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ISSUE NO. 1642

22 - 28 December 2016

AXARQUÍA - COSTA TROPICAL YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

Out of order

Sporting hero’s charity challenge A LOCAL sportsman will embark on a huge challenge, running and cycling across 300km of Axarquia in just 24 hours. Christian de la Cruz will bike 230km and run 70km to raise funds for a children’s charity on December 28. He is a key member of #AxarquiAlimite, a team of local heroes who take on extreme sporting challenges for different causes. This year the group hopes to raise funds for the Association of Children’s Oncology Volunteers (AVOI). The challenge will see Christian power himself through 17 municipalities across Axarquia. Departing from Velez-Malaga, he will cycle up through Periana, Colmenar, Nerja, Frigiliana, Torrox and Competa among others before finishing at Algarrobo. After a quick change and a bite to eat he will embark on a chilly overnight climb to the Maroma, the highest peak in Malaga Province, in the Sierra Tejeda. Discipline will be key to his success, according to Christian, who last year ran 150km in just 30 hours for charity. He has invited any

A YOUNG man has been arrested and two teenage girls are under investigation for allegedly sharing nude photos of a schoolgirl on social media. Staff of a secondary school in Velez-Malaga alerted the student’s parents and the Guardia Civil was informed. See page 4

Crown it all Photo Credit AxarquiALimite/Facebook.

By Matthew Elliott

WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

KING FELIPE VI will be the president of honour of the organising committee of ForoTransfiere, which will be holding its

sixth edition in Malaga on February 15-16. The forum for science, technology and innovation has become the main event of its type See page 5

Paramedic pique LA HERRADURA’s request for its own ambulance service has been turned down by the Andalucian Health Service, after the au-

thority decided that those in Almuñecar are close enough to cover the area. See page 6

Perilous plummet mA GERMAN man was badly injured when he was involved in a paragliding accident near Almuñecar-La Herradura. The man, 51, was discovered on the terrace of a farmhouse in the Loma del Gato area. See page 7

Christian de la Cruz has invited local athletes to join him on December 28.

interested local athletes to join the team for all or part of the route as #AxarquiAlimite hope to shatter previous fundraising efforts. There will be a support car in tow filming participants, keeping donors abreast of events on social media, and, of course, carrying first aid equipment and emergency supplies.

Christian says all funds raised will go directly to AVOI and its efforts across Malaga, training and providing volunteers to help children with cancer. His efforts are being supported by many local Axarquia businesses. Anyone interested in helping children at Christmas and inspiring Christian on the huge task ahead can

donate to either AVOI or contact #AxarquiAlimite online.

Deadly deluge THE storms which hammered the Mediterranean coastline over the past week left widespread damage and claimed numerous lives, with six people reported dead along the southern coast of Spain. See page 12

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NEWS

Life-changing day! THIS is the time of year to bring your loved ones close and let one another know how much you mean to each other. It’s the same for our family, the Euro Weekly family. Our readers and clients help complete our very own circle of affection and appreciation. So at this time of year we’d like to send our greetings to you and yours, and wish you the very best of Christmas tidings and may you enjoy a peaceful and prosperous new year. From all of us at the Euro Weekly family, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LOCAL NEWS

Local is best

THE 1641 (December 15 - 21) issue of the Axarquia - Costa Tropical Euro Weekly News contained no less than 21 local news items, demonstrating once again our dedication and commitment to delivering the news that matters most to you, our readers, in each of our six editions. Nobody does it better!

Community news VISITORS to the EWN website may have noticed our new ‘Community News’ section, currently stuffed full of Christmas news from all the local clubs, charities, theatre and church groups. Going

forwards it will feature all the latest from the Spanish expat community, and submissions (which will also appear in the paper, space permitting) can be sent to commu nity@euroweek lynews.com.

By John Smith TODAY (Thursday December 22) is the day that can change the lives of potentially thousands in Spain forever. With up to €2.44 billion of prize money on the table, the Spanish National Lottery, nicknamed El Gordo, has won a reputation over decades for spreading fame and fortune in life-changing doses. Throughout today millions will be watching it live on television and checking online to see if they are among the winners, with villages, office syndicates, clubs and associations plus bars often jointly buying tickets. Twenty children from San Ildefonso School (11 boys and nine girls aged from nine to 13) will today sing out the numbers as the various prizes are drawn with the top prize guaranteeing €4 million for a full ticket or €400,000 for a tenth. This Christmas lottery has been organized every year since 1812 by an arm of the Spanish Government now called Loterías y Apuestas del Estado and has been so popular that the draw even continued during the Civil War years. Nowadays even the government benefits, keeping 30 per cent of the total ticket spend and additionally charging a ‘profit tax’ on winnings over €2,500.

EL GORDO: Has spread fame and fortune.

There is only a limited range of numbers, but more than one ticket with the same number is offered for sale and most of the outlets only have two or three different numbers which means that there could be say 500 big winners within the same town. Although referred to as El Gordo by al-

most everyone, it only applies to the top prize and the correct name for the Government Christmas Lottery is ‘El Sorteo Extraordinario de Navidad’ sometimes shortened to ‘Lotería de Navidad.’ To check if you are a winner of one of the 17 prizes, visit www.laloteriadenavi dad.com.

NEWS

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EWN

Featured News 3

European 16

Finance 17 - 22

Stocks 18

Leapy Lee 23

Daily TV 26, 28, 30

Letters 31

Time Out 32 - 33

Health & Beauty 34 - 35

Social Scene 36

Property 37

Homes & Gardens 39

Pets 40

Services 41 - 43

Classifieds 44

Motoring 45

Sport 47 - 48

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Singer Manu brings out the crowds in Torrox SEVILLIAN singer Manu Tenorio made a brief, but impressionable mark in Torrox. The singer arrived in the to town to honour its annual Fiesta de las Migas festival. He said he was “very grateful for the affection received” and to be part of a “party so important that is part of the history of this town and its people.” Despite the cold and rainy weather, it did not detract from the influx of visitors with 35,000-40,000 people arriving from all over Andalucia as Tenorio wandered through the streets greeting people, signing autographs and posing for photos. Torrox Mayor, Oscar Medina (PP) reminded residents the singer will be back in October 2017 with a concert at the Municipal Theatre. Manu Tenorio has six platinum and one gold records. He

FIESTA DE LAS MIGAS: Manu Tenorio was grateful to be part of the festival. was also involved in the first Operacion Triunfo programme which recently celebrated its

15th anniversary. The programme is a talent show in which contestants as-

pire to win a recording contract and to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Photographs are not for sharing By Eleanor Hawkins A YOUNG man has been arrested and two teenage girls are under investigation for allegedly sharing nude photos of a schoolgirl on social media. Staff of a secondary school in

Velez-Malaga alerted the student’s parents after discovering teenagers were sharing the images and the Guardia Civil was informed. The arrestee, the police reported, allegedly struck up a relationship with the underage victim

and obtained her telephone number from a mutual friend. After maintaining contact for some weeks, the 20-year-old man demanded the teenager send him photos of her naked, threatening to end the relationship otherwise. Once he had obtained the pho-

tos, the man is suspected of sharing them with friends and two of the girl’s fellow students are believed to have shared them with the school community and other acquaintances. The case has been placed in the hands of the courts.

NEWS

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Royal innovation

HONOURABLE PRESIDENT: King Felipe VI will continue to collaborate with the Foro Transfiere.

By Eleanor Hawkins KING FELIPE VI will be the president of honour of the organising committee of Foro Transfiere, which will be holding its sixth edition in Malaga on February 15-16. The forum for science, technology and innovation has become the main event of its type in Spain over recent years and is one of those which attracts the most attention at an interna-

tional level and has this time around invited Portugal to take part. The event, which will be held at Malagaâ€™s Palacio de Ferias y Congresos, is a meeting point for public administrations, the business community, investigators and sectors linked to investigation and development. King Felipe has been involved with the forum since 2013, when he first agreed to be

honorary president of its committee. In 2014, while he was still the Prince of Asturias, he received a visit from the committee members to report on the event and expressed his intention to continue collaborating with it. Last year, over 3,530 people attended and took part in more than 5,200 work meetings. Representatives from 29 countries, 30 universities and 163 investigation groups took part.

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COUNCIL REQUEST: For an ambulance has been turned down.

Ambulance refusal By Eleanor Hawkins LA HERRADURA’S request for its own ambulance service has been turned down by the Andalucian Health Service. A petition for an ambulance of its own was put in at the opening of the new local health centre following unanimous agreement at a council plenary session. However, the health authority

has refused, stating those in Almuñecar are close enough to cover the area. “Ambulances have to be located at the Emergency and Critical Care Units (UCCU) and the Andalucian Emergency Plan does not contemplate one for La Herradura as Almuñecar is just five minutes away,” the Granada South health department stated in a letter to the council. There are two ambulances posted at Almuñecar’s UCCU, which

cover the town itself, La Herradura, Otivar, Lentegi, Jete and Torrecuevas. Deputy mayor and councillor for La Herradura Juan Jose Ruiz Joya expressed his discontent at the news. “Everyone knows our ambulance service leaves a lot to be desired and we have seen complicated situations in the past in which lives could have been saved if it wasn’t for the delay in arrival of an ambulance,” he complained.

LA HERRADURA NEWS

Work begins on school reforms THE Public Works Department of Almuñécar Council has begun renovation and improvement work on five nursery schools. The Reina Sofia, Al Andalus, La Herradura, La Carrera and Torrecuevas nurseries will be looking fresh thanks to a cash injection of €104,160. Social Welfare councillor María del Carmen Reinoso said that the objective of the renovation work is “to ensure that these schools are up-to-date and in adherence with the regulations which are demanded for these types

of classrooms.” Reinoso indicated that the walls and the flooring in the classrooms will be reinforced, and a new padded covering will be installed on the patios. She emphasised that the changes are important for security and the educational development of the children. The councillor also pointed out that the work has been made possible thanks to a Special Development and Employment Programme, which will also provide work for 35 workers for a period of six months while the project is carried out.

Message from boys in blue ALMUÑECAR’S Local Police and Citizen’s Security department have sent out a Christmas message to all locals and visitors. The force has pledged to continue working to keep everyone and their families safe and thanked residents for placing their trust in its officers wishing everyone a happy Christmas and 2017. They have also reminded those attending parties over the festive period to employ moderation when drinking and asked drivers to avoid alcohol or drugs before getting behind the wheel.

NEWS

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Man badly injured in paragliding mishap By Sam Croft A GERMAN man was badly injured when he was involved in a paragliding acccident near Almuñecar-La Herradura. The man, 51, was discovered on the terrace of a farmhouse in the Loma del Gato area. Emergency workers were sent to the scene to attend to the man, who had several broken limbs and spoke of strong pains in his neck and back. Access for the ambulance proved difficult due to the state of the roads in the area, and an all-terrain vehicle was

ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE: Was used for part of the rescue journey. needed for part of the journey. Eventually the man was

transferred to an ambulance and taken to the emergency

health centre in Almuñecar to be treated for his injuries.

Scourge of Costa’s sewage SEWAGE spillage across the Costa del Sol makes it one of southern Spain’s worst sanitary offenders according to the European Union. The Spanish government has been fined almost €50 million over poor sanitary conditions in 17 municipalities, four of them on the Costa del Sol. Discharges from sewage treatment plants in Alhaurin el Grande, Estepona-San Pedro Alcantara, Coin, and Nerja make Malaga Province the worst sea polluter in Andalucia. More than 124 million cubic metres of waste from the province have spilled into coastal waters this year, almost 10 million more than in 2014, despite the looming threat of European fines. The sewage treatment plant of the Guadalhorce river and

the Torrecilla emissary in Nerja are the worst offenders, accounting for more than half of Malaga’s annual waste between them. It adds more than 124 million cubic metres, of which 116 million correspond to urban waste and 8.1 to industrial waste Chlorine, nickel, nitrogen and ammonium traces are increasing in the Mediterranean to dangerous levels thanks to pollution from pharmaceutical plants, heavy industry and fish farms. The €46.5 million fine now doled out to the national government from the EU may be the incentive needed to take urgent action to combat the pollution.

EWN

OUR VIEW

Season’s greetings THIS will be the last edition of Euro Weekly News to be published before Christmas and all of the EWN family would like to wish our family of readers and advertisers the very best for Christmas and the New Year. 2016 has been strange with Brexit which whilst pleasing many has also caused worry for expats, especially those who are of advanced years and fixed income from UK pensions. The good news is the initial dip in sterling against the euro after the Brexit result has been reversed in parts although exchange rates are fragile and can drop if the news is bad. What has become clear in hindsight is on both sides of the Brexit argument there was a huge amount of misleading information and

scaremongering but 2017 will hopefully see some positive information about the rights of expats in Spain and also EU residents in the UK. By all accounts, the Spanish authorities want to make transition easy for people living and indeed visiting Spain as their contribution to the Spanish economy is so important. Many older British residents remember living quite comfortably in Spain before Britain joined the EEC and we will certainly continue to work within the community and publish Spain’s favourite English language newspaper. Wishing you every happiness in the coming year and we look forward to continuing to be an important part of the expat family within our adopted homeland.

Now we want to hear your views. YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION www.euroweeklynews.com

Two robbers arrested GUARDIA CIVIL officers in Velez-Malaga arrested two people for allegedly robbing an establishment in Benamocarra. The investigation initially began after the owner of the establishment reported the incident to the police. The police were eventually led to the two presumed perpetrators by following a trail of incriminating evidence. The two alleged robbers are both residents of Benamocarra, and one of them is a minor. The older of the two has numerous priors and a search and arrest warrant was previously issued for him by a provincial court for other offences.

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NEWS EXTRA

Smoked out A 65-YEAR-OLD man and a 34-year-old woman were taken to the Velez-Malaga Axarquia Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a residence on Calle Nuñez de Balboa in Nerja.

Historic year THE Nerja Caves have experienced record visitor numbers this year. By the middle of December, more than 432,153 people had visited the cave, representing a 5.21 per cent increase in comparison to the same period in 2015.

Bin and gone ON Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, December 24 and 31, respectively, household dustbins will be collected between 3pm and 6pm in Almuñecar and La Herradura.

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Civilians to improve safety around Torrox CIVILIAN police are helping make the streets of Torrox a safer place. A meeting by the Local Security Board approved the plans that will allow civilian agents to work with the authorities and help reinforce public safety. “With this presence of civilians on the streets, it is intended to strengthen the work of surveillance and fight against crime, thus improving security in the locality,” explained Mayor Oscar Medina (PP). He added: “It will be especially effective when it comes to combating illegal street vending or burglaries in the countryside, as well as unconventional attitudes that affect the cleanliness and care of our municipality.” The municipality has already seen a marked improvement in security with a reduction of 8.3 per cent in the crime rate compared to last year and the mayor has publicly thanked the Guardia Civil and Local Police

TORROX: Has introduced numerous safety initiatives. for their constant work in helping to reduce crime and to “ensure the safety of neighbours and visitors.” Torrox has introduced numerous safety initiatives including plain

clothed officers and additional deployment to deal with special events such as the Fiesta de las Migas, when the numbers in the town can double.

NEWS

Guilt admitted THE two men accused of murdering the owner of a bar in Colmenar in September 2014 have accepted the sentence requested by the public prosecutor, who has demanded a punishment of eight and a half years in prison for each of them. The two men admitted they went to the premises with the intention of robbing it, that they were armed, and they shot at the man. They also acknowledged they had been consuming drugs the entire day. The public prosecutor lowered the punishment upon recognising that the two men had acted under the influence of substances, and also applied their alleged drug addiction as an extenuating circumstance. The prosecutor has requested two years each for robbery, six for homicide, and six months for illegal possession of weapons. After the prosecution modified its original requests, the defence lawyers showed their agreement with the suggested sentence, as did the accused. The two men have been put back into custody until the final verdict is issued. The two men allegedly went to the bar in 2014 with the intention of robbing it but shot him in the head.

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NEWS

Brussels meets without Theresa May BREXIT PAGE By John Smith

WHILST there was a summit of EU leaders taking place in Brussels on December 15, there was one obvious absentee from a discussion on Brexit and that was British Prime Minister Theresa May.

firms its decision to leave the Union. The imaginatively named Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis has indicated that he expects a smooth exit, even though he hasn’t quite agreed any strategy with his cabinet colleagues and didn’t expect to be able to reveal plans in detail before February 2017 at the earliest. This admittance that the government really doesn’t know how to proceed but is confident of success overlooks the fact that it is one against 27 and each of the 27 may well expect to have its own national criteria

Union pean : Euro Credit Photo

The EU continues to make it clear that it will not enter into any advance negotiations unless and until Britain invokes Article 50.” It is assumed that it would be unacceptable for her to be party to the plans of the other 27 members although they of course won’t come to any decision until such time as Britain formally con-

THERESA MAY: Frozen out of the Brexit discussion.

as well as a Federal criteria when negotiating. Such a view appears to be backed up by the British Ambassador to the European Union Sir Ivan Rogers who according to the BBC has warned the government that the feedback he is getting from representatives of the other EU members is that it could take up to 10 years to negotiate the deal and it could then be vetoed by one or more members. The EU continues to make it clear that it will not enter into any advance negotiations unless and until Britain invokes Article 50 but in the meantime will be appointing a leader for the negotiating team shortly. At the moment, despite optimism on the part of those who wanted to see Britain leave the Union, there seems to be more negative than positive news but once the government reveals its final policy then perhaps the future will appear more certain. One body that has moved both speedily and without any need to negotiate is the lexicographers of the Oxford English Dictionary who has now embraced and defined the word Brexit for their latest edition describing it as “the (proposed) withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and the political process associated with it. Sometimes used specifically with reference to the referendum held in the UK on June 23, 2016, in which a majority of voters favoured withdrawal from the EU.”

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FEATURE

Advertising feature

SERIOUS FLOODING: In Molina de Segura.

Storms bring death and destruction By Sam Croft THE storms which hammered the Mediterranean coastline over the past week left widespread damage and claimed numerous lives. Six people have been reported dead along the southern coast of Spain, five of them in the Costa Blanca and one in Almeria. Among the victims were a 40-year-old Moroccan man who was dragged into a pool by a waterspout in Los Alcazares, a 58-year-old homeless man who became trapped in a cave in Xativa, and a 64year-old man who was pulled down a stream by rough currents in Enguera. Another death occurred in Bedar (Almeria), this one a

PEACE OF MIND: Recovery services can easily pinpoint your exact location.

ROADS CLOSED: In Carravaca. 65-year-old man who had been reported missing several days earlier. He had left a bar in the middle of the storm. His body was eventually discovered under a tree by a town cemetery, where he had apparently been dragged by the force of the water. The storms also caused

widespread material damages and significant interruptions to day-to-day life. Dozens of classes were cancelled throughout the Valencian Community, and several universities were shut down. Homes were evacuated throughout the region, with the National Government having to call in an Emergency Military Unit to rescue 80 people in Los Alcazares after the town became completely inundated with water. Roads were cut off, flights were cancelled, and agricultural workers have estimated that €172 million worth of losses have occurred in the countryside as a result of the storms. The precipitation fell in huge amounts all along the Mediterranean coast. The municipality of Beniarres (Alicante) was hammered with more than 400 litres of rain per square metre. Several rivers overflowed, including the Clariano River in Ontinyent and the Segura River in Orihuela, and measures were taken to ensure that local reservoirs did not do the same.

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COMMUNITY

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Jaen author writes debut children’s Christmas book RUBY MOLLY HAWKINS, an English author who now resides in Spain, is to have her debut children’s book published this month. Ruby is concentrating on a series of children’s stories and these are based on the recollections of her childhood and feature the fictional ‘Hawkins Family’: three brothers and a sister, aged between three to eight years old who are brought up by their single father. The story begins with dad and the children visiting nanny and grandad’s house for a pre-Christmas visit, on a typically cold December day, only to find that they have no decorations nor Christmas tree. But, where will Father Christmas leave their presents? Or are nanny and grandad on Santa’s naughty list. The children are determined to correct this error and will not leave before the house is decorated and full of Christmas cheer. The talented author says: “From an early age, I was always encouraged to keep a diary, due to these entries I can recall events that occurred within my family, and have based my stories on these.” A few years ago, Ruby relocated

RUBY MOLLY HAWKINS: Based her book on her own childhood memories. with her husband and two young sons to Jaen in southern Spain where she w o rk ed as a n Englis h la ngua ge teacher. She has previously worked in the Civil Service and in foster care and now writes full-time at home, as well as caring for their ever-expanding family of animals.

Christmas at Number 61, published by A us tin M a c a ule y, is a va ila ble from A ma z on a nd a ll good bookshops. For more information, please visit http://www.austinmacauley.com/book/ christmas-number-61 for more information.

Lux Mundi sing in Christmas THE Lux Mundi, Torre del Mar Ecumenical carol service was held on Saturday December 17 in the Parish Church of San Andres in Torre del Mar, where Christians from different traditions, friends and residents in Axarquia, came together to pray and enjoy the traditional carols. The prayers were led by the reverend James Taylor from the Spanish Episcopal Reformed Church, Rev. Jorgen Christian Madsen from the Danish Church and Don Miguel Angel Alonso Oliva parish priest from the Catholic Church. Readings by various members of the congregation and the carols were performed by the Spanish choir ‘Amigos de Lux Mundi,’ director Julio Bautista, the German choir ‘Con Los Cantores,’ director Lisa Kropp and the TIMS English

choir, director Margaret Williams. It was a most enjoyable service, with the congregation joining in the various carols, the words of which were displayed on the large screen at the sides of the church and during the service members of the congregation placed small symbols of the important pieces of the nativity story on the alter steps. After the service many friends went back to the Lux Mundi Centre to enjoy a buffet and drinks and of course more carol singing. Lux Mundi give thanks to all who supported the event and gave generously to support the local Caritas, €522.28 was raised enabling them to purchase gifts for the children and help needy families over Christmas. Post-Christmas, Lux Mundi Torre del Mar are to visit

the stunning Alpujarras in Granada on Thursday, Janu-

Lux Mundi give thanks to all who supported the event and gave generously to support the local Caritas.” ary 26 2017. The coach will stop at Viñuela football pitch at 7.55am, Torre del Mar at 8.15am, Caleta at 8.25am and Algarrobo at 8.30am. It will arrive in Trevelz at approximately 10.30am, with a stop for breakfast and coffee followed by a 12 noon departure. The next stop will be Pampaneira at around 12.30pm, where there will be time to visit the Telares

Mercedes artisan shop and workshop plus other local shops before lunch, with the coach leaving at 3.15pm. There will then be short stops at Bubion and Capileira for photographs before the group heads home at around 4.45pm, arriving at 6.30pm. Tickets for this fundraising event cost €18 per person. For further information and bookings please contact the centre in Torre del Mar on 952 543 334 or email lux m u n d i @ l u x - m u n d i . o rg . Bookings cannot be made through the website and we are sorry but card payments cannot be accepted. Please note that the Lux Mundi centre is NOT closed from Thursday December 22 until Tuesday January 10, 2017, as erroneously printed in Edition 1640, December 8-14 of the Euro Weekly News.

EWN

Fruitful meet up THE Half Orange group are a group of single people who get together to share their experiences and problems of living alone in Spain. They meet on the first Monday of the month at the Lux Mundi centre in Torre del Mar for a ‘bring and share’ lunch. They also get together for coffee, games or trips exploring the local area. All are welcome to join them.

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NEWS FROM OUR FIVE OTHER REGIONS

NEWS

COSTA DEL SOL

Christmas greetings tree COSTA BLANCA NORTH

ALTEA TREE: Up it goes!

By Linda Hall PUPILS at primary schools in Altea and Altea la Vieja made a Christmas tree for each town. Instead of pine needles and branches the trees were created from Christmas cards that the children had made themselves at school. In Altea la Vieja a four-metre high tree was put up in the Centro Cultural while Altea’s sixmetre tree was set up in Plaza de la Paz. “It was very rewarding to see how so many children took part and watch as the tree took shape th anks t o t he t owns’ st at e schools,” said Education councillor Vicenta Perez as she thanked the Altea la Vieja, La Olla, Blanquinal, Les Rotes and Garganes schools for their hard work.

Pope’s blessing A PRIEST from Ronda had the honour of an audience with Pope Francis in Rome, giving the Holy Father a special birthday present from the Costa del Sol town. The Pontiff turned 80 on December 17 and thousands of wellwishers descended on St Peters Square for a Christmas blessing.

Soulless act THIEVES stole a Christmas tree at the El Corralillo shopping centre in Ronda. It is the second incident in just a week after vandals smashed an angel statue at the town’s nativity scene.

Expat death COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

MALLORCA

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

Ford gang

Death sentence

Cyclist’s signage

Burglars fail

A GROUP of criminals, known by police as the ‘Ford Gang’ have struck again in Petrer. In this latest case, the group stole a car ahead of carrying out a robbery at a petrol station.

CALVIA’s Amnesty International members celebrated the abolition of the death penalty in Tuscany in 1786 as people around the world called for an end to capital punishment.

IMPROVED information boards have been placed at the Via Verde de Denia to help encourage cyclists to discover new routes. The panel, with map, images and text covers a 36 kilometre route linking towns in the Marina Alta region.

THREE burglars had to run away empty handed after they were spotted by a neighbour entering a country property in Olula del Rio, who called the police.

Lorry overturned A LORRY driver, aged 37, was injured and had to be cut out of the lorry’s cabin by fire crews following an accident at kilometre 185 of the A-31 motorway at the entrance to Villena when the lorry overturned.

Life savers QUICK-THINKING Local Police in Sax saved a toddler’s life who had stopped breathing following a coughing attack. They carried out the necessary first aid to revive the two-year-old as they drove to the health centre.

Injured man A HOMELESS man, well known in Torrevieja as ‘the Antonio’ has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in Torrevieja Hospital after being hit by a car.

Clean up BENIJOFAR is proposing the creation of an eco-park to prevent and avoid further waste dumps that are developing in different parts of the municipality. Opposition parties in the town hall have denounced the increase in illegal dumps springing up and want action taken.

Systems down A COMPUTER server crash in Madrid meant that all systems were down in the Balearic courts and no judges or lawyers could work properly on the islands.

Karma police MORE than 50 Palma police officers launched a surprise removal of local cars with an expired ITV, taking 90 away to the pound where their owners can expect hefty fines.

Local heroes PLAYERS and coaching staff from Real Mallorca paid a visit to children at the pediatric unit in Son Espases hospital. The local heroes visit the children’s wing each year at Christmas to sign autographs, bring gifts and raise spirits.

Anti-cruelty ANIMAL rights activists launched a campaign condemning the cruel slaughter of pigs across Mallorca. Pacma, a national political party devoted to protecting animals, claims techniques used on the island violate animal welfare laws.

Altea arrest GUARDIA CIVIL officers have arrested three people and dismantled a marihuana plantation in Altea. Officers launched their investigation when it was noticed that the rural location seemed to have a lot of unusual activity.

Food donation THE President of the Caixaltea Foundation, José Miguel Asencio Cortés, presented 450 kilos of food to the Food Bank of La Nucia.

Budget knowledge MUCHAMIEL has set aside €3,000 to hold financial workshops for its residents. It is hoped this will enable them to understand council funding and guide them in knowing how decisions are made.

Park improvements BENIDORM’S Aiguera amphitheatre and its two accesses are being repaved during the first phase of park restoration. The €60,000 improvements should be completed by late December.

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

Found safe A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD girl reported missing from Almeria City on November 17 has been found at a home in Benahadux by the Guardia Civil.

Spiky find TEN hedgehogs have been confiscated from a van parked in Almeria City after police officers determined they were of a protected species. The hedgehogs said to be of North African origin were confiscated and taken to a specialist animal shelter.

Worried farmers COAG farmers’ association has reported its concern over an increase in agricultural theft. The latest break-in saw 4,000 aubergines stolen from a greenhouse.

Better shelters SHELTERS at 11 of the area’s busiest bus stops are currently being replaced by the Public Works and Housing Department to improve public transport for users. The shelters include stronger aluminium roof, meet universal accessibility standards and have been given an anti-corrosive coating.

AN elderly British man who had been visiting the Materno-Infantil Hospital in Malaga crashed his car outside the hospital and died on December 16.

UK visitors BRITISH tourists have been praised for their loyalty to the Costa del Sol as the numbers visiting leapt considerably this year. Up until October almost one million Brits had stayed at hotels in the region, making them the largest foreign contingent by a country mile.

Easy riders CARTAMA police expanded its two-wheeled fleet with a pair of brand new motorbikes costing €11,000. Volunteers get the Kymco 125cc, while officers will cruise on a 300cc version.

Danger destroyed EDUCATION chiefs are using the Christmas holidays to remove asbestos from 10 schools across Malaga Province after a strong campaign to rid all public places of the danger.

EWN top for all the news from Spain.

E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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GERMANY

Legalising cannabis

Hitler’s house

DENMARK

COPENHAGEN is trying for a fourth time to get a trial programme allowing legal cannabis to be approved. Each attempt has so far been rejected by the national government.

Rich and poor

Freedom award BREAKING the Silence, an Israeli organisation that shares soldiers’ stories of serving in the West Bank and Gaza, has received the Freedom Award in Copenhagen.

Peaceful demo MORE than 5,000 Danes took part in a peaceful candlelit demonstration in

TRYING AGAIN: To legalise cannabis in Copenhagen.

support of civilian victims affected by bombing in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Shot dead POLICE have shot and killed a man

who attacked them with a knife. The incident occurred as officers were called to a late night noise complaint. When they tried to remove the man’s stereo he stabbed one of the officers.

Costly exit

Stop free lessons

Taxi protest

A NEW report has shown the ever increasing social divide in Germany with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. There are now more millionaires in the country but also the number heavily in debt has risen and 5.6 per cent of the population is officially classified as poor.

People’s train THE country’s first crowdfunded train has made its maiden voyage from Stuttgart to Berlin and even arrived five minutes early. The one return service a day is operated by Berlin-based startup Locomore.

Mother’s murder A MOTHER is on trial for attempted murder after she allegedly threw her three children out of a window in western Germany. The youngsters, aged three, four and six at the time, all survived the 8m fall and now live with their father.

BELGIUM

FRANCE PRESIDENTIAL candidate, Marine Le Pen, from the French far-right National Front party has said she would stop free education for children of undocumented immigrants saying “play time is over.”

THE house where Adolf Hitler was born in Austria, close to the German border, is to be demolished and replaced with a new building. The site has become a pilgrimage for neo-Naxis.

EUROPEAN PRESS

drivers protested at Charles de Gualle and Orly airports. Drivers were protesting their wages claiming they are earning just €3.75 an hour.

Tower closed THE Eiffel Tower was closed for a second day as workers took strike action over salaries and conditions leaving tourists disappointed. The attraction

has already lost about one million visitors this year compared to 2015.

Stronger security PARLIAMENT has voted to extend a national state of emergency until after next year’s elections. It means that the extra security measures in force since the Paris attacks in November 2015, will remain in place.

A HARD Brexit with the UK leaving the EU and not remaining a member of the single market, could cost Belgian businesses €1.6 billion in unexpected expenditure, according to figures from Belgium’s central bank.

No noise

Historical home A BELGIAN house built in 1964 in Tielt, has caught of the eye of The New York Times, which called it “a modernist masterpiece.” It was designed by the architect Georges Vandenbussche and in 2008, it was classified as a historical monument.

Airline acquisition

SWEDEN

NORWAY

A ZERO tolerance for planes that exceed noise levels risks forcing passenger carriers out of Brussels. As a result, Flemish PM Geert Bourgeois has called on the Brussels Region to drop the strict noise rules or risk losing thousands of jobs.

Profits up

Chess champ

HOLLAND

SMALL companies are reporting a successful 2016 with profitability increasing across most industries and profits increasing by an average 15 per cent this year, according to a consultancy firm’s profitability barometer.

THE Norwegian Magnus Carlsen is the new World Chess Champion after he played to victory in New York, USA. This is his third World Champion win and it was a good birthday present for him coming on the same day as he celebrated turning 26.

Fewer unemployed

SOME passengers missed their flights and suffered traffic chaos as taxi

Terror tax MORE tax is to be levied on those suspected of financing terror activities with 100 paying so far. It is part of a collaboration between the Swedish tax agency and security police.

Syrian smuggling TWO men accused of smuggling approximately 170 Syrians from Milan in Italy to Sweden, have been convicted of human trafficking. A third received a suspended sentence.

Nursing shortage A SHORTAGE of nursing staff has resulted in hundreds of empty hospital beds at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Patients are being sent home and operations postponed.

December gathering IN a bid to try and not offend anyone, a primary school in Stavanger has removed a festive hymn from its Christmas party and even renamed it a ‘December gathering.’ The principal of the school said this was because some people associate the word ‘Christmas’ with something Christian.

Smaller reindeer SANTA may have a struggle this year when delivering all those gifts as researchers say that reindeer on Norway’s Arctic Svalbard archipelago are becoming smaller due to climate change. The average weight of the reindeer has fallen from 55kg to 48kg.

UNEMPLOYMENT in the Netherlands has fallen to below 500,000 for the first time since March 2012. According to the national statistics office, in November, 499,000 people were officially listed as unemployed, which is around 5.6 per cent of the working population.

Lacking integration MORE needs to be done to improve integration in the Netherlands with claims the move made in 2013 for new arrivals to organise and pay for integration courses themselves is not working.

LUFTHANSA has acquired Brussels Airlines with a promise to invest €600 million in the company, for the renewal of its fleet of long-haul carriers.

Name change AMSTERDAM’S main football stadium, owned by the Ajax club, is likely to change its name to the Johan Cruijff stadium in honour of the former international player who died in March.

Shopping spree RETAIL sales have increased by 5.4 per cent this year compar ed t o t he sam e per i od l ast year. Onl i ne sal es have al so i ncreased by almost 20 per cent in the Netherlands.

FINANCE

Axarquía - Costa Tropical

22 - 28 December 2016

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

British Airways threaten strike By John Smith BRITISH AIRWAYS crew flying out of Heathrow Airport have overwhelmingly given a strike mandate to their union Unite after rejecting a 2 per cent pay offer and the strike is due to take place sometime after December 21. Currently there is no confirmation of the actual dates or indeed the duration of the strike but to have made this decision so close to Christmas must be seen as very worrying for the management of the airline who Unite

Quote of the Week

£1.4 billion (€1.7 billion) is the amount of profit declared by the IAG group for the previous trading year.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Photo Credit: Timahaowemi Wikimedia

Saffron on the rebound

ZARA: Is the biggest brand of Inditex. By John Smith INDITEX, the world’s largest retailer of clothes continues to go from strength to strength and has announced a profit of €16.4 billion, an 11 per cent rise over the nine month period to the end of October last year. The owner of such diverse ranges as Zara (which is its biggest brand), Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Pull & Bear said that its best sellers this year have been military blazers, mi-

would like to see return to the negotiating table. The major problem arises with regards to staff employed after 2010 who were enticed to join the flight crew of the airline with expected wages of between £21,000 (€25,000) and £25,000 (€30,000) when in reality their basic wages turned out to be £12,000 (€14,500) plus a £3 (€3.6) an hour flight bonus. According to the union, staff are taking on second jobs, working whilst ill and many are suffering from depression and stress because

“Without reforms, the regional financing framework remains a risk for the achievement of fiscal targets.” Christine Lagarde, President of International Monetary Fund on Spanish economy

Inditex keeps making money

ni-skirts and velvet dresses and its online business is also continuing to attract new custom. Ironically, although competitors appear to be facing a much tougher period, the shares in the company have fallen slightly but with its policy of not overstocking, turning round production quickly for popular styles and its continued expansion into new markets, the succesful group looks destined to continue to grow.

SPAIN is renowned for the use of saffron in many of its rice dishes but with the introduction of a usable ‘imitation’ and an increase in exports from Iran, the price dropped but Spain is now making a comeback in the market.

A fine mess A BARCELONA court has overturned a fine of €30,000 imposed by the regional government of Catalonia on Airbnb for advertising lodgings that did not have permits to accept paying guests arguing that Spanish law is currently inconclusive on the matter.

Victory pay NIGERIA’S victorious women’s football team protested outside parliament in Abuja over unpaid win bonuses on the day that the annual budget was to be debated. They argue that they are owed win bonuses of €16,000 and plan to continue until paid.

Bank loses out in court case AFTER 13 years, a British couple who lost €227,000 paid to a Spanish developer in Marbella for a dream home that was never built due to planning irregularities, has been awarded the full amount by a court in Malaga.

1.62 million is the number of people unemployed in the UK at the end of October representing 4.8 per cent, which is an 11 year low.

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal

EWN

Banco Popular has been instructed to return the money which it received from the developer and should have been held in a special guaranteed account. The bank can appeal but may be hesitant as the award would only escalate if the appeal failed.

of their financial position which is particularly galling as the BA parent IAG saw its profits rise by 64 per cent in the last year. With strikes being undertaken by BA staff, Post Office staff and members of rail unions, the government alleges that these are positively motivated and planned to cause major disruption to the public but in the case of the BA strike, their union Unite denies this and says that they are looking after their own long-term interests and those of their customers.

Trump hotel sues chef SPANISH celebrity chef José Andrés who is being sued for $10 million (€9.4 million) after pulling out of a deal to open a restaurant in a Trump hotel in Washington because of what he considered racist comments by the president elect has suggested that the case be cancelled and all legal fees likely to be paid by each side be donated to a US Veterans charity. Mr Trump’s response is now awaited.

E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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LONDON - FTSE 100

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on opposite page

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 19

PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3i Group PLC 674.75 -5.50 Admiral Group PLC 1776.50 -5.00 Anglo American PLC 1113.50 -19.50 Antofagasta PLC 659.00 -11.00 Ashtead Group PLC 1602.50 -9.00 Associated British Foods PLC 2690.00 1.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4342.00 -59.50 Aviva PLC 474.35 -4.40 Babcock International Grp 946.25 -1.00 BAE Systems PLC 590.75 -1.00 Barclays PLC 225.90 -2.25 Barratt Developments PLC 458.85 1.50 BHP Billiton PLC 1283.00 -22.43 BP PLC 492.47 2.85 British American Tobacco PLC 4507.25 1.00 British Land Co PLC 634.50 5.50 BT Group PLC 367.52 0.55 Bunzl PLC 2070.00 -1.00 Burberry Group PLC 1487.00 -2.00 Capita PLC 494.60 4.20 Carnival PLC 3920.50 -147.00 Centrica PLC 230.35 0.20 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1658.50 1.00 Compass Group PLC 1420.00 4.00 CRH PLC 2686.50 -14.00 Croda International PLC 3187.50 -1.00 DCC PLC 5855.00 -10.00 Diageo PLC 2067.50 12.00 Direct Line Insurance Group... 356.40 -0.30 Dixons Carphone PLC 345.65 1.60 easyJet PLC 1047.00 3.00 Experian PLC 1509.00 -3.00 Fresnillo PLC 1100.50 -1.00 GKN PLC 329.05 -0.50 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1521.75 -4.50 Glencore PLC 267.67 -0.80 Hammerson PLC 560.25 6.50 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 1237.50 2.00 Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC 1800.50 10.93 HSBC Holdings PLC 658.85 -8.00 Imperial Brands PLC 3502.00 13.00 Informa PLC 671.50 0.50 InterContinental Hotels Gr 3510.00 5.00 International Consolidated 459.70 0.29 Intertek Group PLC 3324.50 -7.00 Intu Properties PLC 273.95 0.70 ITV PLC 196.45 0.40 Johnson Matthey PLC 3074.50 5.00 Kingfisher PLC 343.10 0.30 Land Securities Group PLC 1033.00 3.00

% CHG. -0.81 -0.28 -1.72 -1.64 -0.56 0.04 -1.35 -0.92 -0.11 -0.17 -0.99 0.33 -1.72 0.58 0.02 0.87 0.15 -0.05 -0.13 0.86 -3.61 0.09 0.06 0.28 -0.52 -0.03 -0.17 0.58 -0.08 0.46 0.29 -0.20 -0.09 -0.15 -0.29 -0.30 1.17 0.16 0.61 -1.20 0.37 0.07 0.14 0.06 -0.21 0.26 0.20 0.16 0.09 0.29

NET VOL 65.41 5.60 372.93 74.91 18.93 5.73 122.46 186.05 8.93 112.03 712.93 32.81 399.28 1,615.48 165.78 60.64 239.61 20.90 20.98 130.24 30.82 234.73 6.97 118.75 12.19 2.16 1.71 91.20 15.64 69.80 54.94 10.27 65.96 33.80 210.99 2,412.14 26.72 6.78 10.15 931.98 44.93 30.61 4.71 140.04 2.21 70.58 453.03 2.62 120.63 54.44

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Legal & General Group PLC 242.50 -0.05 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 63.65 -0.12 London Stock Exchange Group...2821.50 16.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC 355.70 0.76 Mediclinic International PLC 733.25 8.50 Merlin Entertainments PLC 436.85 -1.10 Micro Focus International PLC 2154.00 -5.00 Mondi PLC 1566.50 6.00 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets PLC227.35 0.70 National Grid PLC 933.65 2.30 Next PLC 4952.50 0.00 Old Mutual PLC 197.50 -1.70 Paddy Power Betfair PLC 8617.50 10.00 Pearson PLC 821.50 -0.50 Persimmon PLC 1721.50 18.00 Polymetal International PLC 767.75 -7.00 Provident Financial PLC 2749.50 -2.00 Prudential PLC 1576.25 -7.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 5615.00 40.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 6634.00 21.00 RELX PLC 1395.00 5.00 Rio Tinto PLC 3040.00 -52.50 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 672.50 -2.50 Royal Bank of Scotland Grou... 227.05 -0.50 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2290.00 1.00 Royal Mail PLC 451.30 -0.10 RSA Insurance Group PLC 568.00 -1.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 649.25 0.00 Sainsbury (J) PLC 250.00 0.07 Schroders PLC 2989.00 2.00 Severn Trent PLC 2191.00 8.00 Shire PLC 4590.00 -5.00 Sky PLC 991.50 0.50 Smith & Nephew PLC 1182.00 -1.00 Smiths Group PLC 1406.50 -5.00 SSE PLC 1517.50 1.00 Standard Chartered PLC 678.65 -6.40 Standard Life PLC 363.35 -2.30 St James's Place PLC 996.25 -3.00 Taylor Wimpey PLC 153.70 0.60 Tesco PLC 201.28 0.95 Travis Perkins PLC 1449.50 0.00 TUI AG 1109.50 0.00 Unilever PLC 3180.75 28.00 United Utilities Group PLC 886.50 6.50 Vodafone Group PLC 200.93 0.48 Whitbread PLC 3637.00 17.00 Wolseley PLC 4884.50 5.00 Worldpay Group PLC 269.40 0.87 WPP PLC 1782.00 1.00

% CHG. -0.02 -0.19 0.57 0.21 1.17 -0.25 -0.23 0.38 0.31 0.25 0.00 -0.85 0.12 -0.06 1.06 -0.90 -0.07 -0.44 0.72 0.32 0.36 -1.70 -0.37 -0.22 0.04 -0.02 -0.26 0.00 0.03 0.07 0.37 -0.11 0.05 -0.08 -0.35 0.07 -0.93 -0.63 -0.30 0.39 0.47 0.00 0.00 0.89 0.74 0.24 0.47 0.10 0.32 0.06

NET VOL 209.49 2,346.35 4.59 62.17 12.27 21.90 3.99 21.30 58.22 325.84 3.36 428.85 .89 36.05 27.58 29.59 4.32 49.59 51.01 52.30 50.20 156.48 46.60 227.09 181.69 53.61 18.42 24.87 95.55 1.69 9.47 23.50 131.16 36.94 14.54 23.35 208.93 148.76 13.44 182.28 376.30 1.55 33.49 67.91 31.00 1,102.90 4.14 8.96 58.27 66.20

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US dollar ..................................................................1.04625 Japan yen .................................................................122.774 Switzerland franc ..................................................1.07271 Denmark kroner...................................................7.43387 Norway kroner......................................................9.04156

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DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 19

COMPANY 3M AMERICAN EXPRESS APPLE BOEING CO CATERPILLAR CHEVRON CISCO SYSTEMS COCA-COLA DU PONT(EI) DE NMR EXXON MOBIL GENERAL ELECTRIC GOLDMAN SACHS HOME DEPOT IBM INTEL CORP J.P.MORGAN CHASE JOHNSON & JOHNSON MC DONALD'S CORP MERCK AND CO. NEW MICROSOFT NIKE PFIZER PROCTER AND GAMBLE TRAVELERS CIES UNITED TECHNOLOGIE UNITEDHEALTH GROUP VERIZON COMMS VISA WAL-MART STORES WALT DISNEY CO

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 177,450 +0,81% 1,430 106M 75,0000 +0,08% 0,0600 68M 115,970 +0,13% 0,150 617M 154,500 +0,47% 0,730 95M 92,580 -2,06% -1,950 54M 118,08 +0,88% 1,03 223M 30,590 -0,13% -0,040 153M 41,74 +0,46% 0,19 179M 74,8600 -0,04% -0,0300 65M 91,18 +0,32% 0,29 376M 31,7500 +1,57% 0,4900 281M 238,90 -1,69% -4,10 95M 135,1100 -0,54% -0,7300 164M 166,73 -0,77% -1,29 158M 36,3100 -1,30% -0,4800 171M 84,9400 -1,23% -1,0600 304M 115,8800 -0,01% -0,0100 315M 123,2400 +0,72% 0,8800 102M 62,44 +0,11% 0,07 171M 62,300 -0,45% -0,280 484M 50,92 -0,72% -0,37 68M 32,8400 +0,27% 0,0900 198M 84,680 +0,00% 0,000 226M 121,60 +1,00% 1,20 34M 108,52 +0,36% 0,39 89M 163,94 +2,07% 3,32 155M 52,27 +0,89% 0,46 212M 78,35 -1,45% -1,15 145M 70,9800 -0,14% -0,1000 217M 103,9100 -0,46% -0,4800 165M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES

DECEMBER

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced TiGenix Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. Egalet Corporation Flex Pharma, Inc. Versartis, Inc. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Unity Bancorp, Inc. StealthGas, Inc. Horizon Pharma plc VOXX International Corporation ChemoCentryx, Inc.

$ 14.01 $ 2.15 $ 7.89 $ 6.13 $ 14.85 $ 6.19 $ 16.70 $4 $ 16.44 $ 5.05 $ 8.99

2.31 ▲ 19.74% 0.32 ▲ 17.49% 0.88 ▲ 12.55% 0.67 ▲ 12.27% 1.55 ▲ 11.65% 0.62 ▲ 11.13% 1.65 ▲ 10.96% 0.38 ▲ 10.50% 1.51 ▲ 10.11% 0.45 ▲ 9.78% 0.77 ▲ 9.37%

$ 9.98 $ 45.08 $ 3.20 $ 3.18 $ 2.98 $ 12.40 $ 28.87 $ 3.9299 $ 34.85 $ 6.63 $ 2.60

2.85 ▼ 22.21% 10.86 ▼ 19.41% 0.68 ▼ 17.53% 0.32 ▼ 9.14% 0.2659 ▼ 8.19% 1.08 ▼ 8.01% 2.44 ▼ 7.79% 0.3265 ▼ 7.67% 2.85 ▼ 7.56% 0.54 ▼ 7.53% 0.20 ▼ 7.14%

Most Declined XBiotech Inc. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Diana Containerships Inc. SORL Auto Parts, Inc. Vanguard Natural Resources LLC TerraForm Power, Inc. Fossil Group, Inc. Presbia PLC Natus Medical Incorporated Everspin Technologies, Inc. Kopin Corporation

E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

British gas pipelines set to be sold Photo Credit: Oxyman Wikimedia

By John Smith FORMED in 1990 and privatised in 1995, the National Grid not only controls the movement of electricity throughout the UK it also acts as the sole transporter of gas on behalf of all of the gas producing and marketing companies through its enormous network of gas pipelines.

Ofgem has been keeping a close eye on matters and will no doubt report any fears to the government before final approval is given.” Now it has announced that it has accepted in principle an offer from a foreign consortium to sell 61 per cent of its holdings in the gas pipelines for £13.8 billion (€16.4 billion) in order to distribute part of the proceeds to shareholders, a small part to energy users and to invest the balance in faster and more profitable areas. The main partners in the consortium are the Australian investment bank Macquarie (nicknamed the ‘Vampire Kangaroo’ for its alleged draining of the lifeblood of companies in which it invests), the China Investment Corporation (CIC), the Qatari Investment Author-

NATIONAL GRID: Is the sole transporter of gas. ity as well as fund managers Allianz. The British government will need to consider whether this is an investment that it can possibly allow in view of its recent comments

concerning the owning of important British utility companies by foreign companies and governments which almost resulted in a major incident with China over the Hinkley Point C

nuclear power station. Whilst Britain may be friendly with China at the moment their continued investment in the UK, particularly in utilities, could have a potentially negative effect on the country and Prime Minister Theresa May publicly stated that investment in critical infrastructure would be “scrutinised for the purposes of national security.” Although not having made a definitive observation on the proposed sale, it is known that energy regulator Ofgem has been keeping a close eye on matters and will no doubt report any fears that it may have to the government before final approval for the deal which is planned to be completed in March of next year is given. Unions are also worried about this proposed sale as they point to the activities of Macquarie in particular which purchased (with CIC) Thames Water which it allegedly used to syphon funds back to Australia whilst increasing both prices to consumers and company debt and after 10 years of ownership is now looking to get out by selling its majority shareholding. Having as it does a complete monopoly on the distribution of gas, the National Grid has 82,000 miles of pipeline, which delivers gas to approximately 11 million households and businesses and the gas division employs more than 5,500 staff.

White Elephant discovered in South Atlantic By John Smith

ipation of the opening of the airport in May of this year, but when Comair, a subsidiary of British Airways tried to land a commercial Boeing 737 on the runway they only just managed on their third attempt due to the problem of ‘wind shear’ which had been identified by Darwin. The opening of the airport was postponed indefinitely as it then transpired that the Department for International Development (DfID) ignored a Met Office report produced in January 2015 which made it clear that there would be considerable difficulty in landing due to the problems with the wind and to make matters worse, DfID underwrote ‘profits’ for Comair which means that they will have to pay the airline £1.9 million (€2.25 million) a year for lost revenue.

One bit of good news has appeared on the horizon however as in early December an Embraer ERJ-190-100 jet aircraft, operated by Embraer Commercial Aviation as a non-commercial trial and demonstration flight, visited St Helena Airport and made a number of succesful landings in different wind conditions over a period of three days. This aircraft type is one of a number of potential solutions to operating regular flights to St Helena and other aircraft have landed at the airport either as Air Ambulances refuelling or as tests by new aircraft being delivered to South America. It is just possible that the airport will become a commercial reality rather than a white elephant which has been paid for by the British taxpayer, if the Embraer report is positive and an airline operating that aircraft type can be persuaded to fly regularly to St Helena.

Photo Credit: Paul Tyson Wikimedia

AS early as 1836 Charles Darwin noticed that winds across St Helena, the British Colony in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, were exceptionally strong, almost constant and often changed direction, but this information didn’t seem to occur to the British government when it authorised the spending of some £285 million (€340 million) on building what was meant to be a commercial airport on the remote island. Currently an age-

ing vessel, the RMS St Helena potters along a route which takes it to three of the British Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic, Ascension Island, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha with journey time from South Africa to St Helena taking at least four days depending on the weather. The concept of an air strip on the island had been spoken about for years and was attractive to the 4,000 locals as it would not only make journey times to the outside world much quicker (and there is a large population of St Helenians in the UK) but would be likely to attract tourists who amongst other reasons would want to visit sites associated with Napoleon. Money was spent locally to improve hotel facilities, buy boats and vehicles all in antic-

COMAIR FLIGHT: Landing at St Helena.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Chaos over Greek pension payout

RELIEF SUSPENDED: After the Greek Government’s Christmas bonus decision. By John Smith A DECISION taken by the Greek government to give hard hit Greek pensioners a Christmas bonus has resulted in eurozone lenders suspending a debt-relief plan as punishment. According to the lenders, the decision to make a oneoff payment of €617 million to elderly Greeks was not in accordance with any existing agreements with the lenders and it had not been put to them for approval. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the body that helps eurozone governments facing financial problems, has decided to review the payment. In a statement it said “Following recent proposals by the Greek government to spend additional fiscal resources for pensions and VAT, our governing bodies have put their decisions temporarily on hold.” The actual agreement was only reached in early December and would have seen an extension of time concerning the maturity of existing loans as well as freezing interest

rates on some of the country’s debts which would have made repayments on the €300 billion of debt more bearable.

Following recent proposals by the Greek government to spend additional fiscal resources our governing bodies have put their decisions temporarily on hold.” Now however this decision to make the payment to pensioners and also to delay indefinitely increasing VAT in the Aegean Islands due to the financial burdens caused by the large numbers of migrants has meant that it may miss future targets which has spurred the German government in particular to demand the suspension of the proposed debt relief. Germany is already the least favourite country of the Greek people and this decision has caused some splits within the eurozone membership with French Finance Minister Michel Sapin suggesting that the decision had

not been taken unanimously by the 19-member Eurozone. “Individual statements are not the collective statements of the Eurogroup” Sapin told reporters when the decision was announced and even Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said that “the European Commission believes there is no reason for eurozone lenders to question a debt relief deal struck with Greece.” To add to this, the International Monetary Fund is not convinced that the agreements which had been reached with the Greek government are likely to be workable and that regardless of what the eurozone lenders may consider sensible, it is possible that the Greek economy will not be able to recover from such crippling debts. In the meantime the euro found itself under fire from the US dollar which hit a new 2016 high against the currency on December 15 and sterling also continues to hold its own against the euro after initial falls following the referendum.

22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

EWN

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22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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Celebrate Christmas while you still can LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

JUST when you thought you’d heard it all, another gem pops up. Last week some jobsworth or other, decreed that we should no longer address our school children as ‘girls and boys!’ Apparently, they inform us, labelling youngsters in this fashion can be ‘upsetting to children who may have transgender leanings.’ This bright idea of course comes hot on the heels of not running in the playground and wearing goggles plus crash helmet to play conkers! Of course, they haven’t managed to come up with any alternative titles for our poor beleaguered offspring. What about ‘bits,’ ‘no bits’ and ‘assorted bits’? Or perhaps ‘he’s,’ ‘she’s’ and ‘maybe’s’ might fit the PC acceptable bill. The mind truly does boggle. Honestly, where do they find these people? More to the point, who pays their wages? (I know I know, silly question.) What I do find almost beyond

BURNING BELGIUM: Another example of where complacency of the west has got us. comprehension is that adult people (persons) actually sit around tables

seriously discussing these ridiculous directives. Personally I think they

have a great job. I could think up all sorts of things to drive people (per-

sons) around the bend. How about all of us wearing onesies and referring to each other as ‘IT’S’? Ah well. C’est la vie. I see they are burning Christmas trees in Brussels. Belgium of course has the biggest Muslim population in Europe. For a number of years, their more radical leaders have been boasting Belgium would be the first country ‘to fall.’ I suppose the destruction of anything sacred to other religions is a natural progression. Yet another example of where the complacency of the west has got us. It’s all too late now of course. It was actually too late 20 years ago. Ah well, let’s all wish each other a Merry Christmas, while it’s still considered acceptable and let us hope our future children will be allowed to do the same! (Don’t hold yer breath) Personally I’m off to Dublin for my Christmas sojourn. Can’t wait to see ‘em all. Bring on the black beer! Have a good one. Remember whose birthday we are celebrating. Always Keep the Faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Christmas is falling victim to politically correct obsession 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

PARENTS have been told by academics to stop pretending Father Christmas is real in case the ‘lie’ damages relations with their children who might then question what else mum and dad are lying about. What! First, no Father Christmas; next they’ll be telling us politicians tell the truth and do their ‘underpaid’ job for the love of serving their country! Why do academics want to sweep away the myths and legends which are part of our cultural heritage? All part of childhood and growing up. How boring and unimaginative life would be without Father Christmas, the tooth fairy and fairy stories. What would children do without them? Obsess about video games, sexting, selfies? There are more obvious ways to get

DIWALI LANTERNS: Embracing every culture except our own. children adjusted to the harsh realities of life than to take away their Christmas ‘magic.’ Why not start reintroducing a sense of competition in schools, competition they’ll face soon enough in business and job applications?

I’m also reminded here of a recent report that political correctness is crippling British culture to the extent that Christmas itself is at risk. Christmas trees have already been renamed ‘festive trees’ by some and Christmas itself

‘the winter holidays.’ Way back in 1998, Birmingham City Council already called it ‘Winterval.’ When my friend’s daughter was at primary school 10 years ago, she never painted a fireworks picture in Novem-

ber, made Halloween lanterns, took in a contribution for harvest festival or acted in a nativity play. All things I did at school. She did make a lantern for Diwali, fine in itself, but not as an alternative to Britain’s own traditions. All these years we’ve been exhorted to celebrate diversity by embracing every culture except our own. Such a shame. Ah, with all this talk of political correctness, it’s already beginning to feel like Christmas. And a sure sign Santa’s already having his sleigh valeted at Kwik Fit. As for me, not exactly a hard ‘BrXmas’ here but definitely no free movement of loads of in-laws - I’m too busy writing my latest thriller! HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Nora Johnson’s psychological/suspense crime thrillers ‘No Way Back,’ ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.99; £0.99) and iBookstore. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

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E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / AxarquÃa - Costa Tropical

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THURSDAY - 22 DECEMBER

TV LISTING

FRIDAY - 23 DECEMBER

1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 4:10pm The Nativity 4:40pm How to Train Your Dragon 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Who Do You Think You Are? 10:00pm The Royle Family 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:30pm BBC London News 11:45pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 12:15am Katherine Jenkins: Home for Christmas 1:15am Have I Got Old News for You 1:45am Weather for the Week Ahead

11:00am Robot Wars 12:00pm Money for Nothing 1:00pm Father of the Bride II 2:45pm Rick Stein's Cornish Christmas 3:15pm This Farming Life 4:15pm World's Sneakiest Animals 5:00pm Full Steam Ahead 6:00pm Back in Time for Christmas 7:00pm Nigella's Christmas Kitchen 7:30pm The Cook Who Changed Our Lives 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm Close to the Enemy 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Mock the Week 12:05am Alpha Papa 1:30am The Big Life Fix with Simon Reeve 2:30am The Apprentice 3:30am The Apprentice: You're Hired

10:00pm Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream In the final episode, Simon Sebag Montefiore follows the Habsburgs to their dramatic demise 11:00pm The Fairytale Castles of King Ludwig II with Dan Cruickshank 12:00am The Search for the Lost Manuscript 1:00am Natural World 2:00am Bridging the Gap 3:00am Danielle De Niese: The Birth of an Opera 4:00am Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream 5:00am This is BBC Four BBC Four is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

7:45am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:35am Frasier 9:30am The Big Bang Theory 10:00am The Big Bang Theory 10:25am The Simpsons 10:55am The Simpsons 11:25am Space Chimps 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 1:10pm Nothing Like the Holidays 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Coast v Country 5:00pm Deal or No Deal on Tour 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Secret Life of the Zoo at Christmas 10:00pm The World's Most Expensive Toys 11:00pm Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas 12:05am Gogglebox

10:20am Milkshake Monkey 10:25am Milkshake! Bop Box 10:30am Paw Patrol 10:55am SpongeBob Squarepants 11:13am SpongeBob Squarepants 11:30am The Water Babies 1:20pm James and the Giant Peach 2:50pm A Christmas Story 4:35pm The Count of Monte Cristo 5:35pm Five News Update 5:40pm The Count of Monte Cristo 7:10pm All New Traffic Cops 8:00pm World's Strongest Man 2016 9:00pm Santa Makes You Laugh Out Loud 10:00pm The Peter Kay Story 11:35pm Peter Kay at the Comedy Store 12:05am The Graham Norton Story 1:25am Super Casino

10:15am Christmas City 11:00am Christmas Kitchen 12:15pm Homes Under the Hammer 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Father Brown 3:40pm On Angel Wings 4:10pm Oz: The Great and Powerful 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm Strictly Len Goodman 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Citizen Khan 10:00pm Have I Got 2016 News for You 10:30pm Walliams and Friends 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:25am Mrs. Brown's Boys 12:55am The NFL Show 1:25am Signs 3:05am Weather for the Week Ahead

9:15am The Prince and Me 11:00am Robot Wars 12:00pmMoney for Nothing 1:00pm Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit 2:45pm Rick Stein's Cornish Christmas 3:15pm This Farming Life 4:15pm World's Sneakiest Animals 5:15pm Full Steam Ahead 6:15pm Porridge 7:00pm Inside the Christmas Factory 8:00pm University Challenge 8:30pm Wild Tales From the Village 9:30pm Saving Mr. Banks 11:30pmMock the Week 12:05am Close to the Enemy

8:00pm Top of the Pops John Peel presents the weekly chart show first broadcast on 18 November 1982. 8:30pm Top of the Pops Peter Powell presents the weekly chart show, first broadcast on 2 December 1982. 9:00pm Darcey Bussell 10:00pm The Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30pm The Joy of ABBA Between 1974 and 1982 ABBA plundered the Anglo-Saxon charts, but divided critical opinion. 12:30am Queens of Disco 1:30am Top of the Pops John Peel presents the weekly chart show first broadcast on 18 November 1982. 2:05am Top of the Pops 2:45am Darcey Bussell

7:10am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:00am Frasier 8:25am Frasier 8:55am The Big Bang Theory 10:15am The Simpsons 10:45am The Simpsons 11:15am Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back 12:50pm Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 1:10pm Miracle on 34th Street 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Coast v Country 5:00pm Deal or No Deal on Tour 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Food Unwrapped Does Christmas 10:00pm The Last Leg Christmas Special 11:00pm The Windsors Christmas Special 12:05am Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas

9:10am Peppa Pig 9:35am Paw Patrol 9:45am Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:05am Toby's Travelling Circus 10:15am SpongeBob Squarepants 10:50am World's Strongest Man 2016 11:45am Christmas Cookies 1:25pm Snow Queen 3:00pm Jack and the Beanstalk 4:45pm Five Children and It 6:25pm A Christmas Star 7:55pm 5 News 8:00pm World's Strongest Man 2016 9:00pm Christmas with the Double Acts 10:00pm The Morecambe and Wise Story: Look Back in Laughter 12:05am Morecambe and Wise Live! 1973 1:30am The Peter Kay Story

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Countrywise 10:00pm Extraordinary Weddings 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Shaun of the Dead 1:30am Jackpot247 4:00am Tonight 4:25am ITV Nightscreen

7:10am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 7:50am The Cube 8:45am Emmerdale 9:15am Coronation Street 9:45am You've Been Framed! 10:15am Ninja Warrior UK 11:15am See Spot Run 12:15pm FYI Daily 12:20pm See Spot Run 1:20pm Emmerdale 1:50pm Coronation Street 2:20pm You've Been Framed! 2:50pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:40pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:45pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:50pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:50pm You've Been Framed! 7:20pm The Amazing Spider-Man 8:20pm FYI Daily 8:25pm The Amazing Spider-Man 10:00pm Educating Joey Essex 11:00pm Celebrity Juice 12:05am Family Guy

7:00am The Sign of Four A feature-length case for Conan Doyle's celebrated detective. 9:00am Lewis 11:00am Clash of the Santas 1:00pm Lewis 2:55pm Agatha Christie's Marple 5:00pm Carry on Cowboy 6:00pm FYI Daily 6:05pm Carry on Cowboy Saddle up for a fistful of double entendres in a western spoof starring the Carry On regulars. 6:55pm Long Lost Family 8:00pm Agatha Christie's Marple 10:00pm Les Dawson Forever 11:00pm Lewis 1:00am Inspector Morse 3:05am Clash of the Santas 4:45am A Touch of Frost

7:00am The Wine Show 7:55am Classic Cars 8:45am Quincy, M.E. 9:45am Ironside 10:50amThe Professionals 11:55amGoodwood Festival of Speed 12:55pmCash Cowboys 1:55pm Pawn Stars 2:25pm Pawn Stars 2:55pm Minder 3:55pm Quincy, M.E. 4:55pm Ironside 6:00pm Minder 7:00pm Cash Cowboys 8:00pm Pawn Stars 8:30pm Pawn Stars 9:00pm The Chase: Christmas Special 10:00pmTomorrow Never Dies 11:10pmFYI Daily 11:15pmTomorrow Never Dies 12:25amBundesliga 1:30am Ronaldo 2:30am FYI Daily 2:35am Ronaldo 3:20am 1966 - A Nation Remembers 4:10am ITV4 Nightscreen

10:00am Barclays Premier League World 10:30am Premier League Legends 11:00am The Premier League Years 1:00pm Football's Greatest Teams 1:30pm Premier League 100 Club 2:00pm Sporting Triumphs 3:00pm Football's Greatest 4:00pm Sporting Records 4:30pm Sporting Greats 5:00pm Premier League Legends 6:00pm Fantasy FC: Merse Meets Gazza 7:00pm Barclays Premier League World 7:30pm Sporting Records 8:00pm Live World Darts Championship 2017 12:00am Premier League Matchpack 12:30am NFL

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 12:00am ITV News 12:35am ITV News London 12:50am Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales 1:45am Jackpot247 4:00am ITV Nightscreen

7:00am You've Been Framed! 7:25am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 8:05am The Cube 9:00am Emmerdale 9:30am Emmerdale 10:00am You've Been Framed! 10:30am Ninja Warrior UK 11:30am Beethoven's Christmas Adventure 12:30pm FYI Daily 12:35pm Beethoven's Christmas Adventure 1:25pm Emmerdale 1:50pm Emmerdale 2:20pm You've Been Framed! 2:50pm All Star Family Fortunes 3:50pm Take Me Out 5:00pm Snow Dogs 6:00pm FYI Daily 6:05pm Snow Dogs 7:05pm You've Been Framed! 8:05pm Uncle Buck 9:05pm FYI Daily 9:10pm Uncle Buck 10:00pm Casino Royale 11:05pm FYI Daily 11:10pm Casino Royale 12:55am Family Guy

7:00am You're Only Young Twice 7:25am The Four Musketeers 8:30am FYI Daily 8:35am The Four Musketeers 9:35am Bertie and Elizabeth 11:35am Agatha Christie's Marple 1:30pm Agatha Christie's Marple 3:35pm A Christmas Carol 5:10pm Carry on Camping 6:10pm FYI Daily 6:15pm Carry on Camping 7:00pm Long Lost Family 8:00pm Agatha Christie's Marple 10:00pm Murder on the Home Front 11:00pm Murder on the Home Front 12:05am Lewis 2:05am Wimbledon 3:05am FYI Daily 3:10am Wimbledon 3:40am A Christmas Carol

7:00am The Wine Show 7:55am Goodwood Festival of Speed 8:45am Quincy, M.E. 9:45am Ironside 10:50am The Professionals 11:55am Goodwood Revival 12:55pm Cash Cowboys 1:55pm Pawn Stars 2:25pm Pawn Stars 2:50pm Minder 3:50pm Quincy, M.E. 4:55pm Ironside 6:00pm British Superbike Championship Review 2016 8:00pm Pawn Stars 9:00pm River Monsters 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm Inside Man 12:05am FYI Daily 12:10am Inside Man 1:40am The Specialist 2:40am FYI Daily 2:45am The Specialist 3:45am Ironside 4:35am The Wine Show 5:30am ITV4 Nightscreen 5:40am Cash Cowboys

7:00am 7:15am 7:30am 8:00am 9:00am

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

12:30pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm

6:00pm 6:30pm

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Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold WWE Main Event Barclays Premier League World Premier League Legends Boxing Gold Football Gold Barclays Premier League World Premier League Match Pack Sporting Greats II Joe Hart: The Italian Job Live World Darts Championship 2017 Game Changers Gareth Bale: Year of the Dragon The Fantasy Football Club Barclays Premier League Preview

E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / AxarquÃa - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

SATURDAY - 24 DECEMBER

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Christmas City 11:00am Christmas Kitchen 12:15pm Homes Under the Hammer 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Father Brown 3:40pm On Angel Wings 4:10pm Oz: The Great and Powerful 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm Strictly Len Goodman 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Citizen Khan 10:00pm Have I Got 2016 News for You 10:30pm Walliams and Friends 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:25am Mrs. Brown's Boys 12:55am The NFL Show 1:25am Signs

7:30am Bargain Hunt 8:15am Fern Britton Meets... 9:15am The Prince and Me 11:00am Robot Wars 12:00pm Money for Nothing 1:00pm Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit 2:45pm Rick Stein's Cornish Christmas 3:15pm This Farming Life 4:15pm World's Sneakiest Animals 5:15pm Full Steam Ahead 6:15pm Porridge 7:00pm Inside the Christmas Factory 8:00pm University Challenge 8:30pm Wild Tales From the Village 9:30pm Saving Mr. Banks 11:30pm Mock the Week 12:05am Close to the Enemy 1:05am And Now for Something Completely Different 2:30am Darcey Bussell 3:30am Back in Time for Brixton

8:00pm Top of the Pops John Peel presents the weekly chart show first broadcast on 18 November 1982. 8:30pm Top of the Pops Peter Powell presents the weekly chart show, first broadcast on 2 December 1982. 9:00pm Darcey Bussell 10:00pm The Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30pm The Joy of ABBA Between 1974 and 1982 ABBA plundered the Anglo-Saxon charts, but divided critical opinion. 12:30am Queens of Disco 1:30am Top of the Pops 2:05am Top of the Pops 2:45am Darcey Bussell 3:45am The Joy of ABBA 4:45am This is BBC Four

7:10am Everybody Loves Raymond 7:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:00am Frasier 8:25am Frasier 8:55am The Big Bang Theory 10:15am The Simpsons 11:15am Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back 12:50pm Kirstie's Handmade Christmas 1:10pm Miracle on 34th Street 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Coast v Country 5:00pm Deal or No Deal on Tour 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Food Unwrapped Does Christmas 10:00pm The Last Leg Christmas Special 11:00pm The Windsors Christmas Special 12:05am Alan Carr's 12 Stars of Christmas

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 12:00am ITV News 12:35am ITV News London 12:50am Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales 1:45am Jackpot247

7:25am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 8:05am The Cube 9:00am Emmerdale 9:30am Emmerdale 10:00am You've Been Framed! 10:30am Ninja Warrior UK 11:30am Beethoven's Christmas Adventure 12:30pm FYI Daily 12:35pm Beethoven's Christmas Adventure 1:25pm Emmerdale 1:50pm Emmerdale 2:20pm You've Been Framed! 2:50pm All Star Family Fortunes 3:50pm Take Me Out 5:00pm Snow Dogs 6:00pm FYI Daily 6:05pm Snow Dogs 7:05pm You've Been Framed! 7:35pm You've Been Framed! 8:05pm Uncle Buck 9:05pm FYI Daily 9:10pm Uncle Buck 10:00pm Casino Royale 11:05pm FYI Daily 11:10pm Casino Royale

TV LISTING

SUNDAY - 25 DECEMBER

9:10am 9:25am 9:35am 9:45am

Peppa Pig Peppa Pig Paw Patrol Toot the Tiny Tugboat Toby's Travelling Circus SpongeBob Squarepants World's Strongest Man 2016 Christmas Cookies Snow Queen Jack and the B eanstalk Five Children and It A Christmas Star 5 News World's Strongest Man 2016 Christmas with the Double Acts The Morecambe and Wise Story: Look Back in Laughter Morecambe and Wise Live! 1973

7:00am Breakfast 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30pm A Christmas Carol 2:00pm BBC News 2:15pm Winter: Earth's Seasonal Secrets 3:15pm The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian 5:30pm Shrek the Halls 5:50pm The Penguins of Madagascar 7:15pm BBC News 7:25pm BBC London News 7:30pm Pointless 8:25pm Michael Mcintyre's Big Christmas Show 9:25pm EastEnders 10:00pm David Walliams Celebrate s Dame Shirley Bassey 11:05pm Peter Kay's Christmas Comedy Shuffle 11:50pm The Vicar of Dibley 12:30am BBC News 12:45am Midnight Mass From St Chad's Catholic Cathedral

7:15am Mars Needs Moms 8:40am The NFL Show 9:10am Hans Christian Andersen 11:00am Robot Wars 12:00pm Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave 12:30pm Nigella's Christmas Kitchen 1:00pm The Cook Who Changed Our Lives 2:00pm Splash 3:45pm Snow Chick: A Penguin's Tale 4:45pm Gorilla Family and Me 5:45pm Gorilla Family and Me 6:45pm Carols from King's 8:00pm Dad's Army 9:00pm Alan Bennett's Diaries 10:00pm The Lady in the Van 11:40pm The National Lottery Live 11:50pm Top of the Pops 2 1:20am Viva Las Vegas 2:40am Countryfile 3:40am Holby City 4:40am This is BBC Two

8:00pm All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride 10:00pm Top of the Pops 11:30pm Roy Orbison: One of the Lonely Ones 12:30am Steptoe and Son Classic comedy. Albert and Harold plan a Christmas abroad - in their own inimitable style. 1:15am Top of the Pops John Peel presents the weekly chart show first broadcast on 18 November 1982. 1:50am Top of the Pops Peter Powell presents the weekly chart show, first broadcast on 2 December 1982. 2:25am Shirley Bassey at the BBC 3:25am Top of the Pops 4:55am This is BBC Four BBC Four is the BBC channel for people who want more.

7:15am Olive, the Other Reindeer 8:05am A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures 9:40am Father Christmas 10:10am Painting the Bear Hunt 10:15am Christmas Brunch 1:15pm Jamie's Ultimate Christmas 2:15pm The Simpsons 2:45pm The Simpsons 3:15pm The Simpsons 3:45pm Scrooged 5:40pm Channel 4 News 5:45pm The Snowman 6:15pm The Snowman and the Snowdog 6:50pm The Muppet Christmas Carol 8:30pm We're Going on a Bear Hunt 9:00pm Gogglesprogs Christmas Special 10:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 11:00pm Rude Tube Christmas Cracker 2016 12:00am Trigger Happy Christmas Special

8:50am A Winnie and Wilbur Wintery Special 9:20am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 9:30am SpongeBob Squarepants 10:05am Doctor Zhivago 1:50pm The Vikings 4:05pm Jason and the Argonauts 5:05pm Five News Update 5:10pm Jason and the Argonauts 6:10pm Scrooge 7:10pm Five News Update 7:15pm Scrooge 7:55pm Andre Rieu in London 9:00pm The Yorkshire Vet at Christmas 10:00pm Eamonn and Ruth: A Million Pound Christmas 11:00pm Greatest Ever Christmas Movies 1:55am Scrooge 3:25am Super Casino 5:00am The Trafford Centre: Countdown to Christmas

8:00am WWE Main Event 9:00am Barclays Premier League World 9:30am Premier League Legends 10:00am Boxing Gold 11:00am Football Gold 12:00pm Barclays Premier League World 12:30pm Premier League Match Pack 1:00pm Sporting Greats II 1:30pm Joe Hart: The Italian Job 2:00pm Live World Darts Championship 2017 6:00pm Game Changers 6:30pm Gareth Bale: Year of the Dragon 7:00pm The Fantasy Football Club 8:00pm Live World Darts Championship 2017 12:00am Barclays Premier League Preview

8:55am Horrid Henry 9:25am Weekend at Christmas 10:25am Thunderbirds are Go 10:50am The Chase 11:50am You've Been Framed! 12:20pm Despicable Me 2:20pm ITV News and Weather 2:30pm Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 5:20pm 101 Dalmatians 7:00pm ITV News London 7:15pm ITV News and Weather 7:30pm Blankety Blank 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Birds of a Feather 10:00pm Grantchester Christmas Special 11:30pm Through the Keyhole 12:30am ITV News and Weather 12:45am Christmas Carols on ITV

9:45am Coronation Street Omnibus 11:45am All Star Family Fortunes 12:50pm The Nation's Favourite Disney Song 1:50pm Santa Paws II: The Santa Pups 2:50pm FYI Daily 2:55pm Santa Paws II: The Santa Pups 3:35pm Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas 4:35pm FYI Daily 4:40pm Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas 5:00pm The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol 5:25pm You've Been Framed! 6:30pm Catchphrase 7:30pm You've Been Framed! 7:55pm The Polar Express 8:55pm FYI Daily 9:00pm The Polar Express 10:00pm Quantum of Solace 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pm Quantum of Solace 12:15am Family Guy

8:45am Clash of the Santas 10:35am Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 11:35am FYI Daily 11:40am Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 12:45pm Columbo: The Conspirators 2:50pm Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale.(Biopic) 4:50pm The Sound of Music Live 7:30pm The Making of the Sound of Music Live 8:00pm Lewis 10:00pm It'll be Alright on the Night 11:00pm Michael Flatley: A Night to Remember 12:00am The Suspicions of Mr Whicher 2:05am Inspector Morse 4:00am Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale. (Biopic)

7:00am 7:10am 8:00am 8:55am 9:25am 9:55am 10:20am 10:50am 11:15am 11:40am 12:10pm 1:10pm 2:20pm 2:25pm 3:30pm

7:00am Football Gold 8:00am Sporting Triumphs 9:00am Game Changers 9:30am Premier League Preview 2016/17 10:00am The Fantasy Football Club 11:00am Soccer A.M. 12:30pm Gareth Bale: Year of the Dragon 1:00pm Football 4:00pm Joe Hart: The Italian Job 4:30pm NFL - A Football Life 6:30pm Live NFL Action from the NFL. 10:00pm Live NFL Action from the NFL. 2:00am Live NFLCincinnati @ Houston Houston Texans face Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium in the NFL.

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Sporting Funnies Bundesliga Bundesliga Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars The Searchers FYI Daily The Searchers The Horse Soldiers FYI Daily The Horse Soldiers Rio Bravo FYI Daily Rio Bravo Cannonball Run II FYI Daily Cannonball Run II The Devil's Advocate FYI Daily The Devil's Advocate Road FYI Daily Road Hell on Wheels

FEATURE

22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

LEGALLY SPEAKING

When police want to pull you over 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.

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Have yourself a merry little Christmas with our ultimate Christmas security and travel guide Christina Sharp GLOBELINK INTERNATIONAL christina@globelink.co.uk.

FLASHING LIGHTS: Indicate officers want you to pull over. WITH increased police patrols now due over the festive period to prevent drink driving, you may spot extra officers on the roadside, so it is important to know what actions the patrols will take in order to stop a vehicle on the roadside if they wish to speak to a driver. Amongst their duties, the Guardia Civil is tasked with controlling road traffic to ensure road safety and prevent offences as well as providing assistance if necessary. If an official vehicle wants to stop you, it will display a flashing light in addition to the blue lights. This red light means you must stop your vehicle and pull over to the right hand side of the road. When stopping

however, you must ensure you do so in a safe place that does not pose a risk to the other road users. When you have safely stopped the patrol car will stop their vehicle behind yours. All occupants within your vehicle must remain inside the vehicle as the officer will approach you on the right side of your car and inform you why you have been stopped. When they have finished with you they will help you join the flow of traffic back on the road. So remember, flashing red light indicates you must stop. Stop the vehicle in a safe area and make sure all passengers remain in the car.

For more news and articles visit www.n332.es or search N332 on Facebook.

Can the president recover debt? WE are a small community of 16 houses, and we have just suffered our first bad debt in 10 years. Our administrator has advised me as president to call an EGM in order to obtain a majority of voters agreeing to take the case to court. We wish to use the ‘procesomonitorio’ to save on costs. Under the Law of Horizontal Property, is it necessary for a president to do this? I thought the president would have executive powers to provide simple evidence of the bad debt. Or is this a wise precaution to enable the judge to come to a decision? M.G. (Costa Blanca) First, your thinking is correct. The president is authorised to act in court for the community. With certification of the debt and of your election as president, you can initiate the ‘procesomonitorio’

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

against the debtor. This requires no lawyer and is

designed as a sort of small claims court. Second, your administrator is not wrong to suggest that every possible legal measure be taken. If you hit a snag, you can always go back to this.

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

IT’S beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and with millions of us away over the holidays, read Globelink’s tips on a stress-free festive season. Make a list and check it twice! Make your travel checklist and check it as many times as it takes to ensure you are good to go well before you travel. Keep essential documents handy so you can breeze through check-in and security. Driving home for Christmas? (… or flying) Plan your route well in advance and check that nothing will scupper your well-laid plans, like scheduled closures, maintenance work, or even strike action. Baby it’s cold outside! Seems obvious, but check the weather at your destination in advance and pack accordingly. UK temperatures have varied between minus five and 17 degrees this month, so you never know! Bring us some figgy pudding? Your Christmas pudding may be a firm family favourite, but check that you are permitted to carry whatever item you plan to take if you are travelling by plane, or crossing country borders. Don’t go crackers Even though crackers are a Christmas tradition, many airlines don’t allow Christmas crackers in your luggage. Also you cannot take party poppers, fireworks or sparklers. Blue Christmas Nothing will give you the Christmas blues and dampen your spirit like an exorbitant excess baggage charge at the airport, so check your allowance and weigh luggage before leaving home. Also avoid pre-wrapping presents in case you’re selected for a security check. Home alone? Avoid worrying about your home security at Christmas while you’re away by taking a few straightforward steps to minimise risk, leaving you to enjoy your travels. Start by cancelling any regular deliver-

ies, and arrange for the local postal service to hold your mail when you’re away. This will avoid a pile of newspapers in the doorway, or a bulging mailbox which is a sure sign that nobody’s home. Be discreet when discussing travel plans where others may overhear. Be especially careful on social media and avoid recording details on your voicemail. Don’t close curtains or blinds in an attempt to make your home look less tempting. It’s likely to do the opposite. Instead, move desirables (car keys, for instance) out of sight, and fit a timer switch on lights and radios. It’s not rocket science but it will deter casual observers and opportunists. If you can, leave a key with a neighbour or friend who will clear away telltale post, open and close curtains and maybe park their car on your drive to give an ‘I’m home’ impression. Your neighbours could be invaluable in spotting suspicious behaviour in your absence. Also avoid the unwanted surprise of burst pipes by setting your heating to automatically come on for short time periods, or if temperatures drop below zero. And insulate any exposed outside pipes. And finally, why not take snapshots of special value items, preferably in their normal surroundings; it could be useful evidence for your insurance company if you are unlucky enough to have a problem. Lastly have a wonderful Christmas from Globelink and don’t forget a decent Travel Insurance policy for essential peace of mind. Visit www.globelink.co.uk, or call (UK) +44 1353 699 082 or our Spanish link lines on 96 626 5000 or 95 124 2434.

E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / AxarquÃa - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

TV LISTING

TUESDAY - 27 DECEMBER

MONDAY - 26 DECEMBER 5:30pm How to Train Your Dragon 2 7:05pm BBC News 7:20pm BBC London News 7:30pm Revolting Rhymes 8:00pm The Great Christmas Bake Off 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Still Open All Hours 10:00pm The Witness for the Prosecution 11:00pm Outnumbered 11:40pm BBC News 11:55pm Match of the Day 1:25am Fleabag

4:30pm Victorian Bakers at Christmas 5:30pm Final Score 6:20pm West Side Stories - The Making of a Classic 7:20pm University Challenge 7:50pm Dad's Army 8:30pm Nature's Weirdest Events 9:30pm Gordon Buchanan: Elephant Family and Me 10:30pm The Entire Universe 11:30pm Pride 1:25am Gospel Christmas 2:25am Tommy

11:00pm The Good Old Days Featuring Morecambe and Wise 12:00am Norman Wisdom: His Story 1:00am Doris Day: Virgin Territory 2:00am Darcey Bussell 3:00am Darcey Bussell's Looking for Audrey 4:00am Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2016: Supercharged - Fuelling the Future 5:00am This is BBC Four

2:15pm Channel 4 Racing 4:45pm The Simpsons 5:10pm Christmas Eve The Chronicles Of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe 7:50pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather. 8:00pm The World's Most Expensive Toys 9:00pm A Big Lego Christmas 10:00pm Big Fat Quiz of the Year 12:10am Pitch Perfect 2:20am Travel Man 3:20am Celebrity First Dates

8:25am Noddy: Toyland Detective 8:45am Big Bash Cricket 12:15pm World's Strongest Man 2016 1:20pm Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 3:15pm West Side Story 6:20pm The Love Punch 8:00pm World's Strongest Man 2016 9:00pm Mega Builders 10:00pm Football on 5 11:30pm Britain's Favourite Abba Songs 1:05am Muriel's Wedding 2:55am Super Casino

7:00pm BBC News 7:20pm BBC London News 7:30pm Revolting Rhymes 8:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm The Witness for the Prosecution 11:00pm Walliams and Friend Christmas Special 11:40pm BBC News 11:55pm BBC London News 12:00am Mrs. Brown's Boys

8:00pm Dad's Army 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm Gordon Buchanan: Elephant Family and Me 10:00pm The Real Marigold on Tour 11:00pm Inside No 9 11:30pm Live at the Apollo 12:00am Insert Name Here 12:30am NFL 1:20am David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey 2:25am Planet Earth II 3:25am Who Do You Think You Are?

10:00pmTime Commanders 11:00pmRome's Invisible City 12:00am Storyville Documentary. Three men travel together across Europe. 1:30am Time Commanders 2:30am Britain's Pompeii 3:30am Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2016: Supercharged - Fuelling the Future 4:30am This is BBC Four BBC Four is the BBC channel for people who want more.

11:30am The Simpsons 12:00pm The Simpsons 12:30pm Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen 2:15pm Channel 4 Racing 5:15pm Channel 4 News 5:20pm Stuart Little 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Posh Pawn at Christmas 9:00pm Amazing Spaces Snow Special 10:00pm This is Us 11:00pm Gogglebox 2016 12:35am 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 1:40am The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

11:05am SpaceCamp 1:10pm Teen Wolf 3:00pm Harry and the Hendersons 5:10pm Labyrinth: David Bowie Tribute 6:10pm Five News Update 6:15pm Labyrinth: David Bowie Tribute 7:15pm Battlebots: World Championship 8:00pm World's Strongest Man 2016 9:00pm There's a Croc in My Kitchen 10:00pm Dirty Dancing 11:30pm 5 News 11:35pm Dirty Dancing 12:05am Greatest 80s Movies

3:40pm Sleeping Beauty 5:10pm Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm You've Been Framed! 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Captain Philips 12:35am ITV News and Weather

1:35pm 1:40pm 2:40pm 3:40pm 4:45pm 5:50pm 6:50pm 6:55pm 7:50pm

2:15pm FYI Daily 2:20pm Mutiny on the Buses 3:00pm Agatha Christie's Marple 5:05pm Carry on Jack 6:10pm FYI Daily 6:15pm Carry on Jack 7:00pm Long Lost Family 8:00pm Agatha Christie's Marple 10:00pm An Audience with Victoria Wood 11:10pm Housewife 49 1:10am Something's Gotta Give 2:15am FYI Daily

3:00pm Agatha Christie's Marple 5:05pm Carry on Jack 6:10pm FYI Daily 6:15pm Carry on Jack 7:00pm Long Lost Family 8:00pm Agatha Christie's Marple 10:00pm An Audience with Victoria Wood 11:10pm Housewife 49 1:10am Something's Gotta Give 2:15am FYI Daily 2:20am Something's Gotta Give

9:00am Football Gold 9:30am Football Gold 10:00am Gareth Bale: Year of the Dragon 10:30am Joe Hart: Italian Job 11:00am Soccer A.M. 12:30pm Gareth Bale: Year of the Dragon 1:00pm Football 4:00pm Gillette Soccer Special 6:00pm Football 8:30pm Football 11:00pm Nissan Match Choice 12:00am Football

6:40pm Fantastic Beasts and JK Rowling's Wizarding World 7:40pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 11:30pm ITV News and Weather 11:45pm Pompeii with Michael Buerk 12:45am Rugby

2:10pm Coronation Street 3:10pm You've Been Framed! 3:40pm Inspector Gadget 4:40pm FYI Daily 4:45pm Inspector Gadget 5:25pm Sleeping Beauty 6:25pm FYI Daily 6:30pm Sleeping Beauty 7:05pm The Lion King 8:05pm FYI Daily 8:10pm The Lion King 9:00pm Skyfall 10:15pm FYI Daily 10:20pm Skyfall 11:55pm Family Guy 12:25am Family Guy

9:35am 10:15am 11:20am 11:25am 1:05pm 3:05pm

4:05pm FYI Daily 4:10pm National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 5:10pm Dunkirk 6:10pm FYI Daily 6:15pm Dunkirk 7:55pm Mr. Bean 8:30pm Mr. Bean 9:00pm Rugby 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm The Devil's Advocate 12:15am FYI Daily 12:20am The Devil's Advocate

12:00pm 12:30pm 1:00pm 3:45pm 6:00pm 9:00pm

7:00am British Touring Car Crashes and Smashes 7:10am The Professionals 8:00am Minder 8:50am Quincy, M.E. 9:55am Ironside 11:00am The Professionals 12:00pm TT 2016 1:00pm TT 2016 2:05pm Classic TT Highlights 3:05pm Quincy, M.E. 4:10pm The Land That Time Forgot 5:10pm FYI Daily 5:15pm The Land That Time Forgot 6:00pm The Train Robbers 7:00pm FYI Daily 7:05pm The Train Robbers 8:05pm Pawn Stars 8:30pm Pawn Stars 9:00pm River Monsters 10:00pm The Kingdom 11:05pm FYI Daily 11:10pm The Kingdom 12:15am Awake 1:20am FYI Daily

7:00am 7:30am 8:00am 9:00am 9:30am

8:05pm 9:05pm 9:10pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:05pm 12:40am

FYI Daily The Smurfs Emmerdale Coronation Street Catchphrase Uncle Buck FYI Daily Uncle Buck Despicable Me: Minion Madness Despicable Me FYI Daily Despicable Me Love Actually FYI Daily Love Actually Family Guy

5:05pm 6:10pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 10:00pm 12:00am 2:00am 3:45am 4:45am

On the Buses Death on the Nile FYI Daily Death on the Nile Lewis Agatha Christie's Marple That's Carry on FYI Daily That's Carry on Long Lost Family Doc Martin Foyle's War Lewis If I Had You Santa Claus FYI Daily

1:00am 1:30am 2:00am 2:30am 3:00am 5:00am

Football Football Football Football Football Live World Darts Championship 2017 Football La Liga World Premier League Legends Premier League Legends The Premier League Years Football

WEDNESDAY - 28 DECEMBER 1:40pm BBC News 1:50pm BBC London News 2:00pm The Moonstone 2:45pm Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 4:35pm Muppets Most Wanted 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:20pm BBC London News 7:30pm Antiques Roadshow 8:30pm Ethel and Ernest 10:00pm Jonathan Creek 11:30pm BBC News 11:40pm BBC London News 11:50pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 12:25am Sport Relief 2016: The Final Score 1:25am Fleabag 1:50am Fleabag 2:20am Weather for the Week Ahead

8:10am Great British Menu 8:40am Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo 10:20am This Farming Life 11:20am Money for Nothing 12:20pm The Alamo 2:25pm Up Periscope 4:15pm Nature's Weirdest Events 5:00pm Inside the Factory 6:00pm Tribes, Predators and Me 7:00pm New Zealand: Earths Mythical Islands 8:00pm The Good Life 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm Robot Wars: Battle of the Stars 10:00pm Dragons' Den 11:00pm Live at the Apollo 11:30pm The Real Marigold on Tour 12:30am Song for Marion 2:00am Alan Bennett's Diaries

8:00pm The Mystery of Van Gogh's Ear 9:00pm Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2016: Supercharged - Fuelling the Future 10:00pm James May: The Christmas Reassembler 10:30pm Pop Quiz: The Comeback 11:00pm Fleetwood Mac: Don't Stop Profile of Fleetwood Mac, one of the biggest-selling bands of all time and still on the road. 12:00am The Everly Brothers: Harmonies From Heaven 1:00am Norman Wisdom: His Story

1:50pm Vice Versa 3:45pm Stuart Little 2 5:15pm A Big Lego Christmas 6:15pm Channel 4 News 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Arrivals Arrivals is a refreshingly warm and intimate insight into the lives of some of the thousands of people travelling in today's evershrinking world as they pass through the Heathrow airport arrivals halls. 9:00pm What Britain Bought in 2016 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm David Blaine 12:00am Big Fat Quiz of the Year

9:35am Paw Patrol 9:45am Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:00am Toby's Travelling Circus 10:15am Milkshake Monkey 10:20am SpongeBob Squarepants 10:38am SpongeBob Squarepants 10:55am World's Strongest Man 2016 11:55am The African Queen 2:00pm The Glenn Miller Story 4:20pm Kelly's Heroes 5:20pm Five News Update 5:25pm Kelly's Heroes 7:10pm Battlebots: World Championship 8:00pm World's Strongest Man 2016 9:00pm Kitten Rescuers at Christmas 10:00pm Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of 2016 1:05am Pete Burns: The Last Interview

9:30am Lorraine 10:25am Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home 12:15pm Bean 1:55pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:05pm ITV News London 2:15pm Puppy Secrets: The First Six Months 3:20pm Father of the Bride 5:25pm Paul O'Grady For the Love of Dogs at Christmas 6:30pm Blankety Blank 7:25pm ITV News London 7:40pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 11:10pm ITV News 11:25pm Jaws 1:40am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. Join in now at Jackpot247.com.

7:50am Ultimate You've Been Framed! 8:40am Emmerdale 9:10am Britain's Got More Talent 10:05am Ninja Warrior UK 11:05am Catchphrase 11:50am See Spot Run 12:50pm FYI Daily 12:55pm See Spot Run 1:45pm Emmerdale 2:20pm You've Been Framed! 3:20pm Yogi Bear 4:20pm FYI Daily 4:25pm Yogi Bear 5:00pm Catchphrase 6:05pm 101 Dalmatians 7:05pm FYI Daily 7:10pm 101 Dalmatians 7:50pm Kindergarten Cop 8:50pm FYI Daily 8:55pm Kindergarten Cop 10:00pm Casino Royale 11:05pm FYI Daily 11:10pm Casino Royale 12:55am Family Guy 1:25am Family Guy 1:55am Family Guy

9:10am Margery and Gladys 11:10am Sparkling Cyanide 1:10pm Lewis 3:05pm Agatha Christie's Marple 5:10pm Carry on Cruising 6:10pm FYI Daily 6:15pm Carry on Cruising 7:00pm Lewis 8:55pm Les Dawson Forever 10:00pm Foyle's War 12:00am Lewis 2:00am Sparkling Cyanide 3:45am Agatha A fictitious account of crime writer Agatha Christie's unexplained 11day disappearance in 1926. 4:45am FYI Daily 4:50am Agatha 5:25am Wycliffe

10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm

6:00pm 6:30pm

7:30pm

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

Football Gold Football Gold WWE Experience Football Premier League Legends Boxing Gold Football The Premier League Years Sporting Records Football Live World Darts Championship 2017 Football Sky Sports Originals - Out of Contract Gareth Bale: Year of the Dragon Barclays Premier League World Football Barclays Premier League World Premier League 100 Club

OPINION & COMMENT

LETTERS

22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

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

Speaking another language Photographs for possible publication should be sent by email with a full caption to: photonews@euroweeklynews.com Foto Shutterstock riggsby

WELL done Mike Senker for bringing up the so-called celebrityspeak from programmes such as Strictly, X Factor and many more. Not only do they smash it, they step up to the plate, put on their game face, don’t have an option of failure, winning means everything, ride the rollercoaster, relish the journey, use awesome armography, on and on and on......... To endorse not that Grumpy, Mr Senker, STOP IT!!!!! Philip, San Fulgencio.

Berlin heartache

Dump Trump THE world seems to be so angry with traditional politicians that we somehow think it’s a good thing to elect Donald Trump! I think Americans will come to see that their political system prevented a good man from doing as much as he would have liked! Barack Obama was a missed opportunity. After Trump’s tweets does anybody think this bloke will get a second term? Not me, and I actually think he’s not all bad. If he gets through his first term without a military scrap with someone I’ll be amazed. Perhaps he’ll just divide up the world and let the bad guys have their bit as long as it doesn’t concern America too much. Sally

Droned to death IF, like me you are a regular flyer, I urge you to consider the problem that is happening within our skies. There are countless drones being allowed to fly amongst our planes, with frequent near misses. Without any regulation experts say there will soon be a major incident. Please consider signing my epetition on www.gov.uk/petition-gov ernment. Anyone who is a UK resident can do this. It will take three minutes. Our security and safety is at risk so I am contacting people from all walks of life. If we can get 100,000 clicks on this petition our MPs have to discuss the matter. We all need to do something before there is a serious accident in our skies. Please inform as many people as possible and consider the following: In the USA their airline security

Maybe it should be brought into schools too. For me, too many areas of Britain are made up of young and old who feel closer to altogether different cultures. Extend this oath and make it a part of daily school life as well. That seems to be the way forward to me. Margaret, Almeria

FIFA fine for poppy teams ENGLAND, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been fined by FIFA for wearing poppies as a mark of respect for the fallen and injured of conflict. The figure in England’s case is more than £35,000. Is there anyone who thinks the actions of an organisation as corrupt as FIFA has shown itself to be can be defended? They could have taken the moral high ground

FAA brought in new drone rulings. We need something similar. There are countless near misses reported every week despite having a recommended maximum height. In April 2016 a passenger plane was hit. Pilots have expressed their serious concerns about these toys being unregistered. Every week packages are dropped into our prisons and operators are never found. No licences are required to operate these smaller drones. Someone can film you or your children without your permission. Most police forces do not have any procedures in place to deal with drone nuisance. In the wrong hands they could be a serious threat to our security.

and insisted on levying the fine for rule breaking but made it a token. All sides would have been satisfied. Wouldn’t FIFA have been seen as taking the heat out of a thorny issue and at the same time received much needed positive publicity f or a change? Instead, they again look like the corrupt overlords of world football. David, Marbella

They should be treated in the same way as firearms Ann Paterson, Santa Pola

Stamp of disapproval TRILBY is truly fortunate to be buying his stamps for Britain from the Post Office in Calahonda as that branch must surely have the cheapest postal charges in Spain. I cannot remember when I last paid less than 80 cents to send a ‘standard’ letter or card to England (‘standard’ being 14x9cm and 23.5x12cm, and less than 20gr according to the Correos website). Since the beginning of 2016 the

price of a stamp to Britain has been 1.15€ (1.55€ for non-standard). I do hope his cards all reach the recipients safely! Barbara Wicker, Torrox

Oath of allegiance MAKING every civil and public servant swear to uphold British values seems sensible to me and long overdue. Even if it doesn’t stop radicalism, it helps to make people aware our society is based on a belief in democracy, equality and being able to say what you want. The USA uses such an oath and it seems to be successful.

THE awful events in Berlin bring to mind the attack on shoppers in the French city of Nice. I know there is no way to be completely safe but perhaps it’s time to stop traffic coming into the centres of our big cities after rush hour. But how do you stop the driver of a giant lorry who intends to kill and maim? There’d be almost no way to stop a 40 ton lorry especially one going at full speed. All we can do is express our sorrow and sympathy with the families of those who died in Berlin. How many more attacks will there be in Germany’s cities? Jane, Costa del Sol

Flood damage SPARE a thought for the victims of the floods that have hit our area of Spain. Having just arrived from the UK I thought that we had it bad, not least because we always seem to react with such surprise when the water hits. But in Spain the infrastructure seems to be taking a hammering. And officials make the right noises but will they actually pay up? I hope so for the sake of all those affected. To have everything you own destroyed by water and this close to Christmas is awful. As one who has experienced it many years ago, I know how heartbreaking it can be. Bill, Almeria

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.

E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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Word Ladder

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

Weather

for next 7 days

Alicante

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

PASS

TIME

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TODAY:

Madrid

SUNNY MAX 17C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 10 C Tues - 16 10 Cl Wed - 16 10 C

17 9 S 17 9 S 17 9 S

Fri Sat Sun -

Almeria TODAY:

MAX 17C, MIN 8C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 17 10 C Tues - 16 10 Cl Wed - 16 10 C

17 9 S 17 9 S 17 9 S

Solution PASS LASS (PAST) LAST LIST LIFT GIFT

YOUR STARS

‘WE ARE LATE - FORGET RUDOLPH I’M GOING TO CALL YOU USAIN - NOW BOLT!’

CAPRICORN

months you have found this to be true. Hard work is not alien to you, but there is a point where you want to shout ‘enough’. It may be that business or home life needs some rearranging, or that someone is moving job and the routine is severely disrupted.

(December 22 - January20)

The enthusiasm of your bright Capricorn mind is also capable of making you restless. There are mixed feelings about being at or near home this week, with thoughts of more progress being possible elsewhere. Your need to make things better for those round you may not make you money but it can bring great joy. Give of your time and talents generously.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) When you are at home this week I would like you to consider how you view your surroundings. This is a good week to make changes and have discussions about future directions. It is assumed that those close are happy with the status quo, but this may not be the case. The things which you find irksome may also irritate them. Ask in a tactful and gentle way and you will be surprised at the outcome.

falls into place. Why, you wonder, have you worried so much about things which could not be changed? With this clarity of vision, the future seems so much brighter. Use your talents and advantages to the full in this sparkling seven days and beyond.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) There is so much in you that is determined and looking forward to a fresh start, but something that you are trying to get rid of, or give up, may be giving you more trouble than anticipated. Some things have to be done alone, or so you think, but others have gone through this before you so they are able to give support.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Consider what is the most important thing to you at the moment? Is it wealth or social position? Your work, or how it may be possible to afford that new conservatory are minor considerations compared with your greatest asset which is your health. This week, then, is all about boosting this valuable commodity and building its future. Worry, stress, overwork should be words not in your vocabulary.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) When it isn't possible to change something, often it is just as effective to rearrange it. That is the solution which comes to you this week. Instead of being frustrated at a delay, try changing the conditions or times. This may mean that you save money or delay a payment to your advantage. We all have set ideas, whatever our age or circumstances.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Rarely has your mind been as sharp as it is at the moment. There have been some awkward and downright bad periods in the recent past, but this week everything

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) As a home-loving Libran, you are torn between making changes to your surroundings and getting some cash in on the business side. Apparently, it is not possible to do both because energy levels fluctuate. I have a proposition for you. Get business out of the way during the week and plan home activities for the weekend.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) When we have long-standing friendships, these are often taken for granted and yet often we could make so much more of them. How long is it since you had a really deep conversation with your closest friends? What has changed in their attitudes and fortunes over the years? How could you help each other to make better progress? Working together brings so much more forward movement and satisfaction.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) For all of the things that you want to do, there are three others that you wish to do. Maybe they are waiting for their own time to come. During the course of this week you will be thinking of what the future could hold, even though dealing with practical issues. While you are doing the ordinary tasks of the day, or thinking of how you can save money, also think about how to save your dreams.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Pat yourself on the back for all of your efforts of recent weeks. Looking back just a few months, would you have thought so much progress could be made? Because of your efforts, home life is enhanced and you are more appreciated. Give yourself a break at the weekend and do something with a loved one that you have not done together for some time. Think of the great times you had and relive them to warm your heart.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Is playing the waiting game really to your advantage? Your Sagittarian character naturally leads you to be optimistic, and why not? Even so, it won't hurt to hurry someone along rather than having them go at their own pace. Bear in mind that, in letting someone get away with sloppiness, you are doing them no favours at all.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) As the saying goes, ‘no one ever said it would be easy’. In the past few

IRISH LOTTO

Saturday December 17

BONUS BALL

EURO MILLIONS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA Sunday December 18

Tuesday November 13

Friday December 16

Saturday December 17

28 48

29 50

LUCKY STARS

10 41

30 45

LUCKY STARS

REINTEGRO

22 46

44 54

REINTEGRO

Mon - 16 9 Cl Tues - 16 9 Cl Wed - 16 8 C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 15 6 S Tues - 15 7 S Wed - 15 6 C

16 7 S 15 7 S 14 6 C

CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 8C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

18 8 C 18 8 S 17 6 C

Mon - 18 6 C Tues - 17 7 S Wed - 17 7 C

Murcia

SUNNY MAX 19C, MIN 10C MAX MIN

S Sun,

MAX 17C, MIN 6C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

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

18 9 S 19 9 S 18 11 S

SUNNY

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Cl Clear,

Sh Showers,

F Fog, Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

18 6 S 18 7 S 17 6 S

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

C Cloudy, Th Thunder

Nonagram

How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case B) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed. TARGET: • Average: 8 • Good: 12 • Very good: 17 • Excellent: 21

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION acne acre cane cant care cart cent cere cert cran cure curt cute ecru narc race tact acute caner caret carte cater crane crate cruet cuter enact erect eruct nacre react recta tacet terce trace tract truce acuter canter careen center centre create curate cutter nectar recant recent tenrec tercet trance centare centaur crenate cuneate curette reenact uncrate truncate UTTERANCE

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 UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

MAX 16C, MIN 6C

Benidorm TODAY: Fri Sat Sun -

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

GIFT BACK

MAX MIN

17 8 S 18 8 S 17 8 S

Mallorca

CLEAR MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 11 2 C Tues - 12 3 S Wed - 11 4 C

SUNNY MAX 18C, MIN 7C

TODAY:

Barcelona TODAY:

MAX MIN

13 3 S 12 2 C 11 2 C

Malaga

SUNNY MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

CLOUDY MAX 13C, MIN 3C

TODAY:

OUT

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22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

page

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

Code Breaker

Quick Across 1 Feel remorse (6) 4 Smooth fabric (5) 8 Small adhesive token stuck on a letter (5) 9 Post conveyed by planes (7) 10 Within a building (7) 11 First light of day (4) 12 Beer (3) 14 Range of food of a particular type (4) 15 Artificial source of visible illumination (4) 18 Colour like blood (3) 21 Listen (4) 23 Ceremonial dress (7) 25 News (7) 26 Sound of any kind (5) 27 Hoard (5) 28 Edible seed (6) Down 1 Characteristic of rural life (6) 2 Mother of your father or mother (7)

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Crossword

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Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 2 represents Q and 5 represents G, so fill in Q every time the figure 2 appears and G every time the figure 5 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Turns, 4 Barium, 9 Replica, 10 Paces, 11 Apse, 12 Granite, 13 Rue, 14 Robe, 16 Sage, 18 Pie, 20 Restate, 21 Dent, 24 Strut, 25 Spanner, 26 Steven, 27 Exile. Down: 1 Threat, 2 Ropes, 3 Skin, 5 Appraise, 6 Itching, 7 Master, 8 Barge, 13 Repartee, 15 Observe, 17 Trusts, 18 Pepsi, 19 Sterne, 22 Ennui, 23 Dame.

QUICK Across: 3 Boss (8) 4 Arrange in order (4) 5 Jewelled head wear (5) 6 Hosiery (6) 7 Latin American style of music (5) 13 Refined grace (8) 16 Thousand thousand (7)

English - Spanish

Down: 1 Cheap, 2 Profess, 3 Obey, 4 Reared, 5 False, 6 Defeats, 7 Bemused, 12 Narrate, 13 Contest, 15 Scarier, 16 Coarse, 17 Cynic, 19 Dodge, 21 Fine.

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

Across 1 Brazalete (6) 3 Heladas (6) 8 Trineos (5) 10 Chestnut (fruit) (7) 11 Emotion (7) 12 Dream (while asleep) (5) 13 Camello (5) 15 Goose (5) 20 Árboles (5) 22 Milagro (7) 24 Reunión (7) 25 Girls (young) (5) 26 Cocinas (aparatos) (6) 27 Precios (6)

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across:

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Down 1 Cesto (6) 2 New (5) 4 Laughs (5) 5 Patinadores (7) 6 Estación (parte del año) (6) 7 Perfume (5) 9 Deslizarse (5) 14 Dressing (culinary) (7) 16 Delantal (5) 17 Sellos (6) 18 Friend (f) (5) 19 Banquetes (6) 21 Especia (5) 23 Brandy (5)

Hexagram

1 Cupboard, 7 Brave, 8 Exonerate, 9 See, 10 Peek, 11 Deduce, 13 Casual, 14 Versus, 17 Carrot, 18 Hard, 20 Try, 22 Terrified, 23 Seize, 24 Rehearse.

17 Snaps (6) 19 Put on clothes (5) 20 Father or mother (6) 22 Wireless (5) 24 Leg joint (4)

2 Right, 6 Raza, 7 Ojal, 8 Stair, 9 Damp, 10 Miel, 11 Bride, 12 Jefe, 13 Noon, 14 Roast, 15 Door, 16 Abad, 17 Years. Down: 1 Camareros, 2 Raspberry, 3 Granizada, 4 Tormentas, 5 Cacerolas.

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

ADVENT (10) CARROT CEREAL DECEIT DETOUR ENTICE HARDEN INCOME INTENT IODINE

NOTICE ORIENT PARIAH POLITE ROUTED SKIMPY THEORY TRANCE VENDOR

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Abrupt 2 Bureau 3 Blanch 4 Resume 5 Blouse 6 Launch 7 Massif 8 Bobcat 9 Defray 10 Subset 11 Titian 12 Critic 13 Mastic 14 Tracer 15 Auntie 16 Select 17 Object 18 Legume 19 Spongy.

Across 1 Wise man chopped-up elm before excited choir (8) 5 Show Ruby around American capital (4) 9 Brags about clutches (5) 10 Drove back at pace to give information (7) 11 Some bottles of wine are stored next door (7) 12 Small beers for after Christmas events (5) 13 Support donkey and sit awkwardly (6) 15 Core gym is in shed for a change (6) 19 Chooses Portsmouth to host the game (5) 21 He levitates without this to improve (7) 23 Rubbish time to walk like a duck (7) 24 Are potentially about a foot past (5) 25 Fat little girl with tiny top (4) 26 Holds a rally in favour of experiments 4 Highly decorated in the Battle of Little (8) Big Horn, a terrific achievement (6) 6 Record allowed to include gold US Down decoration (7) 1 Name tag rewritten in red (7) 7 Follows eating programme and dies 2 Pack animal kept in cell a matter of with time inside (5) hours (5) 8 Lofty pursuits, a right stop-start (4) 3 Carelessly she lost lodging places (7) 14 Or in stage warehouse (7)

16 A gentle dance is beautiful (7) 17 Grassier Rastafarian land contains mountain ranges (7) 18 Finish even confused the queen (6) 19 First staff at the Esso station fills up (5) 20 Reportedly joined the rush (4) 22 Singers lost a production (5)

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22 - 28 December 2016

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HEALTH BEAUTY

Advertising feature

Let Clinica Europa take care of you CLINICA EUROPA is a medical and dental clinic based in Torrox-Costa. It opened in 1985 and since then has been taking care of its patients no matter the ailment. It has experts specialised in many medical fields such as paediatrics, cardiology, dermatology, otorhinolaryngology, physiotherapy, psychology, acupuncture, aesthetic medicine, plastic surgery and general surgery. It’s worth mentioning that Clinica Europa has a resident English dentist, Dr Michael Mannish, who worked in the industry for over 25 years in London. All the other experts at the clinic have countless years of experience in their respective fields and can attend to you in either English or Spanish. It’s also comforting to know that patients travel from all over Andalucia to come to Clinica Europa as it has such a wide range of health services to offer. Clinica Europa is well aware of the difficulties some foreign patients encounter when dealing with Spanish social security and b e l i e v e s t h e la n g u ag e b arrie r

SPECIALISED EXPERTS: Have years of experience in a range of medical fields. shouldn’t be a problem when a patient needs certain treatments. Teamwork is also a key factor. It helps treat patients correctly as they are com-

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patients that have pre-existing medical problems. Clinica Europa know that cases like these could easily slip under the public health system’s radar and cause serious problems for patients if they are wrongly diagnosed. There is currently an offer available where it will provide a second opinion on any dental procedures and urge all residents, foreign or native, to take advantage of it as it could mean very large savings on their dental bills. Clinica Europa is located at Centro Internacional, Bloque 86, Bajo and has easy access and ample parking, except during the months of July and August. The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9.30am till 1.30pm and from 5.00pm till 8.00pm, although there will always be someone on call to answer the phone all the way up till closing time. If you would like any more information about the procedures or the treatments avai l abl e, pl ease vi si t t he websi t e www.clinicaeuropa.eu, call 952 530 908 or send an email to info@clinicaeuropa.eu.

Go smart when buying your child’s toys STILL wondering what Santa can bring the little people in your life? Then think smart. Experts say babies and toddlers should be stimulated as much as possible and the toys they receive play an important part in that. For babies, eager to learn about the world, every shape, colour and texture

is new to them and toys act as a tool to help build motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It is also reported that in this stage black and white forms the largest stimulation in an infants brain that is continually developing. As they reach the toddler stage toys like shape sorters and building blocks

are ideal for developing their imagination and teaching about colours and shapes and building basic life skills. Equally, such toys can detect gaps in infant development as found by a project carried out by several universities in Madrid. The project designed different toys e.g. rattles, balls and cube tow-

ers with built-in sensors that can help support the early detection of gaps in the development of young children. This is important as certain motor difficulties can be warning signs for other diseases related to poor motor development and developmental problems. One toy used was a tower of cubes

that had motion sensors that is now pending a patent. It measures time, speed and maximum acceleration of the blocks being moved when the tower is made. Analysis of this data allows experts to detect the possibility of some kind of problem or motor impairment in children.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Ask The Doctor

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Pneumonia: to vaccinate or not?

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. WHAT is the vaccination against pneumonia we’ve been hearing about recently? The vaccination against pneumonia is an injection which prevents infection from pneumococcus, a bacteria which can cause serious infections. There are about 100 different varieties of pneumococcus, only a few of which can cause infections in human beings. Who should have the vaccination? The groups who are most vulnerable to this type of infection are children under the age of five, especially those under two, but it can also affect the elderly, especially those over 65 or who have conditions which make them prone to infections from this germ. Therefore, these groups are under increased risk of suffering an infection from this germ and should be vaccinated. Is it expensive? The Spanish health system covers the cost of vaccinations for people in the high-risk groups, so they do not have to pay for the injections. If you wish to have the vaccination outside the normal vaccination dates or are not in the high-risk groups, the price is approxi-

mately €80 although this depends on the brand and the country. How long do the effects last? If you are correctly vaccinated the effect can last for many years. From the age of 65 onwards it is advisable to have a reminder dose to maintain coverage for years to come. Is it efficient? The vaccination is very efficient, as proved by many studies, although no vaccination is 100 per cent effective. Does it have many side effects? The most common side effects reported have been reactions at the injection site including swelling, redness, pain at the site of the injection and difficulty moving the arm. Others are: fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, headaches, fever and vomiting among others. In very rare cases serious adverse effects may occur at a neurological level or affect the respiratory system. Is it really worth having the injection? It definitely is. Anyone who meets the vaccination criteria should most definitely be vaccinated against pneumococcus.

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

22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquia - Costa Tropical

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Have a flatter stomach this Christmas WANT to stay looking trim this festive season, then try these tricks to avoid the bloat and keep a flatter stomach this December: Little and often That big over indulgent Christmas Day feast may be something you have been looking forward to for weeks but it can be hard for the body to digest and process all that food leading to excessive gas and bloating. Eating smaller meals more regularly is a preferred option and means those festive buffets may not be as bad as you think if you keep returning for little nibbles every now and then. Avoid the fizz We all like a glass of fizzy stuff at Christmas but the bub-

Enjoy life and live longer SIMPLY being happy and having fun could help you live longer. Experts from University College London followed more than 9,000 people in their 50’s and 60’s in England and every two years between 2002 and 2006, they were asked about how much they enjoyed their life and daily activities. Over the next seven years to 2013, 1,310 of the participants had passed away with many of them being those who had reported having no or little enjoyment in their daily lives when asked during the assessments. Scientists believe that being happy reduces stress and anxiety hormones which can put pressure on the heart and lead to increased blood pressure. Whilst the researchers said they could not conclude a direct biological link between happiness and mortality, they said their study did indicate a correlation.

CHOOSE CAREFULLY: Try to go for healthier options. bles in prosecco and Champagne as well as beer and coke can end up in your stomach leaving you dehydrated and bloated. Get active As tempting as it is to slob around catching up on television viewing during your time off, try and stay active during the festive season. Enjoying a walk along the beach, even getting active with the family on Wii sports games, can help

speed up a sluggish digestion and help ease IBS symptoms. Choose carefully No one wants to turn down a party invite and the buffet at the office party can be hard to avoid but, you can make careful choices in what you eat. Try and stay clear of pastry and fried foods and go for the healthier option of prawns, salmon and lean meat and indulge all you like in vegetables and fruit on offer.

Take time chewing your food to allow your digestive system time to work. This will also help you realise when you are full before you over indulge. Hot water and lemon Try swapping that morning coffee for hot water and lemon to help wake up your digestive system. Peppermint and chamomile tea are also known for easing stomach problems.

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22 - 28 December 2016

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SCENE

OCIAL

2017 Calendar from Frigiliana for tourism THE Department of Tourism in Frigiliana has released news of a special limited edition calendar for 2017 which will be distributed to tourist offices in the area. With just 3,000 of the attractive 50 x 70 cm calendars to be available in Frigiliana and the balance being distributed at the annual FITUR tourism fair held in Madrid in January, the calendar features a spectacular sunset over the town which has been used on a number of council productions. As a reminder of the important recognitions that the town has recently received, the calendar incorporates the information that Frigiliana was granted one of the seven rural wonders of Spain 2016 awards and is also recognised as one of Spain’s prettiest villages. According to councillor for Tourism, Sofia Gonzalez, the

Photo Credit: Ayuntamiento de Frigiliana

By John Smith

Assassin’s Creed movie

LIMITED EDITION: The new calendar features a spectacular sunset. council is proud to be able to show the logos of these two separate awards on the calen-

dar as this will reinforce the name of Frigiliana in the mind of many including those spe-

cialist media outlets who recommend attractive rural destinations to their readers.

THE town of Nerja will go down in gamer history as the lead character in the new Assassin’s Creed film is named Aguilar de Nerja. Played by Michael Fassbender, his character was a member of the Spanish Brotherhood of Murderers during the 15th century, during the time of the Inquisition and this film adaption of the highly successful video game could bring new visitors to the town. Part of the filming took place in Sevilla and Granada and the release will be in time for the Christmas holiday market when screened in Spain from December 23. The film also stars Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson and Charlotte Rampling as well as Spaniards Carlos Bardem and Javier Gutierrez. There have been a number of movie spin-offs from successful games, some of which have gone on to spawn numerous sequals.

PROPERTY www.euroweeklynews.com

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37 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

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Winter getaways pricier this year By Sam Croft WINTERTIME has arrived meaning many people are renting cottages and chalets so they can get away for a few days and enjoy some skiing. Others might

prefer relaxing by the fire with some hot chocolate and a good book. In any case, these winter getaways are a popular alternative to the hustle and bustle of the city during the Christmas period. Owing to this popularity, prices for rented residences have seen a slight increase this year,

according to data released from real estate portal Pisos.com. The average price in 2016 for a chalet or cottage near a ski resort is €562 a week, a rise of 0.4 per cent compared to 2015. However, the prices are 2.8 per cent lower than they were four years ago. Winter rentals come in all shapes and sizes,

and not surprisingly, in all price ranges. The survey by Pisos.com indicated the gap between the most expensive and cheapest weekly rate is €672. A handful of high-end chalets in the Pyrenees of Lleida cost the most, charging an average weekly price of €1,006. Those looking for more of a bargain may want to head to Segovia, where the av-

erage weekly price is €372 a week, or to Fuentes de Invierno in Asturias (€387) or La Rioja (€394). Miguel Angel Alemany, general director of Pisos.com said “residences at the foot of the ski slopes have recoved very well in recent years, but there are also many nearby municipalities where there are great opportunities at excellent prices.”

SKI BREAKS: A popular alternative for Christmas.

Tourist rental confusion Government will not combat ‘vulture funds’ THE National Government is concerned about social housing being sold to ‘vulture funds’ but considers the issue to fall under the jurisdiction of the autonomous communities. During a Senate meeting, Maria Pilar Garrido Gutierrez, the senator from the parliamentary group Unidos Podem-En Comu PodemEn Marea grilled Minister of Development Iñigo de la Serna on the subject. She asked the minister what measures the National Government plans to implement to stop investment funds or profit-seeking entities from snapping up social housing and using it for their own personal gains. De la Serna pointed out that matters relating to real

estate fall under the umbrella of the autonomous communities and that “the National Government respects the current legislation.” According to De la Serna, the National Government can only approve property-related plans once they are run through the regional governments. Representatives from the Ministry of Development are scheduled to meet with representatives from the autonomous communities on Thursday December 15 to discuss the potential direction of future property plans. STOP SALES: Of social housing.

SPAIN's crackdown on unregulated tourist holiday rentals has been dealt a blow as a Catalan court annulled Barcelona's €30,000 fine on accommodation platform Airbnb. The city has been at the forefront of efforts to regulate and tax online platforms and homeowners which rent out properties to tourists outwith the legal framework of hotels and hostels for several years. Andalucia, Valencia and the Balearics have all followed suit, demanding that people who rent out their

homes register with the state and be incorporated into some kind of legal framework i.e pay taxes. But only Barcelona has actually imposed the various draconian fines on offenders and punished Airbnb, a global company that has transformed the tourist industry, for advertising properties for rental which hadn't been registered with the authorities. The city has a serious problem with landlords deciding to rent out their homes on a short-term basis to tourists, raking in upwards of €100 a night rather than issu-

ing long-term rentals to local families at a far lower profit. But the court has now ruled that the new phenomenon of tourist rentals cannot be dealt with by punitive fines in lieu of an alternative. What this means for the rest of the country is unclear. The gargantuan fines promised to expats who rent out their homes to tourists unlawfully will probably be put on the backburner, but not everyone has access to a crack California legal team and there are plenty of penalties under €30,000 that homeowners might face.

E W N 22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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OPINION & COMMENT

A Christmas Tale from Tuscany By Dario Poli (part 2) GIOVANNI’S childhood friend was solidly impressive in a rough checked shirt and a rope holding up his corduroy trousers and wearing thick boots. Of medium height, he had fair wavy hair, ruddy complexion and steely grey penetrating eyes. His handshake, firm but gentle, was his calling card. I sensed immediately this man was built by nature, blessed with an abundance of good health. Wiry and physically strong, a morally incorruptible individual, with genuine spirituality exuding from every pore in his body. He grabbed the ropes, held and restrained the two excited mules. One particularly aggressive mule with his eyes on me, clearly intended to kick me as hard as he could, turning and twisting, to deliver the blow. With Silvio still firmly holding them, they finally calmed down and he amiably conversed with us about the old times and mutual friends. I asked him about local Christmas customs, and he told me about the little town of Castiglione, where at twilight, a man whose identity is known

only to the priest, enters the vestry and is closed inside the wardrobe. After Mass, the congregation leaves the church in procession and find the penitent (the same man who had been closed in the wardrobe) at the door dressed like Jesus Christ. The man leads the procession through the streets of the village wearing a hood to prevent anyone from recognising him and carrying a cross. At the end of the procession the penitent is closed again inside the wardrobe and emerges unseen only late at night. He invited us to enter the ninth century Church, of which he was the keeper. He released the mules and drove them away from the nervous visitors, then with a large metal key unlocked and pushed open wide the huge creaking doors. Once inside, I was met with the pungent smell of incense and as my eyes gradually became accustomed to the darkness, I was able to pick out a white marble altar directly in front of me fully prepared for a Christmas Mass. The interior had been left exactly as it was, as the final celebration of Christmas.

There were a number of ornate pillars supporting the wooden beamed roof, and beneath them were several rows of wooden benches for the villagers to occupy during past services. Near one of the pillars a large beautiful crib had been built to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus and was totally illuminated like a stage spotlight, Ga rfa gn an a, vi lla ge of by a penetrating shaft Ce se ra na . of light emanating from a round stainedThe men deep in their meditations glass window above. With the excepwere not at all disturbed by the arrival tion of light coming from the enof worshippers from the animal kingtrance, the rest of the church was in dom. The touching and quite amazing almost total darkness. scene of two men, two mules, and a Giovanni and Silvio standing dog, gazing silently and reverently in silently beside the crib made the sign homage at the crib appeared to be the of the cross and prayed. most natural occurrence in the world. The silence was broken by the Had I not seen this event with my echoing sound of hooves clip-clopown eyes, I would never have given ping on the stone floor. this story any credence. The two mules and Silvio’s brown Leaving the church Giovanni and I hunting dog, entered the church and said our goodbyes and in silence calmly ambled down the aisle, then turned towards the path, engrossed in stood silently in front of the crib.

our own private thoughts. Before descending, I turned and saw Silvio; his dog and the two mules, watching us depart framed by the magnificent mountains behind them. Mentally thanking each one of them for sharing with me a little of their living time and giving me a rare glimpse of innocence. The imagery of that special Christmas Eve holiday will be forever engraved in my memory and my heart. THE END

Big guns for a minor disturbance Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

THE Spanish are not overwhelmingly monarchist but have too much on their minds to start agitating for changes in this department. But for Catalans who want independence, the monarchy symbolises unsympathetic central domination. This is particularly true of the CUP party, whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts thanks to its parliamentary support for the centre-right regional president Carles Puigdemont. CUP is anti-everything except independence and its MPs are actively sup-

Carles Puigdemont.

porting party members hauled up before the Madrid National High Court for burning photos of the King. By bringing out the big guns for a minor dis-

turbance the establishment is walking its usual route plagued with elephant traps and minefields. It doesn’t do the King many favours, either.

Kicking off the conversations SORAYA SAENZ DE SANTAMARIA, the national government’s vice-president recently paid her first visit as Minister of Territorial Administration to Cataluña. The radiant politician (fillers, botox, surgery or hair extensions?) smiled broadly and reiterated the government’s promises of dialogue regarding Catalan independence. Saenz de Santamaria’s first meetings were with the

PSOE’s regional secretary Miquel Iceta and Ines Arrimadas of Ciudadanos, prompting the regional government’s spokeswoman Neus Munte to express ‘surprise’ that the minister should have preferred to meet the Opposition first. Not the best of starts, then.

Altogether now! FIFTY-NINE PER CENT of Basques might want an independence referendum but centrists can stop rending their Madrid-manufactured garments. The same poll found that only 31 per cent of the Basque population would back secession. They might be anti-Constitutional but referendums are paradoxically the best way to ensure that Spain remains intact.

Discreetly keeping their distance PEDRO SANCHEZ is tenacious. No longer PSOE secretary general or an MP in the national parliament, he is popping up all over the place and if he has his way party members will again choose the next PSOE secretary general in primaries. This is how he rose to the top in 2014, a prelude to leading the party from bad results to worse. So far Sanchez is holding meetings and visiting towns where he believes he’ll get a warm welcome from the membership. Meanwhile the few politicians who backed his ‘no means no’ diktat to prevent Mariano Rajoy from forming a government once more are discreetly distancing themselves from him. Everyone loves an underdog but nobody backs an outcast.

HOMES

GARDENS

22 - 28 December 2016 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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Photo Credit: Dr. Morley Read shutterstock.

By Graeme Tyrrell

CHOCOLATE TREE: It is possible to grow your own with careful planning and care. for being the main flavour source of chocolate, the cocoa tree. Cocoa beans from the tree were first introduced into Europe by the Spanish and their use soon spread as a sweet delicacy, with regional recipes developed to give us the vast range of delightful delicacies we have today. The cocoa tree grows naturally as an under storey plant shaded by taller trees in rain forests but as it matures it can tolerate full sun. So a well shaded, sheltered spot in the garden is ideal. They are cold sensi-

tive below 8°C so the best place is next to a heated building or, if in a pot, it can be brought indoors in winter to a well lit location. They will tolerate cold below 8°C but may lose their leaves and be set back. Frost is likely to kill them. Windy conditions are detrimental. The soil required to grow them needs copious amounts of organic material of high fertility with regular addition of nutrients several times a year, as in a tropical forest environment. Ensure the soil stays moist all year through supplemen-

Christmas cactus care CHRISTMAS cactus or Schlumbergera are cacti which originally come from Brazilian tropical rainforests, meaning they are a little different to other types of cactus. They are ideal for planting in hanging baskets as their stems and flowers tend to droop downwards. This is the best time of the year to buy Schlumbergera as they are in flower and it’s easy to choose a plant with multiple shoots, a sign of strength and health. In the warmer months they can be kept outside, however they hate direct sunlight and should be kept in a cool, shady spot. Whereas most cacti store water, this is not the case for Christmas cacti, meaning they require more frequent watering (once per week in the summer and every 15 days the rest of

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Go loco and grow cocoa THE Mediterranean climate allows for a wide range of plants to be grown. The restrictions of soil quality, water availability and the ability to create microclimates are really where gardening skills are required to make the most of the possibilities. It will require more planning and preparation and after care to maintain exotic plants but if you have the time it can be a great interest. If you want to add some elements of exotic interest or reminders of home to your Mediterranean garden or balcony, it is possible to grow many temperate and various tropical plants. There are many gardens in Spain that, in addition to their almond, citrus and olive trees, have tropical avocados and bananas and yet also pears, apples and peaches of the temperate climates. The secret to growing exotic plants successfully is to replicate the natural environment they come from as far as possible. If you are really adventurous, there is a plant, with heavenly connotations for many people, that can add great interest to a garden. It is known as the food of the gods, recognised by the greek botanical genus name Theobroma which means god food. It is better known by its species name, cocoa. In the indigenous Mexican regional language of Nahuati it is known as xoclati, but to most of us it is known

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the year). Make sure though that the earth is dry before watering and avoid waterlogging the pot as this can lead to mould. To favour flowering add a phosphorous and potassium rich fertiliser to the water. Common problems: Fungus or rotted stem-bases are a sign of excessive watering. Reduce frequency of watering and cut off the damaged areas. Flowers which fall off before opening are usually due to draughts or a lack of water. Stems which lose their colour are a sign of a lack of light. Place the cactus in a lighter area, but not directly in the sun.

COOL CACTUS: Keep outside in summer in a shady spot.

tary watering as necessary, like in a rainforest environment. Flowers can appear throughout the year and the cocoa fruit is gradually harvested over several months. The pod contains 30-40 bean seeds which you can separate from the pod to be dried in the sun. The cocoa bean is naturally bitter but when crushed into powder and a sweetener added, it reveals the exquisite taste of chocolate we all know. So with careful planning and care, you can have your own chocolate tree.

Design trends for year ahead PINTEREST is a social media platform which has become increasingly popular with those looking for decorating inspiration. With this in mind, its insights team has analysed data from the last year to predict the interiors trends for 2017. The colours of the year are likely to be navy and copper. Popularity of navy instead of black has increased by 80 per cent, Pinterest deduced, while that of copper instead of gold rose by 90 per cent. The pattern everyone is expected to be mad about next year is marble, with companies quickly catching on and creating wallpaper and accessories with a marbled effect. Hygge, a trend based on the Scandinavian style of cosy living, is set to stay in fashion with warm yet simple designs and rustic or farmhouse tones being the overall atmosphere to go for. For accessories, Pinterest has forecast we will all be going for indoor vines, which has seen a 260 per cent increase in interest on the platform since September, and floating art.

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Daisy and Glossy have made themselves at home 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 00 44 (0) 777 214 2742.

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Puppies bought from the Internet

PUPPY FARMS: Dogs often become ill or die young.

RESIDENTS’ REPORT: Gail keeps Ann updated on the cats and the house. ANN a homeowner in Fuengirola Spain has found that in the seven years since living in this part of Spain she has attracted large numbers of stray cats. They simply turn up at the door looking for a caring hand and over the years she has crossed paths with a large number who simply move on after a few meals. Daisy and Glossy, however, have stayed with her for four years now. They are fixtures in her home and don’t need a great deal of attention but she has grown very fond of them. As a working lawyer with a base in the UK Ann still travels a great deal and worries about her cats when she is away from them. Her current trip is a long one and may stretch from three to six months. She found HouseSitMatch online and registered. Within a couple of weeks we had

found her an experienced house-sitter in Gail. Ann has returned to the UK to take care of some urgent business leaving Gail in charge. Gail sends Ann regular updates on the property and its feline residents. Gail in the meantime has three to six months free accommodation in a sunnier climate to her Scottish homeland. Both joined HouseSitMatch as standard members for the cost of only £35 per year! Do you need a sitter? Get in touch. Housesitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as a house-sitter or homeowner now with a 20 per cent off introductory offer using code PERFECT20. To find a house pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com.

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

MORE people are buying pups online and sadly paying the price. M a ny puppie s bought from such outlets, which are

often used by puppy farmers, require long-term veterinary treatment or die before reaching six months. Research carried out by the UK Kennel Club found that one in three people may have bought their pup from a puppy farm after sourcing the animal through the int er net , soci al m edi a or newspaper adverts. This has increased from one in five last year. The research found that a t hi r d of puppi es bought f r om one of t hese out l et s failed to experience overall good health; almost one in five puppies bought via social media or the internet

died before six months of age; and 12 per cent of pups bought online or on social media ended up with serious health problems. Meanwhile, 94 per cent of puppies bought direct from a breeder were reported as having good overall health. The choice is obvious, especially when you’re thinki ng about what ’s best f or your pet. Remember, you could be lumbered with a very sick animal, and incur heavy fees from vets all because you didn’t do enough research to find out where your pet has come from and been.

Could your pet give Rats sniffing out bombs and TB you salmonella? INVESTIGATORS at Valencia’s CEU-Cardenal Herrera university have warned of the possible dangers of keeping turtles as pets. In a study led by veterinary professor Clara Marin, investigators discovered the presence of salmonella in 29 per cent of 96 privatelyowned turtles kept as pets. The reptiles show no symptoms, yet this considerable number of carriers is extremely likely to pass the bacteria on to its owners, especially children, the elderly or people with weak immune systems, Marin said. This should be taken into account by parents who choose

turtles as pets for their children due to their small size and convenience, and pet shops should warn of the dangers, the investigators said. In Europe 100,000 cases of salmonella are diagnosed each year and although most are due to contaminated food, it’s estimated about 6 per cent are from contact with turtles and reptiles. The Valencian university study found no significant differences between turtles kept in tanks indoors and those kept outside so said that doesn’t seem to influence the possibility of presence of the bacteria.

RATS get a bad press. Ever since the Black Death they’ve been on virtually everyone’s bad list and stayed there. That is being overturned though in a big way thanks to the sense of smell of one of their number, in this case the African giantpouched rat. Their sense of smell is so acute that these rats are being trained by a Belgian charity, A PO PO , to w ork in tw o ve ry diffe re nt worlds, those of TB and mine clearance. From the age of four weeks they are socialised to get used to people and trained to respond to a special click sound that they associate with a reward of food. After this they have to search for their target scent, either a sample of TB infected tissue or the smell associated with explosives. Amazingly the mine detection rats can sniff out and search an area of 200 sq m in just 20 minutes. This would take humans about 25 hours to do.

When it comes to TB, a rat can screen 100 samples in just 20 minutes. The same would take a lab technician four days to complete. The ability of the rats to sniff out explosives is badly needed. They are at work in Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. With mines generally activated by anything over 5kg, the rats ha ve the bi g advant age i n weighing only 1.5kg. So far none of them have been killed or, indeed, injured. If you would like to donate to the A POPO char i t y or find out more then please vis it the i r websi t e at h t t p s : / / s u p port.apopo.org/en/supportus.

SMART RATS: Can sniff out TB and explosives.

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Koenigsegg are saying that the new CCX is more comfortable... more comfortable than what? Being stabbed? Some might say...

Changing of the guard By Matthew Elliott GOOGLE has launched its first foray into the pioneering world of autonomous cars with the formal unveiling of new sister company Waymo, which is expected to whet its appetite for world domination with a self-driving taxi service. Waymo says that drivers around the

world clock up an incredible 10 trillion miles each year, one of those fantastically difficult to challenge numbers, and that it will make every one of those miles safer. First step in the Google revolution will be a self-driving taxi fleet. It probably

won’t be sparing expats awkward conversations of payment moments in far flung corners of the world. More likely the fleet will occupy the pristine streets of tech cities like San Francisco and Seattle, charging executives

an arm and a leg for WiFi access on their way to meetings. After the taxi fleet, the sky is the limit. The motoring world will be transformed beyond all recognition with the entrance of tech and software companies into the market, challenging the power players of Ford, Volkswagen etc, who has ruled the roost for a century.

GOOGLE TAXIS: Will be a self-driving fleet.

Honda HR-V: compact SUV by Nick Fletcher HONDA’S entry into the compact SUV market was a little later than most rivals, but the current HR-V underlines why it was certainly worth the wait. Dynamic styling, generous levels of standard equipment and class-leading interior space give the HR-V compelling appeal in a class already well served with the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Yeti and new Suzuki Vitara. HR-V prices start at £18,695 (€21,053) for an entry level S version which comes with alloy wheels, climate control, CD/DAB radio, Bluetooth, USB socket, cruise control with speed limiter, four power windows, and auto lights. There is a 1.5 litre petrol engine or 1.6 litre diesel, with manual and CVT options. My test model was the higher-spec SE Navi model, priced in manual form at £23,050 (€25,956) and adding extra kit including larger 17” alloys, front and rear parking sensors, 7” touchscreen infotainment centre and driver assistance pack with lane de-

parture, forward collision warning and traffic sign recognition. It had the 130 hp 1.6 litre diesel unit with a 0-60 mph time of 10.2 seconds and top speed of 119 mph. Fuel economy is impressive at 68.9 mpg combined.

The dashboard is user friendly though is visually dull. Front and rear occupants get plenty of space and the load area is good, 470 litres with the rear seats in use, and 1,553 litres with them folded. There is also useful under-floor storage.

Motoring shorts

What is in a name? AFTER almost a century in the motoring game, Porsche have become so irritated by constant mispronunciations of their deliberately hard to pr onounce nam e t hat t hey’ ve now r el eased a video telling people exactly how to say it. Those who pronounce it as one syllable, dropping the ‘e’ at the end now have no excuse and will be accordingly humiliated at mot or i ng gal as and cockt ai l parties until the end of time. The video is just 16 seconds long in keeping with a strict German no nonsense approach and features a man voicing how exactly to say i t phonet i cal l y onscreen... Por-she.

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Chelsea top at Christmas as Murray wins for third time 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

THERE is always plenty of sporting action over the Festive period - enough for everyone to enjoy. And the 12 days of Christmas for 2016 is no different to any other with full programmes of outdoor sport including football, rugby and horse racing, plus the usual indoor events.

who presented him with the trophy in Miami. It is the third time the tennis star has won this prestigious annual award. Triathlete Alistair Brownlee was second with showjumper Nick Skelton third. The Team of the Year award went to Leicester City whose manager, Claudio Ranieri was voted Coach of the Year, while teenage Paralympic swimmer Ellie Robinson claimed

BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR Andy Murray was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year last Sunday and it was ex-boxer Lennox Lewis

ANDY MURRAY: Won trophy for third time.

DID YOU KNOW? Surprisingly Harry Kane, the Spurs and England striker, made his Football League debut with Leyton Orient; goalkeeper Joe Hart started out with Shrewsbury Town; defender Gary Cahill played his first League game for Burnley and Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson made his bow with Sunderland.

the Young Sports Person of the Year prize, and deservedly so. The ‘Unsung Hero’ award CHELSEA: Are PL leaders.

Manchester United 12 have better sequences) enter Christmas as PL leaders after successive victories over WBA (1-0) and Crystal Palace (1-0), Diego Costa scoring both goals! Chasing Antonio Conte’s men are Manchester City (2-1 winners over Arsenal who suffered two defeats in the North-west in five days after taking the lead), Liverpool (who met Everton in the Merseyside derby on Monday) and Spurs (recent 2-1 victors over Burnley). Manchester United (after two hard-earned away wins at Crystal Palace and WBA) are sixth, while Southampton won the south coast derby, beating Bournemouth 3-1. As we head towards Christmas, just three points (one win) separate the bottom four in the Premiership: Crystal Palace (17th), Sunderland (18th), Swansea (19th) and Hull City (20th). Newcastle United (on 49 points), Brighton (48) and Reading (40) sit 1-2-3 in the Championship with Rotherham United at the bottom on 10 points out of a possible 66. The top three in FL1 are Scunthorpe United (47 points), Sheffield UnitLEICESTER ed (44) and Bolton CITY: Wanderers (43) while Team of Plymouth Argyle (44), the Year. Carlisle United (42) and Doncaster Rovers (42) hold the first three places in FL2, and table-toppers Celtic have an 11-point advantage over Glasgow rivals Rangers in the SPL. Last weekend, hot-shot Cristiano Ronaldo scored yet another hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Kashima Antlers 401 marathons in (Japan) 4-2 after extra-time to 401 days) won the win the World Club Cup. ‘Helen Rollason’ Boxing Day fixtures inaward and the brilliant clude Arsenal-WBA, American swimmer, Chelsea-Bournemouth, Hull Michael Phelps was presentCity-Manchester City, ed with a Lifetime AchieveLeicester City-Everton, Livment award. erpool-Stoke City, Manchester United-Sunderland and FOOTBALL Southampton-Tottenham HotIn-form Chelsea, with a run spur in the PL; Brighton and of 11 successive Premiership Hove Albion-QPR, Derby wins (only Arsenal 14 and

went to boxing coach Marcellus Baza; champion distance runner Ben Smith (bullied at school who went on to run

County-Birmingham City (whose new manager is Gianfranco Zola) and Newcastle United-Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship; Bradford City-Scunthorpe United in FL1 and Crewe AlexandraCarlisle United and Plymouth Argyle-Wycombe Wanderers. CRICKET England collapsed in their final innings losing six wickets for just 15 runs and handing India a 4-0 series win. Nair made 303 in a wonderful innings while KL Rahul became the ninth batsman in Test match history to be dismissed for 199. India won by an innings and 75 runs. Geoffrey Boycott said England in Chennai had played “awful cricket.” In the New Year, there are three One Day and T20 internationals between the two countries. RUGBY UNION In last weekend’s European Champions Cup, there were wins for Leicester 18-16 v Munster; Connacht 20-18 v Wasps; Leinster 60-13 v Northampton and Exeter 2012 in Bordeaux. Ospreys 71-3 v Grenoble and Harlequins 75-3 v Timisoara, both recorded big wins in the European Challenge Cup. Tomorrow Northampton play Sale in the Aviva Premiership followed on Saturday by Exeter-Leicester, Saracens-Newcastle and Wasps-Bath on Saturday. ROUND-UP Two-time Olympic equestrian show-jumping/dressage champion, Valegro, ridden by Charlotte Dujardin, has been officially retired. And in Formula One, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has hinted that he wants Valtteri Bottas to partner Lewis Hamilton next year, although some sources have also said that Wolff is a fan of the Aussie driver Daniel Ricciardo. And to all readers everywhere, I wish you a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Enjoy.

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SPORT Golf International Nerja Society 22 - 28 December 2016

GUNDOGAN tweets: “Don’t worry - I’m still alive” after Manchester City shirt tribute goes viral. The midfielder will miss the rest of the season due to in-

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LOS MORISCOS Friday December 9 Pairs Better Ball 1st Ian Fairbrother/Jill Parker 2nd James Kenny/Graham Francis 3rd Ray Craig/Denise Downey 4th Helmut Janke/Silla Zollner 5th John Vertanness/Erica Oxford 6th Alan Worthington/Tony Downey 7th Jim Henderson/Brian Cox 8th Brian Stewart/Terry Oxford 9th José Peree/Pat Dineen 10th Jean Paul/ Ali Durston TWO’S Alan Worthington

47pts 47pts 45pts 43pts 41pts 41pts 41pts 40pts 40pts 40pts

What a great day! Over 50 players turned out to play a Better Ball, the scores were pretty good - 10 pairs returning 40pts and more. After the heavy rains the course was in pretty good condition - still a bit wet in parts, but the same for everyone! Alan Worthington was the lucky winner of the 2’s pot - which he very generously shared with his partners.

AÑORETA Monday December 12 2 Ball Betterball 1st TEAM Tony McClenaghan and Marcia Clark 42pts 2nd TEAM Jack Barnett and Ingrid Stec 42pts 3rd TEAM Pete Thompson and Lolina Canete 40pts 4th TEAM John Millward & Lola Montero Fuentes 39pts TWOS’ Lesley Barnett 2, Helmut Muller 9 and Stewart Green 17 Añoreta was in surprisingly good condition after the battering it had taken from the weather. As a special Xmas treat we played a Betterball off full handicaps. Countback was needed to separate the top two pairs. Tony and Marcia squeaked in with a great 23 points on the back 9. The generosity of GINS knows no bounds and there will be an ‘El Gordo’ next week with a double prize fund. Feel free to wear your most ridiculous reindeer pullovers and/or Santa hats.

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BAVIERA Tuesday December 13 Christmas Competition - Individual Stableford OVERALL WINNER Roy Boutel 36pts LADIES 1st Jackie Viles 33pts 2nd Gill Sibson 27pts 3rd Gill Boutel 25pts MEN 1st Ray Craig 35pts 2nd Steve McFarlane 34pts 3rd Ian Fraser 33pts 4th Tim Davies 33pts TWO’S George Reid 8 & Mike Elsey 15 It was the Christmas Competition for the GINS section at Baviera on a very pleasant winter morning. The weather was ideal for golf but underfoot conditions were decidedly damp & the course was proving difficult to score on for the vast majority of the 34 players. Only one golfer played to handicap on the day and that was enough for Roy Boutel to be declared the Overall Winner with 36 points. George Reid (8th) & Mike Elsey (15th) were the only ones to have a Two on their card, so well done. A special thank you to Anne, Peggy, Margaret and Ollie for supplying some delicious home baking a variety of beverages at the 11th tee. Also, a big thank you to the two Gills (Boutel and Sibson) for their diligence in providing the vast array of prizes.