Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 25 - 31 August 2016 Issue 1625

SSUENN 1555 //25 23 29 APRIL2016 2015 - 31- August IISSUE OO . .1625

COSTA DE ALMERĂ?A

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

All the fun of the fair

WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

Spaghetti success A WESTERN film festival in Tabernas is attracting significant attention from international producers and is looking set to be a huge success story.

See page 4

Eagle eye A CLAY pigeon shooting competition organised by Mojacar Council attracted an impressive number of eager beavers hoping to prove their eye for a shot.

See page 5

Finding Gandalf WANDERING from Murcia to Mojacar and beyond, a Spanish mountain dog named Gandalf has been missing for

weeks, with his owner desperate to find him.

See page 8

Animal rights THE great hunting debate continues as a group of young hunters launch a fight-back against animal rights campaigners who have been targeting them.

See page 8

By Eleanor Hawkins The festival of San Agustin, patron saint of Mojacar, takes place on Sunday August 28 and as usual the town will be celebrating in style with a king-sized knees-up running from Friday 26, until Monday.

The fun-packed event typically offers something for everyone, with activities ranging from the usual dancing and drinking to sports competitions and games.

Most noteworthy in terms of local traditions is the floral offering, for which local women dress up in typical Mojacar dress and carry water and flowers from the fountains up to the church in

procession.

Flowers will be on sale as of 9am on Friday outside the church, with the procession set to leave La Fuente at 7.30pm accompanied by the municipal music band.

Other things on the agenda for Friday include an online games competition from 10am to 1pm for those aged between eight and 14, who must sign up today on Thursday August 25 at the

Guadalinfo Centre in the municipal multiple use building to take part.

Rockets will be let off each day at noon just to make sure everyone is awake and ready to party, then the festivities begin on Plaza Nueva as of 2pm.

Saturday promises to be sporty with races and a paintball competition. Children race at 6pm and adults at 8pm and the paintball, for

14 to 20-year-olds, will be at 7.30pm with sign up at the Culture department offices.

Children’s rides on Plaza del Fronton will be half price from 8.30pm onwards on Saturday.

Sunday will see a religious mass at noon and a procession at 1pm and the spectacular horseback ribbon races will light up La Fuente at 6pm.

Saving scheme ALBOX is set to make massive savings on electricity payments due to an innovative new energy efficiency scheme set to be put in place soon.

See page 56

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

LOCAL NEWS

Abusive boyfriend receives sentence THE former boyfriend of a woman from Nijar has been given a two-year suspended jail sentence and a 12-year restraining order by an

Almeria court which found him guilty of abuse, violence causing injury and threats during their two-year relationship.

Keeping up with modern times NIJAR and Vicar are among the first Andalucian towns to have signed up for a new online training course launched by the Junta de Andalucia regional government in collaboration with the EOI business school and Orange.

Busy theatres A TOTAL of 4,009 operations were carried out at La Inmaculada Hospital in Huercal-Overa over the first six months of the year, 548 of them emergencies, the health department has reported.

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NEWS

Let me take you down… to Tabernas

By Matt Ford ALMERIA has sent a stand with a small delegation and promotional materials to the ‘International Beatleweek 2016’ celebrations in Liverpool, which run from August 24-30.

John Lennon famously composed the psychedelic masterpiece ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ in the southeastern city, after becoming inspired while filming Richard Lester ’s black comedy film ‘How I Won the War’ there in 1966.

The provincial tourism department is hoping that their presence at the Adelphi Hotel, one of the key venues being used at an event expected to attract thousands of Beatles fans from all over the world, will bring more Lennon-related visitors to the area.

To that end, the new brochures feature images of the great man at various locations in Almeria.

Founder of the association ‘LennonAlmeriaForever,’ J Adolfo Igle-

Photo by Twitter

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A LEGEND: John Lennon filming in Almeria.

sias, will also deliver a lecture on the origins of Strawberry Fields Forever on Sunday 28, while promoting Almeria’s

plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lennon’s jaunt between October 7 and 9 this year.

NEWS

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25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

FEATURED NEWS

Burkini ban debate

EWN

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Your papers, your views Our readers have been expressing their views about the cultural debate on the burkini ban which appeared on our website.

www.euroweeklynews.com Here are a few of your comments some of which have had to be cut due to size but we are always happy to hear from everyone.

Line in the sand ISLAM is totally dominated by males. The only effective method for western countries is to insist they live by, and respect our culture. We do not wish to change their religion, but burkas and burkinis will not be allowed here. If they cannot accept this then they should go somewhere else.

Roy

Smart security

CONTROVERSIAL BURKINI: Spain is wading into the debate after a water park banned it for safety reasons.

By Matthew Elliott WHEN the audacious two-piece swimming suit known as the bikini hit the world’s beaches in the 1950s, its revealing nature provoked a great deal of consternation. The Vatican declared it sinful and the bikini was banned in Spain, Italy and Australia.

Needless to say it never quite took off in Saudi Arabia.

Few then would have anticipated that, more than half a century later, it would be the burkini – a female beach garb designed to cover the entire body in the name of protecting a woman’s modesty - that would be the subject of scandal.

This isn’t due to an inherent issue with the burkini itself. After all there was no outrage when TV chef Nigella Lawson debuted hers in 2011 as a way of protecting her skin, or over its use by Australian lifeguards, or orthodox Jews.

The problem is what it represents, which, to its critics, is the repression of women by an intolerant religious creed, a vision which has no place infiltrating European beaches and water-parks, and is symbolic of a perceived expanding Muslim influence at a time when Europe is under attack

from radical Islam.

Following the decision by several French beach resorts to ban the burkini - which leaves only the face, hands and feet uncovered - Spain has now waded into the sensitive cultural debate, with a Girona water park issuing a ban on the garb for safety reasons.

The ban puts the water park’s administration at odds with the Barcelona government, which has categorically said it will put no such ban in place, with deputy mayor Gerardo Pisarello arguing that women should have the right to dress as they please.

That general principle has been followed in Aqualandia, a Costa Blanca water park, which has announced it has no problem whatsoever with the burkini, so long as it is made from fabric suitable for water, such as lycra or neoprene, and wearers stay clear of certain extreme slides.

Spain is fortunate in that the country doesn’t suffer from the same integration issues that plague France and which have forced that nation to take drastic measures to protect its identity and, in the absence of an identifiable military target, to take some ‘ac-

tion’ against ever more horrific acts of terrorism.

Nice became the largest city yet to issue a blanket burkini ban with new legislation in the southern French city referring to the horrendous Bastille Day attack, forbidding clothing that “overtly manifests adherence to a religion at a time when France and places of worship are the target of terrorist attacks.”

France has been a strong defender of its secular heritage and banned face coverings in a bid to combat extremism. The decision was hugely controversial and split France’s Muslim community, many of whom are against fundamentalist clothing but believe women should have the right to express themselves.

Now a wealthy Tunisian businessman known as the ‘Zorro of the niqab’ has volunteered to pay any fines incurred by burkini wearing women as he challenges the might of the French state, and, worryingly, the cultural controversy looks set to see more citizens take matters into their own hands.

In Corsica last week the socialist mayor of Sisco was forced to ban the burkini in order to ‘protect the population’ after riot police had to fend off

hundreds of angry natives marching on a predominantly North African housing estate shouting ‘this is our home.’

Earlier there had been violent clashes at a local beach after some youths took photos of a Muslim woman in her burkini, leading to violent reprisals from a large group of Arab men. Corsica’s largely defunct National Liberation Front has now seized on the ethnic tension to regain relevance.

And herein lies the real danger.

This burkini controversy has the potential to act as a catalyst for further violence and social strain as anti-immigrant groups see in it a new rallying call for action, while pressure from the state and ‘native’ population could alienate Muslims even further.

Spain has fortunately been spared the brunt of these developments and indeed the whole immigration debacle in general. Which is why Barcelona and Benidorm appear completely at ease with the Burkini, and able to accept it as just another one of humanity’s curious disguises.

But, as history tells us, all it takes is one unfortunate incident or misunderstanding and then, suddenly, everything changes...

I AM not quite old enough to recall but weren’t our western ladies wearing something similar 100 years ago? At least it can clearly be seen there’s a woman inside a burkini and they’re not concealing anything dangerous, unlike other flowing clothing, which can hide suicide vests and even men underneath the cloth.

Leo

Live and let live I DON’T see why there should be a problem with burkinis as long as there’s no front facial cover. If someone went for a swim in jeans, shirt and skull cap no one would bother but it might draw some looks! I do feel burkas should be banned as a person’s face shouldn’t be covered but what’s the big deal with burkinis?

Mike

Root cause THE reason for this kind of cover-up is down to the attitude of Muslim men towards women. Instead of pressurising the women, it is the men’s attitudes that need reforming.

Annie

Double dare TRY wearing a bikini on the beaches of Iran, Saudi Arabia or Sudan...

Ramon

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INDEX News 1 - 24

Featured News 3

Finance 29 - 34

Stocks 30

Leapy Lee 35

Daily TV 40

Time Out 42 - 43

Health & Beauty 44 - 46

Social Scene 47 - 49

Our View 50

Colin Bird 50

Letters 52

Albox 53 - 58

Property 59

Homes & Gardens 62

Pets 63

Classifieds 65 - 67

Motoring 68 - 70

Sport 71 - 72

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The magnificent eight

By Eleanor Hawkins FIVE international productions have chosen to air their first screenings at the Almeria Western Film Festival, which runs from October 6 to 9 in Tabernas, the organisers have announced.

This year, the festival will include productions from eight different countries in various styles ranging from classical and postmodern western to neowestern, festival director Juan Francisco Viruego explained, and received such a good response that more categories for both short and long films are to be included in the next edition’s competitions.

The organisers are currently viewing submissions and will announce the list of finalists to be screened during the festival, held at Oasys-Mini Hollywood and Fort Bravo, on September 10.

Supported by Tabernas lo-

cal council, Almeria Provincial Council and the Junta de Andalucia regional government, the festival helps bring western productions usually ignored by commercial cinema listings out into the public eye and also promotes the area both as a tourist destination and a perfect location for filming for the national and international film industries.

FILM FESTIVAL: Will feature productions from eight different countries in various styles.

NEWS

NEWS

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Shooting to win

All for love Photo by Ayuntamiento de Mojacar

PROUD WINNER: Top shots for pot shots.

A WHOPPING 70 people took part in a clay pigeon shooting competition arranged by Mojacar Council’s sports department on Sunday, August 21.

The contest took place under Andalucian Olympic Shooting Federation rules and attracted participants from all over Almeria, Murcia and Granada provinces.

Prizes included between

Fighting fires and heart attacks ALMERIA’S three Cedefo forest defence bases are about to be fitted with semiautomatic defibrillators, and members of staff will be trained on how to use them to save lives.

The centres in Alhama de Almeria, Seron and Velez Blanco will, once the equipment is installed and the training completed, receive Cardioprotected Zone certificates from the Emergency Services.

This will prove that they are ready to deal with possible heart problems while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

€400 for the winner, and €100 for sixth place, with trophies for the top three and Iberian hams for everyone within the first 30, plus six more hams for the best local shooters regardless of their final placing.

First place went to Francisco Hernandez Garcia, second to Pablo Artero Lopez and third to Francisco Perez Carrion.

The six local shooters who

received legs of ham for their efforts were Dionisio Campoy, Jose Maria Montoya, Silvijus Sveijauskas, Juan P Fernandez Flores, Jean Mary and Antonio Invernon Segura.

All in all, the council reported that the day had a very festive atmosphere and served as a warm up for the local fair, which starts tomorrow (Friday 26).

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THEY say true love knows no obstacles, which seems to be true in the case of Jose and Emilia from Tabernas.

They finally renewed their vows in an Almeria City church on Sunday (August 21) on their 60th anniversary, after having their request turned down by their parish priest.

The couple were very young but much in love when they married at their local church in Tabernas 60 years ago, they are practising Catholics and avid churchgoers, their daughter Lourdes Nieto explained.

Due to illness they were unable to obtain church blessings on their 25th and 50th anniversaries, and this time 77-year-old-Emilia was intent on renewing her vows in her village, at the church that united them for life. But, when she approached the priest, he rudely told her that the 60th anniversary is not celebrated by the church and refused to allow the service, implying that all she wanted was a party, Nieto said.

After investigating, the family discovered that was not the case as Marriage Rites article 487 recommends blessings on annual anniversaries and jubilees. Yet when she swallowed her pride and returned to the church to suggest that another priest could officiate, she was again turned down.

Lourdes wrote to the Bishop of Almeria for intervention, but received no reply, the couple eventually had to find a church in the city to renew their vows and prove that love is forever.

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NEWS EXTRA

Rental help THE provincial council has announced new social aid to help those in difficult situations to pay their rent.

Applicants must prove a lack of income and grants must be for a regular home.

Dead turtle THE body of another loggerhead turtle was spotted by people on a boat around half a mile out to sea from Cabo de Gata lighthouse on Thursday (August 18) and had to be collected by Spanish Marine Reserve members.

Beatleweek COSTA de Almeria is promoting itself at Beatleweek 2016 in Liverpool, where co-founder of LennonAlmeriaForever will be giving a talk on how Lennon was inspired by a visit to Almeria to write Strawberry Fields Forever.

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NEWS

A job left half done

By Matt Ford THE Municipal Social Group in Almeria City have issued a statement in which the right wing council’s decision to leave a new civic centre halffinished is described as “senseless squandering of public money.”

Located in the Pescaderia neighbourhood, the building has also received a €300,000 injection of EU funding, but the group’s leader, Manuel Vallejo, said that the council has “once again demonstrated a serious lack of foresight” by allowing the partially-constructed centre to fall into disrepair.

“It is beyond urgent that the city give the centre the social purpose for which it was created, rather than allowing it to collect rubbish and excrement, with rusty gates and broken windows,” blasted Vallejo.

“Six months after the building was finished, we now have a problem where none existed before, as the centre and its surroundings have become a focus for filth, which accumulates unchecked and makes the neighbourhood smelly.”

Photo Credit PSOE Almeria

CIVIC CENTRE: A senseless waste of public money.

The councillor went on to lambast the lack of action on the council’s part, urging them to employ sanitary measures and finish the centre so that it can be used for its intended purpose.

“In this district more than a dozen social organisations are doing extraordinary work to help deprived families, and they could do so much more if they had this space available.”

DISREPAIR: Centre has become a focus for filth.

Imaginative art AMERICAN artist Melissa Marks has been in Velez B la nc o to c a rry out he r Double Self Split contemporary art project inspired by the Spanish renaissance

and focused on Los Velez Castle, the patio of which has been on display at the Met r opol i t an Museum i n New York since 1945.

The project consisted of

two parts, one a display of large black and white and colour drawings by the artist at the church at Convento de San Luis, and the other three weeks of work

by Marks on a 100 square metre area of floor where the Patio of Honour was located within the castle.

100 square metres of floor area was dedicated to the Patio of Honour

The artist said about the project: “In my imagination, the castle and the patio represent a history full of act i on and m ovem ent . The past is excavated to draw the future and connect the points which unite craft, art and context, shapes deriving from nature intertwined provocatively with humani st i deas on cul t ur e and progress.”

NEWS

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

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NEWS EXTRA

Exports up

Council coming clean

ALMERIA Province exported €210 million worth of goods in June, 11.1 per cent more than in the same month last year, according to the latest official reports.

Spain as a whole registered an increase of 2.1 per cent.

Dead animal A DOLPHIN was added to the ever-lengthening list of animal deaths Almeria’s coasts are registering this summer on Friday (August 19). The body was washed up on the beach near El Cable Ingles in the city.

Five injured

CANDID MEETING: Mayor of Almeria, Luis Rogelio Rodríguez-Comendador.

TWO men and three women were injured when two cars crashed on the Al12 road in Almeria City at 6.50am on Sunday morning (August 21). All five had to be taken to Torrecardenas Hospital for treatment.

By Eleanor Hawkins ALMERIA City Council approved the initial draft of a transparency, good government and quality democracy by-law at its plenary session this week. The legislation will enforce publication of council documentation and will permit recording of individual plenary sessions.

The text, which demands that all information relating to the mayor and councillors’ official agendas, expenses and responsibilities be made available online, will now be put on display for the public to view and comment upon prior to it being passed.

Gifts received by officials will also have to be described in detail, as will all

contracts and grants awarded by the council to external contractors and other bodies.

Party publicity is also to be avoided on municipal television and other channels of communication, with political groups instead permitted to air proposals and ideas without expressing political opinions.

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A good place to work ANDALUCIA continues to be a popular place for those from abroad to work, in fact it is the third in Spain according to the latest report from the Ministry of Employment and Social Security released on Tuesday, August 23.

At the end of July there were 189,802 non-Spanish workers paying into the system, a year-on-year increase of 4.65 per cent, the report revealed. However, the total was 7.66 per cent lower than the end of June.

On a national level, Spain lost 688 legal foreign workers in July, putting an end to a fivemonth run of increases, the Ministry reported. Andalucia was the third region on the list for the most foreign workers, beaten only by Cataluña with 423,746 and Madrid with 348,282.

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NEWS

Owner desperately seeking Gandalf A DESPERATE owner has been searching high and low for Gandalf, a Spanish mountain dog which has been wandering the coast from Murcia towards Almeria for weeks.

He was first spotted in Aguilas on August 9 and although an animal shelter, vet

and the council were informed, they were unable to catch the dog as he scarpered.

Locals took pity and left food and water out for him, and when they were able to take photos, posted them on social media which led to the owner seeing them.

The dog, he said, was stolen in October but by the time he got to Aguilas to be reunited with his lost pet, Gandalf had headed off along the coast. He was spotted on August 18 in Villaricos and three days later in Mojacar, yet although his

owner is on the trail he hasn’t managed to catch up with him.

If anyone sees the wandering dog, they are asked not to try to catch him as he is likely to become scared and run away, and instead to call the owner on 606 484 414.

ELUSIVE GANDALF: Have you seen this dog?

Hunting with compassion

RESPONSIBLE HUNTING: A real hunter enjoying the countryside.

By Matt Ford A GROUP of young hunting aficionados are attempting to make their mark by casting off certain stereotypes associ-

ated with the shooting of wild animals via their intelligent use of social networks.

The Young Andalucian Hunters (Jovenes Cazadores Andaluces - JOCAN), which is associated with the official regional hunting federation, has quietly amassed an impressive membership comprising more than 500 youthful men and women from around the region.

President Antonio Gallardo, who hails from Alameda in Malaga Province, is defiant in the face of repeated attacks from animal rights groups, declaring that “we cannot get rid of the prejudice, and there are black sheep as in all walks of life, but we want to spread the image of the ‘real’ hunter, not the one on social media and television that does not correspond to reality.”

“The hunting community in Andalucia is different, we seek respect for the animals and respect for our pets, and we search for harmony during and after the hunt in order to

offer a positive outcome for the rural environment.”

Gallardo is adamant that responsible hunting is a constructive pastime, since devotees are ‘dedicated to fighting for the natural world and taking measures to minimise the effects of intensive agriculture which eliminates wildlife, as well as the use of insecticides and other poisons, for example in most of the olive groves there is now no grass to hide even a single partridge.’

JOCAN has organised a series of seminars regarding environmental protection and wildlife conservation in respect of constructive hunting practices, such as the culling of rabbits, boar and other species which can become pests if their populations are not controlled.

“Being a hunter is not the equivalent of simply going out with the intention to kill,” affirms Gallardo, “you go out and maybe you are successful, but above all the idea is to enjoy the countryside.”

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NEWS EXTRA

Magic Malu

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Slow down for safety

MORE than 4,500 people were enthralled by the magic of Spanish singer Malu on Saturday (August 21) during a concert which officially christened Almeria City’s new open air concert hall at the fairground.

Fatal crash ONE person died and another was seriously injured when the car they were travelling in left the road, hit a roundabout and overturned on Friday (August 19) at El Toyo in Almeria City, leaving them trapped inside.

Grudge held A MAN from Vicar, aged 46, has been arrested by the Guardia Civil for allegedly attacking a man he had a traffic dispute with a year ago, with a metal spade upon spotting him in the street.

SPEEDING CAMPAIGN: Paying particular attention to the province’s officially dangerous stretches.

By Eleanor Hawkins THE DGT traffic authority is once again running an anti-speeding campaign on the roads this week, paying particular attention to the province’s 30 officially dangerous stretches.

Focused on secondary roads, the current campaign will see Guardia Civil traffic patrols and Local Police officers using both fixed and mobile radars to ensnare those in an unnecessary hurry.

Since the beginning of this year the DGT has updated its lists of black spots twice, with Almeria Province now considered to contain more than 414 kilometres of perilous stretches.

Speeding is one of the main causes of accidents and fines in Almeria, alongside alcohol and drugs. Since the new licence point system came into effect in 2006, more than 99,000 points have been taken away from local drivers for speeding alone.

More to the point, the DGT reports that if speed limits were respected, a quarter of all traffic accident deaths could be avoided. Every year more than 300 people die on Spanish roads in accidents caused by drivers ignoring limits.

Around 15 million drivers in the country admit to regular speeding, a reality which the authority continues to try to change through its campaigns, especially during holiday periods when the roads are busier than usual.

NEWS

New hall, better service THE provincial council, as part of its efforts to assist the smaller towns and villages across Almeria, is putting the finishing touches to a new town hall in Turrillas.

The modern two-storey building has been constructed in a style in keeping with the surrounding buildings in the Plaza de la Iglesia area, meaning care was taken to avoid it overshadowing the church next door, the council reported.

Although modest in size, the hall, which has cost €173,000 to build, has ample space including a meeting hall, reception, mayor’s office and general secretarial and administration area and will enable the local council to provide a better service to the people of Turrillas.

Changes at Talk Radio Europe

By John Smith FOLLOWING a long association with veteran broadcaster Howard Brereton, Talk Radio Europe (TRE) has announced his retirement from presenting his regular programme ‘Your Life in Spain,’ to pursue other ventures.

To coincide with this, TRE welcomes Bob James and Noelle Wyman, both of whom are well-known broadcasters on the Costa Blanca having broadcast there for many years.

Bob will be presenting a new programme, ‘Spain Today,’ weekdays at 3pm from Monday September 5 and Bob and Noelle are to work together on a new programme which they will co-

host. More information and updates about this will be released on the Facebook page Talk Radio Europe Official.

Martin Nathan, Chairman

I thank my listeners for all their generous support. of TRE, said: “Howard has been a key presenter for TRE and helped define our ‘sound,’ being a knowledgeable and popular link between expats and their adopted country of Spain. His laid back style and throw-away comments will be missed by many listeners.”

Howard, who will continue to supply TRE with ‘Ra-

dio in Black and White,’ broadcast on Sunday mornings said: “It has always been my ambition to bring quality English language broadcasting to Spain, an ambition first realised in 1992 to coincide with the Expo in Sevilla that year.

“It has been my pleasure to contribute to a number of radio stations and for the last seven years I have enjoyed playing my part in making Talk Radio Europe the undoubted leading English speaking station in Spain.

“With my decision to seek pastures new, I leave TRE at a time when it is the best it has ever been and I wish my former colleagues continued success and thank my listeners for all their generous support.”

FINANCE

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

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EWN

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Just How Low Can Interest Rates Go? This is proving to be an eventful year for the UK. After the unexpected Brexit vote in June, the Bank of England (BoE) has now cut the interest rate to its lowest ever level of 0.25%.

As well as reducing the rate, the BoE announced a stimulus package that brings their total ‘quantitative easing’ efforts to boost the economy up to £435 billion.

Why cut already low rates?

The BoE is working to reduce Brexit’s negative effects on the British economy.

“Obviously the economy is in a period of uncertainty” said BoE Governor Mark Carney, and is “about to go through a period of adjustment as we move to a new relationship with the European Union.”

This uncertainty has generated “quite considerably” slower growth for the UK economy. The Bank made its largest ever adjustment to its growth forecast – reducing the

By Gerald Turner, Partner, Blevins Franks 2.3% for 2017 predicted in May to just 0.8% in August.

With this latest combination of measures, the BoE is acting “in a smart way” to prevent Britain heading into a Brexit recession.

How can cutting interest rates help the economy?

Put simply, low interest rates stimulate a weak economy by encouraging more borrowing and spending through cheap credit.

Add fresh money from the government bond-buying programme and this results in more money being pumped around the economy in general.

It is usually only when inflation reaches the tipping point of 2% that the BoE will look to dampen growth by increasing the interest rate, which is unlikely to happen for some time.

Carney confirmed he is prepared to cut interest rates even further, although he did add that he is strongly opposed to negative interest rates.

How does this affect your pocket?

The prolonged low interest rate climate is more bad news for savers. Bank deposits that are already earning next to nothing are set to drop even lower.

Many think saving in a bank is the ‘safest’ way to look after their money but it presents risks that

are often overlooked. Besides low returns, money in the bank can be eaten away by inflation over the longer term. If you want your savings to keep up your standard of living, you need to maintain your buying power right through retirement.

With interest rates close to zero – and few predicting any increase before 2019 – this could have significant implications for your standard of living and the legacy you wish to pass on to your family.

British expatriates also need to consider exchange currency risk in what is currently a highly volatile time for sterling. It is a good idea to seek advice about investment structures that allow flexibility to choose when you convert your income between sterling and euros.

Future-proof your finances While low interest rates look set to stay for some time, the

pound is unsteady on its feet and no-one is quite sure how the Brexit landscape will unfold.

This is a good time to review how you structure your finances.

A professional adviser can help you establish the savings and investment strategy that suits you best. They should start by taking an objective analysis of your risk appetite, and then build a portfolio to suit your personal circumstances, aims, time horizon and risk profile.

In any scenario, a welldiversified portfolio that spreads interests across different regions, asset types, sectors and currencies will limit your exposure in any one area. This means you will be best placed to ride out this long low of interest rates, as well as currency or market turbulence in these uncertain times.

To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com.

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Virtual service proving popular ALMERIA Provincial Council’s new virtual assistance for municipalities service is now dealing with 30 per cent of requests for assistance from towns and villages. Albanchez, Alcolea, Balanegra, Bedar, Canjayar, Fiñana, Laujar de Andarax and Taberno are the most frequent users, the council has reported.

The new service, which was tested last year and has been officially running since the beginning of 2016, has dealt with 655 of the 2,400 requests relating to town planning matters. Soon it will be extended to other types of assistance, according to provincial delegate Antonio Torres.

The virtual office will not only help the environment by reducing the amount of paperwork dealt with by the council, but will also reduce waiting times by between 15 and 20 days, Torres promised.

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NEWS

Drugs on wheels

By Eleanor Hawkins SIX people aged between 18 and 40 have been arrested in Huercal-Overa suspected of running a drug sales point and a cocaine delivery service.

The Guardia Civil reported that a discrete surveillance operation was mounted outside a home in the town following a tip-off and officers noted high numbers of people entering and leaving shortly afterwards.

When apprehended they proved to be carrying small amounts of drugs.

On searching the house, officers discovered 15 marihuana plants, two set of precision scales and 11 grams of cocaine.

While one of the six is believed to have been in charge of obtaining the drugs, another manipulated them while the remaining four took care of sales at the house and filling telephone orders, taking the drugs straight to customers’ homes on motorcycles, the police force reported.

MARIHUANA PLANTS: Were found following a tip-off.

Health starts in the classroom ALMOST 200 state schools in Almeria Province took part in the Junta de Andalucia regional government’s healthy lifestyle programmes last year and even more are expected to sign up for the 2016-2017 school year.

Altogether, 119 primary and 72 secondary centres joined last year’s edition of the programmes, run by the regional Education, Health, Equality and Social Policies and Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development departments.

For the new school year, two separate programmes have been created: Growing in Health for primary schools and Young and Fit for secondary schools, and the centres have from September 1-30 to sign up and present their individual pro-

jects and planned activities.

The programmes aim to promote and educate children and their families in healthy habits and prevent bad lifestyle choices, regional Education delegate Francisca Fernandez explained.

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NEWS

Photo Credit Face Charity

Cleaning up the environment

FACE FUNDRAISERS: Volunteers raising money for latest campaign.

EAGER YOUTHS: The group at their camp.

By Eleanor Hawkins TWENTY-FIVE youths from all over Spain aged between 18 and 30 are currently staying in Aguamarga to take part in an environmental work experience camp organised by the Andalucian Youth Institute in collaboration with the Junta de Andalucia regional

government and Nijar and Carboneras councils.

The local camp proved to be one of the most popular of those organised by the institute, with more than 70 applications for the available places, Nijar Youth councillor Ainoha Salmeron explained during a welcoming ceremony held last week.

The youths will be in the area until August 30, learning about the unique characteristics of the natural park and helping to maintain and conserve it.

They have been invited to take part in the Noche de las Velas y Perseidas (Night of candles and perseids) in Rodalquilar on August 27.

Autumn campaign gets an early start FOLLOWING a short summer break, FACE (Fundraising in Arboleas, Caring for Everyone), has embarked on its new autumn fundraising and donations campaign - in the middle of August!

The firs t c ha rity to benef i t f r om FACE’s efforts this year has been Harmony Community Support, which was give n c ups , s a uc e rs , a t ea pot , sugar basins and plates for the Harmony Haven drop-in centre in the CAT Services building in La Alfoquia.

Volunteers are on hand to listen, chat and assist with problems over a cup of tea and a slice of cake. The charity does

its best to help with information and gui dance t o t hose i n need due t o i l l health, bereavement and other difficult situations and can be contacted on 634 339 192 between 11am and 2pm or by email to help@harmonycharity.com.

FACE’s next fundraising event will be on Tuesday September 13 with a quiz night at 7pm at Bar Kubtain, underneath Hostal Meson in Arboleas. The theme for the quiz will be movies.

For more information on FACE, please ring Adele Wrigglesworth on 667 255 094, see www.face-charity.com or search for FACE on Facebook.

Care for beaches THE Andalucian Socialist Youths (JSA) group presented its new environmental campaign, aimed at encouraging better care for beaches across the region, on El Palmeral beach in Almeria City on Sunday August 21.

General JSA secretary Jose Carlos Duran and JSA Almeria secretary Ramon Soto presented the Take Care of Your Beach campaign. The plan includes the distribution of 20,000 portable ashtrays along the 1,000 kilometres of beaches in Andalucia. They hope to increase awareness of how easily they can become blighted by man-made waste.

NEWS

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25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

EWN

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Alcohol and drug related arrests at music festival

By Eleanor Hawkins

FUN TIMES: David Bisbal enjoys a holiday back home.

Star explores his homeland DAVID BISBAL has been home for his holidays this month and, as always, took the chance to promote his turf on social media.

The Al m e r i a b o r n p o p singer p o st e d p h o t o s an d videos of his activities in various parts of the province, explaining to his followers: “When the Levante winds are strong there

are plenty of other things to do in Almeria if you head inland. Here I am getting wet in Rio Andarax, which a lot of you probably didn’t even know isn’t dried up.”

This wasn’t all Bisbal got u p to d u rin g h is time a t h o me. H e als o to u re d the Caves of Sorbas with family an d frie n d s , o n ce a g ain posting photos for posterity.

TWENTY-FIVE people were arrested during the recent Dreambeach Villaricos electronic music festival on the Cuevas del Almanzora coast; 21 for drug peddling and four for drunk driving, the Guardia Civil has reported.

Altogether 584 officers were on duty over the four days of the festival and carried out 3,903 breathalyser and drug tests. Eighty-two people were found to be over the limit for alcohol and 52 tested positive for drugs, the police force reported. A report revealed various quantities of cocaine, marihuana, hashish, speed and other drugs were confiscated.

The force highlighted the high number of requests for assistance received from festival-goers, which were dealt with by a special operation centre set up at the scene and manned by Guardia Civil, Local Police, fire brigade, Civil Protection and 112 emergency services staff and paramedics.

Police also noted the increased number of thefts from vehicles, tents and rucksacks, which for the first time

POLICE REPORT: Advised 52 people tested positive for drugs. could be reported directly at the site.

However, the Guardia Civil has said it was unable to give a figure yet for the

total number of thefts as a number are expected to come in over the next few days.

Beaches are blighted by man-made waste THE Andalucian Socialist Youths (JSA) group presented its new environmental campaign, aimed at encouraging better care for beaches across the region, on El Palmeral beach in Almeria City on Sunday (August 21).

General JSA secretary Jose Carlos Duran and JSA Almeria secretary Ramon Soto presented the Take Care of Your Beach campaign. The plan includes the distribution of 20,000 portable ashtrays along the almost 1,000 kilometres of beaches in

Andalucia. They hope to increase awareness of the importance of these natural treasures and how easily they can become blighted by man-made waste.

“A cigarette end discarded on the sand or in the

sea takes up to 25 years to disintegrate, causing great harm to the environment and marine ecosystems,” explained Duran. Also, he pointed out, Andalucia’s beaches are one of its main tourist attractions and economically vital to the region.

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Readers prefer to visit local beach

By Eleanor Hawkins ONCE again, one of Almeria’s beaches has made its way into the final stages of a bes t i n Sp a i n c o m pe tition, t h i s t i m e o n th e www.2 0 mi n u t o s. e s news website.

The Playa de los Muertos in Car b o n e r a s, o n th e northern edge of Cabo de Gata Natural Park, has received in excess of 15,000 points from the site’s readers who were presented with a list of 10 Spanish coasts and invited to propose their preferred beaches.

From these, two finalists were chosen for each coastline and readers have until 11.59pm on September 5 to vote for their favourite.

PLAYA DE LOS MUERTOS: Received in excess of 15,000 points.

NEWS

Opinions do matter FOR the first time ever, Turre has approved its 2016 budgets with citizen participation.

After putting the question to the locals back in December, the council collected 40 proposals from taxpayers on what they would like to see their money spent on. After studying the viability of these and putting them to vote, a total of seven projects requested by the people have been included in the annual spending plans.

Approved at the August plenary session after receiving the green light from the Treasury, the budget includes schemes to improve the mains water supply, build a pavement on Avenida de Almeria, a

pathway from Turre to Gibajar, a park with trees for locals to stroll in, renovate the old Los Moralicos school building as a refuge, fix children’s playgrounds and install a footpath along the bank of Rio Aguas.

“As we had promised, the people of Turre have helped decide what their money should be spend on.

Although the budget has been approved late and therefore the proposed work may not be finished by the end of this year, it will certainly be completed sometime in 2017,” the mayor said.

He then promised to keep everyone informed on progress and any problems which may arise.

Caring councils give newborn babies gifts BABIES come with a loaf of bread under their arms according to an old Spanish saying.

While this isn’t really true, those born to parents living in Gador or Viator do come with a

little something as the mayors of both towns have brought in gift baskets for newborns.

In Viator, Mayor Manuel Jesus Flores took the plunge after taking office just over a year ago and has since handed out more than 70 baskets with shampoo and other baby products. “The parents receive a letter of congratulations when they register their new baby which also invites them to come to the town hall to collect a gift,” Flores explained.

In Gador, Lourdes Ramos decided to do the same thing when she was sworn in last month. “It’s a small gesture which I wanted to make to help families with new babies,” she said.

The baskets containing shampoo, nappies and other items, have so far been given to four new babies. Unsurprisingly, both mayors have reported that parents seem to have welcomed their gestures.

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E W N 25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Extension project awarded Photo Credit P. Montoya, S.L

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NEW WING: Will provide a new canteen and classrooms.

A CONTRACT for phase two of new facilities at Vera’s Reyes Catolicos Infant and Primary School has been awarded to Obras y Servicios Publicos SA for a total of €1,332,119, the regional education department has announced.

The work, which is expected to take 12 months to complete, will benefit the school’s 700

pupils by providing them with a new canteen and classrooms.

Split into three storeys and built next to and in the same style as the first building, which has already been put to use, the new wing will consist of a canteen and bathrooms, a music room, computer room and two special education classrooms.

There will also be specially-

adapted disabled bathrooms on the ground floor, and 12 large and four small classrooms with their own bathrooms on the second and third floors.

It’s one of 128 state school projects in Andalucia as part of the Junta de Andalucia regional government’s €107 million 2016-2017 Educational Infrastructure Improvement Plan.

NEWS

Migrants rescued from sea ELEVEN African migrants were rescued 21 miles east of Carboneras coast and carried to safety by a Algenib lifeboat on Thursday, August 18.

The crew of a fishing boat spotted the men drifting in a di nghy whi ch had lost its motor just after 1.30pm.

They were checked over by a Red Cross immediat e r esponse t eam upon their arrival at t he f i shi ng por t i n Al m er i a Ci t y at 6.08pm, before bei ng handed over t o immigration authorities.

Mobile tests for bikes and tractors

By Eleanor Hawkins THE company which runs ITV (MOT) vehicle inspections, VEIADA, has announced that owners of motorcycles and agricultural vehicles can now book appointments for mobile units in advance.

Appointments can be requested (in Spanish) by calling 959 99 99 99 or via www.itvcita.com using a similar system as that which is already in place for car owners.

After providing the registration or chassis number on the website and selecting whether it is a periodic test or not, a list will appear with the fixed stations at the top of the screen. Lower down, a list of places and dates the mobile inspection units can be found, enabling the user to select the most convenient location.

These units are only available for tests on motorcycles and agricultural vehicles, which are subject to travel restrictions and therefore cannot be taken to the usual fixed testing centres.

During 2015, the mobile units carried

out a total of 72,139 inspections on this type of vehicle, although VEIASA has reported that just 20 per cent of motorcycles over three years old have been through their obligatory tests. Of these, only 40 per cent return for further tests after the first one.

The authorities stress that such neglect puts drivers and other road users at risk and can adversely affect the environment.

ADVANCED BOOKING: Now available for ITV mobile units.

to Pho

ck rsto utte s/Sh e u arq it M Cred

NEWS

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25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

Taxicab hold-ups

By Eleanor Hawkins A THIRTY-EIGHT-YEAROLD Spanish man has been arrested in Almeria City by the National Police under suspicion of having robbed two taxi drivers at gun and knife point last month.

The first cabbie reported that he had been attacked on July 11 by a man who had

asked to be taken to Pescaderia district at 4.15am.

Once the taxi reached its destination, the driver reported, the man held a gun to his chest and stole €35 in cash before jumping out and forcing him to drive away.

Two weeks later, a second driver reported a similar incident in which a man climbed into the passenger seat at

Green light for new roundabout CROSSING from Los Gallardos town centre to Huerta Nueva residential area will soon be safer, thanks to a new roundabout the provincial council has announced is to be built on the busy N-340 road.

The project, currently out to tender, has a €300,000 budget and aims to considerably improve safety both for vehicles and pedestrians.

Although other possibilities, including overhead and underground pedestrian walkways, were considered, the oval-shaped roundabout, was agreed to be the best option for the town.

5.30am and asked to be taken to the same street in Pescaderia. He then held a military-style knife to the driver’s cheek, cutting him slightly, and stole €80 before hightailing it.

The suspect was identified by one of the two victims, who recognised him on a city street earlier this month and called the police.

Ramble riches OLULA DE CASTRO was the latest hamlet to host of one of the provincial council’s hiking outings, which this year takes in more than 60 different corners of Almeria.

Local mayor Cristian Quero welcomed the 63 hikers, who followed a circular route around an area which offers stunning views over the Tabernas countryside and old buildings.

They then returned to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where the council gave out snacks and cool drinks.

EWN

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NEWS EXTRA

Lucky escape THREE people had to be rescued when the car they were travelling in overturned on a slip road off the A7 motorway in Almeria City. Their injuries were slight but they were trapped in the vehicle on Thursday August 18 until the emergency services arrived.

New meters ENDESA electricity company has reported it has swapped more than 296,830 (71 per cent) electricity meters in Almeria over to the new intelligent model under its project to modernise systems.

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

EWN

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Rio Miño vessel rescues 50 people

By John Smith THE Guardia Civil maritime vessel River Miño acting as part of Operation Indalo with the European Agency Frontex was involved in the rescue of 50 ‘immigrants’ who were spotted in two flimsy boats in waters near the Almeria coast.

The first rescue on Tuesday August 16 occurred early in the afternoon when officers on the Miño spotted an inflatable boat with six men, apparently of Moroccan origin, on board.

Later in the same general area they spotted a second slightly larger inflatable boat in which 44 people of sub-

Flickr Javier Ortega Figuelral.

NEWS

OPERATION INDALO: The Rio Miño patrol boat went to the rescue of immigrants in inflatable boats.

Saharan origin were travelling, including 10 women.

Both vessels were endangered by bad sea conditions and strong wind so the crew

of the Rio Miño went to their immediate rescue, using dinghies to take them on board.

One of the rescued women

had first and second degree burns on one leg and was treated by medics whilst the others were reported to be in apparent good health.

Following their rescue, the 50 people were transferred to a Maritime Rescue Service vessel for transfer to port.

SUV model GARRUCHA marina was the chosen site for the presentation of Spanish car manufacturer Seat’s new Ateca SUV. Hundreds of people attended the event, which was a great success.

Probe into fishy situation at wetlands MORE than 1,310 kilos of dead fishes have been removed from the Rambla Morales wetland by members of the regional environmental department. Samples of the water and the unfortunate

aquatic animals have been collected and sent for analysis in the hope of determining the cause of the massive loss.

A spokesperson from the Junta de Andalucia re-

gional government said visitors to the area began reporting the presence of floating dead fish last week, although no other local wildlife appears to have been affected.

NEWS

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almeria

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NEWS FROM OUR FIVE OTHER REGIONS

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

CLOSED DOWN: La Aparecida pool was targeted by vandals.

MALLORCA

AXARQUÍA

By Gemma Elvins-Quinn LA APARECIDA’S municipal pool was temporarily closed after vandals broke into the sports facilities.

Orihuela councillor for Sports, Damaso Aparicio, said the doors and locks had been forced and a fire extinguisher taken.

Two speakers were taken from the canteen area along with lighting poles.

A whitish substance was also poured into the pool resulting in police cordoning off the area as water testing was carried out. The facility reopened the following day.

The councillor said it was not the first episode of vandalism within sports facilities, which results in “a great disservice to users and its neighbours who enjoy them.”

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Free guides

Man shot

Drought aid

Star gazing

THE ARQUA sub-aquatic archaeological museum in Cartagena is open every Saturday evening in summer with a free guided visit of the exhibits at 6.30pm. Entry is also free after 2pm and €3 at all other times.

A MAN said to be an Irish tourist and identified as Trevor O’Neil, was walking with his family in the Costa de la Calma, a suburb of Calvia, when he was shot four times in the back on August 17. It is suggested the man, who later died, was the victim of mistaken identity.

THE Diputacion de Malaga has approved a total of €700,000 in emergency drought aid. Towns targeted for the aid include Colmenar, Riogordo, La Vinuela and Casabermeja. The aid intends to either guarantee or improve the supply of water.

STREETLAMPS in Benitachell are being replaced by more efficient LED lights with reduced sodium flow. This will not only bring savings in energy bills, but will reduce light pollution.

Tourist saturation

Maskom arrives

THE University of the Balearic Islands has been tasked with reviewing the situation with regard to tourism sustainability and whether there is any logical way in limiting the number of tourists who visited the islands other than by the number of beds available.

THE Malaga supermarket chain Maskom has opened its first store in the Axarquia in Velez-Malaga. The large supermarket, with 2,200 square metres of floor space is located on the Camino de Malaga, and was opened by the town’s mayor, Antonio Moreno Ferrer.

Remember Lemmy

Tourism booming

AN exhibition of 76 photographs and a video tracing two weeks in the life of rock group Motorhead has opened in the gardens of La Misericordia cultural centre in Palma. It is the work of Mallorcan photojournalist Pep Bonet, who was a friend of the band and a long-time fan.

HOTEL occupancy has increased over recent years in both Nerja and Almuñecar, according to recent data. Nerja Town Hall has reported that in July, 93.12 per cent of rooms were occupied, whilst Almuñecar, reported an occupancy rate of 98 per cent for the Bank Holiday.

Going down

Bilingual education

TEN people including some children, all understood to be German, were rescued from a yacht that sank off the Calvia coast in an area situated between Cala Falco and Cala Vinyes. The local lifeguard service and marine rescue attended and all were taken off of the boat without injury.

SEVEN more schools in the Axarquia are to begin teaching some courses in English aiming to provide students with a ‘bilingual education.’ The schools located in towns including Torrox and Velez-Malaga attempt to provide students with proficiency in a second language.

Bird watching GUARDAMAR has been in the UK attending the Rutland Bird Fair, one of the most important events for birdwatchers. Visitors were interested in what Guardamar could offer in terms of bird watching, accommodation, culture and festivities.

Blind pilgrimage A GROUP of 15 blind people from the region are travelling the Camino de Santiago accompanied by their guide dogs. They set off at the weekend at 4am simultaneously from Castellon and Elche before meeting in Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha and continuing together from there.

Animal protection THE Facebook page of the Department of Animal Protection Torrevieja has more than 6,700 followers and, according to statistics from the social network itself, some of its publications have had a reach of 108,000 people this month.

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COSTA DEL SOL

Vandals target pool

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

EWN

For more local news from our five other regions see www.euroweeklynews.com

Towering shame THE 16th century Aguilo lookout tower on the Villajoyosa coast was recently vandalised with graffiti. Residents and visitors witnessing similar incidents are being asked to contact the Local Police.

Dregs of society MUNICIPAL cleaning services have blitzed an illegal dumping ground in Torremuelle, Benalmadena, following a number of complaints by local residents who complained about the reeking rubbish. Leading town mayor Victor Navas issued an impassioned plea against flytipping.

Shady seafood seized MIJAS’ intrepid bicyclemounted ‘Bobbies’ confiscated three bucket-loads of sea cucumbers which had been captured at Ocean Beach by a trio of youngsters lacking the necessary permits. The animals were subsequently returned to the sea.

Healthy outlook MARBELLA heads the list of Andalucian towns and cities of more than 40,000 inhabitants with the lowest unemployment, with less than 8 per cent of the city’s 139,000 residents currently claiming benefits.

Hate crime

GANDIA’S Playa Venecia is due to reopen after closing for several days owing to the quality of its water. This was temporarily affected by the local sewage treatment plant which struggled to cope with the increased summer population.

FOUR youths, including two minors, had their collars felt by a National Police patrol after being picked up for allegedly roughing up a Colombian transvestite whom they threw stones at on the Guadalhorce industrial estate.

Saint returns

Historic hamlet

LA NUCIA’S San Rafael chapel once again has a statue of the town’s patron saint in a niche on the facade. The recess has been empty for several years since the original stone statue was smashed.

TORREMOLINOS Council has announced it is finalising plans to ensure the preservation of the remains of the Roman village Cizaña, located in the Los Alamos neighbourhood.

The work will take place within the framework of a housing project that will soon occupy a plot close to the ancient site.

Beach problem

Bus route RESIDENTS in Villena’s La Paz district want a bus station on the Peones Camineros plot of land near the motorway. Buses would no longer need to enter the busy town centre, they claim.

EWN top for all the news from Spain.

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EUROPEAN PRESS SCANDINAVIAN PRESS

Burning issue SWEDEN: The government says it will clamp down on criminals who set fire to cars after nine consecutive nights of car fires.

GERMAN

Olympic attack A TEAM GB athlete was robbed at gunpoint in Rio as officials warn they could impose a ban on British competitors leaving the Olympic Park after dark. The athlete was not injured.

BRITISH PRESS More than a cold

Bread thief

A MOTHER who thought she ha d a c old ma y ha ve to ha ve thre e a m putations afte r blood poisoning turne d he r limbs bla c k.

SWEDEN: A hotel owner is taking private legal action against a local politician accusing him of “illegally taking a piece of bread from the hotel’s breakfast buffet.” Police decided not to launch a preliminary investigation.

NEWS

The 40-year-old from Blackpool fell into a coma and was diagnosed with a serious bacterial blood infection.

Top results A RECORD number of A-level students achieved a place at university this year with some 424,000 students offered their first or second choice of degree course; the highest ever on A-level results day.

Still spending RETAIL sales rose in July by 5.9 per cent compared to the previous July. It comes despite negative forecasts that people would stop spending after the Brexit vote.

PRESS Bomb suspect A POLICE special forces uni t has ar r est ed a t er r or suspect t hey bel i eve was “planning an act of terrorism” which could have had an Islamist motive. Police believe he was planning an explosive attack at a town festival.

Calls for concern NEIGHBOURS in Kaarst called the police after hearing cries of distress, but police discovered it wasn’t a child as they believed, but a parrot squawking away.

Population rise

No nudity

SWEDEN’S total population is now 9,906,331, with predictions the country is likely to hit the 10-million mark before the end of 2017. In the first half of this year the population grew by 55,300 with immigration accounting for much of the increase.

BERLIN’S public transport company prides itself on a l ai d- back at t i t ude t o customers, but has issued a statement saying riding the metro in the nude is not welcome and counts as “causing a public disturbance.”

Life after death

Wealth fund NORWAY’S sovereign wealth fund, the world’s biggest, posted a positive return for the second quarter putting its value at 7.18 trillion kroner (€777 billion) at the end of the quarter.

Behind bars NORWAY: A local politician was found guilty of kidnapping his adult daughter and locking her up in a homemade cell to help rid her of her drug problem. He was sentenced to 120 days imprisonment with a probation period of two years.

Jogger attack DENMARK: A female jogger was found close to death after being raped and attacked during a morning jog in Copenhagen. A 29-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and rape.

HIDDEN PACKAGE: Dozens of snakes and lizards were hidden inside a suitcase.

Excess reptile baggage A GERMAN man was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport after customs officials found dozens of snakes, lizards and other reptiles hidden in his suitcase. He was travelling from South Africa to Germany to sell the animals at a reptile fair.

Jobless rate THE jobless rate among 25 to 30year-olds has gone down from 7.3 per cent to 5 per cent over the past two years, however the rate is still almost

DUTCH PRESS double the figure from before the crisis.

Teenage detention A 15-YEAR-OLD girl from Maastricht has been sent to juvenile detention for eight months for planning to

go to Syria to join terrorist organisation Daesh. She will also remain under electronic supervision for two years.

Security climbdown DUTCH authorities say beefed-up security measures at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, such as the checking of cars by military police, are being scaled back just under three weeks after they were introduced, following investigation of an unspecified threat.

TH E young Ger m an Olympic canoe coach who died in a taxi accident in Rio has helped the lives of four people through organ donation. The family of Stefan Henze travelled to Rio and gave t hei r consent t o t he transplants.

Gun supplies TH E Ger m an ar m y has sent a shipment of weapons to Kurdish fighters in Iraq. It comes after supplies were stopped when it was reported Ger m an weapons wer e being sold in gun markets.

Med search A 26- YEAR- O LD m an f r om Ber l i n i s sear chi ng f r om t he ski es over t he Mediterranean looking for refugees in need. He is part of a volunteer effort of the Sea Watch team.

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NEWS

RUSSIAN P RESS

SPACE TRAVEL: Astronauts were having a gloomy conversation.

It’s a space oddity FOOTAGE of astronauts onboard a flight to the ISS has taken the internet by storm, not due to the astonishing views of earth, but rather the gloomy conversation between the pair.

One says he’s bored with space travel but his friend snorts, betting him a bottle of vodka that he’ll be back in orbit.

Backwards step AN ultra-conservative Russian MP, who made her name introducing laws banning gay propaganda, is now plotting to decriminalise domestic violence. Yelena Mizulina believes that violence towards family members should be an administrative affair and has strong support from religious extremists, despite Russia already being heavily criticised for its women’s rights record.

Cheeky monkey A TEENAGE girl was arrested after stealing 200,000 rubles (€2,700) from her stepfather in order to open a zoo. The cheeky 18-year-old spent the money on renting out four units in Moscow which she furnished with iguanas, snakes and bats, while replenishing her stepfather’s safe with monopoly money.

Russian history

Olympic outrage

A LAWMAKER from Saint Petersburg, who once challenged Elton John to a ‘verbal duel,’ has demanded that schools teach students a new course on ‘traitor studies.’ Vitaly Milonov wants children to learn about the collapse of the USSR; the leaders of separatist movements and critics of Russia’s 2014 reunification with Crimea.

AS if Russia’s Olympic Games saga wasn’t complicated enough, the International Boxing Association has now expelled judges accused of m at ch- f i xi ng i n favour of Russian boxers in Rio. Victories by Vladimir Ni ki t i n and Evgeny Ti schenko were booed by the crowd and heavily criticised by boxing commentators at the ringside.

Tinseltown plan for ZIL site A KEY part of Moscow’s cultural heritage is under threat as the local government plans to replace the 400-hectare former ZiL auto factory with an upmarket patchwork of boutique shops and apartments. Built in 1935, the industrial hub once saw 100,000 proletariat workers labouring away to produce ZiL’s famous trucks and armoured limousines.

Guerrilla combat SPECIAL forces killed four suspected Islamic terrorists during a Saint Petersburg shoot-out.

Three of the men were known extremists with links to violence in the North Caucasus, which is festering with separatist and Islamic violence, although it rarely spills over into the Russian heartland.

FINANCE

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Spain public debt worst ever

By John Smith NEVER far from the financial news, Spain continues to see an increase in its public debt which has risen to 100.9 per cent of GDP, the highest figure relative to national output in more than a century according to figures released by the Bank of Spain, with the actual deficit increasing by more than €18

is the figure that the Spanish public debt had risen to by June 2016.

billion in June alone.

It was also revealed that the non-

CLOUD COMPUTING: Lenovo invest in innovation.

Lenovo profits rise FORGET Apple and Dell, the largest pc computer maker in the world, China’s Lenovo, has revealed strong profits for the first quarter of 2016 with an increase of 64 per cent to $173 million (€153 million) although its overall turnover has dropped 6 per cent year on year to $10.1 billion (€8.94 billion).

The group is pleased with the latest results considering there has been a slowdown in the general market for personal computers, especially due to the problems that the Chinese economy has been facing.

EDP debt, including all of Spain’s financial obligations to creditors had risen to €1.53 trillion which is 140 per cent of GDP for the first quarter of 2016.

The Ministry for the Economy commented that this significant jump was caused by seasonal variations and it remains on track to meet its 2016 target of a debt to GDP ratio of 99.1 per

Today’s market conditions are challenging for all retail-focused banks and the macroeconomic uncertainty following the result of the EU referendum” Niall Booker Chief Executive of loss making Co-op Bank.

Photo Credit IntelFreePress Wikimedia

Quote of the Week

€1.107 trillion

Whilst the group is investing heavily in the growing area of what is known as cloud computing, it has been cutting costs whilst seeing strong results from both the pc and smartphone businesses.

By taking the actions it has done, the company managed to accept a drop in turnover yet increase its profits.

Founded in China in 1984 the company saw considerable expansion after it bought IBM personal computer business 20 years later. With headquarters in China and the USA it now trades in some 160 countries.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Surplus trade ACCORDING to a report released in August by Eurostat, the European Statistics Agency, the euro area appears likely to achieve a trading surplus with the rest of the world of €29.2 billion in the first six months of the year.

Whilst this is considered to be good news for the European economy, the reason for the surplus is attributable to a drop in imports which was greater than the drop in exports for the same period.

Exports are estimated as having dropped by 2 per cent but imports have in turn dropped by 5 per cent, explaining in part the reason for the surplus.

US interest THE smart money is on an increase in the base rate of interest in the USA in September as the market appears ready to see a further small increase and to leave it later may cause complaints from candidates in the presidential election due in November.

The two main factors for the delay in the rise were considered to be fall-out from Brexit and missing the 2 per cent inflation target which is seen as an important target for a healthy recovery.

UK’s return to luxury watches WHEN you think of a luxury watch, you probably think of a company from Switzerland or possibly Cartier but British watches are not normally anywhere on the list but this incredibly precise and demanding industry is beginning to see a resurgence in the UK.

29

£1.17 billion (€1.36 billion) is the amount of government bonds bought back by the Bank of England in a single week in an effort to boost the UK economy.

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal

EWN

Considering most early chronometers were produced in the UK and took the world by storm, it’s heartening to know that such companies as Bremont, Garrick and Roger W Smith are cracking the luxury market with watches priced between £2,500 (€2,900) and £100,000 (€116,000).

cent and pointed out and that the real rate of debt increase has been slowing since 2013.

Having narrowly escaped a €2 billion fine from the European Commission for breaking the rules concerning the annual deficit that it is allowed to run, Spain seems to be living on borrowed time as it still needs to meet new targets by the end of this year.

IBEX 35

+0.03%

C LOSING P RICES A UGUST 22

Cheaper driving DEPENDING upon where you live within Spain, the average cost of filling your car up with diesel or petrol is as low as it has been for several years with the average price for diesel breaking just below €1 per litre whilst unleaded 95 was just above €1.12 per litre.

Whist this is good news for many, regional differences do apply and on the Costa del Sol, many garages, particularly those offering the major brands, were still selling unleaded 95 at around €1.19 per litre.

30

E W N 25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

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C LOSING P RICES A UGUST 22

PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3i Group PLC 622.50 0.00 Admiral Group PLC 2123.00 -3.00 Anglo American PLC 853.80 -16.50 Antofagasta PLC 552.00 -12.00 ARM Holdings PLC 1688.50 0.00 Ashtead Group PLC 1205.50 -1.00 Associated British Foods PLC 2984.00 4.00 AstraZeneca PLC 5060.50 2.00 Aviva PLC 413.50 -0.90 Babcock International Group 1030.00 -1.00 BAE Systems PLC 528.75 -0.50 Barclays PLC 160.60 0.25 Barratt Developments PLC 450.85 0.52 Berkeley Group Holdings 2491.50 6.73 BHP Billiton PLC 1036.00 -17.50 BP PLC 433.30 -1.07 British American Tobacco PLC 4894.25 21.50 British Land Co PLC 648.75 -0.05 BT Group PLC 391.12 -0.12 Bunzl PLC 2399.50 -2.00 Burberry Group PLC 1362.00 1.00 Capita PLC 1015.50 -2.00 Carnival PLC 3617.00 -13.00 Centrica PLC 237.80 0.90 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1703.00 -2.00 Compass Group PLC 1506.00 3.00 CRH PLC 2506.00 0.00 DCC PLC 7115.00 -40.00 Diageo PLC 2178.75 0.00 Direct Line Insurance Group 369.25 0.22 Dixons Carphone PLC 369.05 0.17 easyJet PLC 1105.50 2.89 Experian PLC 1508.50 3.00 Fresnillo PLC 1889.50 -47.00 GKN PLC 309.25 -0.20 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1669.75 2.00 Glencore PLC 185.12 -3.26 Hammerson PLC 569.50 0.00 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 1326.00 -4.12 Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC 2289.00 6.87 HSBC Holdings PLC 543.60 0.40 Imperial Brands PLC 4064.00 13.50 Informa PLC 714.50 1.00 InterContinental Hotels Gr 3359.00 -5.00 International Consolidated 384.15 -0.80 Intertek Group PLC 3622.00 -1.67 Intu Properties PLC 308.55 0.30 ITV PLC 194.40 -1.10 Johnson Matthey PLC 3345.00 4.00 Kingfisher PLC 365.85 -2.20

% CHG. 0.00 -0.14 -1.90 -2.13 0.00 -0.08 0.13 0.04 -0.22 -0.10 -0.09 0.16 0.12 0.27 -1.66 -0.25 0.44 -0.01 -0.03 -0.08 0.07 -0.20 -0.36 0.38 -0.12 0.20 0.00 -0.56 0.00 0.06 0.05 0.26 0.20 -2.42 -0.06 0.12 -1.73 0.00 -0.31 0.30 0.07 0.33 0.14 -0.15 -0.21 -0.05 0.10 -0.56 0.12 -0.60

NET VOL 5.32 1.86 112.48 43.12 110.58 18.81 4.29 17.00 84.02 2.36 27.22 743.16 24.31 8.85 170.31 555.94 34.76 16.68 104.81 .99 2.87 2.22 1.39 102.14 .75 48.51 1.31 .76 50.22 15.95 4.87 55.91 3.28 36.43 33.95 116.50 1,814.16 8.48 .95 4.36 255.40 12.37 2.50 1.01 29.13 .84 2.05 79.73 2.64 26.98

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Land Securities Group PLC 1083.00 -1.00 Legal & General Group PLC 205.80 0.00 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 55.14 -0.06 London Stock Exchange Gr 2888.50 2.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC 339.20 1.44 Mediclinic International PLC 1093.50 -4.00 Merlin Entertainments PLC 485.45 0.40 Mondi PLC 1572.00 -9.00 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets 195.30 0.10 National Grid PLC 1084.00 2.52 Next PLC 5447.50 9.60 Old Mutual PLC 204.95 -1.80 Paddy Power Betfair PLC 9777.50 -88.25 Pearson PLC 864.00 -2.50 Persimmon PLC 1756.00 9.00 Provident Financial PLC 2862.00 -6.00 Prudential PLC 1383.50 0.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 8207.50 -140.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 7474.50 44.00 RELX PLC 1447.50 -7.00 Rio Tinto PLC 2416.25 -31.00 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 791.75 0.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Gr 186.65 -0.90 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 1997.00 -12.50 Royal Mail PLC 516.25 0.41 RSA Insurance Group PLC 506.75 0.82 SABMiller PLC 4373.25 2.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 735.00 -1.50 Sainsbury (J) PLC 241.45 -0.80 Schroders PLC 2727.50 -3.00 Severn Trent PLC 2414.50 0.00 Shire PLC 5087.50 20.00 Sky PLC 847.00 -3.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 1254.00 -1.00 Smiths Group PLC 1353.00 -2.00 SSE PLC 1525.00 4.00 Standard Chartered PLC 624.70 0.10 Standard Life PLC 352.20 -0.74 St James's Place PLC 950.75 -1.00 Taylor Wimpey PLC 153.70 0.20 Tesco PLC 159.72 0.60 Travis Perkins PLC 1550.50 -6.00 TUI AG 1034.50 -0.08 Unilever PLC 3614.50 9.50 United Utilities Group PLC 985.75 0.50 Vodafone Group PLC 235.52 0.35 Whitbread PLC 4078.00 1.00 Wolseley PLC 4279.00 -3.00 Worldpay Group PLC 300.60 0.00 WPP PLC 1758.00 -2.00

% CHG. -0.09 0.00 -0.11 0.07 0.43 -0.36 0.08 -0.57 0.05 0.23 0.18 -0.87 -0.89 -0.29 0.51 -0.21 0.00 -1.68 0.59 -0.48 -1.27 0.00 -0.48 -0.62 0.08 0.16 0.06 -0.20 -0.33 -0.11 0.00 0.39 -0.35 -0.08 -0.15 0.26 0.02 -0.21 -0.11 0.13 0.38 -0.39 -0.01 0.26 0.05 0.15 0.02 -0.07 0.00 -0.11

NET VOL 3.57 269.01 2,668.78 .44 25.86 1.45 10.06 5.25 67.36 35.12 1.32 136.99 .21 18.91 45.47 1.15 45.22 15.94 13.70 21.36 69.57 41.12 116.49 77.88 7.19 3.69 12.14 5.31 69.03 .85 1.22 17.82 37.88 26.25 13.08 8.88 100.33 29.00 1.50 190.36 264.08 4.15 1.48 70.23 7.17 579.02 2.61 .88 15.54 14.74

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DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES A UGUST 22

COMPANY MMM 3M AXP American Express AAPL Apple BA Boeing CAT Caterpillar CVX Chevron CSCO Cisco KO Coca-Cola DIS Disney DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil GE General Electric GS Goldman Sachs HD Home Depot IBM IBM INTC Intel JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase MCD McDonald's MRK Merck MSFT Microsoft NKE Nike PFE Pfizer PG Procter & Gamble TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies UNH UnitedHealth VZ Verizon V Visa WMT Wal-Mart

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 179.61 +0.43 +0.24% 1.3M 65.53 -0.10 -0.15% 2.8M 109.36 +0.28 +0.26% 25.4M 134.44 -0.56 -0.41% 1.9M 83.84 +0.46 +0.55% 3.8M 102.32 -1.23 -1.19% 5.1M 30.52 +0.04 +0.13% 25.1M 43.92 -0.18 -0.41% 9.4M 96.39 -0.26 -0.27% 6.4M 69.78 +0.33 +0.48% 2.5M 87.80 -1.11 -1.25% 8.6M 31.25 -0.18 -0.57% 24.7M 166.23 +0.17 +0.10% 1.8M 135.46 +0.66 +0.49% 4.0M 160.04 -1.32 -0.82% 2.8M 35.24 +0.27 +0.77% 16.4M 119.92 -0.80 -0.66% 7.8M 65.86 -0.09 -0.14% 9.1M 115.01 -2.12 -1.81% 7.1M 63.36 -0.27 -0.42% 8.5M 57.62 +0.02 +0.03% 17.3M 58.90 +1.69 +2.95% 16.0M 34.98 -0.21 -0.60% 19.6M 87.31 -0.13 -0.15% 6.2M 117.47 -0.35 -0.30% 1.1M 109.14 -0.19 -0.17% 2.4M 142.04 -0.13 -0.09% 2.0M 52.45 -0.42 -0.79% 12.0M 80.47 +0.20 +0.25% 8.5M 72.81 -1.49 -2.01% 15.3M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES A UGUST 22

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced VisionChina Media, Inc. America's Car-Mart, Inc. CSP Inc. Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. Corium International, Inc. TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Angie's List, Inc. Rapid7, Inc. Match Group, Inc. Strongbridge Biopharma plc Applied Materials, Inc.

$ 8.08 $ 36.68 $ 9.35 $ 3.38 $ 5.63 $ 6.40 $ 9.70 $ 18.48 $ 15.89 $ 4.61 $ 29.64

2.72 ▲ 50.75% 4.35 ▲ 13.45% 1.01 ▲ 12.11% 0.36 ▲ 11.92% 0.59 ▲ 11.71% 0.53 ▲ 9.03% 0.71 ▲ 7.90% 1.35 ▲ 7.88% 1.16 ▲ 7.88% 0.3099 ▲ 7.21% 1.96 ▲ 7.08%

$ 21.28 $ 4.44 $ 5.16 $ 20.25 $ 5.78 $ 4.29 $ 13.40 $ 2.75 $ 2.16 $ 3.13 $ 3.24

4.35 ▼ 16.97% 0.74 ▼ 14.29% 0.72 ▼ 12.24% 1.90 ▼ 8.58% 0.54 ▼ 8.54% 0.40 ▼ 8.53% 1.24 ▼ 8.47% 0.25 ▼ 8.33% 0.18 ▼ 7.69% 0.25 ▼ 7.40% 0.24 ▼ 6.90%

Most Declined Olympic Steel, Inc. China Finance Online Co. Limited Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. Forward Pharma A/S Communications Systems, Inc. Avinger, Inc. Melco Crown Entertainment Limited ViewRay, Inc. NII Holdings, Inc. Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Array BioPharma Inc.

32

E W N 25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Olympic heroes taxed by USA

By John Smith SOME years ago there was a threat that athletes such as Usain Bolt would refuse to run in the UK following the London 2012 Olympic Games due to the possibility that they might be taxed on their winnings overall, which, in the case of Bolt in particular, meant a very significant amount.

All was settled relatively amicably but the matter of tax has reared its ugly head again, this time as far as successful American athletes are concerned. The amount that successful athletes win at the Olympic Games is not exactly a fortune, although a gold medal will help to boost sponsorship and long-term income.

The actual cash prizes paid are gold medallists, $25,000 (€22,000); silver medallists $15,000 (€13,000), and third place bronze winners, $10,000 (€8,800). The majority of countries around the world waive the tax on such earnings because of the positive image that Olympic medals bring for the athletes’ country of origin but the USA intends to make the most of the income gained by its athletes by taxing them.

To rub salt into the wound however, the IRS also intends to levy a tax on the value of each medal won although it is only on the value of the metal in the medal not on its potential open market value which cannot really be set.

This does mean that whilst the bronze medal has no significant scrap value the gold (which is

US ATHLETES TAX: Gold winner Simone Biles will have to pay out a share of her winnings.

made from silver and gold plated) would scrap at about €490 and the silver medal at €260.

This means that a successful athlete such as Simone Biles who has won four gold and one bronze medal will have earned, as far as the tax man is concerned, just under €100,000 and would be due to pay about €39,000 in tax al-

though it is assumed that a creative accountant would be able to take into account all of her costs of participation.

In the land of opportunity, sportsmen and women are not heavily sponsored and often have to pay for their own training (unless they have sporting scholarships) and indeed receive very

little financial support from their Olympic Association let alone their government which compares very poorly with countries such as China.

For a small number of successful athletes, the rewards are enormous but they are far outweighed by those who journey to the Olympic Games but don’t win any medals.

By John Smith A NEW regimen being considered by the Treasury in the UK could bring an end to the seemingly neverending number of tax loopholes discovered by creative accountants working for well-off individuals and companies.

Recently published, a consultation paper suggests that any accountant or financial adviser who recommends that the rules are manipulated in order to gain a tax advantage that was never planned or envisioned should be punished by law with fines that could be 100 per cent of the amount of tax evaded.

Whilst it could be argued that if the lawmakers actually created unambiguous tax rules which were not open to ‘interpretation,’ then the same result would be achieved, it does mean the new proposal eliminates the need for accuracy on the part of the Treasury and might even prove to be a new source of revenue.

In today’s Britain, those who advise the rich and famous face almost no sanctions for helping them evade tax provided that the actual advice does not include an illegal activity

Photo Credit Carlton Reid flickr

New sanctions and less cream for fat cats

TOUGH SANCTIONS: Said financial secretary Jane Ellison. such as money laundering. Even those who follow their advice can only be fined in the event they are taken to court and are proven to have evaded tax improperly.

This proposed drastic change in the law will worry accountants for a number of reasons if creative tax solutions which earn them money become a thing of the past. In the

event they are prosecuted under the new law, if it comes into force, then their ability to obtain indemnity insurance would be hampered and at the very least they would see a major

increase in premiums.

The decision to review the regulations followed the leak of the ‘Panama Papers’ which revealed that ‘grey men’ all over the world were teaching their clients how to reduce their tax bills by methods both above and below the board.

To coincide with this consultation paper, financial secretary to the Treasury, Jane Ellison, said: “These tough new sanctions will make would-be enablers think twice and in turn reduce the number of schemes on the market.”

Despite the fact that the previous administration appeared to favour big business and settled apparently long-term and outstanding tax claims with companies such as Google with the alacrity of Gordon Brown selling the UK gold reserves at the lowest prices possible (he sold at around £250 (€290) an ounce and just a few years later, the spot price crashed through the £1,000 (€1,160) barrier.

Those who make money from avoiding tax will be disappointed by this news but those who actually pay their tax will probably feel that ‘it’s about time.’

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Deportation of oily embezzler

FRAUDSTER ARRESTED: Upon his return to Madrid Barajas Airport.

By John Smith IN an operation which included Interpol in Madrid and the Dominican Republic, National Police arranged for the deportation back to Spain of a Spanish man who had two warrants out for his arrest and was suspected of defrauding up to 600 people out of a minimum of €2.5 million.

The main fraud dates back 10 years when he was involved in managing compensation payments for a large number of people in the Sevillian town of Almensilla. Between 2006 and 2015, he appropriated money on a regular basis until it was discovered that €2.5 million was missing from the accounts and an e-mail was sent by the secretary to the board enquiring as to the whereabouts of the funds.

At that stage, he disappeared and after an investigation, the National Police discovered that he had fled to the Dominican Republic where he had become involved in the sale of virgin olive oil.

It then transpired that the courts in Sevilla had issued two warrants for this man, one for a separate offence of fraud and the other with regards to crimes against public health due to adulteration of the so called ‘extra virgin olive oil’ that his company was exporting to Spain.

According to tests, not only was the olive oil cut with seed oil, but in some samples, oil that was meant for use in lamps was also detected which is highly dangerous to health.

With the assistance of Interpol and the Dominican Republic authorities, it was established that the man was an illegal resident in that country and he was deported to Spain and immediately arrested at Madrid Barajas Airport.

Although the initial investigation concerned a fraud covering €2.5 million, it is now believed that the actual amount embezzled could be in excess of €3.7 million and no doubt officers will be quizzing the alleged fraudster about the

whereabouts of the missing funds.

Financial fraud of many types is endemic throughout the world and Spain appears to be no better or worse than other countries although one of the largest frauds involved a company operating what is known as a Ponzi scheme. Investors were promised large returns for their investments based on the ever climbing value of postage stamps which their funds were used to buy.

This company, Afinsa, actually entered into deals with small postal administrations to purchase large volumes of new stamps at heavily discounted price from face value and then entered the value of the stamps as being higher than face value.

Eventually they became unable to meet interest promises and more than 200,000 people lost an estimated €2.5 billion.

Although a number of directors of the company were found guilty of fraud in 2016, they are currently appealing against their sentences and remain free.

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

EWN

33

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

EWN

35

Copyright Team GB Twitter

So, when all else fails...

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT IT’S high time we began using the superstitions and beliefs of the Islamic extremists for our own ends. If we can’t persuade their more fanatical religious leaders to desist from feeding their young and vulnerable followers propaganda from the dark ages, we need to introduce a great deal more of our own guile and deviance into the equation.

Personally I would begin with their aversion and fanatical revulsion to pork. As ridiculous as it may sound, there have been a number of examples where seeing off extremists with an accompaniment of pork products has led to a peaceful conclusion.

Recently Donald Trump cited the (heavily disputed) case of General Pershing, who allegedly, in 1911 ordered the execution of 50 Islamic terrorists. Before the

HOCKEY TEAM: Could show our footballers a thing or two. firing squad opened up, he made them all dip their bullets in pig blood and fat. Making sure the in-

tended victims observed this, he then ordered 49 to be shot. The last man he set free, telling him to

relay the action to his compatriots.

Legend has it that there were no more terrorist-related incidents for

42 years. Personally, I’m seriously considering carrying a slice of bacon. Where to put it is the problem. In the wallet perhaps? Have to be careful at the checkout (sorry sir, we don’t accept rashers!)

Round the neck perhaps. Morning vicar! I dunno. I don’t mean to make light of the whole tragic scenario, but sometimes, when all else fails……

Watched all the GB ladies’ Olympic hockey games. Grr! Apart from all that, what a lesson our soccer brigade could take from these modern day Boadiceas.

The semi-final was like WW3.

One team member left the pitch, merely to get stitched up. Another was hit on the chin by a ball approaching 100mph! Injuries of this ilk would have sent our pontificating football pillocks, who appear to spend more time in the tattoo parlours and hairdressers than on the pitch, scurrying to the ER. Well done girls. Any of you fancy an older man!

All love Leapy.

Leapylee2002@gmail.com

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38

E W N 25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Doping scandals overshadow Olympics Nora Johnson

Breaking Views Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist.

To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/nora-johnson

THE Rio Olympics – and Britain’s massive gold medal haul - provided Brexiteers with the, umm, golden opportunity to brag that the UK can thrive outside the EU. In its video, Leave.EU featured medal winners with the slogan ‘we may be small but we truly are Great Britain.’

For others though, the Olympics are simply an exercise in corporate greed run by corrupt officials, hosted in countries that can ill afford them.

For them, the athletes are totally selfobsessed, game to do anything to win, setting an appalling example to others.

Can’t win cleanly? Drug yourself up and get someone else to, err, provide a sample. Good at athletics?

Never mind the crippling arthritis or the wandering hands of your coach, take the performance-enhancing drugs, that medal means everything!

But there are always two sides to

CORPORATE GREED: Some athletes will do anything to win. every story. With drug cheat athletes from the former East Germany recently warning that doping will lead to a lifetime of chronic health problems (heart, liver, kidney failure, in-

fertility, etc.).

I recall reading somewhere that many of these East German athletes were selected as very young children and taken to special sports schools,

where anabolic steroids described as ‘vitamins’ were routinely doled out.

The pressure to conform and comply must have been overwhelming and hard to resist. Many coaches, doctors

and officials have since confirmed that the doping was kept secret from athletes, parents and family doctors.

Several athletes have already died prematurely as a result. It is nearly always a ‘team’ effort as a successful doping programme is complicated to administer, yet it is always the athlete alone who pays the price.

This is why the IOC’s decision this summer not to ban Russia is a downright disgrace, as it has failed to protect future generations of competitors from the pressure to dope, pressure which comes not just from coaches but, sometimes, the state itself.

The IOC needs to get its act together NOW to prevent ever more serious problems/scandals happening, not trying to fix them after the horse is (Usain) bolting down the road.

Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘No Way Back,’ ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,, ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.norajohnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89;£0.79) and iBookstore. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

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For more information or the name of your nearest broker call 902 255 258 or visit the web site at: www.libertyexpatriates.es.

40

E W N 25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

TV LISTING

THURSDAY 25 AUGUST

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

12:30am

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST

SATURDAY 27 AUGUST

SUNDAY 28 AUGUST

MONDAY 29 AUGUST

TUESDAY 30 AUGUST

WEDNESDAY 31 AUGUST

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm 12:35am 7:50pm 8:00pm 8:05pm 8:10pm 9:00pm 10:50pm 11:00pm 11:15pm 11:20pm 12:50am 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:20pm 11:25pm 11:30pm 12:25am 8:00pm

9:00pm 9:30pm 11:15pm 11:30pm 11:35pm 11:40pm 12:40am 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm 12:40am

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm 12:15am

BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Holby City Class of ‘92 BBC News at Ten BBC London News Matron, Medicine and Me: 70 Years of the NHS Keeping Rosy BBC London News The One Show A Question of Sport EastEnders Summer: Earth’s Seasonal Secrets Room 101 BBC News at Ten BBC London News New Tricks Disturbia

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:15am 1:15am 1:45am 2:45am 8:00pm

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

BBC News Regional News Weather Pointless Casualty The National Lottery Live BBC News Weather Match of the Day Frankenstein

5:30pm 6:30pm 7:20pm 7:50pm 8:30pm

Weather Countryfile Antiques Roadshow Are You Being Served?

Porridge BBC News Regional News Weather Match of the Day 2 Comedy Connections

7:00pm

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo EastEnders Thor: The Dark World BBC News Regional News Weather Class of ‘92 Live at the Apollo

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

The One Show EastEnders Holby City One of Us BBC News Regional News Weather Stacey Dooley Investigates Drugs Map of Britain Regional News The One Show Rip Off Britain The Great British Bake Off The Chronicles of Nadiya BBC News Regional News Weather Football Focus A Question of Sport

9:30pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 12:00am

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

11:25pm 1:10am

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

10:00pm

11:00pm 11:30pm 12:10am 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:10am

Full Steam Ahead Horizon The Premier League Football Show Newsnight An Hour to Save Your Life Panorama Fake or Fortune?

Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience

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

Britain’s Hardest Workers: Inside the Low Wage Economy Mastermind Gardeners’ World The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice Highlands Scotland’s Wild Heart Newsnight Short Term 12

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

Final Score Flog It! Gardeners’ World Proms Extra Greece with Simon Reeve Dad’s Army Edinburgh Nights The Truth Commissioner Kings of Curry Highlands Scotland’s Wild Heart Cats v Dogs: Which is Best?

Robot Wars Dragons’ Den Fleabag Murder in Successville Up There

11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 12:40am

11:30pm 11:40pm 1:45am 7:05pm 7:15pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:30pm 11:35pm 11:50pm 12:55am 7:45pm 8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:35pm 11:50pm 12:45am

Great British Menu University Challenge Only Connect Ripper Street The Coopers v the Rest Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time The Women’s Football Show

7:45pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

Garden Rescue Great British Menu Inside the Factory: How Our Favourite Foods are Made New York 2016: America’s Busiest City Home from Home Newsnight Weather

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

Debatable Make Me an Egghead Garden Rescue Great British Menu Skies Above Britain An Hour to Save Your Life People Just Do Nothing Newsnight Weather

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

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

11:45pm 12:15am

11:40pm

12:40am

ITV Evening News Emmerdale 500 Questions CCTV Neighbourhood Watching ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London Rookies Murder, She Wrote ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Gino’s Italian Escape Coronation Street Doc Martin ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London Bird on a Wire Jackpot247

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:50pm 12:50am 1:45am 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 11:35pm 1:05am

Local News and Weather ITV News and Weather You’ve Been Framed!

Go for It The X Factor The Bourne Ultimatum ITV News and Weather The Bourne Ultimatum The Jeremy Kyle Show

9:00pm 10:00pm 12:05am

ITV News and Weather Ellie Simmonds: Swimming with Dolphins The X Factor Victoria ITV News and Weather Slow Train Through Africa Tipping Point

6:35pm 7:35pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Celebrity Home Secrets Coronation Street Victoria ITV News Benidorm Britain as Seen on ITV

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:10pm

ITV Evening News Emmerdale Garden Nightmares Rookies ITV News Local News and Weather On Assignment Billy Connolly’s Tracks Across America

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

ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street All Star Mr and Mrs DCI Banks ITV News Local News and Weather Ellie Simmonds: Swimming with Dolphins River Monsters

5:00pm

2:00am 2:50am 4:55am 5:50am

10:00pm 11:35pm 1:40am 2:40am 3:05am

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

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

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

The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Supervet 999: What’s Your Emergency?

The Circuit First Dates Naked Attraction President Trump: Can He Really Win?

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

12:35am

Hollyoaks Channel 4 News George Clarke’s Amazing Builds by the Sea 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Friday Night Dinner The Big Fat Quiz of Everything Rude Tube

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

The Good Terrorist Last Vegas Hot Tub Time Machine Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Hollyoaks Omnibus Phil Spencer: Secret Agent Hugh’s 3 Good Things

7:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:50pm

1:20am

7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:30am

A Place in the Sun Channel 4 News Posh Pawn Prehistoric Megabeasts The Big Fat Quiz of Everything The Watch Formula 1 Friday Night Dinner Walking the Himalayas

7:00pm

The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Joe Wicks: The Body Coach Make My Body Better First Dates My Millionaire Dads and Me 999: What’s Your Emergency?

3:15pm 4:10pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Location, Location, Location Inside Birmingham Children’s Hospital 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Disabled Daredevils

8:00pm 9:00pm

Fill Your House for Free with Gok Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Great Canal Journeys Britain’s Benefit Tenants Sex, Lies and Cyber Attacks First Dates

8:00pm 8:55pm 9:55pm 10:00pm 12:55am

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:30am 1:00am 2:00am 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

Home and Away 5 News Tonight Secrets of Underground Britain On Benefits Celebrity Big Brother Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side: Live in the House Celebrity Big Brother Home and Away 5 News Tonight The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords Celebrity Big Brother Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side Super Casino

5:30pm 6:00pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 12:00am 12:30am 5:30pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 11:15pm 12:15am

Barclays Premier League World Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs EFL Cup Round-Up Premier League Match Pack Live PGA Tour Golf Premier League Match Pack La Liga Show EFL Cup Round-Up Barclays Premier League Preview The Fantasy Football Club Football The Fantasy Football Club Barclays Premier League Preview

Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

5 News Cricket on 5 Secrets of the Egyptian Pyramids Football on 5 Football on 5 The Funny Thing About Dating Impractical Jokers UK

12:30pm 4:00pm 6:15pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 11:30pm 12:30am 1:00am 1:30am 2:00am 2:30am

Football Gillette Soccer Saturday Football EFL Goals Nissan Game of the Day Nissan Match Choice Football Football Football Football Football

Cats Make You Laugh Out Loud Toddlers Make You Laugh Out Loud 2 Can’t Pay? Benefits Special 5 News The Most Shocking Moments of the 00s Tattoo Disasters UK

9:30am 10:00am

Football The Sunday Supplement Goals on Sunday Live Nissan Super Sunday Live Nissan Super Sunday Live Spanish Football Live Spanish Football Goals on Sunday

NCIS The Four Feathers Neighbours Home and Away D-Day’s Sunken Secrets Police Interceptors Gangland Tattoo Disasters UK World’s Most Dangerous Prison Police Interceptors The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies The Inside Story Borderline The Hotel Inspector Returns Criminals: Caught on Camera Cricket on 5 Super Casino Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Stop! Roadworks Ahead GPs: Behind Closed Doors Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

Suspects: The Enemy Within Suspects: The Enemy Within

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

9:00pm 10:00pm 10:15pm 10:30pm 10:45pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 1:30am

Live Elite League Speedway Live Elite League Speedway La Liga Goals SPFL Round Up Soccer AM: The Best Bits 2016/17 SPFL Round Up Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs SPFL Round-Up Premier League Review Information unavailable Fight Night Premier League Review La Liga World Premier League Review Premier League Review Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Barclays Premier League World The Premier League Years The Premier League Years

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

EWN

41

ITV’s Victoria will be up against Poldark on Sunday nights: which will you watch? day that Matt’s been offered a huge £1m pay deal to return to the show, though. It seems the stars just haven’t been officially locked down, as Rory said a couple of weeks ago that he hasn’t signed a new contract yet. But there’s still time, because the BBC is planning to air the next series of Top Gear in early 2017.

Richard Shanley

Dishing the Dirt OF EUROPA DIGITAL

ITV has announced an air-date for its ambitious new series Victoria and we can expect a clash of the TV titans on Sunday nights. The epic period drama starring Doctor Who’s Jenna Coleman will debut on Sunday, August 28 at 10pm (CET). This places the show in direct opposition to BBC One’s returning Poldark, back the following week, Sunday, September 4 at 10pm (CET).

In total, the two shows are expected to clash for seven of Victoria’s eight weeks on air. Victoria stars Coleman as the teenage monarch as she struggles with a sudden rise to power with Tom Hughes cast as her (eventual) husband Prince Albert and Rufus Sewell playing the queen’s close advisor Lord Melbourne.

BOX BATTLE: Poldark and Victoria will go head to head.

Chris Evans might not be coming back to Top Gear, but it looks very much like his co-host Matt LeBlanc WILL be back on our screens next series. Matt got everyone talking about his future on the BBC Two

show when he claimed this week that he wasn’t sure what was happening. “We have no immediate plans to replace Chris, and don’t expect any changes to the Top Gear presenting line-up going forward,”

a BBC spokesman said. Which means that we can all expect to see Matt alongside Rory Reid, Sabine Schmitz, Eddie Jordan and Chris Harris, right? The BBC spokesperson didn’t comment on rumours to-

If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europa-digital.com. I look forward to your comments and questions.

Don’t forget to listen to my radio show every weekday from 10am on Spectrum 96.1 and 106.8FM, now covering almost 3000sq kms of Costa Almeria and Calida or listen online at costaalmeria.spectrumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite television.

E W N 25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

Word Ladder

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

TODAY: Fri Sat Sun -

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) It is clear that you really love your hearth and home but, every now and again, there is a small voice calling.

The good things in life appeal and, to have these, an effort is involved. Do not underestimate the amount of pleasure that you will enjoy when putting in that extra effort. It does, after all, involve other people. Some of those people prove to be quite fascinating.

Fri Sat Sun -

‘CHIEF - WE’VE HAD TO IMPOUND GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE BY THE BOX LOAD - HEAVEN KNOWS WHERE IT’S ALL COMING FROM!’

Fri Sat Sun -

basis. A contact made recently gives you the opportunity not only to make some money but also to enlarge your circle of friends.

(August 24 - September 23)

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Make a point of putting on a happy face and your mood will stay high. There is still some more to be done to improve your social life and a recent offer of charity work may be just the thing.

Avoid restricting the sort of folk who you are willing to mix with.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) There is so much that has come to light in the past few weeks, it is no wonder that your mind is reeling. All will become clear in the weeks ahead and this cannot be rushed. However, there is a need to look after your health and get out in the fresh air. Any thought of joining a walking club or health group should be pursued.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Being considerably more relaxed about those things which cannot be changed has taken a weight from your shoulders.

It is also easier to understand why others have taken this approach in the past. There is, however, a balance to be found. Don't be put off by people who have become sloppy in their approach because this is not going to affect you.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) A pleasant surprise makes you a little more optimistic midweek. It is possible for you to take on negativity too quickly. The next time something does not go according to plan, hold fire. It is amazing what a little time and distance will solve.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Are you still patting yourself on the back for that recent achievement?

Socially, this is a lovely week when old friendships are strengthened and new acquaintances prove to be relaxing. It is another mellow week but one in which you seriously consider making a major change.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Although last week was not run at the pace anticipated, now the pace certainly picks up. Finances are still firmly on the agenda, but this time you will be able to deal on a more relaxed

Saturday August 20

Saturday August 20

8

18

26

10

11

12

35

41

52

15

18

19

BONUS BALL

BONUS BALL

17

35

EURO MILLIONS Tuesday August 16

2

26 37

34 46

LUCKY STARS

4

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

8

Friday August 19

5

6 25

22 34

LUCKY STARS

5

MAX MIN

28 22 Cl 29 21 Cl 30 23 S

Mon - 32 22 S Tues - 31 22 Cl Wed - 30 22 S

Mallorca

SHOWERS MAX 33C, MIN 23C

MAX 31C, MIN 18C

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 33 24 Sh Tues - 33 23 Sh Wed - 33 23 Sh

33 24 Sh 33 24 Sh 33 24 Sh

SUNNY

TODAY:

MAX MIN

32 20 S 33 20 S 29 18 S

Mon - 30 18 S Tues - 30 18 S Wed - 30 18 S

Murcia

SUNNY MAX 30C, MIN 21C

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 34 24 Sh Tues - 33 24 Sh Wed - 34 24 Sh

34 24 Sh 34 24 Sh 33 24 Sh

S Sun,

SUNNY MAX 31C, MIN 18C

TODAY:

Cl Clear,

F Fog,

Sh Showers,

Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

32 18 S 32 19 S 33 20 C

Mon - 33 20 C Tues - 31 19 Cl Wed - 31 19 S

C Cloudy, Th Thunder

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

Nonagram

TARGET: • Average: 9 • Good: 13 • Very good: 18 • Excellent: 23

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION berm brim emir emit germ grim item limb lime limn melt mien mile milt mine mint mire mite rime term time trim gimel grime limen merit miler miner miter mitre remit timer gimlet limber limner merlin meting mingle minter nimble timber timbre gremlin melting nimbler terming timbrel TREMBLING

Sudoku

Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9.

There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.

LOTTERY IRISH LOTTO

Mon - 32 17 S Tues - 32 17 S Wed - 33 17 S

SUNNY MAX 28C, MIN 22C

TODAY:

Mon - 31 23 S Tues - 30 23 S Wed - 31 23 S

31 22 Cl 31 23 S 29 23 S

MAX MIN

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) A meeting midweek could mean a change to your finances for the better.

In the short term, it may be necessary for you to rearrange money and appointments but try not to be too put out. Change is something that we become less tolerant of after a situation has gone on for a time.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

MAX 32C, MIN 21C

Benidorm TODAY:

MAX MIN

36 20 Cl 34 19 S 33 18 S

Malaga

SUNNY

MAX MIN

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Your mind is still sharp this week and there are many questions that you would like answered. Doing a bit of research proves fruitful and also quite amusing. A recent contact may not come up with the proposition hoped for, but realise that it is still early days.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) There is still a strong accent on family matters and getting things sorted out.

Fri Sat Sun -

Barcelona TODAY:

MAX 35C, MIN 20C

MAX MIN

Mon - 29 23 S Tues - 28 22 Cl Wed - 28 22 S

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

The way ahead is clear. If you are able to persuade someone that an idea was theirs and not yours, so much the better. Being in a practical mood serves you well because it is possible to get a lot done in the next few days. The weekend, however, is another matter.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Having put in extra effort to bring a zing into your life, it is important that you keep the impetus going. This is not only good for your health and wealth, but also your mind. Although trying something new brings a few odd remarks your way, try not to be sidetracked.

MAX MIN

30 22 S 30 22 S 29 22 C

SUNNY

TODAY:

7

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Saturday August 20

Sunday August 21

2

11

17

26

34

40

REINTEGRO

22

0

22

23 34

33 52

REINTEGRO

3

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

YOUR STARS

MAX 30C, MIN 22C

Almeria TODAY:

Be your charming self this week without pushing too much. A natural approach when you are seeking a response is the best course of action. Simply being in the right place and under someone’s gaze is all that is required. Are you getting itchy because an offer is not forthcoming? Well, if you absolutely must, then get a little bird to whisper in their ear.

VIRGO

for next 7 days Madrid

SUNNY MAX MIN

Solution GRIM TRIM TRAM TEAM TEAR YEAR

YEAR BACK

Weather Alicante

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

You must only change one letter at a time.

GRIM

TIME

www.euroweeklynews.com

Answers 1. AER LINGUS, 2. SEVEN (1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996), 3. The highest PEAKS/MOUNTAINS in Ireland, 4. HIBERNIA, 5. GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH, 6. PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON, 7. SHERGAR, 8. CORK, 9. MARY ROBINSON, 10. BALLET/DANCE

42

OUT

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

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AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

page

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

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC

Code Breaker

Quick Across 1 Disagrees (7) 5 Ways for pedestrians (5) 8 Getting older (5) 9 Requiring (7) 10 Impartial (7) 11 Joint connecting foot with leg (5) 12 Drowsy (6) 14 Feel remorse for (6) 17 Categories (5) 19 Places of worship (7) 22 Highest (7) 23 Glower (5) 24 Egg parts (5) 25 Young cats (7) Down 1 Flow off gradually (5) 2 Lack of success (7) 3 Keen. (5) 4 Unmarried (6) 5 Make ready (7)

43

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Crossword

EWN

Across:

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 4 represents V and 17 represents S, so fill in V every time the figure 4 appears and S every time the figure 17 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

1 Outfit, 3 Dented, 8 Dunno, 10 Climate, 11 Another, 12 Truce, 13 Mares, 15 Usher, 20 Ogres, 22 Evasive, 24 Deserve, 25 Steer, 26 Salute, 27 Scythe.

Down: 1 Ordeal, 2 Tango, 4 Exist, 5 Traduce, 6 Dieted, 7 Scorn, 9 Ochre, 14 Aerosol, 16 Snaps, 17 Hordes, 18 Deter, 19 Decree, 21 Sprat, 23 Inert.

QUICK Across: 6 Not thin (5) 7 Part cut off (7) 12 Meet the requirements of (7) 13 Own (7) 15 Stop holding on to (7)

English - Spanish

1 Success, 5 Cares, 8 Griffin, 9 Raven, 11 Restore, 12 Casket, 14 Attire, 17 Example, 19 React, 22/10 Paper tiger, 23 Craving, 24 Rally, 25 Lenient.

16 Unbroken series of events (6) 18 Student (5) 20 Physical strength (5) 21 Appears to be (5)

Down:

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

1 Sight, 2 Cling, 3 Enforce, 4 Sentry, 5 Curds, 6 Ravioli, 7 Sincere, 12 Cheaper, 13 Scalpel, 15 Terrain, 16 Pencil, 18 Party, 20 Agile, 21 Tight.

Across 1 Sobrina (5) 4 Peter (5) 7/13 Dedo gordo (del pie) (3,3) 8 Tattoo (7) 9 Weekend (3,2,6) 11 Creamy (f) (7) 13 See 7 15 Fright (sudden fear) (5) 16 Nave (de iglesia) (5)

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 5 Cacerolas, 8 Peine, 9 Traer, 10 Tar, 11 Ahora, 12 Allow, 13 Hailstorm.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Down 1 Plumilla (de pluma) (3) 2 Ingenieros (9) 3 Between (5) 4 Mascota (animal doméstico) (3) 5 Diamonds (9) 6 Sheep (5) 9 Seals (animal) (5) 10 Stage (phase) (5) 12 Gold (metal, commodity, currency) (3) 14 That (3)

Hexagram

Down: 1 Mariposas, 2 Vegetable, 3 Portraits, 4 Caballero, 6 Speak, 7 Crown.

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

BATEAU CAVEAT FLINTY GENERA (10) GRATER HUSTLE MEAGER OTIOSE PEANUT

POSEUR SCARCE SEASON SINTER STINKY TEASEL TENNIS TITIAN TRAUMA TRIUNE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Eldest 2 Dainty 3 Cruise 4 Innate 5 Spinal 6 Strung 7 Intern 8 Umpire 9 Carrot 10 Timbre 11 Mettle 12 Breech 13 Bumble 14 Goober 15 Crease 16 Imbibe 17 Hearse 18 Saline 19 Grassy

Across 1 Secretly trails Hank's group (7) 5 Assembly appear without a document (5) 8 Support British nation (5) 9 Pull at a parcel (7) 10 Last former partner initially thought about me (7) 11 Doctor follows a Latin American siege (5) 12 Calm accused ate contents (6) 14 Woos casual workers with a car (6) 17 A king gets an honour and a traffic warning (5) 19 Agitated, real mad and distressed (7) 21 Hangs around and changes its role (7) 22 Robin Goodfellow appeared in The Numbers Game (5) 23 Tired writer found in the middle of the road (5) 24 Name another one flower (7) Down 1 Deal includes British fur (5) 2 Ted's after a free pad that's been modified (7) 3 Nothing about a mineral (3) 4 Divides up financial holdings (6) 5 Rover, perhaps and me under quiet

volcano (3,4) 6 City square up in the Graz Alps (5) 7 Prepared roast in fixed portions (7) 12 Small bits of furniture for the livestock stalls (7) 13 Rushing stream from hill crack (7)

15 Workers in the quarry love this sweet pepper (7) 16 Sickness from dining in a US eatery (6) 18 Carrot or cheese around bun initially (5) 20 Doctor takes one for a layabout (5) 22 Bishop notes insect (3)

44

E W N Costa de Almería

25 - 31 August 2016

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EWNLIFESTYLE.COM

TO READ MORE

HEALTH BEAUTY

&

Advertising feature

Lean on MACS in times of need FOR MACS (Mojacar Area Cancer Support) it’s all about the patients. Since its launch in 2008, the group has helped hundreds of cancer patients of different nationalities, including Spanish, across Almeria province. As well as offering support to those suffering from cancer, volunteers have helped family and carers come to terms with the illness of a friend or loved one.

Leading the 100-plus-strong team, is Elaine Brown. Born in Nottingham in 1959, Elaine moved to Spain in 2002 with her husband David. After years in the fire service followed by hectic years running a successful business, the couple decided to slow down their pace of life and ended up in Mojacar.

In 2007, Elaine was given the devastating news that she had Non Hodgkins Lymphoma tcell. After beginning her treatment in Spain, Elaine realised the loneliness of suffering from such a disease with no support groups or people with whom to share similar experiences.

After a radio interview where she spoke about what she was going through, other cancer sufferers began to contact Elaine. A small group began to meet regularly for a chat then what started off as a weekly coffee morning grew and MACS was born.

FAITHFUL FOUNDER: A devoted Elaine and her husband David.

In 2009 MACS gained charity status and donations began coming in from fundraising events, including the first ever donation of €1,000 from the Dames of Turre, ladies group.

The volunteer network soon expanded and thanks to donations the group purchased equipment such as beds and wheelchairs.

As numbers grew, there was a need for a larger place to hold meetings as Elaine’s living

room wasn’t big enough! Help came from Shirley Jackson, of Camping Los Gallardos, who kindly offered use of their on-site venue.

The first MACS charity shop opened in Turre in 2011, followed by Albox in 2012, Mojacar a year later then Huercal Overa in 2015.

MACS currently has support from about 100 shop helpers and 20 support volunteers who operate the care line, drive patients and operate

equipment or are ‘simply there’ to help patients and their families whichever way they can.

By the end of 2015, MACS had helped some 426 cancer patients from various nationalities, mainly British but a growing number of Spanish, Lithuanian, Romanian people and sufferers from other European countries have sought assistance from the charity. As well as personal support, loan of equipment and help with administration, MACS has also provided financial assistance to those struggling to make ends meet during their treatment.

MACS main aim is to open a hospice, where patients can receive palliative care taking the strain off family members during this difficult time. While the hospice fund continues to grow, the disease strikes more people every month and the need for donations becomes greater.

Elaine’s cancer returned in 2013 but after months of chemotherapy and a successful bonemarrow transplant, she lives to fight another day and is still the main protagonist for MACS. Patients come first she says and she won’t rest until the hospice dream becomes reality.

Contact MACS helpline on 634 656 555, email macscancersupport@live.co.uk, visit www.macscancersupport.com or via Facebook.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

www.euroweeklynews.com

Hope for desk slaves THE results of investigations published recently in The Lancet medical magazine have revealed that the health risks for those who spend eight hours or more per day sitting down can be countered with regular physical activity.

Although the majority of people are aware spending all day seated is not good for the body and can lead to premature death from a number of diseases, an estimated five million people per year still die from conditions exacerbated by a failure to reach the recommended minimum activity level. For the average adult it’s 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, including brisk walking.

Investigators have analysed data from over one million men and women and reported between 60 and 75 minutes of moderate physical activity per day is enough to seriously reduce or even remove risks for those who have to spend eight hours a day seated. Yet the problem is only one in four people actually manage to get that much exercise.

“Although there’s much concern regarding health risks deriving from sedentary lifestyles, we can give a positive message as it’s possible to reduce and even eliminate risks if we’re active enough, even without having to go to the gym,” said Ulf

Ekelund, an investigator at Cambridge University.

Here in Spain it’s easier as the long hours of daylight and good weather mean we can walk in the evenings or swim regularly, even after a long day locked in the office.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Sweeter dreams Ask The Doctor for cheerful Varicose veins couples Brought to you by

HAPPY couples have happier dreams. That’s the finding from a study which analysed data from almost 350 American couples.

The men and women were quizzed about how well they slept, including whether they woke up during the night, whether they used sleeping pills and if they had trouble staying awake during the day. Some also wore a device that monitored them for a week, to provide data on how well they actually slept. The couples were asked about how much their partner or spouse cared for them and how appreciated they felt.

Assessing all the data the researchers believe that those who were happier and felt more cared for, had a better night’s sleep.

Brain abstains when over 40 A RECENT paper from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research concludes that working more than 30 hours is detrimental to the brains of the over-40s, with the cognitive ability of those working 60 hour-weeks worse than that of the unemployed.

The researchers combined data from more than 3,000 men and 3,500 women who completed the national Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, which analysed their ability to read words aloud, recite lists of numbers, and match letters and numbers in a speed test.

It is unclear precisely why working more than 30 hours is not good for the brain, while results may also vary between countries, depending on how much holiday people can take each year.

In addition, the scientists said that it was tricky to control for all the factors that might have biased the study, but the results certainly make the idea of working full-time until the age of 65 even less appealing.

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte.

Varicose veins are dark purple or blue in colour and usually twisted and bulging in appearance. Some people with varicose veins may experience pain or discomfort. As well as their distinctive appearance, symptoms of varicose veins can include aching, heavy and uncomfortable legs, swollen feet and ankles, burning or throbbing in your legs, muscle cramps, particularly at night, or dry, itchy and thin skin over the affected vein. These symptoms are usually worse during warm weather or if you’ve been standing up for long periods of time.

What causes varicose veins?

Dilations of the veins in your legs are mainly due to weakness in them, which hinders blood circulation and makes the blood pool in certain areas, causing the vein’s expansion.

What makes them worse?

There are many factors associated with the worsening of varicose veins, but the most common are: Heavily reduced movement, staying on your feet or walking for too long, elevated temperatures, lack of physical exercise to strengthen the legs, being overweight/obesity, etc.

Do they always provoke symptoms?

Vein dilations in the legs don’t always provoke symptoms as they can be present without causing any pain, forming interior blood clots leading to infection.

What proof do I need that I have varicose veins?

If you have vein dilations you must see a specialist to be assessed. You get a full

blood analysis and at least one ultrasound of your legs to see how far the venous insufficiency goes.

Is it necessary to treat varicose veins? If I don’t get treatment, how long will it take them to get worse? Can there be serious complications or problems if they aren’t treated?

It isn’t always necessary to get treatment for varicose veins. Only when symptoms appear or it becomes an aesthetic problem for the person in question. If they aren’t treated with medication, laser or surgery they can worsen in a question of months and could provoke complications. Among the more serious complications that can arise are vein infection and the appearance of blood clots which could have much more serious consequences.

Are there drugs that can treat varicose veins?

There are drugs and creams that can help treat the symptoms caused by varicose veins. For more information you should consult a specialist doctor.

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

25 - 31 August 2016

Costa de Almería

TO READ MORE

often very traditional being in the Canto Jondo (deep song) style which can be very moving, yet to some ears is rather cacophonous.

This singing is accompanied by

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VISIT WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM/FEATURES/RESTAURANTS

The real Flamenco FOR tourists and in many cases expatriate residents, the only real knowledge they have of Flamenco is what they see on TV, presentations in tourist restaurants and performances at Ferias.

What many people don’t realise is that Flamenco is not just an archaic form of music and dance but thrives throughout Andalucia. In the province of Almeria there are at least 18 local clubs known as Peñas Flamencas which are open normally once a week where the locals get together to enjoy the pleasures of Flamenco.

T h e s e clubs normally attract Spaniards but they often welcome foreigners who wish to learn about this ancient art form.

They serve food and drink, but there will be no patience shown for those who are leery or drink too much and the style is

EWN

pure Flamenco Guitar and Cajon (the wooden box drum on which the drummer sits).

Dance is another intricate part of Flamenco with both men and women performing. On occasion you can witness duels between the musicians and the dancers as they stamp their feet in time to the music and often there will be a race to see who can be the fastest and yet most accurate performer.

Prior to any Feria, local Peñas will host a Concurso de Cante which is a competition for local artists with the winners being invited to participate with more established artists (often full time professionals and recording artists) in the Festival.

Some of these clubs charge a nominal annual fee for membership whilst others may accept single visits but all tend to offer friendship, good cheap tapas, drinks and some exceptional music. It can be a little daunting if

you are not a Spanish speaker to turn up at one of these clubs, but it may come as a surprise how welcoming members can be to those who want to discover more about this very Spanish tradition.

Many of these clubs also arrange outings to visit other clubs to get a change of venue and performer which is another way for expatriates to discover some of the real and often unknown Spain.

The Federation of Flamenco Clubs of Almeria (Federación de Peñas Flamencas de Almería) located in Almeria City is a cultural non-profit organisation whose purpose is the promotion, dissemination and knowledge of Flamenco. It does not have its own website but its details together with addresses and telephone numbers of local Peñas can be found at www.flamenka.com/html/penas/ht ml/PFALMERIA.html.

For anyone who really wants to get to the heart and soul of Spain, this could be a very good place to start a new adventure.

FLAMENCO: Dance is an intricate part.

Photo Credit Marcin Krzyzak Shutterstock

SCENE

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SOCIAL SCENE

New religious celebration for Ecuador community Photo Credit Triiiple Threat Wikimedia

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By John Smith VERA welcomes a new religious celebration to the Virgin of Cisne as requested by immigrants to the town from Ecuador.

At a special meeting held on August 18 at the council offices, Felix Lopez, mayor of Vera, parish priest Don Carlos Fortes, and the president of the HUDEA Association, Mario Vasquez, accompanied

by Antonio Pozo, coordinator of the Municipal Office for Immigrants, signed a document to recognise that on October 5, the town will celebrate the Virgin of Cisne.

The mayor went to some lengths to explain how well the Ecuadorian community had fitted into the community and how it was as an expression of thanks and solidarity with this group that the town had decided to celebrate the feast day officially.

The first activity for this celebration took place in 2003, when the small Ecuadorian community paraded a sin-

VIRGIN OF CISNE: To be celebrated by the immigrants of Ecuador. gle small picture of the Virgin brought from Ecuador through the town. Like those who were parading it, it is also an import to Spain.

By 2005, the Church of Our Lady of Cisne in Quito,

Ecuador, donated a statue of the Virgin to the worshippers in Vera and it is that which will be paraded through the streets.

This will be the 13th procession in honour of the Vir-

gen but on this occasion it will be a recognised celebration which it is hoped will embrace the entire community and become a special annual event visited by locals and tourists alike.

International flamenco visits Vera THE First International Flamenco Festival visits Vera on August 27 when a number of first class acts will appear at the El Palmeral fairground starting at 10.30pm.

With free entry and a selection of singers, dancers and musicians, this promises to be an exceptional evening for those who love the art of Flamenco.

Principal attractions will be singer, Olivia Molina, dancers Mayte Beltrán and Loles de Los Reyes, guitarist Manuel de la Luz and percussionist Diego Amador.

Pilgrimage in Albox ON the evening of September 7, thousands of pilgrims will arrive in Albox to take part in one of southern Spain’s most important religious ceremonies when they walk the 18 kilometres from the Plaza Mayor to the shrine at the Santuario del Saliente carrying a small s t a t u e o f t h e Vi rg e n d e Saliente, known locally as La Pequeñica due to its size.

According to tradition, the shrine commemorates an appear ance by t he Virgin in the 17th century

and this is considered to be one of the most important celebrations of the Virgin in Almeria, Granada and Murcia.

Traditionally many pilgrims undertook the journey barefoot or on their knees, but nowadays this pilgrimage, whi ch has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, even sees m any t r avel l i ng i n t hei r cars, but after their devotions in the early morning of September 8, the rest of the day is dedicated to the Virgin.

SOCIAL SCENE

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Mojacar honours San Augustin COUNTDOWN to the Festival of San Augustin in Mojacar which runs from Friday August 26 to Monday August 29 has begun and promises to be a major event for all of the family.

There is a great deal to enjoy at this year’s festival with some very late nights promised for all those who visit.

The fair will be open every day and will attract families with children as well those who have never quite grown up.

In preparation for the religious aspect of the festival, flowers will be sold at the Church from 9.30am on August 26 prior to the procession, which sees Saint Augustine being taken around the town accompanied by the municipal band from 7.30pm.

Earlier in the day, there will be the third championship of online games for youngsters aged between eight and 14 at the Gauadalinfo Centre and the fair itself is open from 2pm.

There will be entertainment from Prometida and Melodías at 11pm followed by the formal opening of the festival by José María Martínez

Photo Credit Shootdiem Shutterstock

By John Smith

COUNTDOWN BEGUN: Traditional horse riders at the Festival of San Augustin. de Haro at midnight and then the coronation of the San Augustin Queen and Ladies of Honour. Fireworks and more music will bring the celebrations to an end.

On the next day, the fair will

again open at 2pm and there will be a performance by The Blue Band in the Plaza Nueva. At 5pm, it will be possible for children to register for the Kids Marathon and the race takes place at 6pm with

APSA animal charity in Albox has put out a plea for anyone who has empty plastic pool chemical buckets which could be used as water containers for the dogs at the shelter. Anyone who can help out is asked to take them to the charity’s shop opposite Oliver’s on Avenida Lepanto between 10am and 2pm Monday to Saturday.

The shop, APSA has reported, also needs volunteers to help out, preferably on Wednesdays, and anyone who can spare some time is asked to pop in on a Wednesday to discuss.

Anyone travelling to Belgium or Holland who could

Photo Credit Liliya Kulianionak Shutterstock

Can you help APSA?

ANIMAL CHARITY: Puppies and kittens need help. take a couple of kittens to a vet there for rehoming are asked to call 663 762 642. A home has already been found, but they need accompanying on the trip.

Finally, the charity will be

holding a fashion show on November 23 at Maloans and anyone with suitable clothes is asked to take them to the shop and explain they are for Sue, the show organiser.

RBL events and activities THE Albox Royal British Legion group has announced that instead of the coffee morning at La Parilla, it will be repeating its very successful tapas event at the Oasis Café Bar off Avenida America in Albox, near Price Busters, at 11.30am on Thursday, September 1.

The group will be back at La Parrilla at 11am on Thursday

September 15 for the members’ business meeting. The treasurer will present the 2015-2016 financial records followed by a talk from the vice chairman and social secretary.

This year, the group need Street collectors to help out during Poppy Tide (October 14November 11). Anyone with a couple of hours to spare to help

raise funds to support veterans and their families is asked to contact the Poppy Coordinator on sutoju@hotmail.com.

Those due to renew their memberships are welcome to take €23 along to the October 20 members’ meeting, and volunteers for officer roles are desperately needed by November 17 to avoid closing down.

the presentation of trophies just one hour later.

The adult Marathon registration opens at 7.30pm and the race starts at 8pm with trophies being handed out at 9.30pm.

Also at 7.30pm, those aged between 14 and 20 can register for the second annual Paintball Championship whilst it is also children’s day and from 8.30pm all attractions in the Plaza del Fronton will be half price.

Sunday sees a mass in honour of Saint Augustine which will be sung by the Rociero choir followed by another procession through the streets of Mojacar accompanied by the municipal band.

The fair opens at 2pm and The Blue Band will be playing in the Plaza Nueva again. At 5.30pm the municipal band will accompany a procession of riders who will take part in the traditional ribbon race.

The evening will see more music and dancing as well as fireworks at 2am.

On Monday there will be a special lunch for the elderly of the town (known as the celebration of the third age), admission for which is by application to the town hall on Thursday August 25 Many will enjoy the children’s parade at 6.30pm and the Fair will conclude with a performance by Los Happys, a cover band formed by well-known TV presenter Antonio Hidalgo.

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OPINION & COMMENT

PHOTO ENTERTAINMENT PRESS/SHUTTERSTOCK

Officially a grumpy old man Colin Bird A weekly look Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-thewall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.

I AM ecstatic! The Princess has ju st l a b e l l e d m e a grumpy old man. Just like that and all because I dared to refer to her favourite bloke, Daniel Craig, as a wuss.

If it wasn’t for advancing years and a hard unforgiving tiled floor, I would attempt a backflip. As it is, I shall b e c o n t e n t wi t h a knowing smile and another glass of best Aldi Chardonnay.

The t r u t h i s, I h a v e a lways asp i r e d t o b e c o me one of that esteemed corps of individuals.

I watched the programme, Grumpy Old Men, religio u sl y wh e n i t w as showing on TV, but I never regard e d i t a s a c o med y show. To me it was more a collection of accumulated wisdom from enlightened

BOND BLAST: Labelled grumpy for slating Daniel Craig. men of a certain age.

I w o u ld n o d my h ea d sagely at the astuteness and acumen of those elderly blokes, whilst my wife choked on her gin and tonic and laughed her pop socks o ff a t w h a t s h e s a w as a

collection of daft old gits.

I have worked tirelessly to a c hie ve my ne w ly a c quire d s ta tus a nd it ha s be e n a long ha rd roa d of bellyaching, griping and nit-picking to get to this position.

I have always been a true admirer of good old English eccentrics, sadly a dying bre e d, but I re a lis e d long ago that eccentrics are born, not made. I simply do not ha ve the re quire d pedigree.

These ar e peopl e who have a unique set of inbuilt rules and who, whilst not interfering with anyone else’s way of life, adhere to t hei r own qui r ky set of standards and refuse to go along with society’s way of doing things.

In other words they don’t give a toss.

But in all honesty I could not see myself dropping in t o Kwi k Save t o pi ck up m y copi es of t he Euro Weekly News, wearing my wife’s slippers, a black basque and sporting a talking parrot on my shoulder who effs and blinds at passers-by.

I would find it deeply embarrassing whilst true eccentrics of course, would simply regard this as the norm.

So although I have long regarded myself as a leading contender in the cantankerous stakes, with my wife’s declaration it is now official.

The Princess has spoken and a Grumpy Old Man it shall be from now on.

USA surrenders their right to control internet domain names John Smith Random thoughts...

FINALLY, the USA is to resign its dominance of the procedures used to allocate internet names as it has agreed to allow the matter to be handled solely by a not for profit organisation ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).

Without dedicated names for each internet company, or in many cases individuals, it would be complete chaos as users would need to know the IP address of every website which normally consists of a minimum of nine numbers without any name identification.

Initially with few internet addresses, most companies chose the .com suffix but as users grew, so each country around the world was allocated a suffix.

Hence for Spain it was possible to obtain an .es address and for Britain a .co.uk address. It has actually been a good source of income for certain small

DOMAIN NAMING: The late Jon Postel who used to be the sole operator. countries such Tuvalu which has been able to sell the .tv suffix to companies and advertisers all over the world.

Even these addresses were insufficient and every year new suffixes are created so that charities and governments often use .org and even porn sites can now (after much controversy) apply for .xxx.

All of this expansion and registration has been controlled by the DNS (Do-

main Naming System) which amazingly was operated by just one man (the late Jon Postel) until ICANN was formed in 1988 and since then it has undertaken most of the work involved in allocating the domain names. But up until now, final approval and control has rested with the American National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) which is a division of the Department of Commerce.

OUR VIEW

Photo Credit La Moncloa

A positive Mariano Rajoy.

Politics twist and turn THE latest developments in the Spanish election story are a bit like a mixture of Fandango, Pasa Doble and Italian Tarantella with speedy footwork and intricate, if somewhat hesitant, performances between partners.

To some extent, it is pointless to try to describe in minute detail the activities of the main players involved, especially as the likely result is a form of stalemate.

After eight weeks and knowing he can’t form a government with an overall majority, acting Prime Minister Rajoy and Albert Rivera of Ciudadanos agreed to meet and Mr Rivera stated he would consider supporting Mr Rajoy in a vote of confidence provided six principles were agreed in writing including a ban on anyone under investigation on corruption charges from holding public office.

It seemed almost a done deal and then everything went quiet until almost a week later.

Mr Rajoy said no agreement had been discussed internally and then the next day accepted all the proposals and the Speaker of the House called for the vote of confidence to take place on August 30.

In the meantime the opposition on the left had been relatively quiet but statements have now been made that no agreement, support or even abstention at the vote would be possible and therefore it’s unlikely the PP will be able to form a minority government and if they do, the PSOE at least would vote against any 2017 budget.

By the look of things, there could be the need for yet another election later in the year but things change so quickly it’s impossible to forecast anything accurately.

From October 1 this year, it will finally relinquish all rights to involvement in the allocation of these names and this has brought howls of protests from certain American politicians who believe that the Chinese or Russians could infiltrate the system and use it to their own advantage once the calming influence of the USA disappears.

Whilst critics seem unable to express what harm is likely to be done, those in favour see it as an important diplomatic action by the USA by allowing ICANN to act internationally without threat of interference from one single government. The actual change will probably be seamless but it is regarded as a positive statement by the USA, especially as it will occur prior to the election of a new president later in the year.

Many countries wanted the UN to take control of this duty, but most seem Now we content with placing the power with an want to independent body. Perhaps more imporhear your views. tantly however is the ability of governments and corporations to YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE control what is actually on the in- YOUR OPINION ternet and who has the right to interwww.euroweeklynews.com cept messages sent around the world.

OPINION & COMMENT

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Lessons from a day at the beach!

Ric Polansky Ric Polansky moved to Mojacar in 1969 as a pioneer developer. He reads extensively and has travelled in South America panning gold and looking for El Dorado.

WE have always lived near to the sea, since we’ve been in Spain. But, rarely went there.

Familiarity meant the sea was a backdrop to our lives but not usable scenery. But, when the boys came along, it seemed the rule of summer law to take them to the beach; build sand castles, collect the rocks and endure the sunburn.

Now, living so near the Mediterranean it was just too easy to walk there. The adventure had to be transposed into an outing. Car had to be packed, drinks and cooler sorted, umbrellas and a blanket to sit on. We always went to Agua Amarga. Pristine beaches and never ever anyone there.

Arriving about 10am gave us our complete choice of beach to homestead. In either direction one looked there were miles of sand and nothing else. Bueno, camp was set up and I walked back to the car to get more equipment.

By the time I returned another family had shown up. They too had five derelict miles of sand to choose from in any direction.

AGUA AMARGA: The beach of choice for the family summer outing.

Where to encamp? Naturally within spitting distance of us. New neighbours, four screaming children, a dog that was so enraptured by the event it couldn’t stop barking and finally

passed out to catch his breath. Mother, father and Grandma and tons of beach paraphernalia including boxes and buckets full of food, drink and desserts. (I mean, who eats desserts on the

beach? I was soon taught the unexpected).

Grandma intervened first insisting we baste our children in sun screen. She mumbled lots of other proverbs and advice but it got lost in the listening. As the morning wore on we became the best of friends. They had never seen an American football before and had trouble kicking it as they would a soccer ball. I didn’t explain, preferring to keep my Sunday sanity.

As the day wore on others arrived and naturally pitched their tents and condiments as near to us as possible. A beach city was created in the morning. All my wife could do was shrug her shoulders, why? It probably had to do with sea monsters coming out of the Med searching for people to eat. Being easy pickings no one to be a tapa.

So, there we were, all there on the beach but scurrilously observing each other as if waiting for a special event to happen. No one gazed at the sea but were preoccupied with scrutinising the neighbours. Then it happened. One of the Grandmas, veiled totally in black, reached for a bag of crisps. The food frenzy was initiated.

Wrappers flying in the air, bottle tops discarded and jaws which quit flapping and began biting in earnest. Like piranhas at a Nemo BBQ. HISTORICAL WARNING, ice cold red wine is dangerous drunk on the beach. It gives you wobbly sea legs and makes you talk in strange sounds.

Advertising feature

Globelink: a safe bet to ensure you’re covered Christina Sharp GLOBELINK INTERNATIONAL christina@globelink.co.uk.

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So how do we protect ourselves against the vagaries of the economic cycle. In truth, the only certainty is

COMPREHENSIVE POLICIES: To safeguard your peace of mind this summer. that nowhere is risk free. However, you can make an informed choice about your next destination by knowing the latest official travel advice and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website is a great place to start, www.gov.uk/foreign-traveladvice.

When it comes to travel insurance most of us routinely think about medical protection and cover for personal possessions, but what if your airline or coach operator goes bust?

Or conflict, or terror attacks break out where you are booked to travel?

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before you travel as many policies won’t cover these risks as standard.

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sive and winter sports policies include end supplier insolvency protection and force majeure travel disruption cover as standard.

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This type of cover is a real consideration in these unsettled times and especially now that more of us are booking our travel independently, so be sure to select the right policy for that extra peace of mind this summer.

Globelink Travel Insurance: for people living in Spain and all other EU countries. For an instant quote and to arrange cover securely online visit: www.globelink.co.uk. Your policy and emergency assistance card will be delivered immediately by email. Call +44 1353 699 082 or their Spanish link line +34 966 265 000.

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LETTERS

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OPINION & COMMENT

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments straight on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com

Drones, microlights and cyclists OUT of the three major ‘free newspapers’ here I prefer the Euro Weekly News. It has good, pertinent information and some amusing items.

Of course something must be done to counter the proliferation of drones in our skies. There have been a couple of ‘near-misses’ already and as with laser pens it may well be a matter of time until an airliner with hundreds of people on board is brought down by their misuse.

Drones rank along with microlight powered and unpowered wings and cyclists. Powered wings are possibly less dangerous as the motor may show up on some radars but unpowered wings are invisible. Some years ago on an approach from the north to Blackpool airport. I was in descent and passing 3,000 feet when a microlight wing popped up right in front of me. The flyer had found a great thermal. Fast evasive action by me saved the day I’m happy to say, but a very serious accident with the certain death of the microlight flyer and possibly the loss of my aircraft was avoided by a hair’s breadth.

Cyclists are let loose on the roads without training, tests to get a licence and no insurance. But that’s another tirade for another day. By the way, has anyone else noticed that the ‘professional cyclists’ ignore the newly working traffic lights at Puente don Manuel.

To come back to drones, dear old Leapy, whose qualifications and claim to fame come from him being a ‘One Hit Wonder,’ writes about profanity.

Oh dear, I find myself in agreement with him on this. Then he spoils the moment by concluding that public profanity will help Islamic State terrorists.

I agree that the great civilisations of history foundered when they let standards slip and the civilisation of today will certainly go the same way. Not I fear to Islamists, but to the politically correct mumsy brigades.

Captain David, Malaga

Nimby numpties LAST week’s Mallorca issue saw a writer complaining about overflowing refuse bins. We, the public, are to blame in the majority of cases.

In Calvia, Mallorca we have the most efficient service from Calvia 2000, emptying containers of every kind, cleaning the streets and removing fronds from palm trees and other pruning.

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

The generation gap

socialist. The same people who have totally ruined our country with their do-gooder policies, the left wing rabble made up of actors and left wing nutters like the Hezbollah, IRA loving Corbyn and McDonald of the Labour party, it’s only the uneducated who think that Labour represents the working class.

If you need any confirmation that our dear old country has a sickness you only have to look at the thieves and freebooters like Mandelson, Blair, and Kinnock. Labour represented the working class 70 years ago, but not today. The politicians of today only represent themselves, if they really did represent the people all they would have to do is make legislation protecting all aspects of worker’s rights with special courts to deal with the disputes when the law is broken.

And, in case you are not aware Elaine, most good honest Mail readers, unlike your trendy lefty do-gooders have worked their way through all the papers and have ended up reading one which caters for intellectual individuals.

Colin

Lost in translation PROFANITY on the television is deeply linked to the ‘democratisation’ of the media ie ‘the race to the bottom,’ that has taken place since the Thatcher/Reagan years.

Before then the telly was conceived by the powers that be as a kind of educational, civilising influence on the great unwashed and you would see slapstick comedy like the Minstrels used as a hook to rope people into more stoic political shows later

About 90 per cent of residents are too lazy or ‘couldn’t care less’ regarding the areas of containers.

In the UK they are known as ‘nimbys’: ‘not in my backyard.’ Their houses and gardens are pristine... out of sight out of mind.

It’s a disgrace. When will we become responsible for our own actions?

Olivia, Calvia

Sore losers BREXIT, move on please, we have lived in Spain for 13 years and received our referendum papers ok, no problem at all. Almost 17 and a half million voted to leave, yes our pen-

in the evening.

That all changed with Rupert Murdoch, and the idea that, instead of giving people what they ‘ought’ to have, you should feed their desires, giving them what they want. Which, predictably, is sex, swearing, gossip, drama, and anything which allows the brain to simply shut down.

Now we have whole generations raised in this environment and are beginning to see the consequences...

Malcolm, Xabia

sions have been hit but we get by on less than €1,000 a month. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, the city which voted to remain, said “I believe that Britain is better off within the European Union, but the British people have clearly spoken today and their democratic will must now be fulfilled.”

So don’t become bitter whinging poms, accept it and move on.

Ken, Murcia

Educating Elaine?

REGARDING the ‘dangerous minds’ letter from last week, surely Tony Blair

and David Cameron have eminently qualified for this title!

Blair for the Iraq war and uncontrolled immigration, and Cameron for his personal vendetta against British Leave voters!

Nigel Farage has merely been diligently and sensibly trying to reverse their evil ideology and is not like Hitler in any shape or form; surely Angela Merkel with a moustache is a far more appropriate candidate for the hate preaching Elaine, who wrote the letter.

Brian DEAR sir, in answer to Elaine, she herself has told all the conservative Mail readers that she is a Mirror, Guardian, do-gooder trendy left-wing

I HAVE to say that the thousand-fold increase in the use of profanity is dragging the country down. The British have become a nation of foul-mouthed and drunken fools, a fact that is recognised the world over.

As I sit in a bar here in Marbella during the holiday season all you hear is foul language from most Brits.

Looking at the faces of other nationalities you can tell immediately that they are not impressed.

Just where have we gone wrong? I think it’s the lack of proper upbringing ever since the 60’s. Many parents these days don’t care at all what their children get up to so long as they are ‘out from under their feet.’

It upsets me deeply to see the way that many British people have lost all sense of decency.

Roy, Costa del Sol

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

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

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Photo Credit Vicente Gutierrez/Panoramio

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

SIERRO: Work will soon begin to connect it to the mains water deposits.

Water is on the way

By Eleanor Hawkins SIERRO is the latest on the list of villages which Almeria Provincial Council is working to provide with more water, having realised that residents are being forced to buy tanks to meet demand during the summer months when the rivers carry less and there are more people about.

Public Works and Develop-

ment Delegate Oscar Liria has reported that a well drilled last year, which the council had been testing to see whether it would provide enough water of a good enough quality for human consumption, has proven its worth. Work will soon begin to install pumps and connect it to the mains water deposits.

Altogether the council will be spending â‚Ź113,000 on the project, with the contract to in-

stall the new equipment put out to tender and considered a priority.

Until now Sierro has been collecting its water from the Rio Sierro. However, as demand increases and rainfall drops drastically, this has proved insufficient and the local council has been forced to use the Las Balsas well which fails to provide enough for everyone.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Green light given for road improvements

By Eleanor Hawkins ALMERIA Provincial Council is spending €227,000 on improvements to the AL-7100 road towards Chirivel.

The contract winners proposed a price €53,000 lower than the initial budget for the project, which has allowed the work to be financed using remaining funds from the 2016 roadworks plan.

The contract was signed immediately by provincial council leader Gabriel Amat.

The work allows a six-kilometre stretch to be resurfaced to im-

ROADWORKS: Visitors will be safer. prove safety, said provincial Agriculture and Environmental Delegate Maria Lopez Asensio.

The road is regarded as important because it links the municipalities of Los Velez and Alman-

zora, and also bears the weight of hundreds of visitors to the religious sanctuary.

“This work will benefit the thousands of drivers who use this road every week,” she said.

During the council session another two roadworks projects for the province were approved with an agreed investment of €473,224.

In addition, new jobs will be created in 11 municipalities under the €1.086 million PFEA rural development scheme, according to PFEA delegate for Almeria Guillermo Casquet.

Judge demands look at fire chair THE judge at Velez Rubio court has demanded that an electric wheelchair which killed a 63-year-old woman at a home for the disabled in Chirivel on August 9 be

handed over to the authorities for inspection.

The aim is to determine whether it could have been tampered with after it burst into flames.

Although investigators initially suspected a short-circuit in the chair’s electric motor was the cause of the fire, they want to rule out foul play.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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PDA SYSTEM: Police force now has access to the latest technology.

New gadgets for local cops

By Eleanor Hawkins THE Local Police force in Cuevas del Almanzora has been presented with three new PDAs

by the council, which will assist officers in their day-to-day tasks.

The new gadgets were handed over by local mayor Antonio Fernandez Liria and Citizens’ Secu-

rity councillor Antonia Ponce, who said: “this is the first time our police force will have access to the latest technology. This is great news for us.”

Serious crash injures two TWO people were seriously injured on Saturday (August 20) when a pair of cars crashed on the A-334 road near Seron, Emergency Services have reported.

The authorities were alerted at 1.41pm and paramedics from Tijola and Seron and an air am-

bulance were sent to the scene. A 76-year-old man was helicoptered to Campus de la Salud hospital in Granada and admitted to intensive care with severe chest and abdominal problems, while a 67-year-old woman was taken to Baza hospital with chest injuries.

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MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS: Monies are to be saved with new energy efficiency scheme.

More for less cash

By Eleanor Hawkins THANKS to a study carried out for the council, Albox is set to save €45,000 per year on electricity in municipal buildings via a series of changes proposed under its new energy efficiency scheme.

Ways to cut annual expen-

diture to the tune of €22,500 have been suggested for 10 of the 11 municipal supply points in the town, with the other €15,500 set to be saved thanks to modifications to the contracts and tariffs applied, explained Treasury councillor Francisco Carrillo.

“This initiative is part of a group of measures and stud-

ies we’ve been using over recent years to improve the council’s financial situation.

Now, thanks to these savings, we have managed to balance the accounts and even have some cash left over which can be used for social projects or to improve our municipality,” the councillor said.

Former mayor faces second ban THE Almeria Public Prosecutor’s office is requesting a 10-year ban from office for former mayor of Cantoria Pedro Llamas, who will be tried at Almeria City’s number two criminal court on September 22 for alleged corrupt practices.

The accusations refer to 13 service contracts awarded between 2007 and 2010, amounting to almost €925,000. The prosecutor’s initial statements claim these contain administrative irregularities which the suspect was “perfectly aware of.”

Llamas, the statement stresses, was warned by the council’s auditor and supervisor on various occasions but replied that he had already promised the work or simply failed to respond.

The former mayor resigned from office in June 2013 after being handed a 23-month ban for faking documents.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Creativity courses completed

By Eleanor Hawkins MORE than 50 youths who have taken part in the provincial council’s Creative Experiences for the Young 2016 courses in Lubrin, Sufli and Tijola through June and July have been presented with diplomas by provincial Sports Delegate, Angeles Martinez. The scheme, aimed at towns and villages with populations of less than 20,000, aims to encourage youngsters to take up hobbies and discover new interests through 16-hour creative courses.

In Lubrin, this year’s course focused on theatre and drama, and the youngsters were able to work on their acting, social and team work skills.

English language was the chosen subject in Sufli, while in Tijola a digital photography course saw participants learn how to handle modern cameras and learn the basics of photography.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE: Learning the basics.

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

Advertising feature

Next Stop Almeria: post-Brexit future looks bright for buyers and sellers AS the dust settles after the shock referendum result, real estate agents are taking stock and assessing if the changes will have any effect on the way people do business.

Paul Fullard, of the highly successful Next Stop Almeria, in Los Gallardos, shared his thoughts with EWN. How has business been since the Brexit Referendum result?

In short, down and back up! When the result was announced I think more people were more stunned than we realised. By that I mean people outside the UK, other Europeans and Americans. They were asking us: “What happened?”

Although our business does not rely entirely on the British market, it is a large part of it and Britain for us went off the radar but so did the rest of Europe.

We received some ‘knee jerk reaction’ emails and calls on the day after the vote, from purchasers telling us that they no longer wished to proceed and also some vendors wanting to reduce the price of their properties.

The following couple of weeks were a concern for us as I think they were for most agen-

BUSINESS AS USUAL: As people continue to seek a life in Spain. cies but then the tide seemed to turn.

Monitoring our website, we could see a trend from the UK market towards larger, more expensive properties and then the enquiries started to come in again and also ones from the rest of the world. Were we through it

we asked ourselves?

Some eight weeks since the referendum it appears that everything is almost back to normal and we have a healthy diary for viewings and more importantly, clients waiting to complete their purchases.

What do you see happening for the rest of 2016?

That is a tough question and crystal ball time!

I think that people will always want to move to Spain for the same reasons that you and I did and for thousands of other people both before and after January 1973 when Britain joined the EU or EEC as it was then.

I think if someone has planned to relocate to Spain or buy a holiday home here then I doubt they will wait two years to see what happens before doing so. People nowadays seem to want to get on with life and maximise what they have which is an outlook I totally agree with.

When Article 50 is activated, we may see some more knee-jerk reactions but overall I think those people seeking a life in Spain, whether they be from Britain, Scandinavia, Europe or the USA, will move on with their life plans and we at Next Stop Almeria will of course be here to help them!

Next Stop Almeria office is located on the N340a in Los Gallardos, visit the website www.nextstopalmeria.com or call 950 617 518.

Which medal would your home win?

John Graham The property expert

I’VE really enjoyed watching all t h e a t h l e t e s i n th e Olympics in Rio this year and S p a i n h a s d o n e w e ll winning several medals, including g o l d , si l v e r a n d bronze.

Why am I talking about the Olympics?

Wha t h a s p r o p e r t y a n d the Olympics got in common I hear you say? Well, there is a little bit, let me explain.

Gold i s t h e v e r y b e s t, there is nothing better, silver is second best only gold is better and bronze is third best only gold and silver are better.

Still can’t see the connection? We l l , i n p r o p erty terms t h e v a l u e o f y o u r home is basically the same

in order of value gold,silver or bronze.

In very brief terms, for y o u r h o me to w in a g o ld medal valuation, your home should be in a super prime location, in perfect condition, modern throughout, indoor and outdoor pool with stunning sea views, facing South.

To win a silver medal valuation, your home should be in a prime location, in perfect condition, modern or recently refurbished, with g o o d s ea an d g o lf v iew s , facing south or with afternoon sun.

To win a bronze medal v alu atio n , y o u r h o me should be in a desirable location, gated community, in good condition, good views, with afternoon sun.

I’ve described only the v ery b a s ic q u a litie s tha t your home should have to qualify for a medal but as it’s the year of the Olympics and for a bit of fun, take a

good look a round your home a nd gue s s w hic h me da l I w ould give your home, if I carried out a professional valuation.

If it’s silver or bronze, is the re a nything tha t you could do to your home that could qualify you for a better medal and a of course a higher valuation?

John Graham is a Fellow of The Architecture & Surveyors Institute. If you would like more information or a full professional service email gk.ipad@me.com.

GO FOR GOLD: And achieve a higher valuation for your home.

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Mobile manners Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man I WAS out having a bit of lunch the other day and it was a nice and lively, busy place, but not too noisy so I could listen to Mrs S giving me my instructions for the rest of the day.

Suddenly, a man with his son came and sat at the table next to us. His meal arrived and then it started. He got on his phone, not to read a message, no, he was going to have a chat and he was not going to have a quiet one. He was talking at the top of his voice and at the same time stuffing food in his mouth.

After about 10 minutes of this I was getting the right hump but there is nothing you can do unless you want to just say, ‘Oi shut up, I’m trying to have lunch.’ In my younger days I might have, but these days I just give a dirty look and a bit of a tut.

Why do people think it’s OK to hold a conversation on their phone in public? Is it only me that thinks this is not acceptable? I admit to checking my phone if a message comes in but if it rings I go outside or pick

up and say I’ll call back.

Oh, and if you are checking your WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram or any of the other apps, I don’t want to hear the 10 minute video your mate just sent of their child singing some unrecognisable ditty that they think is wonderful but I just think is an intrusion on my chow time. Use headphones but don’t play it out loud.

This rule doesn’t only apply in eateries.

This goes for every place I am. Aeroplanes, waiting rooms, etc. I’ve been to cinemas and phones go off. That’s bad enough but answering them is just crazy. I love watching snooker and how many times do you hear the referee say ‘turn your phones off?’

I was in a hospital waiting room and someone was listening to a video. It wasn’t at full blast but it was audible. Is there no point that they think this may annoy other people? All phones have a silent mode and it’s a shame people don’t! So folks, if you are out and your phone goes off, please take it outside, OK? I would love to have a bit of feedback on these grumps of mine. Does anybody actually read them? Is there some stuff that makes you grumpy that you would like to have mentioned? Send me an email at: mikesenker@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.

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OPINION & COMMENT

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Summer fire risk AS part of the series, we answer some common driving questions and keep you updated on the latest driving and road news kindly provided by members of the Guardia Civil based in Torrevieja, Costa Blanca, who set up the N332 website and Facebook page to help break down barriers.

BIN THE BUTTS: Don’t throw on the ground or out of car windows.

DURING the summer, most of Spain remains on alert for the risk of forest fires.

With the dry land and the strong sun, it only takes something small to ignite a fire.

In Spain, it is estimated that more than 80 per cent of all forest fires are caused by human interaction. In America, the figure is as much as 90 per cent.

Whereas some of those fires are started deliberately by someone, the vast majority are caused by accidental ignition, but fires can be prevented.

Through simple awareness and action the potential risk of forest fires can be greatly reduced. Most town halls have banned BBQs from natural parks and forests, but even litter can start a blaze, so if enjoying a summer picnic or snack, take all rubbish home with you to be disposed

of correctly.

Smoking paraphernalia is the worst contributor. Throwing a smouldering match or an almost extinguished cigarette butt is a recipe for disaster. Fines can also be issued to individuals caught risking the threat of fire by throwing a cigarette out of the car window.

If you throw a cigarette out of a car window, lit or otherwise, you can be fined on the spot if you are seen. The law states ‘No person in any vehicle shall throw or discharge from or upon any road or motorway or adjoining area, public or private, any lit or non-lit cigarette.’

If you do get caught you could face a fine of €200 and have four points deducted from your licence. Repeat offenders can see themselves issued a full driving ban.

For more news and articles visit www.n332.es or search N332 on Facebook.

‘Paying’ the president I READ with interest your last article on payment to presidents and an earlier piece concerning Social Security payments. We are a small Community and pay our president almost €3,000 each year. No receipts for materials, etc are submitted to the AGM. I have long believed this payment should be subject to Spanish income tax and Social Security payments but I have always been overruled at the AGM. I would appreciate your thoughts, J D (Costa Blanca) WE have already established that the Community can legally make a payment to the president for his expenses, as long as this payment is properly voted at the AGM. Such a one-time payment needs no withholding tax or Social Security. The ques-

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

tion now is whether the payment is subject to income tax. In the strictest sense of the law, any payment at all, even lunch vouchers, should

be declared.

In real life, if the Community accounts were audited, a one-time payment made to the President for his expenses would almost certainly end the matter. Only the most dogged inspector would demand detailed records of the expenses.

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

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Painting colour with plants Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner

By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.

COLOURING a garden is possibly best regarded as ‘painting with plants’ as there are so many colour and size combinations that fill the gardeners mind and pallet. The choices are immense so to try and simplify the decision making I wrote a chapter in our seminal book ‘Your garden in Spain’

Chapter 2.6 titled ‘Painting with plants’.

In that chapter I spawned the concept of ‘the seven C’s of colour combining’ and included a table giving examples. This is reproduced below due to the difficulty of obtaining copies of the book as the publisher is no longer trading.

1. Common colours: Planting a single type or mix of plants with a single common colour of flower and similar foliage colours to create a mass effect. For example, a bank of

purple lantanas, a wall covered with purple bougainvilleas, a bed of single colour gazanias, a single pink oleander hedge, a bed of bright red geraniums or a pine garden with only pink hydrangeas.

2. Compatible colours: Planting plants with different but close shades or hues of a colour in the flowers and foliage. For example, a bed of varied coloured gazanias, a bed of San Diegos, side by side pastel coloured pink and yellow water lilies alongside the deli-

cate mauve of the water hyacinth, or a bed of soft pink and mauve small pin-cushion zinnias.

3. Complementary colours: Co-planting several different plants with vivid contrasts but harmony between the flower or flower and leaf colours. For example, a view of yellow heliopsis, red geraniums, blue agapanthus, bright green geranium leaves, orange leonotis, red/orange lantanas and a pink flowering oleander hedge in the background.

4. Clashing colours: Purposely close planting a number of plants with violently different colours at either side of the artist pallet and the rainbow.

For example, an orange leonotis underplanted with bright red geraniums and bright red crocasmias in front of a purple bougainvillea and orange bignonia on a wall. A bed of mixed colour large spiky headed zinnias.

&

GARDENS

VIVID CONTRAST: But harmonious co-planting colourful plants like Heliopsis (above).

5. Calming colours: Purposely co-planting plants whose flower and foliage colours create no clashes, rather a sense of restful harmony between flowers and foliage. For example, purple lantana under planted under an old tree stump covered with a white/blue passion flower, or the dark greens in a mixed corner of oleander, bay and pistachio and grey green foliage of curry plants.

6. Cold colours: An extension of point five with a mix of cold white and mauve flowers and grey blue leaves that look cool even at midday on a midsummers day. For example, white bugle lilies, agapanthus and gladioli in front of a wall of white solanum or white irises alongside a white flowering echium with white alyssum in front.

7. Caliente (hot) colours: Purposely mixing the most vivid reds, oranges and yellows to create a garden hot spot. For examples, red, yellow and orange lilies beneath a red and yellow devils tongue alongside yellow lantanas and orange leonotis with a background of purple and red bougainvilleas and an orange bignonia.

That should give you plenty of thought in evaluating what you currently have in the garden and how you might adjust the colour schemes to create more impact and interest. Unfortunately garden centres do not lay out plants this way but it is easy for you to group plants in the centres before making final purchasing decisions. © Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com August 2016

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Dogs instinctive behaviours David THE Dogman Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10am to 11am Costa del Sol (Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fm (San Roque to Calahonda) 91.9fm (Calahonda to Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida 92.7fm Costa Blanca (Torrevieja to Elche) 105.1fm (Elche to Calpe) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia & Ibiza) 104.6fm, (Denia to Valencia) 95.3fm Mallorca 103.9fm

MANY times in a week I am informed that a dog only understands German, French, Spanish, English, etc.

I find many owners and some trainers have a misguided perception of what a dog really is and entertain false expectations of their pet. Most think their pet is a small hairy person based on the assumption that a dog’s level of understanding is equal to their own.

It’s vital to keep in mind dogs don’t

have the capacity to intercept human language, behaviour or emotions.

How intelligent is a dog?

Dogs are capable of linking two ideas together, but not actions, which are separated to another time. If for example, a dog makes a mess during your absence there’s no point telling it off or getting annoyed; the dog’s brain cannot link the action. Many say ‘He knows he’s done wrong’ He doesn’t, the brain’s not formulated this way.

A dog’s brain is much smaller than man’s, in particular the cerebrum which is associated with intellectual function, emotion and personality.

Dogs cannot understand human language. It’s more important to use sound patterns, intonation, facial and body language as a form of communication. A dog wants to please so learning should be based on positive reinforcement of reward. Owners should keep in mind a large part of a dog’s brain is occupied with sensory activity, particularly interpretation of scent.

Instinct is something either there or not there.

A dog’s natural instinct plays a vital

role and often it’s difficult to understand why so dog owners can’t differentiate between instinct and intelligence. Instinct is an urge from within making a dog act in certain ways, it has no connection with intelligence.

A dog’s first instinct is to survive; when a pup is born it squirms about until it finds a teat and then sucks.

There’s no intelligence or learning by any association in the process. Maternal instinct tells the female to clean up the foetal membrane, etc. and stir the puppy into action by licking it. The female isn’t taught, she’s not seen another female do

this. Most instincts provide pleasure and dogs associate it with the action.

The instinct grows stronger with use.

Instinct can be strengthened, weakened or diverted, it can’t be put there, or taken away. It might lie dormant, but once developed it can’t be weakened.

NATURAL INSTINCT: Is an urge from within making dogs act in certain ways.

Chloe’s peccadillos CHLOE’S family regularly holiday in Malaga and she stays behind with a family friend in Hertfordshire.

However, with only five days to go the sitter cancelled. A family illness had driven her to pull out of the two week dog-sit.

Chloe’s family struggled so late in the day to find another sitter from their network. They had originally wanted someone they knew and who understood her peccadillos.

Like many Cocker Spaniels Chloe is affectionate and loves companionship but is also a little nervous of strangers.

Despite being eight years old she acts like a puppy and is used to being the centre of attention.

So with only five days to go the family began to search online to find a new solution.

They came across Hous

eSitMatch.com and then a live chat conversation via the homepage led to them registering as ‘homeowners.’

They set about building a profile, and creating an advert to find someone in time for their holidays.

They considered a local kennels with an excellent

A dog obsessed with chasing balls can be controlled by training and providing other energy outlets. A young dog corrected the first time it chases a car may give up the idea, but if allowed to chase cars the hunting instinct becomes stronger, and in no time it will be very difficult, even impossible to cure the habit.

reputation, but didn’t think her temperament was suitable for ‘kennel care’ and wanted someone who would be willing to give her the love and attention she gets from the whole f a m i l y, e s p e c i a l l y t h e i r daughters.

Once registered, and having published a ‘Housesit

Advert’, an instant alert was sent to house-sitters interested in dogs in the UK. And within two days an arrangement was made with a checked and registered sitter on the site whose own changing plans had unexpectedly freed up most of August! Chloe had a companion for the summer.

House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation!

To find a pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com or call Lamia on +44 (0)1865 521508.

CLASSIFIEDS www.euroweeklynews.com

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Costa de Almería

FOR BEST RATES IN MOTOR INSURANCE CALL: 952 89 33 80

Clarkson Quote of the Week

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MOTORING www.euroweeklynews.com

“This [Maserati Quattroporte GTS] is like having a three-year-old child. It’s really annoying most of the time, but if someone tried to take it away from you, you’d kill them for it.”

Some might say...

Clarkson’s choice FERRARI 488 GTB: Made it into Clarkson’s top 10.

By Matthew Elliott WITH Top Gear taking a break from the airwaves and the popular show’s chief protagonist having gone on to new pastures, Jeremy Clarkson has kept his opinions bubbling under the surface for long enough and last week revealed his

top 10 favourite cars of the year.

In no particular order he included the Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Recaro, described as a ‘cure for depression’ and like a ‘game of naked twister with Scar-

lett Johansson;’ and the new Ford Focus RS, lauded for its advanced fourwheel drive.

The Ford Mustang Fastback 5.0 V8 GT has an honourable mention for giving the iconic American corner-screeching machine a steering wheel on the ‘correct side’ for British Bullitt inspired Steve McQueen wannabes; while the Lamborghini Aventador is Clarkson’s supercar of choice.

A human touch helps the Alfa Romeo 4C coupe make the cut, despite it being a ‘terrible car’; and the Mercedes-AMG GT S is congratulated for axeing the daft gullwing doors of the SLS and shaving €70,000 off the asking price.

The Volvo XC90 D5 AWD gets a mention for its massively spacious and luxurious interior; and the new Vauxhall Zafira Tourer for its phenomenal smoothness.

Having tested the BMW M2 in an impromptu road race Clarkson was impressed with its undoubted speed advantage over an Aston Martin D9 and Porsche 911 GTS, especially on corners; and the Ferrari 488 GTB makes up the top 10 courtesy of its bold decision to incorporate turbocharging, reliving the spirit of the legendary turbocharged F40.

Keeping in character it’s an eclectic mix, with nary a British car in sight, next week Clarkson will share his most despised cars of the year so far.

Motoring shorts

Pensioner’s electric gift AN Irish centenarian who first began driving in 1930 behind the wheel of a Ford Model T has decided to go electric for an early 101st birthday present.

John Walsh from Co Tipperary has splashed out on a Nissan Leaf, with his first ever new buy priced at €21,450, in a bid to do his bit for the environment.

The 100-year-old, who will have seen a fair few environment changes in his time, already has his first electric road trip planned.

Walsh hopes to make the 250km round trip to Foynes, Co Limerick to visit the farm he grew up on and first laid eyes on the Model T. Centenarian drivers are a rare breed but common enough to have commanded a dedicated ITV show which aired in July featuring some of Britain’s oldest motorists.

MOTORING

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almeria

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Safer head trip

By Matthew Elliott AUGMENTED-reality motorcycle helmets have long been rumoured to be just around the corner but so far, despite all the braggadocio from tech firms, the technology has remained just that, a rumour.

This may be about to change with the news that a second prototype developed

by Livemap will be debuted at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show in January 2017, with plans to see the interactive helmet on the market by next summer.

Expected to cost around €2,000 the helmets would incorporate an augmented-reality navigation system displaying an enhanced vision of the road ahead and pos-

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Gentlemen start your engines

sible obstacles, as well as an HD camera and Bluetooth for hands-free phone calls.

The concept behind augmented-reality helmets would see holographic lenses and thermal imaging used to construct a far more detailed picture of the road ahead than possible by the naked human eye, also highlighting dangerous curves, accidents, and even weather conditions ahead.

PREVENTATIVE PROTOTYPE: Helmet may improve safety.

GET READY: Future technology may alert drivers how long until traffic lights change.

MANUFACTURERS are staking their claims for the future as new innovative technologies are set to debut in the coming years, transforming the driving experience for wealthier Audi, Land Rover and Ford owners.

Audi will capitalise on the enduring German obsession with traffic lights with new systems enabling 2017 Q7 and A4 models to personally communicate with the little green man.

Known as ‘V-I’ (vehicle to infrastructure) technology, Audi’s development would see an interactive countdown display telling drivers when a red light will turn green and conversely a countdown alert as to when an approaching set of lights will turn red. Future systems could indicate an optimum speed to match the flow of lights on a

pre-programmed route.

In keeping with its off-road niche, Land Rover has developed a smartphone app which acts as a remote control for its Range Rover Sport. Designed for difficult terrain it would allow drivers to remotely control steering, throttle and brakes.

Top speed is four mph and drivers must be between one and 10 metres away from the car,

and holding onto the phone or the app will automatically stop.

The technology will help with tight parking and avoiding sharp objects and rocks when navigating off-piste terrain.

Ford are aiming higher but with technology that may not appeal to motorheads as they embrace autonomous driving hoping to get a ride-sharing vehicle on the roads by 2021.

SPORT

25 - 31 August 2016 / Costa de Almería

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

Costa de Almeria

THE Rio Olympic Games were a success, especially for Team GB who gained a record 67 medals: 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze. They finished second overall behind the USA with China third and Spain 13th (14 gongs).

GB’s golden stars were: Mo Farah (5,000m/10,000m); Adam Peaty (100m breaststroke); Nick Skelton (show jumping); women’s hockey team; rowers Heather Glover and Helen Stanning (pairs) and the men’s four and eight’s; gymnast Max Whitlock (pommel horse/floor

exercises); golfer Justin Rose; Andy Murray (tennis); boxer Nicola Adams; cyclists Laura Trott (omnium/team pursuit with Joanna Rowsell-Shand, Elinor Barker and Kate Archibald), Jason Kenny (individual pursuit/keirin and team sprint with Phil Hindes and Callum Skinner) and Sir Bradley Wiggins, Owain Doull, Steven Burke and Ed Clancy (team pursuit); Alistair Brownlee (triathlon); sailors Giles Scott (Finn class) and Saskia Clark and Hannah Mills (470 class); kayakists Joe Clarke (K1) and Liam Heath (200m); Charlotte Dujardin (equestrian dressage); Jack Laugher and Chris Mears (synchronised pairs diving) and Jade Jones (taekwondo).

My best moments: • Usain Bolt clinching his unique ‘triple treble’ 1 0 0 m , 200m

and 4x100m relay gold medals in successive Olympics. The greatest showman (athlete) ever!

• Mo Farah repeating his epic 5,000m and 10,000m double (only the second man ever to complete this feat).

• Adam Peaty winning the 100m breast-stroke. GB’s first swimmer since Adrian Moorhouse in 1988 to claim gold in the pool.

• The Brownlee brothers, Alastair and Jonathan, finishing first and second in the triathlon, the toughest of all events.

• GB women beating Holland 2-0 in a shoot-out after a 33 draw to win hockey gold.

Goalkeeper Maddie Hinch saved a penalty in normal time and another in the shoot-out before Hollie Webb scored the winner.

• Justin Rose’s hole-in-one in the first Olympic golf tournament for 112 years.

• Record-breakers Laura Trott and Jason Ken-

ny crying after winning cycling golds. Trott is now GB’s most decorated female Olympian with four gold medals while Kenny joins Sir Chris Hoy on six.

• Welsh Jade Jones beating Spain’s Eva Calvo Gomez to retain her 57kg taekwondo title.

• Nick Skelton, 58, riding appropriately-named Big Star, winning show-jumping gold 16 years after breaking his neck, retiring and having a hip replacement! Nick, after his seventh Olympics, is GB’s oldest gold medal winner for over a century.

• Team GB’s 4x100m women’s relay team winning a medal (bronze) for first time since 1984.

• The joy on the faces of rowers Heather Stanning and Helen Glover after winning gold. They’re unbeaten on water in 1,823 days.

• GB gymnasts Amy Tinkler (aged 16) and Max Whitlock bouncing and jumping to win medals.

• Germans Kira Walkenhorst and Laura Ludwig beating Brazil in the women’s beach volleyball final.

• Three Japanese women wrestlers winning gold medals in two hours, two with ‘scores’ in the final

AMAZING ATHLETE: Usain Bolt.

seconds of their bouts. They celebrated by carrying team coach around the ring shoulder high.

• Jamaican Elaine Thompson (aged 20) completing the 100m/200m sprint double.

• South African David Rudisha retaining his 800m title.

• The imperious Michael Phelps upping his haul of swimming golds to a mighty 23.

• American Ashton Eaton emulating Daley Thompson’s feat of winning his second decathlon gold.

• And Brazil beating Germany on penalties to win the football gold medal.

Disappointing ‘British’ moments: • Adam Gemili, 4th in the 200m final behind Bolt missing a bronze medal by 1,000th of a second.

• Cindy Ofili 4th in the 100m hurdles final just 0.02 of a second away from bronze.

• Lutalo Muhammad ‘losing’ a taekwondo gold medal to a last second head-kick.

• Narrow defeats for boxers Michael Conlan (bantamweight) and Joe Joyce (super heavyweight).

• Men’s 4x400m relay team disqualified after finishing third in their semi-final.

• Liam Phillips crashing out of the BMX final when lying second.

• Diver Tom Daley’s failure to qualify for the final.

DYNAMIC DUO: Laura Trott and Jason Kenny.

DAZZLING DOUBLE: Mo Farah.

Overall Rio Facts: • 10,512 competitors from 205 nations entered 28 sports.

• Five south Sudanese, two DR Congolese, two Syrians and an Ethiopian, competed as a ‘refugee team.’

• 306 gold medals were presented in Rio. It’s Tokyo in four years time, see you there!

ROUND-UP OTHER SPORT: • GB’s Cal Crutchlow claimed his maiden MotoGP Grand Prix victory last Sunday in the Czech Republic, Valentino Rossi was second with Marc Marquez third. The last Brit to win a major MotoGP was Barry Sheene in 1981.

• Manchester City top the PL with rivals United second; Huddersfield lead the Championship; Bolton and Morecambe are leagues 1/2 pacesetters, while Rangers head the SPL. • The top PL matches this weekend are Hull-Manchester United, Manchester City-West Ham, Spurs-Liverpool and Watford-Arsenal.

• We’ve had mid-week League Cup action throughout the UK. • The World Rowing Championships are underway in Rotterdam (until August 28).

• Northants won cricket’s T20 blast final last Saturday and England’s cricketers are currently playing Pakistan in the ODI series.

• It’s the Belgium F1 Grand Prix takes at Spa on Sunday.

• Hull play Warrington in Rugby League’s Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

• And the US Open tennis tournament starts on Monday.

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CAL CRUTCHLOW claimed his maiden MotoGP Grand Prix victory last Sunday in the Czech Republic.

TO READ MORE

Costa de Almería’s best guide to local sport

Marina Phoenix

SMILES OF SUCCESS: Thursday’s winners (left) and Monday’s winner (right).

THE Marina Phoenix ladies were enjoying ‘away days’ this week, leaving Isobel Jones as the only lady to play against the men in a single division, on Monday August 15.

Isobel was undaunted and, played the game of her life to score 41 points, off a handicap of 18, and win the first prize voucher. Husband Les (37) followed, at a respectful distance, in second and Jim

Budd (36) in third place.

Teams of six players, split into pairs in order to confront opposing pairs, was the format for Thursday’s team game.

Captains counted the best three scores on each hole resulting in a win for Ali Mahmud (captain), John Park, Phil Tottie, José Urroz, Margaret Budd and Tony King. They scored 124 stableford points, against a par of 108, beating Les

Armfield’s team (112) into second and Jim Budd’s team (111) placed third.

There were nearest the pin prizes for Richard O’Connor (5th) and Jim Budd (17th).

Marina Phoenix play Mondays (individual) and Thursdays (team game). To join us for a €25 green fee ring Jim on 950 162 727 / 600 353 670 or Rosalie 950 397 117/ 697 512 882.

SPORT www.euroweeklynews.com

19th Hole Golf Society ON Thursday August 18 in sweltering heat but at a beautiful venue the 19th Hole played its monthly medal round. Aguilon Golf Resort is in perfect condition with greens and fairways ripe for good scoring.

Bob Tagg playing off 20 won with an unbeatable nett 61, 10 shots below par, leaving the handicap secretary his favourite task of reducing, substantially, his playing handicap. In 2nd place was celebrity member, singer Brian (Dee) Lowden, scoring a brilliant nett 65, six strokes below par and a Nearest the Pin on the 17th Hole a really good advert for Sanatogen.

In the ladies medal the ever improving Karyn Esposito (part of the Scottish/Cucador Mafia) had a great round scoring a nett 75 to take the ladies medal comfortably. A good day’s golf at a beautiful resort.

Results: Men’s Medal 1st Bob Tagg Nett 61 (20) 2nd Brian Lowden Nett 65 (20) 3rd Nigel Greenwood Nett 68 (13) Ladies Medal 1st Karyn Esposito Nett 75 (36) 2nd Nekana Galindez Nett 81 (25) 3ed Chrissie Dow Nett 83 (34) Nearest the Pin 3rd Paco Ocaña Grajal 8th Bernard Erreca 12th Doug Birrell 15th Bob Tagg 17th Brian Lowden The 19th Hole Golf Society arranges weekly games around the area playing Aguilon every other week. For more information call 610 340 653 or email gs19thhole@hotmail.co.uk.