Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 15 - 21 December 2016 Issue 1641 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

ISSUE NO. 1641

15 - 21 December 2016

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COSTA DE ALMERÍA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

DON’T MISS OUR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL INSIDE! PAGES 42 - 43

One of the most appalling cases of sexual slavery ever uncovered in Spain is finally going to trial, with prosecutors demanding sentences of more than 400 years for the accused who lured women from Eastern Europe promising them a better life. Hundreds of young girls were then enslaved in villages, towns and cities across the Costa and throughout the entire province for years, forced into prostitution while their captors pocketed the profits.

Now the provincial court of Almeria has put on trial 28 defendants of differing nationalities accusing them of masterminding a sophisticated human trafficking and prostitution ring centred around 13 local strip clubs. At least 165 women were held in filthy, overcrowded conditions, crammed on to mattresses flung across the floor, with very little food and ample drugs, having been ensnared with promises of a job and new life in Spain. They each had to pay up to

Poison puzzle MYSTERY continues to surround the untimely death of one of Almeria’s most famous exports. Fifty two-year-old transvestite Cristina Ortiz Rodriguez, born Jose Antonio but better known by her stage name La Veneno (The Poison) died on November 9 after spending four days in a medically-induced See page 2 coma.

Sex slavers on trial By Matthew Elliott

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Train in vain A CONFUSED elderly woman thought to have escaped from an old people’s home caused an incident on Wednesday (December 7) which could have ended in

tragedy, but luckily resulted in nothing more than late arrival of the Madrid-Almeria train. The woman had been spotted wandering on the rails. See page 10

Feeling ratty ALMERIA Council’s socialist group representative Juan Carlos Perez Navas has urged those in charge to do something about the sorry state of the city’s Pescaderia district and knock down abandoned, ruined homes which are putting local residents’ health at risk. Ruins, which are full of rubbish and attract rats, mice and all sorts of insects, are posing a See page 14 serious health risk to those who live nearby. €1,800 for the ‘privilege’ of staying at the accommodation and were entirely reliant on their captors, who seized their passports on arrival, leaving them as penniless illegal immigrants with nowhere else to turn. Having arrived in Alicante on a tourist visa, the girls were shuttled down to Almeria, dispersed among different gang-controlled strip clubs and forced to satisfy local figures and businessmen, none of whom have yet been named.

The operation was discovered when one girl miraculously managed to get herself back to Russia where she secured protection and reported the atrocities taking place across Almeria. Different managers of the clubs face prison sentences of 33 years if found guilty, while lower tier members of the gang will be handed terms ranging from one to 25 years. The provincial court now begins 20 intense sessions, with the final judgment due in the New Year.

Fighting on BRITISH buyers of 94 illegally built homes in Zurgena’s Los Cabreras area have appealed a court sentence which found a former municipal architect guilty of

corrupt practice, and continue to fight to get their money back. The judge in charge of the case rejected their requests for damSee page 58 ages.

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NEWS

LOCAL NEWS

Local is best THE 1640 (December 8-14) issue of the Costa de Almeria Euro Weekly News contained no less than 33 local news items, demonstrating once again our dedication and commitment to delivering the news that matters most to you, our readers, in each of our six editions. Nobody does it better!

Great ball of fire THE skies of southern Spain lit up at 10.25pm on Sunday (December 11) as a ball of fire, caused by a meteoroid impacting against the earth’s atmosphere at around 72,000

kph, travelled over Granada and Jaen. Visible throughout much of souithern and central parts of the country, its movement was recorded by Calar Alto Observatory in Almeria.

Driver rescued A LORRY driver had to be rescued by the fire brigade on Sunday (December 11) after his vehicle swerved off the road and down a nine-metre drop on the A-347 near Alcolea. While a passenger was uninjured, the 62-year-old driver, who had to be cut from the cabin, was taken to Poniente hospital for treatment.

THE POISON: Died in November after spending days in a coma.

No peace for the Poison By Matt Ford MYSTERY continues to surround the untimely death of one of Almeria’s most famous exports. Fifty-two-year-old transvestite Cristina Ortiz Rodriguez, born Jose Antonio but better known by her stage name La Veneno (The Poison) died on November 9 after spending four days in a medically-induced coma. Her partner had found her lying on the floor in her Madrid home covered

in bruises and with a blow to the head. Alcohol and anti-anxiety drugs were detected in her bloodstream, leading police to give the cause of death as a domestic accident. Having requested a second autopsy, which returned the same result, her family has now asked for a third, meaning her body remains in a mortuary in northern Madrid. The cost of retaining the body has now exceeded €10,000, and it is unclear how the family intend to pay the

debt, or when they will collect and bury their relative. La Veneno rose to fame in the 1990s after appearing in a raft of television series such as ‘Esta noche cruzamos el Mississippi’ (Tonight we cross the Mississippi) and ‘La sonrisa del pelícano’ (The Pelican’s Smile). In 2003 she was sentenced to three years in jail for intentionally setting fire to her apartment before claiming the insurance, and had recently published her biography.

NEWS

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EWN

Featured News 3

Our View 5

Finance 29 - 34

ALMERIA CITY: Many buildings are exempt from paying taxes. By Eleanor Hawkins

Stocks 30

Leapy Lee 35

Letters 40

Daily TV 44

Time Out 46 - 47

Health & Beauty 49 - 51

Social Scene 53 - 54

Albox 56 - 62

Property 63 - 64

Homes & Gardens 65

Pets 66

Classifieds 67 - 68

Motoring 69 - 70

Sport 72

THERE are a total of 772 buildings in Almeria City which are exempt from paying IBI property taxes, meaning the municipal coffers are losing a considerable amount of income, a new report has revealed. The report as drawn up by the council at the request of the

municipal PSOE socialist group, which has demanded that measures are taken to start forcing the Catholic church to pay taxes on two car parks which it currently gains profits from. Altogether 593 of the buildings exempt from taxes are owned by religious entities, mostly the Catholic church. While an agreement was

reached back in 1979 with the Vatican Holy See to allow for churches and other religious facilities to be tax-free buildings, this has stretched to include any property owned by the church. Other properties which are not required to pay IBI include those which house public administration entities, charities, university premises, areas occupied by railways or those cata-

logued as of cultural or historical interest. If the council decides, as its Valencian counterpart recently did, to demand that property owned by the church which provides an income be taxable, this could lead to a considerable increase in the amount the city raises through IBI, one of its main sources of income.

Dog killing trial to conclude AT the time that the Euro Weekly News went to print, a trial involving a young man accused of killing a dog was in its final stages. The public prosecutor requested a year in prison for the man, who allegedly killed a small dog belonging his to his elderly neighbour by kicking it to death. The original event occurred in 2014, when the dog wandered onto a plot of land which belonged to the accused, in the Alhanchete neighbourhood of

Cuevas del Almanzora. The animal had gone through a hole in the fence after going out for a walk with its owner. The defendant had allegedly trained his German Shepherd to attack the other dog, despite knowing who the animal belonged to. He then allegedly walked over to the dog and began to kick it in the head and body. Witnesses from the prosecution have also claimed that while he beat the animal he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have to kill you,â&#x20AC;? and that he held onto the fence so that he could stomp on the

animal as hard as possible. He then allegedly took the dog and threw it over the fence. The animal died several hours later due to liver damage which caused it to go into hypovolemic shock. In addition to the prison sentence, the public prosecutor requested that the accused receive a fine. At the behest of the animal group Equinac, the prosecutor also argued that the man should be banned from any public work relating to animals for three years.

NEWS

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OUR VIEW

Thinking of others AS we all gear up for Christmas and New Year celebrations, spare a thought for those who are going to have to cope with their first year alone following the death of a loved one or those who are going to be spending their time in hospital, perhaps confused and unable to communicate fully with those who are looking after them. Those of us who speak good Spanish could do worse than to talk to local expatriate charities to see whether we can assist by offering a few hours of interpreting for those who can’t always express themselves as they would want to. For many this is a great time, enjoying family life and getting ready for the magic of Christmas, New Year’s Eve and even Three Kings, but for others it is a

lonely and desperate time when there seems to be little to look forward to and much to regret, which can end up with depression and a dangerous reliance on alcohol. It isn’t easy to give up your time when there are so many distractions and matters to prepare, but if you do know a lonely person or elderly couple, it would be a wonderful thing to offer them a little bit of your time. Sadly one of the greatest problems with elderly people in Spain and away from their family is the problem of what we call senility or Alzheimer’s and whilst those who suffer from it tend to be cushioned from its effects as they revert into their own world, those who have to live with the deterioration of their loved ones have a double burden to bear.

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Drink and drug campaign THE DGT traffic authority, in collaboration with Local Police forces, are running anti-alcohol and drug campaigns across the roads of Almeria this week to coincide with Christmas parties. Running until Sunday (December 18), the campaign will see Guardia Civil and police officers carrying out random spot checks at any time of day, on any type or road, with an aim to reducing the number of drivers who indulge before getting behind the wheel. Although recent information campaigns have seen the number of drivers who are found to be over the legal limit for alcohol fall, the authorities are concerned about a sharp increase in drug tests coming back positive. The Provincial Traffic Headquarters has reported that of a total of 78 drug tests carried out at random on drivers so far this year, 65 gave positive results, mainly for cannabis or cocaine, a stag-

gering 80 per cent. The dangers of driving under the influence are highlighted by a report on fatalities on the roads in 2015 by the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sci-

ences, which revealed that 43.1 per cent of drivers who died in accidents had been drinking or taking drugs. Changes to traffic laws last year mean that anyone caught driving under the in-

fluence of drugs, which are just as lethal as alcohol on the roads, may face three to six-month jail sentences, heavy fines and loss of their licence for between one and four years.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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NEWS

No Brexit judgement BREXIT PAGE By John Smith

MANY find it hard to understand why the government has allowed itself to fight the decision by the High Court to find in favour of the demand that it should put the decision to parliament to decide on whether or not to trigger Article 50 to start Britain’s exit from

the European Union. If Britain is a true democracy then it is argued that as MPs are elected to rule, then the very least that could happen in this scenario is for the matter of formal exit to be placed before Parliament. The refusal by government to do this infers that it is not confident that it will receive the number of votes needed but it is impressive that the courts have become involved as it does show that the government can be held to account by an independent judiciary. With both sides having stated their cases, the judges in the Supreme Court have retired to make their decision although this is unlikely to be revealed until the new year. At the end of the four day hearing, one very important and salient point was made which

should be obvious and that is that whatever decision is made, it will not automatically stop the exit, but will either give the government the right to proceed without bothering to put the decision to parliament or parliament will be entitled to vote on the matter. The current working majority of the government is 14 seats and it would need every opposition party (except UKIP) to vote against the Brexit plus eight conservative defectors in order to defeat the motion although if the four Sinn Fein MPs who have never taken the oath LORD NEUBERGER: President of the Supreme Court. of loyalty decided to sit in Of the 75 opposing the vote, the bulk were the Commons, then the matter would be represented by the SNP members plus 21 even closer. labour MPs with just one conservative, the It is however unlikely that such an event voluble and pro-EU former cabinet minister would ever happen as on December 7, the Ken Clarke. It was something of a landmark Commons passed Labour’s motion calling in as much as it marked the first time MPs had for “the prime minister to commit to pubendorsed the government’s Brexit timetable lishing the government’s plan for leaving the Prime Minister Theresa May can expect a EU before Article 50 is invoked” by 448 to more gruelling time when she attends the 75 votes – a majority of 373 – after it was European Council Summit on December 15 amended by Downing Street to “call on the which amongst other matters will be reviewgovernment to invoke Article 50 by 31 ing Brexit. March 2017”.

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NEWS

Emergency stop saves day By Eleanor Hawkins A C O N FU SED e lde rly woman suspected to have escaped from an old people’s home caused an incide nt on We dne s da y (D e -

cember 7) which could have ended in tragedy, but luckily resulted in nothing more tha n la te a rriva l of the Madrid-Almeria train. The morning Ta lgo from the Spanish capital had just stopped at Almuradiel-Viso del Marques in Ciudad Real Province, Renfe rail company reported, when the driver s potte d a w oma n in he r 80’s wandering on the rails. His quick thinking in using the emergency brakes and the fact that the train had not yet picked up much speed after stopping meant the tra in ground to a ha lt just one metre away from the woman, leaving her unharmed, the Guardia Civil and Renfe explained. The tra in, c ove ring the morning Madrid Chamartin to A lme ria route , w a s forced to wait for more than

ALMERIA TRAIN: Was forced to wait half an hour. half an hour as the Almur adi el st at i on m ast er and Guardia Civil were called to take charge of the situation. Eventually, police officers managed to coax the woman, who was reported to be disorientated and confused, back to Viso del Mar-

ques where she is believed t o l i ve i n an ol d peopl e’s home. The train eventually arr i ved i n Al m er i a Ci t y 38 minutes late, the third consi der abl e del ay of t he m ont h, passenger s com plained.

Alleged burglar arrested THE Local Police have arrested a man in Huercal-Overa for allegedly burgling a petrol station and parish church earlier this month. The owner of the service station alerted the police at 3am of the burglary, stating that hoovers and cleaning machines had been broken into and the money inside them stolen. Officers began to investigate to discover the culprit and tracked down their suspect

that afternoon on Calle Carretera. Upon his arrest, the man was found to be carrying screwdrivers and steel bars he is believed to have used to break into the machines. A body search also revealed seven lottery tickets which belonged to the parish church and were reported stolen along with money from the collection box a few days beforehand. The arrestee, the police force reported, has a previous record for similar offences.

FINANCE

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered his first Autumn Statement on 23rd November. It was the first budget after the Brexit vote but does not provide many clues as to what a post-EU world will look like and there were no reactionary tax reforms. There were, in fact, few significant changes which will affect expatriates. One interesting change going forward is that this will be the last “Autumn Statement”. The 2017 Spring Budget will also be the last spring one. After that the Chancellor intends to deliver a single budget every autumn. This should mean there are less tax changes in a year, and that they are announced well in advance of the new tax year. Finance Bills will be released after the autumn budget. Tax rates The personal allowance will be £11,500 for the 2017/18 tax year, rising to £12,500 by the end of this parliament. In the 2020s it will automatically increase in line with inflation. The higher income tax threshold will be £45,000 in 2017/18, rising to £50,000 by the end of parliament. The ISA limit increases from £15,200 to £20,000 in April 2017. Remember, ISAs are not tax free in Spain. Once you have ceased to be UK

EWN

The UK Autumn Statement By Gerald Turner, Partner, Blevins Franks tax resident, you can no longer add to these investments. Pensions Changes were announced in respect of the tax treatment of foreign pensions. The UK will extend its “taxing rights over recently emigrated non-UK residents’ foreign lump sum payments from funds that

have had UK tax relief”. It appears that, if you have a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS), you will need to submit UK tax returns for payments for 10 years instead of the current five. If you are resident in Spain, under the double tax treaty with the UK, taxing rights fall to your country of residence, so you will not pay more tax. For UK residents, the tax treatment of foreign pensions will be more closely aligned with domestic pensions. This probably means the 10% discount on foreign pension income for UK income tax purposes will be lost. The Money Purchase Annual Allowance will be reduced from £10,000 to £4,000 in April 2017. This is the amount of tax-relieved pension contributions you can make

if you have already accessed a pension flexibly. The pension ‘triple lock’, whereby the state pension rises annually by the highest of inflation, earnings growth or 2.5%, will remain in place for the rest of this parliament. But the Chancellor hinted it may then be scrapped, saying the government will need to tackle the challenges of rising longevity and fiscal sustainability. UK residential property All UK residential property will be exposed to UK inheritance tax from 6th April 2017, regardless of the structure it is held in. The Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings charges will rise in line with inflation. Non-domiciles The new 15 out of 20 year rule will apply from 6th April 2017. This means that non-UK domiciles

living in the UK will become deemed UK domiciled two years faster than at present, exposing their worldwide assets, income and gains to UK taxation. If you think you could be affected by any of these measures, seek personalised advice from a professional who can guide you on both UK and Spanish tax and the interaction between the two regimes. Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com.

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NEWS

Safer municipal facility demanded for animals ANIMAL POUND: Was broken into.

By Eleanor Hawkins MORE than 4,000 people have signed a petition launched on Change.org urging Almeria City Council to increase security and defend the rights of the animals at the municipal animal pound. The petition, directed towards Public Works and Development councillor Carlos Sanchez, sprang up following a recent attack during which five

potentially dangerous dogs were stolen, a puppy killed and two ponies let loose after vandals broke through the main entrance to the pound. Sanchez is urged to take necessary measures to boost security at the facility including installation of security cameras, to remove measures to fine people who feed strays on the public street and increase punishments for those who abandon or mistreat animals.

The petition also calls for decent management of the pound and improved conditions including the possibility of allowing volunteers to walk dogs in Parque de Andarax and ensuring treatment for ill animals. Sanchez recently announced that the city council intends to include â&#x201A;Ź90,000 in the 2017 municipal budgets to improve the animal pound and increase it in size to double the capacity of the kennels.

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Council urged to take an interest By Eleanor Hawkins ALMERIA Council’s socialist group representative Juan Carlos Perez Navas has urged those in charge to do something about the sorry state of the city’s Pescaderia district and knock down abandoned, ruined homes which are putting local residents’ health at risk. Following a visit to the area during which the PSOE spokesman, accompanied by locals, saw for himself the condition of some of the abandoned houses, the party demanded that the council carries out urgent work to improve the situation. Ruins, which are full of rubbish and attract rats, mice and all sorts of insects, are posing a serious health risk to those who live nearby, especially to children who play in the streets.

RUINED HOMES: Urgent work is needed. Not only that, Perez Navas has complained, but the upper area of the district which stretches between Camino Viejo and Plaza del Anzuelo is in desperate need of some TLC. Street lighting fails to work correctly on many streets, he complained, meaning the elderly are afraid to leave their homes at night

and cannot even put their rubbish out for fear of a fall. “It is the council’s responsibility to guarantee that all city residents, regardless of where they live, have equal access to public facilities and services such as parks and gardens, safe playgrounds and street lights,” the PSOE spokesman stressed.

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SOCIAL NEWS

Carol concert starts festivities ONE of the activities that marks the start of Christmas in M oja c a r is the C a rol Concert organised by the local Dames in Spain and, this year they were also joined by the tow n’s M unic ipa l Music Band. For more than three decades, Mojacar has been home to the Dames in Spain a s s oc ia tion, ma de up of ove r 60 w ome n, mos t of

whom are of British origin and residents of the town. Along with the many activities organised by the association in order to raise funds for various charities, this Christmas Concert with its traditional readings and carols is a highlight. It is seen as the ‘official’ beginning of the celebrations for t he Br i t i sh com m uni t y, which always enjoys a great

level of public participation. Mojacar Council, in addition to providing the venue for this Christmas event, also organised the perform ance of t he Muni ci pal Band. They played a select i on of t r adi t i onal car ol s that brought together cultures and traditions, which the audience thoroughly enjoyed. Of course, no-one could miss the eagerly awaited traditional raffle with prizes donated by Mojacar companies and local people. The annual Moj acar Dames in Spain Carol Concer t was at t ended by t he mayor of Mojacar, Rosmari Cano, and the councillor for Non-Spanish Speaking Residents, Maria Luisa Perez, who was keen to stress the good harmony and collaboration that exists in Mojacar between the communities of Spanish and foreign residents, whatever their country of origin.

Indalo Players pantomime ROBINSON CRUSOE arrives at The Venue El Cine Teatro in Vera in January 2017. The adventure sees Robinson and his love Rosie shipwrecked in Queen Neptune’s ‘underwater world’ before arriving on an island. They then encounter Man Friday, Warriors and a very suspect King Rumble Tum. The performances will be Friday January 13 at 7.30pm, Saturday January 14 at 7.30pm and Sunday January 15 at 7.30pm. Tickets are €10 from Connextions in Turre, PC Playa and Gill’s Linen in Mojacar, Forget-Me-Not in Buganvillas and Los Gallardos Camping.

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SOCIAL NEWS

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Bedar Christmas market a success LOCAL lady Maruca (Mama Noël) was accompanied by Papa Nöel, John Gibb, both driven by reindeer Carrie from the band The Altunas to the market square to take their place in the Grotto made by Pencil John. Mary and Joseph, young village children, led the parade of angels through the streets joined by Isobel the hairdresser singing carols as they went. The sun shone for the stall holders selling their artisan goods. There were many new ones this year including a BBQ and a Hog Roast. The activities for the children were a great success with lucky dips, competitions, prizes and chocolates from santa. A Piñata filled with sweets, was hung in the centre of the square for the children to break open. Music filled the square as the Bedar choir sang carols, joined by the villagers and visitors. This event which was started last year as a special Christmas

CHRISTMAS MARKET: Supported by local people. event for the children and families of the village, and is growing each year. It is not intended as an event to raise money, however with contributions and raffles etc. there is some money to spend

and the plan is to buy a defibrillator. This Christmas Market only happens because of the support and help from so many people who live in and around Bedar. A special thank you to them all.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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SOCIAL NEWS

The mighty PawsPatas Christmas raffle AFTER several months of collecting and collating a myriad of exciting raffle prizes, the draw for the PAWS-PATAS Christmas raffle finally happened on Friday December 9 at the PAWS-PATAS charity shop in Mojacar. Bunny Willis and her team have worked so hard selling tickets at several events, including The Oasis Fashion Show at Dolce Vita, The Samba Restaurant, PAWS-PATAS and The Dames of Turre Christmas Fairs and the recent PAWS-PATAS First Wednesday event. A big thank you to all those who purchased tickets and in particular to those who kindly gave cash donations. And a rather special ‘thank you’ to Bunny’s husband Trevor, who loaded and unloaded their car on numerous occasions to showcase the wondrous display of prizes to be won. Items included a cane picnic hamper and cool box, hand crafted and semi-precious stone bracelets, Christmas hamper, ladies and gents dressing gowns, wallets, bags, make-up, glasses, wine and a €100 note (the latter donated by The Rose and Crown Pub

in Mojacar and won by Mary Munson, who promptly donated it to the charity!). A staggering amount has been raised… in fact double the amount in 2015. The grand total is €3,026.60. With €800 of this being paid towards screening for the cat’s enclosure at the shelter (especially needed with the recent rain) the remainder will go towards PAWS-PATAS neutering programme. Without the consistent help of the public and the dedication of our volunteers, PAWSPATAS would not be able to survive and continue the good work assisting cats and dogs and finding them ‘forever homes.’ Please support their shops with donations and purchases. The shop in Vera is currently holding a 50 per cent sale - genuine reductions on all items and from now on will be known as the 3/2/1/ PAWS-PATAS outlet because nothing will be sold for more than €3! For further information regarding donations, volunteering, fostering, adopting, etc, please see the group’s website www.pawspatas.org.

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SOCIAL NEWS

AUAN for all AUAN members and their friends celebrated the end of a good year for the association with a party in Maloans, Albox, whilst raising €602.25 for the association’s funds. The association’s president, Maura Hillen, addressed attendees and displayed her recently received MBE medal which she ‘unreservedly shared’ with AUAN members who had worked together for so many years to change “not one, but two national laws in Spain and a regional law in Andalucia.” Praising the work of the members she said, “They said it could not be done but we did it anyway and the most recent changes seem to be working well given the number of people applying for AFO certificates for their properties in Albox!” She also thanked local

MBE MEDAL: Shared with AUAN members. businesses, such as Wavelengths Hairdressers, Ibex Insurance, Maloans, Girasol, Total Entertainment,

The Corner Shop and Colin the Card for their support of AUAN, “on this and so many other occasions.”

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Animal cruelty made public By Eleanor Hawkins THE young men facing trial and possible 2.5-year jail sentences for squashing 79 piglets to death on a farm in Huercal-Overa in January

this year are, sadly, just two of more than 20 people accused of serious animal cruelty crimes in Almeria Province this year. Other cases of note in 2016 have included one of

eight puppies thrown into rubbish bins in plastic bags, four dogs (including a mother and her puppy) found starved to death on a farm in Bayarcal and a 55-year-old man accused of torturing

three hunting dogs. Along with more than 20 serious cases, another 250 people have been accused of minor offences related to animal cruelty or failure to meet regulations regarding ownership of potentially dangerous breeds, the police have reported. “Contrary to what people may think, cases of cruelty are actually decreasing but those which occur are made public and reported to the police thanks to increased awareness,” explained Sergio Lopez, head of the Guardia Civil’s Seprona na-

ture protection branch in Almeria. There is generally a common character profile amongst those arrested or charged with this type of offence, Seprona has reported. In 99 per cent of cases, the culprit is male, aged between 16 and 30, with little education and, paradoxically, works with animals.” Luckily nowadays the Penal Code has made it easier to punish those guilty of animal cruelty, with fines and penalties of up to two years in jail, the police branch said.

SOCIAL NEWS

Many more migrants caught at sea FIFTY-FIVE migrants, including nine women, were intercepted to the south of Alboran Island and carried to safety by Almeria’s Maritime Rescue service on Sunday (December 11). The Almeria coordination centre received a tipoff from an NGO co-operator that the dinghy had set sail from Bouyafar beach in Morocco at 6am. Although the informer provided a mobile phone number for one of those on the dinghy, the authorities were unable to make contact and a search was launched. Sasemar 101 search and rescue plane and Polimnia lifeboat were joined by the Spanish Navy’s Cazadora patrol ship after the military installation on Alboran Island was informed of the search and permission was given to fly in Moroccan airspace. The navy ship eventually spotted the dinghy 13 nautical miles from the African coast and escorted it towards Spain while the lifeboat was sent to meet and collect the migrants. The group arrived in Almeria Port at 5.30pm and were reported to be in good health.

FINANCE

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Banks defending their position AFTER an investigation into the rigging of the euro interest rates, the European Commission has announced that it will be fining three banks - who did not originally accept their part in the fixing cartel a total of €485 million. Of the three banks involved in this latest investigation, Credit Agricole, HSBC and JPMorgan,

Quote of the Week

€337 million is the amount that JP Morgan was fined by the European Commission for its part in the alleged rigging of the euro interest rates and is far more than any other bank was fined.

BUSINESS EXTRA

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Building job

An Amazon bookstore in Seattle. By John Smith INTERNET retail giant, Amazon has revealed that it will trial the concept of running a grocery store which has no checkout, but customers will automatically pay for the items in their baskets through an app and the company intends to use the same types of technologies found in self-driving cars. It appears that the system they plan to use will be smart

the American Bank does not accept that they have done anything wrong and may appeal the decision as is made clear in a prepared statement shown below. “We have cooperated fully with the European Commission throughout its five year investigation. We did not engage in any wrongdoing with respect to the Euribor benchmark. We will continue to vigorously defend our position

Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” Donald Trump on the cost of presidential aircraft due for delivery in 2024.

Amazon opens grocery stores

enough to identify when items are taken from or returned to shelves and will record all of this in a so-called virtual shopping cart so that once the shopper leaves the store, their Amazon account will be charged and a receipt will be sent to them automatically. The first shop is expected to open in Seattle where the company has its headquarters in the first quarter of 2017 and will be a natural extension of its physical bookstores.

INDIAN born British citizen Bali Padda who has worked for Lego for 15 years will take over as the first non-Danish CEO of the group still owned by the family of the original founder, to run and streamline the business.

Oldest bank FOLLOWING the resignation of Italian Prime Minister Renzi, shares in the already teetering Monte dei Paschi di Siena, took a nose dive but now that a rumour is circulating that a €5 billion rescue package is likely, their position seems less precarious.

Not enough THE Spanish government has agreed with demands from ‘opposition’ parties that the monthly minimum wage for 2017 should be increased 8 per cent to €825.5 which is an increase of €61.1 but is still considered insufficient by trade unions.

Spread betting crackdown THERE is to be a crackdown on spread betting in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority as it believes those investing in this very volatile market don’t fully understand the risks. The concept which was introduced in the 1970s over the daily

€14.56 billion is the amount spent by UK visitors to Spain in the first 10 months of the year and represents 21 per cent of total tourist spend in the country.

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 12

By John Smith

EWN

movement of the gold price now covers individual shares or indexes such as the FTSE 100. The concept is that rather than purchase shares, investors bet on whether the market will go up or down and pay a fee to a broker who handles their bet.

against these allegations, including through possible appeals to the European courts.” Danish European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager believed that the banks had worked together to exchange information and pointed out that banks have to recognise and respect EU competition laws like any other business regardless of where they operate from.

IBEX 35

+0.26%

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 12

Company fines THE UK Competition and Markets Authority has fined the Pfizer pharmaceutical company £84.2 million (€99 million) after it increased its price to the NHS massively for an anti-epilepsy drug without justification, which is said to have cost the cash strapped health service tens of millions of pounds. It also fined Flynn Pharma a distributor of another anti-epilepsy drug the lesser amount of £5.2 million (€6.1 million) for similarly overcharging the NHS.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 5

PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY Anglo American 1,240.00 26.00 Associated British Foods 2,936.00 247.00 Admiral Group 975.00 -1,824.00 Ashtead Group 1,620.00 -20.00 Antofagasta 755.00 -1.50 Aviva 483.50 0.80 AstraZeneca 4,300.00 20.00 BAE Systems 603.50 3.00 Babcock International Group 940.00 12.50 Barclays 235.00 1.90 British American Tobacco 4,392.50 -27.50 Barratt Developments 469.50 1.90 British Land Co 624.00 2.00 BHP Billiton 1,372.50 17.50 Bunzl 1,150.50 -2,055.00 BP 475.00 -1.20 Burberry Group 1,475.50 1.50 BT Group 355.50 3.50 Coca-Cola HBC 1,660.00 -5.00 Carnival 4,118.00 -4.00 Centrica 215.50 -1.50 Compass Group 1,362.50 -14.50 Capita Group (The) 475.00 -5.00 Croda International 1,500.00 -3,192.00 CRH 2,594.00 -111.00 Dixons Carphone 337.50 -22.70 DCC 0.00 0.00 Diageo 2,025.00 -18.00 Direct Line Insurance Group 161.70 -355.90 Experian 1,502.50 -4.50 easyJet 998.50 1.50 Fresnillo 1,185.00 1.00 GKN 317.50 1.30 Glencore 301.50 1.50 GlaxoSmithKline 1,480.50 2.50 Hikma Pharmaceuticals 1,679.50 -44.50 Hargreaves Lansdown 0.00 0.00 Hammers 543.00 -9.00 HSBC Holdings 675.00 1.20 International Consolidtd Air Gr 446.00 4.60 InterContinental Hotels Group 1,412.50 -3,350.00 3i Group 655.00 -38.50 Imperial Brands 3,640.50 170.00 Informa 290.00 -665.50 Intu Properties 0.00 0.00 Intertek Group 0.00 0.00 ITV 185.50 -6.00 Johnson Matthey 3,042.50 -2.50 Kingfisher 348.00 0.10 Land Securities Group 1,010.00 -4.00

% CHG. NET VOL 2.14 17,457.90 9.19 21,082.28 -100.00 5,232.08 -1.22 8,037.53 -0.20 7,413.64 0.17 19,785.08 0.47 52,069.52 0.50 19,181.41 1.35 4,742.50 0.82 40,535.48 -0.62 81,528.92 0.41 4,737.25 0.32 6,353.02 1.29 28,988.19 -100.00 6,805.63 -0.25 90,283.06 0.10 6,519.81 0.99 35,554.38 -0.30 6,041.59 -0.10 8,915.53 -0.69 11,798.32 -1.05 22,262.29 -1.04 3,237.64 -100.00 4,153.99 -4.10 22,643.27 -6.30 4,080.49 0.00 5,237.27 -0.88 51,053.05 -100.00 4,918.38 -0.30 14,188.14 0.15 3,999.89 0.08 8,606.92 0.41 5,431.45 0.50 43,565.68 0.17 71,192.94 -2.58 4,081.63 0.00 5,800.92 -1.63 4,330.81 0.18 134,558.38 1.04 9,510.30 -100.00 6,612.88 -5.55 6,799.63 4.90 32,644.11 -100.00 5,360.15 0.00 3,647.77 0.00 5,248.30 -3.13 7,306.12 -0.08 5,881.48 0.03 7,776.96 -0.39 7,954.73

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Legal & General Group 244.00 0.20 Lloyds Banking Group ORD 62.00 0.26 London Stock Exchange Grp 1,400.00 -2,774.00 Micro Focus International 0.00 0.00 Mediclinic International 325.00 -737.00 Merlin Entertainments 432.00 -1.70 Marks & Spencer Group 329.00 -9.60 Mondi 1,757.50 146.50 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets 225.00 0.10 National Grid 917.50 -4.20 Next 4,870.00 16.00 Old Mutual Group 195.25 -2.35 Provident Financial 1,425.00 -2,726.00 Polymetal International 376.50 -783.00 Paddy Power Betfair 5,000.00 -8,280.00 Prudential 1,586.00 -8.00 Persimmon 1,673.00 -43.00 Pearson 792.50 -8.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 6,570.00 -30.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Grp 219.00 1.70 Royal Dutch Shell 2,091.50 4.00 Royal Dutch Shell 2,195.00 11.00 RELX 1,355.00 -18.00 Rio Tinto 3,257.00 33.50 Royal Mail 459.00 3.30 Rolls-Royce Group 665.00 -3.00 Randgold Resources 5,950.00 85.00 RSA Insurance Group 550.50 -6.50 Sainsbury (J) 242.50 -4.50 Schroders 1,493.50 -2,936.00 Sage Group (The) 625.00 0.00 Shire 4,420.00 -12.50 Sky 887.50 -112.50 Standard Life 359.50 -11.30 Smiths Group 700.00 -1,442.00 Smith & Nephew 1,140.00 -29.00 SSE 1,487.50 -4.50 Standard Chartered 669.50 12.00 St James's Place 887.50 -112.00 Severn Trent 2,125.50 -21.50 Travis Perkins 1,420.00 9.00 Tesco 217.78 -0.32 TUI AG 0.00 0.00 Taylor Wimpey 155.00 0.60 Unilever 3,105.00 -19.50 United Utilities Group 886.50 -6.00 Vodafone Group 198.95 0.55 Wolseley 2,245.00 -4,963.00 Worldpay Group 272.50 6.70 WPP Group 1,705.00 -66.00 Whitbread 3,495.00 -23.00

% CHG. 0.08 0.42 -100.00 0.00 -100.00 -0.39 -2.84 9.09 0.04 -0.46 0.33 -1.19 -100.00 -100.00 -100.00 -0.50 -2.51 -1.06 -0.45 0.78 0.19 0.50 -1.31 1.04 0.72 -0.45 1.45 -1.17 -1.82 -100.00 0.00 -0.28 -11.25 -3.05 -100.00 -2.48 -0.30 1.83 -11.21 -1.00 0.64 -0.15 0.00 0.39 -0.62 -0.67 0.28 -100.00 2.52 -3.73 -0.65

NET VOL 14,612.28 44,801.29 9,664.95 4,877.12 5,193.88 4,398.45 5,501.31 7,938.80 5,254.73 34,474.56 7,161.66 9,662.52 4,177.11 3,318.89 6,869.40 41,994.28 5,356.75 6,416.66 45,723.62 26,046.42 91,332.05 82,213.43 14,708.00 45,286.15 4,621.00 12,108.42 5,553.63 5,591.18 5,322.74 6,606.64 6,777.28 39,148.23 13,571.64 7,351.13 5,693.95 9,923.05 15,024.65 21,884.62 5,208.76 5,040.32 3,592.81 17,734.57 6,451.55 5,090.08 39,684.56 5,997.21 52,795.28 12,416.28 5,178.00 22,040.34 6,395.88

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US dollar...................................................................1.05653 Japan yen.................................................................122.287 Switzerland franc .................................................1.07592 Denmark kroner...................................................7.43665 Norway kroner ......................................................8.94515 currenciesdirect.com/moraira • Tel: +34 966 265 072

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 5

COMPANY 3M AMERICAN EXPRESS APPLE BOEING CATERPILLAR CHEVRON TEXACO COCA-COLA CISCO SYSTEMS DU PONT EXXON MOBIL GENERAL ELECTRIC GOLDMAN SACH HOME DEPOT IBM INTEL JOHNSON & JOHNSON JP MORGAN CHASE MCDONALDS MERCK MICROSOFT NIKE PFIZER PROCTER & GAMBLE ST. PAUL TRV UNITED TECHNOLOGIES UNITEDHEALTH VERIZON VISA CLASS A WAL-MART WALT DISNEY

PRICE 178,490 74,770 113,950 156,490 95,530 115,810 42,000 30,060 74,850 89,000 31,780 241,850 133,390 166,520 35,760 112,260 85,490 121,260 61,230 61,970 51,720 31,700 84,370 119,190 109,790 160,120 51,490 79,140 70,080 104,860

CHANGE %CHANGE 2,61 +1,48 -0,14 -0,19 1,83 +1,63 1,1 +0,71 -0,74 -0,77 0,64 +0,56 1,02 +2,49 0,11 +0,37 0,17 +0,23 0,68 +0,77 0,25 +0,79 0,4 +0,17 0,86 +0,65 1,16 +0,70 0,06 +0,17 1,27 +1,14 0,37 +0,43 0,81 +0,67 1,11 +1,85 0,96 +1,57 0,17 +0,33 0,76 +2,46 0,87 +1,04 0,81 +0,68 1,36 +1,25 0,8 +0,50 0,36 +0,70 -0,14 -0,18 -0,26 -0,37 1,48 +1,43

VOLUME 735.183 775.025 7.9M 606.680 2.3M 1.9M 6.1M 5.9M 800.760 2.8M 8.3M 966.906 1.6M 855.742 4.3M 2.7M 3.8M 820.891 3.1M 8.6M 1.7M 8.3M 2.4M 625.656 840.385 767.073 3.1M 1.6M 3M 3.5M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES

DECEMBER

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced AC Immune SA Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. RigNet, Inc. Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. Ocean Rig UDW Inc. Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited NII Holdings, Inc. Conn's, Inc. Educational Development Corporation Intersections, Inc. Calithera Biosciences, Inc.

$ 14.93 $ 3.20 $ 21.85 $ 2.75 $ 2.22 $ 22.99 $ 2.35 $ 14.45 $ 10.40 $ 4.03 $ 3.50

2.88 ▲ 23.90% 0.50 ▲ 18.52% 2.95 ▲ 15.61% 0.35 ▲ 14.58% 0.28 ▲ 14.43% 2.48 ▲ 12.09% 0.25 ▲ 11.90% 1.40 ▲ 10.73% 1 ▲ 10.64% 0.37 ▲ 10.11% 0.30 ▲ 9.38%

$ 6.85 $ 28.55 $9 $9 $ 23.36 $ 14.05 $ 36 $ 3.50 $ 2.51 $ 2.80 $ 4.50

2.45 ▼ 26.34% 8.49 ▼ 22.92% 2.53 ▼ 21.94% 1.15 ▼ 11.33% 2.60 ▼ 10.02% 1.46 ▼ 9.41% 3.70 ▼ 9.32% 0.35 ▼ 9.09% 0.25 ▼ 9.06% 0.23 ▼ 7.59% 0.35 ▼ 7.22%

Most Declined DAVIDsTEA Inc. Duluth Holdings Inc. Clearside Biomedical, Inc. Fanhua Inc. Willdan Group, Inc. IRIDEX Corporation CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CPI Card Group Inc. Oncobiologics, Inc. Atlanticus Holdings Corporation Xcel Brands, Inc

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Some banks looking to leave London Photo Credit: theendup shutterstock

By John Smith IF there is one fact of life that one can be fairly sure about, it is that banks are at best amoral and at worst totally immoral. Certainly and to some extent they understandably want to make sure that their financial position is as protected as possible, even though they may only still be in business because of the generosity of various governments who have diverted funds from the taxpayer to support their financial errors and in many cases wrongdoing!

There are already positive noises being made by eight EU capitals encouraging banks to move their business. Now that Britain is due to sever its direct links with the European Union and it looks as if London could be excluded from the euro passport system, various banks have started looking for a safe bolthole within the EU from which to run their ‘wholesale’ businesses. According to Benoit de Juvigny, a French financial regulator, many international banks are looking to Paris as an option. According to the BBC, there are already

PARIS: Could it be the new banking capital? positive noises being made by eight EU capitals encouraging banks to move their business to Amsterdam, Bratislava, Dublin, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris or

Valletta and in some cases at least, international banks have already started to undertake due diligence research in order to ensure that they would be able to operate

subsidiaries from their chosen city. Whilst it would be unfair to accuse these cities (and no doubt others to follow) of acting like jackals fighting over a carcass, it is obvious that once Britain does leave the Union, it will find competition hard in many areas and the retention of business such as in the banking sector could become an expensive operation. What is also worrying is that despite all that has gone wrong with banks in the past and the fact that members of the Union are in theory supposed to work together, it is more than speculation that at least one of those scrabbling for the new business may be prepared to relax legislation and control in order to attract international banks which could result in another financial disaster in the medium term. Perhaps an unshackled Britain could actually find a way of wooing bankers back to London by seeing what concessions other countries are making and then topping them. Alternatively, the underworld needs somewhere to safely deposit its illegally gained funds and perhaps the time is right to open the equivalent of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (also known as BCCI or the Bank of Crooks and Cocaine International) which had its headquarters in London before spectacularly being closed down in 1991.

Tata Steel and unions in principle agreement AFTER recognising the importance of India as a strong financial target, UK governments were happy to see an influx of investment into UK industry by Indian businesses but after some years, it came as a great disappointment when these companies started to have financial difficulties or decided that they wanted to divest themselves of their British financial interests. Once such company was Tata, the massive industrial operation that had taken over most of the British Steel industry which announced in March of this year that it wanted to either sell its UK businesses or in a worst scenario close them down. Thousands of workers, mostly employed in Wales were left facing future financial and work insecurity, especially when it appeared that apart from a relatively small division, there was little hope of finding a buyer for the business. Now, following recent meetings between Tata and the two main unions representing workers in the plants - Community and Unite - it has been announced that subject to a ballot of workers the company would continue to operate the business and invest further to make it a viable and profitable concern.

Photo Credit: Tata Group

By John Smith

KOUSHIK CHATTERJEE: Group executive director of Tata Steel. T h e ma in points of a gre e me nt w hic h should satisfy the workforce are: A guaranteed, minimum five-year commitment to keeping two blast furnaces at the

Port Talbot plant. A £1 billion (€1.17 billion) investment plan to be implemented over a 10-year period in order to keep the manufacture of steel

running at Port Talbot. An expression from Tata that it would commit to avoid making compulsory redundancies for at least five years. Whilst all of this is very positive, the only possible sticking point will be over pensions where the company wants to replace the existing scheme for one which sees a new scheme requiring no more than 10 per cent of salary contribution from the company and 6 per cent from employees. Both union representatives and Koushik Chatterjee, group executive director of Tata Steel and executive director for its European business expressed their pleasure at the outcome of the meeting, but stressed that the government still had a great deal to do to ensure that the company was supported especially as far as fair external competition and cost of energy are concerned. Workers will need to balance the positive out com e of seei ng t hei r j obs pr ot ect ed against the new pension proposals which the uni ons bel i eve i s t he best deal i t coul d achieve, although they are not making a positive recommendation to their members concerning this particular matter. In the event that Tata employees vote to reject the deal, then there is every possibility they will find it hard to invest further and may well withdraw from the UK completely.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Between a rock and a hard place

La edit: o Cr Phot flickr cloa Mon

CRISTOBAL MONTORO: Spanish Minister of Finance and Public Administration.

By John Smith UNDER pressure from leftwing allies in parliament who want to see a relaxation of austerity and the European Union which wants to see the Spanish economy much more under control, the government of Mariano Rajoy and Cristobal Montoro, Spanish Minister of Finance and Public Administration have had to try very hard to produce a budget for 2017 which will be acceptable to all parties. They are looking to increase taxes by some €4.8 billion by collecting certain monies in advance rather than arrears and hope to pull in additional funds by increasing the purchase tax of alcohol (except beer and wine) as well as cigarettes and tobacco. In addition, following the example of other European states, there will be a new tax on soft drinks with high sugar content and although it is suggested that such a tax is not to raise funds but to alert the public to the dangers of these

There will be a new tax on soft drinks with high sugar content which will produce more revenue. drinks, it is interesting that it is likely to produce more new revenue than the increase in tax on alcohol and tobacco. The government wants to ensure that people are paying tax on their earnings and to reduce the amount spent on the so-called black economy and is therefore reducing the limit of cash settlements of transactions from €2,500 to €1,000, although this could back fire on the local councils who up to now have been able to accept the larger sums via bank deposits. Speaking of local councils, 2,452 have applied for the cadastral value of properties to be increased and whilst this could not be done in time for the current budget, government is expected to approve this in principle during the

year as it will make those local councils less reliant on national hand outs, assuming the residents can afford to pay any increased rates. It was originally thought that approval of increased property taxes would be deferred for a year alongside certain environmental taxes and local death duties, but a codicil within the December 2 approval document covered the cadastral increase. None of this is enough and after having hit the pension pot once again to allow for a Christmas bonus pay out, the government is not only going to have to consider what it will do there, but it has also promised to boost income by fighting tax fraud, making collection of IVA speedier and more efficient as well as collecting monies owed to government more competently. Time will tell whether these actions will be enough to increase sufficiently to satisfy the EU, but if that is the case, then it is possible that the fragile alliance within parliament could be shattered.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

EWN

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

EWN

Boris Johnson was right about Saudi now, is that Koreans, Pakistanis, Somalis, Filipinos, etc. get paid, but generally a mere pittance. Homosexuality is a topping offence, yet the country is rife with men so highly sexed nothing is safe from their amorous intentions. (I was propositioned at least once or twice a day; but I was much prettier then!) They insist on building mosques all over the world, but refuse to allow any trace of alternative religions in their country. Alcohol is banned yet, when I was there, they were the biggest importers of Johnnie Walker Whisky in the world. In Jeddah they have the largest canvas-covered area in the world. All air conditioned and able to accommodate over a million people. How many refugees could this area accommodate? Ha! No, I’m afraid money buys it all my friends and they have enough to purchase everyone. On our own subservient heads be it.

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT BORIS JOHNSON was 100 per cent correct with his ‘proxy wars’ remarks regarding Saudi Arabia. It is merely another example of the deed this nation does best of all – delegate. Having lived among them for some eight years I can categorically state that, in my opinion, they are the most arrogant hypocrites on the planet. If they were not floating on a sea of money, they would be fighting for survival, and probably losing! Instead, sitting in their ivory towers they get everyone else to do their dirty work for them. Cashing in on the fact that this world is run by greed, money and the resulting power it brings, they continue to get away with just about everything. Their human rights record is atrocious. The only difference

HUMAN RIGHTS: Their record is atrocious.

Keep the Faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

A Christmas Tale from Tuscany By Dario Poli THE plane landed with a soft bump at Pisa airport. I disembarked and was met by a tall blonde Italian friend by the name of Giovanni. His good looks, striking blue eyes and tall posture, reminded me more of an upstanding German officer, than the traditional stereotype view of an Italian. He greeted me warmly, confirming the various holiday arrangements he had made for my Christmas break in Tuscany. Once settled in his Alfa Romeo, with typical Italian verve, we sped rapidly out of the airport, passing the famous leaning tower and its cathedral, and headed, via an excellent motorway, into the open country, towards our final destination, the popular ski-resort of Abetone situated high in the snow-capped Apennines. To reach the resort we had to traverse through the wonderful rocky countryside of Garfagnana. Crossed by the river Serchio, Garfagnana stretches out amongst rugged hills and richly wooded valleys. Though I was familiar with this region of Tuscany, Giovanni opened my eyes to the many varied local

Christmas traditions, whilst driving at enormous speed, one hand casually on the steering wheel, the other, pointing out places of special historical interest to his petrified passenger. He navigated the car with consummate skill, racing along the much narrower winding roads as we headed towards Upper Garfagnana and the dramatic snow-capped peaks of the Apuan Alps, alluringly visible in the distance. Near Borgo Mozzano, we saw the spectacular Maddalena Bridge known as the Devil’s bridge because of its peculiar arch shape. In the middle valley of the river Serchio, nature offered us a superb show, as the road runs along the river for a while amongst chestnut groves and lush green valleys which abound, even in winter. We stopped for an espresso at Bagni di Lucca, a secluded paradise surrounded by hills and woods known as the ‘Land of princes and poets,’ due to its popularity with local and foreign poets including Byron, Lamartine, Heine and Shelly who came for inspiration and to enjoy the thermal waters in well run ‘health giving’ establishments.

Re-invigorated by the coffee, it was time to move on. Giovanni was determined to reach the ancient fortress town of Castelnuovo by the afternoon. Passing through many picturesque villages, I was finally deposited at a small hotel in the town and my dashing driver left me, with instructions to be ready for collection M ad da len a Br id ge wi early next morning, th its pe cu lia r ar ch sh ap e. which was Christmas Eve. served in a time capsule undisturbed Giovanni arrived on the dot, and medieval design. by the touch of man. took me on a winding drive up the Two large fierce-looking mules We climbed steadily upwards mountain and after one hour, he had observed our intrusion into their along a narrow muddy well-worn stopped at a lake, then led me on a world. With considerable resentment pathway in the forest for about half hike up a steep hill towards a small they jointly insisted in directing their an hour, breathing the intoxicating unnamed hamlet of about 40 houses, attentions on the impudent strangers perfume of fresh pine and sucking in perched like an eagle’s nest on a by making a beeline rapidly towards the biting pure mountain air, with the plateau high above us. us, their intentions unmistakably hosfirst falling snowflakes lightly caressIt was built in Roman times and tile. Just before impact they were ing our cheeks. was occupied by poor farmers until stopped in their tracks by a piercing Out of breath and gasping, we 1950, when they abandoned their whistle. There stood the figure of Silgratefully found ourselves standing homes in the Italian exodus to find vio, our saviour. on a narrow plateau about 200 metres prosperity in the United States. Now wide in front of an ancient church of all were empty. Locked and prePart 2 is in next week’s Euro Weekly

Throw the book at them Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man OK I am pretty much grumpy with the whole world this week. Let’s start with the real serious stuff. Don’t tell me that those football clubs did not have a clue what was going on or some suspicion that children were being abused by members of their staff. Some have admitted they had. Chelsea made a payment to one victim who had to sign a non-disclosure document. Why? Because they wanted it to just go away. I hope they get the book thrown at them. It’s typical of big organisations that just want to buy their way out. It is unacceptable these people can hurt our children and appear to do it unnoticed. It makes my blood boil and my heart break. The bravery of the men now coming forward must be applauded and idiots like Eric Bristow should just keep their mouths shut. What is it with this lunatic Trump? I can’t believe what he tweets. He managed this week to knock 20 per cent off Boeing’s share price by saying the new Airforce One was too dear and the order should be cancelled.

He may be right but don’t tweet about it! Call them in and discuss it. Also, the racists he’s bringing in to advise him are scary. Google Steve Bannon - it’s terrifying. You know it’s wrong when David Duke, head of the KKK, thinks you’re making good choices! In other news, the Beckhams have allowed, and are promoting, their 11-year-old son Cruz to sing a charity song for Christmas. It’s fine if that’s what you want but remember you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. You have now put him out in the public domain and you can never play the privacy card again. He’s 11 - let him have a childhood. You can milk your fame for every cent but these things often end in tears... or worse. Mrs S and I watch all the junk TV: X Factor, Strictly, I’m a Celeb and quite enjoy them. What I don’t enjoy is that nobody does great anymore... they ‘smash’ it. That’s all you hear. You smashed that dance, you smashed that song, and you smashed that task. As I recall if you smash something you break it. STOP IT! Just say, ‘Well done, you did great.’ We went to Miramar for our ‘after Christmas recce.’ We have a look at all the stuff we want for Christmas then go back and buy them in the sales. It saves a fortune and you get twice as many pressies!

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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A Christmas shambles in Almuñecar

Witchdoctor in a dress WHY do these uneducated people with their Bronze Age superstitions about sky fairies think they can tell the rest of us how to live? What is it to do with them what the rest of us do on Sundays? We do not tell them they must not grovel on their knees to empty air, while listening to the local witchdoctor in a dress. We can do without their blatant lies about pretending to care about Sunday being a family day. On my first

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

LIKE many, I am looking forward to the festive season and all that comes with it. So I was very happy to read in the EWN last week that the Christmas lights would be switched on in Almuñecar on Saturday the 2nd. I have been living here on and off for the last eight years and was surprised every year again by the decora t i v e l i g h t s, t h e v a rio u s beautiful trees and the wonderful and sp e c i a l a t m o sp h e re in th e town square. I also read that a new company now took care of the decorations etc due to financial cuts... well did they cut! The Christmas lights in the street look like they have been last used 30 years ago and since been stored in a cow barn (lots already ‘out of light’ after two nights). A kind of Christmas market on the s q u a r e , wh i c h t a k es u p s o much space and now makes concerts and Christmas plays impossible the r e a n d a d d e d w ith s o me poor pine trees, pulled from the beaches of the Costa de la Luz. The designer of this mismatch has also dropped a pile of wood in the middle of all this, (expect it to be lit one day when dried) fenced off by some roadwork fencing. But worst of all... NO TREE!! Is this a case of ‘penny wise and pound stupid’? The town hall of Almuñ e c a r c a n ’t b e th at p o o r? And also so inconsistent! This Christmas cut makes the town look cheap and poor and without any ambience for the upcoming festivities. Apart from creating a signature for the tourists, I think the people of Almuñecar deserve more than this shambles given for their Fiesta de la Luz... Ann Olivier

A needless death? THE tragic pictures of the flooded homes are enough to make you weep. All of us know that natural disasters can overwhelm a place, but do the Spanish really make enough provision for dealing with this amount of water? I know it’s not usual, but we know it will rain heavily like that again. So why not build the drainage systems that can cope? Would it really cost

visit to christian America in 1980, I was surprised to find so many s h o p s o p en o n S unda y, unlike mainly secular Britain at the time with its so many empty churches. Michael Hill

A fee to stay in the EU I READ this week that the chief EU Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt has stated he supports the mo tio n th a t w o u l d a llow e xpa t Brits to pay a fee to Brussels so they can keep their EU membership. Is it not enough that we put millions of euros into the Spanish economy every year, that now they

that much? I am not saying the UK handles this better, but there at least you expect the rain to be heavy and persistent. The pictures of the firefighters and divers struggling to free the young woman in Estepona were heartbreaking. She must have been terrified. If someone deliberately locked her inside that building they should face the full force of the law. Alison, Alicante

want us to pay as well? I think we expats are in a very iffy situation. What with T May’s buffoon Johnson and now Verhofstadt, it seems to me that the only hope we have is the Spanish Prime Minster who in the past has said that our situation in Spain would not change. We have heard that sort of thing in the past. It’s a shame we can’t pa c k up a nd go ba c k to the U K and plant ourselves on the benefit s ys te m, the n the G ove rnme nt would understand how we benefit their system by not being there, after all we are the ones that have paid our 45 years and now deserve to be treated with a bit more respect and consideration. It would also show Spain just how much we put into their country. The ex-

pats in Spain need a voice, then we will be treated fairly. Ron Chivers

Doubling down A CONCISE, good summary. Hillary was elected president of California. Trump was elected president of the U nited St at es. Per i od. The protests since then are mostly by e a s ily l ed, wr ongl y educat ed youngsters incited by paid rabble rous e rs f unded by peopl e l i ke George Soros. The Democratic Party itself is doubling down on stupidity. “We need more big government, more government spend-

ing, more regulation.” What part of no do you not understand. Love the quote from Robert Frost: ‘Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t say it… and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.’ Frank Barone

General Trump DOES anyone else worry that Donald Trump’s inner circle now has t hr ee gener al s i n i t and a fourth might also be on the way? A lot of people voted for Trump because he speaks his mind and doesn’t sit on the fence. If I were in America I think I’d have done the same. Giving the political establishment a good shake-up can’t be a bad thing can it? But why is it US generals get involved in public life to this extent. You don’t get to be a gener al by pussy- f oot i ng ar ound, but t hat doesn’t m ean diplomacy has to be a rude word. Mending fences after you’ve mouthed off is never easy. Bill, Malaga

Christmas cards TO t he Br i t s t hat ar e sendi ng Christmas cards home, please be advised. The Calahonda post office charges double the stamp if the envelope is not white and oblong. If it is white and oblong the stamp cost is under 80 cents, but if the envelope is coloured and a different shape it cost €1.50 per card. As was explained by the post office, the cards or letters would have t o be sor t ed by hand. Not sure I believe that. I f you have a l ot of car ds t o send an extra 70 cents per card mounts up. Merry Christmas. Trilby

WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:

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The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de AlmerĂa

SPECIAL

m t s i r h C y r r e M H a d n a s r custome

SPECIAL

r u o l l a o t mas ! r a e Y w e Happy N

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de AlmerĂa

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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TV LISTING

THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER

FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER

SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER

SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER

MONDAY 19 DECEMBER

TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER

WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:45am 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm 12:25am 6:30pm 6:40pm 6:50pm 7:40pm 9:55pm 10:55pm 11:15pm 11:25pm 12:45am 5:40pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 6:40pm 7:40pm

BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Who Do You Think You Are? The Apprentice BBC News at Ten BBC London News The Contenders This Week

8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

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11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:15am 1:15am 2:20am 2:25am

1:15am

8:55pm 9:55pm

BBC News at Six BBC London News Celebrity Mastermind Panorama EastEnders Would I Lie to You? Last Tango in Halifax BBC News at Ten BBC London News Match of the Day 2 Citizen Khan

9:00pm 10:00pm

11:30pm 12:15am

BBC News BBC London News Pointless Strictly Come Dancing Michael Mcintyre's Big Show BBC News The National Lottery Live Match of the Day The NFL Show

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Still Open All Hours EastEnders Citizen Khan Have I Got News for You Walliams and Friends BBC News at Ten BBC London News The Graham Norton Show The Apprentice: Why I Fired Them

Songs of Praise BBC News BBC London News Countryfile Sports Personality of the Year The Apprentice The Apprentice: You're Hired BBC News BBC London NewsS

10:00pm 11:00pm

8:00pm

Watchdog Six Wives with Lucy Worsley BBC News at Ten BBC London News Mrs. Brown's Boys Who Do You Think You Are? The Apprentice Weather for the Week Ahead BBC News

8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:05am

11:25pm 12:10am 12:50am 1:20am 2:20am 4:05am 2:30pm 5:35pm 6:35pm 8:40pm 9:20pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:30am 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am 1:00am 8:00pm

8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:45pm 12:15am 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip MasterChef: The Professionals Close to the Enemy The Apprentice: You're Fired! Newsnight The Big Life Fix with Simon Reeve Panorama Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Mastermind Coastal Path Rick Stein's Long Weekends QI Newsnight Close to the Enemy

9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 12:45am 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 1:45am

Walt Disney Disney's A Christmas Carol QI XL Porridge The Making of Young Men Balletboyz - Young Men Chances Are This is BBC Two

5:00pm

Equestrian Full Steam Ahead The Terminal Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV Best of British Victoria Wood's MidLife Christmas Victoria Wood: At It Again Last Chance Harvey

3:55pm

The Real Marigold Hotel We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story University Challenge Only Connect Lenny Henry - A Life on Screen Two Doors Down Top of the Pops 2 The Choir

5:15pm

8:30pm 11:40pm 11:55pm 1:55am

5:45pm 7:40pm 7:50pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 11:20pm 1:35am 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 12:40am

Mary Berry's Absolute Christmas Favourites University Challenge MasterChef: The Professionals Inside the Christmas Factory Live at the Apollo Upstart Crow NFL

8:00pm 8:30pm

Mary Berry's Absolute Christmas Favourites University Challenge MasterChef: The Professionals The Big Life Fix with Simon Reeve Insert Name Here The Premier League Show Lenny Henry - A Life on Screen

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

11:05pm 11:35pm 11:50pm 12:50am 1:35am

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Emmerdale Coronation Street Extraordinary Weddings ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London The Jonathan Ross Show The Jeremy Kyle Show USA

8:00pm 8:55pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:55pm 1:00am 1:30am

Emmerdale Coronation Street Countrywise Coronation Street Vicious ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Jackpot247

6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

ITV News and Weather The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ITV News and Weather Private Benjamin Jackpot247

6:05pm

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Santa Claus ITV News London ITV News and Weather All Star Mr and Mrs Christmas Special Midsomer Murders ITV News and Weather Hot Fuzz Jackpot247

3:05pm 5:10pm 5:45pm 6:10pm 8:30pm

ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street You've Been Framed! Coronation Street Prince Harry ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London Fierce Carry on Camping

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

Emmerdale The Royal Variety Performance 2016 ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London Judge Rinder’s Crime Stories The Jeremy Kyle Show USA Jackpot247

6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street This Time Next Year In Plain Sight ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London Wanted Jackpot247

6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am

6:40pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 1:15am 3:25am

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am 1:40am 3:15am

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am

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Channel 4 News The Political Slot The Secret Life of the Zoo Grand Designs 60 Days in Jail 24 Hours in A and E Random Acts 999: What's Your Emergency? Four in a Bed Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Alan Carr's Happy Hour Gogglebox The Last Leg 8 Out of 10 Cats Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas Arthur Christmas Channel 4 News Tree of the Year with Ardal O'Hanlon It Was Alright in the 1970's Escape Plan Before I Go to Sleep 60 Days in Jail Inkheart The Snowman Channel 4 News Cars Britain's Wildest Weather Humans Gogglebox About a Boy Before I Go to Sleep 60 Days in Jail The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Jamie's Ultimate Christmas First Dates at Christmas Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas Derren Brown Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Supervet at Christmas This is Us Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas First Dates at Christmas Four in a Bed Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 24 Hours in A and E Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas Micky Flanagan: Back in the Game

8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:05pm 12:10am 6:40pm 7:25pm 8:25pm 8:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:30am

5:00pm 6:45pm 9:00pm 9:55pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:05pm 11:55pm 2:00am 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 1:05am 2:00am 6:20pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:35pm 12:05am 6:20pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:55pm

Ultimate Strongman Team World Championship Xmas Excess: Parents Splash the Cash Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door Crackers About Christmas

5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 11:00pm 12:00am

5 News at 5 Police Interceptors 2016: Terror in Europe The Gadget Show Christmas Makes You Laugh Out Loud 22 Jump Street 5 News 22 Jump Street The Other Guys

6:00pm 6:30pm

Christmas Under Wraps Space Cowboys 5 News Weekend Space Cowboys Football on 5 Football on 5 The Funny Thing About... Christmas Greatest Ever Christmas Songs

11:00am 12:30pm 4:00pm

The Christmas Scrooge Michael Buble at Christmas 5 News Weekend Hercules 5 News Weekend Hercules Snitch Super Casino Tour De Celeb All New Traffic Cops Chris Tarrant: On the Xmas Express Greatest Ever Christmas Adverts Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick Super Casino

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6:15pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 11:30pm 12:30am 1:00am 1:30pm 4:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 10:30pm 10:45pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am

Operation Christmas 5 News World's Strongest Man 2016 Penguins Make You Laugh Out Loud The Graham Norton Story Lip Sync Battle UK Xmas Special 22 Jump Street

6:00pm

The Borrowers 5 News World's Strongest Man 2016 The Dog Rescuers at Christmas The Trafford Centre: Countdown to Christmas Chas and Dave's Xmas Knees-Up Greatest Ever Christmas Songs

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Football Football Football Premier League Match Pack Premier League Review Football Premier League Review Sporting Triumphs Game Changers Premier League Match Pack The Fantasy Football Club Football The Fantasy Football Club Barclays Premier League Preview Soccer A.M. Football Gillette Soccer Saturday Football EFL Goals Nissan Game of the Day Nissan Match Choice Football NFL Greatest Games Live Nissan Super Sunday Live Nissan Super Sunday Spanish Gold Football Spanish Gold Spanish Gold Football Football Football NFL Highlights NFL Highlights Football's Greatest Soccer AM: The Best Bits 2016/17 F1 Season Review 2016 Brundle Meets Bernie Football Scottish Football Round Up Fantasy FC: Merse Meets Joe Cole Premier League Review Live World Darts Championship 2017 Premier League Review Scottish Football Round Up Sporting Triumphs Premier League Legends Fantasy FC: Merse Meets Tony Adams Darts Rivalries Darts Rivalries Live World Darts Championship 2017 Sky Sports Originals Time of Our Lives Premier League Legends

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

Word Ladder

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

Weather

for next 7 days

Alicante

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

FACE

TIME

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TODAY:

Madrid

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 10 Sh Tues - 16 10 C Wed - 16 10 Cl

16 13 C 15 13 Sh 15 11 Sh

Fri Sat Sun -

Almeria TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 16 10 Sh Tues - 16 10 C Wed - 16 10 Cl

16 13 C 15 13 Sh 15 11 Sh

Solution FACE PACE PANE (PACT) PANT PUNT HUNT

YOUR STARS

‘THE SUPERMARKET IS STILL UNDER WATER BUT THE FISH COUNTER IS DOING A ROARING TRADE!’

Accept all invitations, however dull you feel that they may turn out and allow yourself to be surprised. Continue with any check-ups on your health, eating sensibly if you overindulged during the holiday. There is no better time to make that special effort.

SAGITTARIUS ( November 23 - December 21) Get both business and personal plans sorted out in the coming week. Thereafter, changes to your routine may be necessary, which is disruptive. The best-laid plans can need adjustment, so don’t beat yourself up over that. Spending extra time alone gives pause for thought and makes the next step so much clearer.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Someone close has ideas about how things should be at home this Christmas. Although you wish to show an interest, and should, they may be more 'hands on' than you. Do whatever your talents allow to help because this will not be forgotten. Your other half may be feeling sensitive, so tread carefully. What is at the root of it is likely to come to light as the week progresses.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) The repayment of a favour should see you with extra money in your pocket. Holding on to it is your best bet. Trying to change someone close is so obviously not going to work that it is surprising you tried for so long. What you may be able to do, however, is to spend less time in their presence. Make sure that you get out with friends, if only for a few hours. It will brighten your spirits.

change to your surroundings opens up. Comfort is top of your agenda and the continuing sales give scope. Restlessness can be channelled into an energetic response when others seek help. Taking on a small charitable task makes you smile and brings satisfaction. ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Your mind is as sharp as a razor this week, so woe betide anyone who tries to trick you. It's a great time to use your talents fully, particularly in regard to a business venture. It is possible that your strengths are a little unrecognised so don't be afraid to try something entirely new. A strong urge to take control keeps others on their toes.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) The pleasure you will get from helping in the home this week should not be underestimated. What you have been thinking of as a chore turns out to be a great ball of fun. Youngsters may be involved at the weekend, so plan ahead to give them a festive surprise. Appreciation is all around you at the moment and should be sending a nice glow through you. It's best not to overspend on something that could mean no return for you.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Concentrating on hearth and home gives you great satisfaction. As a born home-maker, you relish the idea of making something beautiful. This week it may be possible to show more of your skills when someone seeks your advice. This time it is on more of a personal note and you could end up helping with appearances.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) A festive social gathering turns up an old friend who makes an offer. Although you may feel unworthy, please be reminded of the times in the past when you have given them support. Certainly, it will be through others that real progress will be made. It is easy at this time of the year for someone of your intelligence to become bored. Through making a start on a long-term plan, it is possible to feel inspired.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) This week is mainly concerned with financial matters, and it is easy to both save and make extra money. Keep your energy levels high by making the most of chances to exercise and get out in the fresh air. Your need to know exactly where you stand brings with it a danger of putting someone off romantically right at the start. Although your no-nonsense approach normally serves you well, in love you need more subtle methods.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Your relationships to others linked to the home environment are going well. Aim to build on that this Christmas week because the chance to make a real

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) As you have decided to rearrange both your business and home life, it is a busy time, indeed. You enjoy a challenge so it will not worry you that other people have different ideas. Although you are not inclined to listen to silly whims, some things crop up time and again and have to be dealt with at some point.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Making a new start is not always the exciting thing that people imagine. When there are still old matters to be resolved, it takes the edge off the pleasure. It may be worth cooling off a new relationship until your social life is more settled. An urge to move around could be caused by your not facing a problem straight on.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Keep energy levels high by being at the hub of any social activities.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

IRISH LOTTO

Saturday December 10

BONUS BALL

EURO MILLIONS Tuesday November 6

7 27

11 45

LUCKY STARS

Friday December 9

12 37

28 40

LUCKY STARS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Saturday December 10

Sunday December 11

REINTEGRO

20 37

34 44

REINTEGRO

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 33 23 Sh Tues - 33 22 Cl Wed - 33 23 Sh

34 23 C 33 23 Sh 33 23 Sh

MAX MIN

17 11 Sh 17 12 Sh 17 9 Th

Mon - 17 9 Sh Tues - 17 8 Sh Wed - 18 8 Sh

Murcia

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 16 11 Sh Tues - 16 10 Sh Wed - 16 10 Sh

16 12 Sh 15 13 Sh 15 12 Sh

S Sun,

SHOWERS MAX 15C, MIN 8C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Cl Clear,

Sh Showers,

F Fog, Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

15 10 Sh 14 12 Sh 14 9 Sh

Mon - 15 7 C Tues - 16 7 C Wed - 16 8 C

C Cloudy, Th Thunder

Nonagram

How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case C) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed. TARGET: • Average: 11 • Good: 15 • Very good: 22 • Excellent: 28

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION hale halt hate heal heap heat heel help hype lath path phat that thee they yeah aleph ethyl haply lathe phyla teeth theta athlete heeltap TELEPATHY

Sudoku

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.

LOTTERY

Mon - 15 9 Sh Tues - 16 8 C Wed - 16 7 C

SHOWERS MAX 19C, MIN 10C

TODAY:

Benidorm TODAY: Fri Sat Sun -

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

HUNT BACK

MAX MIN

14 8 Sh 16 10 C 15 10 Sh

Mallorca

CLOUDY MAX 33C, MIN 23C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 11 4 C Tues - 11 3 Sh Wed - 12 4 Cl

SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 8C

TODAY:

Barcelona TODAY:

MAX MIN

12 6 Sh 12 6 Sh 11 5 Sh

Malaga

SHOWERS MAX 16C, MIN 10C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

CLOUDY MAX 11C, MIN 6C

TODAY:

OUT

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

page

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

Code Breaker

Quick Across 1 Storage closet (8) 7 Courageous (5) 8 Absolve (9) 9 Perceive (3) 10 Secret look (4) 11 Conclude (6) 13 Easygoing (6) 14 Against (6) 17 Deep orange root vegetable (6) 18 Not easy (4) 20 Attempt (3) 22 Frightened (9) 23 Grab (5) 24 Practice (8)

Down 1 Inexpensive (5) 2 Declare openly (7) 3 Follow a command (4) 4 Brought up (6)

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Crossword

EWN

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 7 represents T and 12 represents Z, so fill in T every time the figure 7 appears and Z every time the figure 12 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.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 7 Cartel, 8 Shoves, 9 Nest, 10 Adulates, 11 Tracked, 13 Regal, 15 Charm, 17 Cashier, 20 Handsome, 21 Also, 23 Escape, 24 Dismal. Down: 1 Bare, 2 Static, 3 Cleaver, 4 Issue, 5 Donate, 6 Beverage, 12 Rehearse, 14 Calends, 16 Redraw, 18 Hoarse, 19 Homer, 22 Swag.

QUICK Across: 5 Incorrect (5) 6 Conquers (7) 7 Bewildered (7) 12 Provide commentary for a film (7) 13 Struggle between rivals (7)

English - Spanish

Down: 1 Insist, 2 Polka, 3 Sincere, 5 Idols, 6 Collier, 7 Sister, 8 Resplendent, 14 Neutral, 15 Starter, 16 Avocet, 17 Replay, 19 Trace, 21 Beret.

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

Across 2 Derecha (5) 6 Race (racial origin) (4) 7 Buttonhole (4) 8 Escalón (5) 9 Húmedo (clima) (4) 10 Honey (from bees) (4) 11 Novia (en boda) (5) 12 Boss (4) 13 Mediodía (4) 14 Asado (5) 15 Puerta (4) 16 Abbot (4) 17 Años (5)

ENGLISH-SPANISH

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Across: 1 Parrot, 3 Acid, 7 Nib, 9 Charlar, 10 Demasiado, 13 Taladro, 14 Dar, 15 Last, 16 Bakers. Down: 1 Pink, 2 Orchards, 4 Calidad, 5 Dark, 6 Mariposa, 8 Beetles, 11 Util, 12 Gris.

Down 1 Waiters (9) 2 Frambuesa (9) 3 Hailstorm (9) 4 Storms (9) 5 Saucepans (9)

Hexagram

1 Impose, 4 Discus, 9 Silence, 10 Ogles, 11 Stale, 12 Passive, 13 Unnecessary, 18 Vaulted, 20 Amble, 22 Circa, 23 Natural, 24 Taller, 25 Pretty.

15 More frightening (7) 16 Common (6) 17 Faultfinder (5) 19 Avoid artfully (5) 21 Monetary penalty (4)

Cryptic 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 (SUBSET) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

ABRUPT AUNTIE BLANCH BLOUSE BOBCAT BUREAU CRITIC DEFRAY LAUNCH LEGUME

MASSIF MASTIC OBJECT RESUME SELECT SPONGY SUBSET (10) TITIAN TRACER

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Gyrate 2 Strand 3 Regent 4 Sundry 5 Errata 6 Allege 7 Darkle 8 Tangle 9 Screen 10 Kettle 11 Marble 12 Delete 13 Borate 14 Depend 15 Latent 16 Senior 17 Sodden 18 Triune 19 Seeing.

Across 1 Sounds like seabirds or bears (5) 4 Chemical element from Burma I ordered (6) 9 Duplicate pie Carl cooked (7) 10 Steps inside spaceship (5) 11 Collapsed in church recess (4) 12 Stone smashed in grate (7) 13 Feel sorry about Herb (3) 14 It's the judge's habit to steal a note (4) 16 Son has time to be a wise person (4) 18 Spied middle of bakery item (3) 20 After break had meal and set out again (7) 21 Damage some hidden treasures (4) 24 Building support from trust (5) 25 One reaching across for a hand tool (7) 26 Name of man arranging events (6) 27 Felix effortlessly holds back outcast approval (8) (5) 6 Eager to get out of ditch in garden (7) Down 7 Learn all aspects of being a captain 1 Mad Hatter is a danger (6) (6) 2 Pores over ring edges (5) 8 Push river transport (5) 3 Hide skinhead's family (4) 13 Comeback for chopped up pear tree 5 Evaluate a quiet expression of (8)

15 See old boy put ball in play (7) 17 Has faith in repaired struts (6) 18 Drink from fractured pipes (5) 19 Tristram Shandy author enters in disguise (6) 22 Even nuisances find it boring (5) 23 Made out to be an aristocrat (4)

HEALTH BEAUTY

Costa de Almería

15 - 21 December 2016

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player Rafael Nadal are all reported to have received PRP to help treat various problems. Arthritic knees Painkillers and keyhole surgery are the normal options for sufferers, but could blood be beneficial in treating such ailments? A study by researchers in New York reported that injecting the patients’ own blood cells into their knees reduced pain and improved function and appeared to delay the progression of osteoarthritis. As a result, some specialists are now offering PRP treatment with the blood plasma being injected into the knee to stop arthritis getting worse. Healing wounds A study last year published in the World Journal of Plastic Surgery, reported that using a patient’s blood could help heal wounds and burns. By incorporating it into a gel it is believed to not only help with the healing process, but help protect against infection on the wounds. It is also believed

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Could blood help heal? USING blood as a beauty treatment is now a common occurrence, particularly among Hollywood A-listers. The so-called ‘vampire therapies’ are a favourite of Kim Kardashian who was one of the first to draw attention to the rather unusual facial which involves using your own blood in the platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP). But now, the healing platelets, rich in proteins and beneficial properties to help accelerate and repair tissue, bone and skin, are not just being used in the beauty industry as a way of helping you stay looking younger for longer and are being used as a way of helping numerous conditions. Pulled muscles PRP is becoming more common amongst athletes who are reporting that the growth factors in the platelets are helping to heal tendon damage with the blood being a natural healing substance and speeding up the process. Golfer Tiger Woods and tennis

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to reduce the appearance of scars. Hair loss Could PRP even be used to help prevent hair loss? Some dermatologists believe so as a study found that PRP injections into the scalp appeared to slow the hair loss process. However, it is thought to work better the earlier it is used in the hair loss process. How does PRP work? Blood is taken from the patient with the platelets separated from the other blood cells before going through a centrifugation process to increase the platelet concentrations. It is these platelets that are understood to have the healing benefits with the platelet-rich plasma then injected back into the patients.

UNUSUAL FACIAL: Using your own blood.

Men living with HIV IN Spain it is estimated that between 130,000-160,000 people are living with HIV, with around 20 per cent undiagnosed. Of new cases diagnosed, eight out of 10 of them are men, aged between 29-45 years of age. These are the findings of a report on HIV and AIDS in the country made available to the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality. Up to June 30 this year, there has been a total of 3,428 new diagnoses of the virus within the Autonomous Communities, Cuenta and Melilla. This rate is similar to those of other European countries. The most common mode of transmission of HIV is through sexual relations. Transmission from drug injecting continues to decline and stood at 2.8 per cent. The report also shows a fall in the cases of the disease being detected among immigrants.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

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Health supplements 4 us & our pets FOR all of you who are interested in your health I am excited to inform you that our company has launched three new products! These highly complement the fantastic existing products. As you may recall from reading my previous write ups in EWN, we at Simply Naturals are very interested in people’s health and wellbeing, endeavouring to prevent illness before it happens. We can all accomplish this by introducing our 100 per cent natural minerals and vitamins to our daily diet. Perhaps you can now choose to add some of our new products which I shall mention later. Yo u m a y w o n d e r w h y you feel tired, have no energy and suffer from recurrent colds!! These are just a few symptoms I could mention. The GOOD news is that by taking our Sizz l i n g M i n e r a l s a n d Vi t a mins you could help combat

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which will also lead to good heart health. SIMPLY WEIGHT LOSS: High quality Natural Dietary Fibre with Glucomannan, also vitamins B1, B5 B6 and B12. These capsules have nine other benefits as well as helping weight loss. This product has been approved by the EFSA. Not forgetting our pets, give them a boost with our PET LIFE COMPLETE. Containing 81 active ingredients, all being natural, gluten and soya free. Recommended for cats and dogs regardless of age, size or level of exercise, to maintain a disease and ailment free state.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Ask The Doctor

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Arthritis and the weather

Sleep well at Christmas

HELP TO SLEEP: A book or sex?

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. PEOPLE with arthritis tend to complain that at this time of year damp conditions and lower temperatures cause their joints to give them more grief. Is it true that arthritis gets worse when the weather is bad? Why is that? • It’s true that people who have joint problems, whether due to a chronic condition such as arthritis or due to previous injuries, tend to find their joints are more sensitive to temperature changes and damp conditions. This is due to the fact that the joint has been permanently affected and changes in atmospheric conditions lead the tissues to expand or contract, leading to symptoms. What can be done to counteract the effects of the cold or damp on joints? • The first thing that can be done is to try not to expose yourself to brusque temperature changes or wet weather and, if you have no choice, try to protect yourself as much as possible. If in spite of this, you start to notice symptoms or they worsen, you should take further measures such as taking anti-inflammatory drugs or resting.

Can we help our joints through diet or healthy habits? • Obviously diet is fundamental to keep joints healthy. Your diet should be balanced and rich in fruit and vegetables as well as, of course, products containing calcium to help strengthen your joints and muscles. You should take care not to gain excess weight or become obese as that can cause injuries to the joints in your legs. Moderate physical exercise, such as walking for 40-60 minutes every day, can also help strengthen joints. Is arthritis hereditary? If my parents have it will I inevitably get it in the future or are there ways to avoid it appearing? • Arthritis can be caused by many different things. In some cases these can be hereditary so some people are predisposed to inherit it and cannot do much to avoid it. Luckily, though, most cases of arthritis are due to other mechanisms such as excessive wear of the joints due to misuse, so learning how to care for your joints can help avoid problems later in life.

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

FESTIVE cheer might bypass a third of the UK population this year according to a survey from Drift Sleep, a British mattress manufacturer. Grumpiness from lack of sleep affects 28 per cent of us, so with a third of us planning to go to friends or family this festive season, Drift asked the UK’s adults what they do to get a good night’s shut-eye. More men (12 per cent) than women (4 per cent) say sex helps them sleep, whilst over twice as many women than men say a good book is the be s t w a y to drift off. For women it’s all about the bed as the mattress tops the list with 67 per cent saying that it’s the most important thing, followed by the pillow (65 per cent) and clean sheets (51 per cent). Men can more or less be able to sleep anywhere as oppos e d to w ome n, but there are still things keeping them awake. Men are more likely to be affected by work worries with 17 per cent saying they can’t stop thinking about work when trying to drop off, whilst only 9 per cent of women have this problem. But when it comes to Christmas games more men than women will stay awake stressing about losing the family game of Monopoly. Adam Black, co-founder of Drift Sleep said of the results, “With a third of the U K s ta ying a w a y from home this Christmas it’s im-

portant that people do all the y c a n to ge t a good night’s rest. Despite the differences, it looks like what both men and women need is a comforta ble be d a nd c le a n sheets, hopefully that’s not too much to ask of the relatives!”

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E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

Have you broken the ‘tapas’ law? Ric Polansky Ric Polansky moved to Mojacar in 1969 as a pioneer developer. He reads extensively and has travelled in South America panning gold and looking for El Dorado.

IF you live here year round or even come as a visitor there are certain decorums that must be followed. One of them concerns Spain’s famous tapas, how, when and where they should be consumed. A lot of rumours have been flying about in the street lately. Newcomers are leaving their houses; to mail a package, pay a bill, see a friend and are not stopping for a tapa on their way home. It’s a disgrace. One is even gobsmacked to report such shenanigans, but I can only believe it has come about by a misunderstanding concerning the subject of ‘tapas’ and the participation therein. Tapas are treats from the heaven for you. They assure you of a pleasant journey and safe return. Not spelled out clearly enough? It is a must that once you leave the house on any journey either of consequence or of trifle the ‘T gods must be satisfied.’ The conse-

TAPAS: Are treats from the heaven for you. quences are yours alone. It’s p ro b a b ly a good ide a to pleasure them and yourself and risk nothing. A definite Win Win situation that pleases all. And, the way most religions today seem to deport themselves the pleasurable fav o u rs s ee m to fa ll upon your

side - if you pursue the rule. Those simple sanctions adopted by a country of gentlemen jousting windmills, goat herders and nearby tavern pals and future drinking mates. It’s been that way for centuries, millenniums and probably longer. No venture should be of

such seriousness that it arises above the duties of common sharing and a purposeful respite, before, during or after any such pilgrimage concerning any affair. Your job is thus established by the by-laws of traditional living and civil Iberian countenance. A

situation extolled to you from above. Consider your new life style to be not dissimilar to that of walking through the day only wearing pajamas. It is not only an obligation of personal dignity, but a show of companionship with those local natives that observe your every action and specially your public deportment. The challenge is doing it right, correctly. Mission reconsidered yet? Now, go about your duties; short sojourns or lengthy outings with but one small change, a tapa stop or two is to be added and worn like a magnificent cloak about your body. You will be recognised immediately for your sociological adaptation to the deep rivers of time’s antiquities. You are in fact baptising yourself into the pure cultural heritage of this sundrenched historic cathedral. Honouring the ancestors of the past in that no task should carry the burden of such importance that a short dalliance would not be seen as unappreciated. A home that you now play an integral part because of your new active participation. Oh, and it’s your round too.

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For quality used cars, try Autofex IF you’ve decided it’s time to buy a car and you’re looking for something solid and affordable, Autofex is the place for you. Autofex is a quality usedcar business with two showrooms: one in Albox opposite Longos, and the other in El Poligono Real de Antas. They have a wide range of secondhand vehicles which includes 4x4s, vans, SUVs, estates, medium-sized cars, three-door cars, hatchbacks and small run-abouts, meaning that there is something for everyone. All of their vehicles are in perfect condition inside and outside, as they only sell the best. The vehicles range fom one year old up to nine years old and are priced between €5,000 and €35,000, meaning that you are sure to find something regardless of your budget. The final price includes an ITV, full service, a warranty, and all of the paperwork transferred into the

WIDE RANGE: Of secondhand vehicles is available which means there is something for everyone.

new owner’s name. There are no unexpected surprises in the price; what you see is what you get. The staff of Autofex speak multiple languages, proudly serving customers in English, Spanish, Dutch, and

German. They have the largest variety and range of vehicles in the Levante area of Almeria. Autofex is a family-run business with 90 years and three generations worth of experience in the industry. The showroom is

open all day, so if you aren’t able to view vehicles during the usual commercial hours it won’t be an issue. The Autofex team makes it their mission to receive every customer with a smile.

The customer is always first. They are prepared to spend time with each and every customer to make sure that they find the perfect vehicle. Even after the sale is complete, their doors are always open. Autofex also offers

one of the best-after care services, and are readily available to sort out any problems in a timely and efficient manner. They can help finance the vehicles as well. So if you are looking for a quality used vehicle, or would like more information about buying a car here in Spain, you can contact Mario or Leah in their Albox showroom on 950 431 861 or 629 957 467, or send them an e-mail them at ventas@autofex.com. Alternatively, you can contact Valeria, Marko, or Eva in the Antas showroom on 950 459 334 or 629 542 772 and by email at autofexantas1@gmail.com. They also have a website, www.autofex.com, which is updated daily, or you can find them on Facebook at www.aut ofex.com/autofex. The Albox showroom is open from 9.30am to 2pm, and 4pm to 8pm, and the Antas showroom is open all day from 9.30am to 7.30pm.

SCENE

OCIAL

Mojacar photos on show THE first exhibition of the local Mojacar Photography Group has been a great success. A little more than a year ago a group of Mojacar residents began their adventure in the art of photography by forming their association. Organised by the town council and the ‘La Fuente’ Art Centre in Mojacar Pueblo, this first show has around 100 works that mainly revolve around Mojacar as a source of inspiration, although nothing, anywhere in the world, escapes the cameras of these seasoned photographers. The exhibition runs until December 16 and is open from 10am-4pm.

15 - 21 December 2016

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Costa de Almería

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Keeping traditions alive By Eleanor Hawkins FOR the 21st year in a row, Huercal-Overa held its Juan de Dios Alcolea Cuadrillas music group meet on Sunday, December 11 in a day which saw music and dancing take over the local streets. The event began at 10am, when local mayor Domingo Fernandez and councillors Maribel Sanchez and Emilio Perez received the visiting groups for a breakfast of chocolate and churros. The visitors then took to the streets, singing and dancing their way to the church and encouraging locals to join in with the merriment. Once at the church a mass was held with the cuadrillas singing much of the content before stopping for lunch to gather strength to perform. In the afternoon, the groups from Pulpi, Aledo, Purias and Huercal-Overa performed on the stage of the

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IT’S A TRADITION: Music and dancing in the local streets. Teatro Villa, with the local mayor taking part as usual with his guitar. Celebrations were dedicated to Tio Juan Rita, who at almost 105 years of age

showed he was still up for a song or two by taking part in the mass, parade and theatre performance. The mayor later said: “We work to keep traditions alive

and this event is a fine example. Many children and youths take part, which means they will carry the tradition on for future generations.”

Sweet and so simple SATURDAY December 17 is the date for Huercal-Overa’s traditional Pasty Day, an event run for the last 10 years by the Historical Centre Residents’ Association in collaboration with the council to raise funds for those in need. This year, money raised from sale of the traditional local Christmas almond pasties will be going to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Hermanitas de los Ancianos Desamparados, who care for elderly people in need at the Virgen del Rio home. From 10am onwards, cooks will be gathering at the gastronomical classroom at Plaza de Abastos, where they will be putting their pasties together for sale later in the day. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas in Huercal-Overa without these traditional sweets, which although all basically the same vary from family to family as each has its own little secret to add to the recipe.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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SOCIAL SCENE

Christmas Concert COME and join The Rose Singers in their annual Christmas concert on Thursday, December 15, at 7.30pm at Miraflores, Camping Los Gallardos. Join in singing some of your favourite carols, have a turkey sandwich and a mince pie at the interval and try for a prize in the raffle, all in aid of ASADIS (Asociacion Amigos Discapacitados) supporting the disabled in the Los Gallardos area. Tickets are €8 and are available from Gill’s Linens (Mojacar Playa), Forget-Me-Not (Las Buganvillas), Total Entertainment (Turre), the Camping Los Gallardos shop, call Sue on 950 617 737 or on the door. Come along to join the fun and support this great cause!

OPINION & COMMENT

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15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Christmas TV: from comical confessions to family fantasy Richard Shanley

Dishing the Dirt OF EUROPA DIGITAL

THERE’S still more to come... but we’ve got a pretty good picture of what this year’s Christmas and New Year schedules are going to look like. Take the stress out festive tellywatching with Digital Spy’s all-purpose hub - covering all the major highlights from all the big broadcasters. Here you’ll find specials, movies and hidden gems. Have fun... and happy holidays! NB: timings are UK so don’t forget to add an hour. The Funny Thing About... Christmas - Saturday, December 17 at 10.30pm: Familiar faces offering their comical Christmas confessions including Johnny Vegas, Vanessa Feltz, Carl Fogarty, Nina Wadia and Matt Richardson. Michael Buble at Christmas - Sunday, December 18 at 8pm: Christmas

HOLIDAY VIEWING: Specials, movies and hidden gems. wouldn’t be Christmas without a bit of Buble. Joined by musical guests including Celine Dion there’s also comedy skits featuring Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner and William Shatner. Greatest Ever Christmas Adverts Monday, December 19 at 10pm: Julian Clary revisits some of the most memorable festive adverts, from cat food to Coca-Cola. The Graham Norton Story - Tuesday, December 20 at 9pm: Charting

Norton’s unique journey from humble beginnings in Ireland to superstardom as Britain’s best-loved chat show host. The Morecambe and Wise Story: Look Back in Laughter - Friday, December 23 at 9pm: Combining classic performances, chat show appearances and rare interviews to provide a rare insight into comedy’s greatest ever double act. When Celebrities Go Pop - Christ-

mas Day (Sunday, December 25) at 8.30pm: Countdown show of 40 celebs who stepped away from their usual fame to try out music - with not always positive results - including Nick Berry, Katie Price, Vinnie Jones and even Christopher Lee. Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of 2016 - Wednesday, December 28 at 9pm: A light-hearted look at the most outlandish and outrageous antics by the rich and famous this year, from Brangelina’s break-up to Hiddleswift’s (brief) hook-up. The Adele Story - Thursday, December 29 at 9pm: Charting the remarkable career of one of the most famous and successful singers on the planet today, from starting out in Tottenham, North London, to global super-stardom. World’s Greatest Divas - Thursday, December 29 at 10.35pm: Celebrating a generation of super-talented women who sing, write and produce and, in the process, have overturned decades of male chart dominance -

from Lady Gaga to Nicki Minaj. A League of Their Own Christmas special - Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24) at 9pm: The boys James Corden, Jamie Redknapp, Jack Whitehall & Freddie Flintoff - are back for a hefty dose of festive fun. The Last Dragonslayer - Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25) at 5.45pm: Going big on Christmas Day, Sky1’s pitting its big-budget family film - based on Jasper Fford’s fantasy novel - against Doctor Who. Ellise Chappell (Poldark) leads the cast, which also includes John Bradley (Game of Thrones). For questions about satellite TV or anything I’ve written about call 678 332 815 or email richard@europadigital.com. Don’t forget my radio show every weekday from 10am on Spectrum 96.1 & 106.8FM, now covering almost 3000sq kms of Costa Almeria and Calida or listen online at costaalmeria.spectrumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite television.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS Photo Credit Ayuntamiento de Oria

JOSE PEREZ: Is accused of alleged corrupt practice.

Ex-mayor on trial By Eleanor Hawkins FORMER socialist mayor of Oria Jose Perez is to stand trial at a provincial court on January 19 for alleged irregularities in employing 46 people between 2007 and 2011. The mayor, according to the Public Prosecutor, took on up to twice the number of employees budgeted for each year and made decisions upon his own criteria, failing to take into account established conditions or requirements. In nine of the cases in question, the prosecution has stated, the mayor also failed to sign em-

ployment contracts or enrol the staff in the Social Security system. The staff taken on irregularly filled posts as administrative workers, sports monitors, machinery handlers and entertainers among others. The Prosecutor, who is requesting a 10-year ban from public office, also accuses the former mayor of verbally awarding contracts for more than €500,000 for work on a nursery school, sports centre and other public facilities. As a consequence of this alleged corrupt practice, the council in June 2014 had a debt of €388,740 which had not been budgeted for.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Expats fighting for compensation Photo Credit Wikimedia

LOS CABRERAS: Homes were built illegally in the area. By Eleanor Hawkins BRITISH buyers of 94 illegally built homes in Zurgena’s Los Cabreras area have appealed a court sentence which found former municipal architect guilty of corrupt practice and continue to fight to get their money back. Carlos Domingo Berbel was found guilty by Almeria’s num-

ber four criminal court and was banned from public post or office for three and a half years and fined €360. However, the judge in charge of the case rejected the homeowners’ requests for almost €649,000 in damages, stating that the defendant was not responsible for this matter. While the judge placed the responsibility for compensation

with Zurgena Council and developer New Medina Villa, the owners’ lawyers lodged an appeal. “The harm caused by the sale of the illegal properties under examination in this case was a direct consequence of the crime for which Berbel has been found guilty. His behaviour has not only resulted in a crime but also in civil harm,” the lawyers stated.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

It’s Christmas time By Eleanor Hawkins ALBOX residents and those who visit the town over the next few weeks will have the chance to not only get their Christmas shopping done but also enjoy the best programme of activities in the entire Almanzora Valley. The council, in collaboration with AEPA business association, has laid on an ice-skating rink on Plaza de San Francisco which opened to the public last week. Anyone who buys something from businesses associated with El Arriero Open Commercial Centre will be able to skate for free in the morning or afternoon, the council explained. Newly released movies are another attraction for all the family at Federico Garcia Lorca cinema on Calle Rosaria. Last week the cinema was screening Vaiana and this week

the movie is 1898. “A Christmas atmosphere on the streets is very important for local commerce at this time of year, so this year we have been ambitious and added activities to our great commercial offers. The whole family will be able to enjoy things only available in Albox,” AEPA president Martin Martos said. Another activity aimed to cheer up the streets is the Window Dressing and Nativity Scene Competition. Businesses are invited to compete with Christmas window displays, while residents are able to take part with their nativity scenes. There will be a €150 prize for the winner in each category along with a diploma, which will also be presented to those who come in second and third place. For more information on the competition contact the council’s Culture Department.

Furious farmers hit the road in protest DOZENS of Almeria farmers took part in a protest in the

municipality of Cullar in Granada on Monday December 12. More than 400 tractors were stationed along the roads of the area as agricultural workers demanded that the Junta de Andalucia regional government reinstate funding for the organic cultivation of cereal and almonds. Many of the farmers came from various parts of Alme-

ria, including the Velez area and towns such as Cuevas del Almanzora and Oria. Mayors from many of the municipalities also showed up to give their support. The protesters argued that the government funding is absolutely essential in the more cash-strapped areas of the province, and that the cutbacks will deal a harsh blow to the livelihoods of many local farmers.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

No signs of cruelty to nativity donkey By Eleanor Hawkins A DONKEY which forms part of a living nativity scene on Cuevas del Almanzora’s Avenida de Barcelona was not subjected to cruelty, the Guardia Civil’s Seprona nature protection branch has declared. The alarm went up last week when council work-

ers discovered the threeyear-old donkey covered in cuts upon opening up the nativity scene to the public. Although the police were called in to investigate, officers who examined the animal accompanied by a vet reported that there were no definite signs of violence and said the injuries were probably

caused by the donkey herself. Education, Health and Festivities councillor Ana Maria Castro made the police report public, but said that the council had decided to ask a vet from Refugio del Burrito donkey shelter in Malaga to visit and examine the animal and give a second opinion.

PROPERTY

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

15 - 21 December 2016

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Advertising feature

Grupo Platinum Estates: a winning team FIRMLY established as a leading real estate agency in San Juan de los Terreros, Grupo Platinum Estates has undergone expansion during 2016. With five friendly and active professionals on hand to offer advice and support when choosing to buy or sell a property in this area of the Costa de Almeria and Murcia, you need look no further than Grupo Platinum Estates, also known as Inmobiliatia San Juan de los Terreros, to provide a dedicated service and website to Spanish clients. The team members speak a variety of languages including English, Spanish, Dutch, French, Flemish, German and Russian and all boast exceptional customer service skills. The office is also open seven days a week to ensure the best service to buyer and seller. Caroline Smith started the business in 2010 and lives with her family in Terreros. With vast experience in the real estate and financial services industry her aim for the business is to provide a service second to none, for vendors and purchasers. She understands dedication and hard work is essential in this quick changing market, and has built a team with the same values.

VAST EXPERIENCE: The team aim to provide a service second to none. Property consultants: Gala Raneart, lives in Pulpi and speaks fluent Russian: she believes the customer is the core of any business and aims to make the buying process a stress-free experience for all her clients. Belgian, Bryan Vandenberghe, has lived in the area for more than 12 years and enjoys sharing his wealth of experience with his clients in the hope that

they will love Terreros and its surroundings as much as he does. Yuvannys Aurea, from Venezuela, speaks various languages, is passionate about people and property and is proud to work for a business that shares the same high customer care values. Drew Edwards grew up in Spain and is an invaluable member of the team, offering a superb after-sales ser-

vice to all clients. Having gained a well-earned reputation for offering a quality service, Grupo Platinum Estates has a long list of clients of all nationalities with various budgets looking for their perfect home in the sun. New property listings are urgently required in all price brackets and all property types, to meet the needs of

Success for Spanish real estate sector as record numbers are announced By Sam Croft THE real estate consulting agency CBRE has estimated that a whopping €7.5 billion will be injected into the Spanish real estate sector in the fourth quarter of 2016, a number which represents almost the same quantity recorded in 2011, 2012, and 2013 combined. The findings represent more good news for the Spanish real estate market, which has recently been on a steady upswing following years of uncertainty during the economic crisis CBRE has predicted that around €13.9 billion will be spent in the sector over the course of 2016, with more than half of those investments taking place between October and December. The numbers mean that the real estate sector will experience an 8 per cent incrase in comparison to 2015, and a 45 per cent increase in comparsion to 2014. “The market now has new investors who have less debt and the ability to kick off a new real estate cycle,” indicated CBRE President Adolfo

GOOD NEWS: The Spanish real estate market is on a steady upswing after years of uncertainty. Ramirez Escudero. The logistics market has had a particularly successful year in Spain although there have also been notable upswings in the retail sector and amongst office buildings.

Of the money spent in the Spanish real estate sector in 2016, 37 per cent has come from foreign investors. North Americans, Brits, and Germans lead the pack in regards to new endeavours and investments.

clients after an excellent year, with properties selling faster than ever. For property vendors, Grupo Platinum Estates guarantees maximum exposure on sales portals in many different countries and local publications. If you are looking to buy a property in the area you can be guaranteed an honest and friendly service from a team which will be with you every step of the way during the buying process and beyond. Grupo Platinum Estates has a large network of partner agents and can help you find the perfect property at the perfect price. Keen to offer the whole package it also offers a range of associated services including property rental and management, financial and insurance services, along with renovations and upgrades to your property, in collaboration with trusted partners. If you’re looking to buy or sell don’t compromise on service and choose the experts. Contact Grupo Platinum Estates today on 950 466 112 or 666 687 25. Email info@grupoplatinum.com, visit www.grupoplatinum.com (English) or www.inmobiliariasanjuande losterreros.es (Spanish).

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

Electricity use at Xmas A STUDY carried out by new electricity distributor Podo has indicated that by and large, Spanish homes consume 20 per cent more electricity during the Christmas period. Altogether, this adds up to an extra €150 million worth of electricity. The report indicated that the average daily light consumption in Spain shoots up by 9.43 kilowatts an hour during Christmas. Podo has indicated that the increase can be partially attributed to the use of Christmas decorations, but noted that homeowners tend to use household appliances and lights more during the holidays as well. The regions of Cataluña and Castilla y Leon were singled out as the biggest users and abusers, with average increases of 27.4 and 27.1 per cent respectively. In regards to major cities, Madrid was up by 23 per cent, whereas curiously in Barcelona, electricity bills only increased by a comparatively mild 15 per cent.

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PROPERTY

Demolition time for some By Sam Croft AT the present moment, there is a huge surplus of uninhabited homes in Spain. Most of these buildings have been languishing on the market for years, unable to find a suitable buyer. Experts in the sector are now beginning to argue that the time has come to do something about the situation, and the solution may involve a bulldozer or two. It all started in 2008 when the crisis kicked in and the real estate bubble burst, leading to disastrous results for the Spanish property sector. Fast forward eight years and there are now thousands of these unused homes in the country, despite recent improvements in the real estate market. Juan Antonio Gomez-Pintado, president of the property developers board APCE, has argued that it has become apparent that it is necessary for some of the excess stock to be demolished, given that it is unrealistic that it will ever be fully absorbed into the market. “There still exists the possibility of selling off part of it, but in some

EXCESS STOCK: It may be necessary for some properties to be demolished. cases the time has come to demolish it because people prefer new residences, with environmental features, made with other materials and which have been conceived differ-

ently than buildings constructed 10 years ago,” he stated. According to data from real estate portal Servihabitat Trends, by the end of 2016 there will be around

388,000 of these uninhabited homes on the market, although the number is expected to drop to 315,000 by the end of 2017 owing to the ongoing upswing in the sector.

GARDENS By Graeme Tyrrell

THE vegetable garden can be an interesting adventure, as well as productive, by diversifying the assortment of vegetables you grow. There are more varieties of vegetables becoming available and greater variation of the types we all know. Eggplant or, as they can also be known in English, aubergine, is an attractive exotic vegetable originating from the northern regions of India. It is now adopted and grown in warmer climates around the world. In Spain it is called berenjena. It is well accepted in the Spanish and other cooking styles as it can be prepared in a variety of appetising ways due to its distinct but mild taste allowing garnishing to adapt it to your favourite tastes. Normally shaped somewhat like an egg with a smooth, purplish skin and whitish centre, there have evolved many different forms and colour varieties including golf ball sized shapes, elongated, oblong, speckled, yellow, white, green, lavender shades and almost black. There is enough variety to make any

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AUBERGINES: Harvesting the ripe fruit is an art form. garden harvest basket fill with colour and form and the cook to have plenty of opportunities to dress up the meal. The hearty purplish blue star shaped flower of an eggplant is an interesting feature of the plant. Eggplants thrive in the

Mediterranean climate in well composted soil in summer, but will also overwinter to produce the next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crop in protected warmer winter zones. To get different varieties it may take some searching on the internet for seeds, but it is worth the effort if you have the time.

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If growing from seed, plant them in a seedling tray in a warm place two months before the planting time in late spring, once the soil has warmed up rather than just a few sunny days. Space them around 50 60cm apart in the garden with a stake to support the not so sturdy plant as when the fruits fully form, the weight is disproportional to the strength of the plant in many cases. They can be slow starters and they need the long summer with plenty of sun to fully mature. Mulch around the plants to keep soil temperature lower around the roots in summer using compost and/or straw, seaweed or other suitable mulches. Harvesting the ripe fruit is an art form. Use a cutting tool to remove the ripe fruit from the plant. They can be more bitter when underripe or overripe so check they are firm and fully formed without soft spots to get them at their best. It takes prac-

tice to identify them at the right stage of ripeness. Ideally the seeds in the fruit should be formed and visible but not en-

larged, but you can only tell this after harvesting. Once cut the fruit needs to be used quickly as they discolour rapidly.

E W N Costa de Almería

15 - 21 December 2016

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Some aquarium answers I HAVE snails living in my substrate - lots of them. They have a cone-like shell and sometimes if I watch closely I can actually see the substrate moving about. Are they going to cause any problems? Should I leave them or try (!?!) to eradicate them? It sounds as though you have a colony of thiarid snails, probably Melanoides tuberculata (aka Red-rim Melania, Malaysian burrowing/ trumpet snail or simply MTS) or possibly Tarebia granifera (Quilted Melania). These are often re-

MELANOIDES TUBERCULATA: Aquarium pests. ferred to as aquarium pests since they can reproduce incredibly quickly when there is a consistent excess of food. As you’ve seen they spend the majority of their time within the substrate but do emerge occasionally, particularly at night. They’re often said to be hermaphroditic, ie, possessing both male and female sexual organs but in fact they reproduce by parthenogenesis; females produce embryos which

develop unfertilised and give birth to live, fully-formed young. Males do exist but in relatively small numbers compared with females. In reality these snails are beneficial in the majority of aquaria since they eat detritus trapped within the substrate and their movement helps prevent anaerobic spots developing, particularly useful in planted set-ups. They will not harm live plants but do consume algae when they emerge

at night, and if their numbers do increase quickly the usual cause is overfeeding of fishes and/or insufficient cleaning of the substrate. If you do wish to remove them please don’t use a commercial product (most are harmful to shrimp and some fishes) or add a ‘snail-eating’ fish such as a Botiid loach species (most grow relatively large, exhibit complex social behavior meaning a group of six to eight or more is required and shouldn’t be relied upon to eat snails) rather reduce feeding and remove them manually at night or using a ‘snail trap.’ Matt Ford has 27 years’ experience in the aquarium hobby and trade, has written for several international magazines including ‘Practical Fishkeeping’ and ‘Amazonas,’ and is a current member of the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group. Email your questions to editor@eu roweeklynews.com.

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AS cats go, Sebastian is a pretty loyal friend. Certainly according to Bragi one of our house-sitters who loves to pet-sit in Spain to escape Winter in his native Iceland. He met his new friend after answering a housesit assignment advert on Hous eSitMatch.com. A British couple living in Orihuela Costa were looking for an experienced petsitter to care for their cat while they took a winter holiday. They preferred to have someone at home caring for him where he would be relaxed and comfortable. Sebastian an independent soul, likes company, and if he takes to someone he just follows them around. After a couple of days in Bragi’s company, Sebastian began to shadow his house-sitter. Walking with him into each room, then into the garden.

They seemed to get on well. Then one day Bragi noticed Sebastian in the street, following him down the road to the local pub. He turned around and collected him to take him home and put him indoors. This kept happening and became something of a ritual between pet and pet-sitter. Almost as if Sebastian just needed to know Bragi would accompany him home for safety! Do you need a sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner now with a 20 per cent off introductory offer using coupon code PERFECT20. Visit www.Hous esitMatch.com.

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E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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That Zonda really! It’s like a lion in orange dungarees. Kind of fierce, but ridiculous all at the same time.” Some might say...

THE very last LaFerrari ever to be produced has done its bit to help victims of the catastrophic earthquakes which struck central Italy earlier this year. It has sold at a charity auction in the United States for a spectacular €6.5 million, with all

LAFERRERI: Can reach 100kph in under three seconds.

the proceeds going towards rebuilding efforts. Ferrari had given the car to auction overlords Sotheby’s in August just days after the 6.2 magnitude quake

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killed almost 300 people across the Umbrian region. Sotheby’s did what they do best and arranged a classic auction with a powerful PR team to help sell the 500th and final LaFerrari built, which will have a special plaque embedded in the finish

to pay tribute to the victims. With production from 2013-2015, it has now become the most expensive car built in the 21st century ever to be sold at auction, commanding the highest ever price from Italy. With a top speed of 350kph, LaFerrari can reach 100kph in under three seconds and is the fastest road legal vehicle the Italian manufacturer has ever produced.

Motoring shorts

UK to face legal action THE European Commission is to initiate legal proceedings against the UK & Spain for failing to enforce environmental regulations during the Volkswagen ‘Dieselgate’ scandal. Britain, alongside Germany and as many as seven other countries, will now have to justify its reasons for failing to adhere to European Union law which requires governments to take action against environmental breaches. Volkswagen used cheat devices on its cars in order to pass emissions tests, a clear violation of European law, and Brussels is of the opinion that certain governments failed to take sufficient action in the wake of the scandal. The EU will now issue formal notices to the offending nations, with individual cases to be shifted to European courts should they fail to receive adequate responses.

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa de Almería

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MOTORING

Outstanding credentials for the smart Ford S-Max by Nick Fletcher THERE are plenty of midsized family MPVs available and most have individual plus points, but the big question is which one presents itself as the best allrounder. One model which has outstanding credentials is the Ford S-Max, which in its latest guise is arguably the

smartest looking. It also comes in three trim levels, all well equipped, offers a c h o ic e o f fo u r d ie s e l a nd two petrol engines, manual or auto gearboxes, and its re v is ed c a b in h a s a mo re upmarket feel than main rivals. Only significant downside to the S-Max CV is that it is not the cheapest to buy, nor the most fuel-efficient

Stats panel (optional): Model: Ford S-Max Titanium Engine: 2.0 litre diesel Transmission: 6 speed manual Performance: 0-60mph 10.8 seconds, top speed 123 mph Economy: 56.4 mpg combined Emissions: 129g/km

in the sector, though it does atone with superior driving dynamics. S-Max prices start at £21,895 (€29,161) a nd e ve n e ntry le ve l c a rs ge t Ford’s new SYNC 2 infotainment system,17inch alloy wheels, parking sensors, keyless entry and push-button start and a DAB radio. My Titanium test model had a w e a lth of e xtra kit including sat-nav, and in 2.0 litre die s e l form c os ts £28,095 (€31,633). The 148 hp engine is good for 0-60 mph in 10.8 s e c onds a nd top speed of 123 mph. Fue l e c onomy is 56.4

S-MAX: Wins points for its smart style interior. mpg combined, very good but well short of that of the rival Citroen C4 Grand Picasso. But it is not all about economy. The driving expe-

rience is where the S-Max scores, for despite its bulk it does have a light, agile feel and its suspension set-up and lower centre of gravity means it rides and handles better than most seven-seater MPVs. It also wins points for its interior, with smart styling, higher quality trim materials and clever use of space. There are three individual seats in the middle row, and a pair of child-size ones in the back. Even with the rear seats in use, there is still 285 litres of load space.

There are also lots of oddm ent st owage pl aces spread around the car. Fold the rear seats and you get 965 litres of space and drop the middle seats and you get a van-like 2,020 litres. This latest S-Max, longer and wider then the previous model, has a more handsome, more classy appearance mainly due to a heavily revised front end styling and its premium-look cabin. Add pleasing driving dynamics to the package and its challenge to be the family MPV pack leader is compelling.

E W N Costa de Almería

SPORT Vardy helps spank Manchester City 15 - 21 December 2016

SERGIO RAMOS headed in a dramatic injury time goal for Real Madrid who created a new club record of 35 matches unbeaten.

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Costa de Almería’s best guide to local sport

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

WITH Christmas approaching fast, there’s no respite whatsoever for sports-minded people, competitors and fans alike, with continuous action in football, Rugby Union and horse racing, the 5th and final cricket Test between India and England, the International Horse Show at Olympia and the PDG World Championship Darts in London all coming up. FOOTBALL: * A week ago, Dundalk and Southampton were eliminated from the Europa League but Manchester United progressed to the knockout stage. Leicester crashed 5-0 at FC Porto in their final Champions League Group game while Tottenham’s European campaign ended with a 31 win over CSKA Moscow.

Meanwhile, Celtic drew 1-1 at Manchester City, Arsenal whipped Basel 4-1, Barcelona beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0, Real Madrid were held 2-2 by Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0. * Recent PL results were Leicester 4 (with a Jamie Vardy hat-trick) Manchester City 2; Arsenal 3 Stoke 1; Burnley 3 Bournemouth 2; Chelsea 1 (another Diego Costa goal) WBA 0; Hull 3 Crystal Palace 3; Swansea 3 Sunderland 0; Watford 3 Everton 2; Manchester United 1 Spurs 0; Southampton 1 Middlesbrough 0 and Liverpool 2 West Ham 2. Chelsea’s win was their ninth on the trot in the PL. * Championship leaders Newcastle claimed an emphatic 4-0 win over inconsistent Birmingham, Derby County beat Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands clash and Wolves drew 4-4 with Reading. There were also vital wins for Brighton (against Leeds United), Huddersfield Town and

Steve Bruce’s improving Aston Villa. * In La Liga, Real Madrid lead Barcelona by six points (37-31) with Sevilla third (26). Last Saturday, Sergio Ramos headed a dramatic injury time goal for Real Madrid who created a new club record of 35 matches unbeaten with a 3-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna. And just six points cover the top five teams in Serie ‘A’ with Juventus (top on 36) followed by Roma 32, AC Milan 32, Napoli 31 and Lazio 30. * After the midweek games involving BournemouthLeicester and Everton-Arsenal on Tuesday and Crystal PalaceManchester United, Middlesbrough-Liverpool, StokeS o u t h a m p t o n , Sunderland-Chelsea-Spurs-Hull and WBA-Swansea last night, the top matches coming up over the weekend are Crystal PalaceChelsea, Everton-Liverpool, Manchester City-Arsenal, Tottenham-Burnley, WBA-Manchester United and West HamHull.

In the Championship we have Birmingham-Brighton, Burton-Newcastle, NorwichHuddersfield, Nottingham Forest-Wolves and QPR-Aston Villa; it’s Chesterfield-Bolton, Scunthorpe-Millwall and Walsall-Bradford City in FL1 and Accrington-Plymouth, CarlisleYeovil, Doncaster-Grimsby and Portsmouth-Hartlepool in FL2. * Crewe Alexandra director and former manager Dario Gradi has been suspended pending an FA investigation concerning claims he ‘smoothed over’ a complaint of sexual assault against a Chelsea scout in the 1970s. CRICKET: * India thrashed England by an innings and 36 runs in the fourth Test in Mumbai to clinch the series with three wins. Debutant Keaton Jennings scored 112 in England’s first innings total of 400 but bagged a first-ball duck in the second which saw the tourists dismissed for 195. India’s captain Virat Kohli smashed 235 and Murali Vijay scored 136 as the

hosts posted a formidable 631 with England’s Advil Raschid taking four wickets for 191. The final Test starts in Chennai tomorrow. RUGBY UNION: * England captain Dylan Hartley was sent off six minutes after coming on in the second half as Northampton lost 37-10 to Leinster in the Champions Cup… dismissed for a swinging arm on Sean O’Brien in the 58th minute. BOXING: * Britain’s Anthony Joshua successfully defended his IBF heavyweight title with a thirdround stoppage of Eric Molina in Manchester. Joshua, who decked the American before the referee waved the bout, has 18 knockouts to his name from as many fights and will face former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley next April. * On the same Manchester bill, Dillian Whyte beat Dereck Chisora on a split decision in a WBC heavyweight title eliminator, Britain’s Khalid Yafai

won the WBA super-flyweight title and Katie Taylor won her second professional fight. CHEATS: * It’s believed over 1,000 Russians - including Olympic medallists - benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015. Lawyer Richard McLaren said: “It was a cover-up that evolved from uncontrolled chaos to an institutionalised and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy and covered 30 different sports with London 2012 being corrupted on an unprecedented scale.” McLaren’s report also implicates medallists at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow, and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and it seems as if salt and coffee were used to manipulate Russian samples. Indeed, the system was refined over the course of the 2012 Olympics, 2013 Worlds and Winter Olympics to protect likely Russian medal winners.