Euro Weekly News - Costa Blanca South 13 - 19 February 2014 Issue 1493

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ISSUE NO. 1493

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Briton’s body found AN investigation has opened after the body of a British man, 73, was found at a house in Almoradi. It was found by firefighters moments after entering the property which had been ablaze.

Prices fall THE province saw the average price of homes fall by 3.8 per cent in January on the previous month.

Wind chaos MORE THAN 20 emergency calls were made in Alicante Province in one day as a result of strong winds bringing down awnings, billboards and trees.

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Residents face a rough ride on way to the beach RESIDENTS on the Orihuela Costa are calling for a pedestrian bridge to be built over the N-332 opposite Cala Mosca.

Home-owners on the Alameda del Mar urbanisation and other housing developments claim they take their lives in their hands when they have to cross four lanes of traffic to get to Cala Mosca. In addition, on the coast side there is no pedestrian walkway that allows them to safely negotiate the road.

The builder had promised a bridge when the properties were built but it has not materialised, and residents complain the problem has got worse with the widening of the N-332 and the opening of Zenia Boulevard bringing more traffic.

One said: “Swimmers and bathers could go to the beach and then go to the bars, restaurants and shops in the area if they had a footbridge to cross the road, but as it is, they drive to the beach and do not come.

“Residents have argued against La Regia’s new footbridge, currently being built over the N-332,

saying there are closer bridges in the area for locals to cross the N-332,

when at Alameda del Mar the closest one is at Punta Prima.”

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Britons top the most wanted list TWO Britons wanted for murder feature in a top 10 list of the most wanted criminals in Spain.

Police are asking for help in finding the fugitives, including Kevin Thomas Parle, aged 33, and Christopher Guest, aged 36, both suspected of murder.

Parle is alleged to have killed a young mother and a teenager in Liverpool, while Guest has been on the run after a farmer was killed in a bungled robbery in Cheshire, UK. Also on the list are five Spaniards, a German, an Albanian and a woman from Colombia. Yolanda Payan is wanted in her own country but also by the authorities in Austria and Italy for murder,

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Leapy Lee 39 FUGITIVES: Police call for help in locating 10 of the most wanted criminals in Spain. robbery and for being part of an organised criminal gang.

Omar Tebar Tomas, aged 28, is thought to be in Alicante after escaping from prison.

He has a tattoo of a demon on his left arm.

Also believed to be in the Alicante area is German, Dietmar Linke,

wanted in his home country for stealing safes.

Anyone with any information can call 091 or email fugitivos@policia.es in strictest confidence.

The wanted list has been shared by more than 5,000 on social network sites.

Walking into the arms of the law THREE people have been arrested in Elche for stealing 5,000 pairs of shoes.

The arrests took place in the early hours of the morning at a warehouse near the Camino de Castilla where the individuals, of

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Colombian nationality and living in Elche, were packing the shoes into boxes and unloading them from two vans. The warehouse had been rented the day before.

As police approached, the suspects fled, but

officers were able to arrest three men.

In addition to the footwear, inside the vans tools allegedly used for theft were found, including screwdrivers, masks and a device for breaking locks.

Daily TV Thu 30 Fri 32 Sat 34

Sun 36 Mon 38 Tues 40

Wed 42

Health & Beauty 50 - 51

Time out 53 - 56

Classifieds 76 - 78

Sport 80

NEWS Refuge found ARCHAEOLOGICAL digs in Elche on the site of the new Central Market have found an entrance to a refuge from the Civil War. Extended studies ONE in five university students in Alicante and Elche are extending their studies and taking internships with companies on minimal pay.

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Gang of thieves disbanded A GANG, believed to be responsible for 26 robberies from shops and homes in Alicante and Murcia has been disbanded.

Stolen cash, jewellery and phones, worth an estimated total of €250,000 were allegedly stolen from the Vega Baja and Crevillente during robberies carried out in the province of Murcia. Wearing balaclavas, the gang would primarily target hospitality businesses and, armed with weapons, would intimidate workers into handing over cash and goods.

A joint operation between the Guardia Civil and National Police led to a series of searches with 12 people arrested in Orihuela, Elche, Carral, Cox, Granja de Rocamora and La Aljorra. Three guns and ammunition were also discovered in hideouts in the fields of Redován, Albatera and Fuente Alamo (Murcia).

Police have also closed a workshop in the town of Cox which was removing licence plates from stolen cars for later illegal sale and in other cases, to use the vehicles in the robberies.

Drag queen THE sixth annual Drag Queen contest in Torrevieja has been won by Cristian Campos from Elche and his alter ego ‘Violette Carson.’

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ews watch

Closed down

THE number of businesses closing down in Murcia Region grew by 65 per cent in 2013 with 352 companies being dissolved.

Football match

Water works REDEVELOPMENT work in Avenida Alfredo Nobel, close to Los Locos beach, Torrevieja, is complete.

New water pipes have been installed at a cost of €290,000.

Market bus OVER 200 passengers registered to use the bus service from Orihuela Costa to the Medieval Market in Orihuela.

Card cloning TWO Bulgarians have been arrested for cloning credit and debit cards after placing a device in ATMs across Alicante and Murcia which copies the magnetic strip of the cards.

No expansion PLANS to expand El Plantio golf course in Alicante have been turned down as it does not ‘meet the requirements of the Law to Promote the Implementation of Strategic Territorial Activities.’

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FC Torrevieja play Orihuela CF on Sunday at 4pm at the Vicente García stadium.

The last time they played in the 1994/95 season Torrevieja won 8-1.

Entry is €8 or €12 for non-members.

N-332 closure THE N-332 near La Regia, Orihuela Costa, will be completely closed to traffic on Monday night to enable the new footbridge to be moved into place over the road. It will reopen Tuesday morning.

Streamlining process ORIHUELA is looking at ways of streamlining the administrative paper trail of the town hall process, including a better method for sending out official documentation to residents than post.

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PESETAS: In 1983, the peseta piece was the lowest value coin in circulation in Spain.

Holding on to pesetas

T

HE Spanish still have almost €1.67 billion worth of pesetas in notes and coins.

According to the Bank of Spain, in November there were €870.3 million worth of pesetas in notes in Spain, almost €1 million less than the previous month. However, there were still the same amount of pesetas out there in coins as the

Quote of the Week I know what Iñaki did, but not Noos,’ the Infanta Cristina, the King of Spain’s youngest daughter, testifying in Palma court regarding the €6 million corruption case in which she and her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, have been charged.

month before, €806.5 million.

Since the euro came into circulation, in January 2002, people have been changing their pesetas for euros. At the time, there were €48.7 billion worth of pesetas in circulation.

Until June 2012, the exchange could be made at any bank, but since then, only with the Bank of Spain. Since January 2011, approximately €1 million worth of pesetas has been exchanged every month.

The peseta became the monetary unit of Spain in October 1868, substituting the Escudo, although the first FROM 1982: Coins made from aluminium.

coin to carry the word was minted in 1808 and was a twoand-a-half peseta coin. The first peseta coin which was not made from a precious metal was in 1937.

The coin carried the face of a woman, representing the republic, and was known as the ‘blonde’ due to its colour from the copper-nickel alloy it was made of.

From 1982, peseta coins were made in aluminium to cut costs.

It was also when the 100 peseta coin came into circulation, followed later that decade by 10, 200 and 500 peseta coins.

In 1983, the peseta piece became the lowest value coin in circulation in Spain.

Number of the week

after their ancestors were expelled 522 years from Spain by the Catholic Monarchs, the descendants of Sephardic Jews who can prove their ancestry will be granted Spanish citizenship by the Ministry of Justice, regardless of where they live or their religion.

Skate park MAZARRÓN has inaugurated a new municipal skate park in Calle de la Torre, Puerto de Mazarron. It cost €60,000 to build and it is hoped it will be used for sporting events.

Air traffic THE number of passengers using Murcia’s San Javier airport in January rose by 16.2 per cent compared to the same month last year.

Over 25,000 passengers used the airport, compared to 102,674 in January 2007.

Benidorm blaze A FIRE broke out next to the petrol station on the CV-70 between Benidorm and La Nucia on Monday night.

Roads were closed and the area blocked off.

And finally...

A TRAIN carrying 18 wagons full of ammonia derailed in La Nava, Huelva. According to the Junta de Andalucia, there was something on the tracks which caused the accident but no one was injured and the problem was rapidly solved by emergency services.

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Corruption acquittal ORIHUELA’S former mayor, Jose Manuel Media, who was disqualified from office for seven years in 2013 following a conviction for breach of trust, has been acquitted and cleared of any corruption charges.

New knees STEM CELL therapy has been used for the first time at Alicante’s General Hospital to regenerate knee cartilage. The therapy helps to avoid the need for open knee surgery.

Rubbish fires VANDALS burned several rubbish bins and glass recycling containers in the centre of Elche last weekend.

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€2 million profit for scammers SPECIAL police units from Santa Pola and Murcia have been involved in Operation Alpechín, which has seen the arrest of 35 people across the provinces for defrauding numerous companies.

Using the ‘Nazareno’ scam, those accused posed as employers in a given sector and presented small orders which were paid for immediately in order to gain trust. After that, bigger orders were put in with payment terms

stipulating 30, 60 or 90 days, to allow them time to defraud the largest possible number of companies by not paying for goods ordered, before selling them on at a lower cost.

A total of 126 criminal acts were carried out, in 38 provinces including Alicante and Murcia, involving computer equipment, mobile phones, vehicles, wines, spirits, meat and oils, with the scammers believed to have made more than €2 million.

Car theft gang broken up FIVE members of an alleged gang dedicated to stealing and scrapping custom vehicles have been arrested in Elche.

The group were using a rented unit on the Carrus industrial estate where it is believed they subsequently sold on the parts after dismantling the high-end vehicles, which were allegedly stolen to order.

At the time of their arrest, the five

SCRAPPED: Stolen cars. men, aged between 28 and 30, had €3,000 in cash in their possession.

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Gold arrests in Murcia TWENTY arrests have taken place in Murcia as part of a nationwide investigation connected with money laundering, falsified documentation and tax evasion.

The Murcia arrests were part of 100 arrests made across the country by Spain’s Central Tax and Economic Fraud Unit. Its officers searched various homes and commercial premises related to the sale and purchase of gold.

Police said the operation was ongoing and had not ruled out more arrests.

Brutal beating A MAN has been beaten up at his home in the village of Molins, near Orihuela.

The 50-year-old was found a day after the attack when a relative visited his home to find him lying semi-conscious on the floor, bleeding, with his hands cuffed and suffering from several broken ribs.

He was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at Elche Hospital as police launched an investigation.

They said they had ruled out their initial suspicion that it was a robbery at the property as nothing of value appeared to have been taken, and there was no sign of forced entry.

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Telecare service continues to be free NEARLY 13,000 elderly people will benefit this year from the Telecare

Emergency calls THE 112 emergency service across the Valencia Region handled 51,409 incidents during the month of January and received a total of 282,459 calls.

Most of the calls were seeking health care of various kinds, followed by public safety.

The Director General of Prevention, Fire Fighting and Emergency, Irene Rodriguez, said that of the total managed, 17,261 incidents were in the province of Alicante.

service in Alicante Province.

The Provincial Council of Alicante has confirmed that the service will remain free for users and will have a budget of just over â‚Ź2 million, run by the Red Cross.

Telecare will be offered to all towns in the province with Elche and Torrevieja assuming the cost of providing it to residents, with the management costs born by the

Provincial Council.

The home Telecare service enables elderly or disabled residents to have a direct contact to a speciality care centre 24 hours a day, through the pressing of a button.

The service this year has introduced a number of improvements free of charge to avoid risks in the home such as smoke and gas detectors, medication dispensers and hearing and visual aids.

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More go self-employed in Elche THE number of new businesses in Elche has increased since 2010.

Councillor for Employment and Business, Luis Ángel Mateo, said: “If we compare the number of companies existing in the

municipality with 2010 data, we have seen 3,000 new businesses launched, from the 22,000 that were registered in 2010 to the 25,000 today.”

Seventy per cent of new

businesses started in recent months have been driven by selfemployment while the remaining 30 per cent are commercial. This has resulted in unemployment falling to 33,800 at the end of

2013, according to the councillor.

The town hall said it had worked on strategies to promote entrepreneurship and business creation with measures like reducing licence fees and subsidies.

Man found A MAN, reported missing by his daughter, has been found in Elche.

Police and Red Cross volunteers joined in the search for the 74-year-old who suffers from Alzheimer’s. He had fallen and was taken to Elche’s Vinalopo Hospital but was reported as being in a ‘good condition’.

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Registry arrests MODEL LAUNCH: Kawasaki in Torrevieja.

Kawasaki presents its new models KAWASAKI launched its new motorcycle models at the Hotel Doña Monse in Los Balcones, Torrevieja.

More than 30 new models including the Z 1000, Z 1000 and SX J300, were on display in front of the hotel as they were presented to visitors and the media.

Mayor of Torrevieja,

Eduardo Dolon, noted the importance of such events, projecting the image of the city to different corners of the world.

More than 300 professionals from several European countries tried and tested the motorcycles, which have travelled more than 140,000 miles in three weeks.

A REDUCTION of staff serving the Civil Registry in Orihuela has resulted in a number of arrests of people who assaulted police officers as they tried to control the queues.

Windy event WINDS reaching up to 96 kilometres per hour hit the Mar Menor last week causing the collapse of a road-sign on the AP-7 motorway close to Los Alcazares.

No vehicles were damaged in the incident.

Private rooms better for new mothers and fathers ELCHE’S General Hospital is expanding its maternity department to 19 single rooms for deliveries.

Previously, there were shared rooms, but now new mothers and fathers can enjoy privacy and peace in their baby’s first few hours and days.

Regional Councillor for Health, Manuel Llombart, visited the hospital and the pilot

room which had been used for the first time, with the father able to stay with his partner and infant and sleep on the private room’s sofa bed. The remaining rooms are being painted and renovated.

The councillor praised the ‘intimacy’ of the rooms, where previously, 90 per cent of mothers asked to be discharged early after delivery.

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Digital employment is the way of the future A CONFERENCE has been held at the University of Alicante entitled ‘Digital Professionals’.

A report on new technologies by the European Commission reveals that seven out of 10 businesses demand digital content professionals and estimates that between 300,000-500,000 future jobs will be related to the video game industry in the next three years.

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Airlines offer more routes RYANAIR is relaunching its routes from Alicante-Elche Airport to Santiago de Compostela, Paris and Bologna, from April. The routes were initially withdrawn due to lack of bookings.

The move comes after qualifying for new measures

adopted by Spanish airports authority AENA to win passengers and exemption from payment of the fee per passenger.

Vueling has also announced it will be operating a route from Alicante to St Petersburg and Rome, a new destination for

passengers travelling from Alicante-Elche.

Ryanair provides 46 direct routes from the airport, although some are only operational during the peak season. Vueling currently connects with 10 European cities.

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Lions helping the needy PRESIDENT of Torrevieja Costa Lions Club, Janette Bennett, made a presentation to Antonio Perez Garcia, Mayor of Rojales on behalf of the club.

The Lions pledged to donate €500 to help feed the homeless and most needy in Rojales and following a meeting with the town hall, it was decided that the most needed item was milk, so 828 litres was bought and

Lion President Janette Bennett with Mayor of Rojales. then delivered Mercadona in Rojales.

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Santa Pola 360° SANTA POLA has gone 360 and implemented new virtual, 360 degree tours of the town’s main attractions.

Through the website www.turismosantapola.es visitors can have a virtual tour of places including the Cultural Centre, the Boat Museum and the town’s aquarium.

Feli Bailador, councillor for Culture and Modernisation said: “The project has not only launched on our website but through various social networks and specialist sites.”

Rojales Town Hall provide support for more than 100 families in the municipality and whilst lots of donations were received over the Christmas period, the need is ongoing all year round. The Lions are now considering holding a fundraising event in Rojales later in the year.

This donation to Rojales is the fourth one by the Lions to those most in need in towns and villages in the area.

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Cultural concert LA TUNA, from the University of Alicante, is performing a concert combining culture and tradition in Torrevieja’s Plaza de la Constitucion tomorrow (Friday) at 6.30pm.

Belgian athletes THREE Belgian athletes have spent the first weeks of February training at Torrevieja’s Sports City. The middle-distance runner and two decathletes will now move on to Tenerife for training.

Roses are distributed for Friday SALES of roses rise between 30 and 40 per cent ahead of Valentine’s Day. Pilar de la Horadada’s agricultural cooperative, Flomar, distributes 700,000 stems of more than 30 varieties across the country in the run up to Valentine’s Day. Manager of the cooperative, Francisco Carrasco said the rose is still the favourite flower for those who want to surprise their loved one and demand increases by 30-40 per cent during these days. However, sales rose 70 per cent until 2006 when demand dropped due to the economic crisis.

Flomar produces about 20 million stems annually.

The municipality of Pilar de la Horadada has around 40 hectares planted with flowers.

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NEWS EXTRA

Fewer illnesses ABSENTEEISM amongst workers in Elche City Hall fell last year to 2.5 per cent due to fewer workers being off due to illness or accidents. In 2011 the year ended with an absenteeism rate of 5.3 per cent.

Bulletproof LOCAL POLICE in Elche have been at the police headquarters in Alicante to choose a suitable bulletproof vest for officers.

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Dog park to be opened A DAY of socialising and training has taken place in the area of Gran

Alacant which will be the future Dog Park.

Attended by

DOG PARK: Residents and pets meet for a day of socialising and training.

Councillor Cascales,

the

Loreto day

Speed radars reduce accidents by a third in city of Alicante SPEED CAMERAS installed in four streets in Alicante City have reduced accidents in the city centre by 33 per cent in the last year.

Prior to the installation of the speed radars, vehicles were often

recorded doing speeds of between 80-90km per hour.

Now, 70 per cent of drivers respect the speed limits according to data from the traffic department, to avoid fines of up to €600.

included various activities and acted as a reminder of the civil duty of dog owners to clean up after their pet.

The Dog Park is to be located in the area after the petrol station

adjoining the N-332, covering 2,000 square metres and including ‘canine circuits’ and exercise areas made from recycled materials.

It will be opened when fencing is in place.

Students’ glimpse of uni life abroad SIX British universities and a French exhibitor attended a trade show at El Limonar International School in San Miguel de Salinas.

The show was hosted for high school students with the aim of promoting higher education in both countries and providing details on admission requirements and college life abroad. Twenty Spanish universities also participated in the show which was open to students from any school.

Director of El Limonar, Justine Brown, said 60 per cent of students attending the school are mainly of British and Russian origin and many are interested in continuing their higher education in their countries of origin.

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Pushpa pushes the boat out A FURTHER €165 was raised from The Indian Experience, held at The Spice Hut in Quesada. It follows on from the €270 raised the previous week, with all money going to the Children’s Home in Elche.

The Euro Weekly News was invited to sample the ‘Indian Experience’ where owners Pushpa and Harish Khimji held a demonstration of how to make

SARI TIME: Puspha demonstrates how to wear one. vegetable pakoras before a Q&A session with Pushpa.

For more information, call 966 731 063.

David Bisbal to perform in Elche this summer GRAMMY winner David Bisbal is performing in Elche on July 11.

The Spanish pop star is to release his latest studio album on March 18 and to coincide with the launch, all tickets sold from now until then, for his Elche appearance, will include a free digital

download of his CD. The concert takes place at the Esplanade of the University Miguel Hernández with tickets costing from €41 available from Carrefour, Elche, via www.ticktackticket.com or call 902 15 00 25.

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More flights open RYANAIR is relaunching its routes from Alicante-Elche Airport to Santiago de Compostela, Paris and Bologna, from April.

The routes were initially withdrawn due to lack of bookings.

The move comes after qualifying for new measures adopted by the Spanish

Digital future A CONFERENCE has been held at the University of Alicante entitled ‘Digital Professionals’.

A report on new technologies by the European Commission reveals that seven out of 10 businesses demand digital content professionals and estimates that between 300,000-500,000 future jobs will be related to the video games industry in the next three years.

The 25 most demanded profiles are related to visual design and art.

airports authority AENA to win passengers and exemption from payment of the fee per passenger.

Vueling airlines has also announced it will be operating a route from Alicante to St Petersburg and Rome, a new destination for passengers travelling from Alicante-Elche.

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Keep smiling SMILE charity group’s next event is tonight (Thursday) at El Alto La Dolores, Guardamar, from 7.30pm.

The ‘Music Spectacular’ features Maria O’Hara and other guest stars and will be in aid of the DEBRA Butterfly Children’s charity. Call 966 712 382 or email smilecharity group@gmail.com to secure one of the last few tickets which cost €10, including a twocourse meal.

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Capturing carnival TORREVIEJA’S Instagram Carnival photograpy competition is now open.

Participants, who can enter as many photos as they wish in keeping with the theme of ‘Carnival Torrevieja’, must upload their photos to Instagram with the hashtag #carnavaltorrevieja2014 before the closing date of March 5.

Torrevieja Town Hall is organising the competition through the Department of Youth, Tourism and Festivities in collaboration with the Cultural Carnival Association of Torrevieja and Turisbrand.

The first prize is a Samsung Galaxy tablet, second prize is

INSTAGRAM COMP: Youth Councillor Rosario Martínez Chazarra presents the competition with Julio Ruiz from the Carnival Association and Turisbrand’s Gabriel Samper. a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, with a Nikon Coolpix camera offered as

the third prize.

For more information: email info@ciaj.es

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Snap happy camera club DO you have an interest in photography? Do you own a camera?

Would you like to meet like-minded people?

Bumblebee Prints have teamed up with Jess Calke, a local photographer and artist, and will soon be offering fortnightly photography classes.

The Snap Happy Photography Club will be held at Stevie’s Lounge Bar, Quesada, on the first and third Monday of every month from 7.30pm–9pm. The cost per class will be €2.50. No experience is necessary. Just take along a camera and a smile!

For further information or to book your place please call or whatsapp 659 788 394 or email info@bumblebeeprints.com

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Helping the heroes HELP FOR HEROES is the chosen charity for La Finca de Eduardo’s, in Campoamor, next fundraising dinner and dance on Friday, February 21.

Tickets cost €18.95 and include a three-course dinner and entertainment

by Paul Michael. A percentage goes to the charity, along with the proceeds from a prize draw.

Promotions and events manager Terri Hughes said the cause is close to her

heart as her daughter was in Afghanistan. She has organised the event with Help for Heroes volunteer Lynne Zaber whose brother has also been supported by the charity; seeing first-hand the work the charity does in supporting members of the Armed Forces who have been injured in conflicts.

For more information or tickets call 965 322 830 or 644 498 067.

Shaving it off for charity SATURDAY, February 22, could be a hairraising experience for Jaime Boxell as she faces having her head shaved for charity.

The manager of Tracy’s Bar in Altos del Limonar, Torrevieja, has organised a fundraising day for the Reach Out Torrevieja charity. “I wanted to do an event for Reach Out as so many people are being made homeless and are struggling.

Someone joked I should get my head shaved, so it started from there,” said Jaime.

With live music, stalls, a BBQ, raffle and local radio in attendance, Jaime will have her head shaved if €500 is raised. Her hair will go to a UK-based charity which makes wigs for children with cancer and in return

FUNDRAISER: Jaime Boxell. they will donate a synthetic wig to Jaime.

To pledge your support, call 674 732 031 or 966 849 768.

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Plans under way for Torrevieja English language cinema club DISCUSSIONS are taking place with Cines IMF, with a view to starting an

English language club in Torrevieja. Although the organisers have other

options of setting up a makeshift cinema night in Torrevieja, the feedback

is that cinema-goers would prefer to enjoy the entire cinema experience, including comfy seating, professional projection equipment, full surround sound and without the need for headphones, currently required for those wishing to watch films in original version.

Torrevieja’s U3A club has had interest from about 50 of their

members in belonging to a film club and going to the cinema on a regular basis. The likelihood is that Thursday evenings will be set aside for showing new releases plus classic films from yesteryear and retrospective film festivals.

Talks continue this week to look at the viability of the project and matters like discounts for

members, loyalty cards, special film festivals, the possibility of showing more than one film or special features. These will all be discussed with Cines IMF, who themselves have been looking at ways to attract a larger international following.

Anyone interested in joining or finding out more can email NickinSpain@mac.com

Support for Alzheimer’s MEMBERS of the NOSMOKING club welcomed Judy Ferris, Treasurer of the Alzheimer’s Association in Torrevieja, and Pamela Horrabin, Vice President of Age Concern Costa Blanca Sur, to their AGM, where they presented each charity with a cheque for €400.

Pamela thanked the members for such generous support and said the money would enable Age Concern to continue to help the community from their Day Centre in La Siesta.

Judy not only thanked everyone for the donation, which is particularly needed this year as other grants and aid has been drastically reduced due to the overall austerity, but also said the call on the need for the work that Torrevieja Alzheimer’s Association does is ever increasing: “Without such generosity it would not be possible to support not just sufferers of dementia but the very much

NOSMOKING CLUB: President Dorothy Gates (centre) presents cheques to Judy (right) and Pamela (left) needed support for their carers and families.”

The NOSMOKING club meets every Thursday morning at La Paraiso Restaurant, behind Carrefour, Torrevieja.

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Spain is blamed for Irish plane crash IRELAND blames Spain for its worst plane crash in 50 years.

Manx2 Flight 7100 was a scheduled commercial flight from George Best Belfast City Airport to Cork Airport. On February

10, 2011, the aircraft with 10 passengers and two crew members on board, crashed on its third attempt to land at Cork Airport where there was dense fog.

Six people including

pilots Jordi Sola and Andrew Cantle died; six passengers survived.

The final report into the accident, released just recently, stated that the probable cause was loss of control and noted that

there was an inappropriate pairing of flight crews, inadequate command training, lack of experience, fatigue of the crew and absence of any control of the Spanish owners of the airline,

Flightline, the operator or the seller of the tickets.

The plane was owned by a Spanish bank and leased to Andalucian Airlines (LADA) which sub-leased it to Flightline.

The seller was based in

Girls at risk of ritual mutilation

IN Spain, some 17,000 girls are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation.

According to anthropologist Adriana Kaplan of the Wassu Foundation, the risk has increased by 61 per cent in Spain in the last four years amongst girls under 15 in families from African countries.

This practice is carried out to prevent girls from having sexual urges so they maintain their virginity until marriage, which ensures they are accepted by their future husbands.

Girls may be at risk depending on their country of origin and if their families have not abandoned this type of tradition.

RITUAL PRACTICE: Some 17,000 girls in Spain may be faced with genital mutilation.

Attempts are made by the authorities and health service to dissuade them from returning to their country of origin for the ritual or from having it carried out by clandestine witch-doctors in Spain. Parents are also informed that in Spain the practice is considered unlawful.

Many families living in Spain apparently do not want to carry out the ritual, but feel pressured into doing so by their communities.

NGO Mundo Cooperante has launched a campaign to fight female genital mutilation and is selling bracelets made by Masai women in Kenya and Tanzania to help them become independent.

the Isle of Man. The investigators blame the Spanish air safety authorities (AESA) for not supervising Flightline, as they were not aware of its operations in the UK and Ireland.

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NEWS

Fewer inmates in Spanish prisons THE number of inmates in Spanish prisons has been falling for the past four years.

Between 2009 and 2013, it has fallen 11.4 per cent.

The main reason for this is that in 2010, a new law was introduced which reduced the maximum sentences for minor drug-related crimes, which account for most of the inmates serving time.

Just days after the reduction from nine to six years was approved, some 400 people were released.

Another reason is because of extradition CHILDREN born from surrogate mothers cannot be agreements for foreign legally registered in Spain. prisoners, who are often The Supreme Court has prevented a gay couple sent to their countries of whose children were born of a surrogate mother in the origin to serve time.

US from registering them in Spain as their children.

In the same four years, Spanish legislation bans surrogate motherhood, the number of foreign regardless of whether the woman is paid. inmates in Spanish prisons Therefore, the two men, who appear as the fell by 21 per cent to children’s parents on US documents, cannot register 21,315 people, according them in Spain, which would entitle them to become to a Murcia University Spanish citizens. professor who has carried The men have been married since 2005 and the out a study of the inmate children were born in 2008. Both men provided genetic population. samples for insemination, but a DNA test will reveal Despite this, the prison which one is the biological father. He can then register staff union complains that the children as his alone, also guaranteeing Spanish there are still too many citizenship, and his partner can then adopt them. inmates per guard.

Gay couple cannot register children

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S CANDINAVIAN P RESS

www.euroweeklynews.com

Stories making headlines in Europe

Red card

More divorces

Women needed

NORWAY - The founder of a militant Islamist group applied to return to work as a referee, and had his request turned down by the Norwegian Football Association.

THE financial woes that swept the UK due to the recession may have led to more couples getting divorced, the Office for National Statistics suggests.

A TORY MP, Margot James, criticised David Cameron for failing to promote women backbenchers fast enough.

Highest sale

Curbing creativity

SWEDEN - Sweden is planning to turn down Norway’s request to be able to rent out empty space in its prisons, the country’s justice minister Beatice Ask has said.

Fashion week DENMARK Copenhagen Airport introduced travellers to some of Denmark’s top designers in activities coinciding with Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Short skirts NORWAY - Qatar Airways was criticised by the anti-discrimination ombudsman after specifying all women coming to a recruitment day had to wear short skirts.

Shaved off SWEDEN - A care worker who reportedly shaved the private parts of an 85-year-old Swedish man against his will has been reported for mistreatment.

SOTHEBY’S made its highest ever London sale with an auction from which buyers from 44 countries took home 79 works worth a total of £163 million.

Alcohol theft SWEDEN - A highranking Social Democrat in Stockholm stepped down after he was caught taking a bottle of alcohol from a suburban liquor store.

THE message ‘pink is for girls, blue is for boys’ creates a gender divide that hampers girls’ progress at school and holds back women in the workplace, a minister has warned.

Mutilation alert NHS hospitals will have to submit data on the number of girls and women who have suffered female genital mutilation (FGM), the Government has announced.

Paying crime CRIMINALS will be forced to pay for some of the cost of prosecuting them once they have been convicted.

GENDER DIVIDE: Pink is for girls, blue is for boys.

RUSSIAN PRESS

A TRAIN carrying gas containers exploded as it travelled through Russia, sparking terror attack fears a day before the Sochi Olympics opened.

Foul play was later ruled out.

Drink risk RUSSIAN men who drink large amounts of vodka have an ‘extraordinarily’ high risk of early death, a new study says.

VODKA: Russian men drinking large amounts risk early death.

Gay message PROSECUTORS in Russia are investigating whether a children’s library book about tolerance and

A 13-YEAR-OLD’S parents have been fined €3,000 by a court in Bavaria for not stopping their daughter having sex with her boyfriend.

Stranded on bus A GROUP of 12 passengers whose plane had a technical problem were left on a shuttle bus as their replacement flight from Cologne Airport departed without them.

GERMANY’S biggest tour operator TUI has cancelled trips to dolphin and orca shows, after admitting it could not check conditions at all the venues.

SCOTLAND voted overwhelmingly to allow samesex marriages, becoming the 17th country to give it the green light despite opposition from its main church organisations.

Train explosion

Parental consent

No shows

Gay marriage

Feeling again DENMARK - A man from Denmark has become the world’s first amputee to get an artificial hand that can feel objects.

GERMAN PRESS

BRITISH PRESS

Rent-a-cell

EUROPEAN PRESS

cultural diversity contains alleged gay ‘propaganda.’

Student attack A STUDENT with two rifles burst into his Moscow school, killing his geography teacher and a policeman in front of about 20 students.

Suicide dolls A RUSSIAN parents’ group is demanding Monster High dolls, made by Mattel, should be banned as they ‘promote suicide’ and could be ‘a threat to national security.’

Dog extermination OFFICIALS at Sochi City Hall ordered stray dogs to be exterminated before the Winter Olympics.

Shares for sale RUSSIAN hypermarket chain Lenta is planning to sell up to $1 billion worth of shares through a dual listing in London and Moscow.

Purposeful robbery A DRUG addict tried to rob a bank in Frankfurt - not to feed his habit, but so he would be put in jail where he could go cold turkey and beat his habit.

Urgent advert AN advert placed in a regional newspaper in western Germany by a man desperate to find his children before he dies has been shared online 50,000 times.

Beer rage TWO men set fire to a shop in western Germany because it did not stock the brand of beer they were looking for Becks Gold.

Bones identified GERMAN scientists have announced after almost 26 years of research that the bones interred for centuries at Aachen Cathedral are likely to be those of Charlemagne.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

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

business & legal

Not a good deal

Spurious sales spotted by shoppers SPURIOUS reductions were detected by 65 per cent of shoppers at this year’s winter sales. ‘Before’ amounts on labels were often higher than the original prices, reported a FACUA survey.

Twenty-three per cent spotted this error in more than half the shops, reported the consumers’ association questionnaire.

A further 18 per cent saw labelling errors in less than half the shops, while 16 per cent noticed only a few bogus markdowns. They had not seen any misleading labels at all, 8 per cent said.

Almost half found supposedly-reduced products that were not on offer before the sales began in 50 per cent of shops.

Spain attracting more tourists...

SPAIN rose up the international tourism rankings in 2013 by overtaking China to take third spot.

The record 60.6 million international visitors it had left it behind France (83 million) and the USA (67 million) for international visitors, according to the UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The 5.6 per cent rise in foreign tourists helped boost the economy, accounting for 11 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The news came as part of a worldwide rise in tourism that saw international arrivals across the globe rise by 52 million or 5 per cent, reaching 1.08 billion, despite the world’s

economy still being in ‘low gear.’

Demand was strongest in Asia and the Pacific (+6 per cent), Africa (+6 per cent) and Europe (+5 per cent).

The UNWTO’s Secretary General, Talem Rifai, said in the World Tourism Barometer report: “2013 was an excellent year for international tourism.

“The tourism sector has shown a remarkable capacity to adjust to the changing market conditions, fuelling growth and job creation around the world, despite the lingering economic and geopolitical challenges.

“Indeed tourism has been among the few sectors generating positive news for many economies.”

B

usiness extra

Tools down WORK on the Panama Canal has ground to a halt after builders led by Spain’s Sacyr carried out a threat to down tools.

The consortium building new locks wants compensation for a $1.6bn (€1.17bn) cost overrun, about half the original contract value.

Fat cat BBVA bank Chairman Francisco Gonzalez was paid €5.17m in 2013.

Pound Dealz UK retailer Poundland plan to open 10 stores in Spain under the Dealz brand, first launched in Ireland.

Not such a bad bank VULTURE fund Teide acquired a property portfolio from Spain’s ‘bad bank’ Sareb last December.

Some of the 2,500 properties had been sold, or were being sold, to private buyers who complained recently that Teide wanted to cancel their deals. Having put down deposits of €3,000 they each received a certified ‘burofax’

informing them that Teide “could not satisfy their request.” Instead it offered to return the €3,000 deposit without any kind of compensation. Teide was selling the properties at between €30,000 and €100,000 more than they had paid. Thanks to Sareb’s intervention, these purchases will now be honoured at the price agreed.

ON SALE: But how ‘accurate’ are the offers?

EWN

23

STAT OF WEEK THE average Spanish household uses 10.52 kilowatts of electricity a year. Half goes on central heating and 21.7 per cent on household appliances, 30.6 per cent of which corresponds to the refrigerator.

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LONDON - FTSE 100

currencies direct

C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 10

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 423.95 Admiral Group PLC 1392.00 Aggreko PLC 1572.50 AMEC PLC 1059.50 Anglo American PLC 1498.00 Antofagasta PLC 897.75 ARM Holdings PLC 917.00 Ashtead Group PLC 817.25 Associated British Foods 2835.00 AstraZeneca PLC 3884.75 Aviva PLC 455.05 Babcock Intrntl Group... 1373.00 BAE Systems PLC 429.70 Barclays PLC 274.65 BG Group PLC 1058.50 BHP Billiton PLC 1818.00 BP PLC 480.45 British Amcn Tobacco 2944.25

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 4.30 1.02 -25.00 -1.76 9.00 0.58 18.64 1.79 17.50 1.18 3.50 0.39 21.00 2.34 4.11 0.51 -13.00 -0.46 25.50 0.66 -1.40 -0.31 5.30 0.39 0.60 0.14 3.00 1.10 5.50 0.52 12.50 0.69 -1.30 -0.27 18.58 0.64

NET VOLUME 870.45 138.12 28.95 73.25 432.68 130.73 595.78 39.80 86.35 260.94 432.35 27.22 511.54 8,093.47 518.39 1,449.40 2,168.56 182.63

COME DIRECT TO US AND START SAVING MONEY NOW- See our advert on page 27

1.20167

0.83217

Units per €

United States $......................................................1.36436 Japan Yen ¥ ...........................................................139.461 Switzerland Francs................................................1.22294 Denmark Kroner ....................................................7.46194 Norway Kroner.......................................................8.36142

currenciesdirect.com/la-zenia • Tel: +34 965 994 830 C O M PA N Y

PRICE(P)

British Land Co PLC British Sky Broadcasting BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Carnival PLC

670.25 890.50 390.65 1390.50 1482.50 1002.50 2541.50

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G.

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 10

C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 10

C O M PA N Y MMM 3M Co AXP American Express Co T AT&T Inc BA Boeing Co CAT Caterpillar Inc CVX Chevron Corp CSCO Cisco Systems Inc DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc INTC Intel Corp IBM International Business Machine...

JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co MCD McDonald's Corp MRK Merck & Co Inc MSFT Microsoft Corp NKE Nike Inc PFE Pfizer Inc PG Procter & Gamble Co KO The Coca-Cola Co TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc WMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc DIS Walt Disney Co

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 130.33 87.00 32.30 127.02 94.87 112.05 22.67 63.45 90.58 25.19 161.93 76.45 24.21 177.25 90.04 56.62 95.92 54.77 36.56 72.69 31.22 77.31 37.95 80.88 110.73 71.36 46.81 221.78 73.75 75.67

+1.43 +1.31 +0.30 +4.35 +1.04 +0.78 +0.18 +0.49 +0.78 +0.24 +0.18 +0.29 +0.215 +2.58 +1.29 +0.14 +0.98 +1.00 +0.38 +1.18 +0.38 +0.41 -0.08 +0.19 +1.28 +0.49 +0.13 +2.77 +0.93 +0.11

+1.11% +1.53% +0.94% +3.55% +1.11% +0.70% +0.80% +0.78% +0.87% +0.96% +0.11% +0.38% +0.90% +1.48% +1.45% +0.25% +1.03% +1.86% +1.05% +1.65% +1.23% +0.53% -0.21% +0.24% +1.17% +0.69% +0.28% +1.26% +1.28% +0.15%

3.3M 4.5M 29.4M 8.9M 9.7M 7.1M 54.2M 4.6M 12.6M 34.9M 5.0M 6.2M 30.9M 4.7M 9.5M 25.1M 6.6M 14.5M 33.3M 3.5M 27.9M 7.3M 20.5M 2.5M 4.0M 7.0M 13.5M 3.1M 7.3M 11.5M

2.00 -2.50 -1.43 1.54 8.00 7.50 15.00

C O M PA N Y

0.30 -0.28 -0.36 0.11 0.54 0.75 0.59

NET VOLUME 188.08 100.20 705.49 18.01 54.01 219.44 15.57

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

$ 3.05 $ 173.93 $ 9.62 $ 351.56 $ 24.61 $ 14.12 $ 6.81 $ 5.42 $ 19.64 $ 74.45 $ 44.68

0.67 / +28.15% 34.85 / +25.06% 1.47 / +18.04% 51.18 / +17.04% 3.32 / +15.59% 1.87 / +15.27% 0.87 / +14.65% 0.69 / +14.59% 2.47 / +14.39% 9.31 / +14.29% 5.54 / +14.15%

$ 8.12 $ 3.16 $ 9.99 $ 7.93 $ 2.61 $ 17.79 $ 18.98 $ 15.72 $ 3.68 $ 17.05 $ 4.93

3.31 / -28.96% 0.63 / -16.62% 1.46 / -12.75% 1.15 / -12.67% 0.37 / -12.42% 2.37 / -11.76% 2.25 / -10.60% 1.73 / -9.91% 0.34 / -8.46% 1.482 / -8.00% 0.41 / -7.68%

Most Advanced SMART Technologies Inc. athenahealth, Inc. Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc. Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Liquidity Services, Inc. Ocera Therapeutics, Inc. Lattice Semiconductor Corporation bebe stores, inc.

Activision Blizzard, Inc Expedia, Inc. Receptos, Inc.

Most Declined Fairway Group Holdings Corp.

Echelon Corporation Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. Credit Suisse AG Life Partners Holdings Inc Aceto Corporation NIC Inc. Montage Technology Group Limited Intermolecular, Inc. ProShares UltraShort Nasdaq Biotchnlg Pixelworks, Inc.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Centrica PLC 304.40 -9.78 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1604.50 -2.00 Compass Group PLC 889.75 -2.16 CRH PLC 1634.50 -3.00 Diageo PLC 1819.00 1.00 easyJet PLC 1717.00 -10.00 Experian PLC 1072.50 -3.00 Fresnillo PLC 817.00 24.00 G4S PLC 230.05 -5.00 GKN PLC 402.25 -1.38 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1602.75 -9.50 Glencore Xstrata PLC 326.05 0.75 Hammerson PLC 536.00 2.50 Hargreaves Lansdown 1351.00 -3.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 623.00 -4.80 IMI PLC 1474.50 -4.00 Imperial Tobacco Group 2233.00 20.00 InterContinental Hotels . 1949.00 6.00 International Consldtd ... 425.60 -2.70 Intertek Group PLC 2896.50 -2.00 ITV PLC 202.80 0.80 Johnson Matthey PLC 3199.50 18.00 Kingfisher PLC 363.15 0.40 Land Securities Group 1039.00 5.00 Legal & General Group 221.00 -0.20 Lloyds Banking Group 81.99 0.20 London Stock Exchange 1924.50 -4.00 Marks & Spencer Group 473.35 0.70 Meggitt PLC 519.00 1.00 Melrose Industries PLC 301.30 6.20 Mondi PLC 963.25 3.00 National Grid PLC 793.25 1.17 Next PLC 6300.00 -7.45 Old Mutual PLC 176.80 -0.30 Pearson PLC 1101.50 7.00 Persimmon PLC 1381.50 -3.00 Petrofac Ltd 1233.00 38.00 Prudential PLC 1273.00 -3.90 Randgold Resources Ltd 4494.50 68.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group 4801.50 18.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 888.50 1.50 Resolution Ltd 358.85 0.30 REXAM PLC 504.50 1.00 Rio Tinto PLC 3423.50 15.60 Rolls-Royce Holdings 1186.00 10.51 Royal Bank of Scotland 339.05 1.60 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2226.50 3.40 Royal Mail PLC 591.00 1.81 RSA Insurance Group 102.65 -1.50 SABMiller PLC 2746.50 7.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 416.90 0.80 Sainsbury (J) PLC 353.75 2.78 Schroders PLC 2538.50 14.00 Severn Trent PLC 1764.00 1.20 Shire PLC 3151.00 29.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 912.00 -2.50 Smiths Group PLC 1397.00 -6.64 Sports Direct Intrntnl...

691.50 0.00 SSE PLC 1342.00 -15.00 Standard Chartered PLC 1240.50 0.50 Standard Life PLC 377.25 0.10 Tate & Lyle PLC 774.50 -0.16 Tesco PLC 322.15 1.18 Travis Perkins PLC 1839.50 -7.00 TUI Travel PLC 432.80 -0.50 Tullow Oil PLC 836.50 -0.50 Unilever PLC 2370.50 7.00 United Utilities Group 732.50 -0.50 Vodafone Group PLC 220.17 -1.80 Weir Group PLC 2212.50 14.00 Whitbread PLC 3938.00 2.00 William Hill PLC 347.15 0.00 Wm Morrison Sprmrkts 239.10 1.30 Wolseley PLC 3342.50 1.00 WPP PLC 1302.00 0.00

% C H G. -3.11 -0.12 -0.24 -0.18 0.06 -0.58 -0.28 3.03 -2.13 -0.34 -0.59 0.23 0.47 -0.22 -0.76 -0.27 0.90 0.31 -0.63 -0.07 0.40 0.57 0.11 0.48 -0.09 0.24 -0.21 0.15 0.19 2.10 0.31 0.15 -0.12 -0.17 0.64 -0.22 3.18 -0.31 1.54 0.38 0.17 0.08 0.20 0.46 0.89 0.47 0.15 0.31 -1.44 0.27 0.19 0.79 0.55 0.07 0.93 -0.27 -0.47 0.00 -1.11 0.04 0.03 -0.02 0.37 -0.38 -0.12 -0.06 0.30 -0.07 -0.81 0.64 0.05 0.00 0.55 0.03 0.00

VOLUME 4,129.74 73.61 244.20 123.21 319.34 81.32 116.77 253.87 1,302.85 351.63 764.34 1,838.30 41.25 72.74 5,154.75 56.22 164.25 24.53 510.36 23.53 317.52 21.51 457.25 59.64 921.25 17,211.61 28.14 224.04 50.98 130.92 99.76 234.01 31.17 709.20 168.26 53.24 295.29 303.98 53.47 147.26 117.22 170.71 36.44 700.25 307.14 501.57 189.27 52.49 3,914.77 356.87 116.62 864.56 19.73 24.25 74.04 380.69 44.99 32.13 552.33 293.16 382.93 98.97 940.75 28.04 154.06 258.36 200.52 169.12 7,202.11 42.93 169.13 197.15 374.03 17.84 158.83

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

EWN

25

Good news for Spanish economy THE good news for the Spanish economy keeps on coming. The Spanish service sector made a positive start to 2014 as both activity and new orders continued to expand solidly.

Moreover, employment stabilised, ending a sequence of job shedding which stretched back to March 2008. However, companies still discounted output prices sharply, while input costs rose following no change in December. The headline seasonally adjusted Business Activity Index rose to 54.9 in January from 54.2 in December, signalling a third successive monthly increase in activity in the sector.

Furthermore, the solid expansion was the sharpest since July 2007. A number of respondents indicated that improving economic conditions had supported rises in business activity.

Each of the six monitored sectors posted increases in activity, led by Transport & Storage. The weakest rise was

J

ON THE UP: Transport and Logistics lead the way. at Renting & Business Activities companies. Transport & Storage also registered the fastest rise in new business. Overall, new orders increased at a solid pace, albeit one that was slower than seen at the end of 2013.

UST 5 per cent of Spaniards do not believe that corruption is ‘widespread’ in the country.

According to a new anti-corruption report by the European Commission, 95 per cent of the population feels corruption is widespread.

A press statement from the EC said: “Although an anti-corruption legal framework is largely in place in Spain and law enforcement has shown good results in investigating corrupt practices, the report does show a certain number of deficiencies.

“Particularly challenging is political corruption and deficient checks and balances, notably in public spending and control mechanisms at regional and local levels.

“In this report, the European Commission suggests that tailor-made anti-corruption strategies for regional and local level administrations are developed, that ongoing reforms and implementation of the new rules on party funding is pursued, and that comprehensive codes of conduct for elected officials with adequate accountability tools are developed.”

Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, said:

Signs of strengthening economic conditions had reportedly been behind the rise in new orders, which was the sixth in as many months.

Services companies increased their staffing levels fractionally

in January, thereby ending a run of 70 consecutive monthly reductions in employment.

Anecdotal evidence suggested that staffing levels were reflective of current workloads, with some panellists taking on extra staff in response to rising activity, while others reduced their workforces in line with the completion of projects.

Outstanding business continued to decrease in January. Although only modest, the pace of depletion quickened for the third month running.

Service providers recorded an increase in input prices for the third time in the past four months, following no change in costs in December.

Respondents indicated that higher salary payments had been the principal reason for rising input prices.

Hotels & Restaurants posted the strongest increase in input costs. Companies continued to lower their output prices, as has been the case in each month

Hands up if you think Spain is corrupt...

HOME AFFAIRS: EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.

since August 2008. Where selling prices were lowered, this was largely a result of competitive pressures.

The prospect of further improvements in economic conditions during 2014 led business sentiment to strengthen in January.

Optimism regarding the yearahead outlook for activity was at the highest since July 2007.

Commenting on the Spanish Services PMI® survey data, Andrew Harker, senior economist at Markit and author of the report, said: “The Spanish service sector backed up the solid performance seen in December with accelerated growth of activity in January, while we even saw an end to job shedding in the sector for the first time since the economic crisis began.

“Companies are still having to offer discounts in order to secure sales, but they are increasingly optimistic that 2014 can see a recovery get properly under way.”

“Corruption undermines citizens’ confidence in democratic institutions and the rule of law, it hurts the European economy and deprives States from muchneeded tax revenue. Member States have done a lot in recent years to fight corruption, but this report shows that it is far from enough. The report suggests what can be done, and I look forward to working with Member States to follow it up.”

The Commission is also suggesting that irregularities in public procurement procedures at regional and local levels should be addressed further.

Alongside an analysis of the situation in each EU Member State, the European Commission is also presenting two extensive opinion polls.

More than three-quarters of Europeans, and 95 per cent of Spanish citizens, agree that corruption is widespread in their home country.

Approximately one in four Europeans considers that they are affected by corruption in their everyday lives. In Spain, that number is 63 per cent, the highest percentage in the EU. Four per cent of Europeans, and 2 per cent of Spanish citizens say that they have been asked or expected to pay a bribe in the past year.

The Commisssion has estimated that corruption costs the EU economy around €120 billion per year.

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Steer kids away from the pricey habit of smoking S

MOKERS out there already know what a drain the habit has on spending. A regular smoker might smoke up to or more than three packets a week, and that can add up considerably over the course of months and years.

On top of that, the majority of us women spend a substantial amount of money on face creams, eye creams, serums and masks - potions and lotions to help maintain youthful features as long as possible. Yet with every cigarette smoked, it massively increases our chances of wrinkly and dull skin - so forking out on all the creams in the world is just a big waste of money!

Each person has the right to do whatever they want to their own body, but as much as anyone claims to love cigarettes, that pricey-little-cancer-stick will

Loose change A look at finance for females

THE government spent €2.296 billion on unemployment benefits last year, 13 per cent less than in 2012. Average pay was €858.4, a reduction of 6.5 per cent on the previous year.

SPANISH toll roads company Abertis paid €32.2 million for another 6 per cent of Metropistas.

Albertis now has a 51 per holding in the Mexican motorway company.

jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

ANTI-SMOKING: Important to target children in the right way. eventually repay your love by making you ugly, with bags and wrinkles under your eyes.

Giving up smoking isn’t just about being responsible to your health and looks; it’s about being responsible in regards to controlling spending, as well as setting a good example for future generations.

Wouldn’t most smokers admit that they wish they had never become hooked in the first

Jobs deal place? That’s why targeting antismoking campaigns at children in the right way is so important these days.

In America more than $100 million is being spent on new anti-smoking advertisements aimed at frightening teenagers

Q. From your answer to my earlier question in EWN, it appears that I have You and the to pay the back taxes owing on the vehicle before I can de-register (baja) Law in Spain the vehicle still listed in my name.

By David Searl I have never got any notifications from DGT or from ‘Recaudacion’ to my correct address where I moved in 2001. I understand that you have to inform DGT Malaga, when you change address, which I did not do, thinking the new owner would arrange everything. Now Recaudacion has suddenly found my address and claims the taxes for the years 2003-2013. During all these years I have had in my possession another two cars registered at my new address since 2001, so Recaudacion could easily have found me.

I recently heard about a similar case where the person went to court and won his case on the grounds that they could easily find the correct address to send notifications. What is your opinion?

L.M. (Costa del Sol) owner. Many towns pass this tax to a central collection dept called ‘Recaudacion.’ You can protest you should have to pay only the previous four years of the tax, as you were not informed. I

Dole profit

Road sense

Jane Plunkett

If not informed, must he pay tax?

A. Unfortunately, I think your chances are small.

You are speaking of the annual municipal vehicle tax and the town hall is not required to inform you of back taxes owed. All responsibility is on you, as

BUSINESS EXTRA

suspect the person who won his case was protesting against a traffic fine.

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

away from picking up the habit.

What does a pack of cigarettes cost? Your teeth, says one TV advert, which depicts a teenager buying a pack of cigarettes at a shop and literally pulling out a tooth with a set of pliers to pay for them.

BARCELONA-BASED pharmaceutical multinational Almirall agreed a redundancy plan reducing layoffs from 250 to 180. Thirty more employees can remain if they accept wage cuts and ‘substantial changes’ to working conditions.

New gold rush in Spain as millions are invested WITH gold prices still riding high a new mini-gold rush is taking place in Spain.

Regions where gold mines have long been closed are being prospected using modern techniques that international companies hope will make them profitable once again.

The traditional gold mining regions dating back to Roman times - are in Galicia and Asturias, and that is where there are thought to be some of the biggest untapped gold deposits left in Western Europe.

Two companies involved in investing millions of euros in the regions are Vancouver, Canada, based Edgewater Exploration and Astur Gold.

Edgewater acquired the rights to produce gold at a site called Corcoesto in Galicia in 2010, the same year that Astur Gold took control of the Salave deposit in Asturias.

Together, the sites are thought to contain more than two million ounces of gold, but it is unlikely anywhere near that amount can be profitably extracted.

GOLD: Prices still riding high.

Astur Gold has already received more than 11,000 applications for 800 jobs it is creating during the construction phase. But that depends on the regional government giving the go ahead, which the company hopes will happen before the end of 2015.

Once built the mine will need in the region of 200-250 workers. Astur Gold is currently completing a Feasibility Study on the Salave Gold Project. Meanwhile at Corcoesto an environmental impact study has been presented, with Edgewater Exploration planning an initial investment of somewhere in the region of €126 million in the mine.

OPINION & COMMENT

Time ‘illegal’ homes issue was sorted out I HAVE recently attended two SOHA meetings (Save Our Homes Axarquia), and to look around the room and see hundreds of people who have problems with their homes is shocking to see.

Some of these members have had problems for years; they live their lives in limbo, in fear of their homes being demolished, with little or no compensation to follow.

We live in a small area of Axarquia, but are fully aware that there are thousands upon thousands more properties throughout Spain with legality problems. We have lived in our home for 10 years, only to find out that the Junta de Andalucia is now in the process of trying to revoke all our licences. Does anyone really know if their home is legal?

Over the years SOHA has made many good contacts and is still working with the ‘powers that be’ to solve property issues. If there are any other small groups or individuals who are fighting for their homes, let SOHA know and we can all fight together.

After all these years of newspaper reports and TV programmes, buying property in Spain isn’t safe. Despite government promises and political reassurances, nothing has been done. It is time that this problem was taken seriously; it affects people and not just foreigners but Spain’s own subjects too.

Come on, Spanish politicians, make a stand and get your house in order NOW! Kath Williams (via euroweeklynews.com)

Lucky to be alive IN May 2012, at 2.50pm, I suffered a serious head injury in Mijas, when I fell about 10 feet. I was unconscious for about 15 minutes. I was covered in blood.

I was taken to the Xanit Hospital, Benalmadena, where they put six stitches in my wound, at the back of my head, put me on a drip, and did an X-ray. They then said I needed a brain scan as soon as possible, but, because I did not have private health cover, I would have to go to the Universidad Hospital in Malaga.

We arrived there (A&E) at approximately 7pm, I was pushed

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

Letters YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10, P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29631 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887

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29

serve the new Marina Alta Hospital at La Xara.

Anyone using this hospital knows the frustration of finding a parking space there. Many people who do not drive have to rely on friends or pay high taxi fares to get to the hospital. It is possible to take the train to Denia and then get a bus, but it is not an easy option.

I would like as many people as possible to request a stop near the new hospital. There was fierce opposition recently when it was rumoured the line would be closed. Perhaps we could now gather the same enthusiasm to campaign for a stop near to the Marina Alta Hospital?

Lorna, Moraira (Alicante)

Bike trouble

ARE THE MARTIANS ABOUT TO LAND ON TORROX VILLAGE?

up against a wall on the trolley, and stayed there until 3am (12 hours after my accident).

I was then taken for a scan, and put into the Intensive Care Ward.

At about 10am, a doctor came to me and said I would have to have another brain scan at 11.30am because there was extensive bleeding on my brain.

Well, I had a second scan which showed a worsening condition.

The doctor then said: “You have been very lucky that blood has not entered your brain.”

Now after reading about Michael Schumacher’s accident, and the importance of urgent attention when sustaining serious head injuries, I realise how lucky I was, considering the time it took to attend to me.

Gordon Cooper (84), Benalmadena Costa (Malaga)

War decision

CASSANDRA NASH’S article (Issue 1492) calls for a bit of clarification of a small paragraph: ‘The killers of Jose Couso, a Spanish cameraman deliberately shot by

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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US soldiers in Baghdad in 2005, will never come to court, critics complained.’

This incident took place during the Iraq war when US tanks rolled into Baghdad. They were on constant alert for snipers positioned in buildings looking down to the street.

The main hotel in the centre of Baghdad was the base for all media from major countries booked in to gain as much information and photographs as possible of this ongoing war.

One of the tank squad sighted men on the terrace of the top floor of the press base hotel, and one of them was aiming

Elizabeth Clark (By email) down with what might have been a weapon.

Now, what must be understood, this is war! And if one is serving in the military it is a split-second, life or death instant reaction.

Had the tank soldier delayed a second or two to think, and in fact it had been a weapon, he would have been shot instantly.

Sadly, Jose Couso being a photographer and not a soldier, attempting to get some good photographs for his publication, had not even thought that what he was doing would cost him his life.

Couso’s family did bring charges several times against the tank team here in Spain; however, no doubt the court realised this was an unaccountable tragic incident, and tabled the case.

Jack Nusbaum, Torremolinos (Malaga)

Hospital stop I WAS very interested in the news that money is to be spent on upgrading the Trenet line as far as Denia and I hope that part of this can be used to create a spur to

WE’VE all been amused by these mid-teen Spanish boys riding bikes in groups, with one sitting on the handlebars with his legs sticking straight out in front. But be aware – they are not all just having fun!

When I went back to my parked car, four boys on three bikes were coming towards me, too close in for me to step back and open the boot. A boy sitting on the handlebars tried to get his foot through the shoulder strap of my handbag.

He did not manage it, and I just got my hands and arms dirty and a new sweater all kicked around by his filthy, sweaty trainers. But I was very lucky, I didn’t get really hurt and/or lose my handbag.

Watch out, ladies!

M Anderson, Los Alcazares (Alicante)

Big bank THERE'S been a lot of talk recently concerning food banks in the UK, where people can go along and get a shopping bag full of goodies, although I fail to see where biscuits and cakes come into a diet for near-starving recipients.

What I’m really annoyed about is no-one has yet mentioned the ongoing long-term biggest food bank that is actually in the Palace of Westminster. This is where our great and good can turn up, collect 500 smackers for doing nothing (in some cases) or very little but get subsidised food and drink in the Palace canteens because they can’t afford to pay the going rate, poor things!

Keith Hallam (By email)

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.

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6:30am Deal or No Deal 7:25am Countdown 8:10am Will and Grace 8:35am Will and Grace 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am Undercover Boss Canada 12:00pm Sarah Beeny's Selling Houses 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Jamie's 15 Minute Meals 1:35pm Come Dine with Me 4:10pm Countdown 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Supersize v Superskinny 10:00pm Big Ballet 11:00pm Bodyshockers 12:05am Getting Rich in the Recession: Scrappers 1:05am 24 Hours in A and E 2:00am Random Acts 2:05am First Dates 3:00am Payday 3:55am Dispatches

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7:25am Coronation Street 7:55am You've Been Framed!

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6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 8:55pm Cheaper by the Dozen 10:50pm Futurama 11:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 12:00am A League of Their Own 1:00am A League of Their Own 2:00am Hawaii Five-0 3:00am Brit Cops: Frontline Crime 4:00am Road Wars

5:00am Inside Gatwick

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10:00am

Kingdom of Heaven

• Orlando Bloom • Edward Norton • Ghassan Massoud • Eva Green

This terrific epic historical drama, directed by Ridley Scott, is set in the 12th century during the Crusader defence of Jerusalem.

Orlando Bloom plays Balian de Ibelin, a village blacksmith and the illegitimate son of Godfrey de Ibelin (Liam Neeson), a Crusader knight returned from the Holy Land.

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1:20am Speed

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BBC3/ 8:00pm Total Wipeout 9:00pm Motorway Cops 10:00pm Tough Young Teachers 11:00pm Ja'mie: Private School Girl 11:30pm EastEnders 12:00am Family Guy 12:25am Family Guy 12:45am American Dad! 1:10am American Dad! 1:30am Ja'mie: Private School Girl 1:55am Uncle 2:25am Tough Young Teachers 3:25am Live at the Electric 3:55am Tough Young Teachers

Tough Young Teachers (Documentary) BBC 3 from 10:00pm to 11:00pm Series which follows the journey of six young graduate trainee teachers. The trainees are approaching the end of the academic year and, for some, the momentous decision of whether to stay in teaching.

Chloe is in the second year of the Teach First programme, her two- year commitment is nearly up and she faces the dilemma of whether to continue at the school or follow her ambition to go travelling. Maths teacher Nick has been balancing a longdistance relationship with his job at the Harefield Academy, and with his wedding looming he too must make important decisions about his future.

BBC4/ 8:00pm World News Today 8:30pm The Sky at Night 9:00pm Ever Decreasing Circles

12:50am The Knot 2:30am The Decoy Bride

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9:30pm Britain on Film 10:00pm The Brits Who Built the Modern World 11:00pm Horizon 12:00am Dreaming the Impossible: Unbuilt Britain

1:00am The Life of Rock with Brian Pern 1:30am The Sky at Night 2:00am Ever Decreasing Circles 2:30am Britain on Film 3:00am Horizon 4:00am The Brits Who Built the Modern World

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7:25am Countdown 8:10am Will and Grace 8:35am Will and Grace 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am Undercover Boss Canada 12:00pm Sarah Beeny's Selling Houses 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Jamie's 15 Minute Meals 1:35pm Come Dine with Me 4:10pm Countdown 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast 10:00pm Peter Kay: Live and Back on Nights!

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• Sacha Baron Cohen • Anna Faris • Ben Kingsley

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The Dictator (Film, 2012) With his dictatorship of Wadiya, North Africa under threat, sleazy Admiral Shabazz Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) travels to New York City to confront the United Nations Security Council.

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Enemy of the State (Film, 1998) BBC 3 from 10:00pm to 12:05am We are all being watched - that's the message of this 1998 blockbusting paranoia thriller, starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman.

Robert Dean (Smith) is just a normal guy, a successful lawyer happily married with kids, until one day when he bumps into an old college buddy who gives him a disc and disappears. Robert has just been handed footage of a political assassination, and there's a renegade group of National Security Agents, led by the duplicitous Reynolds (Jon Voight), who will stop at nothing to get hold of that tape. Using every technological trick at their disposal, they infiltrate all aspects of Robert's life and he is forced to go on the run with the help of maverick ex-NSA Brill (Hackman).

The team behind Top Gun is responsible for this slick, break-neck thriller that is worryingly realistic in its portrayal of the Big Brother-like abilities of government.

BBC4/ 8:00pm World News Today 8:30pm Transatlantic Sessions 9:00pm Sound of Cinema: The Music that Made the Movies 10:00pm Neil Sedaka: King of Song 11:00pm Neil Sedaka Says: All You Need is the Music 11:45pm Kings of Rock and Roll 12:45am Even More Guitar 1:45am Neil Sedaka: King of Song 2:45am Neil Sedaka Says: All You Need is the Music 3:35am Kings of Rock and Roll

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3:20pm You've Been Framed!

4:20pm Horrid Henry: The Movie 5:20pm FYI Daily 5:25pm Horrid Henry: The Movie 6:15pm The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas 7:15pm FYI Daily 7:20pm The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas 8:00pm Rumour Has It...

9:00pm FYI Daily 9:05pm Rumour Has It...

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5:35pm

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2:05am Brit Cops: Frontline Crime

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6:30am Project: Alf 8:10am The Lego Movie Special 8:30am Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me 10:20am Mean Girls 12:10pm A Thousand Words 1:50pm The Longest Yard 3:50pm The Guilt Trip

•Lindsay Lohan •Rachel McAdams •Tina Fey •Tim Meadows

5:35pm Mean Girls 7:20pm A Thousand Words 9:00pm The Longest Yard 11:00pm The Guilt Trip 12:45am As Good as It Gets 3:10am Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me 4:50am American Reunion

SkyMoviesDrama/ 5:00am Let's Make Love 7:00am A Place in the Sun 9:05am One Small Hitch

Mean Girls (Film, 2004) Abrasive 2004 teen comedy, starring Lindsay Lohan as Cady Heron who, having been home-schooled by her parents, is new to high school and therefore unversed on how to survive the jungle-like teen society.

But befriended by two other outsiders - goth Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and gay Damian (Daniel Franzese) she learns that Regina George (Rachel McAdams) is the queen bee of the corridors.

Persuaded by her friends, Cady infiltrates Regina's hive to find out her weaknesses and bring about her downfall.

11:00am The Top Ten Show 2014 11:15am This Means War 1:00pm Failure to Launch 2:45pm The Break-Up 4:40pm Les Miserables Special 5:10pm This Means War 6:55pm Romeo and Juliet 9:00pm The Break-Up 11:00pm Failure to Launch 12:45am Romeo and Juliet 2:50am Think Like a Man 5:00am Bed and Breakfast: Love is a Happy Accident

BBC4/ 8:00pm Wild China

9:00pm Lost Kingdoms of South America 10:00pm Salamander 10:50pm Salamander 11:40pm Boogie Fever: A TOTP2 Disco Special

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1:10am Queens of Disco 2:10am The Sky at Night 2:40am Wild China 3:40am Lost Kingdoms of South America

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7:00am Breakfast 10:00am The Andrew Marr Show 11:00am The Big Questions 12:00pm Sunday Politics 1:15pm Wanted Down Under Revisited 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm Weather for the Week Ahead 2:15pm Bargain Hunt 3:00pm The Indian Doctor 3:45pm Escape to the Country 4:30pm Hidden Kingdoms 5:30pm Lifeline 5:40pm Songs of Praise 6:15pm Pointless 7:05pm BBC News 7:20pm Regional News 7:25pm Weather 7:30pm Blandings 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Call the Midwife 10:00pm The British Academy Film Awards 12:00am BBC News 12:15am Regional News 12:20am Weather 12:25am Doubt

6:00am Winter Olympics 1:30pm Winter Olympics 5:00pm Winter Olympics 8:00pm Winter Olympics 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Dragons' Den 11:00pm Alan Davies Apres-Ski 11:30pm Line of Duty 12:30am For Your Consideration 1:55am Countryfile 2:50am Holby City 3:50am The Truth About Immigration with Nick Robinson 4:50am This is BBC Two

7:00am CITV 10:25am ITV News 10:30am Murder, She Wrote 11:30am Dickinson's Real Deal 12:25pm ITV News and Weather 12:35pm Inside the National Trust 1:30pm The Crocodile Hunter Diaries 2:00pm The FA Cup 4:50pm Splash!

6:20pm You've Been Framed!

6:50pm Local News and Weather 7:00pm ITV News and Weather 7:15pm Dancing on Ice 8:45pm All Star Family Fortunes 9:30pm Dancing on Ice 10:00pm Mr Selfridge 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:15pm Birds of a Feather 11:45pm The FA Cup 12:45am Aviva Premiership Rugby Highlights 1:45am The Store 3:45am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 4:30am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 5:10am ITV Nightscreen

45

6:45am Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard 7:10am The Hoobs 7:35am The Hoobs 8:00am Freesports on 4 8:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:55am Frasier 9:25am The Taste 10:30am Sunday Brunch 1:30pm The Big Bang Theory 1:55pm The Big Bang Theory 2:25pm How I Met Your Mother 2:50pm How I Met Your Mother 3:20pm The Simpsons 3:50pm The Simpsons 4:20pm Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World 6:00pm Deal or No Deal 7:00pm Channel 4 News 7:30pm Gulliver's Travels 9:00pm Scandimania 10:00pm Red 12:15am Under Siege 2: Dark Territory 2:05am Boss 3:00am The Secret Millionaire Changed My Life 3:55am Secret Removers 4:55am Location, Location, Location 5:50am Supernanny US

7:00am Beauty and the Geek 7:45am The Hotdesk Example.

7:55am Emmerdale Omnibus 10:50am Coronation Street Omnibus 1:15pm Take Me Out 2:30pm You've Been Framed!

3:00pm Garfield 2: A Tail of Two Kitties 4:00pm FYI Daily 4:05pm Garfield 2: A Tail of Two Kitties 4:40pm The Mighty Ducks 5:40pm FYI Daily 5:45pm The Mighty Ducks 6:50pm The Perfect Man 7:50pm FYI Daily 7:55pm The Perfect Man 9:00pm You've Been Framed!

10:00pm Ocean's Eleven 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pm Ocean's Eleven 12:25am The Big Reunion 1:30am Mom 1:55am Dads 2:20am Totally 2:45am Totally 3:10am You've Been Framed!

4:00am Teleshopping

SkyMoviesAction/

8:30pm

SATELLITE CHANNELS/ Sky1/ 8:00am Glee 10:00am Cloudy 2: Extra Toppings 10:20am Welsh Breakdancers 10:50am World Wrestling 11:50am WWE Experience 12:50pm Sinbad 1:50pm Futurama 3:00pm Modern Family

5:30pm The Simpsons 6:00pm Ashley Banjo's Big Town Dance 7:00pm The Greek Dancers 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm Duck Quacks Don't Echo 9:00pm The Simpsons 10:00pm Hawaii Five-0 11:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles

12:00am A League of Their Own

SkyMoviesComedy/ 8:30am Project: Alf 10:10am Cool Runnings 11:55am Pitch Perfect 1:55pm The Incredible Burt Wonderstone 3:40pm 50 First Dates 5:25pm American Pie 2 7:15pm Cool Runnings

• Robert Downey Jr. • Gwyneth Paltrow • Don Cheadle • Guy Pearce

9:00pm Pitch Perfect 11:00pm The Incredible Burt Wonderstone 12:45am 50 First Dates

SkyMoviesAction/ 7:00am The Mummy 9:10am The Mummy Returns 11:30am Iron Man 3 1:45pm Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Iron Man 3 (Film, 2013) Still tormented by his brush with death after aliens attacked New York City, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has fallen far from the heroic Iron Man figure the public know and love.

But when maniacal terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) destroys his home and wounds his chief of security (Jon Favreau), Stark suits up and attempts to find a way to get even. Little does he know that the threat extends to his girlfriend Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) and nothing is quite as it seems.

4:00pm The Mummy 6:10pm The Mummy Returns 8:30pm Iron Man 3 10:45pm Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows 1:00am The Last Samurai 3:35am The Man with the Iron Fists

SkyMoviesDrama/ 8:45am Steel Magnolias

10:50am Notting Hill 1:00pm Runaway Bride 3:00pm My Best Friend's Wedding 4:50pm Steel Magnolias 6:50pm Notting Hill 9:00pm Runaway Bride 11:00pm My Best Friend's Wedding 12:50am Jersey Girl

BBC3/ 8:00pm The Voice UK 9:20pm The British Academy Film Awards 10:00pm Russell Howard's Good News 10:30pm Russell Howard's Good News 11:00pm Family Guy 11:22pm Family Guy 11:45pm Uncle 12:15am American Dad! 12:37am American Dad! 12:59am American Dad! 1:21am American Dad! 1:43am American Dad! 2:05am Ja'mie: Private School Girl 2:30am Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents 3:30am Russell Howard's Good News 4:00am Russell Howard's Good News 4:30am Uncle

The British Academy Film Awards (Entertainment) BBC 3 from 9:20pm to 10:00pm George Lamb hosts from the red carpet as the stars arrive for the Orange British Academy Film Awards 2010 at the Royal Opera House, London. He chats to the nominees attending as well as other celebrity guests. Nominees include George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges, Carey Mulligan, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas and Andy Serkis. Plus clips from the five films nominated for Best Film - Avatar, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, and Up in the Air.

BBC4/ 8:00pm Francesco's Italy 9:00pm The World's Most 10:00pm Bunkers Brutalism and Bloodymindedness 11:00pm Free Men

12:35am Neil Sedaka: King of Song 1:35am Neil Sedaka Says: All You Need is the Music 2:20am Kings of Rock 'N' Roll 3:20am Francesco's Italy Top to Toe, the Heart of Italy.

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

MONDAY TV

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC1/

BBC2/

ITV/

CH4/

ITV2/

07 am

06 am

06 am

08 am

07 am

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Wanted Down Under Revisited 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm The Sheriffs are Coming 12:45pm Saints and Scroungers 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Perfection 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm James Martin: Home Comforts 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Inside Out 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Panorama 10:00pm Britain's Great War 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather 11:35pm Have I Got Old News for You 12:20am Who Do You Think You Are? USA 1:00am The Graham Norton Show

6:00am Winter Olympics 2:00pm Winter Olympics 5:00pm Winter Olympics 8:00pm Winter Olympics 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Food and Drink 10:00pm Horizon 11:00pm The Culture Show 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Dragons' Den 1:20am Film 2014 1:50am Russia on Four Wheels 2:50am Animal Odd Couples 3:50am This is BBC Two 4:55am Legal Eagles 5:50am Ancient Egypt

05

6:05am The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00am Daybreak 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 12:25pm ITV News 12:30pm This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV News and Weather 3:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 4:00pm The Alan Titchmarsh Show 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm DCI Banks 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The Agenda 12:10am The Mighty Mississippi 1:05am Jackpot247 4:00am UEFA Champions League Weekly 4:25am ITV Nightscreen

10

8:10am Will and Grace 8:35am Will and Grace 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30am Frasier 11:00am Frasier 11:30am Frasier 12:00pm The Big Bang Theory 12:30pm The Big Bang Theory 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Come Dine with Me 1:35pm Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Come Dine with Me 2:35pm Come Dine with Me 3:10pm Come Dine with Me 3:40pm Countdown 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Coach Trip 6:30pm Superstar Dogs 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm Benefits Street: The Last Word 10:00pm Benefits Britain: The Debate 11:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats 11:50pm Troy 12:50am One Born Every Minute 1:45am Random Acts 1:50am Scandal

7:00am Emmerdale 7:25am Coronation Street 7:55am Coronation Street 8:25am You've Been Framed!

8:45am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 9:30am Dinner Date 10:30am The Real Housewives of Atlanta 11:30am The Real Housewives of New Jersey 12:30pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 1:30pm Emmerdale 2:00pm Coronation Street 2:30pm Coronation Street 3:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed!

8:30pm You've Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Mom 10:30pm Dads 11:00pm The Job Lot 11:30pm Plebs 12:00am Fake Reaction 12:50am Two and a Half Men 1:20am Two and a Half Men 1:45am Take Me Out 2:50am Life's Funniest Moments

BBC3/ 8:00pm Snog, Marry, Avoid?

8:30pm Snog, Marry, Avoid?

9:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 10:00pm The School That Rocks 11:00pm Uncle 11:30pm EastEnders 12:00am Family Guy 12:22am Family Guy 12:45am American Dad! 1:07am American Dad! 1:30am Uncle 2:00am The School That Rocks 3:00am Live at the Electric 3:30am Growing Up Down's 4:30am Uncle

American Dad! (Animation, 2005) BBC 3 from 12:45am to 1:07am Animated series from the creator of Family Guy about Stan Smith, who works for the CIA and is constantly on the alert for terrorist activity. Stan prays for a friend and thinks God has sent him one, but he turns out to be an atheist.

Stan tries to convince his friend that God exists by making his life extremely hard until his plan backfires. Meanwhile, Roger convinces Steve that he has been accepted by Hogwarts.

SkyMoviesAction/

Jack the Giant Slayer (Film, 2013)

9:00pm

SATELLITE CHANNELS/ Sky1/ 10:30am Futurama 11:00am Football's Funniest Moments 12:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 1:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm The Simpsons 3:30pm The Simpsons 4:00pm The Simpsons

4:30pm Futurama 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm The Simpsons 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family

9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm Moone Boy 10:30pm The Simpsons 11:00pm Stella 12:00am A League of Their Own

SkyMoviesComedy/ 7:50am This is 40 10:10am Ghostbusters II 12:10pm Ted

•Nicholas Hoult •Eleanor Tomlinson •Ewan McGregor •Stanley Tucci •Eddie Marsan

2:00pm Liar Liar 3:30pm Nutty Professor II: The Klumps 5:20pm 2 Days in New York 7:00pm Ghostbusters II 9:00pm Ted 10:50pm This is 40

SkyMoviesDrama/ 10:35am Hide Away 12:05pm The Hours

In the Kingdom of Cloister, farmhand Jack (Nicholas Hoult) causes havoc when he trades his uncle's horse for a handful of magic beans. Discarded by his livid uncle (Christopher Fairbank), the seeds find firm ground and send giant stalks careering outwards and upwards, taking Jack's house and a visiting princess (Eleanor Tomlinson) with it.

2:05pm J. Edgar 4:30pm Evita 6:50pm Rock of Ages 9:00pm Chicago 11:00pm Trouble with the Curve 1:00am Lola Versus

SkyMoviesAction/ 8:40am The Karate Kid 10:50am The Scorpion King

12:25pm Jack the Giant Slayer 2:25pm Snow White and the Huntsman 4:35pm The Karate Kid 6:45pm Battleship 9:00pm Jack the Giant Slayer 11:00pm Snow White and the Huntsman 1:10am Fire with Fire 2:55am Terminal Velocity

BBC4/ 8:00pm World News Today 8:30pm Reel History of Britain

9:00pm Amazon Abyss 10:00pm Top of the Pops 11:00pm The Life of Rock with Brian Pern 11:30pm Storyville

12:50am The Brits Who Built the Modern World 1:50am The Life of Rock with Brian Pern 2:20am Sounds of the 70s 2:50am Amazon Abyss 3:50am Top of the Pops

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

Not so sad farewell to BBC...

W ELL, here in Tenerife we’ve finally lost the BBC. With the shifting of the satellite, the whole BBC ORG is, until I work out another source, an ex-member of my telly club.

And, apart from the often excellent documentaries and Flog Its, I don’t miss it. Not having to listen to the biased drivel of BBC news has actually lowered my stress levels overnight.

The recent storms have been a case in point. You can almost feel the frustration straining through the screen, as they have tried to blame the government for all the storms and flooding.

Unfortunately, without raising the status of the Conservative party to that of God, (heaven forbid) they’ve been unsuccessful; but by Jove they really have tried!

Their cross section of politically correct announcers has regaled us with all the ‘Couldn’t more have been dones?’ ‘Why wasn’t it anticipateds.’ ‘Why weren’t we

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT more prepareds?’ and so on. Give us a break!

These storms are the worst since records began. You can’t anticipate or prepare for something that has no precedent. By this reckoning we should be building fleets of space ships in case the world comes to an end.

One thing I do agree with is the speed, or lack of it, with which the government has acted to relieve these areas. When the

UNPRECEDENTED: Flooding could not have been predicted. furore and floods subside, there should be serious questions raised. Mind you, for all the real errors of judgment over the past decade, the incompetent, sanctimonious Labour Quango chief Lord Smith should resign forthwith.

No, back on the ranch, I don’t miss the BBC, and as for EastEnders, I lost interest the first time they shot ‘Dirty Den’.

I see there are now hundreds of ‘British’ men training in Al Qaeda camps in Syria, apparently with a view to launching terrorist attacks back in the UK. I hope the anti-terrorist organisations have

their eyes firmly on this bunch of toerags. Mind you, they do have their ‘uman rites’, so I suppose they must all be allowed back to see their families, and no doubt collect the dole while they plan to kill the people who welcomed them into their communities. The only ‘rites’ these traitorous murders should be entitled to are the last ones.

Their families must know who they are. If they are all so ‘moderate’ they should shop ‘em to the authorities forthwith. But they won’t, will they?

Keep the Faith, Love Leapy Leapylee2002@gmail.com

EWN

39

LEAPY LETTERS

Issues of colour I HAVE always said it cannot work when, for example, there is a Black Police Officers’ Association but not a White one, and a Black Footballers’ Association, but again not a White one - (Pitfalls of being controversial, Issue 1491).

When are they going to understand that in order to be treated equally there must be total equality.

If you want to call me a Honkey, let me call you names.

After all, it used to be said “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me,” but nowadays people are too easily upset.

Richard Prowse, Cartagena (Murcia)

40

E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

TUESDAY TV

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC1/

BBC2/

ITV/

CH4/

ITV2/

07 am

06 am

06 am

06 am

06 am

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Wanted Down Under Revisited 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm The Sheriffs are Coming 12:45pm Saints and Scroungers 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Perfection 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm James Martin: Home Comforts 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Death in Paradise 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather, Followed by 11:35pm Traffic Cops 12:35am The Mexican 2:30am Weatherview 2:35am BBC News

30

6:30am Your Paintings 7:00am Preview 7:45am Winter Olympics 2:00pm Winter Olympics 5:00pm Winter Olympics 8:00pm Winter Olympics Today at the Games.

9:00pm The Great British Sewing Bee 10:00pm This World Special 11:00pm House of Fools 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Horizon 1:20am The Super League Show 2:00am Britain's Great War 3:00am Grand Canyon 4:00am This is BBC Two 4:55am The Modern Monarchy

05

6:05am The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00am Daybreak 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 12:25pm ITV News 12:30pm This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV News and Weather 3:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 4:00pm The Alan Titchmarsh Show 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm UEFA Champions League 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm UEFA Champions League 12:35am Sports Life Stories 1:30am Jackpot247 4:00am Loose Women 4:45am ITV Nightscreen

30

6:30am Deal or No Deal 7:25am Countdown 8:10am Will and Grace 8:35am Will and Grace 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30am Frasier 11:00am Frasier 11:30am Frasier 12:00pm The Big Bang Theory 12:30pm The Big Bang Theory 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Come Dine with Me 3:40pm Countdown 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Coach Trip 6:30pm Superstar Dogs 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Location, Location, Location 10:00pm The Taste 11:00pm Sexting Teacher 12:00am 8 Out of 10 Cats 12:45am Paul Chowdhry: What's Happening White People?

1:40am Random Acts 1:45am Pokerstars.Com Ept Barcelona 2:45am KOTV Boxing Weekly 3:15am Transworld Sport 4:10am Beach Volleyball 5:05am Freesports on 4

50

6:50am ITV2 Nightscreen 7:00am Emmerdale 7:25am Coronation Street 8:25am You've Been Framed!

8:45am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 9:30am Dinner Date 10:30am The Real Housewives of Atlanta 11:30am The Real Housewives of New Jersey 12:30pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 1:30pm Emmerdale 2:00pm Coronation Street 3:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm You've Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pm Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 12:15am The Brits are Coming 1:15am Two and a Half Men 2:10am Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records

BBC3/ 8:00pm Top Gear 9:00pm Tough Young Teachers 10:00pm Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents 11:00pm Bad Education 11:30pm EastEnders 12:00am Family Guy 12:22am Family Guy 12:45am American Dad! 1:07am American Dad! 1:30am Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents 2:30am The School That Rocks 3:30am Bad Education 4:00am Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents

Top Gear (Motoring) BBC 3 from 8:00pm to 9:00pm Motoring magazine programme that tests and reviews the latest models of cars on the market, as well as covering older 'classic' models and news in the motoring world.

BBC4/ SkyMoviesComedy/

The Five-Year Engagement (Film, 2012)

9:00pm

8:00pm World News Today 8:30pm Reel History of Britain

Half a decade after they decided to get married, a happy couple are still waiting to walk up the aisle, but will life and its constant problems let them do it?

Romantic drama.

9:00pm Weird Nature

SATELLITE CHANNELS/ Sky1/ 6:30am Airline USA 7:00am Inside Gatwick 8:00am Dog the Bounty Hunter 9:00am Modern Family 10:00am Futurama 11:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm The Simpsons 4:30pm Futurama 5:30pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Hawaii Five-0 10:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 11:00pm Commando

12:45am NCIS: Los Angeles 1:45am A League of Their Own 2:45am Brit Cops: Frontline Crime 3:35am Road Wars 4:30am Road Wars 5:00am Inside Gatwick

SkyMoviesComedy/ 6:35am The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 8:35am Snow Day 10:10am The Lego Movie Special 10:30am Cheaper by the Dozen 12:15pm The Five-Year

Engagement 2:25pm Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo 4:00pm Look Who's Talking 5:40pm Snow Day 7:15pm Cheaper by the Dozen 9:00pm The Five-Year Engagement 11:10pm Austin Powers in Goldmember 12:50am Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo 2:25am Look Who's Talking 4:05am American Pie 2 5:55am The Lego Movie Special

• Jason Segel • Emily Blunt • Chris Pratt • Alison Brie

SkyMoviesAction/ 6:30am Volcano: Fire on the Mountain 8:10am The Karate Kid, Part II 10:10am Men in Black II 11:45am The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2:45pm A Good Day to Die Hard 4:30pm The Karate Kid, Part II 6:30pm Men in Black II 8:00pm The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 11:00pm A Good Day to Die Hard 12:40am Enter the Dragon

2:30am K-19: The Widowmaker 4:50am Coogan's Bluff

SkyMoviesDrama/ 7:00am As Cool as I Am 8:45am St Elmo's Fire 10:40am My Big Fat Greek Wedding 12:25pm Go for It! 2:05pm First Night 4:05pm The Decoy Bride 5:40pm Return 7:30pm Struck by Lightning 9:00pm Beautiful Creatures 11:10pm Hitchcock 1:00am Best Man Down

2:40am Black Gold

TCM/ 6:00am Anything Goes 7:45am Gunsmoke 9:55am Firecreek 11:50am The Wrong Man 1:50pm Gunsmoke 4:00pm Backfire 5:45pm Hour of the Gun 7:45pm From Here to Eternity 10:00pm Maximum Risk 11:55pm The Long Kiss Goodnight 2:05am Maximum Risk 3:45am The Long Kiss Goodnight

9:30pm Secrets of Bones 10:00pm Dissected: The Incredible Human Hand 11:00pm The Horizon Guide to Senses 12:00am Wild China 1:00am Lost Kingdoms of South America 2:00am The World's Most 3:00am Weird Nature 3:30am Secrets of Bones 4:00am Dissected: The Incredible Human Hand

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

WEDNESDAY TV

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC1/

BBC2/

ITV/

CH4/

ITV2/

11 am

07 am

06 am

06 am

06 am

11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm The Sheriffs are Coming 12:45pm Saints and Scroungers 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Perfection 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm James Martin: Home Comforts 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Pound Shop Wars 9:00pm Waterloo Road 10:00pm Outnumbered 10:30pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:30pm Weather, Followed by the National Lottery Update 11:35pm A Question of Sport 12:05am Film 2014 12:35am Blandings 1:05am Weatherview

7:00am Preview 7:45am Winter Olympics 2:00pm Winter Olympics 5:00pm Winter Olympics 8:30pm Winter Olympics 9:00pm The Restaurant Man 10:00pm Line of Duty 11:00pm Inside No 9 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Top Gear 1:20am Dolphins: Spy in the Pod 2:20am Children's Emergency Rescue 3:20am This is BBC Two

05

6:05am The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00am Daybreak 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 12:25pm ITV News 12:30pm This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV News and Weather 3:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 4:00pm The Alan Titchmarsh Show 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Brit Awards 2014 11:15pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:50pm The Jonathan Ross Show 12:55am Corfu: A Tale of Two Islands 1:20am Jackpot247 4:00am Columbo

30

6:30am Secret Removers 7:25am Countdown 8:10am Will and Grace 8:35am Will and Grace 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:25am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:55am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30am Frasier 11:00am Frasier 11:30am Frasier 12:00pm The Big Bang Theory 12:30pm The Big Bang Theory 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Come Dine with Me 1:35pm Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Come Dine with Me 2:40pm Come Dine with Me 3:10pm Come Dine with Me 3:40pm Countdown 4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Coach Trip 6:30pm Superstar Dogs 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Restoration Man 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm First Dates 12:00am Bodyshockers 1:00am Random Acts 1:05am Big Momma's House 2:45am The Straight Story 4:35am Supernanny US 5:15am Location, Location, Location

55

6:55am ITV2 Nightscreen 7:00am Emmerdale 7:25am Holiday Airport 8:25am You've Been Framed!

8:45am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 9:30am Dinner Date 10:30am The Real Housewives of Atlanta 11:30am The Real Housewives of New Jersey 12:30pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 1:30pm Emmerdale 2:00pm The Cube 3:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Real Housewives of New Jersey 6:05pm The Millionaire Matchmaker 7:00pm Dinner Date 8:00pm The Brit Awards 2014: Red Carpet 9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm The Hot Desk 11:15pm The Brit Awards 2014: Backstage 12:15am The Big Reunion 1:20am Fake Reaction 2:05am Two and a Half Men 2:35am Two and a Half Men 3:05am Life's Funniest Moments 3:25am Teleshopping

SkyMoviesAction/

SATELLITE CHANNELS/ Sky1/ 10:00am Futurama 10:30am Futurama 11:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 1:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm The Simpsons 3:30pm The Simpsons 4:00pm The Simpsons 4:30pm Futurama 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm The Simpsons 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family

7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm UEFA Champions League 11:00pm The Kumars 12:00am Duck Quacks Don't Echo

SkyMoviesComedy/ 5:55am The Lego Movie Special 6:15am Vice Versa 8:00am Ernest Saves Christmas 9:40am Stuart Little 2 11:10am Cheaper by the Dozen 2

12:50pm Here Comes the Boom 2:40pm Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me 4:20pm Look Who's Talking Too 5:50pm Stuart Little 2 7:20pm Cheaper by the Dozen 2 9:00pm Here Comes the Boom 10:50pm Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me 12:30am Project X 2:05am Look Who's Talking Too

6:40pm

Men in Black 3 (Film, 2012)

•Will Smith •Tommy Lee Jones •Josh Brolin •Jemaine Clement

More than 40 years after he joined a government department charged with policing aliens on Earth, the past - or lack of it - is set to catch up with Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). Notorious space criminal Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement), a Boglodyte extra-terrestrial that K maimed and arrested in 1969, has just been released and, with the help of a time-jump mechanism, has leapt back to the 60s intent on killing K and saving his younger self from decades in a highsecurity alien prison.

3:30am Caddyshack 5:10am The Lego Movie Special

SkyMoviesAction/ 4:50am Coogan's Bluff 6:30am Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow 8:20am The Karate Kid, Part II 10:15am Men in Black 3 12:05pm Avengers Assemble 2:30pm Iron Man 3 4:45pm The Karate Kid, Part II 6:40pm Men in Black 3 8:30pm Avengers Assemble 11:00pm Iron Man 3 1:15am Remember the Titans

3:15am Kingdom of Heaven 5:45am Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

SkyMoviesDrama/ 6:50am Lincoln: Sky Movies Special 7:10am Private Peaceful 9:00am Medicine Man 10:50am Walk the Line 1:15pm The English Teacher 3:00pm Sparkle 5:00pm Now is Good 6:50pm Les Miserables 9:30pm Never Been Kissed 11:25pm Runaway Bride 1:25am 10 Years

TCM/ 6:00am From Here to Eternity 8:05am Gunsmoke 9:10am Gunsmoke 10:10am Hour of the Gun 12:05pm Backfire 1:50pm Gunsmoke 2:55pm Gunsmoke 4:00pm Arctic Flight 5:35pm Cheyenne Autumn 8:35pm Tarzan and The Huntress 10:00pm Above the Law 11:45pm Hell on Wheels 12:45am The Fan 2:50am Above the Law

BBC3/ 8:00pm Snog, Marry, Avoid?

8:30pm Snog, Marry, Avoid?

9:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 10:00pm Cinderellas of the Slums: Secrets of South America 11:00pm The Truth About Webcam Girls 12:00am Family Guy 12:22am Family Guy 12:45am American Dad! 1:07am American Dad! 1:30am Cinderellas of the Slums: Secrets of South America 2:25am The Truth About Webcam Girls 3:25am Uncle 3:55am Cinderellas of the Slums: Secrets of South America

Don't Tell the Bride (Reality Show) BBC 3 from 9:00pm to 10:00pm Series in which the groom must choose every detail of his upcoming nuptials, from venue to cake to wedding dress.

BBC4/ 8:00pm World News Today 8:30pm Reel History of Britain 9:00pm Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth

10:00pm Infested: Living with Parasites 11:00pm Parks and Recreation 11:20pm Parks and Recreation

11:45pm Amazon Abyss 12:40am Michael Grade and the World's Oldest Joke 1:40am Bunkers Brutalism and Bloodymindedness

2:40am Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth 3:40am Infested: Living with Parasites

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

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43

Charity Inc. Mike Walsh Mike Walsh. Based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.

D

epressingly I wasn’t surprised when a ghost-writing client of Zambian origin revealed tricks used by missionaries to melt hearts and open wallets of gullible Europeans.

Like rural life in Europe, country life in 1970s central Africa was basic but selfsustaining.

On the whole life was fulfilling and no one starved. The church missionaries would have it otherwise but then they would wouldn’t they.

The small African child was thrilled. Such was her doe-eyed appeal, she had been chosen by her priest to have her photograph taken for an appeals brochure. Excitedly, Nina scrubbed up a treat, chose

CHARITABLE: There are times when it can be difficult. her best Sunday frock and pulled on polished shoes before running to the missionary station.

“We won’t take photographs today, Nina.”

Nina says: “He studied my face as he sensed how upset I was.” “Come again tomorrow but put on your old clothes. It is not necessary for you to wear nice clothes and you don’t have to wear shoes.”

I was confused. “You look too smart, too nice, Nina. The sponsors in Italy won’t send you money for school if you look like this.”

Dejected but trusting, Nina the next day changed herself into a dirty and desperate looking child. Wearing an old torn frock the child was shoeless and unwashed when she presented herself at the missionary door.

“Don’t smile!’ said Father Domenico. ‘A sad face! Ready?”

Click. Nina says, “Years later, when I looked at my pictures I saw a sad child with her face devoid of hope. In reality, I was not like that at all.

“To the outside world, we seemed to live hopeless and desperate lives.” Given forms to fill in Nina was instructed to tick the box that described her as an orphan. Her family were very much alive.

The child protested but the kindly priest’s persuasions won the day. He told her that unless she was an orphan they could

not find someone to sponsor her.

Buses filled with musungu call regularly at African villages.

This is the name given to poverty tourists.

Village amateur actors play to their audience. The tourists get their photographs, the villagers their paltry rewards; everyone is happy.

Those humouring musungu are mocked by those villagers who refuse to debase themselves.

It was recently revealed that Comic Relief is sitting on £100 million. It invests heavily in the arms, tobacco and alcohol

industries. The top tiers of charity conglomerate directors pay themselves eye-watering salaries plus expenses. One charitable head of a household name charity is rewarded over $1 million each year.

Typically and dishearteningly only 8 per cent of monies collected of one well regarded cancer charity go to those who are doing the suffering.

The Chief-Executive Officer of UNICEF pockets $485k each year and travels in cars we use just once in a lifetime - when we marry. There are times when it is difficult to be charitable.

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www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Cassandra Nash

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

AS predicted when the corruption case involving the King’s son-inlaw Iñaki Urdangarin made headlines, Spain’s monarchy will slim down.

The Prince of Wales, saw this as a mini-salvation for hereditary privilege some time back and his cousin the Spanish king is following suit.

The two Infantas, Elena and Urdangarin’s wife Cristina, are to be sidelined while Queen Sofia and Prince Felipe’s wife Letizia will be ‘professionalised.’ They will

receive respective salaries of €63,234 and €49,182 plus €68,505 and €53,382 expenses in Spain’s version of Charles’s ‘Firm.’

Formerly they received only undisclosed sums for expenses.

In a crisis-burdened society that was once Juan Carlista but never monarchist, this will bring complaints.

Others will argue that the two women can hardly do less than the majority of politicians but are infinitely better to look at.

Belt up!

THE Gurtel corruption case begat Barcenas and now the PP party’s

Backhanded favour JOSE Maria Aznar ostensibly snubbed Mariano Rajoy by not attending the recent PP party conference in Valladolid.

There are those who feel the former president did his former protégé a favour by not turning up. Aznar’s disapproval will have done Rajoy a power of good with the voters he needs most, the undecided Centre.

ex-treasurer Barcenas is in prison and singing like a canary.

Corruption has always been endemic in pre- and postdemocracy Spain. Franco, held not to be personally corrupt, let those around him wallow in sleaze as perks of the job.

Felipe Gonzalez, the first PSOE president, did likewise. Cases like Filesa and Flick come to mind, plus millions of public money filched by Luis Roldan, director general of the Guardia Civil between 1986 and 1993.

All of which goes to show that if there’s a bob or two to be made, some Spanish politicians are as likely to make it as denounce it.

Interestingly, Francisco Correa the man whose surname translates as Gurtel in German was gradually inched out once Mariano Rajoy took over from Jose Maria Aznar at the head of the PP. Correa nevertheless maintained his contacts and his power to corrupt in the Valencian Community.

Go figure, as an American would say.

Copyright: Shelly Wall.

It will be a firm resolve

BETTER LOOKING: Princess Letizia and Queen Sofia.

Passports please!

ARTUR MAS has set his compass and Cataluña’s for a faraway land called ‘Independence.’

He could be heading for shipwreck but so far is determined not to alter course. Or, possibly, is unable to.

Pro and contra arguments

abound, including one from Andalucia’s regional president Susana Diaz who pointed out that many Catalans, their parents or grandparents are Andalucia-born.

Following putative secession, they would be foreigners she said.

She’s right. Catalans going back to see ‘los yayos’ in the holidays would have to produce passports on entering Andalucia as the Schengen agreement would be void on leaving Spain and the EU.

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www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

™

Be my Valentine? Count me out!

Nora Johnson

Breaking Views A Costa del Sol resident for a number of years, Nora is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers.

To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ nora-johnson

™ V

ALENTINE’S DAY’S upon us once more and there’ll be hardly a restaurant that won’t be marking the occasion. Even those that are barely furnished, with marble floors and no curtains, carpets or cushions to absorb noise. Hardly conducive to a quiet, discreet romantic evening, eh?

And then there’s the ridiculously overpriced menu typical of the event. (Possibly the world’s most expensive Valentine’s Day menu yet was recently unveiled in the UK with a stomach-churning price tag of £61,000. Prepared at your home and accompanied by a harpist, poet and white doves, the meal features white caviar, gold leaf and endangered bluefin tuna.)

But really, how can people bear to go

spotting those who are, err, having an affair (reaching for the mobile phone when their dinner date briefly leaves the table always a good clue) and the couple who make just too much of a show of being in love.

But you’ll find even favourite local restaurants cashing in, demanding higher prices for pared-down set menus.

The atmosphere, though, far from romantic, in a room with extra tables squeezed in full of couples banging elbows with the next couple to a Barry Manilow soundtrack.

My advice, then, is never to dine out on Valentine’s Day. The service is often under DINE OUT: pressure, expectations are unfeasibly high Enjoy any night and getting a table for two a bit like trying but the 14th. to get Beyoncé to keep her clothes on. Buy yourselves something really special from out on Valentine’s night? the butcher’s or the fishmonger’s, a nice Prescribed romance, the horrible bottle or three of something you both like tackiness of it all (themed menus, and have a cosy night in - and try to ignore heart-shaped balloons, too much the hard sell all around!

So, this year, what are your plans? Go for pink and red) and lots of couples sitting there with nothing to say a run. Go to the cinema. Go anywhere but to a restaurant. Dining out is fine. On the to each other. Ugh! On the other hand, there can 13th and 15th.

Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Retribution’, be some sport to be had if you do find yourself in such a place. ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Clerambault Code’ Spotting the couple who (www.nora-johnson.com) available from actually detest each other, Amazon and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

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OPINION & COMMENT

A case of woo or woe on you this Valentine’s Ulrica Marshall

Expat Strife Swedish-born Ulrica is a freelance journalist living in Mallorca with her family. Her debut novel $Expat Wives is available on Amazon and iBooks.

To comment on any of the issues raised in Ulrica’s column, go to

ulrica@euroweeklynews.com

I

N every shop window, fluffy toy dogs and bears wielding a red heart stare back at you.

In the supermarket, row upon row are dedicated to dainty boxes of chocolates, cutesy sweets and pink fizz of all descriptions. Meanwhile, restaurants remind us to book their special candlelit 20course tasting menu early to avoid disappointment (theirs presumably). The question is: Are you embracing or studiously ignoring Saint Valentine this year?

Today’s commercial celebration of February 14 is an odd leap from the eponymous Roman saint who died on this day sometime during the third century. It was not until 16 centuries later that the Brits

SPLASH OUT: Wine and dine your loved one this Valentine’s Day. fell in love with the idea of Valentine’s cards and letters, peppered with loving verses.

The rest, as they say, is history.

But regardless of history, celebrating Valentine’s Day seems to have suffered some

sad setbacks in an apparent backlash at the ‘establishment’, typically alongside stoic declarations of ‘I’m not giving in to this commercial nonsense’ or ‘we can celebrate any day.’

But will we, really? Isn’t

romance and wooing each other the first thing to fall by the wayside once fatigue sets in or the monotony of daily life takes over?

Perhaps we really do need a reminder after all.

And if your wife or partner tells you that she doesn’t care for flowers, gems or a dinner tête-à-tête, then I would suggest she may be saying it to please you.

Chances are that while you are congratulating yourself for not falling for such commercial traps, she is ruefully listening to a friend gushing over a romantic city break or showing off a pretty bracelet.

And while some egalitarian readers may object, claiming that the responsibility lays squarely on both sets of shoulders, I admit to being old-fashioned in my expectations of courting.

So why not throw caution, and perhaps a little cash, to the wind and wine and dine the love of your life this Valentine’s. If not, what is the point of it all?

*Article not sponsored by the Spanish Federation of Restaurateurs but writer will happily accept donations.

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

ealth & beauty H TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EWNLIFESTYLE.COM

Advertising Feature

Feet first; call an expert podiatrist and chiropodist for all your foot care needs

www.euroweeklynews.com

NURIA MATEO MUÑOZ has been attending to her client’s feet for over 12 years from her custom built clinic in the heart of Benijofar.

Having grown up in the town, she also studied podiatry locally in San Juan, Alicante, before returning home to set up her professional business. As a local girl she has been seeing the same clients since she first started and has welcomed a whole host of new ones, particularly international clients who have settled in the area over the years.

For Nuria, FOOT CARE: Nuria works from her clinic in Benijofar. her chosen career path was somewhat is now her training is similar to that of a stumbled upon: passion. doctor of medicine including “My friend was It took four training in the human anatomy studying it and years of training and surgery, becoming a specialist it was new to and studying in the field of feet; a qualification this area, I the diagnosis, higher than a chiropodist. thought it medical and However, it is the area of sounded nice NURIA MATEO: Your feet are in surgical treat- chiropody that Nuria particularly so I did it. expert hands. ment of disorders loves; caring for her client’s feet of Sometimes life of the foot, ankle, which she admits: “The British look puts you in the moment.” It was and lower extremity, to become a after their feet more than the far from a whim and her profession qualified podiatrist. The level of Spanish and a lot of my British

clients come regularly every six weeks or so for maintenance which is important to prevent future problems.” Nuria says ingrown toenails, bunions and corns are the most common complaint of patients and usually she can solve a problem with one treatment.

She also cares for children’s feet and offers specialised care for diabetes patients.

Nuria is an expert in her field and continually keeps up to date with training and developments in the world of podiatry and her bubbly and friendly persona means patients are instantly put at ease.

She is also legally registered with the Association of Podiatrists of Valencia Community and the Valencian College of Chiropodists.

Visits cost €22 per session. To make an appointment call 966 715 547 or book online via www.nuriamateopodologa.es The clinic in Calle Florencio Celdrán, 14, Benijofar, is open Monday to Friday from 9am2.30pm as well as Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4-8pm.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

www.euroweeklynews.com

Protect your lips this winter LIPS can suffer just like any other part of our body from harsh weather conditions, drying and chapping in the winter months.

Pilar Lopez, product manager of Galénic, said: “The lips, like the rest of our face, are exposed daily to external aggressions (mechanical, chemical, physical, microbial and climate) but lips’ structure, which is especially thin, and their absence of a protective film, make them an area with a high drying trend.

“In addition, the labial epidermis has no physical protection against UV.” Pilar’s top tips to help protect your lips and keep them looking soft and kissable ahead of

Valentine’s Day tomorrow (Friday) include: Exfoliate them gently.

You can gently use your toothbrush.

Hydrate in depth, at least once a week.

Use a lip contour.

Always carry a lip balm in your purse and apply it as often as necessary.

Protect them from ultraviolet radiation.

Don’t smoke.

Drink lots of water.

Avoid biting your lips.

Do not moisten them with your tongue.

Do not gesticulate excessively (whistling, grumbling, make excessive grimaces).

To keep your lips soft and smooth try Galénic

SOFT LIPS: Try Galénic Argane repairing balm for lips.

Argane repairing balm for lips (€10.30) or The Body Shop’s shea butter for lips (€5).

13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

RS E IS R T E R RNE V A D CO

’

T

SPOTLIGHT

www.euroweeklynews.com

UB40 are oming to town! c Advertising Feature

IME to get out the dancing shoes and perhaps a glass of ‘Red Red Wine’! Yup, UB40 are coming to town!

The three founding members of Ali, Astro and Micky have reformed the band, and as well as working on a new album they’re going to be touring places as far flung as Dubai, Derbyshire, the Azores and… Benidorm!

Due to their sell-out concerts in Torrevieja/Marbella in 2013 and the demand to bring them back, Heatwave Promotions has announced this one-off concert at the Benidorm Palace. Tickets are selling fast so don’t miss out this time, book early.

The band, which formed in 1978 in Birmingham, have had over 50 hit singles in their long career, and have notched up an incredible 70 million records sold.

Songs such as ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘I Got You Babe’, and ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ have kept people tapping their toes for decades, and after two sell-out shows in Torrevieja last year, demand for

FOUNDING MEMBERS: Astro, Ali and Micky.

their concert in Benidorm on Sunday 27th of April is going to be massive, so get in quick! They took their name UB40 from the form that most of its members had to fill to receive unemployment assistance.

Soon, that subsidy wouldn’t be needed, because their debut album ‘Signing Off’ came second in the British sales charts thanks to songs such as ‘Food For Thought’. Then they uncovered their specialty: convert foreign songs to their own, moving them to their particular union of reggae and pop. We can’t wait!

The doors open at 8pm and the concert starts at 9.30pm. Tickets start from just €40, and are available from: Benidorm Palace Box Office Tel 0034 965 851 660 Round Town Travel Tel 0034 966 813 261. Or direct from the promoter Heatwave Promotions: Tel 0034 966 792 595 or 0034 629 056 720. Website www.heatwavepromotions. com www.ub40.org

Advertising Feature

Liberty Seguros scores a Hole In One!

L

IBERTY SEGUROS has been elected by AEGG (the Association of Directors and Managers of Clubs and Golf Courses) as the insurer of preference for golf insurances.

The agreement, which ensures that all of AEGG’s members are entitled to the best benefits when contracting a Liberty Seguros golf insurance, was signed by Manuel Lozano Pose, Manager of AEGG, and Francisco Javier Muñoz Postigo, Commercial Director for Liberty Seguros in Malaga.

AEGG is a non-profit organisation which looks to boost, develop and present the role of Golf Club director/management, making it the ideal organisation for Liberty Seguros to team up with in order to be able to grow in the field of specialist golf insurance.

On the left, Manuel Lozano Pose, Manager of AEGG, and on the right Francisco Javier Muñoz Postigo, Commercial Director Liberty Seguros Málaga and Campo de Gibraltar.

As Manuel Lozano Pose, Manager of AEGG, said: “This agreement is very beneficial to the organisation: to be able to count on a partner such as Liberty Seguros is a breakthrough as they will be able to offer us comprehensive cover, that can be adapted to our specific needs.”

The policy covers breakage and/or damage to equipment and clubs during the course of play, as well as cover

against fire and theft as a result of intimidation or violence whilst being transported by the insured, whilst stored with the caddymaster or at the pro-shop.

Perhaps even more importantly, it provides Personal Accident Cover for death, permanent disability and medical expenses

resulting from accidental injury occurring at the Golf Course. Third Party Liability is included up to €100,000, which also covers accidents whilst playing abroad, provided that liability would have applied to the insured had the same accident occurred in Spain.

Ask your Liberty Seguros

broker about these competitively priced golf policies and ensure you tee off with absolute peace of mind, whilst at any officially recognised club ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! Go to www.liberty expatriates.es to find the nearest broker that speaks your language!

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CROSSWORDS

13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

Time Out

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53

SPONSORED BY

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

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

Famous quote

This week

‘

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens

in history

Khalil Gibran (1883 - 1931) Lebanese artist, poet, and writer.

Women’s wit

278: St. Valentine is executed in Rome.

1633: Italian astronomer Galileo faces charges of heresy for claiming that the Earth revolves around the sun.

1779: English explorer and navigator Captain James Cook is murdered by natives of Hawaii.

1848: Polish pianist and composer Frederic Chopin gives his final public performance in Paris.

1878: American inventor Thomas Alba Edison patents the phonograph.

1885: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by American author Mark Twain is published for the first time.

1929: Penicillin is discovered by Scottish biologist, pharmacologist and botanist Sir Alexander Fleming.

1930: The once considered to be the ninth planet in the Solar System, Pluto, is discovered.

1945: The German city of Dresden is destroyed by British and US bombs during the Second World War. 1959: Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro becomes Prime Minister aged 32.

1965: Canada adopts its current maple leaf flag.

1971: A new system that divides the pound sterling into units of 10 is launched.

1989: Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini issues a death threat against British author Salman Rushdie over his book The Satanic Verses.

1996: Russian chess genius, Garry Kasparov, defeats IBM’s chess-playing computer Deep Blue.

2005: Rafik Hariri, former Lebanese Prime Minister, is killed in a car bomb explosion in Beirut.

‘

One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.

Michelle Obama, (1964 - ) American lawyer, writer, and first African-American First Lady of the United States.

World of English In a public building:

K a k u ro

Costa Blanca weather for next 7 days JAVEA

DENIA JAVEA

DENIA

CALPE CALPE ALTEA ALTEA BENIDORM BENIDORM

ALICANTE

ALICANTE

TORREVIEJA

TORREVIEJA

ORIHUELA

ORIHUELA

Alicante TODAY:

Benidorm

CLOUDY MAX 22C, MIN 12C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

21 13 C 21 11 C 17 11 C

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 10 S Tues - 17 11 Cl Wed - 17 9 S

CLOUDY MAX 20C, MIN 14C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

19 14 S 19 12 Cl 17 11 C

Mon - 16 11 S Tues - 17 12 C Wed - 17 11 Cl

17 11 C 16 9 C 14 8 C S Sun,

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 14 9 S Tues - 14 8 C Wed - 14 8 C Cl Clear,

TODAY:

14 7 Sh 11 3 C 11 2 Cl

Fog,

Fri Sat Sun -

18 12 Cl 17 11 Sh 16 10 S

MAX 19C, MIN 12C MAX MIN

Mon - 17 10 Cl Tues - 17 10 C Wed - 17 10 Sh

TODAY:

CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 12C

Fri Sat Sun -

18 11 C 19 11 Cl 14 9 Sh

MAX MIN

Mon - 11 3 Cl Tues - 12 2 Sh Wed - 12 3 Sh

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 14 10 Cl Tues - 14 10 C Wed - 14 10 Cl

Murcia

CLOUDY MAX 13C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mallorca

MAX MIN

Madrid

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 14 12 S Tues - 15 12 Cl Wed - 15 11 S

CLOUDY MAX 12C, MIN 9C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Barcelona TODAY:

18 14 C 17 3 C 15 12 C

CLOUDY

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Bilbao

Almeria TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Malaga

CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 14C

TODAY:

14 8 Sh 12 4 C 12 3 Cl C Cloudy,

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 12 3 Cl Tues - 12 2 Sh Wed - 13 4 Sh Sh Showers,

CLOUDY MAX 24C, MIN 10,C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

25 10 C 23 9 C 18 8 C

Sn Snow,

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

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

TOMORROW

TODAY

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 8 S Tues - 18 9 Cl Wed - 18 8 Cl Th Thunder

LOTTERY

‘

For the restrooms, go back toward your behind.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

LA PRIMITIVA

Saturday February 8

Saturday February 8

Saturday February 8

Friday February 7

Saturday February 8

8

25

4

7

11

3

5 27

36

16

39

44

38

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA Sunday February 9

4

7

14

22

29

26

30

40

36

17 16

17

19

36

44

47

30

23

46

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

4

1

6

LUCKY STARS

9

10

31

REINTEGRO

33

8

REINTEGRO

8

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

CROSSWORDS

www.euroweeklynews.com

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

H ex a g r a m

Starring Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener and Max Martini. Directed by Paul Greengrass. Runtime 134 minutes. Rated 12.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Spirituality seeps right through the week. As you are feeling particularly sensuous, invite someone special to dinner or on a trip. Visit garden centres and plan ahead. The colours and perfumes will be particularly pleasing.

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

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) There may be some opposition to your ideas as Pluto turns this week. Perhaps your natural charm just doesn't seem to be working. As you have helped others in the past, make it clear that you expect a bit of co-operation. It is not through lack of will that some people do not offer help.

COM STOCK.

February 16: Amanda Holden, 43.

English actress, singer and presenter.

She has been a judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent since the show began in 2007.

/ SHUTTER

REELED

HEARTS

RESENT

LEADER

RESTED

LEERED

SCARED

NEARER (10)

SEARED

NEEDED

SHARED

1 Rarely, 2 Reared, 3 Rugged, 4 Roared, 5 Thread, 6 Badger, 7 Coarse, 8 Seated, 9 Factor, 10 Shaken, 11 Awards, 12 Listen, 13 Basked, 14 Glossy, 15 Bugles, 16 Broken, 17 Sighed, 18 Banner, 19 Hurray

Your Stars TV personality. She is the greatgranddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the founder of Hilton Hotels.

February 15: Matt Groening, 60.

American cartoonist, author and producer. He is the creator of the longest-running American 'sitcom' to date, The Simpsons.

JOE SEER

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) There is something in you that needs a creative outlet. Perhaps you would like to write a book: memoirs, for instance, take up a craft or paint.

Learning a new language would also be satisfying. Certainly, food for the brain and soul are what you should be seeking now.

CANDLE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

February 13: Robbie Williams, 40.

English singer-songwriter. Originally a member of boy band Take That, he has achieved great success as a solo artist.

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

RATTLE

PEERED

IF ITʼS YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK Possibly you did not imagine how active the new year would be. You are already needing to pull in the reins.

Be careful what you wish for because this year it could come true.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Satisfaction with your love life is paramount this week, and the opinion of others seems important to you.

Perhaps you are looking for an excuse to make a change. It is possible, however, that a change is not required so much as a different approach. It is not essential to put all your eggs in one basket.

PRAYED

BREACH

February 17: Paris Hilton, 33. American model, actress, singer and reality

LEO (July 24 - August 23) This is a week when progress is fast and plans run ahead. Try new ideas and seek information to hone your knowledge. An organisation that is new to you offers insight and social involvement. An offer that thrusts you into the limelight might be avoided at first but would be to your advantage.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Although you have perhaps been looking to money-making ideas to progress finances, think also of alternatives. Perhaps there are areas of your lifestyle where money could be saved. Items that are not used could be sold for a profit and rid you of clutter.

Mayra Gomez Kemp.

Born February 14, 1948.

Cuban-born Mayra Gomez Kemp is a Spanish actress, singer and TV presenter.

She is known to Spanish audiences for hosting the game show Un, Dos, Tres... in six of its 10 seasons. She battled against tongue and throat cancer. She won the fight against them, although they affected her speech.

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LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Having suffered a bit of a setback last week, you may be feeling less confident. Revving up your social life will certainly help to bring spirits up again. Be with people who liven or inspire you in some way and avoid boring or moaning folk.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Thoughts come to you, perhaps in dreams, that are creative and energy boosting. Someone who recently moved out of your sphere is sadly missed but is in some ways still a part of you. A person at work who has been causing you concern needs investigation, but the facts may be less alarming than you suspect.

February 18: John Travolta, 60.

American actor, dancer and singer. He has starred in more than 30 films, including Grease, Pulp Fiction and Face/Off. JOHN TRAVOLTA: S_BUKLEY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The film is based on the real life hijacking of a US cargo ship by Somali pirates. The Maersk Alabama became the first US cargo ship to be hijacked in 200 years when heavily armed Somalis boarded the vessel on the 8th of April 2009. As commander of the ship, Captain Richard Phillips inevitably found himself at the heart of events.

Held hostage by the pirates under the command of Muse, Phillips attempts to protect both his crew and ship to the best of his ability. However, as the drama plays out and Phillips spends more time in the company of his Somali captors, he gradually comes to realise that they have a story, too.

PIERCE

AWARDS

February 19: Benicio del Toro, 47.

Puerto Rican actor and film producer. He is the third Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award, after Jose Ferrer and Rita Moreno.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) A strong and exciting romantic feeling flows through the week, which is fitting as Valentine's Day comes round again. Someone returning from a trip makes you smile and boosts your spirit. People who have been a little bossy of late finally realise that you will not rise to the bait.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) It's a better week for travel with less likelihood of delays. Should you be feeling a little lethargic and sorry about recent events, just count your blessings.

Consider raising some money and having fun at the same time by indulging in a garage or car boot sale. Doing something entirely different can boost your mind and activity levels, which can't be bad.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN IN 2013 Gents 1. How old was the former South African president, Nelson Mandela, when he died in December?

2. Journalist, comedian, writer, media personality and television host Sir David Frost, who died in August, first rose to prominence in the UK when he was chosen to host which satirical television programme in 1962?

3. Left-wing politician, Hugo Chávez, who died in March, had been president of which republic in northern South America from 1999 to 2013?

4. Musician Lou Reed, who died in October, was the guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of which famous American rock band from 1964 to 1970?

5. The American politician Edward Irving ‘Ed’ Koch, who died in February, had been mayor of which US city from 1978 to 1989?

6. Welsh rugby player and broadcaster Cliff Morgan, who died in August, principally played in which position for Cardiff, Wales and the British Lions?

7. Which American former world heavyweight boxer, who died in September, famously broke Muhammad Ali’s jaw in their first fight in San Diego in 1973?

8. Which song by singer-songwriter Reg Presley, who died in February, featured in the 1994 romantic-comedy film Four Weddings and a Funeral?

9. Wilt, Porterhouse Blue and Blott on the Landscape were all works by which English satirical novelist who died in June?

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 G) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

TARGET: Average: 9 Good: 12 Very good: 17 Excellent: 21

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION dirt, foot, fort, frit, rift, riot, root, tiro, tori, trio, trod, trow, wort, writ, drift, droit, toroid, DRIFTWOOD

Word Ladder MALE

FERN

Move from the start word (MALE) to the end word (FERN) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder.

You must only change one letter at a time.

MALE TALE TARE TARN TERN FERN

Captain Philips

ADHERE

9-Star Quiz

1. 95, 2. THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS, 3. VENEZUELA, 4. VELVET UNDERGROUND, 5. NEW YORK, 6. FLY HALF, 7.

KEN NORTON, 8. LOVE IS ALL AROUND, 9. TOM SHARPE.

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

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Crosswords

13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

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Cryptic

Quick

Unscramble the name of a type of vegetable (two words): REAL LUCKY

Across 1 Stretch your neck to see the bird (5) 4 Butcher gets Ray wheels (7) 7 Drug addict ate holding order (7) 8 Flies the men only back north in (5) 10 Longs for a church to end service collections (5) 11 Made from English gravel (7) 12 Loose bit of lettuce contained in bag (5) 14 Reposition trees in a different order (5) 19 Lets the donkey have ornamental hanging tufts (7) 21 Fly military aircraft across Germany and Spain (5) 22 Post Office harbours stolen picture (5) 23 Love in everyone married is permissible (7) 24 Supposed itʼs erupted at sea (7) 25 Ladyʼs out, sorry to say (5)

Unscramble the name of a famous BBC sitcom, first broadcast in 1990 (five words): NOT OF NEGATIVE HERO FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: CURLY KALE, ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE

Play on Words NEPALED IS DEPALED

gives first (5) 7 Costly creature, reportedly (4) 9 Uses fabricated charges (4) 13 Cigar with revolutionary origin (7) 15 Gave gifts but in the end was in debt (7) 16 Refrain from piling up dishes (4)

17 Where gods live in Africaʼs Garden of Eden (6) 18 New deal for guide (4) 20 Dig out a story that make the headlines (5) 21 Manuscript about beer for men (5)

Code Breaker

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 4 represents C and 11 represents S, so fill in C every time the figure 4 appears and S every time the figure 11 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Across 7 Dwell (6) 8 In a foreign country (6) 9 Not coarse or heavy (4) 10 Particular (8) 11 Final course (7) 13 Established (5) 15 Periodically repeated sequence of events (5) 17 Imaginative fiction (7) 20 Income (8) 21 Exchanged for money (4) 22 Madcap goings-on (6) 23 Ecstatically happy (6)

Down 1 Relating to cats (6) 2 Alcoholic drink (4) 3 Size (7) 4 Desert ruminant (5) 5 Something continually annoying (8) 6 Containing salt (6) 12 Magnificent (8) 14 Burrowing rodent (7) 16 Pines for (6) 18 Gloomily angry and silent (6) 19 Acute anxiety (5) 21 Submerge in a liquid (4)

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

BUSINES

Answers: A friend in need is a friend indeed, Unfinished business

Down 2 Everybody goes round company house for a strong drink (7) 3 Seam bowling caught ten in Tests (5) 4 A country sounded musical (6) 5 Great, Iʼm dancing to jazz music (7) 6 Southern sound the airline never

Funagram

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Siskin, 4 Scout, 8 Cheat, 9 Adamant, 10 Extract, 11 Cone, 12 Emu, 14 Cede, 15 News, 18 Tad, 21 Oman, 23 Adhered, 25 Theseus, 26 Spade, 27 Hosts, 28 Vestas.

Down: 1 Soccer, 2 Spectre, 3 Intranet, 4 Scar, 5 Otago, 6 Titled, 7 Caste, 13 Unchaste, 16 Warrant, 17 Hootch, 19 Daisy, 20 Adders, 22 Avers, 24 Keys.

QUICK Across: 1 Static, 5 Safari, 8 Fair, 9 Red giant, 10 Genius, 11 Carbon, 12 Game, 14 Let, 15 Tiny, 16 Morass, 18 Latest, 20 Farthing, 22 Near, 23 Coarse, 24 Easily.

Down: 2 Tease, 3 Termite, 4 Chrysalis, 5 Sad, 6 Friar, 7 Run-down, 11 Catalogue, 13 Avocado, 15 Tetanus, 17 Alter, 19 Shawl, 21 Ire.

Across 1 Seas (5) 3 Pequeño (5) 5 Alquitrán (3) 7 Hilos (7) 9 Sello (personal, de rey) (4) 10 Cordero (4) 14 Clases (7) 15 Goose (domestic) (3) 16 Walk (stroll) (5) 17 Arches (5)

Down 1 Motorcycles (5) 2 Mushroom (4) 3 Seguro (convencido) (4) 4 The (pl, f) (3) 6 Carreteras (5) 8 Roast (5) 11 Alubias (5) 12 Red (4) 13 Island (4) 14 Labio (3)

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Tasty, 3 Gifts, 6 Rule, 7 Cabeza, 9 Camareras, 12 Amargo, 13 Leña, 14 Llave, 15 Ahora.

Down: 1 Toro, 2 Salvajada, 3 Grapes, 4 Fregadero, 5 Star, 8 Sangre, 10 Ball, 11 Taza.

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TOP 10 WEIRD FACTS

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ABOUT EINSTEIN WE all know Albert Einstein, one of the greatest men of the 20th century, who discovered the theory of relativity. But how many knew that Einstein had a secret child before he was married? Or that he married his cousin? Read on for some more little-known facts about the genius physicist ...

1. He was born with an excessively large, misshapen head which later became normal.

Einstein’s grandmother was reported to have muttered continuously “Much too fat, much too fat!” when first seeing him.

2. Einstein was a late developer when it came to speaking. As a child he seldom spoke and when he did, he spoke very slowly, never uttering sentences before entirely trying them out in his head.

1

3. He had a bad memory and had trouble remembering names, dates and phone numbers.

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A gripping travelogue BOOKS

7. His oldest son Hans Albert blamed Einstein for leaving his wife and for not sufficiently helping her financially with the money from his Nobel Prize. When Einstein died, he left very little inheritance to Hans Albert.

books@euroweeklynews.com

This 335 page book describes an adventurous 52 day 950 kilometre walk carried out by our gardening author Dick Handscombe and his wife Clodagh carrying heavy backpacks for the first time.

Dick regards it as his lifetime odyssey. The book is written as an interesting, indeed gripping at times, travelogue describing the day by day journey from the windy wet rocky headland of the Cap Higuer on the Bay of Biscay

to the warm sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea following the Pyrenees on the Spanish side.

Walkers and non-walkers alike will enjoy the varied experiences, the wonderful wilderness scenery seen, the amazing flora and fauna, the setbacks and route changes required when unexpected deep new snow blocked the originally intended route, the adventures of wild camping and the comforts of

together, including, “You will renounce all personal relations with me insofar as they are not completely necessary for social reasons” and “You will stop talking to me if I request it.”

She accepted the conditions.

village hostelries to clean up and have a rest day after each seven days of continuous walking.

From Amazon: Soft back £7.72, Kindle £1.87.

8. In addition to his marrying his cousin Elsa Lowenthal, his love life was marked with infidelity, one of the reasons for the split from his first wife Mileva. Elsa undoubtedly knew about his love affairs, which were revealed later in his letters.

9. Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel. He declined.

10. After his death in 1955, the Princeton Hospital pathologist who conducted the post mortem examination took the brain home (without permission from Einstein’s family) and kept it in a jar. He was also fired for refusing to relinquish it. It was given back to Princeton University Medical Centre in 1998.

4. When he was 17, Albert Einstein applied for entry to the Swiss Federal Polytechnical School (ETH), and failed. He had to go to trade school before retaking the exam.

5. Private letters discovered in the 1980s revealed Einstein had an illegitimate daughter named Lieserl, born in 1902, with fellow student Mileva Maric whom he later married.

Einstein never saw his daughter. It is supposed that she died as a baby in 1903.

1 - By ebravolosada on Flickr.

6. Albert and Mileva married but later were estranged. He proposed certain ‘conditions’ under which they could continue living

App of the Week Hello Vino This all-in-one wine app gives you wine recommendations for meals, occasions and also based on your taste preferences. Available for iOS and Android devices.

2- By QuotesEverlasting on Flickr 3- By stlphotoblogger on Flickr

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.

Boggled How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules?

The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms.

No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice.

No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.

TARGET:

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Average: 33

Just Joking

Good: 42 Very good: 60

What did the fish say when he swam into a cement wall?

Dam Why did the biscuit go to the doctor?

Because it was feeling crummy.

Where would you learn how to make ice cream?

At Sundae school.

Excellent: 74

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

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION tsar, tars, taro, tart, tare, taut, tauter, star, start, stare, sari, saute, rats, ratty, rare, true, trio, trite, arty, roast, roar, roars, rout, route, router, roue, tetra, tetras, retie, rite, utter, uteri, oats, oars, ours, outré, outer, eras, tire, euro

OPINION & COMMENT

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To charge or not to charge?

This week we focus on how emergency services in the Valencia region will begin charging for avoidable rescue operations (irresponsible activity triggering forest fires, helicopter rescues for hikers who ignore weather warnings, etc).

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NID Manning, 76 is retired in Albox (Almeria).

She says, “I think they should be charged, they should take more care and not waste time or money. Somebody else might need an ambulance desperately.”

Agreeing with her is Juan Perez, a 45-year-old businessman from Benidorm (Alicante) who believes in the fines: “Yes, it is their fault for getting themselves in that situation by ignoring warnings and taking unnecessary risk. And with pranks, somebody may need these services while they are responding to a wild goose chase.”

Maria Jose

Should the regional government make individuals pay for avoidable rescue services?

What do you think of people who use emergency services that might have been avoidable or call 112 as a prank?

STREET TALK Pizarra, a 42-year-old shopkeeper in Benalmadena (Malaga) also agreed saying, “Yes, people should pay for avoidable services. These are their personal choices, and it shouldn’t end up as a cost to the public.”

Aneta Simko, aged 33, from Poland and now living in Benissa (Alicante) said: “I think it is quite normal they charge for avoidable rescue operations. I like climbing and hiking and I pay an insurance that covers mountain risks if anything happens.” But she added that she understands people sometimes panic and call 112 services for avoidable causes.

In principle, Carole Woodley, 67, from Torrevieja (Alicante), agrees in some kind of deterrent but is concerned at how it would be policed: “Those calling 112 for fun should definitely be fined and forced to pay, but are more resources then spent trying to track them down and find them?”

On the other side is Chris Taylor, 72 in Arboleas (Almeria). “I don’t think people plan to have an accident or illness, so they shouldn’t charge. Are they going to leave people who don’t have a bank card?”

Dale Saxon (50), retired in Albox (Almeria) agrees: “I don’t agree with charging people, they don’t set out to get lost on purpose. As far as people who DALE SAXON: phone the People don’t emergency get lost on services as a purpose, so prank, I think it is they shouldn’t disgraceful.” be punished for it.

ANETA SIMKO: People should be charged for avoidable rescue operations.

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FOOD & DRINK

& DRINK

ood F

Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local sport

Costa Blanca’s best guide to local restaurants

Exports go up as the world is hungry for Serrano ham THE world is hungry for Serrano ham and proof of that are the latest export figures released by the Spanish Serrano Ham Foundation.

A total of 25,543 tonnes of ‘jamon’ were sold outside the Spanish borders during the first 10 months of 2013.

This represents €226.4 million, a 15.5 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2012.

Of the exports, 82.4 per cent correspond to boneless

JAMON SERRANO: More than 25,000 tons exported in 2013.

BONELESS: Serrano ham is popular sliced or cubed. formats of Serrano ham, a requirement asked by many of

the target markets.

This format includes slices,

cubes and packaged ham.

The European Union remains the main market for Serrano ham, with more than 80 per cent of exports.

By countries, Germany tops the list with 27.8 per cent of exports.

It’s followed by France (25.5 per cent) and Portugal

(10.5 per cent).

Sales in Poland are reported to have increased by 148 per cent, and in Sweden they have increased by 103 per cent.

Also hungry for Serrano ham are the Netherlands (with an increase of 53 per cent) and the United Kingdom (86 per cent).

FOOD & DRINK

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

Advertising Feature

Be spoilt for choice at POPULAR and renowned restaurant, Let’s Eat, has been established in the heart of the Benimar Commercial Centre for nearly nine years.

Head chef and co-owner, Tony Chlebus joined over two years ago bringing with him a wealth of experience from his time with the Forte group.

Using that talent, he has redeveloped the menu helping the restaurant to win a local culinary award for ‘best international European restaurant.’

Tony said: “The style of food we do is a mix of classic and French cuisine with a Mediterranean influence. We like to offer lots of local fish options and regularly change the menu to accommodate seasonal food.”

Let’s Eat caters for diners with special

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Let's Eat

ELEGANT DINING: Offering a mix of traditional and European cuisine.

LET’S EAT: Situated in Benimar Commercial Centre. dietary requirements, such as celiac’s with advance booking recommended to be able to offer a wider

choice in dishes.

The restaurant is open daily from 6.30pm with the evening three-course set menu a

popular choice. For €14.95 there is a tempting choice of five starters and five mains including a chicken, fish, steak, pork and vegetarian dish plus home made desserts for those with a sweet tooth.

Changing weekly, it is no wonder that customers return time and time again. On the main menu the likes of Caroline sticky ribs, honey baked goats cheese, oriental honeyed duck and sea bass with white onion and smoky bacon and pea purée will tempt those taste buds. Children are also welcomed at Let’s Eat with a special menu available for younger diners from €1.50.

Sunday lunch is served every Sunday from 1-4pm for €11.50 including a glass of wine.

All food is freshly prepared from scratch on site in the newer, larger kitchen and preparation area using the highest quality fresh and seasonal produce.

Let’s Eat is also a regular venue for societies, clubs and business meetings and can cater for private parties.

For more information or to book a table call 634 867 446 or 966 078 655.

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FOOD & DRINK

Spain is now top wine producer in the world SPAIN became the world’s leading wine producer in 2013 after increasing its production by 41 per cent, the Ministry of Agriculture has

revealed. This has been possible thanks to good weather conditions and improvements to the infrastructures of the wineries.

A total of 50.5 million hectolitres of wine were produced in Spain last year, more than their two direct competitors, Italy and France, which produced 47.4 million and 42.3 million hectolitres of wine last year respectively.

By region, the biggest increase has been registered in Castilla La Mancha.

The birthplace of El Quixote, which has its own certificate of origin, went from 19 million hectolitres in 2012 to 31.2 million in 2013, a 64.1 per cent increase.

Castilla La Mancha is followed by Extremadura and Cataluña.

The only region to have seen its figures decrease in 2013 was Galicia.

The land of the Albariño wine produced 0.7 million hectolitres less last year, which is 0.5 per cent less.

HOMES & GARDENS

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omes& gardens

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F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T T H E S P O N S O R G O T O W W W . L I N E A D I R E C T A . C O M

In memory of the garden wildlife Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner

By Dick Handscombe Spain’s best known expat gardening author about to start his 26th winter cut back.

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UNFORTUNATELY there is far less wildlife in most gardens than 25 years ago, including unfortunately ours.

As discussed below, birds, butterflies, geckoes, hedgehogs, lizards, frogs and toads have found it

hard to adapt to the urbanisation of their previously abandoned agricultural habitat. But fortunately we do have less venomous snakes.

When the woods surrounding us were cut down, for a while several vipers moved in as their natural habitat deep undergrowth of the wood was destroyed. But one way or another they were caught and taken to nearby remaining woodland.

At the time two hedgehogs moved in and

BUTTERFLIES: Found it hard to adapt. bred in the base of a temporary compost heap for some years until roads were built and adjacent fields built on. Indeed it is some years since we saw even a car-squashed one in

the area. The main loss with the cutting down of around 200 pine trees was the bird life that regularly visited our garden and in some cases nested.

Turn to page 62

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From page 61 Early losses were a pair of eagle owls and an annual visit of nesting golden orioles.

Nowadays only blackbirds continue to nest each year as long tailed tits have not used their nesting boxes for some years, but I am making new ones at present and in a greater number to see if this can be reversed. Once we had 10 shepherds roaming the valley with large flocks of goats and sheep. With a constant supply of afterbirths several days a week

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HOMES & GARDENS

Disappearing wildlife De-clutter and we would be entertained by hunting eagles, kites, vultures and hawks. Now one may be spied just a few days a year.

With few houses and hence cats around, geckoes and lizards had a wonderful playground with sunny rocks to sunbath on and plenty of places to hide. We still have some but, with the urbanisation came a tribe of partially fed, by neighbours, feral cats which seem to enjoy preying on them with the reduced bird population.

Probably the greatest loss is that of the

BIRDS OF PREY: Not many around any more.

swarms of spring and summer butterflies. The causes being the clearing of their natural breeding grounds just across our garden walls for a network of roads and the building of an urbanisation, plus four years in which low flying planes sprayed the citrus groves, and of course all other vegetation, with nonecological chemicals against the leaf miner insects.

The days when one could open the garden gate on coming back from a day on the beach in June or July and find the garden full of recently hatched swarms of butterflies including numerous swallow tails are

now just fond memories.

Once two of my daughters and two grandchildren counted almost 1,000 flying flowers in the garden. We still have the plants they liked but just a few strays visit from the local mountainsides.

The remaining real success in providing a natural garden habitat for disturbed wildlife is the number of frogs and toads that find refuge in our several ponds and closely grouped flower pots.

I am just cutting back the reeds around the ponds, as for probably 10 winters no overwintering black cap warblers or shrikes have visited the ponds for water.

Also perhaps they would not like the netting we have had to place over the ponds to prevent an unwanted heron, now resident in the valley for four years, from devouring any more of the goldfish.

So we have a densely planted casual natural garden with less wildlife than we would like, so that we need to walk the wilderness of Spain’s virgin mountain ranges to find evidence of surviving wildlife. When we walked for 52 days along the Spanish Pyrenees most of the 950 kilometres were densely populated with both birds and butterflies.

These and other delights are described in my latest book now available as a regular book and in Kindle format from Amazon Books. The title is ‘Our 52 day retirement adventure along the Spanish Pyrenees.’

© Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com February 2014.

organise your living space

SPANISH homes are not renowned for their storage; no under stairs cupboards or loft space, so organisation and clever storage solutions are key.

To start with, the most important thing to do is to de-clutter and organise and there is a difference according to home expert Julie Morgenstern. Organising is about improving and streamlining access to what you use and have: “It’s really about systems that make us efficient and finding what we need when we need it.”

De-cluttering, on the other hand, is about getting rid of all those things that you don’t need and are just taking up space and many people can be organised but still accumulate a lot of items: “There are lots of people who are

organised but need to de-clutter,” says Morgenstern.

De-cluttering and organising can seem like a big task but break it down into sections; start in certain rooms.

When de-cluttering and organising separate into different piles for things that are to be kept and used regularly, kept, but not used and things that you can get rid of to be recycled, given away to charity, or even sold to make some extra cash.

Sometimes you have to be brutal to get rid and make more space.

Morgenstern says: “Things can weigh you down. I think everything we hang onto that we aren’t using represents an attachment; to an old belief system, another time in our lives, an unresolved goal.”

Roses are red...

ALTHOUGH roses are traditionally steeped in the symbol of love; being the flower of choice for Valentine’s Day, there are lots of other meanings on the basis of their colour, making them a great choice no matter what the time of year or occasion.

But, if you do choose roses for that someone special this Valentine’s Day, think about the colour and meaning to

find that perfect gift and sentiment: Red roses; love and respect. The best choice for getting the ‘I love you’ message across.

Dark pink roses; appreciation and gratitude. Dark pink roses are also often chosen when wanting to say ‘thank you.’

Light pink roses; admiration and sympathy.

This colour also sends a message to convey beauty and grace.

Yellow roses; happiness and friendship. If you simply want to treat a friend, enjoy a celebration or send a message of congratulations, choose yellow roses.

White roses; innocence, purity, humility. Also choose white when sending roses in remembrance.

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roperty P

PROPERTY

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resale properties and clients.

Experts in property rental, this is OP Group’s core business.

The company is registered with the Spanish Tourist Board Lettings Association and

OP Group Spain, the client is looked after with cheap car hire available and help and advice offered for the duration of their stay, whether renting short or long term, the property owner is equally looked

they work closely with local town halls. They are specialists in golf property rental and have a wide selection of homes perfectly placed next to PGA standard courses.

When renting through

after. Stuart says: “If you have a property that you would like to rent out to generate an income, we provide unmatched marketing methods, arbitration agreements, Spanish legal contracts, full

property management and a complete professional service.” A full service team is in place and legal and building services are available so owners can rest assured their home is in safe hands.

He adds: “If you have a property to sell we provide transparent pricing, (our commission rate is three per cent) fair market valuation and a sales outlet through our network of offices, agents and global marketing methods.”

To view properties go to www.opgroupspain.com or call: La Marina on 966 795 422; Gran Alacant on 966 697 438 or Algorfa on 966 729 653.

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PROPERTY

2nd-hand prices stable SECOND-HAND houses in Spain stabilised in January, with an average price of €1,730 per square metre.

This is according to separate reports by property websites idealista.com and fotocasa.es, which say there have been minor changes in prices since

December 2013.

This is good news for the property market as prices didn’t stop falling since the financial crisis started in 2008.

According to data provided by both reports,

STABLE: The average price per square metre.

property prices in La Rioja decreased the most in six years, a 52.3 per cent overall.

This region is followed

by Navarra (-46.6 per cent), Aragon (-46.5 per cent), Castilla La Mancha (-46.1 per cent), Murcia (-45.1 per cent), Cataluña (-44.1 per cent), Valencia (43.5 per cent), Andalucia (-40.8 per cent) and Madrid (-40.7 per cent).

Princes of secondhand houses slightly increased, nevertheless, in Murcia (0.9 per cent), and La Rioja (0.1 per cent).

By cities, the reports place San Sebastian (Basque Country) as the most expensive city, with prices reaching €4,203 per square metre. On the other side is Ontinyent (Valencia), where the average price per square metre in second-hand houses is of €854.

The The

Ar t of R Ar t of R

eal E st a te e lE

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PROPERTY

MADRID: 63 per cent of houses sold are reported to be less than €100,000.

More at less than €100k THE number of houses on sale for less than €100,000 has soared since the financial crisis started.

It has gone from 2.9 per cent of the houses available to 30.8 per cent, according to data by property website Globaliza.com.

This increase also reflects in the houses that are sold. Approximately 64 per cent of the houses sold by the website had a price lower than €100,000. This tendency is increasing on a daily basis in small towns and cities alike.

According to data from Tecnocasa, 76 per cent of the houses sold by this real estate in Zaragoza had a price of €100,000

or lower. Sevilla, Madrid and Barcelona follow the capital of the Aragon region with 68, 63 and 32 per cent of the houses sold

by Tecnocasa being less than €100,000.

These offers were almost non-existent during the years of the real estate bubble, with only 0.09 per cent of the houses matching this pricing.

Houses sold under €100,000 are normally second-hand flats with three rooms and are 83 square metres in average.

It is reported that the majority of them, 70 per cent, are in a good condition and are located in middle class areas of towns and cities.

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

Events coming up for HAH Mar Menor...

A STRING of events is planned to raise funds for Help at Home Mar Menor over the coming weeks.

If you would like to help out this charity, which helps the English-speaking expat community in their own homes following surgery or illness, then pop along to one of the following events. They promise to be fun, too: Wednesday February 19: Chatters Social Group at Bacchus Restaurant, Oasis Urb, Los Narejos. Chat, quiz, make new friends. Open to all.

11.15am for 11.30 start.

Optional lunch to follow, €5 plus drink. Tel Mary on 968 171 542.

There will be a quiz during February, details will appear on HAH website/Facebook pages nearer the time.

Tuesday March 4: Volunteers

meeting at Bacchus Restaurant, Urb Oasis Los Narejos. 11.15am for 11.30 start. Optional lunch €5 plus drink. Partners welcome.

Phone Bacchus to book choice of food in advance. Details Lesley 968 134 978.

Tuesday March 11: Charity Table-top sale at La Zona Bar, Los Narejos (opp Consum).

Approx. 10am to 1pm (weather permitting). Many bargains.

Wednesday March 19: Chatters Social Group at Bacchus Restaurant, Oasis Urb, Los Narejos. Chat, quiz, make new friends. Open to all.

11.15am for 11.30 start.

Optional lunch to follow, €5 plus drink. Tel Mary on 968 171 542.

Saturday March 22: SPRING BALL. Five-course meal with half bottle wine pp at the Principe Asturias Restaurant,

Santiago de La Ribera. Dance the night away with the King of Soul RICHIE ALEXANDER. Smart dress only, a chance to wear your finery!! Just €17.50pp, so tickets selling fast. Book now with Celia on 968 574 576.

HAH meeting will be the first Tuesday monthly. Table-top second Tuesday monthly at La Zona, and Chatters Social Group on third Wednesday monthly.

If you wish to find out more about HAH, visit www.helpathome.es.

To become a volunteer, either caring, fundraising or both, tel Lesley on 968 134 978 or email helpathomespain@gmail.com HAH help English speakers in their own homes following surgery/illness, etc. Tel: 633 673 034. In the event of an emergency call 112.

Fun stuff for dog lovers SPONSORED BY For all dog treats please call: 971 887 007 / 634 152 813

David THE Dogman Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10am to 11am Costa del Sol (Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fm (San Roque to Calahonda) 91.9fm (Calahonda to Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida 92.7fm Costa Blanca (Torrevieja to Elche) 105.1fm (Elche to Calpe) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia & Ibiza) 104.6fm, (Denia to Valencia) 95.3fm Mallorca 103.9fm

DOGS are fun and interesting. Here are some pieces of trivia about our furry friends...

• The smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of two, weighed just four ounces, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

• An adult dog has 42 teeth.

• The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.

• Cleverest dog breeds, in this order, are supposed to be: Border Collie, Poodle, and Golden Retriever.

LONGEST-LIVED: Small dogs.

• Dogs are good for you. People who own pets have been found to live longer, probably because their stress levels are lower and they have fewer heart attacks.

• Dogs’ hearing is more than 10 times sharper than a human’s.

• A greyhound can run at up to 45 miles an hour.

• The dog name ‘Fido’ is from Latin and means ‘fidelity’.

• A dog’s whiskers are touch-sensitive hairs and can sense tiny changes in airflow.

• Dogs have more than 220 million smell detection cells, compared to five million in humans.

• Small dogs tend to be the longest lived. Toy breeds live up to 16 years or more. Larger dogs average seven-12 years.

• In 1957, Laika became the first earth creature to orbit the earth. She was launched in Sputnik 2. She did not survive the experience.

For your local radio frequency log onto www.talkradioeurope.com.

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The History of the FIFA World Cup The 1954 Tournament in Switzerland

By Tony Matthews FOR 1954, FIFA used a unique format. The 16 qualifying countries were divided into four groups of four, with two seeded teams and two unseeded teams in each.

The four groups comprised: (1) Brazil, France, Mexico, Yugoslavia; (2) Hungary, Korean Republic, Turkey, West Germany; (3) Austria, Czechoslovakia, Scotland, Uruguay and (4) Belgium, England, Italy and Switzerland.

After drawing 4-4 with Belgium and beating the host nation 2-0, England qualified for the last eight along with Austria, Brazil, Hungary, Switzerland, Uruguay, West Germany and Yugoslavia.

Unfortunately, Scotland lost both their matches, 7-0 against Uruguay and 1-0 versus Austria.

Uruguay knocked England out 4-2 in the quarter-finals, while Austria won a 12-goal thriller against the Swiss by 7-5, Hungary beat Brazil 4-2 and the Germans ousted Yugoslavia 2-0.

Thirteen more goals were scored in the semifinals as Germany beat Austria 6-1 and Hungary took out Uruguay 4-2.

This set up a grand final between Germany and Hungary whose team of Puskas, Hideghuti, Bozsik, Koscis and company, had belted England 6-3 and 7-1 in two friendlies during the 1953-54 season. And in an earlier group game

The official poster designed for 1954 FIFA World Cup. Germany had actually been thumped 8-3 by the Magyars.

But two football matches are never the same and after going 2-0 down in the final in Berne, before a 60,000 crowd, Germany came roaring back to cause a major upset by winning 3-2 with the Walter brothers leading them home.

The average attendance at each WC game was over 36,000 and Sandor Koscis of Hungary was top-scorer with 11 goals.

* Next: 1958 in Sweden and a first triumph for Pele.

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BOATS / CARS / JOBS / SERVICES / PETS / BIKES / FURNITURE / PROPERTY / MOTORING / FOR SALES

AIRPORT PARKING

ALARMS ALARMS: All types, quality systems, very reasonable, guaranteed. Tel: 966 797 370 / 600 237 223 (206434) KEEP BURGLARS OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE WITH A GRILL ALARM. REJAGARD THE ORIGINAL GRILL ALARM 645 495 484 (207577)

ANTIQUES

BOATS

BOATING SERVICES

IT IS ILLEGAL TO SKIPPER B O AT S W I T H O U T A VA L I D LICENCE. If you are caught skippering a power boat without a licence, you WILL BE FINED. Possessing an (internationally recognised) RYA licence saves money. Contact us now with NO OBLIGATION. Richard Plaster 638 056 224 / enquiries@sereni tysailing.com / http://sereni tysailing.com/powerboatinglevel-2 (207534) A N T I- F O U L Re m o va l M a chine. Top of the range Farrow system, environmentally friendly, slurry blasting machine, complete with many spares and 60m blast hose.

Cleans most surfaces, stone, wood, pools etc. Suit small marine business or contractor. 661 435 765 (216909)

BUILDING

BUSINESS OPP. WANT TO WRITE for profit? Established author available to help. Athome courses, total support. Guaranteed formatting for Kindle. janette@readus.com 689 742 289 www.readus. com (218076) AUCTION HOUSE for lease or s a l e . T h e p r e m i s e s h ave p a r k i n g fo r 1 5 0 c a r s i n A l moradi. The business has licences for trading and has a fully equipped cafeteria. It is located near three late night clubs. Contact 653 165 711 (206293)

BUY & SELL

CARS WANTED

CHARITIES/CHURCHES ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life – damaging everything that is important to you. Englishspeaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: *648 169 045* or Costa Blanca South: *625 912 078* or Costa Calida *679 385 105*. All calls are treated in the strictest confidence.

AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aa-costablan ca.org (93323) ROUNDABOUT CHARITY SHOP. We are now into summer and very soon we will be feeling the heat! It is time therefore for another visit to the shop where you might find a bargain or two. Choose from the clothing selection, jewellery, household goods, books or bric a brac. There is usually something there for everyone —- but not always. Charitable donations have recently been made to The Alzheimers Centre, Cancer Research and The Amigos Ambulance Service. We still need your help with donations etc. Please keep them coming in! During July and August the shop will only be open Wednesday to Saturday from 09.30 until 13.00. We are situated on Avenida Del Furs close to the Fountain Roundabout and immediate left by Don Colchon bed shop.

FULL GOSPEL Business Men’s Fellowship International. We are a Christian organisation with a difference. Breakfast meetings for men each month including a testimony time, & time to ask questions for those who seek answers. Info: Stuart 968 575 417 or 664 673 863 (95452) THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH OF QUESADA, meets at new premises, Hamiltons Bakehouse, Calle Vicente 62, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar. Sunday Service at 11.30am.

A Tuesday evening of Mediumship at 7.30pm and every Thursday there is an opportunity to develop your skills at the Open Circle at 7.30pm. Spiritual Healing is available Sunday and Tuesday.

Contact Wendy on 965 323 028.

(95454) THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION, Torrevieja Branch, meet at 17.00 on the first Wednesday of each month at the Restaurante El Paraiso, Urb. Jardin del Mar 3 (behind Carrefour), Torrevieja.

Contact Mike Wright, Chairman 966 722 895 or Margaret Forshaw, Secretary 966 921 996.

(95455) HELP VEGA BAJA. We help anyone, any age and any nationality, 24hr helpline. Offices based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega and in Torrevieja on Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4. You can contact us on 966 723 733 between 10am and 1:30pm or online at www.helpvegabaja.com. For emergencies 24hr helpline 965 704 282 (95456) THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Orihuela Costa - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier. The branch meets at Olympia restaurant, Mil Palmeras on 3rd Thursday of each month at 19.00 19.30pm. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuela costarbl.co.uk.

THE BAKER FOUNDATION for SPIRITUAL AWARENESS. 16 Nicolas De Bussi Ave, Playa Flamenca. Sunday Service every week 11am to 12 noon, everyone welcome. For further details please phone/fax 966 760 665 (95458)

CHARITY

THE PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB meets every Friday in the Bar Catorce, Benijofar. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 653 066 919 for further information. (95459) CHARITY BOOK STALL PEGO THURSDAY MARKET. Selection of over 500 books, all proceeds given to the elderly/disabled of Pego and local Animal Rescue. More stock always required please contact Chrissie 965 977 228/617 647 395 (95460) THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188 (95461) CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462) PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH, Calle Canalejas, 3. Pilar de la Horadada. Sunday Service at 11am & Thursday at 5pm for Prayer and Praise and Worship.

Home groups meet during the week. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, contact Pi larChristian.CommunityChurch@g mail.com / 968 575 417 / 966 848 806 Reg No: 2009-SG/A (95463) TCF is a multi-national English speaking church now located on Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas 68, Torrevieja. The Sunday Service, including Communion and Creche/Sunday School, commences at 10.30am with a Bible Study/Prayer Meeting on Wednesday evenings at 6.00pm. Telephone 966 700 391 or call in to the Church any day between 9.00am until 1.00pm. Monday to Friday to find out more about Church activities.

(95464) THE AIRCREW ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA BRANCH. Former & serving aircrews of the UK or Allied Armed Forces are welcome to join this convivial & friendly organisation, now in its 21st year. www.acacostablanca.org or call the Secretary on: 966 495 042 (95465)

HELP MMM CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Appointments for cervical, breast and prostate screening in the Murcia area, please ring 680 393 257 (95466) THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION JAVEA BRANCH meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month @ Scallops Rest on the Arenal at 11.00am. Everyone is welcome to attend as a visitor and join the branch if they wish. Anyone needing any help or advice on welfare, or any information regarding the branch can contact either Sheila on 965 791 270 or Roger on 965 790 123 (95472) TORREVIEJA STROKE SUPPORT GROUP meets each Friday 3pm to 5pm in The Annex, (behind Age Concern Centre), Calle Paganini, Urb. La Siesta. Our aim is to support stroke survivors and their carers by a range of facilities from speech therapy, rehabilitation exercise, group discussion etc. For info: Louie 96 671 8964 or Carol, Secretary: 966 765 488, e-mail: strokesupportgroup@ hotmail.com Donations and further voluntary helpers are needed and guest speakers with relevant knowledge or experience are very welcome. (95473) THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant Branch meets 1st Tuesday of every month at The Norwegian Club on Sierra Mar Urbanisation at 7pm for 7.30pm prompt. For further info contact Barbara Turnbull, Branch Secretary on 608 994 456 or email b_dmt1966@yahoo.co.uk CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer has opened a charity shop at C/Virgen de los Desamparados No 13 (next door to Mas y mas) El Campello.

The shop is open Mon-Fri 10 2pm and is run by unpaid volunteers and all monies raised goes to the AECC. We urgently need donations of clothes, books, large and small furniture etc, and we will arrange collection of large items. We need volunteers to help out in the shop and also clothes rails, shelves etc. for display.

Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please stop by at the shop.

Contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campello@hotmail.com International Christian Assembly Calle Pilar de Horadada 5, Torrevieja Evangelical non-denominational Sunday services 11am Children’s church 11am House groups in Torrevieja, Los Balcones, San Javier Ladies meeting Thursdays 11am. Pastor, Rafael Restrepo All nationalities welcome 966 799 273 / 660 127 276. (95476)

Price per word: 0,42€ + IVA minimum 15 words - Discount: Book 10 weeks, get 2 weeks free - Deadline: 4pm Mondays Contact: Phone (0034) 952 561 245 • Fax (0034) 952 440 887 • email classifieds@euroweeklynews.com • www.euroweeklynews.es

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South PETS

INTERNET

CHIMNEY SWEEP PROFESSIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP. Family business established over 60 years. 660 478 881

COMM EQUIPMENT A 3 PAN Fish & Chips Range. A Carvery Unit, a Cake Display and a 40 Chicken Roaster. Contact 653 165 711 (206294)

DAMP RISING DAMP! We can cure Rising Damp, Leaking Flat Roof or Terrace. We can make your Underbuild Dry. Villa Repainting Due? We can protect your villa and stop PENETRATING DAMP with a Protective Coating. You can also pay in Sterling. Phone/email us now for a FREE survey. Tel 965 050 065 or 634 322 672 www.dryzone-espana.com

ELECTRICIAN UK ELECTRICIAN Fully qualified all aspects of electrical work. Free estimates. Also pool cleaning services. 965 725 445 / 616 226 083

MOBILE HOMES WE BUY, Sell, Remove all types of Mobile Homes. We pay CASH and cover all of Spain. More details call Suzi Caley 616 250 727 / 951 063 059 or email suzicaley@ gmail.com (207499)

MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge.

698 320 434 (201515)

FRIENDSHIP FIND LOVE IN THE SUN w w w. i w a n t 2 m e e t y o u . c o m .

Browse for free Spain´s No. 1 online dating site. Bringing ex-pats together. (219566)

GARDENING GARDENER, 25 years working in Spain. English/Spanish spoken.

Private gardens and communities.

Free quotes, billthegardener@hotmail.es. Tel 699 682 630 (217645)

GEN. MAINTENANCE QUALIFIED TRADESMAN Electrical, plumbing, fencing, painting, balustrades, satellite TV installation and general maintenance. Tel 965 328 361 or 680 934 549 (219789)

SOS INSURANCE. www.sosin suranceinspain.com. Best prices available. CALL US FIRST for all your insurance needs, including best deals on funeral plans. Buildings and contents cover from just 98 euros per year. Tel 966 787 123 / 686 116 297. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us and why not like our facebook page at www.face book.com/sosinsurancein spain.com to help promote our services to other expatriates. (219746)

INTERNET

MOTOR HOMES SMALL selection of motorhome and caravan accessories now available at great prices. Motormovers, solar panels, inverters, leisure and engine batteries, reversing cameras, 12 volt LED televisions, air-conditioners and Aqua Kem. www.hispavan.com 687 845 730 (219435) WANTED motorhomes and caravans, any condition or country of registration considered. www.his pavan.com 687 845 730 MOTORHOMES and caravans for sale. Interesting selection. Part exchange considered. www.his pavan.com 687 845 730 (219435)

MOTORING

GOLD WANTED GOLD WANTED. English jeweller will buy broken, unwanted jewellery and coins. 664 890 990 (201540)

MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 153, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 153 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (95302)

WANTED WANTED Cars, vans, caravans, 4 X 4’s British Spanish 600 781 873 ibuyanycar@ hotmail.com

FOR SALE CAMPER VAN, British reg, 1996. Peugeot chassis, Turbo diesel, 2.5 only 36,000 miles, 6 metres. Tax and MOT for 11 months. Includes safari room.

Bike rack, many extras. Ready to go. Lady owner. View at Caravanning la Manga.

15,000€. Tel 639 537 666 Pictures available (206394)

NURSERY HIRE KIDEASE NURSERY HIRE. Wide range of Children’s Equipment FOR HIRE. FREE DELIVERY 7 DAYS A WEEK. Family business.

Tel: 966 764 267 / 665 124 448 www.kideasenurseryhire.com

PERGOLA COVERS TAILOR made, durable canvas, sails, umbrella, spa and BBQ covers. Mazarron based, and at Procomobel Market, Guardamar Saturday mornings. 667 879 399 krugercanopies@in.com (221198)

INSURANCE

SCRAP YOUR CAR LEGALLY. Cash paid for newer cars, but all cars taken and legally disposed of for free and Baja Final issued. Call 667 711 380 (216565)

PET INSURANCE PROTECTAPET. Spain’s leading pet insurance. 965 756 371. www.protectapet.eu (216721)

PET-COURIERS.COM – If you love your pet try us first – we are the best. Door to door service throughout Europe. Specialised vehicles – bespoke service. Full legal service including documentation if required. For further information call or e-mail us: Tel: (0034) 651 033 670 or (0034) 637 066 227. Email: info@petcouriers.com or www.pet-couri ers.com (206497)

PET TRANSPORT INTERPAWS: 20 years’ licensed pet transportation.

Competitive rates. Difficult dog? Effective behavioural training in your home. www.interpaws.com janette@interpaws.com 689 742 289 (204958) PET TRAVEL UK family pet transporters Spain/UK. Travel with your pets for free. All air conditioned vehicles (no vans) www.pettravel.co.uk / UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960 130 537

PET CHARITIES EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easy horsecare.net www.easyhorse care.net or call Sue 652 021 980 (95706) SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting re-homing. Shelter open 7 days a week 12noon - 2.00pm & 3.30pm - 7.00pm. (Spanish speaking staff) or phone Gail 962 896 118. Visit our website for directions. www.spama.org and view our new blog at www.spa ma-safor.blog.com.es PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM (95707)

REMOVALS / STORAGE

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P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOSTER HOMES URGENTLY NEEDED. By fostering an abandoned dog, or spending a few hours each week on our telephone helpline, you could help save the lives of many animals. Please call: 650 304 746.

For more information browse our website: www.pepaspain.com EURO WEEKLY NEWS CLASSIFAX AGENT (95708) GATAMI ORGANISATION, to help kittens and cats, looking for good homes, also spaying wild cats in the community. Kittens require adoption, fully vaccinated, dewormed, de-fleed. We also need volunteers to help Car boot sale in Polop on Sundays Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709)

PLUMBER MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge.

698 320 434 (201515)

POOL SERVICES YES YOU CAN HAVE A POOL - We design & install Wooden AboveGround Pools. Pools installed from 1,185€. With above ground pools there is “No Planning Permission Required”. You can also pay in Sterling. Phone or email for a FREE BROCHURE NOW. info@piscinasmadera.com - Tel: 965 050 064 / 634 322 672 w w w. p i s c i n a s m a d e r a . c o m (201503)

PROPERTY FOR RENT 3 Bed Villa for rent situated amongst fruit trees on 31,000m2 plot, Catral / San Isidro, pool, garage, stunning mountain views, peaceful, 575€ pcm. Long lease available, non smokers.

Children/friendly, animals welcome Tel 615 607 278. (206268)

PROPERTY TO LET

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

REMOVALS & STORAGE EUROPEAN removals and transport with scheduled UK routes. UK Company, fully legal, taking loads from 5kg to 24,000kg. Lowest prices and the best service. 952 816 582 or www.focus-transport.com (201300) CAR TRANSPORT AND RECOVERY. UK-SPAIN-UK. Established 5 years. Do you need your car transported? We also transport boats, plant and machinery. Fully insured. Call Martin on 0044 7970 861141 or email martin.emerald freight@gmail.com (221205) SPANISH MOVES. Small removals and deliveries. Spain/UK Budget prices. Last minute jobs undertaken. www.spanishmoves.net. Telephone UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960 130 537 (201747) MAN AND VAN UK - Spain. 2 vans travelling twice a month, Murcia North / South UK. Tel 610 846 260 or 0044 751 918 6355 email van.man@hotmail.co.uk (215762) INTERNATIONAL and European Removals. Expert removals worldwide. www.universalre movals.com. Tel: 951 247 834 UK - SPAIN Removals. Masses of experience. New clean vehicles. Insured with AXA. Genuinely CARING service. FULL and part moves. ONLINE QUOTES!! bmceuropean.com UK 08456 443 784 / ES 634 344 787 (207584)

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MOTORING

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13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

otoring M TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

C

ITROEN has unveiled the new C4 Cactus, the French manufacturer’s alternative to the compact hatch-

back.

The C4 Cactus stands apart with a unique design that is both functional and attractive.

It features pure, smooth surfaces and flowing lines with no aggressive edges.

Fitted on the side and bumpers of the C4 Cactus is the Airbump, a Citroen exclusive.

It provides day-to-day protection with a supple thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) skin that comprises air capsules to absorb impacts.

The Airbump requires no specific maintenance and directly contributes to cutting vehicle servicing and repair costs.

Inside the C4 Cactus, which is going to be manufactured at Citroen’s plant in Villaverde (Madrid), space has been freed up for the driver and passengers.

The low dashboard with its horizontal lines creates more space for the front passenger, with easily accessible storage.

This was obtained by adopting a fully digital interface and optimising the driving position layout.

At the rear, passenger knee room is similar to that on the C4. For an equivalent wheelbase, the C4 Cactus provides the same amount of space for more compact exterior dimensions.

Fitted as standard, a 7-inch touch

EWN

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Citroen C4 Cactus, a functional hatchback screen

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C4 CACTUS: An alternative to the compact hatchback. with seven sensitive buttons gives access to a full range of modern vehicle functions.

The vehicle weighs 965 kilos, 200 kilos overall less than a Citroen C4.

By making the vehicle lighter, CITROEN has been able to adopt smaller latest-generation engines.

This has the advantage of cutting fuel consumption while maintaining driveability.

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Car sales on the increase in January CAR sales in Spain increased by 7.6 per cent in the first month of the year, with a total of 53,436 units sold in January.

This is a remarkable increase compared to the 19,496 cars sold in the same period last year.

The Spanish Car and Lorry Manufacturers Association (Anfac) credits the sales boost to the fifth phase of the PIVE incentive programme, which came into force on January 29. “The PIVE 5 has allowed the month of January to close with positive figures,” said Communications Manager at Anfac David Barrientos.

This increase, however, is slightly lower than the one the market experienced during the last months of 2013.

In December last year, for example, 60,513 units were sold, an 18.2 per cent increase.

By brands, Volkswagen lead the market with 5,268 cars sold, although the best-selling model was once again the Citroen C4.

sales@euroweeklynews.com

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E W N 13 - 19 February 2014 / Costa Blanca South

Sport

Queen of snow Jenny LAST Sunday, Bristol-born Jenny Jones, aged 33 and wearing number 1, became the first Brit to ‘officially’ win an Olympic medal on snow. She claimed bronze in the women’s snowboarding event in Sochi.

TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

Costa Blanca’s best guide to local sport

Eurogolf’s monthly medal

EUROGOLF entered 42 players for the February Monthly Medal on Thursday, February 6 at their home course of La Marquesa. A special thanks to our sponsors.

Superhero of the day was Mr Stanley coming to his wife’s rescue when the battery went on her trolley.

The Buckeridge and Manning families must be taking vitamin pills as both husbands and wives were in the day’s prizes.

In the Gold Division, Paul Manning came in first (71 nett) with Ian Pegg coming in second (75 nett). Terry Sharley was third (76 nett).

In the Silver Division, Gordon Bourne was first (73 nett) and Frances Buckeridge second (74 nett). Cindi Green came in third (76 nett).

And finally, the winner of the February Monthly Medal was Paul Manning.

Orihuela Rampant against Cartagena

IT was another double header for Orihuela RFC as the cadets and B team played against Cartagena.

The ITV Orihuela RFC cadets were up first against

Torry hammer Utiel

Some excellent passing kept the game flowing.

Cartagena looking at keeping their 100 per cent league success in tact, which they did in style again.

With their coach Pedro doing some excellent work moulding the team together and with link up work by the forwards and backs it kept the scoreboard ticking along.

The scores kept coming as a result of some the interval. Influential excellent passing out of the captain Alfonso was also tackle to keep the game injured in the first half and flowing and before half had to be replaced. time Orihuela RFC added Atletico Cabezo scored four more tries with three times early in the Gregory getting one of second half to a 5-1 lead. them himself and the Tolo followed with a long- conversions going in at half range effort 5 minutes later time 38-0 up. but Cabezo restored their The second half was four-goal lead almost much of the same, but immediately.

Leading credit must go to the scorer Ruben despatched a Cartagena players as they penalty kick, his 12th goal never gave up and kept of the season, to make the breaking out of defence to score 6-3. Both teams get a score of their own. scored again before the The final score was 19final whistle.

14 to ITV Orihuela RFC.

Mazarron suffer 7-4 defeat at Atletico Cabezo de Torres’ hands MAZARRON’S less-thanpositive start to 2014 continued with a 7-4 defeat at Atletico Cabezo de Torres on Sunday, February 9.

This leaves them with just two points from the five games played so far this

year. Just two points away from an automatic promotion position and four points behind the league leaders before the Christmas break, Mazarron have now slumped to 12th and are 10 points away from the promotion positions.

Mazarron took the lead after 25 minutes with a free kick from Enrique but Cabezo equalised almost immediately.

Atletico Cabezo capitalised on another mistake, taking the lead four minutes before

SPORT

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LAST Sunday Torry travelled north to play bottom of the table Utiel and were looking to bring home all three points.

Torry suffered an early setback after they didn’t deal with a long throw into the area and the loose ball was rifled home from Prieto to give Utiel the lead. Torry equalised just before the break through.

Torry came out for the second half with more purpose and went ahead on 54 minutes when Obele was first to a long ball from Alexis and headed over the Utiel keeper. Alberto then extended Torry’s lead. Torry put the game out of sight of Utiel in the 80th minute after a fine run and finish by the quicksilver Pastor.

For Torry yellow cards were picked up by Burguillos, debutant Martin and Dani Lucas. Utiel players and technical staff received no less than 8 yellow cards.

On Sunday 10th placed Torry are at home to 2nd placed Orihuela in what is the local derby. The game kicks off at 5pm. www.fctorrevieja.net or www.futbolclubtorrevieja. net

Good important away win for Racing Playa RACING Playas de Orihuela entered this important game away to San Fulgencio, having to reshuffle their line up due to the suspension of Carlos Valderrama.

Racing dominated the opening minutes and created several decent chances on goal. The Racing defence coped well with the attacking efforts of the home team who couldn’t handle the the speed and power of Brunton, Cockroft, Zarkov and Captain Medina.

Despite having a large amount of possession, it was the home team

who scored first with a break down Racing’s right side.

On 33 mins Racing fell further behind when a clearly off-side goal for Fulgencio was allowed to stand.

But on 38 minutes Racing’s Nico Garcia struck a goal back despite Racing being down to 10 players, whilst Brunton was receiving treatment to go into half time 2 - 1 down.

Racing didn’t have to wait long in the second half and started putting the home side on the back foot.

A great move started with

Brunton passing the ball down the right to Garcia who crossed the ball to Glen Lawton and struck a fierce shot past the Fulgencio keeper to bring the score level 2 - 2.

On 59 minutes Dani Zarkov scored from a corner for racing. A great win away.

For further information on C.F. Racing Players de Orihuela who represent the Orihuela Costa region in the Valencian Federacion and Elche Brave leagues contact CDM on 965 503 915 or George on 679 774 488.