you only need a donor card or a document with your name and surname. The process of blood donation takes just 10 minutes in which 450 ml are collected (equating to 10 per cent of the total blood circulation of an adult person). Despite huge technological advances, the only way for hospitals to obtain blood is through the generosity of the public. The blood is carefully screened for disease to make sure it is safe. After a tattoo, you must wait four months to be eligible to donate. After surgery, the exclusion period will depend on the type of intervention. After minor surgical procedures, you cannot donate blood for seven days or until you are fully recovered. After undergoing major surgery, you will not be able to donate blood for four months. The rarest blood type is AB, present in 1 per cent of Caucasians, according to research by the America Red Cross. Blood transfusions are carried out daily in Spanish hospitals with more than 6,200 patients being given them, of whom almost a quarter are fighting cancer and a similar figure receiving transfusions during or after surgery. Spain has around two million donors in total, but needs closer to four million. This information is for guidance only, and should not be taken as legal advice. If in any doubt, seek professional help.

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BREXIT BRIEF

London Resort by John Smith FOR those who were worried that Britain would change following Brexit and f e a re d t h a t t h e U S A would step into the NHS Service, there is no need to worry as the London Resort, the brainchild of P a r a m o u n t P i c t u re s with financing through Middle Eastern money is due to open in 2024. This theme park which will be built over more than 535 acres in Kent and remembers the once great history of the United Kingdom will be finished just as Boris Johnson is due to consider whether to stand for re-election. Depending on how things go over the next five years, it will be very relevant to both remainers and leavers as it will either stand as a glowing beacon to the new strong Britain or will be a place to wander through to remember the past. It will have a high street full of shops (which many towns no longer can boast) and it might even have a

THEME PARK: London as envisaged by the resort. tribute to the NHS, as it was a major achievement bringing free medical attention to an entire country. There will be a whole range of different historic areas with themed rides supplied by Paramount Pictures as well as other areas supported by the BBC and ITV hoping to take advantage of the potential licensing income that could be generated. It doesn’t just look backwards but will also have a future section which the company promises to be

Bare-bones deal IN an interview with Irish media following the latest European Union summit, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar has acknowledged that the massive win by the Conservatives puts a new complexion on Brexit. Leaders at the summit have accepted that Britain will leave in January, but most are convinced that there will be insufficient time to reach a detailed trade agreement between Britain and the EU before the transition period comes to an end in December 2020. Rather than then face a no-deal situation Mr Varadkar has suggested that it may be possible to enter into what he described as a “bare-bones agreement” in order to ensure some form of agreed position before the final details are negotiated. Having seen the fall of Unionist support in Northern Ireland following the General Election, he has warned that it is far too early to be considering forming a united Ireland.

exciting and will leave visitors “mesmerised at things that should be impossible but are not.” Just five years to wait until we can all see the Shape of Things to Come.

BREXIT EXTRA New beginning FORMER Buck’s Fizz singer Jay Aston stood for the Brexit Party in the Kensington constituency and ended up receiving 348 votes, but she might just have kept Labour out of the seat as the Tory candidate received just 150 votes more than her Labour opponent.

MEP support THE sister of Jacob Rees Mogg, Annunziata who is a Brexit Party MEP has, with two others, resigned from the party and will remain as Independents for the time being in order to support Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement.

Free trade NOW that Boris Johnson has such a large majority in Parliament it has been suggested that he will soften his demands for the final Brexit trade deal but a spokesman for Number 10 has denied this saying he wants a Canadian style free trade arrangement.

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Permanent status for town hall staff MOTRIL’S mayor Luisa Maria Garcia Chamorro presided the swearingin of 14 career civil ser vants and seven municipal employees. She was accompanied by the members of the Corporation and the ceremony was held in the town hall’s council chamber. The 14 civil servants had occupied their posts temporarily but uninterruptedly since before January 2005 and the municipal employees for at least three years prior to December 2017. All had successfully completed the selection processes defined in the Consolidation and Stabilisation of Temporary Employment regulations that were set out in 2018. Three technical architects, three architects, three middlelevel technicians, a gardening officer, a general operations offi-

Photo credit: Motril town hall

SWORN IN: Employees temporary no longer. cer, a maintenance assistant, a senior management officer and a sports management official are now officially established. So too are four sports instruc-

tors, two receptionists and a youth worker. Garcia Chamorro congratulated the 21 employees on behalf of the municipal corporation for consolidating their

INFORMATION AND ADVICE SERVICE: For those returning to the country.

NEW ADVICE SERVICE THE Immigration Department of the Intercultural Centre of Los Alamos will offer a consultation service beginning on Friday, December 20, from 9am to 12 noon. Information and advice will be offered to those who are interested in managing and updating documentation (pensions, retirement, widowhood, etc) and those who want to look for work in countries of the European Union. This information and advice service

is carried out on the third Friday of each month at the Los Alamos Intercultural Centre, located on Calle Galicia, Edificio Versailles, Bajo 1, and is aimed at all those returning to the country after emigrating. Appointment requests can be made by calling the headquarters on 958 135 333 and any further information by contacting the Department of Immigration on 958 833 013 or 958 833 197.

posts. She also applauded the “grand job” carried out by all municipal staff for putting their efforts and hard work at the service of Motril’s residents.

IMPROVEMENTS TO INFRASTRUCTURE: Impact on water supply.

EWN

9

CREDIT: Ayuntamiento de Vélez-Málaga

NEWS

POSITIVE ACTION THE town hall of Velez-Malaga has begun improvements to the municipal infrastructure and services including water pipes in the area creating a positive impact on water supply and sanitation, by replacing some stretches of damaged pipes in the municipality. Councillor for Infrastructure and Water, Juan A García, recently visited the sites where work is being carried out on Calle Nogal and up to four other areas with damaged pipes in Calle Toledo, Camino Viejo de Malaga, Hermanos Pinzon and La Avenida de Hispanidad; which will mean an improvement in the water supply for some 900 residents and a municipal investment of more than €145,000. García insisted on “the importance of carrying out these actions by different points throughout the municipality, to improve the water supply and, the quality of life of our residents.”

10 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

19 - 25 December 2019

ELAT

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AS the Christmas spirit begins to envelop us all, stockings fill up and twinkling lights gleam, Euro Weekly News visited the lovely children at Ciudad de los Niños orphanage in Malaga. The children greeted us with smiles and warm hugs as we arrived bearing gifts and a sprinkling of Christmas cheer, in what was a deeply moving moment. phanage, with a van full of presents in tow, the children couldn’t contain their happiness. In a flurry of excitement, the presents were set up as the children gathered round. And suddenly, the vibrant colours of red and green, the crisp packages and sacks full of gifts, lit up the orphanage and brought festivity into its halls. Nicki Burgess, Operations Director at Euro Weekly and Lola Espinosa, Coordinator at Ciudad de los Niños, spoke to the children who cheered and clapped when they saw the presents. Lola had to remind them that they would still have to wait till after their Christmas Eve dinner! Brother Juan Correa, who runs the centre, came forward and expressed his appreciation as he assured that the gifts would complete Christmas. EWN was deeply moved by the children’s reaction and their sincere gratitude. They were incredibly well-mannered and received the gifts with immense appreciation. As the team chatted and took photos with the children, they couldn’t help but feel deeply moved by the emotional moment. Once the excitement died down and the presentation over, the children accompanied the team to the car, beaming as they waved goodbye.

Back in October, our community came together for an amazing Halloween Party that raised over €10,000 for the children. So many businesses helped us pull off the most Spooktastic event of the year! A special thanks to the Captain and members from Santa Maria Golf for their last-minute donation! The money we generously raised together was to give children at Ciudad de los Niños some needed extra comforts as well a nice present to open on Christmas. With all the monies raised, the Euro Weekly team was hard at work to get the children’s presents ready. Like Santa’s Elves, we put together the most magical gifts that were sure to bring joy to those who need it most. Baskets full of goodies including gloves, perfume and chocolate were prepared and adorned. Clothes and shoes were put in Christmas sacks, mattresses were ordered and delivered, gift vouchers for clothes were bought and presents were wrapped in festive paper. The EWN offices were suddenly transformed into Santa’s Grotto as the team prepared to put the presents under the children’s tree. As Euro Weekly News arrived at the or-

SPOOK rs. ouche gift v h t i :W EAM THE T

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Together, as a Community, we have reached our goal. Our hard work put a smile on every child’s face at Ciudad de los Niños. And that, without a doubt, is the best Christmas Present of all!

resse

s.

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

With an eye to the future PARTICIPANTS in Almuñecar town hall’s ‘Customer Care in English’ course recently received their diplomas. The 40 hours of lessons spread over a month were aimed at the unemployed as well as hotel and catering staff wishing to widen their work horizons. Development and Employment councillor Beatriz Gonzalez Orce brought the course to an end, accompanied by teacher Julio Bolivar and Employment coordinator Mariluz Franco. Presenting the 15 students with their certificates, Gonzalez Orce congratulated them on finishing the course while encouraging them to continue training and studying. This would help them in future when applying for work or in their current jobs, the councillor told them.

19 - 25 December 2019

FUN-PACKED PROGRAMME DEPUTY MAYOR of Benajarafe and Chilches, J Hipólito Gómez, has detailed the extensive programme of Christmas 2019/2020, designed for all audiences that will culminate in both locations with the Three Kings parade on January 6. parking area will be set up Gómez, said that “from to hold a children’s party the current government where an inflatable castle team we continue enhancwill also be installed. ing the celebration of acOn December 22, the tivities in all municipal Te n e n c i a d e A l c a l d ́i a d e territories so that resiBenajarafe will again be dents and visitors can enthe stage where a chiljoy these intimate dates as d r e n ’s p a r t y i s h e l d a n d a family.” where Santa Claus will Gómez detailed the accollect the letters of the tivities of the programlittle ones. ming of both locations, T h e n e x t d a y, o n D e with the first of them in cember 23, the Benajarafe B e n a j a r a f e , o n S u n d a y, Sports Pavilion will host a December 15, with the ‘Christmas Storytelling,’ ‘Day of Migas’ in the where entry will be the courtyard of the church. contribution of a toy to be This day will be celedonated to Cáritas. brated with the perforDESIGNED FOR ALL: For a full list of the acmances of choirs and the Enjoy these intimate tivities please visit Dance Academy ‘Tacones dates as a family. www.velezmalaga.es. al Aire.’ The surrounding CREDIT: Ayuntamiento de Velez-Malaga

NEWS

EWN 11

Benajarafe and Chilches’ festivities

• Sunday, December 22 Benajarafe: Children’s fiesta at the town hall with Father Christmas collecting their letters. • Monday, December 23 Benajarafe: Christmas storytelling at municipal sports centre. Price of admission is a toy to be donated to the Caritas charity. Chilches: Father Christmas collects children’s letters at the town hall. • Friday, December 27 Chilches: Children’s fiesta at the Polideportivo sports centre with workshops, bouncy castles and face-painting. • Saturday December 28 Benajarafe: Another children’s fiesta at the town hall with workshops, bouncy castles and face-painting. • Thursday, January 2 Chilches: The Royal Postman collects children’s letters for the Three Kings at the church door. • Saturday January 4 Benajarafe: The Royal Postman collects children’s letters to the Three Kings and there will also be drinking chocolate and traditional Roscon de Reyes bun-round. • Monday, January 6 Benajarafe: Three Kings parade at 12 noon. Chilches: Three Kings parade with toys for the children.

12 EWN

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19 - 25 December 2019

NATIONAL

‘Vile’ couple jailed for 21 years A PAEDOPHILE couple who made films of themselves sexually abusing young children, which included a oneyear-old baby, have been jailed for more than 21 years. Mark Gable, 33, was arrested after police discovered a clip of him molesting an infant whilst raiding the home in Colchester, Essex amongst holiday snaps of the vile pair on the Costa del Sol, where they regularly stayed and visited Estepona. Police went on to find a number of others that had been taken by his 27-year-old girlfriend Jessica Fry. She also appeared in a video showing a sex attack on a child. The revolting pair, both from Colchester, admitted a catalogue of ‘horrific’ child sex offences committed between 2017 and 2019 at Chelmsford Crown Court, during an earlier hearing in September. Gable was jailed for 11-and-a-half years and Fry was jailed for 10 years. Gable pleaded guilty to three counts of assault by penetration of a

EVIL COUPLE: Jessica Fry and Mark Gable have been locked up for their horrific crimes.

child, one count of sexual assault of a child, four counts of taking indecent images of children and three

counts of making indecent images of children. Fry admitted one count of assault by penetration of a child, one

count of sexual assault of a child, three counts of taking indecent images of children and two of distrib-

uting indecent images of children. Detective Constable Jeanine Atkins-Calver, of Essex Police, said: “Mark Gable and Jessica Fry are dangerous and methodical paedophiles. Gable and Fry worked together to not only abuse very young children, but also documented that abuse for their own gratification. “Their crimes are horrific. To subject anyone to sexual abuse is abhorrent, but when that victim is so young it is unimaginable. They are a danger to the public and I am pleased they both now face a significant time behind bars.” Meyrem Flint, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Mark Gable and Jessica Fry worked together to exploit children for their own gratification. This was planned, predatory behaviour targeting young children and the pair were determined to conceal their sickening crimes. “We would like to pay tribute to the bravery and strength shown by the children and their families and we hope that today’s result brings a sense of peace.”

Boss flees the scene

BIRTH RATES: Record low in Spain.

Birth rate low THE 170,074 children who came into the world between January and June of this year represent the lowest figure recorded in Spain since 1941 - the first year for which data are available. A record number of deaths, the economic crisis and late motherhood have all had an effect on statistics. The country’s National Statistics Institute (INE) data on birth rate reflect that Spain is plummeting towards being an ageing country. Between January and June of this year, Spain recorded the lowest number of births since the Second World War.

In the first six months of this year only 170,000 children were born in Spain. The lowest figure since 1941, the first year since there have been records. What’s more, the number of deaths has also grown meaning that there are currently more registered deaths than births. The negative trend began in 2015, and is forecast to last into the future. Daniel Devolder of the Barcelona Autonomous University states that for fertility to rise there need to be conditions allowing couples to have a sense of security in terms of their medium-term financial outlook.

THE Guardia Civil has arrested a businessman in Jaen, south central Spain for crimes against workers’ rights after he fled when one of his employees suffered a fatal heart attack. As reported by the police, the 31year-old worker went into cardiac arrest as he was tending to an olive harvest on a farm in Pozo Alcon owned by t h e b u s i n e s s m a n . T h e 3 4 - y e a r- o l d businessman then dumped the worker, who had already been dead for several hours, in front of a local hospital and fled from the scene.

Sources close to the investigation indicate that the worker was an illegal immigrant from Moroccco and the businessman was fearful of the repercussions that would follow if it was found out that he had employed individuals without the right to work in Spain. H o w e v e r, a n o t h e r w o r k e r f r o m t h e farm came forward to explain who the dead man was which led to the Guardia Civil proceeding to arrest the businessman on Monday, December 16, for crimes against workers’ rights.

39 cows starved to death A MAN is accused of animal cruelty after star ving 39 cows he kept on his farm in Chantado in Lugo, north wester n Spain which led to their death. When residents made a complaint to police that they suspected the man had been maltreating his animals, officers from the Guardia Civil carried out an inspection of the farm in Axulfe.

Once at the scene they discovered 39 dead cows dumped on the land with obvious signs of malnutrition. In addition, dozens of other animals were in a shocking state of starvation with police reporting that the hygiene on the farm was also extremely poor. When questioned by officers as to how the cows had died, the farmer attributed the deaths to bacteria in their food and that he decided to

slaughter them. However, later tests by veterinarians on the animals showed that they had in fact died from causes related to malnutrition, where they had not been fed for prolonged periods of time. The farmer is due to appear in court today (Thursday, December 19) where prosecutors are asking that the man receives 14 months in jail and to be banned from keeping animals for three years.

NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

Carer and six others ‘swindled man’ of 95 A CARER, her partner, three family members and two tax advisors have been arrested for allegedly swindling a 95-year-old man out of €210,000. They are being investigated for possible crimes of membership of a criminal organisation, money laundering, fraud, misappropriation and ill-treatment of the victim, who lives in the town of Antequera. The investigation, dubbed Operation Rosignol, started last January when health workers alerted the Guardia Civil to a ‘strong argument’ between a 95-year-old man and his carer in a health centre. Police followed up on the report and found evidence that the elderly man was being abused by his carer and cash was systematically disappearing from his bank accounts. It all began after the death of the old man’s wife in 2017. With no children or close relatives, he hired a carer. Police say she took the opportunity, together with her partner, to set up a criminal structure to first steal then launder the

victim’s money. The investigation revealed that they both held several powers of attorney in order to be able to manage his bank accounts and properties. With this documentation they withdrew cash savings from his bank as well as accessing pensions which he received from Switzerland and Spain valued at €5,500 a month. They also plotted to have the carer marr y the victim so they could appropriate all his assets. His money was withdrawn in cash and re-entered in other bank accounts with different account holder names in order to avoid being detected, for which they used two tax advisors and several relatives. They are alleged to have bought a house and a car with the €210,000 stolen. Searches were carried out at two properties in Antequera and Torrevieja (Alicante), with numerous documents seized. Two houses, a car and eight bank accounts have been blocked.

19 - 25 December 2019

EWN 13

Tourism tax row looms MALAGA City Council is to look at the possibility of raising a ‘tourism tax’ despite the opposition of the hotel’s sector. Councillor for Tourism, María Rosa Sánchez, has announced that the matter will be discussed at the next Tourism Forum on January 15. She said that an expert from the University of Malaga will be there to give an indication of how it might work and what potential benefits and drawbacks it would have. She added that the council is always willing to consider the issue, something that has drawn controversy every time the matter has been raised in the past few years. Taking other parts of Spain as an example, such as Barcelona and the Balearics, the measure could be in the form of a surcharge on hotel rooms. This has not gone down well with local hoteliers. The president of the Association of Hotel Entrepre-

TAX OPPORTUNITY: Busy Malaga looking to raise cash.

neurs of the Costa del Sol (Aehcos) Luis Callejón has sent a le tte r to t he counci l . I n i t he a s ke d f or a m eet i ng wi t h t he council about the matter. He pointed out that “we already pay more than the rest, we

have a higher IBI than any other activity, we pay other taxes that others do not pay.” He added: “Why do hot el businessmen always have to collect, why not the bus company, why not the bars?”

FINANCE

UK investors’ stricken fund

WHEN he set it up, British in­ vestment manager Neil Wood­ ford quickly attracted £10 bil­ lion (€11.5 billion) in funds but as profits dropped, so in­ vestors left quickly. By June of this year, things were so dire that all remaining funds were frozen and Mr Woodford was removed from his post. Now, the Financial Conduct Authority has approved a re­ quest to wind up the fund and investors will be told next month how much their initial payment will be.

14

www.euroweeklynews.com • 19 - 25 December 2019

the amount that the Spanish public debt fell STAT OF in the third quarter of 2019 according to €3,595 million by figures released by the Bank of Spain WEEK

Minimum wage up?

NOW that the question of who will preside over Britain for the next five years is answered, all local eyes turn to Spain and the assumption that Pe­ dro Sánchez of PSOE and Pablo Igle­ sias of Podemos will be most likely to form a coalition government. If this is the case, then the two leaders have been in negotiation with regards to increasing the mini­ mum wage in Spain from €900 to €1,000 per month as early as next year. As should perhaps be expected, Podemos wants a quicker implemen­

By John Smith tation than the PSOE which would prefer to confirm in principle but sub­ ject to the financial ability of the economy to withstand what could be quite a considerable burden on busi­ ness. Indeed in their election mani­ festos, both parties indicated a wish to see regular increases over the next four years in order to try to bring the minimum wage to the equivalent of 60 per cent of the country’s average salary earnings and if Podemos get

their way then by 2023, it should have increased to €1,200 per month. In essence, both leaders are in favour of positive change, but differ mainly on how quickly it can be intro­ duced and the eventual amount that can be increased during the theoreti­ cal life of the parliament. Both are also in agreement that the State has an obligation to intro­ duce legislation in order to ensure that the vulnerable in society are protected more thoroughly and there may even be new laws concerning employment contracts.

Breathing space for Arcadia AFTER nearly seeing his Arcadia business go into administration earlier this year, Sir Philip Green has managed to secure a £310 million (€360 million) remort­ gage of one of the company’s main properties in Oxford Street. This is a short term loan but should giving breathing space to the various businesses in the group which have been strug­ gling due to falling sales and high rents. It will also give new Chairman Andrew Coppel a chance to un­ derstand the various Arcadia businesses which include Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins.

LEGALLY SPEAKING Can he repeat 90-day stay? Could you clarify for me how soon after the end of one 90­day tourist stay, I can recommence anoth­ er? I know that I must not exceed the total 183­day limit over the financial year without becoming tax resident. But, can I, for example, spend 80 days continuously in Spain, then go back to UK for a month, and then return again to Spain to spend another 80 days whilst managing total days over the year to be within the non­residency limit of 183 days? What flexibility is there for distributing the 183 days? G E (Costa Blanca)

Let’s keep it simple. Spanish law says YOU AND THE y o u c a n s t a y i n LAW IN SPAIN Spain as a tourist for 90 days in a calendar year. The 90 days need not be continuous. They can be three stays of 30 days each, for example. The same goes for the lim­ it of 183 days. The ‘calendar year’ provision means you could arrive in Spain in early October, stay for three months, then return to the UK over Christ­ mas, and come back to Spain in January of the next year to start a new 90­day tourist stay.

DAVID SEARL

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

BUSINESS EXTRA

Deal done THE name Mothercare will not disappear completely as a deal has been done with Boots for its products, much of which are expected to be surplus stock from its closed shops, to be put on sale in selected stores throughout the UK.

Making money INDITEX the Spanish clothing empire just can’t stop making increased profits as it has revealed that the results for the third quarter of 2019 show a further growth of 7.5 per cent over the previous year. Thanks in part to its better online presence.

Bankia future LUIS DE GUINDOS, former Spanish minister and now Vice President of the European Central Bank believes that it could be sensible to privatise Bankia in which the Spanish government still holds a significant percentage.

Lego expanding DANISH Lego brand knows that it has to innovate to keep its business continually growing and is increasingly turning to the internet in or­ der to keep customers inter­ ested.

The younger they are, the more likely they are to get their parents to purchase and, it is hoped that they will also encourage future generations to enjoy the hobby.

Some products are only available online, although in Spain they now have three shops selling just Lego prod­ uct and they plan to only produce sustainable pieces within the next 10 years.

16 EWN

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19 - 25 December 2019

LONDON - FTSE 100

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C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 16

COMPANY PRICE(P) 3I Group 1.081,00 Admiral Group 2.225,00 Anglo American 2.156,00 Antofagasta 937,08 Ashtead Group 2.348,00 Associated British Foods 2.614,00 AstraZeneca 7.302,00 Auto Trader Group Plc 582,40 Aviva 420,20 BAE Systems 577,20 Barclays 187,35 Barratt Developments 764,80 Berkeley 5.228,00 BHP Group 1.771,00 BP 466,60 British American Tobacco 3.130,50 British Land Company 631,60 BT Group 204,23 Bunzl 2.085,00 Burberry Group 2.177,80 Carnival 3.333,00 Centrica 88,78 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.501,0 Compass 1.852,00 CRH 2.994,00 Croda Intl 4.944,00 DCC 6.512,0 Diageo 3.079,49 Direct Line Insurance 316,80 DS Smith 389,60 EasyJet 1.463,00 Experian 2.485,30 Ferguson 6.708,00 Flutter Entertainment 8.928,00 Fresnillo 577,60 GlaxoSmithKline 1.745,6 Glencore 230,51 Halma 2.096,00 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.990,50 Hikma Pharma 1.922,50 Hiscox 1.378,00 HSBC 581,50 IAG 631,34 Imperial Brands 1.782,69 Informa 811,00 InterContinental 4.978,22 Intertek 5.580,00 ITV 152,54 J Sainsbury 226,26

CHANGE(P) +9,50 +12,00 +22,00 -1,32 +35,00 +15,00 +85,00 +8,60 +4,40 +2,60 +1,95 -0,20 +86,00 +32,80 +4,15 +89,50 +9,40 +2,65 +24,00 +58,67 +21,00 +2,27 +23,0 +13,50 +9,00 +68,00 +42,0 +28,48 +3,20 +3,30 -7,00 +43,76 +56,00 +46,00 +5,20 +12,4 +0,58 +22,00 +37,50 +33,50 +8,00 +6,90 +22,66 +40,30 +6,00 +31,12 +70,00 -1,79 +2,76

% CHG. +0,89% +0,54% +1,03% -0,14% +1,51% +0,58% +1,18% +1,50% +1,06% +0,45% +1,05% -0,03% +1,67% +1,89% +0,90% +2,94% +1,51% +1,31% +1,16% +2,77% +0,63% +2,62% +0,93% +0,73% +0,30% +1,40% +0,65% +0,93% +1,02% +0,85% -0,48% +1,79% +0,84% +0,52% +0,91% +0,71% +0,25% +1,06% +1,92% +1,77% +0,58% +1,20% +3,72% +2,31% +0,74% +0,63% +1,27% -1,16% +1,24%

NET VOL 50,14K 1,70K 189,66K 3,21K 54,59K 14,91K 68,89K 140,59K 593,92K 210,85K 1,05M 479,95K 48,03K 262,25K 2,19M 21,79K 175,29K 1,69M 19,70K 10,72K 7,69K 603,18K 24,46K 126,58K 82,33K 7,32K 7,21K 21,28K 139,25K 24,35K 63,93K 3,78K 22,01K 2,25K 31,07K 32,11K 407,36K 12,99K 24,49K 3,43K 32,89K 1,44M 147,84K 58,57K 53,39K 0,10K 8,81K 388,73K 196,33K

COMPANY Johnson Matthey Just Eat Kingfisher Land Securities Legal & General Lloyds Banking London Stock Exchange Marks & Spencer Micro Focus Mondi Morrison Supermarkets National Grid Next NMC Health Ocado Pearson Persimmon Phoenix Prudential RBS PLC Reckitt Benckiser Relx Rentokil Rightmove Rio Tinto PLC Rolls-Royce Holdings Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B RSA Insurance Sage Schroders Scottish Mortgage Segro Severn Trent Smith & Nephew Smiths Group Smurfit Kappa Spirax-Sarco Engineering SSE St. James’s Place Standard Chartered Standard Life Aberdeen Taylor Wimpey Tesco Tui Unilever United Utilities Vodafone Group PLC Whitbread WPP

PRICE(P) 2.937,00 788,60 225,00 1.008,00 306,90 65,46 7.318,00 227,50 1.053,00 1.711,50 198,00 931,70 7.248,00 2.517,00 1.251,82 651,00 2.851,47 738,00 1.415,50 259,70 6.083,00 1.831,00 428,10 641,60 4.374,50 691,00 2.160,25 2.145,50 574,00 740,20 3.396,00 527,26 872,60 2.402,00 1.740,00 1.640,50 2.776,00 8.640,00 1.415,90 1.161,50 714,60 318,88 197,73 255,37 977,40 4.561,00 900,34 148,60 4.991,00 1.017,50

CHANGE(P) +56,00 -1,40 +3,10 +9,64 +4,93 +0,72 +146,00 +1,12 +0,40 +15,00 +2,15 +3,30 +58,00 +53,00 +14,40 -9,00 +2,95 +8,80 +27,50 +7,90 +46,00 +26,50 +5,32 +0,60 +54,00 -11,03 +7,75 +10,00 +3,80 +7,80 +36,00 +4,26 +11,27 -18,00 +5,50 +21,00 +16,00 +40,00 -14,96 +13,00 +9,80 -0,72 -1,92 +4,67 +3,00 +125,08 -17,95 +2,36 +33,00 -5,50

% CHG.

NET VOL

+1,94% -0,18% +1,40% +0,97% +1,63% +1,11% +2,04% +0,49% +0,04% +0,88% +1,10% +0,36% +0,81% +2,15% +1,16% -1,36% +0,10% +1,21% +1,98% +3,14% +0,76% +1,47% +1,26% +0,09% +1,25% -1,57% +0,36% +0,47% +0,67% +1,06% +1,07% +0,81% +1,31% -0,74% +0,32% +1,30% +0,58% +0,47% -1,05% +1,13% +1,39% -0,23% -0,96% +1,86% +0,31% +2,82% -1,96% +1,61% +0,67% -0,54%

16,64K 15,61K 231,74K 67,09K 308,85K 5,80M 33,31K 122,93K 13,08K 61,00K 221,50K 481,52K 50,80K 61,62K 12,29K 154,93K 40,20K 37,95K 270,60K 4,81M 47,71K 149,11K 325,02K 53,83K 114,50K 50,69K 139,38K 260,83K 95,87K 86,16K 8,05K 220,44K 16,59K 57,16K 72,46K 13,21K 6,26K 12,94K 99,59K 58,16K 228,84K 25,98K 607,88K 379,20K 32,55K 14,92K 410,69K 1,69M 24,54K 31,32K

0.83235

1.20006 Units per €

US dollar ................................................1.11365 Japan yen...............................................121.885 Switzerland franc ...................................1.09591 Denmark kroner .....................................7.47319 Norway kroner........................................10.0432

currenciesdirect.com/marbella • Tel: +34 952 906 581 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 16

COMPANY 3M Alphabet C Amazon.com Apple Boeing Caterpillar Chevron Cisco Coca-Cola Exxon Mobil Facebook Goldman Sachs Home Depot IBM Intel J&J JPMorgan McDonald’s Merck&Co Microsoft Nike Pfizer Procter&Gamble Tesla United Technologies UnitedHealth Verizon Visa A Walmart Walt Disney

PRICE 168,79 1.347,83 1.760,94 275,15 341,67 145,53 117,96 45,30 54,42 69,23 194,11 225,00 214,08 134,21 57,79 141,38 136,81 197,12 89,19 154,53 97,77 38,33 125,47 358,39 149,07 285,48 60,81 185,14 120,29 146,38

CHANGE% CHANGE VOLUME(M) +0,23 +0,14% 2,10M -2,44 -0,18% 1,55M +0,61 +0,03% 2,75M +3,69 +1,36% 33,43M -4,62 -1,33% 4,53M -1,25 -0,85% 3,31M -0,85 -0,72% 4,86M -0,37 -0,81% 21,80M +0,28 +0,52% 13,07M -1,11 -1,58% 12,28M -2,64 -1,34% 18,81M -1,05 -0,46% 1,91M +2,04 +0,96% 6,87M -1,11 -0,82% 2,53M +0,24 +0,42% 22,80M +0,04 +0,03% 4,26M -1,21 -0,88% 10,59M +0,81 +0,41% 2,08M +0,23 +0,26% 7,22M +1,29 +0,84% 23,85M +0,05 +0,05% 5,25M -0,21 -0,54% 15,82M +0,90 +0,72% 5,47M -1,29 -0,36% 6,57M -0,34 -0,23% 2,37M +1,87 +0,66% 3,60M -0,36 -0,59% 10,59M +2,50 +1,37% 8,56M +0,53 +0,44% 5,37M -0,50 -0,34% 9,35M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 16

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. Booking Holdings Inc. Atrion Corp. CoStar Group Inc. Adobe Inc. Franchise Group Inc. SBA Communications Corp. National Western Life Group Inc. Cl A Intuit Inc. LMP Automotive Holdings Inc. IAC/InterActiveCorp.

132.05 1,974 704.00 580.56 317.94 25.80 235.48 261.78 259.64 28.69 224.64

+31.43% +1.29% +1.88% +2.17% +3.92% +49.13% +3.26% +2.82% +2.73% +28.94% +2.88%

1,161 315.42 567.67 65.25 132.49 209.21 291.87 253.50 213.02 54.76 288.86

-2.29% -3.78% -2.12% -11.24% -5.07% -2.94% -1.84% -2.07% -2.42% -8.72% -1.64%

Most Declined Broadcom Inc. 8% Pfd. Series A Broadcom Inc. MercadoLibre Inc. Karuna Therapeutics Inc. Roku Inc. Cl A Galapagos N.V. ADR Costco Wholesale Corp. Ulta Beauty Inc. Bio-Techne Corp. VelocityShares Daily 2x VIX Short Term ETN LendingTree Inc.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

19 - 25 December 2019

Christmas bonus from Treasury PRIZES won in the hugely popu­ lar Christmas Lottery, El Gordo have always been taxed once they break a certain threshold which until this year was €10,000. The good news is that you don’t start paying tax on your winnings this year until they reach €20,000 and even if you win a really big prize then the first €20,000 is discounted for tax purposes. So if you are lucky enough to win the biggest prize of €4 mil­ lion for a full ticket, you will only

Credit: YouTube

By John Smith

Children sing out the numbers.

The Boris Bounce ALTHOUGH things can reverse rapidly, as soon as the election poll results were released at 10pm on the night of Thursday December 12 showing a probable massive Conservative ma-

jority the pound started to jump and by the following morning stood at just under €1.20 to £1. Shares also rose when the stock exchange in London opened the next day and it

seems that investors are expecting great things (at least in the short term) from a more or less certain Brexit which will allow business to plan sensibly ahead.

pay €760,000 in tax rather than the €780,000 you would have paid last year. It is estimated that the Trea­ sury will collect €13.6 million less than last year but it will take a windfall of around €175 million to help Spain with its overheads. All of the large prizes are paid out with tax already deducted so there is no need to make any de­ claration when you present your tax returns, unless of course you have invested the balance and received interest on your invest­ ment. The other benefit for winners is that in the event that they need government financial assis­ tance for scholarships for their children, disability allowance or any other form of personal assis­ tance then their winnings will not be taken into account as cal­ culations are based on income rather than equity (except for value of property). The Spanish love the Christ­ mas draw and it is televised every year with youngsters singing out the numbers as they are drawn.

EWN 17

BUSINESS EXTRA Less consumption A REPORT published by the Eurostat community statistics office shows per capita consumption in Spain was 14 per cent less than the eurozone average and 10 per cent less than the EU average.

Closed down JAMIE OLIVER’S Fifteen Cornwall restaurant is about to close but this was only connected with the TV chef as he allowed the Cornwall Food Foundation to use his name for the restaurant which found work for unemployed people near Newquay.

Share launch RENEWABLE energy company Grenergy is about to move from the Alternative Stock Market in Spain and is placing 10 per cent of its shares on the main market at the discounted price of €12.50. Things look positive for the company’s future.

18 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

19 - 25 December 2019

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT WELL, that’s that. At last we can finally enjoy a smidgen of respite from pontifi­ cating politicians promising untold re­ wards for plonking a mere kiss on a bal­ lot paper. We bid a relieved farewell to bristling bearded Marxists. Whirlwind ‘jolly hock­ ey stick’ Girl Guide leaders and the green merchants of doom. But thankfully not to Boris. Boris Johnson; who was actual­ ly beginning to sound rather like a cracked needle himself, didn’t insult or indeed underestimate the people’s in­ telligence and won a resounding victory for common sense. Well, I wish every­ one who resides in the UK all the luck in the world as they step up into their chal­ lenges of a bright new and exciting fu­ ture. Let’s just hope the old British Bull­ dog spirit still survives somewhere among the diversified denizens that now make up the country. A nation whose shores I departed from so long ago, but still holds a place very dear to the old boy’s timepiece. Of course all this change won’t do anything to help me personally. It still depends on the sort of deal Boris has

FEATURE

Merchants of Doom

NICOLA STURGEON: Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP). put forward. Worryingly, most, If not all of his deal proposals have been buried under the morass of ‘campaign trail’ en­ deavours and we really have little idea of what it, or the future holds. We and thousands of other European expats are about to find ourselves aliens in countries that many of us have

resided in for years. I am however, somewhat pacified by the fact that there are also vast numbers of Euro­ peans living in the UK, so I truly do be­ lieve that, providing you tick all the right legal boxes, our pensions, health care and residential rights will be protected under fair and reciprocal measures be­

tween our countries. Just hope we don’t all finish up as ‘bargaining chips’ that’s all. It’s Nicola Sturgeon who worries me. This awful woman and her extremely in­ competent party, have only one ambi­ tion ­ to get rid of the English at all costs. Of course she hates Boris. Boris is the

epitome of everything she seethes about. He also wants out of the EU. Something she truly cannot afford. When the UK comes out of Europe and assuming a second referendum re­ sults in Scotland’s independence, she will then have to re­apply to join the EU. The chances of being accepted are ex­ tremely thin. Even if Spain were to relent on their anticipated veto, she still needs to reach the financial criteria required for entry, which she can’t, and if the EU were to make an exception, they would demand austerity measures on a par with Greece! So where would that leave Scotland? Up the loch without a caber, that’s where. They’ll need their own cur­ rency, negotiated trade deals with the UK and Europe. A hard border and pass­ ports to visit Newcastle! No thanks. I’m proud to be aligned with Scotland and love my Scottish mates. The Scots have actually managed to retain their heritage and culture far better than the English anyway! Please don’t let this bit­ ter, bile spitting woman, make fools of you all. 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.

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

I’m still grumpy at Xmas MIKE SENKER IN MY OPINION Views of a Grumpy Old Man I TRY and avoid buffets like the plague but sometimes there is no choice. One of my reasons is that you stand in line ­ not me but Mrs S ­ and choose whatever you decide out of the hot dish­ es. They dollop it on to the plate and you then have to stand in line to pay for it. Most of the time there are a few people in front of you and by the time you get to pay it’s cold. It’s not usually great food in the first place, but cold it’s abysmal. There has to be a better way. If it was up to me I’d sort out a way to choose what you want off a menu and then pay for it and get a ticket. You then present that ticket to the person dishing up and get your plate of hot food and sit down. Doesn’t seem too difficult to me. This is my last article before Christmas so I guess it should be all festive and jol­ ly. Full of Ho Ho Ho and goodwill to all. The tree should be up and decorations all done. Well folks I’m sorry to disap­ point you because I’m just as grumpy.

Some say even more so. I don’t like Christmas. It’s OK for kids. Even I have to agree there is nothing better than seeing the little ‘uns believing in Father Christ­ mas and then opening their prezzies. But that’s it. The strain on parents to have to get in­ to debt because little Johnny (it can be Janet or any other gender applicable) has seen this new €200 or more all singing, all dancing, latest thing on telly. The problem is that it would be bad enough if it ended there, but it doesn’t. It usually comes with add ons and then three months later a new model comes out. The kid has to get the newer one because one of their mates has already got one. The other thing is everything you buy is half price two weeks later in the sales. Oh and don’t forget all the nonsense about ‘let’s leave it till after Christmas’ when trying to get something done from December 10. That usually means wait­ ing till January 10 ... at least! So have a merry Christmas and all that nonsense. Try and remember that it’s only once a year and it could be worse. You could be the Queen having to make a speech to millions and not mention what an idiot Andrew is!

mikesenker@gmail.com

19 - 25 December 2019

EWN 19

20 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

19 - 25 December 2019

THURSDAY - 19 DECEMBER

TV LISTING

FRIDAY - 20 DECEMBER

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Meet the Street at Christmas 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pmIsland Medics 12:45pmThe Customer is Always Right 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Father Brown 4:05pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm Garden Rescue 5:30pm The Repair Shop 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pmClick and Collect 11:00pmBBC News at Ten 11:25pmRegional News and Weather 11:30pmWeather 11:35pmMrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie 1:10am Weather for the Week Ahead

9:00am MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00am BBC News at 9 11:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pmBBC Newsroom Live 1:15pm Politics Live 2:00pm Eggheads 2:30pm The Best Christmas Food Ever 3:15pm Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman 4:00pmThe Importance of Being Earnest 5:30pm The Hairy Bikers Home for Christmas 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Richard Osman's House of Games 7:30pm Richard Osman's House of Games 8:00pm Heston's Perfect Christmas Dinner 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pmHeston's Marvellous Menu: Back to the Noughties 11:00pmI'll Get This 11:30pmCunk & Other Humans on 2019 11:35pmNewsnight 12:15am Weather

8:00pm University Challenge 8:30pm Secrets of Skin 9:00pm Wartime Farm 10:00pm Charles I: Killing a King 11:00pm The Story of A Fairytale of New York Richard E Grant narrates a look at the making of the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's classic bittersweet love song. 12:00am Wild West: America's Great Frontier 1:00am Peaky Blinders 1:55am Peaky Blinders 2:55am Peaky Blinders The third run of Steven Knight's period drama reaches its final episode, and yet again Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby finds himself in a seemingly impossible situation. 3:55am Charles I: Killing a King

7:30am King of Queens 8:45am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:40am Frasier 11:10am Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 12:05pmUndercover Boss USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm The People's Vet 2:05pm Escape to the Chateau: DIY 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Find it, Fix it, Flog it 5:00pm A Place in the Sun 6:00pm Kirstie's Handmade Christmas Kirstie Allsopp oversees the fun as four craft enthusiasts create Christmas stockings. 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Buy It Now for Christmas 10:00pmNHS Whistleblower 11:30pmThe World's Most Expensive Toys

8:45am Top Wing 9:00am Paw Patrol 9:15am Floogals 9:30am Becca's Bunch 9:50am Little Princess 10:00am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15am Jeremy Vine 12:15pmChristmas by the Book 1:40pm Access 1:50pm Neighbours 2:15pm A Christmas Crush 4:00pm Christmas on Holly Lane 5:45pm 5 News at 5 6:00pm Friends 7:00pm Neighbours 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm World's Strongest Man 2019 9:00pm The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies 10:00pmFreddie Mercury: A Christmas Story 11:30pmRich House, Poor House 12:30am Caught on Camera 1:30am Caught on Camera

12:00pmIsland Medics 12:45pmThe Customer is Always Right 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Father Brown 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm Garden Rescue 5:30pm The Repair Shop 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm Still Open All Hours 9:30pm EastEnders 10:00pmHave I Got News for You 10:30pmWould I Lie to You? 11:00pmBBC News at Ten 11:25pmRegional News and Weather 11:30pmWeather 11:35pmThe Graham Norton Show 12:30am Fleabag

7:30am Meet the Street at Christmas 8:15am Island Medics 9:00am Love in the Countryside 10:00am BBC News at 9 11:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:15pm Politics Live 2:00pm Eggheads 2:30pm The Best Christmas Food Ever 3:15pm Coast 3:40pm Talking Pictures 4:30pm The Bishop's Wife 6:15pm The Hairy Bikers Home for Christmas 7:00pm Richard Osman's House of Games 7:30pm Only Connect 8:00pm Mountain Vets 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm A Merry Tudor Christmas with Lucy Worsley 11:00pm Mock the Week 11:30pm Cunk & Other Humans on 2019 11:35pm Newsnight 12:05am Weather

8:00pm University Challenge 8:30pm Secrets of Skin Wherever they live, skin is critical in allowing animals to sense the world around them. 9:00pm Top of the Pops: 1988 10:00pm Top of the Pops: 1988 10:30pmCountry Music by Ken Burns 11:25pm Country Christmas 12:45am Flat Pack Pop: Sweden's Music Miracle 1:45am Peaky Blinders 2:45am Peaky Blinders 3:45am Peaky Blinders

7:30am King of Queens 8:45am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:40am Frasier 11:10am Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 12:05pm Undercover Boss USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm The People's Vet 2:05pm Escape to the Chateau: DIY 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Find it, Fix it, Flog it 5:00pm A Place in the Sun 6:00pm Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Flirty Dancing 10:00pm Celebrity Gogglebox 11:00pm The Last Leg 12:05amDaddy's Home 1:55am The Crystal Maze

8:25am 8:45am 9:00am 9:15am 9:30am 9:50am 10:00am

11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 4:00pm The Switch 4:59pm ITV London Weather 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm Cash Trapped 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News Round-up of the main national and international news. 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Britain's Busiest Motorway 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Gino's Italian Escape: Hidden Italy 10:00pmThe Big Quiz 11:00pmITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pmITV News London 11:45pmPiers Morgan's Life Stories

7:00am The Planet's Funniest Animals 7:20am Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 7:45am You've Been Framed! 8:10am Britain's Got Talent 9:00am Emmerdale 9:30am Coronation Street 10:00am Coronation Street 10:25am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:20am Dress to Impress 1:15pm Emmerdale 1:45pm Coronation Street 2:15pm Coronation Street 2:50pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:45pm The Boxer & The Ballroom Dancer 4:50pm Dinner Date 5:50pm Dress to Impress 7:00pm Dress to Impress 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 10:00pmFamily Guy 10:30pm Family Guy 11:00pm Celebrity Juice

7:00am Classic Coronation Street 8:50am Heartbeat 9:55am George and Mildred 11:05am Man About the House 11:40am Agatha Christie's Marple 1:40pm Heartbeat 2:45pm Classic Emmerdale 3:15pm Classic Emmerdale 3:50pm Classic Coronation Street 4:20pm Classic Coronation Street 4:55pm Agatha Christie's Marple 6:55pm Heartbeat 8:00pm Agatha Christie's Poirot 9:00pm Vera 11:00pmThe Bletchley Circle: San Francisco 12:00am Cheat 1:05am A Touch of Frost

7:00am Football's Greatest: Johan Cruyff 7:15am The Protectors 7:40am The Saint 8:30amColumbo: The Murder of a Rock Star 10:25am Minder 11:30am The Sweeney 12:35pmThe Professionals 1:35pm The Saint 2:40pmColumbo Undercover 4:45pm Minder 5:50pm The Professionals 6:55pm The Sweeney 8:00pm The Chase 9:00pm Yorkshire Airport 9:30pm Yorkshire Airport 10:00pmFirst Blood 11:00pmFYI Daily A round-up of the latest entertainment news. 11:05pmFirst Blood 12:05amTremors 1:05am FYI Daily A round-up of the latest entertainment news. 1:10amTremors

7:00am Good Morning Sports Fans Bitesize 7:30am Good Morning Sports Fans Bitesize 8:00am Golf 11:30am Match Centre 12:00pmMatch Centre 1:00pm Sky Sports News 1:30pm Live World Darts Championship 5:30pm Sky Sports News 6:00pm Sky Sports News at 5 7:00pm Sky Sports News at 6 8:00pm Live World Darts Championship 12:00am Live NBA: The Warm Up A look ahead to tonight's fixtures. 1:00am Sky Sports News 2:00am Live NBA: L.A. Lakers @ Milwaukee 4:30am Sky Sports News 5:00am Sky Sports News

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am Judge Rinder 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 4:00pm The Switch 4:59pm ITV London Weather 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm Cash Trapped 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 10:30pmBall & Boe: A Very Merry Christmas 11:30pmITV News at Ten and Weather 12:00am ITV News London 12:15am Bradley Walsh's Late Night Guest List 1:15am Ideal World

7:00am The Planet's Funniest Animals 7:20am Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 7:45am You've Been Framed! 8:10am I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 9:00am Emmerdale 10:00am You've Been Framed! 10:25am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 11:20am Dress to Impress 1:15pm Emmerdale 2:15pm You've Been Framed! 2:50pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:45pm Supermarket Sweep 4:50pm Dinner Date 5:50pm Dress to Impress 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 10:00pm Family Guy 11:00pm Shopping with Keith Lemon 12:05am Family Guy 12:30am American Dad!

7:30am Classic Coronation Street 7:55am Classic Emmerdale 8:50am Heartbeat 9:55am George and Mildred 11:05am Man About the House 11:40am Agatha Christie's Marple 1:40pm Heartbeat 2:45pm Classic Emmerdale 3:50pm Classic Coronation Street 4:55pm Agatha Christie's Marple 6:55pm Heartbeat 8:00pm Agatha Christie's Poirot 9:00pm Vera 11:00pm Vera 1:05am A Touch of Frost

7:00am World of Sport: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly 7:10am The Protectors 7:35am The Saint 8:30am Columbo Undercover 11:25am The Sweeney 12:25pm The Professionals 1:30pm The Saint 2:35pm Kojak 3:40pm Quincy, M.E. 4:45pm Minder 5:55pm The Professionals 6:55pm The Sweeney 8:00pm The Chase 9:00pm Made in Britain 10:00pm Rocky 11:05pm FYI Daily 11:10pm Rocky 12:30am All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite 2:40am Bad Move

7:00am Good Morning Sports Fans Bitesize 8:00am Golf The Australian PGA Championship. 11:30am Football Centre A round-up of the latest news. 12:00pm Football Centre 1:00pm Football Centre 1:30pm Live World Darts Championship 5:30pm Football Centre 6:00pm Sky Sports News at 5 7:00pm Sky Sports News at 6 8:00pm Live World Darts Championship 12:00am Live NBA: The Warm Up 1:00am Sky Sports News 2:00am Sky Sports News 3:00am Live Fight Night International

Peppa Pig Top Wing Paw Patrol Floogals Becca's Bunch Little Princess Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15am Jeremy Vine 12:15pmChristmas Getaway 1:50pm Neighbours 2:15pm Shoelaces for Christmas 4:00pm A Christmas in Tennessee 5:45pm 5 News at 5 6:00pm Friends 7:00pm Neighbours 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Gadget Show 9:00pm Secrets of the Factories 10:00pm Cruising with Jane McDonald 11:00pm Inside Sandringham: Holidaying with the Queen 12:30am Inside... 1:30am Lip Sync Battle UK

The schedules for the television programme pages are provided by an external company: we regret that any changes or errors are not the responsibility of Euro Weekly News.

22 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

19 - 25 December 2019

SATURDAY - 21 DECEMBER

TV LISTING

SUNDAY - 22 DECEMBER

7:00am Breakfast 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30pmFlour Power 1:00pm Football Focus 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm Weather 2:15pm Bargain Hunt 3:10pm Escape to the Country 4:10pm Money for Nothing 4:55pm BBC News 5:05pm BBC London News 5:10pm Weather 5:15pm Final Score 6:15pm Match of the Day Live 8:30pm The Hit List 9:15pm Michael McIntyre's Big Show 10:20pmCasualty 11:10pmBBC News 11:25pmWeather 11:30pmMatch of the Day 12:55am The NFL Show 1:25amLooper

7:20am Top Class 7:50am This Farming Life 8:50am MasterChef: The Professionals 9:50am MasterChef: The Professionals 10:50am Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical! 1:00pm Victorian Bakers 2:00pm Nature's Weirdest Events 2:45pm Live Equestrian 5:30pm Porridge 6:15pm Swallows and Amazons 7:45pm Natural World 8:45pm Dad's Army 9:20pm Natural World 10:20pm Dave Allen: God's Own Comedian 11:20pm Cunk & Other Humans on 2019 11:25pm Radio 2 in Concert 12:35amBehind the Candelabra

8:00pm Nothing Like a Dame 9:15pm As Time Goes By Special edition featuring clips from past episodes. 10:15pmMrs Brown Queen Victoria is helped by a nononsense Scottish manservant to overcome her long period of mourning for the death of her husband. 11:55pmPhilomena 1:30am Peaky Blinders 2:30am Peaky Blinders Tommy finds himself engaged in bloody battle with Luca Changretta and his gang. 3:30am Peaky Blinders

8:10amCapture the Flag 9:55am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:25am King of Queens 10:55am The Simpsons 1:00pmTwo by Two 2:40pmGarfield 2: A Tail of Two Kitties 4:15pmMadagascar 6:00pm Channel 4 News Including sport and weather. 6:30pm Kirstie's Handmade Christmas One-off special in which Kirstie Allsopp applies her craft skills to the festive season. 7:30pm Jamie's Easy Christmas Countdown 8:30pmMen in Black 10:20pmDaddy's Home 2 12:15amThe Inbetweeners Movie

11:00am Digby Dragon 11:10am SpongeBob Squarepants 11:25am Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:35am Access 11:45amThe African Queen 12:45pm Access 12:50pmThe African Queen 2:00pm The Goonies 3:05pm Access 3:10pm The Goonies 4:10pm Scrooge 5:10pm Access 5:15pm Scrooge 6:00pm Agatha & The Truth of Murder 7:45pm 5 News Weekend 7:50pm Britain's Favourite Christmas Carol 9:20pm Our Yorkshire Farm 10:20pm Jane McDonald & Friends 11:20pm Freddie Mercury: A Christmas Story

7:00am Breakfast 8:35am Match of the Day 10:05am Britain's Christmas Story 11:05amHome 12:30pmSnow Bears 1:30pm Hold the Sunset 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm Weather for the Week Ahead 2:15pm Songs of Praise 2:50pmToy Story 4:05pmThe Penguins of Madagascar 5:30pmMerry Madagascar 5:50pm BBC News 6:05pm BBC London News; Weather 6:10pm Weather 6:15pmThe BFG 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm His Dark Materials 10:00pmA Christmas Carol 11:00pmBBC News 11:20pmBBC London News 11:25pmWeather 11:30pmMatch of the Day 2 12:30am Women's World Cup Review

7:15am The Instant Gardener 8:05am This Farming Life 9:05am Countryfile 10:00am MasterChef: The Professionals 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:30pm The Sweet Makers 1:30pm Talking Pictures 2:10pm Paint Your Wagon 4:40pm Finding Neverland 6:15pm Porridge 7:00pm Chris & Michaela 8:00pm Top Gear 9:00pm Dragons' Den 10:00pm The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan 11:00pm The Ranganation Romesh Ranganathan presents the best bits of series one. 11:45pm Cunk & Other Humans on 2019 12:15am Mock the Week 12:50amStarter for 10

8:00pm Mrs Dickens' Family Christmas 9:00pm Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Betty agrees to look after two children for the day. 9:30pm The Good Life 10:00pm All About the Good Life 11:00pm The 12 Drinks of Christmas 12:00am Time Shift 1:00am TOTP2 2:30am Lucy Worsley's Christmas Carol Odyssey 3:30am Charles I: Killing a King Three-part documentary focusing on the monarch's final days.

7:05am Freaky Friday 8:45am The Harry Hill Movie 10:30am Sunday Brunch 1:30pm The Simpsons 4:25pm The Borrowers 6:05pm Channel 4 News Including sport and weather. 6:15pm Food Unwrapped 7:15pm Inside Cadbury: Chocolate Secrets Unwrapped Documentary examining the world of one of Britain's biggest and best-loved chocolate makers. 8:15pm Paddington An earthquake forces a bear from the Peruvian jungle to start a new life in London. 10:00pm Escape to the Chateau 11:00pmOffice Christmas Party 1:00am Dude, Where's My Car?

10:50am Digby Dragon 11:05am SpongeBob Squarepants 11:20am Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:30am Cruising with Jane McDonald 11:50am Friends 1:50pm Father of the Bride 2:50pm Access 2:55pm Father of the Bride 4:00pm Sister Act 5:00pm Access 5:05pm Sister Act 6:05pm 5 News Weekend 6:10pm Carols at Christmas 8:05pm Building the Ice Hotel 9:00pm Gregg Wallace's Magical Christmas Market 10:00pmSecrets of the Mega Christmas Buffet 11:00pm Greatest Ever Christmas Movies

9:25am ITV News 9:30am The Sara Cox Show 10:25am Saturday Morning with James Martin 12:35pmJohn and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen 1:35pm Nadia's Family Feasts 2:35pm ITV News and Weather 2:49pm ITV London Weather 2:50pm Midsomer Murders 4:50pm Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs 5:20pm ITV News and Weather 5:40pm ITV News London 5:50pmShrek 7:25pm The Chase Celebrity Special 8:25pm In for a Penny 9:10pmCasino Royale 11:55pmITV News and Weather 12:09am ITV London Weather 12:10amBasic Instinct

7:00am Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 7:25am Emmerdale 9:55am Coronation Street 1:00pm The Big Quiz 2:00pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 3:00pm You've Been Framed! 3:30pmJack Frost 4:30pm FYI Daily 4:35pmJack Frost 5:35pm Liar Liar 6:40pm FYI Daily 6:45pmLiar Liar 7:25pmFour Christmases 8:30pm FYI Daily 8:35pmFour Christmases 9:10pmThe Holiday 10:15pmFYI Daily 10:20pmThe Holiday 11:50pmFamily Guy 12:20am Family Guy 12:50am American Dad! 1:15am American Dad! 1:40am Family Guy

7:00am Rising Damp 7:25am Agatha Christie's Poirot 8:20am Agatha Christie's Poirot 9:25am Inspector Morse 1:55pm Agatha Christie's Marple 5:50pm Agatha Christie's Poirot The dapper Belgian sleuth receives several anonymous letters outlining a killer's intention to murder a succession of people in alphabetical order, prompting him to try to unmask the culprit before the body-count mounts. 8:00pm Midsomer Murders 10:00pm Midsomer Murders 12:00am Hattie

7:00am World of Sport: Kings of the Canvas 7:10am The Protectors 7:35am The Professionals 8:25am The Big Fish Off 9:20am Monster Carp 10:30am ITV Racing: The Opening Show 11:30amColumbo Goes to the Guillotine 1:30pm Mr. Bean 2:05pm World Cup Rivalries 2:30pm ITV Racing Live 5:00pm Aces High 6:05pm FYI Daily 6:10pm Aces High 7:15pm Where Eagles Dare 8:15pm FYI Daily 8:20pm Where Eagles Dare 10:20pm Rambo: First Blood Part II 11:20pm FYI Daily 11:25pmRambo: First Blood Part II 12:25amRocky II 1:30am FYI Daily 1:35am Rocky II

7:00am Sky Sports News 8:00am Good Morning Sports Fans 9:00am Good Morning Sports Fans 10:00am Good Morning Sports Fans 10:30am Saturday Social 11:30am Soccer A.M. 1:00pm Live EFL 4:00pm Live World Darts Championship Coverage of the first session of day nine at Alexandra Palace in London. 5:30pm Gary Neville's Soccerbox 6:00pm Live Premier League 9:00pm Live World Darts Championship Coverage of the second session of day nine at Alexandra Palace in London. 12:00am Sky Sports News

8:00am 8:05am 8:30am 8:55am 9:25am 9:30am

7:00am The Planet's Funniest Animals 7:25am Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 7:40am Emmerdale 10:15am Coronation Street 1:15pm In for a Penny 2:00pm Catchphrase 3:00pm You've Been Framed! 3:35pm Shrek the Halls 4:00pm The Santa Clause 2 5:05pm FYI Daily A round-up of the latest entertainment news. 5:10pm The Santa Clause 2 6:10pm Elf 7:10pm FYI Daily 7:15pm Elf 8:00pm Uncle Buck 8:40pm FYI Daily 8:45pm Uncle Buck 10:00pmLove Actually 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pmLove Actually 12:45am Family Guy 1:15am Family Guy

7:00am George and Mildred 7:50am Heartbeat 9:55am Inspector Morse Drama series featuring Colin Dexter's enigmatic Chief Inspector. 12:10pm Agatha Christie's Marple Lady Virginia Revel receives a marriage proposal from an ambitious politician, but is reluctant to accept it, especially as she is also being courted by a dashing young suitor. 2:05pm Bugsy Malone 4:05pm Agatha Christie's Marple 6:00pm Midsomer Murders 8:00pm The Queen 10:00pm Victoria Feature-length festive special. 12:00am Agatha Christie's Marple

7:00am Football's Greatest: Johan Cruyff 7:15am Fifth Gear 8:00am The Protectors 8:25am The Professionals 9:20am Columbo: Sex and the Married Detective 11:20am The Big Fish Off 12:25pm Monster Carp 1:30pm Brannigan 2:35pm FYI Daily 2:40pm Brannigan 3:45pm Battle of the Bulge 4:50pm FYI Daily 4:55pm Battle of the Bulge 6:55pm The Green Berets 7:55pm FYI Daily 8:00pm The Green Berets 10:00pmDemolition Man 11:05pm FYI Daily 11:10pmDemolition Man 12:15amThe Fugitive 1:20am FYI Daily 1:25am The Fugitive

8:00am Total Goals A round-up of the latest football action. 9:00am Total Goals A round-up of the latest football action. 10:00am Total Goals A round-up of the latest football action. 11:00am The Sunday Supplement 12:30pm Live EFL Sheffield Wednesday v Bristol City (Kick-off 12.00pm). 3:00pm Live Renault Super Sunday Watford v Manchester United (Kickoff 2.00pm). Coverage of the top-flight clash from Vicarage Road. 5:00pm Live Renault Super Sunday 8:00pm Live World Darts Championship 12:00am Live NFL

Dare Master Mr Magoo Mr. Bean Robozuna ITV News The Sara Cox Show 10:25am Beautiful Baking with Juliet Sear 11:25am John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen 12:25pmNadia's Family Feasts 1:25pm ITV News and Weather 1:34pm ITV London Weather 1:35pm Midsomer Murders 3:35pm How to Spend It Well at Christmas with Phillip Schofield 4:35pm The Big Quiz 5:35pm ITV News and Weather 5:45pm ITV News London 6:00pmPride of Britain: 7:00pm Catchphrase 8:00pm Dancing on Ice 10:00pmQuantum of Solace 12:05am ITV News and Weather

The schedules for the television programme pages are provided by an external company: we regret that any changes or errors are not the responsibility of Euro Weekly News.

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

19 - 25 December 2019

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION Letters should be emailed to oursay@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.

IT’S TOO LATE I LIKE your article (Your Opinion), on poor Greta. Between you and me it’s a lost cause to save what’s left of this planet. These sum­ mits they have every year on the climate, what a whole lot of s**t, excuse my langua­ ge. The only thing they are interested in is where they are going to have dinner later on. Noone is trying to save this planet any­ way, it’s too late, it’s just a matter of time! The Rothschild and company, they just think of getting richer. The proof is there, financial power is billions. Example ­ in the 80’s we seldom heard of billionaires. Anyway the Vatican is so co­ rrupt, financially and I would add sexually. Not to mention Putin who’s trying to get China and other Asian countries together to scare the USA. All that! Do you think they have got time to be climate concious. Poor Greta. You might think what a pessimistic chap. I have my hidden reasons, but that’s another debate. Be positive ha ha… Serge Tiberi

In over her head HELLO Euro Weekly, I am absolutely sick to the back teeth of Greta Thunderface. Seemingly she first he­ ard about climate change in 2011, when she was eight years old? Aren’t most children playing with their toys or their friends at that age? That is what she is, a child, probably too far in over her head after being used as a figurehead for a new generation of activists and to get the young ones in on it. I don’t disagree with actions against climate crisis that she is being used as a puppet to put across at all. However, I do believe she is just that, a puppet, a fa­ ce (annoying one) to draw attention away from crusty hippies of yesteryear who normally back such movements. Where have the times of children being seen and not heard gone? Will it all go pear­shaped when she discovers boys or wants to become emo and hide from the world in a darkened bedroom? I hope her supporters will still be there to pick up the pieces. Graeme Pearn

Narco panic DEAR editor The drugs war on the Costa del Sol is

CLIMATE ACTIVIST: Greta Thunberg (centre). starting to get out of hand and four people have been shot and killed. I would like to know if, realistically, this will actually affect the average citizen. I believe that as long as you aren’t mixed up in any illegal dealings, you will probably be safe. These gangs generally don’t touch innocent bystanders for fear of a strong res­ ponse by the government and police. The question is how much are police ac­

HAVE YOUR SAY

tually doing? It’s no secret drugs bring in the cash and a lot of countries depend economi­ cally on this business. So maybe, the Spanish police could have a way to end this nonsen­ se but are ordered not to. Nevertheless, I think the killings are really bad publicity for the area. And it’s never comforting to know that people are being shot on our doorsteps. Allan White

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.

OUR VIEW

Transitioning troubles THE term gender dysphoria Is becoming more and more common in our vocabulary, as the new age of society allows people to speak openly about their identity and sexuality struggles. However, in recent years, the topic of transgender children has been met with controversy. Some children don’t identify with the gender assigned to them at birth, a condition that is often apparent from an early age. A lot of these children experience rejection and attempt to repress their emotions, which can sometimes lead to depression, substance abuse and suicidal behaviours. The solution to gender dysphoria is generally considered to be transitioning to the desired sex, which includes hormone treatments and, in some cases, plastic surgery. Because children are dependent on their parents and most doctors are reluctant to provide treatments for them, transgender youth face more hurdles than adults. A majority of people worry that the decision to transition shouldn’t be taken by children or teenagers, amid fears they could change their mind in the future. Concerns have now arisen for NHS professionals who feel they are constantly put in the line of fire. In the last three years, 35 psychologists have resigned from a children’s gender-identity clinic in London. They feel that gender dysphoria is being over-diagnosed as professionals fear being branded transphobic, resulting in unnecessary medialisation in children.

Now we want to hear your views. YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION www.euroweeklynews.com Readers who have missed correspondence can see all letters - which can be edited before publication - posted on: www.euroweeklynews.com.

British Muslims start leaving UK after Boris Johnson wins COMMENTS FROM FACEBOOK

home in Murcia robbed last night, the children’s Xmas pre­ sents, iPads, TV and most of their clothes have all been stolen, she does not drink or smoke and struggles every month to pay the bills, maybe I should start a GoFundMe page, God knows they deserve it more!? Andrew J Bryan

Sad that anyone, be it Muslims, Polish, African, whoever, feel so persecuted that they leave in fear of their own safety ­ what a racist and unwelcome place the UK has become. Anita Oakes

Mo Farah’s knife attack brother deported and left to rot 4,000 miles from home

If his brother Mo doesn’t believe enough in him to bail him out then why would anyone else? He had his chance and thought he could cheat the law and the system now he can make it up in Somalia with his brother’s money. Mark Free

Man viciously beaten and bitten by 10 people in horror attack Horror movies don’t cover this!!! What is happening!!!

Poor Man. Hope he recovers with the outside and inside scars. A horrific attack, hope the others recover too. Will jus­ tice be done to the vicious attackers if they are caught. Lilian Benzies

Neighbours slam ‘Idle, dope-smoking’ unemployed couple with seven kids after GoFundMe plea for Xmas cash raised 3,500 pounds My daughter Sophie Bryan and grandchildren had their

LAST WEEK’S POLL: Greta Thunberg…Making a difference or a child manipulated?

• Yes, making a difference • No, she is manipulated

29.42% 70.58%

Like us on Facebook (@EuroWeeklyNews) and get involved!

CORRECTIONS

EWN 23

Protesters take to the streets in London chanting, ‘Not my Prime Minister’ Bit silly really after a democratic vote, whoever is in most of us want same thing. I’m sure some will be wanting Boris to fail just so they can say ‘I told you so. Very sad because wanting him to fail is wanting NHS, immigration, housing, elderly care to get worse which no one should want. I vot­ ed Tories, but if Corbyn had won I’d have wanted him to succeed for the benefit of everyone. Philip Bradish

POLL OF THE WEEK

Is Christmas a time to celebrate or just another expense? • Yes, time to celebrate

• No, Another expense

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, no-nonsense manner. To ask for an inaccuracy to be corrected. Email: editorial@euroweeklynews.com

24 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

19 - 25 December 2019

TV LISTING

TUESDAY - 24 DECEMBER

MONDAY - 23 DECEMBER 6:45pm Pointless 7:30pm BBC News at Six 7:45pm BBC London News 7:55pm Weather 8:00pm A Question of Sport 8:30pm The Goes Wrong Show 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Still Open All Hours 10:05pmA Christmas Carol 11:00pmBBC News at Ten 11:25pmRegional News and Weather 11:30pmWeather 11:35pmKing Gary

1:40pm Flog It! 2:25pm Talking Pictures 3:15pmEntrapment 5:00pm Natural World 6:00pm Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby 7:00pm Nature's Weirdest Events 7:30pm Inside the Factory 8:30pmUniversity Challenge 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pmA Life on Screen 11:00pmLive at the Apollo 11:45pmThe Lady in the Van 1:25amThe Manchurian Candidate

8:00pm Top of the Pops: The Story of 1979 9:00pmWhat We Were Watching 10:00pmMark Kermode's Oscar Winners: A Secrets of Cinema Special 11:00pmQueen: Rock the World 12:00am Queen: The Legendary 1975 Concert 1:05am Kate Bush at the BBC 1979 1:50am All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride 3:50am Charles I: Killing a King

12:05pmEverybody Loves Raymond 12:35pmEverybody Loves Raymond 1:05pm Frasier 1:35pm Lego Masters 2:35pmWhite Christmas 5:00pm A Place in the Sun 6:00pm The Simpsons 7:00pm Hollyoaks 7:55pm Channel 4 News 8:00pmInside the Toy Factory at Christmas 9:00pm Gogglesprogs 10:00pm8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 11:00pmThe Crystal Maze 12:00amThe Inbetweeners 2

5:10pm The Time of Their Lives 6:10pm Access 6:15pm The Time of Their Lives 7:05pm Neighbours 7:30pm Pets Do The Funniest Things At Christmas 8:00pm Tommy Cooper: In His Own Words 10:00pmClassic Christmas Comedy Moments 11:30pmSteptoe and Son Ride Again 1:20am Gallagher Premiership Rugby Highlights

5:35pm Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers 6:05pm BBC News at Six; Weather 6:20pm BBC London News; Weather 6:25pm Weather 6:30pm Beauty and the Beast 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Take Off with Bradley and Holly 10:00pmA Christmas Carol 11:00pm Not Going Out 11:40pmThe Vicar of Dibley 12:25am BBC News at Ten

5:00pm A Merry Tudor Christmas with Lucy Worsley 6:00pm Carols from King's 7:20pm The Morecambe and Wise Show: The Lost Tapes 8:00pm The Morecambe and Wise Show: The Lost Tapes 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm Dragons' Den 10:00pm Gareth Malone's Christmas Concert 11:00pmQI 11:30pmI'll Get This 12:15am Great Expectations

8:00pm James May: The Reassembler 8:30pm The Last Igloo 10:00pmTop of the Pops: 1982 Big Hits 11:00pm Martin's Close 11:30pmThe Turn of the Screw 1:00am The Lost Ghost Story with Mark Gatiss 2:00am TOTP2 3:30am Nothing Like a Dame

10:05am Hotel for Dogs 12:05pm Small Soldiers 2:10pm A Christmas Carol 4:15pm Father Christmas 4:50pm The Snowman 5:20pm The Snowman and the Snowdog 5:55pm Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas 6:20pm Channel 4 News 6:30pm Home Alone 8:30pm The Tiger Who Came to Tea 9:00pm Child Genius 10:00pmGogglebox 11:55pm8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 1:00am The Inbetweeners

12:10pm Grounded 12:50pmFriends 1:20pm Neighbours 1:45pm Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 2:45pm Access 2:50pm Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 3:55pm My Fair Lady 4:55pm Access 5:00pm My Fair Lady 7:35pm Neighbours 8:00pm The Yorkshire Vet 9:00pm The Wonderful World of Chocolate 10:00pmCruising with Jane McDonald 11:00pmCarols at Christmas

6:00pm The Chase Celebrity Special 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Countrywise 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pmGordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip 11:00pmITV News at Ten and Weather

3:45pm You've Been Framed! 4:10pm Catchphrase 5:10pmHow the Grinch Stole Christmas 6:10pm FYI Daily 7:15pmThe Secret Life of Pets 8:20pm FYI Daily 8:25pmThe Secret Life of Pets 9:00pmRogue One: A Star Wars Story 10:10pmFYI Daily 10:15pmRogue One: A Star Wars Story 11:45pmFamily Guy

7:00am Classic Coronation Street 7:55am Classic Emmerdale 8:25am Classic Emmerdale 8:55am Heartbeat 10:00am Peter & Wendy 12:05pmInspector Morse 2:25pm Inspector Morse 4:40pm Agatha Christie's Marple 6:40pm Agatha Christie's Poirot 9:00pm Vera 11:00pmVera 1:05am A Touch of Frost

11:25am The Sweeney 12:35pmThe Professionals 1:35pm The Saint 2:40pm Kojak 3:45pm Quincy, M.E. 4:50pm Minder 5:55pm The Professionals 7:00pm The Sweeney 8:00pm The Chase Celebrity Special 9:05pmJaws 4: The Revenge 10:10pmFYI Daily 10:15pmJaws 4: The Revenge 11:00pmLethal Weapon 3 12:00am FYI Daily

8:00am Good Morning Sports Fans 11:00am Football Centre 12:30pmRef Watch 1:00pm Sky Sports News 1:30pm Live World Darts Championship 5:30pm Sky Sports News 6:00pm Sky Sports News at 5 7:00pm Sky Sports News at 6 8:00pm Live World Darts Championship 12:00am Live NBA: The Warm Up 1:00am Sky Sports News

1:40pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas 3:40pm Santa Claus 5:45pm ITV Evening News 5:55pm ITV News London 6:15pm Elf 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm The Chase 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pmThe Jonathan Ross Show 11:05pmNot the Robbie Williams Christmas Show

3:05pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 4:00pm Peter Pan 5:00pm FYI Daily 5:05pm Peter Pan 6:10pm Catchphrase 7:15pm Four Christmases 8:20pm FYI Daily 8:25pm Four Christmases 9:00pm The Holiday 10:00pmFYI Daily 10:05pm The Holiday 11:40pm Family Guy 12:15am Family Guy

8:45am Meet the Penguins 9:50am The Sound of Music Live! 12:30pmThe Making of The Sound of Music Live! 1:00pm Inspector Morse 3:20pm Inspector Morse 5:30pm Agatha Christie's Poirot 6:40pm Agatha Christie's Poirot 9:00pm Vera 11:00pmVera 1:05am A Touch of Frost 3:10am Inspector Morse

10:55am Goodwood Members Meeting 11:55am Columbo: Death Hits the Jackpot 2:00pm The Chase Celebrity Special 3:00pm Lawman 4:00pm FYI Daily 4:05pm Lawman 5:05pm The Cowboys 6:05pm FYI Daily 6:10pm The Cowboys 7:45pm The Alamo 8:45pm FYI Daily 8:50pm The Alamo 11:00pm Unforgiven 12:00am FYI Daily

11:00am Gary Neville's Soccerbox 1:00pm Ben Stokes: New Years Day Special 2:00pm Golfer Of The Decade 4:00pm Fights of 2019 6:00pm I'm Game 7:00pm Gary Neville's Soccerbox 8:00pm F1 2019 Season Review 9:00pm Ben Stokes: New Years Day Special 10:00pmFights of 2019 12:00am Class of '92: Full Time

7:00am The Royal 8:00am George and Mildred 8:35am Rising Damp 9:05am Agatha Christie's Poirot 11:25amCarry on Abroad 1:10pmCarry on Again, Doctor 2:55pmCarry on at Your Convenience Production at toilet manufacturers WC Boggs is brought to a halt when an overeager trade union representative calls a strike. 4:45pmCarry on Matron 6:30pmCarry on Camping 8:15pm Carry on Up the Khyber 10:00pmCarry on Doctor 11:50pmCarry on Girls 1:40am Agatha Christie's Poirot 2:45am Inspector Morse

7:00am World of Sport: TV Firsts 7:10am The Car Chasers 7:35am British Superbike Championship Highlights 9:25am Goodwood Festival of Speed 10:25am When English Football Ruled Europe 11:30am When English Football Ruled Europe 12:30pmOnly When I Laugh 1:00pm Mr. Bean 1:30pm Made in Britain 2:35pmThe Sting 3:35pm FYI Daily 3:40pmThe Sting 5:10pmSpartacus 6:10pm FYI Daily 6:15pmSpartacus 9:00pmRocky II 10:00pmFYI Daily 10:05pmRocky II 11:25pmTremors 12:25am FYI Daily

7:00am Sky Sports News 8:00am Good Morning Transfers 9:00am Good Morning Sports Fans 10:00am Gary Neville's Soccerbox 11:00am Gary Neville's Soccerbox 12:00pmThe Greatest Solheim Cup 2:00pm Ben Stokes: New Years Day Special 3:00pm F1 2019 Season Review 4:00pm Fights of 2019 6:00pm Live NBA: Boston @ Toronto 8:30pm Live NBA: Milwaukee @ Philadelphia 11:00pmLive NBA: Houston @ Golden State 1:30am NBA Heatcheck

WEDNESDAY - 25 DECEMBER 7:00am Breakfast 9:55am Stick Man 10:25am Zog 10:50am Piper 11:00am Christmas Day Mass 12:00pmWallace & Gromit: A Close Shave 12:35pmTop of the Pops: 1982 Big Hits 1:40pm BBC News at One 1:45pm Weather 1:55pm Moana 3:30pm The Snail and the Whale 4:00pm The Queen 4:10pm Finding Dory 5:40pm Strictly Come Dancing 7:00pm Michael McIntyre's Big Show 8:00pm Call the Midwife 9:30pm Gavin & Stacey 10:30pmEastEnders 11:30pmMrs. Brown's Boys

7:00am Chimpanzee 8:15amRise of the Guardians 9:40am Carols from King's 11:00am Inside the Factory 12:00pmThe Planets 1:00pm Dancing the Nutcracker - Inside the Royal Ballet 2:30pm Gareth Malone's Christmas Concert 3:30pmScrooge 5:30pm The Queen 5:40pm Raymond Briggs: Snowmen, Bogeymen & Milkmen 6:40pm Upstart Crow 7:20pm Dad's Army 8:00pm The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pmDolly Parton Here I Am 11:00pmGlastonbury 2014 12:10am Glastonbury 2019

8:00pm Magic Flute from Glyndebourne 10:40pmDetectorists 11:10pmThe Duchess Fact-based period drama, chronicling the life of Georgiana Spencer who became Duchess of Devonshire in 1774 at the age of 17. 12:55am Inspector Montalbano The curmudgeonly Sicilian detective investigates the killing of a local businessman. 2:40am Tom Jones & Beverley Knight's Gospel Christmas 3:40am What We Were Watching

9:05am The Bear 9:40am The Simpsons 11:40amIce Age 1:15pm Father Christmas 1:45pm The Snowman 2:20pm The Snowman and the Snowdog 2:50pm The Tiger Who Came to Tea 3:25pm The Alternative Christmas Message 3:30pm Channel 4 News 3:35pmBack to the Future 5:55pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York 8:10pm The Great British Bake Off 9:30pmJamie and Jimmy's Festive Feast 10:30pmFirst Dates 11:30pmKylie's Secret Night 1:00amKylie's Golden Tour 2:00amSlumdog Millionaire

8:25am Paw Patrol 8:50am Peppa Pig 9:10am Britain's Favourite Christmas Songs 11:50am Carols at Christmas 1:50pm Neighbours 2:25pmScrooge 3:25pm Access 3:30pmScrooge 4:10pmOliver! 5:10pm Access 5:15pmOliver! 7:15pm Neighbours 7:40pm Britain's Favourite Christmas Songs 10:30pmThe Two Ronnies: The Unseen Sketches 11:55pmClassic Christmas Comedy Moments 1:25am Secrets of the Mega Christmas Buffet

8:05am 8:30am 8:35am 8:50am 9:10am

Mr Magoo Scrambled! Mr Magoo Mr. Bean The Rubbish World of Dave Spud 9:30amScooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays 10:05am Wishfart 10:25amDisney's a Christmas Carol 12:10pmCountrywise 12:55pmMidsomer Murders 3:00pm Coronation Street at Christmas 4:00pm The Queen 4:10pm Shrek the Halls 4:40pm The Chase 5:40pm ITV Evening News 6:00pm Tipping Point: Lucky Stars 7:00pm The Chase Celebrity Special 8:00pm Emmerdale 9:00pm Coronation Street 10:00pmWho Wants to be a Millionaire?

9:35am FYI Daily 9:40amThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 10:25am You've Been Framed! 10:50am Catchphrase 11:50amPeter Pan 12:50pmFYI Daily 12:55pmPeter Pan 2:00pm You've Been Framed! 3:00pmHow the Grinch Stole Christmas 4:05pm FYI Daily 4:10pmHow the Grinch Stole Christmas 5:10pmElf 6:10pm FYI Daily 6:15pmElf 7:00pmUncle Buck 8:05pm FYI Daily 8:10pm Uncle Buck 9:00pmJurassic World 10:05pmFYI Daily 10:10pmJurassic World 11:30pmCelebrity Juice 12:35am Family Guy 1:05am Family Guy

The schedules for the television programme pages are provided by an external company: we regret that any changes or errors are not the responsibility of Euro Weekly News.

25

www.euroweeklynews.com • 19 - 25 December 2019 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

YOUR STARS

TIME OUT

FOR NEXT 7 DAYS AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Your lot is to be optimistic and positive. Perhaps in the last few months there was the need to take on the problems of others. However, you absolutely must get a balance here. Concentrate this week on getting your body and mind in good shape. That means being a little self-centred to start with. A good routine is essential and the will to stick with it.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Your very nature can lead to internal struggles. In the coming months, however, the truth becomes clear. What is outside of your experience now will become a part of your make-up. Any fear that you had of the unknown gradually diminishes.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) There has been a very strong feeling through these last few weeks. This feeling has been one of spirituality. Your thoughts have been deeper than usual and the sense that there is more to life is acute. This, therefore, gives an impetus to everything that you do this week. The need to progress both on the home and business front has rarely been stronger.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) In the last few weeks there may have been a sense of being not quite in control. That is something to deal with this week. Real progress will only be made when you have faced what is not wanted. You will rid yourself of any negative emotions quickly by facing them.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) You are a great charmer but it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Is there the possibility that your romantic life needs tidying up? Perhaps the number of irons that you have in the fire is causing problems? This week, make it a priority to simplify your life. Be strong and straight with others. A clean slate for the future means not letting small matters run away with you.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) The ever-inquisitive part of your brain is in high spirits. Clearly there is much to be known and enjoyed over the coming months. Begin at the beginning though. Before you throw yourself into a spiritual or

business endeavour, get the facts. I don't mean what people tell you they think. What you need right now is proof that your interest in a certain area is justified.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Certainly there have been times that you felt crestfallen. Sometimes circumstances bring us down. Avoid believing in the myth of ‘what should have been’. What you are is not what others see but what you feel inside.

‘Greetings cards featuring artwork by AudreyQ are available at P.C. Highway, Javea with profits going to Aspadis, a Valencian charity for severely handicapped children.’ Cartoon by Audrey Quinton www.audreyq.co.uk

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) The changes that have already started in the way that you see your life have given pause for thought. You are sure that you could have done better but maybe it is not clear how. Take a step back now and see where you came from. Two years ago where were you heading? Do you still want to follow that path? A need to get back on track can start this week.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) It becomes clear to you that some friends are drifting away. We all have to make changes as life itself is a constantly shifting event. You prefer to hold on to what is familiar and you are not alone in that. At the moment, however, there is much for you to experience, see and feel.

LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY Saturday December 14

2

21

23

32

44

49

BONUS BALL

56

IRISH LOTTO Saturday December 14

11

17

24

29

30

47

BONUS BALL

38

EURO MILLIONS Tuesday December 10

BONUS BALL

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) With a lot of pent-up energy and not a little determination the month is off to a strong start with you. Be aware, however, that treading on the toes of influential people is not to be advised. Your feeling that you are right is admirable, but be tactful.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) You of all people understand the importance of the spiritual side of life. Despite being successful in your own right there is the need to bring this to other people. In sharing your experiences this year you come to a better understanding yourself.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Your practical streak is in full force. Over the next months you will bring much benefit to those around you, in financial terms perhaps, but also spiritually. This week, in itself, shows you how others value your presence and advice.

2

10

19

2 8

47

21

Friday December 13

BONUS BALL

9

16

18

2 10

32

23

EL MILLON: ZWJ16997 LA PRIMITIVA Thursday December 12

2

13

31

32

33

40

BONUS BALL

5 9

JOKER: 6 757 977 Saturday December 14

6

16

18

30

32

41

BONUS BALL

19

4

JOKER: 8 499 280 EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA Sunday December 15

5

13 27

15 38

BONUS BALL

2

Famous quote

‘

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” Mother Teresa Credit: Biography.com

‘

Women’s wit

Follow your passion. Stay true to yourself. Never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path. By all means you should follow that.” Ellen DeGeneres

26

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Cryptic

TIME

Across 1 Comes back with Wrens as alternative (7) 5 Poor family dumped in street (5) 8 Knock down, we’re told, and build up (5) 9 Biggest triangles not in order (7) 10 Swashbucklers traipse around (7) 11 Clearing a good deal, possibly (5) 12 Raced madly round a shopping precinct (6) 14 Debt is compounded for small room (6) 18 Diminutive Egyptian king or teacher (5) 20 A drape cut in a right odd fashion (7) 22 Post in which a musical bloke may be heard? (3,4) 23 Venezuela teacher demonstrates lift (5) 24 Sailors going round northern mountain lakes (5) 25 River animals for worthless people (7) Down 1 Roman general with a firm hold on the borders of Padua (7) 2 A riskier finish for a winter sportsman (5) 3 Voted in by Dee, Celt is devastated (7) 4 News feature created by a diver (6) 5 Roughly grips an ornamental spray (5) 6 Room 101 returned cold sheets? (3,4) 7 It is included in the tax (5) 13 One may have provided food for pet

before end of December (7) 15 Make money and set out to be serious (7) 16 Small boats feature in an Eastenders’ episode (7) 17 Making jokes with no beginning, purely

Code Breaker

visual (6) 18 Health food for breakfast? (5) 19 Predicts socialists to hold American capital (5) 21 A byword for a commercial age (5)

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 15 represents M and 18 represents W, so fill in M every time the figure 15 appears and W every time the figure 18 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Across 1 Religious belief (5) 4 Songs of praise (5) 7 Longing for something past (9) 8 Playthings (4) 10 Writing or drawing instrument (6) 12 Dormant (6) 13 Small sleigh (4) 16 Kinfolk (9) 18 Hours of darkness (5) 19 Small, semiaquatic salamanders (5)

English - Spanish

Down 1 Frozen dew (5) 2 Small hotel (3) 3 Publican (4) 4 Warming device (6) 5 Enchanting (7) 6 Cover for head or shoulders (5) 9 Large tree trunk traditionally burned at Christmas (4,3) 11 Group of six (6) 12 Pinafore (5) 14 Human-like toys (5) 15 Small furnace (4) 17 Carpentry tool (3)

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

Across Down 1 Juegos (5) 1 Guirnaldas (8) 3 Jamón (3) 2 Esquiador (5) 5 Beso (4) 3 Humor (6) 4 Averos (6) 7 New (5) 6 Hielo (3) 9 Joy (7) 11 Chicas (5) 7 Birth (10) 12 Entertainment (9) 8 Ponche de huevo (6) 13 Gold (metal, commodity, currency) (3) 10 Recuerdos (9) 14 Agotador (6) 15 Banquete (5) 17 Árbol (4) 16 Red (4) 18 Toyshops (11) 17 Viaje (4)

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION FACING PAGE

E OUT

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Hexagram

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

AFLOAT ANGELS (10) BATEAU DAMSEL EMERGE ERRATA EUREKA INSULT INTENT ISLAND OFFEND PLENTY RESUME SHERRY STEREO SYNTAX TENURE URGING YEARLY

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Trance 2 Legend 3 Teeing 4 Reload 5 Incise 6 Arrear 7 Iodide 8 Assert 9 Retail 10 Design 11 Regent 12 Needle 13 Nutria 14 Burden 15 Degree 16 Statue 17 Screed 18 Pretty 19 Desert.

Nonagram

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

TARGET: • Average: 17 • Good: 24

• Very good: 35 • Excellent: 45

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

Average: 11 Good: 16 Very good: 23

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Excellent: 29

earache earaches each ewes arch arches awes ages ache aches rage rages aura aurae ouch ours wear wage wages webs gear cage cages craw crag curd curds curdy curs curse chew urge cache caches coach coaches courage couch couches course espy furs bosh gods body bops sewage shew sods sops dogs dose dosh dopy dyne dynes dyes syne jobs josh pose posh pods yens

daft deaf deft fade fail fair fare fate fear feat felt feta fiat file fire flat flea fled flit frat fret frit leaf left lief life lift raft reft rife rift tref afire after defat delft draft drift fader fared fated feral fetal fetid field filar filed filer filet fired flair flare flier flirt frail fried lifer refit rifle adrift afield dafter failed faired falter fatted fatter filter fitted fitter flared lifted lifter rafted rifled rifted titfer trifle fattier flatted flatter flirted flitted flitter fritted trifled filtrate FILTRATED

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

QUICK Down: 1 Hoard, 2 Meander, 3 Sulk, 4 Cygnet, 5/17 Sit out, 6 Surge, 10 Crouton, 11 Rapier, 12 Copse, 14 Scans, 15 Meal.

CRYPTIC

ENGLISH-SPANISH

Across:

Across:

1 Ante, 3 Vicarage, 9 Kneecap, 10 Trots, 11 Nadir, 12 Strand, 14 Ambles, 16 Caesar, 19 Mirage, 21 Rated, 24 Agate, 25 Essence, 26 Eventual, 27 Soft.

1 Subtle, 3 Raisin, 8 Erroneo, 10 Fence, 11 Choir, 12 Believe, 13 Trozo, 15 Sorry, 20 Pesebre, 22 Debts, 24 Circo, 25 Cushion, 26 Shovel, 27 Tomato.

Down: 1 Arkansas, 2 Tweed, 4 Impose, 5 Altar, 6 Abounds, 7 Erse, 8 Accrue, 13 Gradient, 15 Brigade, 17 Arrest, 18 Geneva, 20 Alert, 22 Tango, 23 Sage.

Down:

1 Speech, 2 Burro, 4 Awful, 5 Sonreír, 6 Nieces, 7 Lobby, 9 Nariz, 14 Rosario, 16 Ondas, 17 Spices, 18 Teach, 19 Asunto, 21 Broke, 23 Boina.

App of the week Protection Bitwarden Password Manager offers a safe and easy way to store all of your logins and passwords while conveniently keeping them synced between all of your devices. Bitwarden stores all of your logins in an encrypted vault that syncs across all of your devices. Since it’s fully encrypted before it ever leaves your device, only you have access to your data.

QUIZ: CHRISTMAS FILMS 1. In the 1990 comedy film Home Alone, in which city is Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) accidentally left alone in as his family fly to Paris for their Christmas holiday? 2. In the 2003 Christmas comedy Elf, what was the first rule of the Code of Elves 3. In which 1942 Irving Berlin musical film did Bing Crosby first sing White Christmas? 4. Richard Attenborough played Kris Kringle in a 1994 remake of which 1947 Christmas film? 5. Which 1946 Christmas film, directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart as George Bailey, is based on Philip Van Doren Stern’s short story The Greatest Gift? 6. Which 1988 action film featured Bruce Willis as John McClane, a streetwise New York cop who foils a gang of terrorists on Christmas Day? 7. Which 1999 James Bond film features Denise Richards as American nuclear physicist Dr Christmas Jones?

8. Which Dickens character has been played on film by Seymour Hicks (1935), Alastair Sim (1951), Albert Finney (1970), Michael Caine (1992) and Jim Carrey (2009)? 9. Which singer/songwriter played the part of Major Jack ‘Strafer’ Celliers in the 1983 British-Japanese war film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence? 10. Who wrote the 1957 picture book that was the inspiration for the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Not a lot of people know that… since 1997, a marathon of the film titled ‘24 Hours of A Christmas Story’ has aired annually on TNT (or TBS), comprising 12 consecutive airings of the film on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day each year.

Answers: 1. STATISTICS, 2. MY CAMERA, 3. THE LAST TSAR AND TSARINA OF RUSSIA (Nicholas II and Alexandra), 4. PONZI SCHEME, 5. FLEETWOOD MAC, 6. PILTDOWN MAN, 7. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, 8. CHARLES AND EDDIE (Charles Pettigrew and Eddie Chacon), 9. DAVID MITCHELL and LEE MACK, 10. KEITH WATERHOUSE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

CODE BREAKER

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

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

TARGET:

1 Homes, 4 Costs, 7 Alligator, 8 Dodo, 9 Rescue, 12 Corral, 13 Boss, 16 Prominent, 18 Enter, 19 Links.

Boggled

Kakuro

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

Across:

27

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Weather

Axarquía

ARCHIDONA

ARCHIDONA

TODAY

TOMORROW

CASABERMEJA

CASABERMEJA VELEZ-MALAGA

VELEZ-MALAGA

NERJA

NERJA

SATURDAY ARCHIDONA

Malaga

Almeria

Bilbao

Madrid

TODAY: MAX 16 MIN 15-SH

TODAY: MAX 18, MIN 15-SH

TODAY: MAX 16, MIN 10-SH

TODAY: MAX 12, MIN 8 -SH

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed -

18 21 21 21 20 18

15 - Sh 15 - Sh 13 - Cl 13 - S 12 - Cl 11 - Cl

Alicante

19 20 21 20 19 18

15 - Sh 14 - Cl 14 - S 14 - S 13 - Cl 11 - Cl

Benidorm

TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 14-C

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed -

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed -

19 21 22 21 20 18

S: Sun

14 - Sh 16 - Cl 13 - S 13 - S 12 - Cl 11 - Cl

19 21 22 21 20 18

Cl: Clear

14 18 19 18 16 14

10 - Sh 13 - Cl 13 - Sh 12 - Sh 10 - Sh 10 - Sh

Mallorca

TODAY: MAX 18, MIN 14-C

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed -

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed -

14 - Sh 16 - Cl 15 - S 14 - S 14 - Cl 12 - Cl

CASABERMEJA VELEZ-MALAGA NERJA

Barcelona

TODAY: MAX 18, MIN 15-C

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed -

10 9 - Sh 15 11 - Sh 15 10 - C 13 9 - Cl 12 7 - Cl 12 5 - Sh

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed -

17 19 21 20 19 18

C: Cloudy

13 - Sh 14 - Cl 13 - S 12 - S 12 - Cl 11 - Cl

TODAY: MAX 15, MIN 13-SH

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed -

16 16 19 18 17 16

MALAGA

10 - Sh 12 - S 11 - S 10 - S 10 - Cl 9 - Cl

Sh: Showers

Th: Thunder

RINCON DE LA VICTORIA

Sn: Snow

books@euroweeklynews.com

Sudoku LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

• Richard Hammond, Journalist and presenter; The American actor, film producer and civil December 19, 50 rights activist has won critical acclaim and The British broadcast journalist, writer and numerous accolades and awards. He is the entertainer co-hosted BBC Two car programme, highest-grossing actor of all time (when cameo appearances are excluded), having starred in Top Gear, which won an international Emmy Award in 2005. He was pulled from the wreckage Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Star Wars, Jurassic Annie Lennox. of a Rimac supercar worth €2 million that later Park and many more films. burst into flames after a horrific crash while filming in • Noel Edmonds, Radio host and presenter; December June, 2017. 22, 71 The British radio DJ and television presenter hosted the • Ashley Cole, Footballer; December 20, 39 The former England defender began his long career for his UK's Deal or No Deal, Top of the Pops, and Are You national team in 2001. He played for Chelsea and Arsenal Smarter Than a Ten Year Old? He also fronted Noel’s and was named the England Player of the Year in 2010. House Party, which ran from 1991 to 1999. • Jodie Marsh, Model; December 23, 41 • Samuel L Jackson, Movie actor; December 21, 71

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

Marsh initially gained fame for adult modelling. She went on to star in her own reality show Totally Jodie Marsh: Who’ll Take Her Up The Aisle? The British personality competed on Celebrity Big Brother 4. • Ricky Martin, Singer; December 24, 48 After launching his solo career in 1991, the Puerto Rican star gained widespread success for his self-titled debut album and the hit song ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca.’ • Annie Lennox OBE, Singer; December 65 The Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist has a reported net worth of €54 million. One of the world’s best-selling music artists, Lennox has sold over 80 million records worldwide (including her work with Eurythmics and fellow musician Dave Stewart).

Word Ladder WORE

GIFT BACK

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

Solution WORE SORE SORT SOFT SIFT GIFT

BIRTHDAYS

Euro Weekly News strives for accuracy, but cannot be held responsible for any errors in published forecasts

This week in history

Anyone’s life SO LUCKY by Daw n O’Porter features three main characters with different desires and flaws. B eth s hows th a t women really can have it all, Ruby lives life by her own rules and Lauren is living the dream. B u t is everything a s perfect as it looks to the outside world? In reality, Beth hasn’t had s ex in a yea r. Ruby feels like she’s faili ng at everything an d Lauren’s happiness is basically fake news. A n d it jus t takes on e shocking event to make the truth come tumbling out… Fearless, frank and for eve ryone who’s eve r doubted themselves, So Lucky is the straight-talki ng new novel from t he Sunday Times best seller. It may actually leave you feeling you’re pretty lucky to be you!

RINCON MALAGA DE LA VICTORIA

RINCON MALAGA DE LA VICTORIA

1808 - Classical One of the greatest pieces of music ever written, Beethoven’s Symphony No 5 in C Minor, Op 67 was given its world premiere in Vienna and became the world’s most recognisable piece of classical music. 1843 - Scrooge Charles Dicken’s classic story ‘A Christmas Carol’ is published. Ebeneezer Scrooge is a miser visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas past, present and future. 1888 - Ear, ear Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cut off the lower part of his left ear with a razor. He documented it in a painting titled Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear. 1941 - Bad-a-bing ‘White Christmas’ has its world premiere on Bing Crosby’s weekly NBC radio programme, The Kraft Music Hall. It became one of the most commercially successful singles of all time, and top-selling single. 1979 - Invasion The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, under the pretext of upholding the Soviet-Afghan Friendship Treaty of 1978. Within a few days, the Soviets had secured Kabul, deploying a special assault unit against Tajberg Palace. 1988 - Bomb Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York explodes in midair over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members aboard, as well as 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground.

DVD

Cuck CREDIT: Amazon

TIME OUT

28

RONNIE lives at home with his mother. Sexually frustrated, he agrees to take part in cuckolding for a couple’s home video. Denied from military service due to mental instability, the isolated loner takes to the internet to produce his own video blog series online. Ronnie’s videos gain the support of online extremists, raising him up in the Alt-Right community. But those cuck videos have been found. Ronnie’s online masculinity is broken and he has only one thing left to keep his ego alive: his handgun.

HEALTH& Beauty 29

19 - 25 December 2019

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Packed with goodness VITAMIN C is an important vitamin re­ quired for the health of the skin and hair, as well as a healthy immunity. But this water­soluble vitamin isn’t just im­ portant for making you look good. It has been known to fight the common cold as well. The vitamin, which is found in abundance in citrus fruits and green vegetables, is also important for bone health as well as for ab­ sorption of iron in the body. But it is particularly important for stimu­ lating collagen production in the skin and hence, for improving your skin quality. You can get enough vitamin C in your diet if you make sure to include a portion of fruits and green vegetables in your daily meals. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables available during summers that are high in vitamin C content.

It is essential to consume vitamin C­rich foods because this vitamin is not made by our bodies and hence, the require­ ments must be fulfilled through exter­ nal sources like from food. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is about 70 milligrams for women and about 90 milligrams for men. There are a number of ways of en­ suring vitamin C intake in your body and fruit juices are one of them. Great Vitamin C packed fruits include kiwi, orange, mango, pineapple and toma­ to.

HEALTHY SKIN: Vitamin C stimulates collagen production for improving your skin quality.

Sport nutrition THERE are five goals of sport nutrition, according to the Association of UK Dieticians (BDA).

FILL UP: Carbohydrates are vital for best performance.

1. Mix it up ­ eat a varied and well­balanced diet that supplies the right amount of energy and essential nutrients. 2. Fuel right ­ choose a variety of food including foods that contain carbohy­ drates based on the amount of exercise. 3. Strive for five ­ eat at least five por­ tions of fruit and vegetables a day; fresh, frozen, dried, canned all count. 4. Refuel ­ if you need to recover quickly then start refuelling with carbohydrate foods and fluids as soon as possible after exercise. 5. Think fluid ­ ensure you are well­hydrated by drinking throughout the day as well as before, during and after exercise, as appropriate. No matter what your chosen sport, carbohydrates are vital for the best performance. Exercising muscles rely on carbohydrate as their main source of fuel. The amount you need will depend on your training pro­ gramme and dietary goals. The more intense the pro­ gramme, the more carbohydrate you need in your diet. A diet low in carbohydrate can lead to a lack of energy during exercise, early fatigue, loss of concentration and delayed recovery. In general people who do regular in­ tense training should make sure they get enough food en­ ergy, which includes from carbohydrates as well as not for­

getting the importance of fluid. If the right amount of food and fluid is eaten and drunk be­ fore, during and after exercise, performance can be max­ imised during exercise and recovery after exercise support­ ed. Carbohydrate is stored in muscles as glycogen. The body’s stores of glycogen are limited and need to be topped up each day, particularly if you are exercising each day or exercising at a high intensity. The best way to do this is to have a regular meal/eating pattern which includes a low fat, high­carbohydrate snack or a light meal two to three hours before exercise. Then after exercise start replenishing your glycogen stores immediately with a high carbohydrate low fat snack. The most effective refuelling occurs within 0­30 minutes after exercise. Estimated carbohydrate needs depend on a person’s activ­ ity level: 3­5 hours a week ­ 4­5g 5­7 hours a week ­ 5­6g 1­2 hours a day ­ 6­8g 2 + hours a day ­ 8­10g Choose a variety of food including foods containing carbo­ hydrates, based on amount of exercise.  Split your total carbohydrate intake into several meals and snacks throughout the day.  Plan and prepare to fit your eating in around exercise.  If training for multiple hours or at a high intensity, sports drinks, sports bars and carbohydrate gels can boost your in­ take.

SOCIAL SCENE U p d a t e o n f o o d , d r i n k , e n t e r t a i n m e n t s , w h a t ’s o n a n d w e e k l y h a p p e n i n g s

ECO STAR

SPANISH pop star Alejandro Sanz vowed to reduce his pol­ luting footprint at the Climate Summit in Madrid. The interna­ tional star spoke about his plans to use renewable energy and electric vehicles for his concerts. Sanz said that he would be implementing studies to calcu­ late the amount of CO2 pro­ duced by his concerts and work

ROMANCE: The singer and his younger girlfriend raised eyebrows. towards reducing it. The singer’s ecological stance comes after a turbulent year in the spotlight. The popstar announced his separation from wife Raquel Perera on social media in July.

S U P E R S T A R and heartthrob Harry Styles is back at the fore­ front of the music scene, with the release of his highly antici­ pated album ‘Fine Line’ on De­ cember 13. Spanish fans went wild after the singer an­ nounced his 2020 tour ‘Love on Tour’ would be stopping in Madrid. Harry Styles fans will be able to see their idol take the stage in the capital in April of next year, where he will get heartbeats rac­ ing with his performance at the WiZink Cen­

After 10 years of marriage and two children, the news came as a shock to his fans. And just weeks later, Sanz was seen with new girlfriend Rachel Valdés, a 30­year­old Cuban artist.

tre. Excitement began to go into overdrive when the former One Direction member dropped sin­ gles Lights Out and Watermelon Sugar ahead of the release of his new album and worldwide tour. And if his hot new tour dates weren’t enough for fans, the singer hosted an episode of James Corden’s ‘Late Late Show’ on TV. The two celebs appeared on popular section ‘Carpool Karaoke,’ as Corden poked fun at his flamboyant 70’s in­ spired fashion sense.

19 - 25 December 2019

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Show stoppers SPANISH fashion label Desigual has never shied away from vibrant colours, optimistic messaging, or freedom of self-expression, and at this year’s edition of Miami Art Basel they presented events highlighting their playful approach to sexuality. Spanish artist Miranda Makaroff shares a native home base with the label in Barcelona and drew on her endless love of pleasure to create a Spring 2020 capsule collection including technicolor renderings of the human form, contorted in sexual positions, depicted in various states of undress. At one event a group of models wearing Desigual’s 2020 collection marched down the runway barefoot in a planned effort helmed by Catalan artist Carlota Guerrero and featuring Lola Leon, Madonna’s daughter. From the catwalk, they assembled in pairs and began an enticing seduction of each other starting with a kiss and ending in a show-stopping simulated orgy. CREDIT: Twitter

CREDIT: @alejandrosanz @ra chelvaldes_studio

CELEBRITIES

30

Fan frenzy

A PLAYFUL APPROACH TO SEXUALITY: Simulated orgy.

Classical culture Christmas wines THE Youth Orchestra of Motril will perform their tra­ ditional Christmas concert on Saturday December 21 at 8pm in the Teatro Calderón. Under the baton of director

Fco Javier Fernánadez Pereira the young musicians will offer a programme composed of traditional works of the Vien­ nese New Year’s concert such as the Hungarian Dance, the

Blue Danube, the Waltz of the Vienna Forest Tales or the Radetzky March, enlivened also with contemporary pieces and Christmas carols. Tickets can be purchased at the theatre box office for €3.

Carolling LA ASOCIACION Cultura Cruz Alhambra Almuñecar celebrat­ ed Christmas last week in the Plaza de la Constitucion with the Choir ‘Cosas Nuestras,’ of La Herradura, singing Christ­ mas carols. On Friday and Sat­ urday they held another event there featuring Andalucia Baila and dancer Evi Martin.

IT is simply not necessary to buy the most ex­ pensive wine to find a wine that is enjoyable. In case of surprise visits, keep a good Cava around. Choose white, of course you can spend more but then you might as well buy Cham­ pagne. Champagne is also like a flashy car, just who are you trying to impress? If you are seriously out to impress you need to be serving a Cham­ pagne like Louis Roederer or Veuve Cliquot, af­ ter that you might as well serve Krug or Cristal, and will your guests really notice the difference? If you are going to make Champagne cocktail mixes Cava will work well. Matching wine and food, often called pair­ ings, is something of an art. Americans get seri­ ous about it. So do Sommeliers, who look after cellars in posh restaurants. For Christmas lunch if you are serving a starter, remember palate cleansing. A creamy soup or fish starter is probably best accompa­ nied by a white wine, a Verdejo, an Albarino, a white Rioja or a Sauvignon Blanc. White Rioja works well too. Any of these will accompany the main course well. Assuming you are now moving onto a roast of some kind, red wine is best. But do choose good quality wine, not the stuff that almost guarantees a headache as you drink it. Red wines need to breathe, so don’t forget to open it about 20 minutes before you serve it

and don’t serve it warm, it should be at cellar temperature around 12­14ºC. I keep mine in the fridge and let it then warm up as it breathes. The French and the Americans set the trend for very pale blush rosados, whilst the Spanish traditionally preferred a darker rosado typified by those from Navarra. They are all a blend of grapes. The Spanish have started to produce blushes and some are very good, my favourite is a blend of Tempranillo and Verdejo grapes. Rioja comes as Joven and Crianza, then Reserva. I advise Crianza. Crianza has been in the barrel a little longer and allowed the wine to develop, usually making it smoother. The Tempranillo grape is also grown in Ribero del Duero. I advise a Crianza. These are usually a little drier than a Rioja so we get perfect palate cleansing for just about any roast you serve. Cheers to a Merry Christmas! John Le Sueur

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

19 - 25 December 2019

EWN 31

Sewage and dogs

DAVID WORBOYS OVER the last 40 years there has been ever increasing discussion about the untreated sewage of Ner­ ja being pumped straight into the sea at the Burriana and Torrecilla beaches. Back in the summers of the 70’s I remember swimming in the sea at Burriana along with hundreds of holi­ daymakers and residents, aware that something was wrong. This is not for the squeamish! More than twice a week, depending on the tides, there would be a yellow­ ish slick within 100 metres off the coast which the authorities and locals dismissed as oil released from a pass­ ing ship. This theory was ridiculous on closer inspection. And it was hardly corroborated by other detritus I dis­ covered whilst innocently floundering in the waves. There were occasionally condoms, disintegrating toilet tissue and sani­ tary pads (obviously all used) and vari­ ous mysterious objects, liquid waste and chemicals that people choose to flush down their lavatories and hence

YELLOW SLICK: Can spoil a swim in the sea.

into the sea. On one occasion I was horrified to rise from under the water to find a convoy of turds passing be­ fore my tightly closed nose and mouth. Well, the long delayed sewage treatment is due to be operative by the middle of next year. We’ll see! Over the last four years just about every street in Nerja has been dug up to accommodate the necessary infra­

DOG POO: People should be using scoop bags.

structure, sewage pipes and channels. Perhaps, next year, it won’t be neces­ sary to travel to Salobreña every time we fancy a swim in the sea. On the theme of scatology, there seems to be increasing responsibility in the use of scoop bags to remove the toxic excrement of dogs in the streets. In this discipline Spain is still way behind Germany and England, but well ahead of France. A few years

ago I spent a month in Nice and parts of the city seemed to be ankle deep in dog turds. In London and Paris about 200 years ago, it was common practice to empty the contents of chamber pots through the window on to the street below. I don’t know how many passers­by got the full treatment, but today it seems an inconceivable level of lack of hygiene ­ or, indeed, basic

consideration of others. In Singapore dogs are not allowed on the streets ­ and certainly not in restaurants. Maybe we have a lot to learn from the garden state. One way or another, I have no doubt that long before the end of this century, the idea of dog s**t on the streets of Europe will be comparable to the chamber pot horrors of the 19th century.

The IoT (The Internet of Things) and what exactly is it? RONNIE ROCKS THE TECH THE IoT is a network of inter­ connected things/devices which are embedded with sensors, software, network connectivity and necessary electronics that enables them to collect and exchange data between each device. This new wave of connectiv­ ity is going beyond laptops and smartphones, it’s going towards connected cars, smart homes, connected wearables, smart cities and connected healthcare. Basically, a connected life and its anticipated that by 2020 connected devices across all technologies will reach 20.6 billion. Woah! That’s a huge number, let’s just hope the network will be able to handle all this! 5G is on its way! Your Laptops connected to your Smart Phone, your Smart Phones connected to your Smart Home and the back bones connected to your Thigh Bone come on Sing along be­

NETWORK CONNECTIVITY: Interconnected devices.

cause it’s coming your way with 5G which is the fifth gen­ eration of wireless technolo­ gy.... The connectivity benefits of 5G will make businesses more efficient and give con­ sumers access to more infor­ mation faster than ever before.

Super­connected au­ tonomous cars, smart refrig­ erators, smart communities, industrial IoT, immersive ed­ ucation ­ they will all rely in some way on 5G (fifth­gen­ eration cellular wireless) in the future.

Confused? don’t worry be­ cause you have been using 4G on your Mobile Phone for a while now it’s a fast network connection and WhatsApp’s free calls are great and FREE! You can watch TV or talk to the Grandkids and Family

from virtually anywhere you may be on your mobile device. IoT and 5G allows for super­ fast and immersive game streaming services; a way to do stroke rehabilitation through Virtual Reality; smart bandages that track your heal­

ing; and a way for parents to interact with babies who are stuck in incubators. All of these ideas need either the high bandwidth, low latency and low­power­low­cost as­ pects of 5G. Autonomous cars will inter­ act with other Autonomous cars and smart roads to im­ prove safety and manage traf­ fic. Basically, everything on the road will be talking to every­ thing else! A question for you all... if you happen to have one too many Cervezas and were in an Autonomous car and it was driving you home could you be found guilty of drink driving?? Email me your thoughts on that at ronhowells@theeu roweeklynews.com. Virtual Reality, The IoT and 5G will start a revolution in Ed­ ucation, Industry and Health Care and off course the Mili­ tary ☹… So to wrap this up The IoT heralds in a new era of connectivity unseen in previ­ ous generations oh and by the way, guess what? You will need a new compatible mo­ bile phone to use this service!

32 EWN

19 - 25 December 2019

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RUFF JUSTICE FOR BULLDOGS IN TUTUS NORA JOHNSON

BREAKING VIEWS FRENCH BULLDOG: Used as an emotional support animal.

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

DID you read about the two French bulldogs in tutus and their owners who were ejected from a Norwegian Air flight to the USA after the animals ‘struggled to contain their emotions’? Is it April 1st? Is this for real or have I woken up in a parallel universe? The range of animals accepted as es­ sential props for travel have included kangaroos, turkeys and a miniature horse named Flirty. Just imagine in­ flight announcements: please put on your own mask before attending to that of your dog/cat/kangaroo... But what’s a bit surprising here is the fact that the female owners concerned ‘gender­stereotyped’ their bulldogs by dressing them in tutus. Pink ones! Though it may help explain why they needed emotional support animals... Basically, it sounds as if their dogs could do with support animals of their own. All I know is I’d certainly end up in need of some sort of support if I tried to put a tutu on my cat.

To be serious, some of these ‘sup­ port’ animals are simply pets being transported by their owners, aren’t they? A peacock that was once rejected as an emotional support companion still made the journey by road, for in­ stance. It looks as if it’s just a way for some people to take their favourite pet along with them in the cabin. In the world of private medicine, doubtless the doctors get appropriately high fees for their service in signing it off. Money talks. Time this idiocy was stopped and all an­ imals refused entry to planes. All, that is, except guide dogs and, err ... me! I’d very much like a tall, dark handsome man as my emotional sup­ port on my next flight, please. Because, frankly, it’d take more than a dog in a

tutu to calm me down on any Boeing 737Max flight. Monty Python eat your heart out! Just imagine what Cleese, Palin etc would have made of all this, back in the day, when a little satirical dig wouldn’t result in a snowflake blizzard of taking offence... HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Nora Johnson’s psychological crime thrillers ‘Betrayal,’ ‘The Girl in the Woods,’ ‘The Girl in the Red Dress,’ ‘No Way Back,’ ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retri­ bution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Cleram­ bault Code’ (www.nora­johnson.net) available from Amazon in paper­ back/eBook (€0.99;£0.99) and iBook­ store. All profits to Costa del Sol Cude­ ca cancer charity.

FEATURE

TRAVEL

Go tropical THE village of Almuñecar on the Costa Tropical is of­ ten bypassed in favour of its popular coastal neigh­ bour Nerja, but this picturesque fishing hotspot should by no means be overlooked if you happen to be in the area. While the stunning beaches are a major draw, there is much more on offer in this lit­ tle­known town to ex­ plore. Many people aren’t aware that the English writer Laurie Lee was well acquainted with Al­ muñecar; in fact he was staying in the town when the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936 and it was even the sub­ ject of the final chapter of As I walked Out One Midsummer’s Morning. As a result, a statue paying homage to the writer was unveiled in in 1988, which sits at the end of a row of beach bars on the Paseo del Al­ tillo and is worth a visit.

The old town is a quaint jumble of white­ washed houses and winding lanes, which are lavishly decorated with jasmine and geraniums. It may be a steep climb to get to the top, but the views over the bay are definitely worth it. The impressive San Miguel Castle dates from the town’s Moorish period and is more than 600 years old. It was used as a ceme­ tery for over 130 years before restorative work on the castle began in 1986 and it is now home to an informative ar­ chaeological museum packed with historical artefacts.

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BARRY DUKE ALL of us, I guess, have been drenched when we’ve turned on a kitchen sink tap and been sprayed by water deflected upwards by a spoon. After it happened to me for the umpteenth time, I began pondering on other small issues that drive me insane. Sealed food: I adore smoked salmon, and the brand I buy has a tiny flap at one corner that needs to be peeled back before you can get at the contents. I’ve yet to make it work without a pair of pli­ ers ­ or my teeth. Many other products have variations of this flap, and none ever seem to work. Ring­pulls: On two occasions this week, the ring­pulls on the tinned tomatoes I tried to open came away from the cans. Only with a hammer and screwdriver could I get at the contents (who has can openers these days? Reminder to myself: buy one tonight). Missing bathroom or sink plugs: When I moved into my Benidorm apartment I was amazed that none of the four basins had plugs. I mea­ sured each hole carefully, and

Little things that annoy a lot

SMOKED SALMON: I’ve yet to open a packet without a pair of pliers - or my teeth! went in search of tapones, as they are called in Spanish. I had to trawl every hardware shop in the town before I found the right ones. Blister pack tablets: Often a cir­ cle of foil will adhere to a pill, and on two occasions I’ve had the sil­ ver paper lodge in my throat. Tiny twin­prong halogen bulbs: Many Spanish lamps are fitted

with these. I have three over the bathroom sink and three desk lamps. To replace them is a night­ mare. Because I can’t get my fin­ gers into the recesses into which they are set I have to use pliers, but all too frequently the bulbs disintegrate and I’m faced with the almost impossible task of remov­ ing the remnants.

Appliance cords: Why are the ones in Spain always too damn short? The answer, I guess, is to keep the extension cord industry afloat. Visit the electrical depart­ ment of any store and you will find a mind­blowing array of the things in all shapes, colours and lengths. I must have a dozen in our apart­ ment.

Electric sockets: Our apartment has no shortage of these, but they are all in the wrong places. Natu­ rally! So more extension leads are required. Screwdrivers: A week ago a five­ minute job took almost an hour because I could not find, among an impressive collection of screw­ drivers in my toolbox, one that would fit two screws needed to at­ tach a bracket for a TV soundbar to a wooden shelf. In sheer exas­ peration I finally nailed the bloody thing to the wood. Halogen hobs: I keep forgetting that these take forever to cool down after use. My latest boo­boo was the messiest and smelliest EVER! I inadvertently placed a plastic container of rice on a hob I’d used to cook up a curry, and 10 minutes later the apartment was filled with smoke. What I saw on the hob was a bubbling mound of melted plastic and rice ­ and all the fire alarms in the building went off. Time, methinks, to start a social media page for people wanting to sound off about the small things that drive them into fits of uncon­ trolled fury.

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Bold rejuvenation PEUGEOT fans can now order the 2020 Peugeot 2008 and e­2008 SUVs. Initially offered only in GT Line spec, the petrol and diesel pow­ ered 2008 starts at around €30,100. The new model is more stylistically assertive with a much more pronounced front end, a horizontal grille, optics directly borrowed from its little­sister 208, and the famous LED signa­ ture in the shape of a hook. In terms of dimensions, the new 2008 is a bit bigger as well, mea­ suring 5.5 inches with a slightly stretched wheelbase as well. All 2008s are front­driven only but offer Grip Control, a stability control system for looser sur­ faces as an option. The interior looks suitably fu­ turistic, with a small steering wheel, digital instrument panel and separate infotainment touchscreen with ‘piano key’ shortcut buttons underneath.

STYLISTICALLY ASSERTIVE: Beefier dimensions.

Like the 208, the 2008’s high­ mounted digital instrument clus­ ter can project crucial informa­ tion in enlarged ‘holographic’ form in front of it and Peugeot says this can shorten a driver’s

reaction time by half a second. Like the rest of the Peugeot range, the 2008 is now available in Active, Allure, GT Line and GT trim. The electric e­2008 costs

€38,000 after the €4,152.35 gov­ ernment plug­in car grant. Less e x p e n s i v e , e n t r y­ l e v e l m o d e l s will join the range at a later date. Peugeot has put effort into making the e­2008 drive more

like a regular automatic car, too, and speaking of transmissions, the higher­powered petrols are available with an eight­speed au­ to as well as a conventional six­ speed manual. The engine range echoes that of the Peugeot 208’s, but the power outputs are higher to compensate for more weight and size: the entry­level 2008 has 99bhp, and the top model is no longer the 134bhp EV, but a 153bhp petrol. The electric feels like the most natural fit for the more glitzy, ex­ tra tech interior and the same mixture of 100kW power and 50kWh battery as the e­208 has been slotted under the e­2008, adding around 350kg to the kerb weight, but keeping it all in the floor. Better for handling, and it means room for people and lug­ gage is completely unimpeded too. The fully charged range is 193 miles.

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ROAD TEST by Nick Fletcher TOYOTA’S Camry is a mid­size hybrid saloon which offers zesty performance and good fuel economy along with a spa­ cious interior and generous lev­ el of standard features. It competes with rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and BMW 3 Series in a niche market as the rise of the SUV has resulted in a decline in saloon car sales. How­ ever, there are still a significant number of people who prefer a booted saloon and the latest Camry should attract attention. Priced from €35,656 (£29,995), even the entry­level Camry offers great value as its standard kit includes dual­zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, sat­nav, digital radio and Bluetooth, alloy wheels, rear privacy glass and automatic headlights. It also has plenty of safety features including adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, auto emergency braking and pedestrian detection, auto high­beam and hill­start assist. My Design test model was

19 - 25 December 2019

EWN 37

Toyota Camry Design TOYOTA CAMRY: Offers a zesty performance.

the entry version with a 2.5­litre petrol engine and electric motor giving a total of 215 hp and mated to CVT automatic trans­ mission. It is a smooth combina­ tion delivering slick responsive performance, with a 0­100 kph time just 8.4 seconds. Top speed is 180 kph (112 mph), emissions low at 98 g’km and

MERCEDES has revealed the second generation GLA with promises of new technology and greater comfort. On the outside, the new GLA body features re­ duced lines and accentuated planes that convey serene sportiness with powerful shoulders of the bodywork. Coupé­like lines of the side windows and the contoured side profile give the car its dynami­ cally elegant flair. All­round protective cladding adds structure to the overall proportions and emphasises the vehicle’s off­road character. The GLA can be equipped with the permanent

Facts at a glance Model: Toyota Camry Design Engine: 2.5 litre petrol/electric motor Transmission: CVT automatic Performance: 0-100 kph 8.3 seconds, top speed 180 kph (112 mph) Economy: 18.3 kpl (51.8 mpg) Emissions: 98 g/km

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

average fuel economy 18.3 kpl (51.8 mpg). In low­speed city traffic, the Camry can run on electric pow­ er only and in other situations it automatically switches between petrol and electric power to give optimum performance and maximum fuel economy. The sculptured body shape,

Second generation all­wheel­drive system 4MATIC with fully variable torque distribution as an option. 4MATIC compo­ nents include the power take­off to the rear axle, which is integrated into the automated dual­clutch transmission, and the rear axle differential with an integrated multi­plate clutch. Unlike the previous model, in which the actuation was hydraulic, the clutch is electro­mechanically operated. Via a two­stage spur gear and a ball ramp, an

electric motor exerts an axial force on the clutch pack to open or close the plates. One element of this compact unit is the rear axle differential; this compensates the different rotational speeds of the rear wheels. The advantages of this control system are non­rpm­dependent operation across the en­ tire actuation range and thus also the pilot control of the clutch while stationary, along with higher effi­ ciency thanks to the ball ramp concept.

wide wrap­around front grille and sleek headlights give the Camry a potent stance and the cabin has a classy look with ele­ gant design features and practi­ cal instrument and control lay­ out. The 28 cms (seven­inch) infotainment screen is small by class standards, but is easy to operate. Despite a sloping roofline, head and legroom in the rear of the Camry is still very good and the seating supportive and com­ fortable. The suspension on the car has been made more com­ pact to create room for the elec­ tric storage batteries without compromising boot space, which at 524 litres is among the best in class. And the rear seats can be folded down to accom­ modate longer items. There are signs of a revival in demand for booted saloons ­ es­ pecially hybrid models ­ so the Camry, bolstered by Toyota’s exceptional reputation for de­ pendability, is well set to take advantage.

The interior instrument panel features optical ‘cut­outs’ in the driver and front passenger area. The cut­out on the driver’s side is dominated by the free­standing display unit, which is available in three variants: with two seven­inch displays with one sev­ en­ and one 10.25­inch display and, in the Widescreen version, with two 10.25­inch displays. Included as standard is the intuitively operated MBUX infotainment system. The powerful computer, customisable presenta­ tion, full­colour head­up display and voice control are key advantages of the system.

38 EWN

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19 - 25 December 2019

No match for Man City PREMIER LEAGUE champions Manchester City cruised to a 3­0 victory over arsenal at the Emi­ rates Stadium on Sunday. Enforced changes saw Sead Ko­ lasinac and Matteo Guendouzi handed starts for the Gunners, whilst Benjamin Mendy, Phil Fo­ den, Nicolas Otamendi and IIkay Gundogan formed City’s four changes. Reaction to last Saturday’s Man­

chester derby defeat provided the Citizens enough motivation to take a second­minute lead after Kevin De Bruyne arrived at the back to smash into the roof of the net, just moments after Gabriel Martinelli got goal­side to bring the best out of Ederson from point­blank range at the other end. A give­and­go between Gundo­ gan and De Bruyne released the

SPORT WINNING FORM: Manchester City piled the misery on Arsenal.

latter down the left who then squared to Raheem Sterling for a simple tap­in after 15 minutes as the Citizens extended their advan­ tage. De Bruyne piled more misery on the Gunners when he charged at the defence to fire into the bot­ tom corner with a low strike five minutes to half­time, much to the anger of the home supporters. The Belgian continued torment­

ing the hosts as he flashed the frame of the post with a curling drive from the edge of the area two minutes later. City didn’t let up right after the interval, with the Gunners desper­ ately holding out as Mesut Ozil threw a tantrum being substituted for Emile Smith Rowe after 59 minutes, kicking his gloves in the air in anguish. Gabriel Jesus went through on

goal following a poor back­pass, but the Brazilian failed to beat Ar­ senal shot­stopper Bernd Leno who quickly charged at the attack­ er a minute later. The Citizens searched for more in added time, but Raheem Ster­ ling fired wide after going clear down the left side of the box as City return to winning ways, while the Gunners’ top­four hopes take another knock.

CRUCIAL WIN: West Ham United took the three points.

Basement battle A LONG­AWAITED goal by close­season signing Sebastien Haller earned West Ham United a crucial 1­0 win in a Premier League basement battle at Southampton to ease the pressure on manager Manuel Pellegrini. Haller’s well­taken goal in the 37th minute ended a 636­minute lean spell for the Frenchman and it proved enough for the Hammers to claim only their second league win since September and ease them up to 15th, four points above the drop zone. West Ham also had a Michail Antonio effort ruled out by VAR for handball in the build­up shortly after half­time and rode their luck thereafter as Southampton finally began to threaten. Danny Ings rattled a shot against the underside of the crossbar in the 70th minute. Ings struck the woodwork again shortly after but had already been flagged offside while Jack Stephens sliced a good chance horribly wide as Southampton pressed. A draw would have lifted Southampton out of the relegation zone, but they remain third from bottom with 15 points from 17 games, behind Aston Villa on goal difference.

SPORT

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19 - 25 December 2019

EWN 39

Salvaged a point MANCHESTER UNITED needed a late goal from Mason Greenwood to earn a point against Everton in the Premier League on Sunday. Mason Greenwood scored 13 minutes from time to salvage a 1­1 draw for Manchester United and deny Everton caretaker boss Dun­ can Ferguson a second consecutive Premier League victory. United went into the game hop­ ing to claim a third consecutive league win for the first time since January, but David de Gea’s failure to clear a first­half corner led to Victor Lindelof putting through his own net. Everton defended resolutely as they sought to build on their 3­1 victory over Chelsea at Goodison Park, and the commitment shown by a side lacking a number of key players did raise inevitable ques­ tions about Ferguson taking the manager’s job on a permanent ba­ sis. That was resolved on Monday though as the club announced Car­ los Ancelotti as their new manag­ er. But United substitute Green­

HELD ON: Manchester United held on to pull a point from Sunday’s game. wood produced the cutting edge in attack that the hosts had been lacking and his strike ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men extended

their unbeaten streak to six league matches. Jesse Lingard dragged a shot wide on the turn from eight yards

after United swept forward from the kick­off. Marcus Rashford and Daniel James both went close, feeding on

incisive long passes Lindelof and Scott McTominay, before Jordan Pickford parried a dipping Rash­ ford free­kick away from danger as Everton continued to come under pressure. Without the pace to hit United on the counter­attack, the visitors took a more patient approach and were rewarded when Leighton Baines’ corner was misjudged by De Gea ­ whose claims to have been impeded by Dominic Calvert­ Lewin were ignored ­ and the ball grazed the goalkeeper’s knuckles before bouncing off Lindelof’s leg and into the unguarded net. Luke Shaw surged down the United left after an hour and fired a powerful drive that Pickford did well to parry away, and nine min­ utes later Lindelof curled a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box with Everton pinned back. United’s late pressure paid off when James found Greenwood on the edge of the box and the teenager tucked a low drive into the bottom corner of Pickford’s net to spare United’s blushes.

SPORT

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19 - 25 December 2019

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Below-par leaders win LIVERPOOL made hard work of beating rock­bottom Wat­ ford 2­0 in the Premier League on Saturday and also suffered another injury blow as Georginio Wijnaldum limped off ahead of his side’s Club World Cup trip. A day on from manager Jur­ gen Klopp signing a contract ex­ tension to 2024, the runaway leaders were well below their brilliant best, but nevertheless claimed victory through two goals from Mohamed Salah, the second coming in the 90th minute. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Is­ maila Sarr were guilty of horrible misses for Watford either side of Salah’s first strike seven minutes before half­time and there were several other presentable chances for Watford in their first game under Nigel Pearson. However, Liverpool ­ who also had a goal ruled out by VAR ­ ul­ timately did enough to claim vic­

tory and were hoping for a posi­ tive update on Wijnaldum as they prepared for a Club World Cup semi­final last night (Wednesday). Liverpool’s previous three home games against Watford had yielded an aggregate score of 16­1, but this was certainly no cakewalk. Despite having less than 30 per cent possession in the first period, Watford regularly threatened on the counter­at­ tack, enjoying success down the flanks. However, both Doucoure and Sarr mis­kicked horribly when given clear sights of goal in the Liverpool box and the first of those misses was punished in­ side 58 seconds as the hosts scored from their only shot on target prior to half­time. An incisive Liverpool break ended with Salah latching on to Sadio Mane’s pass into the left channel, before cutting inside

TWO GOALS: Mohamed Salah’s second came in the 90th minute.

Nerja rugby CLUB NERJA RUGBY travelled to Sotogrande on Sunday hoping to topple hosts Club Rugby del Estrecho and regain their position at the top of the Central Division of Andalucian League 2. Nerja started the game well and with only seven minutes gone they conceded a penalty five metres from their line. Estrecho took a quick kick and passed the ball along their backs to score their opening try in the left corner. The hosts increased the lead with their second try halfway through the half in exactly the same way. Nerja conceded a number of penalties near their own line which led to a yellow card for Marcos Garcia Gaona, which seemed to revitalise the men as they took the play to the opposition, who themselves conceded a number of penalties and also re­ ceived a yellow card. Nerja were unsuccessful in their scoring attempts and the hosts scored in injury time to go into the interval 15­0 ahead. The game still looked within touching distance but four minutes into the half Estrecho added their fourth try. The initiative then slipped away from Nerja and the hosts were to add another seven tries before the end to inflict Nerja’s heaviest defeat.

Kiko Femenia all too easily and curling a gorgeous finish beyond Ben Foster into the top right­ hand corner. Watford continued to look dangerous after the break and Alisson was forced into stops from Sarr and Gerard Deulofeu either side of Mane seeing a 50th­minute goal ruled out for offside following a VAR review. A lack of quality in the final third was prevalent thereafter, with Roberto Firmino particular­ ly sloppy, but Liverpool ­ now 10 points clear at the top of the table ­ eventually added a sec­ ond as Salah flicked home a scuffed shot from substitute Di­ vock Origi. Liverpool may not have been particularly impressive, but Klopp is unlikely to mind one bit. December is an intense month for the league leaders and secur­ ing another win ­ their 16th from 17 league games ­ was es­ sentially all that matters.

Champions League Draw SO that’s it, the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League round of 16 has been drawn in full. We’ve seen some heavy­ weights drawn against each oth­ er in a series of spectacular ties. Who are the winners and losers? Winner: Spurs Spurs clawed their way into the knockout rounds on match­ day five and will look to make an assault on Europe with their new manager, Jose Mourinho. And despite the Portuguese’s re­ cent history of struggling against smaller, more organised sides (his Chelsea team were eliminat­ ed by upstarts Atlético Madrid in 2014, a rising PSG in 2015 and when he led Manchester United, they fell to Sevilla in 2018) as opposed to giants, this Spurs

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: The winners and the losers. team is still quite weak in de­ fence and exposure to any of Europe’s heavyweights may have been too much for even Mourinho’s big­game nous. Luckily for them, then, that

they drew RB Leipzig, arguably the weakest of all their possible opponents. The German side are not without their qualities, obvi­ ously, and Timo Werner is a hot­ shot that will need handling ­

but you can breathe easy, José! This is a winnable tie! Loser: Manchester City Poor Pep Guardiola. Just when his season of terrible luck and bizarre defensive errors looked to have at least been simplified into a narrow objec­ tive: focus on and win the cups, they go ahead and get one of the nastiest possible draws they could. Are Manchester City better than Real Madrid? Unquestion­ ably. They have a more coherent tactical vision and even in their current state of nonsense defen­ sive structure, can still organise themselves better than Real Madrid ­ who are entirely reliant on enough of their star men playing well at the same time to see them over the line.

Sports awards THE ANDALUCIAN Handball Federation celebrates the VI Edition of the Andalucian Handball Awards in the Auditorio “José Martín Recuerda” of the Casa de la Cultura de Almunecar on December 28. Andalucia’s most prolific team, Algeciras Handball Club have already been an­ nounced as winners of the best club award.