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EX BENIDORM MAYOR ARRESTED
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ZAPLANA ACCUSED OF BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION
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Eduardo Zaplana arrested by Guardia Civil
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Eduardo Zaplana, who served as mayor Benidorm in the early 1990’s was arrested at his Valencia home early last Tuesday morning charged with siphoning off 10.5 million euros in backhanded bribes, through offshore accounts. The sixty two year old former politician for the right wing, Partido Popular (PP) party, held office in the city from 1991 to 1994 and retains a summer home in the upmarket resort area of La Cala de Benidorm. Zaplana later went into regional politics, becoming president of the Valencian Community, from 1995 to 2002, before becoming labour minister in Jose Maria Aznar’s national government. From 2004 to 2008, he represented Valencia and was the main PP spokesman in Spanish congress, before resigning to take up a
by Andy Mansell
backbench role. The accused was arrested by Guardia Civil officers of the Central Operative Unit (UCO), along with six other suspects including another former high ranking PP politician, Juan Cotino, in an operation codenamed Ariel. The charges of bribery and corruption, refer to preferential government contracts being offered to companies in return for cash and money being received regularly from ITV testing centres in the Valencia region, including Ondara. Ten and a half million euros are alleged to have been laundered by the accused, through a complex web of offshore bank accounts via Luxembourg, leading to Panama. Continued Page 4...
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
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• How are they compensated? The main thing to look out for here is whether they are paid commission by particular fund providers. This practice (which is now illegal in the UK) motivates advisers to place you into investments are in their best interest as appose to yours. Of course the adviser needs to make a living, but the rewards to them should be based solely on providing the best possible service and solution to you. • How are the company regulated? When choosing a company or individual to provide financial advice, it is advisable that you check that they are firstly registered by the CMNV, and DGS and secondly adhere to regulation standards of the country which in itself has more advanced and comprehensive financial regulation.
• Are they willing to customise investment strategies when needed? Advisory fees are earned, not simply “harvested,” and you should ask for examples of how an adviser has responded to changing conditions for their clients. (How, for example, has the firm responded to persistently low interest rates for clients who need current income?) The traditional default diversification strategy of 60% stocks, 40% bonds isn’t effective in the current environment. A capable firm will research and innovate new strategies on their clients’ behalf.
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good adviser should not hesitate to dig in and help.
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If you are seeking financial advice make sure you do your homework first. If you’d like to see how Chorus compare, do not hesitate to contact me on 693107044 or email t.storer@chorusfinancial.es
• Can they help you get any specific help you need? Maybe you have moved to Spain and are not yet taking pension benefits and need help weighing the financials or you are concerned about inheritance tax, a
Chorus Financial is a trading style of TOURBILLON LIMITED - Registered Address: Trinity House - Ocean Village Avenue - Gibraltar - GX11 1AA Tourbillon Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (Gibraltar). Licence Number FSC1118B. Registered with the UK FCA. Reference number: 539348
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Former Benidorm Mayor arrested on bribery and corruption charges From Front Page...
by Matthew Richards
Following his arrest in the Valencian capital on Tuesday, Zaplana spent several hours under interrogation in custody, before being transferred in an unmarked BMW X5 police vehicle, accompanied by Guardia agents, to his Benidorm v i l l a , where he
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Eduardo Zaplana talking to the press
had gathered one of whom shouted loudly “To prison Zaplana, there is still room”. Later in the day, spending his first night under police custody back in Valencia, Zaplana learned that the PP party had suspended his membership, a decision described as “A drastic and difficult decision”, by general coordinator Fernando Martinez-Maillo.
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Civil war massacre remembered ON 25 May 1938 one of the Spanish Civil War’s worst atrocities took place when around 300 people were killed in an air attack on Alicante’s Central Market. There are a series of events planned to commemorate the tragedy, starting with a children’s peace march scheduled for this morning (25 May). The bombing will then be remembered with the sound of sirens and explosions, followed by a performance specially created
by Simon Russell
for the occasion by students of the Dance Conservatory. On 27 May (Sunday), there will be a film shown about the attack and various tributes are to be performed at the Caja Negra de Cigarreras. At 10pm there is a specially commissioned play written by Juan Luis Mira and performed by students from the University of Alicante’s Drama department. In
the longer term, there will be an exhibition “Alicante at War” at the Palacio del Portalet on Calle Labradores which will be on display from June until September. On 25 May 1938 a number of Italian planes dropped ninety bombs on Alicante City under the direction of General Franco. There were between 275 and 393 civilians killed, including at least 56 children, many of them in the Central Market. Alicante
was one of the last Republican strongholds and civilians were intentionally targeted by Franco to destroy morale and speed the Republican surrender. The attacks received worldwide
condemnation but as Europe itself was on the brink of war at this time, little concrete action was taken against the aggressors, allowing Franco to effectively get away with the act.
Leader in name only THE controversial appointment of Joaquim Torra as new Catalan premier has hit problems already, with Madrid refusing to rescind their direct rule of the region. This follows the naming of
by Matthew Richards
Torra’s first cabinet which includes four key separatists, two of whom are in custody awaiting trial and two of whom are in exile and facing
arrest if they return to Spain. Premier Rajoy’s governing PP sees this action as intentionally provocative and have refused to recognise the new cabinet. Torra is also under investigation for
hate speech he has made in the past about non-Catalan Spaniards. There will now be cross party talks in Madrid to decide on the next step they should take in dealing with the troubled region.
Hilltop beauty A Valencian village has been named the second most beautiful in Spain in a recent contest. A photo of Vilafames in the north of the Community, which showed the hilltop village and its castle by moonlight, gained the second most votes from the public in the event organised by the Association of Spanish Villages. Vilafames is located in the seldom explored inland area of Castellon province and has a population of around 2,000.
by Matthew Richards
The winner of the vote was Puebla de Sanabria in the Zamora region; overall 68 municipalities took part. Many of Spain’s most beautiful villages are in danger of depopulation, especially those away from the coast or major cities. It is hoped that publicity like this can encourage tourists to go off the beaten track and visit some of Spain’s hidden treasures such as Vilafames.
Body in bag boy pleads guilty A young man has confessed in court to the killing and dismemberment of his mother’s boyfriend in 2015. He said that the victim had returned from Germany and the pair had argued after the older man had been drinking and taking drugs. The accused said he was attacked with a knife and hit the other man with a hammer, not expecting the single blow to kill him. The body was cut into four and dumped into the Rabassa lagoon (Alicante) in
by Matthew Richards
two suitcases. Later that year the cases were discovered and the police began a murder investigation which led them to the accused. Two brothers who were friends of his have also been accused of helping dispose of the body. One of them has confessed to this but not helping with the dismemberment. The young man’s mother has been charged with perverting the court of justice.
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
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3 Year old, hanging from blacony last year
THE mother of a three year old who had to be rescued from a balcony in Alicante last year is to be tried in September accused of abandonment. The toddler was seen on the sixth floor terrace and in a state of panic although she was safely rescued by fire crews. Her mother and partner had both been in the gym and apparently they regularly left the little girl on her own, which is why the courts have decided to proceed with the prosecution.
by Simon Russell
There have also been allegations of mistreatment by the partner of the accused, brought by the child’s father. He said that his daughter was teased, had her ears pulled as punishment and wad often locked in a room, all allegations the man denies. The child is currently in the custody of her father, something the mother has appealed against. If found guilty she could face up to three years in jail.
British scammer nabbed A British woman who ran a con by promoting non-existent holiday rental properties, has been arrested by the Guardia Civil. 44-year-old Paula Louise Neale is accused of advertising a range of accommodation on the
internet, some of which never even existed, and is said to have pocketed thousands of euros from unsuspecting clients. One dramatic example saw a British family of seven arrive in the Malaga area for a villa holiday,
only to discover that the building was a figment of Neale’s imagination. Neale operated on the Costa del Sol, and did a bunk from the region last year. Guardia officers arrested her in Burgos in northern Spain, after she
was getting into a stolen car. The alleged fraudster used a range of bogus identities to “advertise” the holiday lets, and even had the personal privilege of the Guardia code-naming the investigation against her as Operation Neale.
FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Spanish media lap up the royal wedding ALTHOUGH not quite receiving the blanket treatment that the British tabloids gave the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Spanish press still gave plenty of coverage to the event. In a country every bit as obsessed with celebrity culture as the UK – “Hello” magazine started out in Spain – this was hardly surprising. National daily “ABC” gave minute by minute coverage on its on-line edition after previously cataloguing Meghan’s “controversial family” and their various deeds. Monday’s edition led with a story about the “humble abode” where the couple
by Simon Russell
would be living in the grounds of Kensington Palace. “El Pais” wrote a piece about how the wedding was a modern affair, focusing on the feminist touches such as Meghan’s not promising to obey her new husband in her vows and walking part of the way down the aisle on her own. “La Verdad” gave its readers beauty tips on “how to look like Meghan” and picked their five highlights of the day which included the sermon by AfricanAmerican pastor Michael Curry, the bride to be being given away by her father-in-
law and the appearance of two of Harry’s exes among the guests. National broadcaster TVE also had live coverage of the event, alternating between the ceremony and celebrity spotting in the
crowd which was dotted with A-listers such as the Clooney’s, Elton John and former Real Madrid star David Beckham and his wife Victoria – or Posh Spice as much of the British press still call her.
7
Forgotten keys lead to child’s death
A 17-year-old girl plunged fifteen floors to her death after forgetting her house keys and trying to access her apartment. The incident happened in Bilbao last weekend when the teenager was able to gain access to the block but couldn’t get into her home. It appears that she tried to enter the balcony of her apartment from the small
communal hall window. However she slipped and fell fifteen floors into the buildings interior courtyard, dying instantly. A neighbour on the eleventh floor said there was a huge noise and many panes of glass broke from the impact of the fall. It took the emergency services almost two hours to remove the body which was in a difficult to access area.
Vandals could face million euro fine
The Duke & Duchess of Sussex with Royal children
THE historic Segura Castle at Guardamar del Segura has suffered from repeated incidents of vandalism over the last few months. These range from graffiti to the uprooting and removal of stones, with more than forty decorative pieces being affected. Parts of the castle date back to the 12th century and Heritage Councillor Pilar Gay said that while the economic price is high the cultural damage is incalculable. She
believes the same person or group are responsible and security camera footage is being reviewed. As the castle enjoys BIC Heritage Status if caught the vandals could face fines of between 60,000 and 1.3 million euros. About €15,000 has been spent repairing the damage and the site has remained open to all. However Ms Gay said the council may have to consider closing the castle to the public as a last resort if the damage continues.
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Miracle baby going Half suffer from chronic knee home by Simon Russell
THE most premature baby to be born and survive in a Valencia hospital is finally well enough to go home with her grateful parents. Adhara Pena Navarro was just 24 weeks and one day old when she was born, the youngest “age of viability” in paediatric terms. She was one of twins, the other of which died at 18 months and it was thought at the time that both babies would be lost. However Adhara defied
the experts and, once she reached 24 weeks and was delivered weighing just 550 grams, about the same as half a bag of sugar. She received intensive medical care and surgery and had to have machinery breathe for her for several months. There were many medical emergencies along the way, but thankfully after six months she is now ready to leave theVithas Nisa Rey Hospital in Castellon where she was born and where her parents both also work.
problems
HALF of the people living in Spain over the age of 65 suffer with osteoarthritis of the knee, according to an Alicante doctor speaking at the congress of Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine in Gijon this week. Jose Maria Climent said that there are a number of factors behind the rise
Blackmailed after cold feet
POLICE have arrested a prostitute and her “madam” after the pair were accused of blackmailing a potential client who had a change of heart about using their service. The incident happened in Elche where a local man answered an advert for a high class escort agency, a front for
paid sex. He went to an apartment as arranged but changed his mind upon arrival and left. Shortly after he started getting phone messages, saying he still owed money for the service and expenses generated such as taking the woman to the apartment as arranged.
These escalated to threats that his colleagues and family would be informed if he did not pay up. The victim paid €300 but later received demands for a further €520 with the same threats. At this stage the man reported the incident to the police who began their investigation.
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With the information they had the Specialised Crime Unit was able to quickly identify the perpetrators and have arrested an Ecuadorian and Peruvian aged 30 and 41. As well as the two females, the police are looking for two men connected to the incident.
by Matthew Richards
in cases, including people living longer. However obesity is also a key cause and the increase seems to be a result of an increasingly overweight population. Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition where the cartilage becomes worn away and the bones rub against each other,
causing severe pain in many cases. Dr Climent said surgery should be treated as a last resort. Rehabilitation, medication and carefully targeted exercise are the preferred starting points for anyone affected although they should always consult a doctor first.
Truant crackdown ALICANTE’S Education of Department is carrying out an initiative to address the problem of absenteeism amongst secondary school pupils in the province. Five teams of Local Police and staff from the department’s absenteeism prevention section are touring 25 schools in the region this week. There they will stress the importance of secondary level education when it comes to obtaining work or progressing
by Matthew Richards
to non-compulsory further education such as sixth form and university. Secondary school education in Spain has only been compulsory for all pupils until recently, and there is still a feeling among many children and even their parents that it is unnecessary, especially those who expect to work in sectors such as agriculture orconstruction.
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Double death after good deed TWO people were killed after reportedly helping a driver who had crashed his vehicle last week. The incident happened on the A-66 motorway near Seville on Friday at around 6.30 in the morning. A driver had overturned his vehicle and when the
pair stopped to assist they were run over and killed; a third person was seriously injured and is being treated in hospital. It is not known at this stage whether the people who died were involved in the initial incident or just stopped to assist when driving by.
Bags Of Change MOST plastic carrier bags in Spanish shops will have to be paid for as from July 1st. Supermarket chains have been charging for a number of years, but now smaller stores will have to fall into line in a few weeks time. The national government has passed the new law, and is recommending a bag price of between five and 15 cents depending on the size and
thickness of the carrier. The only exceptions will be bags made from at least 70 percent recyclable material, as well as lightweight carriers for fresh produce used for fish and fruit. Even those lightweight bags face a charge over the next few years, unless they are made of biodegradable material and are made of 50 percent recyclable plastic.
What a load of rubbish UNDER fire Orihuela council is boosting the number of waste collection and road cleaning staff to deal with problems faced on the Orihuela Costa, as tourists get ready to visit the area over summer. The move comes after the Valencian Ombudsman, José Cholbi, censured the council two months ago for not providing an adequate enough service for the coastal area. The authority has faced all-year round criticism from neighbourhood associations over the cleanliness of roads, paths, and green areas. They say that things get even worse when tourists swell the Orihuela Costa during the summer. Orihuela council has hired 59 extra seasonal workers across the municipality, with 40 being allocated to the
year, but that was not enough to pledging improvements impress the Ombudsman in his to the service, which they Orihuela Costa from the start final report, with the authority formally announced this week. of July. The authority claims that they have doubled the budget for summer hirings compared to last year. Last summer’s concerns from residents included not enough bin collections during the period, with bags of rubbish being left alongside the containers in local streets. Garden waste was also left pile high in some areas and there was concern over the state of some of the beaches. The council did replace 120 waste collection bins across the Orihuela Costa last
by Alex Trelinski
No women, no show
MANY Spanish academics have joined an initiative whereby they refuse to take part in academic events that do not have at least one female speaker on the panel or as an expert. Almost 60 men have
by Simon Russell
signed up to “No Sin Mujeres” since it started, from universities, the Bank of Spain, the Spanish Research Council and other institutions. Spanish
professors from universities in the UK and Australia have also signed up to the scheme. Emilio Ontiveros, Professor of Economics at the University of Madrid said that recent gender protests had acted as a wake-up call
to many in his field and that this should act as a warning to organisers of events. The initiative only started at the beginning of May and there are hopes that it will soon escalate – and start to have a positive effect.
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Back In
RUNNER COMPLETES HEART-SHAPED ROUTE AROUND MANCHESTER FOR ARENA VICTIMS A filmmaker ran a 67-mile heart shape commemorate to Manchester around bombing. arena the of victims the Nathan Rae ran for 18 hours straight on the anniversary of the attack and raised more than £3,300 for North West Air Ambulance. The 37-year-old, from Chorlton, said he chose the shape of a heart, with the initials MRC spelled out inside, for his route “as a celebration of the city’s response to the bombing”. “The bombing was awful but the response afterwards by Manchester was just amazing and I wanted to capture the spirit of that a year later,” he added. “I picked the heart shape because there was a piece of artwork in Manchester with 22 bees and a heart around it,” he said. “I couldn’t draw a bee on the map so I went for the heart.” He described his route as “GPS art” with the pattern showing up on apps including Strava and Garmin maps. Mr Rae, who has been running ultra marathons for several years, set off just before 8am on Tuesday and ended at Manchester Arena just before midnight. His route passed landmarks involved in the aftermath of the bombing, including Royal Manchester Children’s
and Hospital several fire stations. was He part accompanied of the way by fellow members of Runners. Chorlton Mr Rae added: great, was “It normally on an ultra marathon you run by yourself for a long stretch so having people run with me really, really helped. “I would like to say a big thanks to everyone who came out and ran with me along the route, it was really great.” Twenty-two people were killed and 139 were wounded when a suicide bomb was detonated after an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May last year.
Britain
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
CELEBRITY DADS UK Puffins going extinct? OF THE YEAR PRINCE WILLIAM JOINS THE SHORTLIST
The Duke of Cambridge has been shortlisted for the celebrity dad of the year award alongside a host of household names. Prince William – who welcomed his third child with the Duchess of Cambridge this year – is up against Simon Cowell, David Walliams and Liam Payne for the prize. Two men who have overcome tragedy in recent years, footballer Rio Ferdinand and broadcaster Simon Thomas, are also shortlisted. Thomas’ wife and mother of their eight-year-old son Ethan, Gemma Thomas, died in November 2017 just three days after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow.
Meanwhile, former England international Ferdinand’s wife Rebecca died of breast cancer in 2015. advertisement The sportsman, who has three children with Rebecca, won the Best Single Documentary prize at the Bafta TV awards for his film, Being Mum And Dad. Payne, who welcomed his first child, Bear, with Cheryl in 2017, is up for the award – as are boxers Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. Reality TV star Josh YouTube and Patterson Hoyle Mark personality complete the shortlist for the Clas Ohlson celebrity dad of the year prize. be will winner The announced in June.
Numbers of puffins on the UK’s remote Farne Islands may be down 12% in the last five years, the National Trust has warned as it takes its latest census of the seabirds. Initial numbers from count five-yearly the on the islands off the coast, Northumberland
which are managed by the Trust, suggest the population is down 42% on one of the islands. The figures could spell an alarming decline for the birds, known as the clowns of the sea due to their colourful clown-like and beaks the last to ared comp , faces
count in 2013 when nearly 40,000 breeding pairs were recorded. The National Trust, which has been looking after the islands for 93 years, said it would be stepping up monitoring of the seabirds to better understand what is going on.
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
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Rise in EU nationals living in Scotland despite Brexit
The number of EU nationals in Scotland increased last year despite uncertainty over Brexit. Official figures show the number of EU citizens living in Scotland rose by 26,000 to 235,000 in 2017. Over the same period, the number of non-EU nationals increased by 14,000 to 142,000. Combined, the number of non-British nationals living in Scotland rose by 12% to about 378,000, or 7% of the population. The National Records of Scotland (NRS) statistics show Polish was the most common non-British nationality with an estimated 99,000 residents, or 26% of the total non-British population. Also in the top five countries of origin were Ireland, India, Italy and Pakistan. Aberdeen was the council area with the highest proportion of foreign residents, with 21% or 48,000 holding non-British nationality. External affairs secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “These figures underline the key role inward migration plays in supporting further population growth across Scotland’s communities and rural
Cashing-in on cruises
AROUND 5,000 passengers disembarked from three cruise liners on just one day last week in Alicante, bringing a financial boost to the city and other local towns. Disappointingly the lift to Alicante’s Santa Barbara Castle, one of the city’s main attractions, wasclosed for repairs. However alternative arrangements were made,
with buses being laid on for those unable to make the steep climb to the summit. Over 30 bars and restaurants were offering special tapas deals for the day while many shops and excursions were discounting specially. For tourists wanting to leave the city, buses were laid on to Elche, Benidorm, Novelda and Guadalest where activities
such as wine tasting and a tour of Elche’s palm groves were also arranged. The mainly English speaking tourists from the UK and North America spent an average €50 a head if they stayed in the city and over a €100 if they signed up to an excursion, bringing an estimated €600,000 to the city and other towns in the province.
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areas. “As we face challenges in relation to the recent, welcome increase in life expectancy, migration flows to Scotland help us ensure we can grow our workingage population and support our social and economic needs, now and in the future.” She continued: “Scotland already benefits significantly from the contribution made by those who have chosen to live, work and study here, bringing new skills and expertise and helping to underpin future economic growth, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure inward migration to our country can continue. “However, the current UK Government’s hostile immigration policy and unrealistic migration targets are detrimental to Scotland’s economic growth and wider wellbeing. “This is why, in our recently-published paper, we have set out the need for the Scottish Parliament to be granted devolved powers on migration. “This would allow us to continue to grow our country’s economy and tackle current demographic challenges while also creating a more welcoming environment for those migrants and their families who have chosen to make Scotland their home.”
SPAIN still has one of the highest rates for fixed price broadband in the European Union, ranking 22 out of 28 countries. Brussels said in their report that the service is difficult to measure due to things like download speed, but the cost in Spain is well above the EU average. There has also
been a significant decrease in broadband offers for mobiles, not helped by the lack of choice in a market still dominated by one firm. Spain does well in having a plugged in population, with 85% of the country having access to fast broadband networks (minimal 30Mbps). Furthermore the
government have pledged 100% coverage by 2021. Spain ranks 10th overall in the EU Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), a jump of four places from last year. Overall they are ranked as “intermediate” along with countries such as Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and, surprisingly, Germany.
Supermarket Sweep VALENCIA regionbased supermarket chain Mercadona is dipping its toes into the waters of online shopping, which could soon spread into Alicante Province. The retailer is playing catch-up with the concept that has long been in place for home deliveries across Britain and other countries, in addition to rivals in Spain like Carrefour. A pilot scheme started in the Valencia City area
by Alex Trelinski
on Monday, with the opening of a 12 million euro warehouse to distribute online orders which start at a minimum of just five euros. In true Mercadona tradition, items will not be delivered on a Sunday, but they will operate a home service in designated one hour blocks between 7.00 am and 10.00 pm for the rest of the week. Customers will get their
goods the day after they have placed their order, with a refrigerated van fleet being set up, which can deal with up to 15 home orders on one journey. The company has not yet said when it will roll out the service beyond the confines of Valencia City, but online chief, Juana Roig said:“Mercadona is a newcomer to the digital world, but we are in a strong position to take up the challenge of online food sales”.
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
15
Business & Finance
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“I live in Spain so will I have to pay Spanish Inheritance Tax if my spouse dies?“ makes this radical difference so important? The first thing to note is that if you are a resident here in Spain for tax purposes, you are still domiciled in the UK. When you die the Spanish Tax authorities and the HMRC in the UK will want to calculate the value of all of your worldwide assets. By Andrew Gibson
BLACKTOWER Financial Management
This is a question we are asked a lot here at Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd, and it is a question that has a complex answer. I will try to unravel the mysteries of this in plain language. Firstly let’s call this tax by its proper Spanish name, it is called: “Impuesto de Sucesiones y Donaciones”, (ISD for short). The first thing to understand is this; In the UK Inheritance Tax Spouse to Spouse is FREE, whereas in Spain it’s NOT. The next important point in Spain is that it is the Beneficiaries that pay the ISD, unlike the UK where the Estate pays the tax! So what
In Spain they also work out the relationship between the (beneficiary) taxpayer and the person making the gift or leaving the inheritance. That relationship falls into one of 4 groups and different allowances are allocated to the different groups (this depends on the autonomus region the deceased lives in). After the appropriate allowance is applied, the taxable amount is calculated using 16 different tax bands. There is no double taxation treaty as far as these taxes are concerned and means you could potentially pay UK IHT and Spanish ISD! Please note Inheritance taxes both here in Spain and the UK have to be paid prior
to the inherited assets being released to the Beneficiaries of your estate; therefore consideration needs to be given as to how they will pay it when the time comes? This aspect can potentially be planned for, depending on your circumstances. One other important thing to consider. If you have set up a UK Trust such as, but not limited to, a UK Loan Trust or Discretionary Trust, Discounted Gift Trust or you have written a Will Trust in your UK Will, whilst these can be affective in the UK, the Spanish Tax authorities will see these as transparent. This means they could include the Trust asset such as an Investment Bond or other capital asset held within the Trust as part of your estate and ignore the tax efficiency of the UK Trust aspect. It is therefore extremely important to have these reviewed in light of your overall financial circumstances. We offer this review service at no cost. As you can see, without planning, it is very possible or even likely that you or your Spouse could end up paying IHT and ISD on first death. In addition taxes could also be payable by your Estate and Beneficiaries. The important thing is to have your situation
Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and is registered with the DGS.
reviewed as soon as possible since there are many things both from a legal point of view as well as a financial one that can be done to delay, reduce, and/or mitigate a high proportion of this tax. Of course, this will depend on your own individual circumstances and requirements. To arrange an independent, professional and impartial consultation please contact me by email andrew.gibson@blacktowerfm.com or call me on 603 612 464. Blacktower Financial Management has been established for over 32 years and have worked with clients through the good and the bad times, offering sound independent advice, we will be by your side both now and in the future. The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.
Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with the DGS in Spain.
Peace of mind… starts with knowledge Our advice, your advantage Blacktower’s expertise and knowledge can be your gain in international investment and tax planning. More than 30 years of helping people make the best of their wealth means that we know how to help you achieve what’s important to you. We care about your “what-if” moments. International Investment Portfolios • Wealth Management Solutions • Taxation Advice
Get in touch today at: info@blacktowerfm.com +34 965 058 212 Avinguda d’Ausiàs March 9, Local 7 (Esq. Joan Fuster), 03730 Javea, Alicante
www.blacktowerfm.com Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission Licence 00805B and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain. Blacktower Financial Management Limited in the UK is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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FRIDAY 13TH APRIL 2018
17
FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
THEY KEEP ON COMING!
BENIDORM has lifted a bathing ban on local beaches, after sightings were made of the poisonous Portuguese man o’war jellyfish on Monday. As previously reported in The Weekender, the Portuguese man o’war has caused beaches in the Alicante area and the northern Costa Blanca to be closed to bathers, with the jellyfish now being spotted across the whole of the region. The presence of the Portuguese man o’war is down to the strong westerly winds carrying them on currents from their natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. Red flags were raised at Benidorm’s Levante, Poniente, and Mal Pas beaches at the start of the week, with Villajoyosa also banning swimming at its four beaches. Benidorm then allowed swimmers into the water on Tuesday, with yellow flags hoisted to warn bathers not to ignore the chance of the venomous creature making an appearance. In the Elche area,
by Alex Trelinski
an 11-year-old boy was stung whilst playing on La Marina beach on Sunday afternoon, with lifeguards using tweezers to remove jellyfish stings from his arm, as his anxious mother looked on. The boy suffered stomach and neck pains and was taken to Elche General Hospital and was discharged after being treated for a few hours. Further south, first sightings of the jellyfish were made at Torrevieja’s La Mata beach in addition to the Orihuela Costa and Pilar de la Horadada, with red and yellow flags being hoisted. Though regularly referred to as a jellyfish, the man o’war is technically a species that is related to the jellyfish family and is classified as a siphonophore. It is extremely rare for their venom to kill anybody, but a sting from their tentacles can cause severe discomfort to children and elderly people.
Red flag, alerting beachgoers the presence of dangerous jellyfish on a beach in Alicante
Quarry tragedy A 53-year-old man died when working in a marble quarry in Alicante province on Tuesday. The man was driving a digger
when a rock weighing about 150 tons fell on the vehicles cabin, crushing him to death. The accident happened at a quarry in
Monte Coto de Pinoso, on the Alicante-Murcia border where much of the regions marble is mined. The unnamed
victim lived in Aspe and was married with two children. An investigation into the accident is likely to follow.
18
FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Motoring
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Carriageway Chaos
MOTORISTS were left at a standstill on Sunday, as the AP-7 motorway was blocked off for over an hour in the Catral area, as smoke billowed close
to the carriageways. Long queues built up as the blaze saw 2,500 palm trees raised to the ground, with fire crews from Almoradi, Crevillente,
and Elche pressed into service to fight the flames. Crews were scrambled shortly after 5.00 pm, and it took over two hours to bring the fire
under control, with one firefighter suffering slight burns. A helicopter was scrambled into action to help quell the blaze, which was stopped from spreading beyond a forest of palm trees.
Help getting youngsters on the road
IN a move that will be watched closely by other regions, Murcia is giving some youngsters a grant of €345 to help them obtain their driving licence. The move is aimed at the “nini” generation – youths that are neither working or in education. It has been done in collaboration with the Murcian Driving School Association and will require an initial
investment of €150,000. The first beneficiaries will be some of the 435 young people on the Youth Guarantee system. The President of the region said that it is very hard for many people to find work without being able to drive. However obtaining a driving licence is itself a costly exercise and unaffordable for most unemployed.
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FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
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22
FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Sport
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Serena Williams misses out on French Open seeding after having baby
Tyson Fury’s next opponent announced
Tyson Fury will face Sefer Seferi over ten rounds in his highlyanticipated June 9 comeback fight, live on BT Sport. The former WBA, WBO and IBF Heavyweight World Champion will end an exile of over two-and-a-half years when he fights at the Manchester Arena for the first time in his career. ‘Gypsy King’ Fury looks in incredible shape, having lost a remarkable seven stone since teaming up with new trainer Ben Davison. Albania’s Seferi holds a record of 23 wins from 24 fights, with 21 of his wins coming by way of knockout. His sole career loss came against WBA Heavyweight World Champion Manuel Charr, when he was outpointed over ten rounds. “I can’t wait to get in there and prove that I’m a better fighter than I’ve ever been,” said Fury. “I’m coming into
the prime of my career now and I’ve never felt better. I’m fitter, stronger and faster than the Fury of 2015. “We’re just three weeks away from what is going to be a huge night for the city of Manchester. I’m delighted to be fighting at the iconic Manchester Arena for the first time in my career and I’m promising the fans a special performance to thank them for their loyal support.” “This is going to be a hard fight for Fury,” said Seferi. “I’m very disciplined and always ready to take on everyone and anyone. This will not be an easy night for him. I’m coming to Manchester to beat one of the boxing legends of the 21st century. “He is tall and strong but he won’t be ready for the pressure that I will bring on June 9. Two-and-a-half years out of the ring is a long time and nobody
knows if he is still the same fighter that dethroned Wladimir Klitschko. I am going to seize this opportunity with both hands.” “Tyson is back, in fantastic shape and full of beans, ready to take the first step on the road back towards World domination once again,” said Frank Warren. “He needs comeback fights in order to shake off the ring rust after such a lengthy absence and I am sure the fans will once again enjoy the ride back to the top. “Seferi is no push over, he’s gone the distance with a World class fighter in Manuel Charr. He has spent the majority of his career at Cruiserweight but so had Tony Bellew and David Haye before stepping up to the Heavyweight division.”
Serena Williams’ return to Grand Slam tennis from maternity leave just got even tougher, with French Open organisers announcing they will not give the 23-time major singles winner a seeding. Williams, who has won three French Opens, is expected to play in her first major since giving birth to her daughter in September. While Williams can enter Roland Garros under the WTA’s protected or “special” ranking rule, it was up to French Open organisers to give her a seed. “This year again, tournament officials will establish the list and ranking of the women’s seeds based on the WTA ranking,” the
French Tennis Federation said in a statement. “Consequently, (the seeds) will reflect this week’s world ranking.” Williams was number one when she left the WTA Tour last year to give birth and is currently ranked 453 after returning to playing duties in March. Without a seeding she risks facing highly ranked players in the early rounds.
23
FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Sport
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Spaniard Emery Appointed to be New Arsenal Manager
Spaniard Unai Emery said he was excited to start a new chapter for Arsenal after becoming the Premier League club`s first new manager for 22 years on Wednesday. The 46-year-old has been hired to fill the sizeable void left by the departure of Frenchman Arsene Wenger who had been at the Arsenal helm since 1996. “I am thrilled to be joining one of the great clubs in the game,” Emery, who spent the past two seasons at Paris St Germain, taking them to a domestic treble this season, told the Arsenal website. “Arsenal is known and loved throughout the world for its style of play,
its commitment to young players, the fantastic stadium, the way the club is run. ”I’m very excited to be given the responsibility to start this important new chapter in Arsenal’s history.” Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said Emery had emerged as the strongest candidate after a “wide-ranging and rigorous search” for Wenger’s replacement. “Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career, has developed some of the best young talent in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal
perfectly,” he said. “His hard-working, passionate approach and his sense of values on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward.” Emery won the Ligue 1 title, the French Cup and the League Cup this past season in Paris. Before his time in France, he spent three years at Sevilla, winning three consecutive Europa League trophies. He has also had spells in Spain with Valencia and Almeria after beginning his coaching career with Lorca Deportiva. The only blot on his managerial copybook was a short spell at Spartak Moscow where he was sacked in 2012.
Manuel Pellegrini confirmed as West Ham United manager West Ham United are delighted to confirm the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as the Club’s new First Team Manager. The former Villarreal, Real Madrid, Malaga and Manchester City boss – a Premier League title winner and Champions League semi-finalist – has signed a threeyear contract at London Stadium after leaving Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune. Joint-Chairman David Sullivan
said: “I am delighted to welcome Manuel Pellegrini to West Ham United. He is one of the world’s most respected football coaches and we look forward to working with him. “It was important that we appointed someone with knowledge and experience of the Premier League, who already has an understanding – not only of the teams and players we face – but of West Ham United and our
ambitions. “Manuel brings a reputation for attacking football and getting the best out of his players. We believe he will attract new talent to the London Stadium as well as improving the current squad. “Above all, he is a winner, who knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level and is driven to continue that success. Manuel is the first West Ham United manager to have a Premier League
title on his CV, and we believe that his experience, quality and proven record of taking teams forward quickly will ensure that he is successful
here. “We have listened to fans who asked us to be ambitious. We hope they agree it is an exciting appointment. “Manuel will shortly announce the names of the new staff he will bring in and he will then get down to shaping the squad he wants. We all wish him the very best of luck.” Chilean Pellegrini returns to England just two years after leaving Manchester City, where he enjoyed
the fifth highest win percentage in Premier League history during his three years in charge, and arguably helped lay the foundations for the stunning success subsequently enjoyed under Pep Guardiola, having signed the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi in 2015 In a magnificent debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium in 2013/14, Pellegrini led City to Premier League glory, becoming the first coach from outside of Europe to win the title, and also lifted the League Cup in the same season. City finished that campaign having scored 151 goals in all competitions – still an English record.
NFL kneels to Trump The National Football League will fine teams if players on the field refuse to stand for the national anthem, the league said on Wednesday in a victory for US President Donald Trump, who loudly demanded an end to such protests last year. Some NFL players knelt during the anthem to protest police shootings of unarmed black men, sparking a controversy as Trump criticized the players for being unpatriotic. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday a new policy that will fine teams if players on the field fail to stand during the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Players who choose not to
stand may remain in the locker room until after the anthem is finished. The NFL Players Association criticized the new policy, saying it was not consulted and it may issue a challenge should it violate the collective bargaining agreement. Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long said the owners’ decision was made out of concern for the NFL’s bottom line and fears that Trump would turn his political base against the league, America’s most popular professional sports organisation. “This is not patriotism. Don’t get it confused,” the two-time Super Bowl
champion wrote on Twitter. “These owners don’t love America more than the players demonstrating and taking real action to improve it,” he said, adding he would be committed to using his platform to affect change. The kneeling controversy rattled a $14 billion industry, and the new policy attempts to resolve a distraction for the owners, said Bob Dorfman, a sports marketing expert at Baker Street Advertising. “For advertisers, football’s still a great buy, reaching a market - young males mostly. Ratings have dipped a little bit,” Dorfman said, adding the NFL was “still one of the strongest live events you can buy in television.”
24
FRIDAY 25TH MAY 2018
Your Weekend Starts Here!
Sport
THE KING OF NADAL HOLDS CLAY COURT IN PARIS
MALLORCA’s Rafa Nadal goes tournament starts this Sunday into the second tennis Grand at Roland Garros in Paris. Slam of the year, literally His lead up to France has seen the on top of the world, after Spaniard net three of the four clay titles winning last weekend’s on offer, with the only blip being Rome Masters, writes a quarter-final defeat to Dominic ALEX TRELINSKI. Thiem at the Madrid Open. His eighth title at Such is his mastery of the the Italian clay court surface, that even a defeat in a event meant that relatively minor event earns some the 31-year-old took major column inches, but the the world number one likeable Mallorcan is ranking off Roger Federer, who at the veteran age of 36 years, prefers to avoid the stresses and strains of the clay season. Nadal’s recent form on his favourite looking surface has seriously sent out a good for French dramatic title number 11, warning to even though he anybody had to fight back trying to stop from a service him winning break against an amazing Germany’s 11th French Alexander Open title, Zverev in the when the Rome final. 18 months ago ,Nadal’s
tennis obituary writers were sharpening their pens due to injury problems and criticism that his long-time coach, uncle Toni Nadal, had nothing much else to offer. Rafa appeared to be almost down and out, but his sheer determination to return to prime fitness and the shrewd hiring of ex-Spanish ace Carlos Moya(wrongly dispensed with by Milos Raonic) saw him lift the French and US titles last year. It was like the old days seeing Nadal and Federer slogging it out for the world number one ranking, and it’s hard to see the King of Clay not being victorious yet again in Paris a fortnight on Sunday, though Thiem and Zverev would be the men who could pull off an upset if there was to be one. Meanwhile the French Open organisers need to get a close hard look at themselves at not giving a seeding to three-times ladies singles winner, Serena Williams. New mum Serena has been punished for giving birth by the short-sighted seeding committee, and though she is not necessarily everybody’s darling, there’s a strong suspicion that she will get bags of support from fans that feel she’s been badly and disrespectfully treated.