Issuu

ISSUE NO. 1544

EWN FRONT EXTRA

Money for beaches NERJA is to get more than €120,000 to renovate its beaches. Head of the town’s Beach Department said that aid was being provided by the Commonwealth of Costa del Sol-Axarquia municipalities and Malaga Provincial Council.

BBC report ALMUÑECAR photographer Francisco Mignorance has been featured in the BBC’s Wildlife Magazine, with his report entitled ‘Following the Rainbow’, which wa recorded in Africa.

Sand loss PLAYA Granada in Motril has lost a substantial amount of sand during the recent storms. Last November, the council spent €544,000 to replenish it with 150,000 cubic metres of sand.

TRUST

our advertisers

Stop Press!

WE DO!

5 - 11 FEBRUARY 2015

WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

VALENTINE’S FEATURE - See Pages 20 - 21

Give us back our right to vote! BRITISH expatriates are demanding that the rule which removes their right to vote in the UK after 15 years is abolished. With the general election in the UK fast approaching, many expats in Spain – still bristling from the recent Winter Fuel UK in Italy/flickr

HARRY SHINDLER: War vet fighting for expats’ right to vote. See Page 14.

Allowance debate – are backing a promised bill to abolish the controversial rule. Today (February 5) is Overseas Voter Registration Day, encouraging expats to register to vote, but any Britons who moved to Spain before the year 2000 are not entitled to vote in the general election this May. A large number of expats feel disenfranchised as they don’t have a vote either in their home country or their adopted country, as expats can only vote in Spanish national

elections if they have taken Spanish citizenship. According to the official representative of one of Spain’s Conservative Abroad (CA) branches, the so-called ‘15-year rule’ should be amended to a vote for life. Peter Newey told Euro Weekly News (EWN): “The current position is unfair in many ways. I pay tax in the UK. I have investments and may one day wish to return to live in the UK; after all, who knows what the future holds for any of us. “As we are seeing now, whichever political party is in Government today has a profound effect and impacts on the quality of life in the UK in years to come, and so having the right to vote in elections does matter. There are so many issues that Britons living overseas are concerned about in the

UK, yet can do nothing about at the one time you can have a voice… election time!” This matter has cross-party support, with Labour International and Liberal International also calling for the rule to be abolished. Mr Newey stressed that expats in Spain have been vocal about the issue. “The largest number of CA branches in any single country is in Spain and it has been these branches who have led the campaign over many, many years to highlight how wrong this rule is,” Mr Newey remarked. EWN has also tried to get in touch with Labour International, but was still waiting for a response at the time of going to press. Vote Special Page 14 What do you think about the 15-year rule? Have your say on www.euroweeklynews.com.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

INDEX News 1 - 24 Finance 25 - 30 Letters 31 Leapy Lee 32 Daily TV 34 Time Out 36 - 37 Health & Beauty 38 - 39 Pets 40 Services 41 - 43 Classifieds 44 - 45 Motoring 47 Sport 48

www.euroweeklynews.com

Estonian TV crew visits ‘camera-friendly’ Nerja A TEAM from National Estonian Television (ETV) visited Nerja to shoot a tourism programme entitled ‘Reisile Minuga’ (Travel with Me), a weekly production featuring Nerja and other Andalucian towns. The show is broadcast on Saturdays at peak viewing time and this particular episode will be released this month. The programme is not only broadcast in Estonia but also in countries like Finland and Russia, and attracts a high audience share of more than 20 per cent. It is hosted by Ivo Linna, a popular Estonian singer who represented his country at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996, together with Maaria-Liis Ilus.

CAMERAS ROLL: Nerja continues to be one of the most requested settings for TV productions and this time it was an Estonian channel that chose the town. The crew have recorded scenes at Nerja’s beaches, Europe’s Balcony, the town’s historic centre and the Nerja Caves. Linna commented that Nerja was one of the most

‘camera-friendly’ towns which had featured in movies including Fathom, featuring Raquel Welch, shot in the 1960s near the town’s Playa de Calahonda.

NEWS

TRUST our advertisers

NEWS

Graffiti contest VELEZ-MALAGA Council is considering holding a graffiti contest to promote the artwork of the town’s young residents, Councillor Jesus Lupiañez has announced.

Tolkien theme park planned RINCON DE LA VICTORIA is to be the home of a fantasy theme park based on the universe and characters created by JRR Tolkien. Eight hectares have been allocated for the park, which is to be named La Comarca (The Shire). The project was unveiled by the town’s mayor, Francisco Salado, in Madrid at the

international tourism fair FITUR. “The Shire will become one of the major tourism attractions of our town. The material used will have a very low environmental impact, to create an integrated image in nature,” said Salado. He added: “It will be a place in which family leisure, sports and nature will go hand-in-hand in a unique space of great beauty set

in a time of fairy tales and the magic of the elves. “Rincon de la Victoria will have a top-rated tourist attraction, which will also add to the variety of attractions in Malaga.” With a budget of €1.7 million, the project is being supported by Malaga Provincial Council, which will contribute €500,000 towards it. Sebas Romero/Red Bull/SIPA/Cordon Press

Tourist attraction SALOBREÑA’S stand at Madrid’s tourism fair FITUR was visited by more than 100 travel professionals, interested in learning more about the town’s main tourist attractions, Head of the Tourism Department Eugenia Rufino said.

WE DO! 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

Campaign begins SPANISH Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is expected to join Partido Popular (PP) candidate for the March Andalucia elections, Juan Manuel Moreno, in Malaga this Saturday (February 7) for their first joint campaign event.

Picture exhibit THE exhibition hall Mare Nostrum in La Cala del Moral will be hosting a new photography exhibition by Jose Moreno Ceano until March 13, which features pictures taken in Africa. Free tickets FRIGILIANA residents interested in attending the basketball match between Unicaja Malaga and Flat Juventud on Sunday (February 8) for free can register at the Villa de Frigiliana sports office until February 6 at 8pm.

‘

ews watch

Safer province

CRIME rates in Malaga have dropped over the last three years, making the province a great example of progress, announced Security Secretary of State Francisco Martinez during a visit to the city.

Paving works TORROX has started the paving works around the southern area of the N-340 road between the Güi River and Barranquillo Rico, with an assigned budget of almost €200,000.

Jobless fall

Incident in Salobreña TWO men were involved in a fight in Salobreña last Tuesday. One of them had to be taken to Santa Ana Hospital in Motril as he was hit on the head with a metal bar. Come and learn MALAGA tourism department representatives are promoting the area as an ideal place to come and learn Spanish this week (February 5-7) at the Salon L’Express Expolangues language tourism fair in Paris.

EWN

VILLANUEVA DEL ROSARIO has been included in the 10 municipalities of Malaga where the unemployment rate decreased the most in 2014.

Pigeon fancying THRILL-SEEKING: Extreme sports go up a notch.

Daredevils’ ‘slingshot’ jump at 7G is spectacular

PAIR of death-defying adrenaline junkies have taken it upon themselves to hop out of a hot-air balloon at 5,000 metres and then slingshot themselves from a paraglider before skydiving down to a ski resort in the Pyrenees. It’s not the kind of thought to enter most people’s heads as a way to kill an afternoon, but then Spaniard Horacio Llorens and Argentinian Hernan Pitocco’s minds don’t tend to work the same way as other people’s. Thirty-two-year-old Llorens is a five-time Acro Paragliding World Cup champ and Guinness World Record Holder, and 36-year-old Pitocco is an experienced BASE jumper. The thrill-seekers took extreme sports to another level when they performed their spectacular dive over Catalonia, reaching 7G as

Quote of the Week They’re a sad bunch, who go around saying how badly things are going. They’re not going to do it,’ said Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of the Podemos political party’s election chances as more than 100,000 anti-austerity supporters rallied in Madrid at the weekend.

they somersaulted through the air before slingshotting themselves in perfect tandem out of their paraglider. “To do it safely, we both needed to release from the glider together, at a very precise moment, to ensure we wouldn’t fall into the glider,” said Llorens. “At 3,900 metres, we did about 13 revolutions, and then after 13 we released, around 3,400 metres. Then it was a simple skydive to the landing at 2,000 metres, at the ski resort of La Molina.” To prepare for the Red Bull-sponsored jump, the two daredevils spent seven hours training in a wind tunnel and practised several jumps. And Llorens’ reaction when they touched down on Spanish soil? “One of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my life.”

CREDITlev radin / Shutterstock.com

Number of the week

is the number of consecutive months that new car sales in Spain have risen. In January, the figure rose by 28 per cent with a total of 68,118 new cars being registered.

VELEZ-MALAGA Council has announced the 16th Regional Championship of Racing Pigeons, which will take place between February 16 and 22 in the Azucarera building in Torre del Mar.

Immigrants count COUNCILLOR for Social Services in Motril, Angeles Lopez Cano, held a meeting with representatives of immigrant associations to set up a programme of activities especially designed for this community.

Customer service ALMUÑECAR’S Municipal Customer Information Office (OMIC) received 755 enquiries and resolved 164 complaints during 2014.

And finally... ‘Pixelated hair’ is the latest craze in the top hair salons worldwide. Pioneered by three Madridbased hair colourists, the pixelated look involves square blocks of colour being soaked into the hair and layered to give a computer graphic-like effect. The wacky, futuristic look has even been used by Revlon for a campaign.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

Caves prepare for festival THE 56th edition of the Nerja Caves International Music and Dance Festival has added a new setting for its popular concerts. The festival, which started in 1960, has

traditionally been celebrated in the Nerja Caves but this summer four of the concerts will take place in the Plaza de España, near the Balcon de Europa.

National artists of great popularity, including Pablo Alboran, David Bustamante and flamenco singer Jose Merce will be featured. The news was

Our View

announced by head of the Nerja Caves foundation, Jorge Hernandez Mollar, and president of the Provincial Council, Elias Bendodo, at the international tourism fair FITUR in Madrid. Bendodo explained that

the festival was the most important event to take place in the caves, with a budget of €430,000. Official presentation of the festival will take place on April 29, when tickets will be made available for those who wish to attend the performances.

HIS week we’re taking a look at the issues surrounding expats and the British general election in May. It won’t be happening this year, but hopefully by the next general election – and any future referendum on ‘Brexit’ – the ’15-year rule’ prohibiting expats who have lived outside the UK for 15 years or more from voting will have been done away with. Groups in Spain and the rest of Europe have been tirelessly campaigning for the rights of expat voters and are urging those who do have a vote to make sure to register now, in plenty of time to ensure you have your say. The more expats who register and vote, the larger the voice we have in the UK when it comes to matters that affect us all, not just those still at home.

Take a walk on the tipsy side! PEDESTRIANS in Spain have been warned this week that if they’re in a hurry and have had a few drinks that they could be ‘pulled over’ on the pavement for exceeding the ‘normal stride’. However, the new proposals to introduce pedestrian breath tests are only for those pedestrians involved in a traffic accident or offence. Overzealous policemen won’t be stopping joggers or pulling up happy revellers making their way home after a night out for a random breath test! More than half of the 370 pedestrians killed on Spanish roads last year had alcohol or drugs in their system. So just remember to stay safe while walking home, at all times, not just when you’ve been enjoying a drink. See full story on Page 19

Have your say and leave your comments at www.euroweeklynews.com

JUAN PABLO OLMO ON FLICKR

Voting rights for UK expatriates

SPECTACULAR: Flamenco show during the 2012.

Transparent Velez-Malaga VELEZ-MALAGA Council has been named amongst the most open and honest in Spain, in a recently published report. The data was released by the Spanish International Transparency Organisation, through the Index of Council Transparency of 2014. Mayor of the town, Francisco Delgado Bonilla, explained that Velez-Malaga Council had been rated as the second most transparent in the province, and also the second in Andalucia. In addition, it is rated at number 36 out of 110 evaluated on the national list. “We have achieved an outstanding result, as we have obtained 95 points out of the maximum 100,” said Delgado. He added that the results represented an improvement on 2012, when the council obtained 92.5 out of 100.

Wind and rain wreak havoc STRONG winds and rain storms caused extensive damage around the Costa Tropical last weekend, notably in Salobreña. Waves of up to five metres and winds of more than 70 kilometres per hour caused destruction along Salobreña’s promenade, and the local council says repairing the damage is beyond its financial reach. The worst affected areas have been the promenade at the Salomar 2000 Residential Complex, where pavements and walkways to access the beach have been completely destroyed. The water has invaded beaches, making the sand disappear completely. The town’s mayor, Gonzalo Fernandez, has requested aid from the central government to fund the restoration work.

NEWS EXTRA

Good work NINE Velez-Malaga Local Police officers were honoured in an event for their actions in an illegal tobacco operation last October. They confiscated 24,000 illegal packets of cigarettes.

Art talk A LECTURE entitled ‘Mas Alla de una Mirada’ about the Arnolfini Portrait will be held in the Casa de la Cultura in Almuñecar today (February 5) at 8pm.

Padel wins MORE than 150 people participated in Nerja’s Padel Tournament at the town’s indoor sports centre. The winners were David Ponce and Maria Urbano.

NEWS

Fire engine crashes A FIRE engine was involved in an accident on Monday February 2 at the access roundabout to VelezMalaga. The incident took place in the morning at around 10.15am on the A-356 road, when the engine, which was on its way to put out a fire in Nerja, rolled over as it was driving round the roundabout. According to the head of the Provincial Fire Department, Manual Marmolejo, the vehicle was not going at high speed and he believes it could have mounted the kerb. The driver was taken to Hospital Comarcal but was released shortly afterwards.

TRUST our advertisers

- 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical WE 5DO!

EWN

Railway extension should look east, say Axarquia mayors THE mayors of Axarquia and Eastern Costa del Sol have demanded that the coastal train project is extended east, at least as far as Nerja. Complaints were

sparked by future plans for an extension of the Malaga to Fuengirola line that would take it further west to Marbella. Torrox Mayor Francisco Muñoz was the first to

express his discontent at his town not being included in the train’s extended route. Other mayors added their protests to Muñoz’s, including Mayor of Rincon

Biomass blaze in port A MAJOR fire broke out last Friday (January 30) at Motril Port’s inner harbour and burned throughout the night. The blaze started at around 5pm in the Las Azucenas dock, in an area earmarked for goods where a pile of biomass was stocked. Firefighters from Motril, Almuñecar, Iznalloz and Granada, as well as Axarquia towns including Velez-Malaga and Nerja,

ATTENDING: Fire crews from across Axarquia. were on the scene quickly to join the efforts to extinguish the fire, which became difficult due to the high winds. At around 10am on Saturday, the fire

was controlled although not extinguished, as it is estimated that the natural process of the material’s combustion will last a few more days.

de la Victoria Francisco Salado, Velez-Malaga Mayor Francisco Delgado, Natacha Rivas from Algarrobo and Nerja’s Jose Alberto Armijo. “It is time we stopped looking down on the municipalities of Axarquia and Eastern Costa del Sol, considering it as the poor relation of Western Costa Tropical as the destination has to be considered as a whole,”

said Salado. “We understand that Marbella is the only town in Spain with more than 100,000 inhabitants which is not linked by train so it is understandable to connect it with Fuengirola, but without forgetting the Eastern Costa del Sol as well as Estepona and Manilva,” said the mayor of Velez-Malaga, Francisco Delgado.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

to know me), it was designed to offer foreign residents and locals alike a fun way to know more about their town. The programme offers free excursions from

LEX L X IURIS S Despacho D e esp pacho acho h Juridico J idi o

OUR SER SERVICES VICES Real Estate Law Wills – Inheritance Law Horizontal Law Urban Law Administrative Law Contract and Business Development Criminal Law Litigation and contentious Civil and commercial LEX IURIS – Despacho Jurídico C/ Jaén 2, Plaza de la Marina – Edif Tomé II, bajo 1 29780 Nerja (Málaga) 13 (+34) Tel. (+34) 952 52 81 13 (+34) 952 52 54 90

Mondays to Fridays around the main points, with information in Spanish, English and French. On Mondays, the tour will take in the Torre de Benagalbon, the Ecological Path of Los Rubios, the Añoreta golf course and the Torre Almenara. Plans for Tuesdays are to visit the Treasure Cave of Rincon de la Victoria and El Cantal. Wednesday will focus on a walk across town and a visit to the Casa Fuerte Bezmiliana, the town’s

Photo credit: Miwipedia on Wikipedia commons.

Free local excursions THE Foreign Residents Office of Rincon de la Victoria has launched a programme of excursions for visitors to learn about its main tourist attractions. Called ‘Conoceme’ (Get

NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

CASA FUERTE BEZMILIANA: One of the attractions. promenade, as well as the Virgen del Carmen patron saint. On Thursdays, visitors will be taken to Benagalbon to see the Popular Arts Museum, the church and the Plaza de las Flores, and they can enjoy tapas across the town’s restaurants.

The last day of the week will be used to visit Cala del Moral with a walk across its promenade, the Mare Nostrum Room and the Casa de la Cultura. The tours start at 11am and last about three hours. Find out details from the Foreign Residents Office.

New car park almost complete THE construction work on Nerja’s new underground car park is almost completed. Mayor of the town, Jose Alberto Armijo, visited the site to see the progress for himself, and announced a motion to call the new car park ‘Aparcamiento Municipal Burriana,’ which is expected to be approved in the next plenary session. It will have 240 spaces on three

different floors on a surface of 6,500 square metres. In addition, it will contain a tourism office. With a budget of €2.6 million, it was funded through the National Financial Fund for the Modernisation of Tourism Infrastructure (FOMIT). The car park is expected to be operational by the end of March or the beginning of April.

NEWS EXTRA

Trip to the snow A TRIP to Sierra Nevada (Granada) has been organised by Rincon de la Victoria Council on February 15 with a price of €10. Those interested can register calling 951 211 061 or 607 251 225. Limited places are available.

Damage in Almuñecar HIGH winds and strong waves caused severe damage at some of the La Herradura and San Cristobal beaches, as well as the Reina Sofia promenade. Reparation works will start shortly in the area.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS

5th football field How to complete to be renovated an accident report form Advertising feature

THE renovation works of Motril’s fifth football field have already begun. Mayor of the town Luisa Garcia Chamorro together with Sports councillor, Jose Garcia Fuentes and other council representatives visited the site which is located at El Varadero. The field, which is in very poor

condition, was owned by the town’s Port Authorities, which have transferred the plot to the council. The renovation project was put out to public tender and awarded to company Fieldturf Poligras SA, for an allocated budget of €300,000, with the council contributing the amount corresponding to the IVA tax. Plans are to provide the field with artificial grass and a new irrigation system, as well as commercial facilities at risk improving the field’s of flooding and causing lighting and renovating great concern amongst the the changing rooms, according to Mr Fuentes. citizens. Once the works are However, with a budget of €962,000, the Water done, the town will have five and Services Department officially of the Costa Tropical have operational sports facililaunched a project to solve ties, together with the field the serious problem, of Hermanos Callejon, especially in the areas of Puntalon, Paulino Salgado Barrio de San Sebastian in Torrenueva and the one and those that go along in Calahonda, which was inaugurated last summer. the CN 340 road.

Flooding solutions RESIDENTS of the Almuñecar neighbourhood La Paloma are close to seeing solved the area’s major flooding problems. Back in September 2007, heavy rain storms caused substantial damage and even the death of one of the area’s neighbours. Deficiencies of the street’s sewage system were putting homes and

WHAT is an accident report form? An accident report form is a document which outlines the circumstances which have occurred in a car accident. In addition to the personal details of the drivers and their vehicles, the document includes a jointly agreed description of the manoeuvres carried out by the drivers when the accident took place, which plays a key role in determining who is responsible for a traffic accident. How should it be completed? Línea Directa offers the following advice to complete the form: 1. Columns A and B (blue and yellow), are for the personal details of the drivers and their vehicles. 2. In section 12, (Circumstances) the numbered column on the left describes the manoeuvres of car A and the one on the right those of car B. If you are unsure which box to mark, leave it blank. Make a drawing of the accident in section 13 indicating the manoeuvre of each car. 3. If anybody has been injured or if you think they might have been injured, complete section 24. 4. If there is more than one car involved in the accident, also complete section 23, on the reverse side of the form, and include it in the sketch. 5. Sign the form and keep a copy.

How to act in case of an accident Línea Directa Insurance advises you of the steps to follow in case of a road accident in Spain. 1. Call the emergency number: 112. They will coordinate the procedure and will ask you in detail about the circumstances of the accident. 2. Remain calm at all times. Switch on the emergency lights and if the state of the vehicle permits, remove the vehicle from the road, in order to avoid delays and further accidents, to the extent possible. 3. Signal the accident location. Before stepping out of the car, put on your high-visibility jacket, which is compulsory, and place the emergency triangles correctly. The first must be placed about 50 metres behind the car in the direction of the traffic, and the second about 100m. 4. If someone is seriously injured, never try to move them, except if in danger of fire or imminent explosion. Cover the injured person, keep them calm and wait for the emergency services to arrive. 5. If the circumstances of the location allow, always fill in the European accident report, which is an essential document for speeding up the procedures and handling between the insurance companies. If you have any doubt about how to do this, don’t hesitate to call your insurance company.

LÍNEA DIRECTA ADVISES YOU

•

This document is essential for determining who is responsible for a traffic accident, which has a direct effect on the price that customers pay when renewing their insurance.

For more information, Call 902 123 309

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

Dog breeder’s fake documents A DOG breeder and a printing worker have been arrested for faking documents and 162 puppies confiscated from the breeder’s premises by SEPRONA Nature Protection Branch of the Guardia Civil. Investigations began when the Official College of Veterinarians of Malaga reported a number of Nerja vets had spotted puppies with fake health documents. Various pet shops across the province of Malaga were inspected and more false documents discovered. The breeder, who bred and sold puppies from Padul in Granada, allegedly asked the printer to create fake documents and treated the puppies himself to reduce vets’ bills. Documents were made by copying two original health documents signed

PUPPIES: Many were confiscated from the premises. and stamped by a Granada vet, and were very difficult to identify as only slight

variations in colour and texture were noticeable to experienced eyes.

NEWS

Two car thieves nabbed TWO men were caught by Motril Local Police while driving a stolen car in the area of Camino del Cerro del Toro. The officers, who were patrolling around the area at the time, noticed a car on the verge of the road, which was then identified as a vehicle that had been stolen in Los Alamos. While the officers were contacting the owner and describing the poor condition it was in, two men jumped into the car and drove off, forcing the police to start chasing them and call for reinforcements. After a short chase, one of the police vehicles was hit by the car the suspects were in, and officers were finally able to catch them. Both have been taken into custody.

Kite man rescued from sea A MAN had to be rescued on Tuesday (February 3) off the coast of Motril after he was involved in a kitesurfing accident. The man reportedly lost hold of his kite when he was 300 metres off the coast and was pulled into the water by the strong waves. One of his friends tried to rescue him, but was also dragged in by the waves. However, he was able to get back to the shore by his own means. Salvamento Maritimo (Spanish sea search and rescue organisation) was alerted and rescued the kitesurfer after he had drifted for one kilometre, arriving at Motril’s dike.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS

Nerja gears up for the Carnival WITH Christmas and New Year barely done and dusted, cities and towns all across the region are preparing for further festivities in the form of the always colourful and flamboyant ‘Carnaval’ - or carnival - season. Four days full of raucous laughter, fun, parades and fancy dress. Nerja is one of the towns putting the finishing touches to preparations for the festivities that will take place between February 12 and 15. A variety of activities are on offer including the Great Carnival Parade and ‘Chanquete’s Funeral’ (Sunday, February 15), where residents symbolically and ironically mourn and bury a fish to mark the beginning of Lent. Fireworks on the beach usually mark the end of the funeral procession and a continuation of the party. One of the most important events is the election of the ‘Nymph and Clown’ for the celebrations (Friday, February 13), with entrants performing on

stage in costume using music, props and back-up dancers to snatch the precious title. The larger carnival events usually include song contests and drag queen’s displaying their flamboyant and extravagant costumes. In Nerja, prizes of up to €900 are given for the best group costumes of residents who participate on the great parade which will take place on Saturday (February 14). On Sunday (February 15), from 11.30am, the town’s Plaza de España will be filled with pets in fancy dress in an effort to win the ‘Pets in Costume’ competition. More information can be requested at the Nerja tourist office on Calle Carmen, by calling 952 521 531 or by visiting www.nerja.org. Are you dressing up for carnival this year? Send us your photos and we will print the best in the paper and our website. Please send to editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

Register to have your say BRITISH expats in Spain are being urged to demonstrate that they have a voice in the upcoming general election in the UK by registering to vote as soon as possible. Those not affected by the ’15-year rule’ should register to vote now, according to the head of campaigns for Conservatives Abroad in Europe, Paul Barnes. “If you are a democrat, the core is the ability to vote,” Mr Barnes told

Expats’ right to vote COLIN BIRD THE vast majority of Brits leaving the mother country do so for one basic reason – to improve their quality of life. That’s it. I also believe that many have taken this major step because of the disgust at the constant attack on our long-established institutions, our crumbling public services and a general erosion of standards across the board. And like me, downright anger with self-seeking politicians and criminally-inept governments that have replaced what was once seen universally as the shining model for parliamentary democracy. Nevertheless, it is of vital importance that we retain and use the right as British citizens to vote in UK elections, and have our voices heard. In addition, demand the abolition of the arbitrary 15-year period of domicile in a foreign country, after which we are automatically disenfranchised. It was our choice to move to Spain, but I am an Englishman first and last. I have no idea whether I will have the opportunity to settle again in the country of my birth, but I sure as hell have earned the right over my working life to have a say in who governs it – wherever I choose to live.

Electoral limbo CASSANDRA NASH THERE will always be a corner in expat hearts that remains forever British and most of us

EWN. “We expats need to show that we do have a voice and as a result we should get out and vote. The 15-year rule alienates some British expats and as a result they feel disenfranchised. They can’t vote in the UK and they can’t vote in national elections in Spain.” Mr Barnes said that of the estimated 5.6 million Britons living abroad, around three million are eligible to

vote. But the UK Government has no record of the number of people who have lost their right to vote. “If expats voted they would suddenly have a voice and a bigger say in UK affairs,” he said. “The Conservatives have promised that they will eliminate the 15-year rule should they win the May election. This is of vital importance as expats currently not eligible to vote may be able to have their say if there

is a referendum on Britain leaving the EU, a matter which affects every single Britain living in Europe. Just because you live abroad doesn’t mean you’re not British and entitled to your say.” Mr Barnes stressed that those eligible to vote should register this month to ensure they can vote in the May general election. Don’t lose your right to vote! Register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Tirelessly campaigning for expat voting rights HARRY SHINDLER, a 94-year-old British war veteran, is the well-known face of the campaign to restore voting rights to UK expats abroad. Mr Shindler, who was last year awarded an MBE for his work in helping find the graves of missing Second World War British servicemen, has fought for years for the rights of Britons living abroad. Born in 1921 and currently living in Italy, Mr Shindler is a veteran of the Battle of Anzio and the liberation of Rome in the Second World War. He has fought tirelessly for the abolition of the 15-year rule, even bringing the matter to the European Court of Human Rights. He has also argued for parliamentary

How it affects you

representation in the UK for Britons living abroad. The war veteran is not alone, however. British MP Geoffrey Clinton-Brown has also been actively supporting the right of British citizens living abroad to vote. He has introduced a bill to abolish the rule. Mr Shindler has thrown his support behind the bill and travelled to the UK Parliament to give his views.

Niyazz.

care about what happens back in the place we still refer to as home. Nevertheless, anyone who has not voted in the UK for 15 years only has the right to hold forth in their local bar or on the Euro Weekly News Letters’ page. By the same token, many expats who have lived so long in Spain that they cannot vote in the UK want the right to vote here. Instead these long-term residents live in an electoral limbo and can’t vote in the regional and general elections although their results directly affect them. Being able to vote in local and European elections is better than nothing but if we are eligible for these, why are we not considered eligible for the others? As for residents whose command of Spanish is as sketchy as it was the day they arrived and whose knowledge

of Spain and its politics is sketchier still – better for them to have a vote and not use it than to have none at all. They probably didn’t vote at home, either.

A people without a nation MIKE WALSH IT is unlikely to be lost on many that the issue of expatriate voting rights follows the decision to end another state benefit. This is part of a

creeping strategy to make second-class citizens of us all. This in return for 50 years of our being taxed roughly 50 per cent of every penny we earned. Mainstream media spin, goose-stepping to the government’s tune, continually demonise those who wish to retire and live elsewhere in the European Union. I am sometimes asked if I have signed a petition for this, that or the other. My friends, if they treat our votes with contempt, how do you think ‘Pigminster’ responds to

Have your say and leave your comments at www.euroweeklynews.com

THERE are many issues that directly affect expatriates living in Spain on which after 15 years they have no say. Here are just some of them. Winter Fuel Payments: Pensioners are to lose their allowance. Tax changes on pensions: Any changes to pensions’ rules could have a profound effect on retired expatriates, many paying UK tax. They have no say in the matter after 15 years. EU referendum: The Conservatives have promised one if they win the next general election, but many people living in the EU will not be able to vote. The slogan for the American War of Independence is apt: ‘No taxation without representation.’ petitions? In exactly the same way as we treat their election promises, with contempt. The parliamentary system is a rotating dictatorship. In terms of electoral accountability it is no different from any former Eastern Bloc self-styled ‘democracy’, like the former German ‘Democratic’ Republic (GDR). I am inclined to riposte; does voting matter? Taking part in such an artfully manipulated fraudulent democracy can only achieve one thing, encourage the elite to keep fooling us.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

New tour routes for Rincon treasure cave THE Treasure Cave in Rincon de la Victoria is to organise tours through passages of the cave that have not been open to tourists until now. Plans were unveiled at Madrid’s international tourism fair FITUR, where Mayor Francisco Salado commented: “It will be a new activity with which we are trying to attract adventure tourism, and at the same time promote the cave’s history and heritage.” Routes were named Green and Red to indicate difficulty; the Green being suitable for all kinds of

CAVE TOUR: New activity aims to attract adventure tourism.

participants. Those who want to follow the Red route should be in good physical condition and wear

helmets and headlamps. Both routes will have an approximate duration of four hours, covering 1.5 kilometres, for a price of €40. Tours are expected to be held on Saturdays and Sundays and will be offered for groups of 12 people, accompanied by an expert caving team, with equipment provided. More information can be found at www.cuevadeltesoro.eu

French students visit Motril TWENTY French students have visited Motril to learn more about the town’s traditions and culture. The 15-year-olds, who arrived on February 1 and will stay until next Sunday, come from the Lycee Virlogeux in Riom, located at the central region of Auvergne, and are participating in an exchange programme with local secondary school Martin Recuerda. The students are staying with local families and enjoying different tourist trips to places including the Alpujarra and Granada, the local beaches and the town hall. “It is a unique experience, spending time with students of the same age but from different countries. It contributes not only to language learning but also shows great generosity,” said their Spanish Teacher, Sabrina Dupuy. Motril students will visit the French town between March 17 and 27.

Deals for Almuñecar at tourism fair THE attendance of Almuñecar at the FITUR tourism fair in Madrid is proving highly successful, with the creation of two new tourism agreements. The first one was signed

with Hotelbeds (Tuitravel A&D), a co-marketing agreement that is expected to boost Almuñecar and La Herradura as an international tourism destination, as well as improve hotel stays through a company operative in 109 countries. The second agreement was signed with the company Logitravel, which will promote the town as a destination within the national market, both online at logitravel.com and through the travel agencies network, Traveltool.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS

Celebrities help to Congratulations! promote Axarquia

AXARQUIA WINNER

NERJA singers Nuria Fergo and Antonio Cortes have participated in a new advertising campaign to promote the Axarquia at

the Madrid international tourism fair, FITUR. Funded and launched by the Commonwealth of Costa del Sol-Axarquia

Almuñecar launches photography contest

ANY congratulations to Marcel Van den Huevel (pictured) from Nerja; his suggestion as to how the team at Euro Weekly News could improve their product won him an iPad Mini. His suggestion was all about teamwork, something we all recognise as a given at EWN: “It’s all about motivating your workforce, you need everyone to go to work with a smile, and job satisfaction is incredibly important,” Marcel said.

He added: “Building a family atmosphere helps with communication, which is very important for any company but in particular for a newspaper where it is vital that the readers get what they want – information. I have always liked working for happy companies and I think that as the Euro Weekly News is the best English-language newspaper available, they need to make sure that everyone who works there is positive, upbeat and happy in their work.”

ALMUÑECAR Council has launched the Nino Rodriguez Photography Contest, and is welcoming submissions. The contest has been conceived to promote the town’s tourist attractions, requesting entries of series of photos depicting its landscapes, historical and cultural heritage, gastronomy and other aspects that help encourage tourists to visit the town. “Anyone over 18 years old can participate individually in the contest, whether they are professional photographers or not,” said Deputy Mayor Juan Jose Ruiz Joya. Pictures can be in colour or black and white, with a series of a minimum of eight pictures and maximum of 12. Participants have until March 31 to submit their entries at the Centro Civico of La Herradura, between 9.30am and 2pm. First prize is €400.

municipalities, the campaign was conceived to advertise the region’s many features through its most popular figures. Other famous Axarquia residents taking part in the project have been VelezMalaga painter Evaristo Guerra, world triathlon champion Ruben Ruzafa, who comes from Rincon de la Victoria, Jose Carlos Garcia, holder of a Michelin star and also from Rincon, and ex-Real Madrid player, currently an assistant coach at the club, Fernando Hierro (Velez-Malaga). The advert is narrated by Pepe Mediavilla, the actor who voices Morgan Freeman’s roles when his films are dubbed into Spanish. Watch the video at https://www.youtube. com/ watch?v=qflwY55dFOM

Advertising Feature

Believe in LIBERTY SEGUROS campaign ‘BELIEVE in the market leader’ is the main message Liberty Seguros, the expat’s number one choice of insurance company, wants to convey to its evergrowing international customer base in Spain. The campaign, geared to reaffirm its position as the favourite choice when it comes to insurance, is focused heavily in areas including the Costa Blanca, Costa Calida, Costa Almería, Costa del Sol, the Canaries and the Balearics. Liberty emphasises its: ‘better care, better service and better insurance’ attributes, as well as simplicity and convenience, in dealing with a company that works with over 200 brokers with

LIBERTY: Better care, service and insurance. face to face personal assistance at all stages of the insurance process. As Iván Ortego, Expatriates’ Commercial Manager of Liberty Seguros, explains: “Many expats are disenchanted at having to listen to recorded messages from a machine and prefer to discuss their insurance needs with a friendly face

in one of our offices and to receive advice from an expert in their field. “Our products include car, home, marine, pet, commercial and personal liability, and are specifically suited and written for expatriates in their language in an easy to understand format.” Call 902 255 258 www.libertyexpatriates.es

TRUST our advertisers

NEWS

- 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical WE 5DO!

EWN

Breath tests for pedestrians IF you have a drink too many and decide to walk home, be careful as proposed new regulations mean you might face a breath test. And you could get reprimanded for speeding as well if you can manage to stagger at a faster pace than ‘a normal stride’. In a report, Spain’s traffic

PEDESTRIANS: Don’t stagger home too fast!

department, the DGT, has proposed new “tools to foster better relations and coexistence between pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and vehicles.” While proposals for higher drink-driving fines and better regulation of driving schools are probably not too controversial, the plans hidden away in the

report to give alcohol and drug tests to pedestrians involved in traffic accidents or offences are more contentious. Now Spanish government advisory body, the Council for State, has queried the proposals in a report, said Europa Press. The council is worried that it is a step too far which would restrict the freedom and invade the people’s privacy. The proposal to restrict the speed of pedestrians to a normal stride could even amount to a ban on jogging if police enforce the proposed laws in an overzealous manner. But the DGT has said that CELTIC TREAT: Scottish there is nothing new in the music in Nerja. alcohol test proposals, after six very successful spokesperson Maria Segui Gomez explaining that tours, including the band’s municipal police “have appearance on regional been carrying out these television. tests for months – there is Tickets for the Nerja nothing new here that will performance are €5. More allow us to start sanctioning information can be had by pedestrians, whether with phoning 952 523 863. fines or penalty points.”

YOUNG performers from Edinburgh will give a concert at the Centro Cultural Villa de Nerja on February 19. The group consists of students from Edinburgh’s Stewart’s Melville College and The Mary Erskine School. In total, 50 talented artists will

perform in traditional Scottish kilts and with a bagpiper and clarsach (traditional Celtic harp), with a programme that includes both popular and traditional pieces. Under the direction of Alan Samson, the group is currently conducting its seventh trip to Andalucia,

Young Scottish musicians to take to the stage in Nerja

EWN

5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

1F4ebtrhuary

VALENTINE’S FEATURE

How to be the perfect Valent ine…

GET AWAY FROM IT ALL: Simply relax and enjoy each other’s company.

BE prepared SNATCHING the last few flowers from the petrol station as a last-minute gift is not the way to a woman's heart. It may be better than nothing, but only just. After all, who likes to be considered as an afterthought? What the woman in your life wants is a little bit of romance, so here are a few suggestions that may just make you a romantic hero on February 14 rather than an insensitive oaf…

www.euroweeklynews.com

Lucky Business

Go back to the beginning. It is a fair bet that the start of your relationship was also the most romantic time of your life. So look back to those times and try to recreate those romantic moments. After all, romance is more a Try to recre state of mind than ate those romantic m anything else, so oments you shared pile on the charm at the start of yo and pretend you ur relationship are trying to win her hand all over again. How do you do that, you many ask?

Love is all around us

VALENTINE’S FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

One of the best ways is to share activities. A long romantic stroll arm in arm with time for just the two of you is a great way of bringing people closer together. A change of surroundings can SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY is a firm fixture on the also boost the romance, so why calendar and a time when we either profess our love not pick a hotel for a get-awayfor our other halves with chocolates, cards and flowers, from-it-all night. With no worries or tacitly ignore the occasion by viewing it as of dishes to wash or dinners to an ‘invented’ holiday. cook, you and your loved Valentine’s Day is supposedly y r u one can simply relax and named after a Bishop Valentine in t n th ce In the 19 ld enjoy each other’s Roman times, who went against u o sw physician e t company. Emperor Claudius II’s wishes that la o c cribe cho ts’ St Valentine’s Day has pres men not marry during wartime. The n alm patie one essential ingredient that to c e pangs bishop performed secret weddings but lov not many women (or men) can was caught, jailed and executed. resist: chocolate. Splash out on Supposedly, while in jail awaiting his fate, he some top quality chocolates. And wrote a note to the jailer’s daughter and signed this is important - do not eat them it: ‘From your Valentine’. This is the most popular all yourself! story about the origins of the day that sees Dress up and go somewhere around one billion Valentine’s cards special. Reserve a table for two exchanged every year. at a restaurant. It could be an And just how did chocolate and flowers old favourite or come to be associated with the day somewhere new, that of love? Well, flowers are doesn’t matter. What understandable, but chocolate? In does matter is to make the 19th century physicians would the effort to pull out all prescribe chocolate to patients to calm their love pangs and this the stops to look your best. association led a very And don’t forget the canny Richard Cadbury flowers. Red roses are to produce the first box best, although if you of chocolates for know she loves a Valentine’s Day in the particular flower, 1880s. that shows more thought.

5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

EWN

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical COSTA DE ALMERÍA

Vicar lace MORE than 300 lace-makers gathered in Vicar for the 10th edition of the provincial meeting. Mayor Antonio Bonilla said: “Vicar has earned the right to be the main meeting point for bobbin lace.”

www.euroweeklynews.com

News from our editions With six editions and read by more than half a million people, EWN is Spain’s largest free local English-language newspaper

Dog leisure THREE new areas adapted for dog recreation will be created in Son Puig, Son Fuster and La Femu. The project will be funded by Palma Council.

Crafty women

ALMERIA received two severe weather alerts in just four days as high winds of up to 130kph and waves of up to five metres battered the province. A cold snap is predicted to follow.

Neighbours gather MORE than 5,000 people attended the meeting of 30 neighbourhood associations at the Palacio de Congresos in the capital for a day of activities, stalls, crafts and performances.

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Home brew THE second vintage of Benitachell’s ‘Moraig’ organic white wine was formally presented to a gathering of experts in Valencia City. It was chosen to conclude the Tastavins wine-tasting course.

Getting there ALICANTE CITY Mayor Miguel Valor and Benidorm’s Tourism Councillor Gema Amor meet next week to discuss the previously-vetoed AVE station shuttle bus. Valor is more open to dialogue than his predecessor, Amor said.

Straight flush MAIN drainage will be brought to 150 Denia homes in Les Marines and 85 in Montgo next September. There are still 22,000 properties in the town relying on septic tanks.

MALLORCA THE new mosque in Porreres will be located in front of the Ses Forques sports complex and beside the secondary school. The Muslim community was forced to change the location of the new building due to residents’ protests.

TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY unemployed El Ejido residents have been given work through the Emple@30+ and Emple@Joven programmes. Roles vary from maintenance and home care to beauty and commerce.

Weather warnings

General Hospital to increase the number of nurses and nursing assistants to deal with the increase in cases of flu expected in the coming days.

New mosque

Youth work

ALBOX women came together under the Redmur umbrella to show off their entrepreneurial skills with their handmade goods in a regional craft fair to promote business.

NEWS DESK

MERCATCHEF: The proof of the pudding...

Learning about food in Javea COOKERY practice for budding chefs each Saturday in Javea’s municipal market is proving very successful. The morning starts with the seven to 14-year-olds inspecting the seasonal produce and selecting ingredients for that day’s task. One of the area’s local chefs then shows them how to prepare a simple but healthy main course and dessert using quality produce that they can eat themselves or take home. The children also learn to appreciate the cost of each dish and the work that goes into its preparation, explained

Tree sanction TWO Teulada property-owners who felled 11 pines without permits were given six months to replace them. If they fail to comply they will be fined €150 for each tree.

Fakes seized THE managers of three Chinese bazaars in Benidorm and a fourth person have been arrested and charged with selling fake designer goods. Police impounded 1,196 handbags, wallets, sweaters, shirts, caps, watches and earphones.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Benejuzar budgets BENEJUZAR has approved the budget for 2015 of €3 million, with around €1 million

Javea’s Councillor for Agriculture and Economic Development. At present there is no element of rivalry although at a later date outstanding pupils might compete against each other, he said. The sessions cost between €12 and €15 each, depending on ingredients, and numbers are limited to 20. It is necessary to sign up first at the Agencia de Desarrollo Local or Creama (Avenida Trenc d’Alba 2) or on 965 794 266, although this Saturday’s class is already full, the town hall said. planned for investments to improve the infrastructure of the town.

Eviction stopped ANTI-EVICTION platforms have managed to halt the planned eviction of a family with a three-year-old child in Catral. They had been paying their rent, but it seems the banks had not received payments from the property owners.

Doctor exams AROUND 3,000 health science graduates in the Valencia Region have sat exams to get a place on one of the specialised training courses offered by the Ministry of Health in public hospitals.

More nurses UNION officials are calling on Elche’s

Fewer organisations THE Balearic Islands Regional Government has got rid of 104 public organisations since 2012. In addition, 2,044 public workers have been let go, which has meant savings of €324 million, according to the data released by the Ministry of Finance.

Unemployment falls THE unemployment rate decreased by 8.45 per cent in the Balearic Islands in January. In total, there were 7,669 fewer jobless than in the same month of 2014.

COSTA DEL SOL

Bi-lingual leaflets OJEN Council will be distributing 4,000 leaflets in both Spanish and English to tourists in Malaga Province this year including information on local attractions and hiking routes to attract visitors.

Attracting birds LOCOS DE PARQUE volunteers are busy building nesting boxes for La Linea’s Princesa Sofia Park, which thanks to the group’s efforts has an ever-increasing bird population.

Dog friendly TORREMOLINOS has opened two new dog parks, one in Los Palacios and another on Calle Francisco de Jorge Gallardo near Parque Olivar.

Saving on lighting MIJAS Council expects to save 24,300 watts of electricity per day once current work to change the bulbs on 162 streetlights on the Carretera de Mijas is complete.

For more local news from our regions see www.euroweeklynews.com … EWN top for all the news from Spain.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

S CANDINAVIAN P RESS

EUROPEAN PRESS

www.euroweeklynews.com

Stories making headlines in Europe

GERMAN PRESS Student places

BRITISH PRESS DENMARK: Sir Elton John is to give a live openair concert in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens on July 6.

Bleary eyed DENMARK: One in three Danes isn’t getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night mainly due to stress and crying children, according to a survey.

Inmate date DENMARK: Prisoners at Renbaek Prison in Jutland have launched a ‘date an inmate’ Facebook page and have attracted 10,000 followers in just two weeks..

Top chef NORWAY: A Norwegian chef has won the world’s top food prize. Orjan Johannessen and his team won the Bocuse d’Or for Norway in Lyon, France.

Fraud losses

PUT IT OUT: Bristol goes smoke-free

BRITAIN lost a total of £717 million (€953 million) to fraud during 2014. The main losses were through fraudulent investment schemes, embezzlement, abuse of position and misappropriation of assets.

Poker family

Overweight children A MAJOR study has found that more than a third of British children are overweight and one in five is obese. Public Health England said that obese children are more likely to suffer from depression and bullying.

Home value MORE than 400,000 Britons are currently ‘homillionaires’ as property prices continue to soar. A homillionaire is somebody whose home is worth £1 million (€1.3 million) or more. Nearly two thirds of the total own property in London.

Too much SWEDEN: The University of Gothenburg is receiving too much funding and is struggling to spend the allocated money, according to local media reports.

PROST!: German beer sales on the up

Russians fear hunger, unemployment and nuclear war more than anything else. Among other concerns are fears for their children’s futures and losing a job.

Spy dies STIG BERGLING, a former Swedish security officer who sold secrets to the Soviet Union during the Cold War and escaped while serving a life sentence, has died in Stockholm at the age of 77. No cause of his death has been given.

Bike scheme SWEDEN: Rental bikes will soon be made available for commuters in the city of Malmo with many located at bus and rail stations.

BRITAIN’S first outdoor smoking ban is being trialled in Bristol. Millennium Square and Anchor Square are now smoke-free as part of a voluntary pilot scheme. Other cities to have banned outdoor smoking in some areas include New York and Hong Kong.

Photo: Art G/flickr

NORWAY: 16-year-old football prodigy Martin Odegaard has said that he joined Spain’s Real Madrid for sporting reasons and not for the reputed €45,000 a week salary.

AMUR TIGER: Head and pelt found in Moscow.

Tiger meat MOSCOW police have confiscated the heads and pelts of a rare Amur tiger and a far eastern leopard, as well as 50 kilogrammes of the animals’ meat, from a shopping mall on the Moscow Ring Road. The parts were found in two restaurants.

Russian fears A RECENT state poll has revealed that

THE accolade of being the world’s number one exporter of sweets has gone to Germany. Nearly 50,000 people are employed in the country’s manufacturing of chocolate and sweets.

Prost!

Smoke-free

RUSSIAN PRESS

Real reason

Sweet success

A FAMILY of four from Birmingham have all quit their jobs to become poker professionals. The Sheils family take part in at least three competitions a week and put their success at poker down to their mathematical abilities.

Trust Putin DESPITE the sharp economic downturn, 85 per cent of Russians say they still support President Vladimir Putin, according to a poll. Putin was also ranked highest by the public for being the most trustworthy of Russia’s ruling officials.

Arson stats

ONE out of every nine fires in Russia is a result of arson, said Emergency Situations Deputy Minister Alexander Chupriyan. The country had more than 17,500 arson cases in 2014, resulting in the deaths of around 300 people.

Photo: Ian Fisher/flickr

Rocket Man

UNIVERSITIES in Germany have thousands of empty places for students. There are nearly 15,000 available places in the country.

Photo: SmartSign/flickr

BEER sales have risen to their highest in eight years. More than 95.6 million hectolitres of German beer was consumed in 2014.

Jobless rise NEARLY 270,000 people lost their jobs in Germany between December last year and January. The country now has just over three million unemployed.

Child allowance THE government plans to raise child allowance by €20 per month, per child. Plans are to raise the allowance by €10 this year and another €10 next year.

New park THE 16th national park in the country is set to open this May in an effort to boost tourism to the RhinelandPalatinate and Saarland federal states.

F1 doubtful THE Nurburgring has a ‘less than 50 per cent’ chance of returning to the F1 race calendar for this season, according to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. A decision is to be made mid-February or March.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

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

5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

business & legal

EWN

STAT OF WEEK SOCIAL SECURITY allocated the record sum of €8.164 billion for contributory pensions in January, chiefly for old age and widowhood. This was 3.1 per cent more than in January 2014.

OHL wants €783.5 million compensation after Qatar rescinded its €1.759 billion contract to build the Sidra medical centre. The Qatar Foundation and the Spanish construction company parted ways last July after the former accused OHL of “lack of diligence” and failing to meet deadlines. The project was 95 per cent completed

SIDRA-MEDICAL-CENTER-COURTESY-THE-ARCHITECT

Qatar Foundation and OHL at loggerheads INCOMPLETE: Sidra medical centre.

AENA shares sell like hotcakes TRADING in AENA shares begins on February 11, but demand already outstripped supply at prior meetings for investors. The price will be fixed on February 9, but shares in Spain’s airports operator are expected to fetch between €43 and €55 each. This puts a €2.31 billion price tag on the share offer and AENA’s total value at between €6.45 billion and €8.25 billion. Privatisation is partial, as the state retains control with a 49 per cent stake. Twenty-one per cent of AENA shares were allocated last November to three key investors with the remaining 28 per

cent going to new shareholders, including retail buyers. Spain’s airports handle 195.9 million passengers a year but are capable of handling an annual 335 million, said AENA’s president Jose Manuel Vargas. This, coupled with scant need for further investment make the company an attractive prospect, Vargas added. The excess capacity corresponds to the country’s biggest airports, he said. Passenger traffic could grow 67 per cent at Barajas airport in Madrid, by 46 per cent at El Prat (Barcelona) while Malaga, Alicante and Gran Canaria could all double their current rates.

usiness extra

Car boost SPANISH car manufacturing plants produced a total of 2.4 million vehicles last year. Production in 2014 rose by 11.08 per cent, generating the best figures in the last five years.

€1bn offer AER LINGUS would accept a €1 billion offer from IAG, owner of Iberia, Vueling and BA. IAG would first have to negotiate with shareholders, the Irish government and Ryanair, plus the unions, the airline said.

Zara chief is landlord to rivals INDITEX owner Amancio Ortega has bought another prime property, this time in Madrid’s Gran Via. The world’s fourth-richest man now owns the building in Spain’s equivalent of Oxford Street where Mango and H&M already have premises. Primark has its Spanish flagship store there and Inditex itself, under its Lefties label, is also present in the 36,376square metre, nine-storey building that

is also the headquarters of the SER radio network. It was sold by the Longshore group which is headed by Drago Capital and includes Phoenix and Sun Capital. Neither seller nor purchaser has revealed how much money changed hands in the deal. The Gran Via purchase is in line with other investments made by Inditex’s investment division Pontegadea.

and due to be handed over during the first four months of 2015, the company maintained. It initiated an arbitration process supervised by the International Chamber of Commerce because the Foundation’s accusations had no legitimate basis, OHL said. The €783.5 million compensation claim excludes “additional concepts yet to be calculated” and could rise higher, OHL warned.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

LONDON - FTSE 100

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US

C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 2

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) 3i Group 463.75 Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 438.35 Admiral Group 1,456.00 Aggreko 1,567.00 Anglo American 1,116.25 Antofagasta 653.50 ARM Holdings 1,039.00 Ashtead Group 1,078.00 Associated British Foods 3,116.50 AstraZeneca 4,768.25 Aviva 528.75 Babcock International 1,010.50 BAE Systems 514.75 Barclays 235.10 Barratt Developments 457.40 BG Group 920.05 BHP Billiton 1,465.00 BP 429.33

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 4.45 0.97 0.65 0.15 8.00 0.55 13.00 0.84 3.25 0.29 3.50 0.54 -2.00 -0.19 -10.00 -0.92 13.50 0.44 25.25 0.53 0.75 0.14 4.50 0.45 7.25 1.43 0.95 0.41 -1.00 -0.22 33.15 3.74 22.00 1.52 4.88 1.15

NET VOLUME 4,458.67 5,837.13 4,034.03 3,987.76 15,551.93 6,425.32 14,653.96 5,473.87 24,644.82 60,167.31 15,599.78 5,054.61 16,003.58 38,767.43 4,537.64 30,364.82 30,530.00 77,528.87

See our advert on page 29

Units per €

US dollar ...................................................................1.13231 Japan yen ..............................................................133.345 Switzerland franc ...............................................1.05418 Denmark kroner..................................................7.44471 Norway kroner...................................................8.73688

currenciesdirect.com/marbella • Tel: +34 952 906 581 C O M PA N Y

PRICE(P)

British Amrcn Tobacco 3,768.50 British Land Co 837.75 British Sky Broadcstng Gr 929.75 BT Group 422.05 Bunzl 1,895.00 Burberry Group 1,748.50 Capita Group (The) 1,116.00

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 2

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 KO The Coca-Cola Co DIS Walt Disney Co 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 IBM International Business Machine... INTC Intel Corp 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 TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc WMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 162.30 80.69 32.92 145.37 79.97 102.53 26.37 41.17 90.96 71.21 87.42 23.89 172.41 104.42 153.31 33.04 100.14 54.38 92.44 60.28 40.40 92.25 31.25 84.29 102.82 114.78 106.25 45.71 254.91 84.98

-3.83 -1.31 -0.04 -2.41 -0.03 -0.47 -0.86 -0.93 -2.26 -1.50 -0.16 -0.19 -3.58 -3.20 -2.17 -1.17 -2.24 -1.29 -0.83 -1.81 -1.61 -2.62 -0.58 -1.38 -1.72 -1.67 -3.14 -0.40 +6.91 -2.74

-2.31% -1.60% -0.12% -1.63% -0.04% -0.46% -3.14% -2.21% -2.42% -2.06% -0.18% -0.79% -2.03% -2.97% -1.40% -3.42% -2.19% -2.32% -0.89% -2.92% -3.83% -2.76% -1.82% -1.61% -1.65% -1.43% -2.87% -0.87% +2.79% -3.12%

3.6M 7.2M 56.3M 11.3M 8.2M 20.6M 38.4M 19.2M 10.2M 5.4M 22.7M 54.7M 3.0M 7.0M 6.6M 38.7M 10.7M 26.9M 12.4M 12.1M 78.0M 4.1M 43.1M 14.7M 3.7M 4.6M 5.4M 22.8M 5.5M 10.3M

1.32813

0.75293

C O M PA N Y

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 16.50 8.25 1.75 4.15 -2.00 19.50 -2.00

0.44 0.99 0.19 0.99 -0.11 1.13 -0.18

NET VOLUME 70,121.74 8,453.53 15,999.75 34,126.82 6,349.39 7,693.19 7,395.75

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Books-A-Million, Inc. $ 2.52 ImmunoGen, Inc. $ 7.63 VelocityShares Daily 2x VIX Short Term ETN $ 3.54 Quotient Limited $ 15.45 Performant Financial Corporation $ 4.96 Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $ 201.03 Coherent, Inc. $ 61.88 Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. $ 2.89 Amazon.com, Inc. $ 354.53 Synaptics Incorporated $ 76.81 Harmonic Inc. $ 7.65

0.842 ▲ 50.18% 1.43 ▲ 23.06% 0.55 ▲ 18.39% 2.36 ▲ 18.03% 0.75 ▲ 17.81% 30.34 ▲ 17.77% 7.58 ▲ 13.96% 0.35 ▲ 13.78% 42.75 ▲ 13.71% 8.50 ▲ 12.44% 0.74 ▲ 10.71%

Most Advanced

Most Declined Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. $ 19.44 7.18 ▼ 26.97% Presbia PLC $ 6.51 1.64 ▼ 20.12% Computer Programs and Systems, Inc. $ 49.26 9.68 ▼ 16.42% Tuesday Morning Corp. $ 17.70 3.33 ▼ 15.83% Strattec Security Corporation $ 63 11.51 ▼ 15.45% ScanSource, Inc. $ 34.48 5.02 ▼ 12.71% Cnova N.V. $ 5.50 0.78 ▼ 12.42% Silicon Graphics International Corp $ 9.43 1.18 ▼ 11.12% Cass Information Systems, Inc $ 43.82 5.11 ▼ 10.44% VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX Short Term ETN$ 24.97 2.85 ▼ 10.24% Unilife Corporation $ 3.97 0.45 ▼ 10.18%

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Carnival 2,964.50 -32.50 Centrica 292.20 -1.60 Coca-Cola HBC 1,090.00 19.00 Compass Group 1,162.50 11.50 CRH 1,701.00 98.00 Diageo 1,971.75 1.75 Direct Line Insurance 309.95 -2.55 Dixons Carphone 441.90 6.90 easyJet 1,789.00 -73.00 Experian 1,174.50 1.50 Fresnillo 879.75 -19.25 Friends Life Group Limitd 400.15 1.75 G4S 284.70 -0.50 GKN 370.90 2.30 GlaxoSmithKline 1,471.75 4.75 Glencore Xstrata 248.60 -0.30 Hammerson 693.50 5.00 Hargreaves Lansdown 1,011.00 1.00 HSBC Holdings 606.05 -3.55 Imperial Tobacco Group 3,131.00 7.00 InterContinental Hotels 2,663.50 1.50 International Cnsldatd 539.75 -4.75 Intertek Group 2,289.50 -3.50 Intu Properties 368.55 3.55 ITV 221.60 1.60 Johnson Matthey 3,291.00 30.00 Kingfisher 338.60 -4.20 Land Securities Group 1,286.00 12.00 Legal & General Group 267.20 -0.70 Lloyds Banking Group 73.75 -0.00 London Stock Exchange 2,368.50 3.50 Marks & Spencer Group 485.25 0.85 Meggitt 544.50 5.50 Mondi 1,199.00 10.00 Morrison (Wm) Sprmrkts 179.35 -0.55 National Grid 936.10 0.60 Next 7,217.50 -17.50 Old Mutual 208.20 0.10 Pearson 1,360.00 9.00 Persimmon 1,588.00 -4.00 Prudential 1,623.75 3.75 Randgold Resources 5,597.50 -87.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 5,642.50 12.50 Reed Elsevier 1,159.00 3.00 Rio Tinto 2,903.25 -21.75 Rolls-Royce Group 880.50 -11.00 Royal Bank of Scotland 364.65 2.25 Royal Dutch Shell 2,046.50 28.50 Royal Dutch Shell 2,143.00 38.50 Royal Mail 432.40 -2.60 RSA Insurance Group 452.40 -1.90 SABMiller 3,621.00 -4.50 Sage Group (The) 479.90 -0.30 Sainsbury (J) 262.80 7.40 Schroders 2,899.00 1.00 Severn Trent 2,146.00 -6.00 Shire 4,968.50 114.50 Smith & Nephew 1,194.00 3.00 Smiths Group 1,132.00 5.00 Sports Direct Internatinl 718.00 6.50 SSE 1,605.50 -3.50 St James's Place 861.75 3.75 Standard Chartered 882.00 -5.70 Standard Life 401.20 -1.80 Taylor Wimpey 134.75 -0.65 Tesco 225.28 0.53 Travis Perkins 1,929.00 7.00 Tui Ag New Ord Reg Shs 1,148.00 -1.00 Tui Ag Ord Reg Shs Npv 1,176.50 -0.50 Tullow Oil 376.70 11.70 Unilever 2,920.50 -9.50 United Utilities Group 1,020.00 -7.00 Vodafone Group 233.60 -0.90 Weir Group 1,692.00 12.00 Whitbread 5,027.50 22.50 Wolseley 3,860.00 -2.00 WPP Group 1,473.00 7.00

% C H G. -1.08 -0.54 1.77 1.00 6.11 0.09 -0.82 1.59 -3.92 0.13 -2.14 0.44 -0.18 0.62 0.32 -0.12 0.73 0.10 -0.58 0.22 0.06 -0.87 -0.15 0.97 0.73 0.92 -1.23 0.94 -0.26 -0.01 0.15 0.18 1.02 0.84 -0.31 0.06 -0.24 0.05 0.67 -0.25 0.23 -1.54 0.22 0.26 -0.74 -1.23 0.62 1.41 1.83 -0.60 -0.42 -0.12 -0.06 2.90 0.03 -0.28 2.36 0.25 0.44 0.91 -0.22 0.44 -0.64 -0.45 -0.48 0.24 0.36 -0.09 -0.04 3.21 -0.32 -0.68 -0.38 0.71 0.45 -0.05 0.48

VOLUME 6,471.86 14,660.24 3,906.09 19,228.22 11,867.07 49,634.22 4,689.75 5,013.12 7,399.99 11,648.99 6,622.83 5,633.39 4,429.80 6,124.03 71,521.90 32,619.70 5,405.76 4,809.59 117,382.82 29,942.59 6,288.98 11,091.60 3,701.64 4,815.02 8,878.26 6,690.57 8,079.62 10,087.19 15,942.57 52,880.80 8,217.66 7,951.42 4,307.70 4,370.17 4,199.64 35,254.15 11,068.05 10,220.38 11,109.41 4,888.04 41,695.61 5,277.09 40,475.71 13,143.70 41,417.52 16,738.95 23,114.57 78,758.95 51,573.20 4,356.00 4,616.40 58,682.19 5,183.11 4,893.68 6,569.34 5,164.09 28,678.78 10,673.94 4,452.83 4,267.05 15,960.00 4,455.56 21,989.65 9,652.92 4,408.44 18,226.37 4,781.32 13,995.44 N/A 3,329.83 37,746.54 7,016.63 62,318.58 3,594.40 9,087.43 10,044.40 19,285.84

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

EWN

Business is not a charity AN article recently caught my eye that reminded me of the sacrifices made by performers who offer their free support to charities. Why artistes are singled out to do so is beyond me. I can imagine the expression on plumbers or lawyers faces if it was suggested that they donate their fee to a charity. What others do is their business. I do think such artistes should be better appreciated. I recall a talented professional piano duo being invited to perform at a charity’s gala. Being a charity there would not of course be a fee. The pair gave up their free time. On their arriving at

Talking shop Mike Walsh Mike Walsh was for 20 years Regional Assessment Manager for the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Britain’s biggest quality assurance body for businesses.

www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932

the venue the two were flippantly waved to a stall-sized area without shade. At no time during their performances were they offered a meal, drink or even a word of thanks. Personally, I think many charities,

beneficiary to many perks denied to the rest of us, are already advantaged profitable concerns. There should be a much better partnership between charities and those who serve our communities. Substantial funds are raised at charity events; the venues where they are held do well out of bar and restaurant sales too. Guest speakers, comedians, sportsmen, politicians too, are paid handsomely for speaking at charity and fundraising events. My advice is, if asked to support an event of any kind, to negotiate a reasonable fee. A concession might be made as to the

size of the fee. Perhaps, wherever an event is held, an offer might be made in return of an overnight stay or dinner vouchers. Or, is that too charitable? Charities and artistes will be better rewarded if respect is mutual, there is understanding, and a complementary partnership. Charities tend to be well connected in the leisure industry. They might come to an arrangement with a venue by which supporting entertainers, or any other service that offers their support gratis, are provided with a paid for booking at a later date. That way everyone wins. It is called business.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Sterling hits 7-year high versus the euro THE great British pound (GBP) recently rallied to a seven-year high against the euro. The move has been driven by the announcement of Quantitative Easing (QE) by the European Central Bank (ECB) at their January 22 meeting. The ECB unleashed a 1.1 trillion euro QE plan to stimulate the Eurozone economy and boost inflation. The programme will see the ECB buy a total of 60 billion euros of public and private assets per month, starting in March 2015 and running through to September 2016. Although the ECB denied that a weaker euro was a target, the impact of the news significantly devalued the euro. A weaker euro will help to boost exports and inflation across the Eurozone, as investors and importers outside the Eurozone take advantage of the exchange rate. The long-term impact of QE in the Eurozone is still very

Ask the expert Peter Loveday Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com

uncertain, but when you contrast the monetary policy of Europe who are just embarking on significant easing to that of the UK and the US, who are on the path to monetary tightening, the divergence is very apparent. This difference could in fact drive GBP/EUR higher still and some analysts are pointing towards 1.40 as a target. To achieve the heady heights of 1.40, much will also depend on the ongoing economic recovery in the UK. The UK recently posted its strongest level of growth for eight years

THE EURO: Volatility is expected to remain extremely high. with the annual pace growth of 2.6 per cent, up from 1.7 in the previous year, and confirms the UK is on course to be the world’s fastest growing developed economy for 2014. Admittedly other forecasts are still to post, but the data would place the UK top of IMF current projections for developed economies.

The news will come at a handy time for Prime Minister David Cameron as we enter the last 100 days before the national election on May 7. For the momentum in the pound to continue, the market will be looking for the Bank of England to be moving towards an interest rate increase and future economic data will be

Visit us at our Spanish offices in Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca. Telephone: UK +44 (0) 207 847 9400 SPAIN +34 950 478 914 Email: euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com • www.currenciesdirect.com

Can they ban debtors from pool? Q. We have heard that the Spanish courts have ruled that communities are authorised to ban debtors from using certain community facilities, including the swimming pool. As the president of a large community, with a large debt, this would be very useful to us as a way to encourage owners who owe back community fees to pay up. I am not

sure of how it could be enforced. So my question is: “Can we ban the debtors from using the community pool, and what precedent or law can we quote?” Also the latest book I have is the 2011 edition of ‘You & the Law in Spain.’ Has an updated version been released? P.B. (Costa del Sol)P.B. (Costa del Sol)

You and the Law in Spain By David Searl

A. No, the Spanish courts have not ruled that communities may prohibit debtors from using common areas, such as the pool. What has happened is that the General Directorate of Notaries and Land Registries, which rules over Community Statutes and Constitutions, decided in 2012 that communities could include a clause by which they prohibit the debtors from using common areas such as the pool or play areas for tennis or other activities. They base their decision on the fact that these areas are not essential to the right of property of the owners. However, this prohibition has

not been confirmed by the courts. Therefore we cannot be sure that a case

would be won if an owner protested to the judge that he was unlawfully prohibited from using the pool. In strict legal terms, this can be considered as harassment or coercion against the owner. This is the same legal principle that stops landlords from changing locks or cutting off electric or water supplies to tenants who do not pay the rent. In any case, the prohibition clause has to be included in the basic Statutes of the Community and registered in the Land Registry. To answer your question about ‘You & the Law in Spain,’ yes, there is a new 2015 edition, which you can obtain by sending an email to the law firm UbedaRetana & Associates, for the attention of David Searl, at the address given below. And thank you for asking.

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

very important, in particular regarding growth, inflation and wage growth. Assuming the wheels do not fall off the UK’s economic recovery, the Bank of England should be raising interest rates within the next 12 months to support the pound. Although the UK recovery and the pound’s relative strength will be an important driver for GBP/EUR, it will be the euro that will be the key protagonist. For the euro the ongoing effect of QE is anticipated to be euro negative. In addition, the euro could potentially face additional pressure from the new antiausterity government in Greece and potential escalation of the Ukraine crisis. Overall the euro is facing significant headwinds for 2015 and volatility is expected to remain extremely high. As it stands, further momentum for GBP/EUR is anticipated possibly towards the key 1.40 level.

GROWN TOGETHER Peter Loveday, Currencies Direct’s Southern European Director, says: Currencies Direct are proud to support Steven, Michel and all the team at Euro Weekly News (EWN). Our long association has gone from strength-to-strength as our businesses have grown together; with eight offices along the Costas and on the islands, Currencies Direct mirrors the areas that the six EWN editions cover – we are in them all! We have found that by having our full-page in the paper every week readers know where to find us; we also have the opportunity to sponsor items and market commentaries. Our marketing spend is important to us and so we make sure we ask each and every client how they came to Currencies Direct – from this we are able to accurately determine our return on investment and how to make our EWN spend effective. Just as Currencies Direct pride themselves on the currency exchange service that we provide for our customers, we also appreciate the service that EWN provides in supporting and connecting the local businesses and expatriate communities.

OPINION & COMMENT

Scant reward in return for giving out so much I HAVE sent this letter to the Work and Pensions committee as dictated by my mother Ruth Ransford. Thank you for giving us the information in order to make our objection. “Please do not take away my heating allowance. I am on a reduced pension and need this money to keep warm. “After six years of apprenticeship my husband emerged as a highlyskilled fitter facing a country in depression with no work, no money. After doing whatever jobs he could find, he slowly built up a small poultry farm. “At the beginning of 1938 he was visited by government officials, asking him to start a job in a nearby factory overhauling cranes and machinery as pre-war work. He went on to work in a blacked-out workshop in Shrewsbury, making essential machinery to produce arms for a war which seemed inevitable. It was hard work with long hours and he was there throughout the war. “After the war my husband set up in business, providing work for others and paying their social security for many, many years. At the beginning he was not required to pay into the pension social security system for himself and did not do so as the business needed money. “Because of the period of nonpayment I find myself on a reduced pension. I am 96-years old and need a hot water bottle to keep warm. We live in sight of the snow-capped mountains of Sierra Nevada and the north winds blow down from them. “I am grateful for the winter fuel allowance which is so necessary to pay for my heating bills during the winter. Please think again before depriving me of it. Thank you.” Christine Ransford, Granada.

Bright flipside I AM a 71-year-old part time expat pensioner, here for five winter months only. I sympathise with Bob Heaven’s plight but must point out that due

www.euroweeklynews.com

5 - 11 February 2015/ Axarquía - Costa Tropical

Letters YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

our aRUST dvert isers

WE D

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

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

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:

www.euroweeklynews.com

to the plummeting euro, the exchange rate that expat pensioners get for their UK pensions has resulted in a healthy 10 per cent increase in their pensions over the last year. From what I see, the cost of living in Spain has not risen at all so the expats are really in heaven, unlike non-expats. Add to that the low cost of fuel, the abundance of low-cost high quality fruit and vegetables and we are tempted to become permanent expats! Michael Warren, Fuengirola (Malaga)

Brainwashed YET again I read with disappointed shock Mr Walsh’s glib article and his blatant pandering to the totalitarian Putin kleptocracy. If he is a fifthcolumnist, he is doing a pretty poor job of staying under the radar. From what I can gather from past articles, both Mr Walsh and I have been blessed with finding Russian-speaking spouses. I assume, however, that whereas my wife prefers to listen to one of the last few independent media sources out of Russia, his is content to have her brain thoroughly laundered by the Kremlin propaganda machine that now owns 97 per cent of all media in Russia. Does Mr Walsh realise that there are over 20,000 journalists now directly employed by the Kremlin, all instructed to spin the

EWN

address as Mojacar, Almeria. Tony Nolan, Alicante

On the cards REGARDING EHIC renewal, I have just renewed ours. The whole exercise was completed over the phone. It was not necessary to fill in any forms, and the cards arrived within 10 days. Information requested was date of birth, address and verbal confirmation that we were already registered in the Spanish health system. Have your old card handy as it has your details on it. The phone number provided for renewal that came with the cards is +44 191 279 0575. Hope this helps. Keith Braddock, La Manga (Murcia).

Cruel customs THE full moon, photographed in Arboleas. Gilly Elliott-Binns, Arboleas (Almeria) party line (yes, the twaddle in his article)? It is important to call Putin’s regime what it is: ultranationalist, populist, authoritarian and directly opposed to liberal democracy. Or put another way: neo-fascist. David Charteri, Palma de Mallorca (Baleares) Note from Mike Walsh: I would love to ask this correspondent to identify his sources. That would be an education in mind control.

Election chance I NOTICED last week that many people seem to think that they cannot vote in the UK elections if they live in Spain. We can vote if we have been on the electoral roll in the last 15 years. Contact the Electoral Commission Office where you were last registered. Diane Baty (by email)

Going nuts I HAVE just spent my 87th birthday screwing up my nuts.

I’ve been lying on my back with my head underneath the bidet after a leaky hose flooded the bathroom. I had previously bought stopend nuts from a local Chinese shop and connected one as a temporary measure to stop the flow but water still leaked from the connection. I spent a whole day sealing and rescrewing my nut without result. Then I remembered I had previously bought a television amplifier from the same shop, but could not connect it due to faulty threads. I replaced the pipe nut with an old nut with immediate success as the new nuts had faulty threads: I did not know that Chinese nuts were different from ours. A difficult job at my age, but thankfully I am no longer leaking. Ernie Barnes, Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmadena (Malaga)

Home address I CANNOT help thinking how amusing and ironic it is that the correspondent Roger Page, bemoaning immigration in the UK and explaining why ‘we’ should leave the EU, gives his

WE READ with dismay about the ill-treatment of horses, donkeys and mules forced to go in fire in some barbaric ritual in honour of St Anthony, the so-called patron saint of animals. When will people realise that such appalling behaviour, coupled with bullfighting and abandoning or killing dogs at the end of the hunting season, earns the contempt of the majority of rightminded European citizens. The failure to act by the Guardia Civil says a lot about Spanish rule of law. Roger and Sylvie Jefferies, Javea (Alicante)

Local help LIKE John Shannan I have had similar problems with Telefonica and Vodaphone over payment and refusal by the companies concerned to resolve it. We took all the paperwork regarding our complaint to our local Consumers’ Office in Palma (Mallorca). Mr Shannan will have one in Almeria and should look online for Oficina de la Atencion Al Consumidor. When we went to the one in Palma they told us that the most complaints they get are about telephone companies. Good luck! Don Donovan, Palma de Mallorca (Baleares)

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.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Don’t take offence! LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT

SPEAKING OUT: London mayor Boris Johnson.

DON’T know about you but I’m heartily sick of people who consider themselves offended by someone’s piddling remarks or actions. Wimps, who rush to the authorities, wringing their hands and wailing that someone has somehow upset their pathetic equilibriums. These reactions are of course a sign of complete insecurity. To my mind they are like children, who run to mummy snivelling and whining that Johnny had called them a ‘scaredy cat’ or

‘smelly boots’. This latest example, however, just about took the whole tin. When Boris Johnson declared that, in his opinion, the majority of self-styled militants who leave their countries to fight for the likes of IS, are people who have difficulty with the opposite sex, probably spend a great deal of time watching internet porn and are social misfits who have problems communicating with normal society, up pops someone to tell us his remarks may cause offence! This time the general secretary of the ‘Women’s Muslim Network’ was given the opportunity to air her displeasure on Sky News. The lady declared that she really didn’t think the language Boris used was acceptable. Not acceptable to whom? Other toerag terrorists? How does she suggest we should describe these no-brain maniacs? Poor unfortunate, misled children? Soldiers of Allah? Pillars of society? A wonderful example to youngsters everywhere? Fighters to be admired and revered? Give us a break! Sorry

if you feel offended, madam, but these sub-humans are probably everything that Boris has profiled and more. To hell with his language! These misfits are psychopathic wastes of space that, on their return from these killing expeditions, should be locked away forever. Anyone who tries to excuse their actions should also be named as traitors and punished accordingly. I know many of these people consider the British a soft bunch and a nation of ‘sorrys’ (others have made this mistake to their cost!) but this ‘offended’ reaction really does stick in my craw. Well, I get offended when I see people’s heads being chopped off and kicked around by these animals. It also distresses me to hear of the mass killings and the rape and torture carried out in the name of their religion. ‘Offence’ is a question of priorities, ya see.

Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

How are you coping with the cold spell - Are you spending more to keep warm this year? MIKE HAYNES from Coys Rent a Car said he is fortunate to have under floor heating at his home, but even with that he has still been suffering: “I’ve been really cold this winter and the longer I live here the colder I feel. I watch my son play football and I’ve got five layers on and I can’t remember ever doing that.” He adds that the under floor heating uses oil which has actually come down in price so he is hopeful not to notice an increase in bills: “That has been a godsend as it’s definitely been on more this year.” Carsten Klinksgaard from Casa Interior in Altea however thinks the weather has been rather pleasant: “We have had a lot of colds in the family but it’s not been too bad. We have a pellet stove in the house and that gives out a good heat and is quite reasonable to run.” Lianne Satterthwaite. SRS Vehicle Services. Los Carasoles, Zurgena. “I don’t feel any colder this year because we use a great log supplier that we used last year. Although last

STREET TALK

From left to right, Mike, Lianne and Carsten: Managing to stay warm. winter was long, it wasn’t that cold and it’s still nothing compared to the UK. It makes you feel cold just looking at British friends’ snow photographs. A couple of

Joyce (left): Putting on more clothes. extra jumpers and moving around a lot more keeps us warm.” Joyce, owner and hairstylist at

Curiocity, just minutes from central Fuengirola says she is keeping busy in her salon to stay warm during this cold spell. “I love that people are coming to see me to talk about getting a new hairstyle for themselves as everyone receives a warm welcome here! It is keeping me busy which is the only way to stay warm at the moment!” When asked if she was spending more to keep warm this year she said “Definitely, mostly on electricity and on more clothes so I can put more layers on!” Wally, the African Grey Parrot who supervises David Downton, the owner of Simply Bathing in Fuengirola says “It’s easy for us parrots, I am just producing more feathers to stay warm this winter! We all lived in the Canary Islands for seven years before coming here so it is definitely colder, but I am nice and toasty in my glossy feather coat!” When asked if he was spending more to stay warm Wally said “not really but maybe David is as I do like to have spare ribs for my dinner!”

COMMUNITY Photo: World of Oddy/flickr

www.euroweeklynews.com

Co m N C m Ne o u ig h b rn ni ou e ty rh

CHARITY BREAKFAST: Activities for children are also planned.

Funds for Mombasa THE parish of San Juan in VelezMalaga, Manos Unidas charity and other local associations are organising a charity breakfast to raise funds for Mombasa. The breakfast will be held on Saturday February 7 from 9am in the Plaza de Las Carmelitas. The event consists of a breakfast for anyone who wishes to take part in

exchange for a donation, and activities for children which are planned for the whole morning, include bouncy castles, clowns, face-painting, games and a raffle. All funds raised will be put towards building a 16,000 cubic metre reservoir in Mombasa, Kenya as well as installing pipes to create a community water supply.

Charity auction for AID THE Animals in Distress charity (AID) is holding a charity auction at La Cuchara Restaurant on February 13 at 7pm. It’s the ideal opportunity to grab a bargain and help animals at the same time. The enjoyable auctions see 15 per cent of items sold go to AID and donated items means 100

per cent goes to help AID in their work with distressed animals. Anyone wishing to sell items (furniture, bric-abrac, etc) at the auction are advised to let AID know 24 hours in advance and must be brought to the auction between 5pm and 6pm on the evening. Unsold

Signing first book BRITISH-BASED retired policeman and author Jonathan S Harvey will be signing his first book ‘His Life Was A Lie’ at the bookshop Pasatiempo on Calle Infantes in Torre del

Mar on February 19. The crime/thriller novel is set in Brighton, UK and in the hills of Colmares and Cutar in Axarquia. Harvey will be on hand to greet readers.

Help needed for markets THE Costa Animal Society is seeking help with their efforts at the Sunday car boot markets in Nerja and Almuñecar. Owners of 4x4’s or other large vehicles are asked to lend a hand transporting and selling goods at the markets. Anybody who can help call Wendy 660 271 984 or Vera on 680 315 880.

items must be collected at the end of the auction. The restaurant is at the entrance of Poligono Rosa on the A404 Alhaurin el Grande to Coin road. For more information contact Chris on 628 239 174 or Joe on 626 942 427. To find out more about AID please see www.animalsin-distress.eu.

We want to hear you DO you have any club, charity or community news you would like included on our community page? If so we want to hear from you. Please send any news to editorial@euroweekly news.com and we’ll do our best to fit you in. Please include times, dates, locations and contact details. Photos should be of good quality.

editorial@euroweeklynews.com

5 - 11 February 2015/ Axarquía - Costa Tropical

EWN

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / AxarquĂa - Costa Tropical

Thursday BBC ONE 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Eat Well for Less? 10:00pm Death in Paradise 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:45pm Question Time 12:45am This Week

BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm The Great Antiques Map of Britain 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm The Great British Sewing Bee 10:00pm Modern Times 11:00pm Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am A Cook Abroad: Dave Myers' Egypt

ITV 5:00pm Mel and Sue 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm The Kyle Files 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Birds of a Feather 10:00pm Car Crash Britain 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Kylie: Kiss Me Once 12:50am Ade at Sea

CH4 5:00pm Shipping Wars 5:45pm Couples Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Jump 10:00pm Cucumber 11:00pm Married Behind Bars 12:05am 24 Hours in Police Custody

CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Classic Car Show 9:00pm Secrets of Rome's Colosseum 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Botched Up Bodies 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side

SKY1 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm David Attenborough's Galapagos 10:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 11:00pm Ascension 12:50am A League of Their Own

Friday BBC ONE 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Six Nations Rugby Union 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:20am Bluestone 42

BBC TWO 5:40pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm The Great Antiques Map of Britain 8:00pm Six Nations 2015 8:30pm The Wonder of Animals 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Food and Drink 10:00pm The Big Allotment Challenge 11:00pm Rhod Gilbert v Kilimanjaro 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am Things We Lost in the Fire

ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Martin Lewis Money Show 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Parenthood 1:55am Jackpot247

CH4 5:45pm Couples Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Jump 10:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 11:00pm The Last Leg 12:05am Catastrophe

CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Billion Dollar Wreck Hunt 9:00pm Ice Road Truckers 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:50pm Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 1:15am Super Casino

SKY1 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Show Me Your Garden 10:00pm Stella Ruth Jones's much-loved comedy drama returns. 11:00pm Quiz Nights 12:00am Hawaii Five-0

Saturday BBC ONE 3:00pm Six Nations Rugby Union 5:30pm Six Nations Rugby Union 7:55pm BBC News 8:05pm Regional News 8:10pm Weather 8:15pm The Voice UK 9:35pm The National Lottery 10:25pm Casualty 11:15pm BBC News 11:28pm Weather 11:30pm Match of the Day 1:00am The Football League Show

BBC TWO 3:00pm Cowboy 4:30pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Final Score 6:15pm Horrible Histories 6:45pm The Great British Sewing Bee 7:45pm Flog It! 8:35pm Britain's Tudor Treasure: A Night at Hampton Court 9:35pm Dad's Army 10:05pm QI XL 10:50pm Broken 12:15am Seven Years in Tibet

ITV 3:05pm The Chase 4:05pm Doc Martin 5:10pm Big Star's Little Star 6:05pm Local News and Weather 6:15pm ITV News and Weather 6:30pm You've Been Framed! 7:30pm Harry Hill's Stars in Their Eyes 8:30pm Planet's Got Talent 9:05pm Take Me Out 10:20pm The Jonathan Ross Show 11:20pm ITV News and Weather 11:35pm Hard Target 1:20am Jackpot 247 4:00am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 4:40am Nightscreen

CH4 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm The Big Bang Theory 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm Our Guy in India 9:00pm The World's Weirdest Weather 10:00pm American Pie: Reunion 12:15am Panic Room

CH5 3:35pm U-571 5:45pm Columbo 7:35pm 5 News 7:40pm NCIS 8:25pm NCIS 9:20pm NCIS 10:20pm NCIS 11:15pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 12:10am Law and Order

SKY1 3:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 4:00pm Greggs: More Than Meats the Pie 5:00pm The Simpsons 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm Modern Family 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 9:00pm Hawaii Five-0 10:00pm Underworld 12:20am Hawaii Five-0

TV LISTING

www.euroweeklynews.com

Sunday BBC ONE 3:15pm Escape to the Country 4:00pm Eat Well for Less? 5:00pm Your Home in Their Hands 6:00pm Songs of Praise 6:35pm BBC News 6:50pm Regional News 6:55pm Weather 7:00pm Animals in Love 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Call the Midwife 10:00pm The British Academy Film Awards 12:00am BBC News

BBC TWO 4:15pm Open All Hours 4:45pm To the Manor Born 5:15pm Hi-De-Hi! 5:45pm Flog It! 6:15pm Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom 7:15pm Ski Sunday 8:00pm The Motorway: Life in the Fast Lane 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Dragons' Den 11:00pm Match of the Day 2 12:15am Disconnect

ITV 3:10pm Mel and Sue's Best Bits 4:15pm Tipping Point 5:15pm Moonraker 7:35pm Local News and Weather 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Get Your Act Together 9:15pm All Star Family Fortunes 10:00pm Mr Selfridge 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:15pm Perspectives 12:15am LV Cup Rugby Highlights

CH4 3:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:25pm The Big Bang Theory 3:55pm The Simpsons 4:25pm Marmaduke 6:10pm Channel 4 News 6:30pm Ice Age 8:00pm The Jump 9:00pm The Hotel 10:00pm Our Guy in India 11:05pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 12:05am Patriot Games 2:10am The Last Leg

CH5 4:15pm Over Her Dead Body 5:55pm 5 News 6:00pm What to Expect When You're Expecting 7:55pm Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous 10:00pm The Bounty Hunter 12:20am Zack and Miri Make a Porno 2:15am Super Casino

SKY1 3:00pm Last Man Standing 3:30pm Last Man Standing 4:00pm Modern Family 4:30pm Modern Family 5:00pm Modern Family 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Holidaymakers 9:00pm A League of Their Own 10:00pm Hawaii Five-0 11:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00am Show Me Your Garden

Monday BBC ONE 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 New Tricks 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm Waterloo Road 12:45am The Graham Norton Show

BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great Antiques Map of Britain 8:00pm Top Gear 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Only Connect 10:00pm A Cook Abroad 11:00pm Backchat with Jack Whitehall and His Dad 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather

ITV 4:00pm Tipping Point 5:00pm Mel and Sue 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 Richard Wilson on the Road 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Broadchurch 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:45pm The Jonathan Ross Show 12:45am The Kyle Files 1:10am Jackpot 247

CH4 5:45pm Couples Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Final Jump 10:00pm Heston's Recipe for Romance 11:00pm Catastrophe 11:30pm Bodyshockers 12:35am The 2015 57th Annual Grammy Awards

CH5 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Criminals: Caught on Camera 8:30pm Car Crash TV 9:00pm Police Interceptors 10:00pm Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 11:00pm 10,000 BC 12:00am 16 Blocks

SKY1 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Holidaymakers 10:00pm 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy 11:00pm Air Ambulance ER 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles

Tuesday BBC ONE 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 The Gift 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm Count Arthur Strong 12:15am Have I Got a Bit More Old News for You

BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great Antiques Map of Britain 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Alex Polizzi: The Fixer 10:00pm Inside the Commons 11:00pm Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather

ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm River Monsters 9:00pm Bad Builders Bang to Rights 10:00pm Young War Widows 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Benidorm 12:10am Carry on Loving

CH4 5:00pm Shipping Wars 5:45pm Couples Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds 10:00pm 24 Hours in Police Custody 11:00pm Kid Criminals 12:00am Married Behind Bars

CH5 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Police Interceptors 9:00pm Costa Del Casualty 10:00pm Killer Psychopaths 11:00pm 10,000 BC 12:00am 33 and Married to Grandpa - Age Gap Love

SKY1 3:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 4:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Flash 10:00pm Air Ambulance ER 11:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 12:00am Modern Family

Wednesday BBC ONE 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm The Great Comic Relief Bake Off 10:00pm Cancer on Trial 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm Match of the Day 1:15am Film 2015

BBC TWO 4:45pm Open All Hours 5:15pm To the Manor Born 5:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great Antiques Map of Britain 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom 10:00pm Wolf Hall 11:00pm Up the Women 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather

ITV 5:00pm Mel and Sue 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 Midsomer Murders 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Exposure 12:40am I Never Knew That About Britain

CH4 5:00pm Shipping Wars 5:45pm Couples Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 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 Bodyshockers 12:00am Heston's Recipe for Romance

CH5 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Cowboy Builders 9:00pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 10:00pm The Ten Faces of Michael Jackson 11:00pm My Family Disapprove Age Gap Love 12:00am Trauma Doctors

SKY1 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Fanatics 10:00pm Stella 11:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles

OPINION & COMMENT

5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

Featureflash Shutterstock.com

The great illusion of free press Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.

regularly enjoy coffee with two mainstream media editor friends. Neither will carry my articles because of my ‘proRussian leanings.’ I won’t play a part in mainstream media’s orchestrated anti-Russian rhetoric. Be proud of me; my candid nature suggests that, in the Euro Weekly News at least, you enjoy a free press. A fiction usually directed at Russia is that it doesn’t have a free Press; rhetoric without substance. Let us instead take a look at the so-called free Press in the West. William Colby, ex-director of the Central Intelligence Agency, is a man who should know Western media: “The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)

GREG DYKE: Former BBC Director-General. owns everyone of any significance in the major media.” Not long after becoming a whistle-blower Colby died in a freak canoeing accident. There is no disguising the sinister and insidious nature of CIA tentacles: “In the US 90 per cent of all TV, newspapers, radio,

magazines are owned and controlled by six mega corporations. You can’t get a word in there that connects to the real world.” So says American political analyst Mark Mason. Former BBC Director-General, Greg Dyke, wrote in his autobiography: “When it came to

discussing the war in Iraq, staff found it so difficult to find any member of the public prepared to speak in favour that they ended up planting people in the (Question Time) audience.” BBC bias is well documented: Many years ago, Roy Bramwell of Inter-City Research, disclosed: “I have heard MPs and senior political aficionados complain that if they were to say on BBC what they really think, they would never be invited again, and not to be invited again could make a quick end to an aspiring politician’s prospects.” Udo Ulfkotte, former editor of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, caused a sensation when, in his best-seller, Bought Journalists, he revealed; “We are taught to lie, to betray and not tell the truth to the public.” He went on to describe how the CIA pays German media professionals to spin stories to follow US government goals. In an interview with a Dutch

journalist, Ulfkotte says, “some media are nothing more than propaganda outlets of political parties, secret services, international think tanks, and high finance entities. I’ve been a journalist for about 25 years, and I’ve been educated to lie, to betray, and not to tell the truth to the public. The German and American media tries to bring war to the people in Europe, to bring war to Russia. “We have betrayed our readers, just to push for war. I don’t want this any more, I’m fed up with this propaganda. We live in a banana republic, and not in a democratic country where we have press freedom.” This top German journalist challenged his former employers to prove him wrong or sue him. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung refuses to do so, but banned journalists from mentioning their former editor. A word of advice. Read between the lines and you will be far better informed.

Austerity out here, Champagne in there 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/norajohnson

AR in the Middle East, turmoil elsewhere and many in the UK facing austerity. And the members of the House of Lords, what do they do? Complain about the quality of their Champagne. The Lords spend roughly £65,000 a year on Champagne and, it was recently reported, refuse to drink anything cheaper because “Champagne quality would suffer.” At a time when many resort to food banks to feed their families, such disconnectedness from the lives of ordinary citizens is appalling. What we see

HOUSE OF LORDS: Complaining about the quality of their Champagne. now is a Britain of bling and food banks: billionaires extending sprawling, empty mansions while waiting lists for social housing lengthen. It’s instructive to watch political interviews from the early 1970s on YouTube where you’ll find interviewees like PMs Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan reacting to tough questions with tough, even-handed answers.

Telling because you don't see much of that nowadays. Instead a love of the sound bite and a general lack of accountability and responsibility. Recently there’s been a whole string of disturbing reports about failure in the NHS, the worst: Mid-Staffs. Some nurses were punished, but no doctors or administrators, despite exercising control over

dreadful conditions. (At a time when, with the NHS on life-support, many NHS managers are being paid grotesquely high salaries by cash-strapped health trusts.) The Staffordshire police and the CPS showed little interest in an investigation regarding it as a ‘systemic failure’ - the politically correct approach to avoid going after those responsible.

Don’t let’s forget either Rotherham and its Police and Crime Commissioner clinging to office over its child abuse scandal and Rochdale’s PC approach that ignores the racial elements of endemic child abuse. The problem is there seems little enthusiasm to tackle failure in the UK’s public institutions. Why? A decline in personal/professional

standards and integrity. Apart from the Lords and their scandals, it’s hard to forget MPs and all their shenanigans either. Claiming mortgages for second homes; fraudulent claims for overnight allowances; using parliamentary allowances to employ relatives who haven’t actually completed any work. And what about the £100 million spent on luxury travel over the past four years by Government Departments? I thought of a few words to describe my feelings after rereading all this and most of them wouldn’t be publishable. And the ones that would don’t express those feelings adequately. Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon/ eBook and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.

E W N 5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

CROSSWORDS

www.euroweeklynews.com

Time Out

TRUS

our a

dvert

WE D

isers

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

Axarquía weather

NEW ON DVD

for next 7 days

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

John Wick John Wick tells the story of a legendary hitman who retires from his violent career after marrying the love of his life. When his wife suddenly dies, Wick is deep in mourning. He goes on a rampaging crusade of vengeance when a sadistic mobster steals his prized car and kills the puppy that was a final gift from his wife. Meanwhile, John’s former colleague puts a huge bounty on John’s head. Set in New York City, John Wick brings a fresh take on the ‘assassin genre.’ Stars Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist and Alfie Allen. Run time 101 minutes. Rated R.

TODAY

ARCHIDONA

CASABERMEJA NERJA

VELEZ-MALAGA MALAGA R DE LA VICTORIA

ARCHIDONA

CASABERMEJA NERJA

VELEZ-MALAGA

TOMORROW MALAGA

R DE LA VICTORIA

Visit the stars, for details on our expanded range of services

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 13 6 S Tues - 13 6 C Wed - 12 6 S

12 2 S 11 3 C 12 6 S

CLEAR

tars

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) This is a time to keep your mind sharp, so get plenty of sleep and exercise for sure. Legal matters may be paramount and need specialist advice. So long as you are doing your best in a certain situation, no more can be expected of you.

7-Star Quiz

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) It is now that you may realise how right you were to keep something in reserve. Certainly, so far as a relationship is concerned, holding back has proved its worth. SCORPIO (October 24 November 22) Getting more sleep and fresh air last week may show dividends now. The results are a brighter mind and more willingness to be social. Young people will be particularly helpful and fun to be with.

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.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 December 21) Keep a wide circle of friends and constantly seek to add to them. With such an active mind as yours, boredom is agitating and non-productive. CAPRICORN (December 22 January 20) News of someone close brings finances into your mind. Perhaps some juggling is needed to keep the balance.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday January 31

Friday January 30

10 25

22 27

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

13 19

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

CLEAR 9 2 C 9 3 Sh 12 4 Sh

CLOUDY MAX 6C, MIN -1C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 14 7 C Tues - 13 8 C Wed - 14 7 C

6 6 7

-3 C -2 C -1 C

MAX MIN

Mon - 8 -1 S Tues - 9 0 S Wed - 11 0 S

Murcia MAX 11C, MIN 3C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 12 4 Cl Tues - 13 4 C Wed - 12 6 C Cl Clear,

SUNNY MAX 13C, MIN 4C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun Fog,

Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

14 2 S 13 2 Cl 14 3 S

Mon - 14 5 S Tues - 15 6 C Wed - 15 5 Cl

C Cloud,

Sh Showers,

Th Thunder

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

TARGET:

Average: 8

Very good: 14

Good: 10

Excellent: 18

elan, fail, file, flan, flea, flue, fuel, lain, lane, laze, leaf, lean, life, lien, lieu, life, line, lune, nail, ulna, zeal, alien, aline, anile, annul, elfin, final, linen, ulnae, annuli, finale, funnel, INFLUENZA

REINTEGRO 31

SOFA

Sunday February 1

Saturday January 31

LUCKY STARS 3

MAX MIN

Mon - 14 7 S Tues - 14 6 S Wed - 14 7 Cl

Madrid

13 4 S 13 4 Cl 13 6 C

S Sun,

13 3 S 10 4 C 13 6 S

Word Ladder

LOTTERY 10

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX 12C, MIN 4C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 14 7 S Tues - 13 7 C Wed - 14 7 C

SUNNY MAX 14C, MIN 4C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 11 5 Cl Tues - 12 4 S Wed - 13 6 S

Mallorca TODAY:

MAX 14C, MIN 6C

Benidorm

9 4 Cl 9 4 C 12 4 C

SUNNY

14 6 Cl 12 6 C 12 6 S

TODAY:

Malaga TODAY: Fri Sat Sun -

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) A slow start to the week sees you full of beans come Wednesday. What is the cause of this change of attitude?

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) This is a time of the year when new starts and fresh ideas come to you, which is excellent news for those who are looking forward to changes.

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX 10C, MIN 3C

MAX MIN

Sudoku

Fri Sat Sun -

SUNNY MAX MIN

Barcelona TODAY:

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Something said to you in confidence should be respected this week. Should the beans be spilled, it will not be you who is feeling guilty.

Y S our

TODAY:

MAX MIN

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) The more sensitive side of your nature comes to the fore this week. Looking on the bright side and keeping your sense of humour, brings a balanced view.

DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY

MAX MIN

www.fiduciarywealth.eu

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Are you in the mood for some retail therapy? There are bargains to be had this week. The trend also extends to your personal life where it is possible to negotiate much more easily with a loved one.

1. According to Alma Cogan’s 1955 UK hit single, who should you never do a tango with? 2. Dance to the Music was a UK top 10 hit in 1968 for which American soul/funk band? 3. The mazurka is a country dance that originated in which European country? 4. To which Irving Berlin song from the 1936 film Follow the Fleet did Torvill and Dean skate their free dance programme in the 1994 Winter Olympics? It also featured in a celebrated Morecambe and Wise sketch involving newsreader Angela Rippon. 5. What is the name of the West Indian dance in which the dancer bends backwards to pass under a horizontal bar that is progressively lowered to a position just above the ground? 6. What name is given to a person who creates and arranges ballet or dance for performance? 7. What was the name of the Scottish-born ballerina danced the leading role in the film The Red Shoes?

Almeria

SUNNY MAX 13C, MIN 4C

7 21

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

14 31

REINTEGRO 9

BEDS

(BODS) BUDS BEDS

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Someone new to your circle of friends brings humour and a new lease of life, socially. When something outside your comfort zone is suggested, then be sure that it is not just faint heart that is stopping you.

Alicante TODAY:

SOFA SODA SODS SUDS

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) A shopping trip with a friend makes you realise that there is more to them than meets the eye. Should you have underestimated them, encourage them to open up.

1. (Never Do A Tango With An) ESKIMO, 2. SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, 3. POLAND, 4. LET’S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE, 5. LIMBO, 6. CHOREOGRAPHER, 7. MOIRA SHEARER

www.euroweeklynews.com

CROSSWORDS

Crosswords

5 - 11 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

EWN