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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

Spain’s Socialists STRIKE A DEAL

MOTORS

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WO months after Spain’s inconclusive election the Socialist party and newcomer Ciudadanos have announced they have struck a deal bringing an end to weeks of political uncertainty.

The agreement with liberal newcomer party offers support to the Socialists’ bid to form a government although their alliance is still way short of a majority. With the deal, Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez (pictured) can only count on a total of 130 seats utilising his party’s 90 seats and 40 from Ciudadanos.

Both the conservative Popular Party and far-left newcomer Podemos - with 192 seats between them - have said they will vote against him.

Sanchez will now present his government plans for debate in Parliament next Tuesday asking for a vote of confidence, which he must win with a majority. If he fails to do so, a second vote will take place two days later when he only needs more votes in favour than against. If he wins neither, Parliament must choose a government in two months or face fresh elections.

GIBRALTAR

WE’RE IN! Gibraltar backs Cameron Page 20

WHAT’S ON Events happening in your area

Page 26

MONEY MATTERS Keep abreast of what’s happening in the financial world Page 31

HEALTH & BEAUTY Hugh Jackman warns us about Basal Cell Carcinoma Page 35

FOOD & FINE DINING

The first Gastromercado in Fuengirola Page 41

PUZZLES & TEASERS SPORTS

Page 46

Football news and more Page 52

Spain by-passes EU slow relocation law SPAIN has agreed the transfer of 1k migrants to Valencia from Greece as part of a bilateral agreement.

The number of migrants and refugees arriving in Italy and Greece since the start of the year has risen sharply compared to the same period 2015 with at least 102,500 people landing on the shores of the South Aegean islands according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

With this in mind officials in Greece say they have reached an agreement with the eastern Spanish region of Valencia for the

transfer of 1,000 migrants - bypassing the EU’s slow-moving relocation system.

The migrants are due to travel by chartered ferry from the island of Leros to Spain.

The agreement which was signed on Tuesday also makes provisions for further transfers to take place.

The Greek government say the move “sends a message that the refugee problem in Europe can only be managed with humanity and enlightenment.”

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

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NEWS

WHAT WOULD ‘BREXIT’ LOOK LIKE? As Britons debate whether to stay in or leave the European Union at a membership referendum, one of the key arguments is what a British exit, or “Brexit”, would look like?

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ELOW is an outline of the process, which would be triggered by a British vote for “out”, and some of the possible options suggested for the country’s future relationship with the bloc.

ARTICLE 50 Article 50 of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty sets out the process of withdrawal for an EU member state. It has never yet been triggered. While Greenland left the bloc’s predecessor, the European Economic Community, in 1985, no state has left the EU. What happens?

After Prime Minister David Cameron notifies the European Council that Britain plans to withdraw, negotiations would begin on the arrangements for leaving and for Britain’s future dealings with the remaining 27 member states.

Negotiations are conducted by the European Council. Britain would not be involved in the EU side of the discussion and would not have a vote on the terms of the agreement it offers.

Any deal must be agreed by both sides. On the EU side it requires the backing of the remaining EU leaders via qualified majority vote, as well as the European Parliament. Depending on what is included in the agreement, it may also need to be ratified by the national parliaments of all 27 member states.

Amendments would need to be made to EU treaties to take account of Britain’s withdrawal, while Britain would have to prepare new national legislation to substitute for EU acts.

How long could it take?

The treaty allows for up to two years of negotiations. If no agreement has been reached by this point all 27 other member states either have to unanimously agree to extend the negotiation period, or Britain exits with no deal in place.

During that time, EU laws would still apply

to Britain.

What would Britain’s future relationship look like? n THE GREENLAND EXAMPLE Greenland left the EU’s predecessor, the EEC, in 1985 after a referendum three years earlier.

After leaving the bloc, the Danish territory continued to receive EU funding and have tariff-free access to the market for fisheries products in return for allowing the EU fishing rights over its waters.

Most commentators argue there is little read across from the example of Greenland as it was not a member state in its own right, but joined as part of Denmark, and has a much smaller population of just 57,000.

Given there are around 2 million Britons living abroad within the EU, and 2.5 million EU citizens living in Britain, one element of the Greenland deal, which may be copied, however are its transitional arrangements.

Greenland’s deal allowed for EU migrants who had acquired rights under EU law, such as free movement, to retain those rights for a transitional period. n THE SWISS MODEL Switzerland, along with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Its goods exporters enjoy tariff-free access to EU markets, while it is also free to negotiate its own trade deals with non-EU countries. It has a free trade deal with China for example, whereas the EU does not.

It has only limited access to the EU’s services market however, and almost none for financial services -- a significant contributor to the British economy.

While Switzerland has freedom over its own social and employment policies, something many in Britain would like, it also pays contributions to the EU budget and accepts free movement of people -- two elements of EU membership “out”

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NEWS

Mass recall of Snickers & Mars Bars across Europe campaigners want to get away from.

Switzerland experiences far higher levels of net EU migration per head of its population than Britain.

In a February 2014 referendum it voted to introduce quotas on EU migrants from 2017, something that would violate its bilateral pact guaranteeing free movement.

The EU has so far refused to agree to this curb and has threatened to suspend all other EU-Swiss agreements and market access if Switzerland imposes the quotas unilaterally. n THE NORWEGIAN MODEL As well as being a part of EFTA, Norway has access to the EU’s single market by being a member of the European Economic Area. In return, it accepts freedom of movement of EU citizens pays contributions to the EU budgets and applies the single market’s rules and regulations without having a vote on them.

Cameron has said Norway, which twice rejected EU membership in referendums, is not a model to emulate. It pays twice as much per head to the EU as Britain, takes twice as many migrants but has no “seat at the table”, he said.

Under the Norway model, most EU policy areas would continue to apply to Britain, in particular many of the employment laws often cited by businesses as overly restrictive.

Like Switzerland, Norway has the freedom to negotiate its own free trade agreements with nonEU countries. It is also not subject to the European Court of Justice, whose power many British “outers” are unhappy with. n THE TURKISH MODEL Turkey, which is a candidate country to join the EU, has a customs union agreement with the bloc.

The deal means it does not face tariffs to export most goods into the EU, and accepts the EU’s external tariffs when trading with non-EU countries.

It does not have any say in setting these tariffs however.

The agreement also does not cover services markets.

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA) Campaigners for “out” favour Britain agreeing a free trade deal with the EU, similar to that the bloc has just reached with Canada, which removed 99 percent of customs duties.

They say this would allow Britain to trade with the EU largely as before, while also leaving it free to agree trade deals directly with other countries such as the United States, its biggest individual export partner, and emerging markets.

“Out” campaigners argue that as Britain has a trade goods deficit with the EU -- 7.6 billion pounds in December 2015 -- the bloc could not afford to cut it off.

“We are too valuable a market for Europe to shut off. Within minutes of a vote for Brexit, the CEO’s of Mercedes, BMW, VW and Audi will be knocking down Chancellor (Angela) Merkel’s door demanding that there be no barriers to German access to the British market,” Conservative lawmaker David Davis said.

“The first few months after Brexit will probably be hysterical, but the leaders of France, Germany,Spain, Italy, Poland and the rest know that the way to lose elections is to destroy your own industries,” said Davis, who is backing “out”.

On the other hand, leaders determined to discourage others following the British example and breaking up the EU, could choose to make Brexit as painful as possible for Britain, EU officials and diplomats say.

The “in” camp also point out these deals take far longer than two years to agree -- the Canadian agreement will have taken seven years by the time it is expected to come into force -- and argue Britain outside the EU would not have the same clout in negotiating trade deals with the rest of the world.

Getting rid of barriers to trade in services, the dominant sector in Britain’s economy is also likely to be harder. Those backing “out” argue those barriers already exist within the EU.

WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION TERMS If Britain is unable to agree a free trade deal with the EU, it could fall back on WTO rules -- described by some in the “out” camp as a “Brexit safety net” -- which set upper limits on tariffs countries can impose.

This would give Britain low or zero tariffs on many of its exports to the EU, though tariffs in some key sectors such as cars, chemicals and food would remain relatively high.

Britain would also face barriers on services, particularly in highly regulated sectors such as financial services.

Under both a free trade agreement and WTO terms, Britain would not have to accept free movement.

“If we get WTO plus (a free trade deal), we are a lot better off. If it is just the basic WTO deal we are still better off. The cake is better with the icing, but we will still eat,” said David Campbell Bannerman, an EU lawmaker for Cameron’s Conservatives, who is campaigning for “out”.

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HE makers of Mars and Snickers bars, Mar Inc has issued a mass recall of the chocolate bars and other products across 55 countries, mainly in Europe, due to choking risk after a piece of plastic was found in a Snickers bar in Germany All of the recalled products, which include Mars, Snickers, Milky Way bars, and fun size chocolates were manufactured at a Dutch factory in Veghel which were then sold in European countries including Spain, Germany, France and Britain, and in certain countries in Asia.

The recall, in effect since Monday, follows a Jan. 8 complaint from a consumer in Germany, she said, who found red plastic in a Snickers bar and sent it back to the company. “We cannot be sure that this plastic was only in that particular Snickers,” a spokeswoman from Mars Netherlands said. “We do not want any products on the market that may not meet our quality requirements, so we decided to take them all back.”

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS It was not immediately clear how much the complex recall would cost the company, which is unlisted and therefore does not disclose detailed financial information. The spokeswoman declined to comment on financial implications of the recall, which is the first to affect the factory.

Time delays between customer complaints and recalls are not uncommon since companies often receive notices, some fraudulent, about foreign objects in food, said Stephen Robb, a partner at Weightmans LLP in Leicester, who represents manufacturers and their insurers on product liability matters.

Consumer product recalls can result in heavy reputational and financial hits, as Nestle learned last year when it recalled its Maggi noodles from India after a package was found to have unsafe levels of lead.

Cadbury’s 2006 recall of more than 1 million chocolate bars after a salmonella outbreak cost that company roughly 20 million pounds.

Mars Netherlands said it was working closely with the Dutch food safety authority on the matter, according to a statement.

The recall affected all Mars and Snickers products, Milky Way Minis and Miniatures as well as certain kinds of Celebrations confectionery boxes with best-before dates ranging from June 19, 2016 to Jan. 8, 2017. Those dates may not be the same in other countries, the spokeswoman said.

Mars, based in Mount Olive, New Jersey, is one of the world’s biggest food companies, with 29 chocolate brands including M&M’s, Galaxy, Twix, Bounty and Maltesers. Aside from chocolate, Mars makes Wrigley gum, Uncle Ben’s Rice, Dolmio pasta sauce and Pedigree pet food.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

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NEWS

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ author Harper Lee dies at 89 H ARPER Lee, who wrote one of America’s most beloved literary classics, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and surprised readers with a second book about racial injustice in the U.S. South after living a largely reclusive life for decades, has died at the age of 89.

Her book “To Kill a Mockingbird” was published in 1960 as the civil rights movement was heating up and its unflinching examination of racial hatred in the South made it especially poignant. Its theme could be summed up with the advice that Atticus Finch, the noble lawyer, gave his young daughter, Scout: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

SURPRISE It was thought that “To Kill a Mockingbird,” would be Lee’s sole literary output especially since she acknowledged she felt she could not top the Pulitzer Prize-winning book.

So it was an unexpected surprise when 55 years later in July 2015 she released “Go Set a Watchman”.

In the first book, Finch, the adored father of the young narrator Scout, stood up to a white lynch mob and unsuccessfully defended a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. But in “Watchman,” an older Atticus had racial views that left the grownup Scout greatly disillusioned.

Lee reportedly had written “Go Set a Watchman” first but, at the suggestion of a wise editor, set it aside to tell a tale of race in the South from the child’s point of view in the 1930s.

For many years, Lee, a shy woman with an engaging Southern drawl who never married, lived quietly and privately, always turning down interview requests. She alternated between living in a New York apartment and Monroeville, where she shared a home with her older sister, lawyer Alice Lee. After suffering a stroke and enduring failing vision and hearing, she spent her final years in an assisted living residence in Monroeville.

The movie version of “To Kill a Mockingbird also became an American classic. It won the Academy Award for best picture in 1963 while Gregory Peck, who played Atticus and would become Lee’s good friend, was named best actor.

News of Lee’s death spread widely on social media and tributes poured in from wellknown figures, such as Apple Inc Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, who quoted the author in a tweet by saying, “Rest in peace, Harper Lee. ‘The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.’”

NASA says asteroid could pass near Earth next month

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NASA is monitoring a 100-foot (30-meter) wide asteroid that could make a close pass

by Earth next month but has no chance of hitting it, the U.S. space agency announced.

First spotted in 2013, the asteroid could fly as close as 11,000 miles (17,700 km) from Earth on March 5, according to scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

That is roughly 1/20th the distance from Earth to the moon and about half as far as many communications satellites that ring the planet.

But given uncertainty about the precise path of the asteroid, known as 2013 TX68, it also could end up as far as 9 million miles (14 million km) from Earth during its flyby.

The asteroid was visible for just three days during its last approach to Earth in 2013 before it passed into daytime skies and could no longer be tracked. “It will be hard to pre-

dict where to look for it,” NASA’s Paul Chodas, who manages the agency’s Near-Earth Objects Studies office, said in a statement.

NASA said there is a one-in-250 million chance of an impact during the asteroid’s next pass on Sept. 28, 2017, though future observances are likely to reduce that probability even further.

“The possibilities of collision on any of the three future flyby dates are far too small to be of any real concern,” Chodas said.

The asteroid is about twice the size of the one that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013. That blast shattered glass and destroyed buildings, leaving more than 1,000 injured.

If an asteroid the size of 2013 TX68 passed into Earth’s atmosphere and exploded, NASA estimates it would likewise be about twice as powerful as the Chelyabinsk blast.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

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NEWS

F

ORTY-THREE years after Britain joined the EU’s predecessor, Cameron clinched a deal from 27 other leaders to give it what he said was a special status before presenting the new settlement to senior ministers in London.

In the first British cabinet meeting on a Saturday since the 1982 Falklands War, Cameron said he had won the blessing of his colleagues to recommend to voters that Britain stay in the bloc it joined in 1973. “Britain will be safer, stronger and better off by remaining in a reformed European Union,” Cameron, 49, said outside his Number 10 Downing Street residence in London, kicking off a four-month referendum campaign. “Leaving Europe would threaten our economic and our national security,” Cameron said, adding that he would propose to parliament that the referendum be held on Thursday June 23, in the middle of the Glastonbury music festival and the Euro 2016 football championship.

Britain has been divided over its European destiny since France and West Germany sought closer unity to prevent a repeat of the destruction wrought by World War Two and, though Britain eventually joined the club, it remained a reluctant member outside the core euro zone.

Both U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping have urged Britain to stay, but British voters - and Cameron’s ruling Conservative Party - are split on membership.

Polls suggest about a fifth of voters are undecided though betting odds have moved further in favour of Britain remaining a member since Cameron’s summit deal in Brussels.

A British exit from the EU would rock the Union - already shaken by differences over migration and the future of the euro zone by ripping away its second-largest economy, one of its top two military powers and by far its richest financial centre.

BREXIT TIME? Pro-Europeans, including former prime ministers Tony Blair and John Major, have warned that an exit could also trigger the break-up of the United Kingdom by prompting another Scottish independence vote if England pulled Scotland out of the EU. Companies such as BP and GlaxoSmithKline have cautioned that Britain’s $2.9 trillion economy would face years of uncertain negotiations if voters chose to divorce, while Goldman Sachs said sterling could fall by as much as a fifth.

Members of Britain’s split ‘Out’ campaign say

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Cameron calls June 23 poll that will shape fate of Britain and EU Prime Minister David Cameron has called a June 23 referendum on membership of the European Union that could have far-reaching consequences for Britain’s unity and for the viability of the world’s biggest trading bloc

Gove said, adding that Britain had exported a democratic system of self-government to nations like the United States, India, Canada and Australia that had brought prosperity and peace to millions.

“Our country would be freer, fairer and better off outside the EU,” he said.

While a rebellion by 6 out of 30 cabinet members illustrated the depth of the party’s split over Europe, Cameron’s most senior ministers including Home Secretary Theresa May and Chancellor George Osborne backed EU membership.

WE’RE OUT

British Prime Minister David Cameron waves as he leaves a European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels.

REUTERS/Yves Herman

such warnings are overblown and that Britain would prosper if it broke free from what they say is a doomed German-dominated bloc that punches way below its weight beside rivals such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The agreement Cameron reached in Brussels granted Britain an explicit exemption from the founding goal of “ever closer union”, offered concessions on the welfare rights of migrant workers and safeguards for the City of London.

Editor in Chief: Mr Stan Israel Production Manager: Ms Lisa Brown Design & Layout: Jackie McAngus Graphics: Paul Scotton Distribution John McAngus Business Development Kurt Nybroe-Nielsen Accounts Rachael Jones

After the deal, Cameron said he would campaign heart and soul for membership but Nigel Farage, the head of the UK Independence Party, said he had achieved nothing.

“This is a truly pathetic deal,” Farage said.

One of Cameron’s closest political allies, Justice Secretary Michael Gove, and five other cabinet members opposed the deal and are now campaiging to leave. They signed a poster for the “Vote Leave” campaign saying “Let’s take back control.”

“The EU is an institution rooted in the past,”

Journalists Annabel Milnes-Smith Dawn Gudgin Jose Gonzales Sales Maria Teresa Alves Prieto Dan Coffee Stan Israel Nic Day Contributors Reuters Conversation

Despite a 1975 referendum in favour of membership, the issue of Europe has divided the Conservatives for three decades and played a major part in the downfall of Cameron’s two Conservative predecessors, Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

The EU inflames such passions that Cameron warned in 2006 that the party had to stop “banging on” about Europe. But less than seven years later, under pressure from lawmakers who feared the electoral success of the anti-EU UK Independence Party, Cameron promised a referendum on membership.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, the most prominent member of the ruling Conservative Party who has charmed some voters with a buffoonish persona that masks fierce ambition to succeed shocked Cameron with his decision to vote in favour of a “Brexit He along with Gove, Christopher Grayling, leader of the House of Commons, Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative Party leader, employment minister Priti Patel, culture minister John Whittingdale and Northern Ireland minister Theresa Villiers are heading up the against camp.

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, an influential figure in Britain through his ownership of a clutch of U.K. newspapers, News Corp and 21st Century Fox has also added his weight to the “against camp” and congratulated Michael Gove on Twitter. Murdoch said “Friends always knew his principles would overcome his personal friendships.”

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

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UK NEWS

Virgin Atlantic rockets R

ICHARD Branson’s Virgin Galactic venture unveiled a new passenger spacecraft last week nearly 16 months after a fatal accident destroyed its sister ship during a test flight over California’s Mojave Desert. The rollout of the gleaming craft, dubbed Virgin Space Ship Unity, marks Branson’s return to a race among rival billionaire entrepreneurs to develop a vehicle that can take thrill-seekers, researchers and commercial customers on short hops into space.

“It’s almost too good to be true,” Branson said during a ceremony at the Mojave Air and Space Port, about 100 miles (160 km) north of Los Angeles. “When I saw it for the first time, it brought an immediate lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. It was a completely overwhelming moment.”

BOTTLE OF MILK Christened with a bottle of milk by Branson’s year-old granddaughter, the ship was painted bright white on its front section, fading to grey and black toward the tail.

The tail itself was emblazoned with a blue image of a peering eye belonging to famed British physicist Stephen Hawking.

Branson has already offered a flight into space to Hawking, who is confined to a wheelchair and suffers from amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis, or ALS. It was Hawking who suggested naming the ship Unity. “I have always dreamed of spaceflight, but for so many years I thought it was just that – a dream,” Hawking said in a recorded message played at the space port. “If I am able to go, and if Richard will still take me, I will be proud to fly on this spaceship.”

From outward appearances, the spacecraft is nearly identical to the one lost on Oct. 31, 2014. The accident was blamed on pilot error and oversights by Northrop Gumman Corp’s Scaled Composites division, which designed, built and tested the vehicle, known as SpaceShipTwo. Virgin Galactic’s own manufacturing arm,

The Spaceship Company, already was well into construction of the successor ship when the accident occurred.

The biggest difference between the two is the addition of a pin to prevent a pilot from unlocking the ship’s rotating tail section too soon before descent, which is what triggered the breakup of the first spaceship, said Galactic Chief Executive George Whitesides.

The two-pilot, six-passenger spaceship is designed to reach altitudes of 62 miles (100 km) above the planet, providing a few minutes of weightlessness and a view of Earth set against the blackness of space. Nearly 700 people have signed up for rides, which cost $250,000 (£173,527) each.

Virgin Galactic is among a handful of companies, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch Systems and Boeing, planning to fly people in space.

Building a vehicle that can safely carry humans to the weightless heights beyond Earth’s upper atmosphere is a feat so far achieved only by NASA, Russia, China and Scaled Composites, which designed and flew Virgin Galactic’s prototype craft, SpaceShipOne. Three suborbital hops by SpaceShipOne in 2004 earned it the $10 million Ansari XPrize.

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

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LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Catalonia puzzle weighs on Spain’s political pacts A

CONSTRUCTION site worker brandishes a big metal panel in the shape of Catalonia and asks his boss where he should mount it, only to be told to leave that particular piece until last. ”As you wish,” he says. “But I’m warning you - it’s very big and we won’t know where to put it.”

The question of Catalonia and its surging separatist movement has become pivotal as Spain’s political leaders try to thrash out a pact on a government after the most fragmented national election in decades.

The issue is shaping up as a deal-breaker for any left-wing alliance and as a big stumbling block for a “grand coalition” involving the ruling People’s Party (PP) and the Socialists, who agree that the region must not become independent but differ hugely on what should be the stance of the central government.

The matter has become ever more pressing as Spain enters its third month in a political vacuum following the Dec. 20 election at a time when pro-secession Catalan authorities are trying to move forward with their socalled “roadmap” to independence.

But parties in Madrid have so far carefully avoided getting deeper into the question.

A cartoon published in the Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia sums up the state of play in the prolonged struggle to form a Spanish government “They have it in mind but don’t give it the attention they should given how important and significant it is,” said Agustin Costa, a 47-year-old antique dealer by Barcelona’s Gothic cathedral.

Like Costa, many in Catalonia believe the separatist question is used by parties to make political gains but none of them is actually ready to agree on painful compromises and risk a backlash with voters, thus making any coalition deal unlikely. “Even Podemos, which is in favour of an independence referendum, seems to use this option depending on its political needs of the moment,” Costa shrugged as he sheltered under his stall from a drizzle.

The conservative PP, which won most seats in the election but lost its parliamentary majority, passed on its first chance to form a government and now the baton has passed to the Socialists. Their natural allies would

have appeared to be the left-wing Podemos but for the Catalan question.

Podemos has dangled the option of supporting a referendum on Catalan independence, a possibility backed by about 80 percent of people in Catalonia.

The Socialists reject this however, with their leader Pedro Sanchez saying he is ready to reform the constitution to better accommodate Catalonia but would not form an alliance with a party that supported the breakup of Spain.

Senior Podemos leaders have since blown hot and cold on the question of a plebiscite - a campaign pledge that helped them score a strong showing in Catalonia - even though the party said it would recommend voting against secession. “The Socialist Party is not going to accept a referendum on independence,” said Miquel Iceta, head of the Social-

Just another one to add to the list!

Top PP official resigns in Spain after corruption investigation The head of the Madrid branch of Spain’s ruling People’s Party has resigned after police investigated members of her office for alleged illegal financing, the latest in a string of graft scandals involving PP. Esperanza Aguirre, a party veteran of over thirty years, said she was not linked personally to the bribery and money laundering case, but she assumed responsibility. She said acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy understood her decision.

Her resignation comes at a delicate time for Rajoy, who has spent almost two months in fruitless negotiations with other parties to form a coalition government. If no government is formed, new elections may be called.

Rajoy lost his parliamentary majority in an indecisive December election, after newcomer parties campaigned against perceived deep-rooted corruption. Hundreds of politicians across Spain are currently under investigation.

“Corruption is completely killing the party,” Aguirre told a news conference at the headquarters. “The gravity of these reports, even though they are not yet validated, leads me to present my resignation.”

A Spanish judge had ordered police searches last week for the offices and homes of the former head of the PP’s Madrid headquarters and of a corporate executive of Spanish builders OHL. And in a separate anti-corruption investigation, last month police arrested 24 people, mostly linked to the PP, in the region of Valencia over the alleged payment of illegal commissions in exchange for public contracts.

ists’ Catalan faction, at its offices in Barcelona.

If Podemos were to back down, it risks provoking internal divisions among its own Catalan contingent.

UNPRECEDENTED DILEMMA While the separatist movement is still a long way from succeeding in its goals, never before has it played such a role over the formation of a national government.

Not only has the Catalan question become the big hot potato of the talks, but 17 of the 47 Catalan parliamentarians who sit in the national 350-seat lower house are independence supporters - a significant contingent when it comes to coalition-forming.

A Socialist-Podemos alliance, currently seen as Spain’s best shot at avoiding a new national election, would for instance need backing or an abstention from Catalonia’s two main pro-independence parties to achieve a majority.

Meanwhile, the opposition of those two parties to any combination involving the PP and newcomer party Ciudadanos, both in favour of a tighter control of the central government over regional politics, makes other alternatives unlikely.

A potential three-way pact between the Socialists, Podemos and Ciudadanos, which would have a strong absolute majority, has also been ruled out in great part because they have incompatible views on Catalonia.

But some believe the new splintered political scene could instead provide new opportunities to break the deadlock with Catalonia and defuse the separatist sentiment because it makes it compulsory for several parties to compromise.

The Socialists’ Iceta is hoping the party’s plan for constitutional reform - which would shake up how regions are financed, redefine their powers in more of a federal system, and recognise some of Catalonia’s singularities can form the basis for talks with parties as well as defuse the separatist push.

There also remains a chance the separatist issue could sow the seeds for a “grand coalition” between the PP, Socialists and Ciudadanos. Even some of the parties at loggerheads on economic policy have common ground in their defence of Spanish unity.

“Any concession over the Catalan question implies a huge political cost for any leader within his party,” said Anton Costas, who runs the Circulo de Economia, a powerful business lobby based in Catalonia. “But the December election has created a new landscape in which it is now possible to give an answer to this question.”

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

10 - WEEKEND WORLD

GENERAL LOCAL AND NEWS REST OF SPAIN NEWS

SIX ARRESTED IN ICBC MONEY LAUNDERING CASE ARE JAILED S

IX staff at the Madrid branch of China’s biggest bank Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) who were detained last week in an investigation into alleged money laundering were ordered to jail by a Madrid court on Saturday.

The six testified for more than 14 hours on Friday and early on Saturday as part of the investigation known as “operation Shadow”.

Three were ordered to jail without bail and the other three were ordered to jail but granted bail of 100,000 euros. It was not immediately clear if they had paid the bail.

The court said in a statement that all six were suspected of having committed “several economic crimes”, without giving any further details.

A legal source had earlier said the six faced charges of money laundering, fraud and tax crimes and that one of them was the Madrid branch’s general manager.

Under Spanish law, if there is enough evi-

dence of a crime, suspects can be held in jail while an investigative judge continues to work on the case. This can take weeks, months or in some cases as long as two years before a trial is set.

The arrests follow an investigation by police, the Spanish tax agency and Europol into alleged money laundering through the branch involving funds transferred by a criminal group via the bank to China.

No one at the bank in Madrid was immediately available for comment but an ICBC spokesman in Beijing said the lender was “paying great attention to developments.”

STRICT CONTROL The Chinese Embassy in Spain said in a statement on its website that the bank had been using the “latest anti-money laundering systems” to strictly control capital.

It said ICBC had played an active role in supporting the Spanish economy, including

helping finance more than 1 billion euros ($1.1 bln) in investment projects.

“Since its launch, ICBC’s Madrid branch has actively pushed forward trade cooperation between China and Spain,” it said.

China’s foreign ministry said in a state-

ment on Friday that the country attached high importance to the case and it had asked that Spain protect the rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens there and handle the case in accordance with the law.

Spanish court orders house search on former PP official

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A SPANISH judge ordered police searches of the offices and homes of the former head of the Madrid branch of the centre-right Popular Party (PP) and a corporate executive as part of an anti-corruption operation.

Police searched the properties of Beltran Gutierrez (right), the former PP official, and Javier Lopez, a board member of the building company OHL, as part of an investigation into bribery and money laundering.

The searches are the latest embarrassment for acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, after a series of arrests of people linked to the PP last month in the Mediterranean

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region of Valencia in a separate anti-corruption operation.

Public outrage over corruption has taken its toll on politicians as voters in the Dec. 20 election help paved the way for the immergence of new parties that had campaigned against perceived deeprooted graft.

FRAUD WITH A SMILE THE National Police have arrested the owner of the network of dental clinics known as Vitaldent a multinational-based franchisesoperating in Spain, Italy and Poland, which has over 450 dental clinics and 7,500 employees.

Uruguayan Ernesto Colman, and a dozen other colleagues have been arrested for alleged crimes of money laundering and tax fraud. According to police, the head of Vitaldent deposited the income from franchises

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in banks in Switzerland and Luxembourg and then reinvested some of the money in Spain “by acquiring real estate, cars and other luxury items, thus culminating one bleaching process. “ The operation, which has resulted in a total of 13 detainees, has also seen a court impose embargo on 124 farms throughout Spain, 36 motor vehicles and an aircraft valued at one million euros. It has also acted to block bank with assets worth over 5 million.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 11

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

12 - WEEKEND WORLD

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Earning a living – the HARD WAY

A

S we wake from our slumber cursing the day ahead wishing our jobs offered a better salary and less working hours we should take stock and be thankful, because not too far from the safety of our Spanish homes are people working in appalling conditions with no health and safety guidelines to protect them and no minimum wage.

The border of Melilla, the Spanish enclave of north eastern Morocco is a hostile territory, guarded by six-foot high wired fences with guards posted on both sides of the border the atmosphere that surrounds it is tense.

Yet this is a trading ground where every morning at the crack of dawn men and women descend upon the crossing in the vain hope of gaining access to the other side.

This crossing is not for migration purposes in search of a better way of life, no it is for what has become known locally as “atypical trade” or the transportation of illicit goods between the two countries.

PORTERS Dozens of lorries can be found parked on the Spanish side of the border and men and women alike scrabble across to pick up the heavy loads some weighing as much as 80-kilos which they then strap to their backs to carry across some with bare feet before returning again to collet more.

Known as ‘porters’ the men and women can earn between €3 - €6 per bundle depending on the load transported.

The loads contain an array of goods and can be anything from used tyres to blankets to food and nappies and once carried across the border, are sold onwards by local dealers.

The trade which is worth an estimated €1.4

billion a year provides a livelihood for approximately 400,000 people but of these very few make any money from it only the main dealers reap the rewards. Most do it just to put food on their plate.

The border of Melilla’s closes at noon every day, so for those trying to make a living have

to work quickly.

The morning rush to grab as many bundles as possible often results in fatalities; women are shoved aside by younger much stronger men in November of 2008, Zafia Azizi was trampled to death in Melilla and on May 25, 2009, Busrha and Zhora, two Moroccan

women, died in a human avalanche at the Ceutan border post of Biutz.

Because Melilla benefits from a special tax regime and is not regulated by EU’s customs this slave labour will continue to operate and it will only be dismantled if governments on both sides of the border take action.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 13

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Six arrested in Spain with links to violence in Salford

S

IX people have been arrested in Spain after series of violent incidents between organised crime groups in Salford.

The Spanish National Police with support from Greater Manchester Police and the National Crime Agency launched dawn raids and arrested four men and a woman in Marbella, in the Costa Del Sol, Spain.

On Tuesday 16 February 2016 three men from Salford, aged, 28, 25 and 20 were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a firearm and membership of an organised crime group. The 20 year old man was also wanted on a European Arrest Warrant by Greater Manchester Police for possession of class A drugs and counterfeit currency.

A 41 year-old man from Trafford and a 31-year-old woman from Dublin, Ireland were also arrested on suspicion of membership of an organised crime group on Tuesday 16 February 2016.

Two properties were raided as part of the operation, officers also recovered a loaded hand gun and ammunition and four knives from the properties during the warrants.

SUSPICION On Wednesday 3 February 2016 a 23-year-old man from Salford was also arrested in Marbella on a European Arrest Warrant on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe from Greater Manchester Police said: “These arrests are a significant result for Greater Manchester Police in our fight against organised crime in Salford.

This sends out a clear message to all those involved in organised crime, that we will never give up and we will find you, even if you have left the country.

“We would like to thank the Spanish National Police and the National Crime Agency, once again they have shown their determination to relentlessly pursue criminals and fugitives who seek to use Spain as a base for their criminal activities.

“Our commitment to tackling serious organised crime in Salford will continue and we will use all of the powers and information available to us and our partners to target this criminality round-theclock and put a stop to it for good.

Dave Allen, Head of the International Crime Bureau at the National Crime Agency said: “Law enforcement does its best work and has the most impact when it pools resources and works collaboratively. This is an excellent result, which shows the determination and professionalism of the Spanish National Police, the National Crime Agency and UK police forces, in targeting organised crime groups and fugitives who seek to use Spain as a base for their criminal activities.”

Anyone with any information about the issues linked to organised crime in Salford should contact police on 0161 856 9775 or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Spanish puppeteers at centre of political storm freed from custody A

S reported in our last edition the two puppeteers jailed for glorifying terrorism after staging a violent puppet show that referred to Basque militant group ETA, have been released.

The pair were remanded into custody for five days for staging the show “The Witch and Don Cristobal” as part of Madrid’s carnival celebrations exposed children and adults to scenes depicting the hanging of a judge and the rape of a nun later stabbed to death with a crucifix.

The arrests kicked off a war of words across the Spanish political spectrum. Some criticised the leftist mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena, whose office paid for and promoted the show. Others accused Spain’s legal system of over-reacting.

Politicians, locked in weeks of talks aimed at forming a coalition government after inconclusive elections in December, also waded into the debate. “It is ridiculous that in a demo-

cratic country someone could be in jail for a piece of theatre,” the leader of the anti-austerity Podemos party, Pablo Iglesias, told Cadena Ser radio.

The interior minister for the acting centre-right People’s Party (PP) government, Jorge Fernandez Diaz, supported the arrests, saying the puppeteers’ reference to ETA glorified the militants and humiliated victims.

ETA has killed more than 800 people over several decades in its campaign to establish a Basque state in northern Spain and southern France.

The release followed the state prosecutor’s recommendation to the court that Raul Garcia, 34, and Alfonso Lazaro, 29, be freed since they do not pose a flight risk, however, he said the pair would still have to make daily appearances before the court and would not be allowed to leave the country.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

14 - WEEKEND WORLD

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STOLEN KISSES Spain’s National Police spark a heated debate after “stealing a kiss” tweet raises questions about consent WITH over two million followers Spain’s National Police Corps, @ policia likes to engage with its followers and often posts tweets which are funny and lighthearted. However, one such tweet posted on Valentine’s Day has caused something of a steer on social media.

The post, which translates in English to; “If you ‘steal’ a kiss, it’s not a crime. Happy #Valentine’s Day” followed by a kiss emoji, has given rise to some followers claiming this endorses sexual harassment.

Although the message was liked more than 2,000 times, the left-wing Spanish political party, United Left, responded: “If someone steals a kiss from you, that is sexual harassment and you should act, not encourage it”.

The wave of tweets criticising the police forced them to respond with a second post which read “If your loved one steals a kiss from you by surprise, enjoy it! If someone steals a kiss from you without consent, report it!” and whilst the new tweet placated some, others continued to berate the police force’s lack of judgement.

Domestic violence across Spain is considered a very sensitive subject. It was only back in 2004 that the crime of spousal abuse and domestic violence became punishable for the first time and since then activists have continually pushed governments to legislate for more protection and help for women suffering at the hands of an abusive partner.

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A MUNICIPAL worker in Cadiz has been order to pay €27,000 to his former employees following allegations that he didn’t show up to work for six years.

The employee, who cannot be named under Spanish law, began working for the local authority in the south-western city of Cádiz in 1990. In 1996 he was moved to the municipal water board, Agua de Cadiz, where his job was to supervise a waste water treatment plant and it is at this time that confusion surrounding his employment begins.

Staff, at the water plant claimed the worker was “very quarrelsome” and believed that the worker had returned to city hall, when in fact, the had just failed to show up for work despite collecting his monthly salary.

RUMBLED The employee was only rumbled when he became eligible to collect an award for 20 years of service from his former manager.

The manager, who held an office opposite

the missing employee, couldn’t believe the employee was still on the payroll believing he had retired or died.

The missing worker was then summoned to city hall where officials began questioning him. The worker admitted that whilst he may not have kept regular business hours, he had visited the offices on numerous occasions but could not be more specific. He also claimed he was a victim of workplace bullying .

City officials dismissed his claim and sought a legal battle claiming “abandonment of services” and “unjustified absenteeism,” which demanded the reimbursement of one year of the worker’s net pay, the maximum allowed. The worker appealed, starting a legal battle which lasted years until the recent court ruling against him last week.

The worker has now written to the new mayor requesting that he should not to have to pay the fine, and has asked for a review of the judgement.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 15

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

They cost HOW MUCH?

Body found in Puerto Banus

The cost of bring up a child represents an outlay of around €150,000 euros IF you’re thinking about becoming a parent you better start saving now, a report conducted by CEACCU II (Spanish Confederation of Housewives, Consumers and Users) shows that the average cost of raising a child from birth to the age of 18 years costs approximate-

ly €150’000 however while this may sound low this figure does not take into consideration housing, schooling or medical expense.

According to the report, the average annual expenditure per child for the early stages of its life is around 15,000 euros this includes

the costs of nappies, specialist milks baby food & clothing.

As the child ages this figure reduces slightly however it is worth noting that expenditure is dependent upon what activities you give your child.

SCHOOLING The largest expenditure in raising any child is schooling and extra curriculum actives.

These costs will vary depending on whether a child is placed in state school or in private education however costs for uniforms, supplies and so on account for approximately €3000.00 per year.

From ages 6 – 12 cost increase again and this is primarily down to health concerns, does your child need glasses? Do they require braces?

In addition birthdays become more expensive as children look to have all the latest gadgets from iPhones, computers and top of the range gaming software.

“Information is not knowledge.The only source of knowledge is experience”

THE body of a man was found on the beach in Puerto Banus on Tuesday morning. 112 Emergency Service reported the discovery of the body of a man in his 50s but are yet to release details of the identity of the deceased.

National Police and Civil Guard sources have said that death by drowning is yet to be confirmed, but they have stated that the victim was in psychiatric treatment.

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

16 - WEEKEND WORLD

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Estonia jails Kansai Electric finds three men leaked radioactive over spying for water at nuclear plant Russia THREE men have been jailed for spying for Russia, Estonia’s state prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday, an unusual case targeting low-level smugglers that comes amid heightened concern over muscular Russian foreign policy in eastern Europe.

Relations between Estonia, a north-eastern Baltic country and a member of the EU and NATO since 2004, and Russia, its eastern neighbour and former ruler, are increasingly tense after Russian special forces occupied Ukraine’s Crimea region a year ago.

The three men, whose ages range from 21 to 42, received sentences ranging from two years to four years and ten months for supplying information to Russian security services on the movements and operations of Estonia’s security service, defence forces and border guards.

The men, described as smugglers by the prosecutor’s office, were sentenced in closed trials for collaborating with Russian security services between October 2015 and February 2016.

There have been several high profile trials in Estonia of officials accused of spying for Russia in the last decade, but the prosecution of low-level informants with no access to state secrets indicates a heightened level of vigilance.

The Estonian Internal Security Service spokesman told a news conference in the southern Estonian town of Tartu that the men were not public servants and had no access to Estonia’s or any other country’s state secrets.

JAPAN’S nuclear power-reliant utility Kansai Electric Power has released a statement after a pool of contaminated water was found at the nuclear reactor slated to restart in late February after years of being shut down.

In a statement posted on its website, Kansai Electric said it has found 34 litres of radioactive water at the No. 4 unit at its Takahama nuclear plant in Fukui prefecture, 500 km (310 miles) west of Tokyo.

The water has been cleared and there has been no impact on the environment, the company said, adding that it is investigating the reasons for the leakage.

Kansai Electric shut down the reactor in July 2011, months after an earthquake and tsunami devastated the Fukushima nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Similar radioactive water leakages have also been found at the Fukushima.

Kansai Electric restarted its Takahama No.3 reactor late Janu-

ary as part of test operations, making it the third reactor in Japan to resume operations after passing stringent safety checks imposed following the Fukushima disaster.

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

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WEEKEND WORLD - 17

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

18 - WEEKEND WORLD

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WHAT LIES BENEATH DOWN UNDER W

E all know that Australia, the “Land Down Under,” is home to a multitude of unique and sometimes bizarre looking creatures especially within its waters. However, the recent images of a large prehistoric-looking creature that washed ashore on the banks of Lake Macquarie in NSW, has divided locals and social media alike.

The bizarre looking “sea monster” has the body of a giant eel but a head that resembles that of a crocodile. While locals

believe the creature to be that of a nocturnal feeding pike eel, which can grow to 1.8m in length, social media commentators have reacted stating that the image must have been photoshopped.

This is not the first time a bizarre looking creature has washed up along Australia’s shores. Only a few months ago a rare “Blue Dragon” sea slug was washed up in Queensland, Australia.

If I was you I’d think twice before venturing into Aussie waters!

Martian Mapping Mention the word ordnance survey (OS) and most would think of country ramblers, tree huggers and environmentalists, but the British mapping agency, who have been responsible for mapping Britain’s shores, has released an easy to read map of the planet Mars POSTED on its Flickr page, the map which was built using NASA data, covers about 3.8 million square miles- approximately 7% of the planet’s surface.

Chris Wesson, the cartographer who helped design the map, said he could imagine a future astronaut using a copy of the map when exploring Mars.

“You have these large areas that looked flat but they’re actually really rocky and uneven surfaces - that was the most difficult bit of the map, to try to show that but put it in proportion to these huge craters,” he said This is the first time that OS has produced a map of territory from another planet and was undertaken following the request from Dr Peter Grindrod, a British scientist at Birkbeck, University of London who, as part of the European ExoMars Rover Team, hoped to map the terrain of Mars to establish a suitable landing zone for the expedition in 2019.

Founded in 1791, Ordnance Survey was originally tasked with creating maps of the British Isles for the country’s armed forces to help with defence in the event of invasion.

Over the last 225 years, the OS has gained a reputation as one of the world’s premiere cartographic organizations as it cranks out constantly updated topographic maps of the United Kingdom that record hundreds of millions of geographic features with great precision.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 19

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

I

N a country governed by religion and fundamentalists it came as no surprise last week when the decision to uphold the practise of abortion as an illegal act was passed by a majority vote. Many reading this will think I am referring to a third world or Islamic country when in-fact I am referring to Northern Ireland.

With one of the most restrictive laws across Europe, Northern Irelands law stipulates that no women can legally undertake a procedure even in extreme cases such as rape, incest or when the foetus has no chance of survival after the birth. An abortion can only be performed where the life or mental health of the mother is in danger.

The proposal to legalise the termination of pregnancies in certain circumstance was raised following the Belfast High Court ruling last November where the court found that banning the act of abortion following acts of rape or incest was “a breach of citizen’s human rights”. In a country that is divided by both the Catholic and Protestant churches this is an aspect where both were able to find a common ground with both the nationalist and unionist, which are mainly male voting against legalising abortion.

It is estimated that approximately 1,000 women a year travel to England to pay for a private terminations, with many more ordering DIY abortion pills from the internet.

Under the current law, any woman or doctor who has or carries out a termination, face the prospect of life imprisonment.

Woman continue to go unheard

Egypt jails author for two years over sexually explicit novel AN Egyptian court has sentenced an author to two years in jail for public indecency after excerpts of his sexually explicit novel were published in a literary newspaper.

A chapter from Ahmed Naji’s novel Istikhdam al-Hayat, or Using Life, was serialised in a state-owned literary newspaper and a case was brought against him last year by a private citizen who claimed the excerpt caused him distress and heart palpitations.

Carrefour offices searched in pricing investigation FRENCH retailer Carrefour has had its offices searched as part of an investigation into its commercial practices, two days after the French government warned companies against squeezing further price cuts from farmers.

Milk and meat producers in France have held repeated demonstrations in protest at being forced to operate at a loss because of overcapacity and aggressive pricing pressure from retailers.

A Carrefour spokeswoman announced that authorities were investigating some of its on-going commercial negotiations.

“It is of utmost importance for Carrefour to apply current regulations and if mistakes have been made the company will take the necessary measures,” she said.

Naji (pictured above) was initially acquitted in January but the prosecution appealed the ruling and he was sentenced to two years in prison in a retrial, his lawyer said.

In the initial ruling the court said it acquitted Naji because freedom of expression was enshrined in the constitution, adding that morality was subjective. The second court is yet to announce its reasons for overturning that ruling.

The newspaper’s editor was ordered to pay a 10,000 Egyptian pound (£886.62) fine. Fellow authors, journalists, and human rights activists viewed the sentence as an affront to freedom of expression.

The verdict can be appealed.

SURPRISE,SURPRISE! A WOMAN attended her own funeral and shockingly confronted the man who had paid to have her murdered... her husband!

Noela Rukundo had been visiting her native Burundi from Australia when she was snatched by a group of masked men at gunpoint and taken to a rural location. Tied to a chair she feared for her life but worse was still to come, when whilst listening to here capturers talk on the phone she heard the voice of her husband say “Kill her.”

Thankfully the hitmen didn’t follow through with her husband Belenga Kalala’s request and after two days released the woman and instructed her to return to Australia immediately.

Upon returning, Noela quickly learned that her husband had declared her death to the community. He had even requested donations from the community to help pay for the service.

As an act of revenge Noela laid low until the day of her own funeral and after spotting her husband in the crowd bravely walk towards him. “Is it my eyes?” her husband proclaimed, “is it a ghost?”

No, it’s the police and a 6 by 8 police cell!

Kalala was arrested and eventually pleaded guilty to incitement to murder in a Melbourne court and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

20 - WEEKEND WORLD

W

EEKEND focuses on SOTOGRANDE & GIBRALTAR WORLD

WE’RE IN! Gibraltar backs Cameron Dr Joseph Garcia

Gibraltar’s political leaders have announced they will support David Cameron’s campaign to remain in the EU, vowing to back UK Prime Minister in the June 23 referendum

D

EPUTY Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, the leader of the Liberal Party, who is in Brussels this week said: “We have done a lot of work to ensure that Gibraltar was ready for the EU referendum. Now we will start the work of campaigning to support David Cameron and to make the case for Gibraltar and for Europe in the coming weeks and months.”

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, the leader of the GSLP, said “There is no reasonable alternative for Gibraltar to the certainty of membership of the EU via our relationship with the UK. Even with all its faults, the EU has been an important driver of the prosperity we enjoy in Gibraltar today. We are sometimes frustrated at the

way the EU Commission has failed Gibraltar in respect of frontier fluidity and our rights to access the EU Single Sky provisions, to name just two areas. But the freedom of movement of people, capital and services provides us with an open frontier and access to the single market of 520 million people.

We cannot give up the access and benefits we have today without any certainty as to what the status of those rights of freedom of movement and market access might be if the UK were not a member of the EU. With the renegotiation he has achieved, David Cameron has secured the best of both worlds for those in the UK who rightly wanted some aspects

of the workings of the EU addressed and for those of us in Gibraltar and the UK who want to see Britain leading the next generation of the EU’s development.

Those who are friends of Gibraltar in the United Kingdom who campaign to leave the EU need to factor these issues into their thoughts. I look forward to making the argument for Gibraltar and for Europe in the coming months.”

Gibraltar will hold a referendum in parallel to the one in the UK on June 23, convened here under the provisions of the European Union (Referendum) Act approved by the Gibraltar Parliament last month.

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 21

FOCUS ON SOTOGRANDE & GIBRALTAR

Gibraltar’s First Hybrid Taxi in action RUNWAY RESURFACING COMPLETED

G

IBRALTAR’S first hybrid taxi went into service earlier his month and the government hopes this new initiative will act as a major shift in the purchase power of locals in buying hybrid vehicles.

Hybrid vehicles are highly beneficial to the environment as they have lower carbon dioxide emissions, use less fuel and release fewer exhaust emissions into the atmosphere, No. 6 Convent Place said in a statement. Minister for Transport, Paul Balban, stated: “As the Minister responsible for Traffic and Transport, I applaud the taxi license holder and the Gibraltar Taxi Association’s efforts in working with Government to ensure that the general public receives an improved and environmentally-friendly service.”

“I hope there will be a major shift in the purchase of hybrid vehicles in the not too distant future, especially as these vehicles perform at their optimum in heavily congested traffic. It is this Government’s policy to continue incentivizing the use of greener means of transport across the board, no less amongst Gibraltar’s fleet of public service vehicles.”

Minister for Environment, Dr John Cortes, said: “Hybrid vehicles are an effective way of reducing fuel consumption and emissions and so are beneficial to the environment and the pocket.

I am very pleased to see the public service vehicles are adopting this technology and encourage it across the board.”

A mutually beneficial San Roque meeting brings positive news on cross-border cooperation initiatives FABIAN Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar met with Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix (pictured left) the mayor of San Roque last week to discuss a series of initiatives to develop closer links between the two neighbours which would boost employment and tourism alike.

With its airport and cruise terminal Gibraltar receives approximately half a million tourists a year who simply because of the lack of transport links sadly do not venture into the neighbouring San Roque or Sotogrande area, areas which have great sporting attractions.

With this in mind, the council of San Roque is looking at how it can implement tourist packages aimed at the hotels in Gibraltar offering golfing, polo, and sailing day trips plus cultural excursions visiting the local archaeological sites and museums in the area and of course trips to the ports where tourists can benefit from the local gastronomy.

THE resurfacing works on the runway at Gibraltar airport has been completed two weeks early and within budget. Commodore Ian McGhie announced that 74,000 man hours had gone into the project without a single reported accident he was also keen to emphasize the achievements of the MoD saying “And get this, a MoD project that was delivered two weeks early and to budget. I never thought I’d hear myself say that so I will say it again, it was delivered two weeks early and to budget.”

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

22 - WEEKEND WORLD

Close to beach

RIBERA DEL EMPERADOR

I

mmaculately presented, this south facing townhouse is ideally located close to the beach and the Octogono Tennis Club. The accommodation comprises on the ground floor of an entrance hall leading to a split level living/dining room with fireplace and access to the porch and the garden, fully fitted kitchen with access to a terrace with a pergola, 1 double bedroom and 1 bathroom. The master bedroom ensuite and a further double bedroom ensuite are on the first floor, where there is also a large sun terrace which could be converted to make a 4th bedroom. Other features are: hot and cold air conditioning, central heating by radiators, double carport and a communal pool. Also available for sale a 12x4,5 metres corner berth at 45.000€.

Built: 176m² | Terrace: 65m² Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 3 Price: e650.000 | Ref: EMP-1528

POLO GARDENS

F

abulous southeast-facing first floor apartment in the gated development of “Polo Gardens” offering 24 hours security, communal pool, paddle court, gym, spa and play room for kids. It comprises of entrance hall, fitted kitchen with laundry and access to the rear terrace, living/dining room with access to the main terrace, master bedroom ensuite plus 3 further bedroom suites. It includes double glazing, underfloor heating, hot/cold air conditioning and 2 double parking spaces.

Fabulous apartment

Built: 198m² | Terrace: 46m² Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 4 Price: e595.000 | Ref: HPG-1483 Holmes Property Sales, S.L. Tel: +34 956 79 53 40 Galerias Paniagua | Local 21 | Avenida Paniagua s/n | 11310 Sotogrande | San Roque | Cádiz | España email: info@holmesotogrande.com

www.holmesotogrande.com

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 23

Luxury apartment

RIBERA DEL RIO

L

uxury first floor apartment with fabulous southerly views over the Guadiaro River and with the majestic silhouettes of Gibraltar and Africa in the distance. The accommodation comprises of an entrance hall, guest toilet, living/dining room with chimney and access to the terrace with a plunge pool, fully fitted kitchen, 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. Other features include: marble floors, double glazing, hot/cold air conditioning, 1 double parking space and 1 storeroom in the communal underground garage.

Built: 219m² | Terrace: 155m² Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 4 Price: e1.090.000 | Ref: RIO-1390

SOTOGRANDE ALTO

A

lovely townhouse conveniently located, adjacent to and with lovely views of the 9th fairway of the Alcornocales section of the Almenara golf course and inland to the hills. Within walking distance of the Hotel and Spa, the accommodation built over three levels offers 3 large bedroom suites (the top floor one has an extra single bedroom and is ideal for children), a well fitted kitchen with a breakfast bar opening and service patio, a spacious living/dining room with fireplace and patio doors leading to covered and open terraces, private garden, communal gardens and pool. The property has underfloor heating and individual air conditioning units and a private garage for 1 car.

Convenient

location

Built: 215m² | Terrace: 45m² Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 3 Price: e495.000 | Ref: THC-779 Holmes Property Sales, S.L. Tel: +34 956 79 53 40 Galerias Paniagua | Local 21 | Avenida Paniagua s/n | 11310 Sotogrande | San Roque | Cádiz | España email: info@holmesotogrande.com

www.holmesotogrande.com

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

24 - WEEKEND WORLD

FOCUS ON SOTOGRANDE & GIBRALTAR

Gibraltar to appoint first financial services ombudsman THE Gibraltar government has published a bill ‘the Financial Services Ombudsman Act 2016’ which sets out to establish the jurisdiction’s first financial services ombudsman.

The role of ombudsman will be to investigate, facilitate, mediate, and offer solutions to financial service disputes. The ombudsman who is yet to be appointed will be able to impose binding solutions upon financial service providers acting on behalf of the consumer given that the dispute is no less than six years old.

Incidents highlight Gibraltar on-going border issues CUSTOMS authorities at the busy checkpoint in Gibraltar have once again expressed concern regarding their battle to secure the border after two incidents in a number of days involved persons trying to forcibly enter the territory without stopping when questioned by authorities. The incidents which are not connected highlights yet again the issue that there are currently no provisions in place to physically stop a vehicle from forcing its way into Gibraltar.

The first incident, which occurred February 15th, saw a Polish man try and enter the British territory whilst driving a stolen police car. The vehicle, which was clearly marked Guardia Civil, had already passed through the checkpoint barrier before offices of the RGP became suspicious, when they asked the individual to identify himself the driver refused, and then attempted to drive straight through.

The second incident which occurred a day later involved four men who when driving into Spain were stopped by Spanish police, knowing that one of the individuals was wanted by Spanish authorities the car

sped back into Gibraltar refusing to stop for Border control and across the runway.

Currently the only deterrent in place is two small speed humps and custom officials who when dealing with a runaway vehicle stand no chance.

New Appointment System at the Primary Care Centre and St. Bernard’s Hospital

FROM the beginning of next month, a new system of appointments will be introduced for GHA patients who require blood tests.

Patients who require these tests will be provided with an appointment for attending the Phlebotomy (Blood) clinic on a specific date and time at the Primary Care Centre or at St Bernard’s Hospital. This new trial service is intended to reduce the queues at the Blood Clinics and provide patients with the peace of mind that they now have a fixed date and time for their blood test. This new service will be phased in and appointment slots gradually increased, according to demand.

Until they are notified by the GHA, patients will still be able to attend the Blood Clinics at the Primary Care Centre or at St Bernard’s on a walk-in basis, using the ticket system, just as they do now.

With effect from Tuesday 1 March, the Primary Care Centre will offer one clinic for scheduled appointments from 0830 till 1100.

The walk-in clinic will continue as at present, 0830 to 1030, although the tickets will be removed at 1000.

With effect from Tuesday 1 March, St Bernard’s Hospital Phlebotomy (Blood) Department will offer one clinic for scheduled appointments from 0800 till 1000. The walk-in clinics will continue as at present, 0800 till 1000.

Both clinics are closed at weekends and on Public Holidays.

Further information is available at the Primary Care Centre, 2nd Floor, ICC Building, Main St (20072355) and at the Phlebotomy (Blood) Department at St Bernard’s Hospital, Harbour Views Road.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016 be over £150), they’ll set up a Direct Debit for you. It can be weekly, monthly, quarter ly or yearly. Leaving you free to sit back and enjoy the view

Today’s rates look good, but you don’t need to transfer your money for – say – three months? No problem. A Forward Contract is the currency world’s version of “buy now, pay later”. Just place a small deposit to fix today’s exchange rate and it’s yours for up to a

Marbella for €324,999 on 19

Today’s rates look good, but you don’t need to transfer your money for – say – three months? No problem. A For ward Contract is the currency world’s version of “buy now,

The euro was trading at 0.84p.

They were recommended to they could achieve in sterling.

The sale went through in midApril. The euro had devalued to 0.82, but they still received £272,999 instead of £266,499.

This put an extra £6,500 in the

Repatriating funds

thousands!

Let’s face it. We know Spain is fantastic - there’s a reason Peace of mind why you invested and moved When looking for an exthere in the first place all those change provider, you want to years ago. However, home will get the best rates and great WEEKEND WORLD - 25 always be home, and we can’t service. You want someone blame you for wanting to go to talk to you, to understand what’s important to you and back. what you want to achieve. But Selling your property over- most importantly, you want to seas, moving back to your make sure your funds are in home country and repatriating safe hands. After all, it’s your your funds doesn’t have to be money we’re talking about. a complicated process. Banks Currencies Direct have try to get a chunk of your hard- been around since 1996, so earned money with hidden they have credibility and lonfees and unfair exchange rates. gevity. Both of these are fundamental when choosing the This is hardly a secret. right currency exchange proInstead, when you are plan- vider company. ning a move back, it is recomMake sure you look for a mended to use the expertise of a currency exchange compa- company that’s established, ny like Currencies Direct. Not with a good credit score and is only will they provide you with authorised by the FCA for the the guidance you need to un- provision of payment services derstand all the process, but like Currencies Direct. This bathey can save you up to 5% on sically means the FCA heavily

Regular overseas payments?

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Use our regular transfer service and you’ll be making great currency savings!

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Let’s talk currency

Ignacio Ortega

Paul Ellis

Johanna Gabrielsson

Melanie Radforrd

Jill Gregory

James Barrett

Alex Barrett

Regional Sales Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Executive

Business Development Executive

Client Account Executive

Client Account Executive

Client Account Executive

Spain – Marbella

Spain – Fuengirola

Get in touch

Plaza de las Orquídeas C/ Orquídea, Local 6, Nueva Andalucia Marbella, 29660

Avenida de Londres 1ª Local 6, Urb La Marina San Fulgencio Alicante, 03177

T +34 952 906 581 E costadelsol@currenciesdirect.com W currenciesdirect.com

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

26 - WEEKEND WORLD

VO Cinema Showings If you want to join them tickets are on sale via the Costa Women website and members can purchase Earlybird tickets at a discounted price until 1st March. If you aren’t a member yet, costawomen.com is free to join!

Please check with the cinema for any last minute time changes.

Cine Teatro Goya Carrer de Av. Julio Iglesias s/n, Marbella 951 196 665 / 951 196 666 Deadpool

22:30 16:10, 17:45

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16:00, 20:15

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17:00, 19:30, 22:00

n International Women’s Day, 11th March, Avanto Restaurant, La Cala Costa Women are holding two events on the Costa del Sol to celebrate International Women’s Day. The first will be a dinner in collaboration with Bites and Business, a Malaga based Women’s business group. The dinner will be held at Avanto Restaurant in La Cala on the evening of 8th March (International Women’s Day itself ). Freixenet will be launching their new Moscato sparkling wine as part of the evening. The event will include an Auction to raise funds to support the family of Ethan Adjayi who died suddenly at the age of 11. For more information visit the Facebook event to find out how to reserve your place at the evening.

And on 11th March, Costa Women and 1230 The Women’s Company are again collaborating to #MakeItHappen at the 4th annual conference at Andalucia Lab

in Marbella.

As well as inspirational talks and personal stories, there will be advice and ideas for Women in Business. Topics from International Speakers will include working with friends and family (Annabel Kaye), how to identify and attract your ideal Client (Caroline Balinska), Jackie Barrie (4x4x4 approach to website wonderland), Lily Yeboah (Improve your Personal Presence), Jane Kenyon (is Superwoman sabotaging your mojo?), Fiona Catchpowle (Be Socially Fit – Aerobics for your Social Media in 20 minutes a day) and Jodie Rogers (How to rock 2016). 1230 The Women’s Company MD Jackie Groundsell will be there running her well-known Speed networking session.

The event will be supporting AMUSUVIG Malaga (Asociacion de Mujeres Supervivientes de la violencia de genero).

Sponsors for the Conference are IBEX, Currencies Direct, The International Family Law Group LLP and Andalucia Lab.

Find out more about costawomen.com (a free Women’s social and business community in Spain) and 1230.co.uk (Business Networking Lunches in Kent, Surrey and London) n Dressage Competition, 128th February, Finca La Rosa, La Cala Jayne Grimshwa, who is a well known, experienced and distinguished rider, specialises in dressage classes and is currently preparing for the next competition which will take place on Sunday February 28th. The event will attract horse riders from all over the Costa Del Sol who will compete in a series of different dressage events.

It’s a very colourful day and the riders always look so stunning and impressive in their full regalia,” explained one of the daily helpers at the stables, Jaime GlynnWood. There will also be a Hog Roast to keep spectators’ rumbling tummies at bay.

Anyone interesting in supporting the next Dressage Competition on Sunday will be most welcome to attend.

Full details can be obtained from Jayne on 697 370 246.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 27

SPONSORED BY CITY FM MALAGA Broadcasting from Nerja to beyond Calahonda on 106.2FM and from Elviria to Gibraltar via 106.8FM

LET THE GREEN AND WHITE FLAGS FLY….

In celebration of the day when Andalucía became an autonomous community within Spain, February 28th is a day celebrated by locals like no other.

T

O celebrate the thirty-fourth anniversary of the referendum for autonomy, Andalucía Day is celebrated in style across the southern coast of Spain and the festivities and celebrations reflect the warmth and cheerful nature of Andalucía.

Many towns’ folk hang white and green flags across their balconies and festivities are organized in many a main square. Local bands take to the streets and the regional anthem “Himno de Andalucía” can be heard up and down the coast.

The founder of Andalucían nationalism is Blas Infante. He is regarded as the most important Andalucian politician in all its history. Affectionately known as the “Father of the Andalusia,” he wrote the lyrics for the regional anthem and created the Andalucian flag which comprises two green stripes, which symbolize hope, and one white, rep-

resenting peace.

Andalucía’s coat of arms is at the centre of the flag and consists of an image of the mythical Greek hero Heracles between two columns. The columns represent the Pillars of Heracles - the rocks on either side of the Straits of Gibraltar.

Typically on this day Andalucians will spend their day with family and friends, dancing, drinking and eating. A traditional breakfast in the region is a slice of toast with olive oil and fresh orange juice and some municipalities will even arrange communal meals with

different varieties of traditional dishes and drinks.

Andalucía Day usually coincides with the delivery of Medals of Andalucía, where local government name their favourite Andalucían sons.

28 - WEEKEND WORLD

P

OKER tournaments at Casino Marbella are consolidated year after year. The calendar is full with events of different games. Daily (except Thursdays and Saturdays), Romm Poker Texas Hold’em tournaments gain a high turnout. The bimonthly league starts this year with even more force. The improvements implemented ensure success at every stage. And another option are the new Black Jack tournaments.

The tournament schedule - featuring Texas Hold’em Casino Marbella - is the result of more than seven years of experience in the field of Poker. Since the beginning in 2008, Marbella has been studying the patterns of the most prestigious Poker houses internationally. We apply the standards set by PokerStars and thoroughly train our The Poker Room at Casino Marbella during one of the tournaments

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

YET MORE TOURNAMENTS AT CASINO MARBELLA tournament directors and croupiers making it the key to our success in poker tournaments at Casino Marbella. But undoubtedly the most important thing is to know the players.

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December.

Cheap & Chips opens the weekly calendar. This tournament is held every Monday with new players. The buyin is only 30€, making it more attractive for all budgets. Plus you have the ability to make unlimited rebuys to accumulate large boats.

On Sunday the week closes with the Big Bounty with a buy-in of 100 + 10€, 50€ and 8,000 bounty starting points.

In this case, the emotion increases with Bounty 50e for eliminating a player.

Tuesdays and Fridays Lucky Stack League offers the player the possibility of unlimited rebuys and an add-on single and double for 50 and 100€. At the end of every day, the top three finishers vye for cash prizes. In addition, the champion and top-ranked women receive a trophy.

For those who prefer Freezeout mode, Wednesdays has WOSP Re-Plus. This tournament, with a buyin of € 85, is also an annual league. Repurchases called “Re-Plus” are 15€ each, accumulating a boat destined for the best players of the year. These champions will compete for cash prizes and a direct entrance to the High Roller in

All weekly poker tournaments begin at 8:40 p.m., with a capacity of 50 players. Casino Marbella rewards punctuality of all participants with the Early Bird. Players who are seated at the Poker Room on the first hand, receive 2,000 bonus points.

In addition to the weekly tournaments, Casino Marbella holds a Bi-monthly League. The Sportium League has recently implemented further improvements. This edition has a 330€ buyin 30,000 starting points and three days of play. The next stage will take place from 10 to 13 March.

Black Jack tables at the Casino Marbella join the tournament mode. An exciting competition for just 40€, in which the player can access large prizes in a short time. Genuine classic rules of playing cards will add fun and strategic standards. Casino Marbella implemented this initiative for the first time at national level. Every Tuesday at 20h.

Information and registration on line can see the Calendar Tournament website: www.casinomarbella.com

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WEEKEND WORLD - 29

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

30 - WEEKEND WORLD

Kensington FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

W

FOCUS ON HOMES

EEKEND

WORLD

focuses on

MONEY MATTERS

Money Matters is sponsored by

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WEEKEND WORLD - 31

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

32 - WEEKEND WORLD

Málaga - Granada - Jaén - Madrid

STERLING FALLS AS BREXIT RISKS INTENSIFY Sterling sank to a seven-year low as companies and investors rushed to insure themselves against the chances of a British exit from the European Union that HSBC said could knock off a fifth of the value of pound.

T

HE aftermath of Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement of a June 23 referendum on “Brexit” has driven the worst three days for the world’s fourth most traded currency since the depths of the financial crisis in 2009.

The cost of currency derivatives, which allow companies, big institutional investors and hedge funds to protect future revenues or asset values held in sterling against sharp swings in the currency, jumped to their highest in more than four years. HSBC, Britain’s biggest bank, said the currency could lose up to 20 percent of its value and UK economic growth could be up to 1.5 percentage points lower next year if Britain votes to leave.

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The latest poll showed the “In” camp only narrowly ahead at 51 percent, versus 39 percent for “Out”, with 10 percent undecided.

Other polls have been even closer.

Sterling fell to $1.3878 with analysts saying the 2009 low of $1.35 now a real prospect. It fell 0.6 percent to its weakest in 16 months against the euro.

The Bank of England’s broader tradeweighted measure of the currency’s broader strength fell 1 percent to its lowest in two years. “A vote for Brexit would have potentially huge consequences for all asset classes,” HSBC said. “Following a vote to leave we think uncertainty could grip the UK economy, triggering a potential slowdown in growth and a collapse in sterling.”

So far, however, the reaction on other UK

markets has been far more muted.

Government bond prices are steady on the week, any nervousness among investors holding UK assets offset by the prospect that the vote will further push back any rises in interest rates by the Bank of England.

Governor Mark Carney (above) said that the bank could still use rate cuts and a broadening of a bond-buying programme to boost Britain’s economy if needed after the Brexit vote.

Gilt yields have edged lower for four out of the last five trading sessions and have moved mostly in tandem with German Bund yields. The 10-year gilt yield is so far down around 5 basis points this week, at 1.364 percent. London’s stock exchange has also seen a far more mixed response. Some property companies have been targeted as potential losers from the vote, while others have benefited from the assumption that a weaker pound would help exports.

ANGOLA REMOVED FROM MONEYLAUNDERING BLACKLIST AN international money-laundering watchdog has removed Angola from its blacklist of nations that fail to meet international standards.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which sets standards for anti-money laundering and fighting terrorist financing, added the southern African country to the list in 2010.

The central bank said the FATF’s decision came after the country implemented reforms that included licensing of banks and setting up a Financial Intelligence Unit, which collects information on suspicious or unusual financial activity.

Governor José Pedro de Morais welcomed the removal, saying it would improve the country’s credit quality and financial institutions.

The risk of financial crime and difficulty in monitoring clients forced Standard Chartered to announce last year it had ended its dollar-clearing operations with commercial banks in Angola. Bank of America also stopped selling Angolan banks the greenback from the beginning of December last year.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

WEEKEND WORLD - 33

The fight against Fraud

United Kingdom - Financial Markets

The Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) has announced record collections in its fight against fraud with gains of 15,600 million a rise of 27% compared to 2015.

Santiago Menéndez the agency’s director stated this was an historic result in the fight against shadow economy.

In 2015 the AEAT conducted 107,580 tax audits, an 8% increase on the previous year and 46% more than in 2011. In Most Active Stocks addition, between 21,810 workplace visits an increase of 28.7% were made Name Last Prev.

High Low Chg. % Vol. t Lloyds Banking 62.5500 62.9300 63.5300 62.1700 -0.60% 58.37M Also investigative surveillance to detect fictitious financial transactions in insolvencies were increased. t Glencore 116.3500 129.4500 125.7750 116.0000 -10.12% 42.73M t BP 336.7500 345.3500 343.1500 334.8000 -2.49% 21.21M t HSBC Holdings 435.700 441.300 447.000 433.300 -1.27% 19.65M t Vodafone Group PLC 212.2000 213.9000 214.9000 210.8000 -0.79% 17.49M t Barclays 157.9500 161.5500 161.9500 157.1500 -2.23% 17.33M t BHP Billiton 685.00 746.90 728.00 680.60 -8.29% 10.59M t Standard Chartered 387.500 406.900 405.500 378.500 -4.77% 10.01M s ITV 249.30 249.10 253.40 248.20 +0.08% 7.42M t RBS PLC 233.000 236.000 237.900 230.900 -1.27% 7.20M Overnight stays in Spanish hotel recorded14.4 million in January this year an increase of 8.2% compared to that of 2015, Top Gainers Top Losers representing the largest increase since 1999.

Name Last Chg. Chg. % Name Last Chg. Chg. % According to figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE), the average stay in January fell 1.8%, to 3.1 s Persimmon 2,076.00 +47.00 +2.32% t Anglo American 408.85 -44.25 -9.77% nights per visitor but the occupancy rate increased by 7.3% s Randgold Resources 6,660.00 +140.00 +2.15% t Glencore 116.3000 -13.1500 -10.16% to 43.5% for the month. Tourists from the UK and Germany s Barratt Development. 573.000 +11.000 +1.96% t BHP Billiton 684.50 -62.40 -8.36% made up the bulk of numbers recording 23.6% and 21.1% for s Intertek Group 2,882.00 +51.00 +1.80% t Meggitt 398.90 -29.80 -6.95% the highest total of overnight stays. With the average overs Taylor Wimpey 178.60 +2.10 +1.19% t Standard Chartered 387.500 -19.400 -4.77% night stay costing € 73 euros per night an increase of 1.9% compared to that of 2015.

14.4 million people spend the night

Spain - Financial Markets

Most Active Stocks Name t Santander t BBVA t B. Sabadell t Telefonica t Bankia t Banco Popular t Caixabank t Repsol t Iberdrola t DIA

Electricity and gas company Endesa has reported a €1.086 Last Prev.

High Low Chg. % Vol. million profit for 2015, down 67% compared to that of the previous year.

3.485 3.611 3.619 3.469 -3.49% 32.90M As reported by the company to the National Securities Mar5.410 5.596 5.591 5.372 -3.32% 13.61M ket Commission the loss occurred because of two factors, 1.392 1.427 1.434 1.381 -2.45% 13.12M firstly the capital gains taxes it had to pay from the sale of its 9.009 9.322 9.335 8.901 -3.36% 10.98M Latin American business to its Italian parent company Enel 0.736 0.760 0.772 0.731 -3.16% 10.96M and secondly operating margins were higher because of the 2.041 2.107 2.117 2.032 -3.13% 8.00M higher cost of purchasing electricity and increasing the taxes.

2.452 2.532 2.547 2.431 -3.16% 7.07M The net financial debt of Endesa at year-end for 2015 stood 8.563 8.935 8.828 8.527 -4.16% 6.46M at € 4,323,000, representing a 20% decrease of 1,097 million from a year earlier.

5.880 5.961 5.954 5.876 -1.36% 6.36M 4.750 4.973 4.956 4.650 -4.48% 4.62M

Figures correct at 24.02.2016

Top Gainers Name s Endesa t FCC t Aena t Tecnicas Reunidas t Acciona

Endesa continues to post profits but loses 67% compared to 2015

Top Losers Last 16.535 6.435 103.85 23.335 67.160

Chg. +0.160 -0.010 -0.90 -0.220 -0.830

Chg. % +0.98% -0.15% -0.86% -0.93% -1.22%

Name t Obr.H.Lain t Int.Airl.Grp t DIA t Repsol t Arcel. Mittal

Last 4.855 6.686 4.750 8.559 3.160

Chg. -0.296 -0.348 -0.223 -0.376 -0.134

Chg. % -5.75% -4.95% -4.48% -4.21% -4.07%

Euro exchange rates 1.53 0.79 1.51 7.18

Australian Dollars British Pounds Canadian Dollars Chinese Yuan

7.46 8.53 123.20 1.66

Danish Krone Hong Kong Dollar Japanese Yen New Zealand Dollar

9.48 9.34 4.04 1.10

Norwegian Krone Swedish Krona UAE Dirham US Dollars

Fitch increases Bankia’s rating

Credit rating agency Fitch has increased the credit rating for Bankia by one notch taking it from BB + to BBB, thereby lifting the company out of the speculative ‘junk’grade category and back into an investment grade.

The rating agency justified its decision to increase Bankia’s rating because of its capital strength, liquidity profile and its ability to manage troubled assets. The announcement comes only a week after the bank agreed to return all the money plus interest to retail customers who invested in the OPS. Fitch has also reaffirmed the rating of CaixaBank (BBB) and Banco Popular (BB-).

34 - WEEKEND WORLD

FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

Women earn BANKIA nearly a ¼ less PAYS UP than men ACCORDING to a report by The European Commission women in Spain earn an average 24% less than their male counterparts. Highlighted in a report by the UGT presented in Madrid on February 22nd as part of the “European Equal Pay Day” the report shows that the wage gap between men and women is now the highest it has been in the last six years.

UGT state, that across Europe most countries appear to be reducing their wage gap yet in Spain the gap is increasing with women earning over six thousand euros less per annum. The average annual salary for men was 25,675.17 euros, the women was 19,514.58 Earnings by region:

• Andalusia: • Aragon: • Asturias: • Baleares: • Canary: • Cantabria: • Castilla y León: • Castilla-La Mancha: • Catalonia: • Valencia: • Extremadura: • Galicia: • Madrid: • Murcia: • Navarra: • Basque Country: • La Rioja:

WOMEN MEN 17,690 euros 23,565 euros 18,701 euros 25.128 euros 18,455 euros 25,500 euros 18,998 euros 22,584 euros 17,619 euros 20,678 euros 16,542 euros 23,224 euros 17,429 euros 23,379 euros 17,481 euros 23,316 euros 20,740 euros 27684 euros 17,918 euros 23,651 euros 16,304 euros 21,780 euros 17,258 euros 22,522 euros 22,959 euros 29,224 euros 16,957 euros 23,428 euros 19,364 euros 27,848 euros 22,687 euros 30,312 euros 17,435 euros 23,641 euros

Bankia will fully compensate thousands of small investors who bought into its ill-fated listing, the state-owned bank said

T

HE surprise move represents a bid to close a painful chapter for the bank which will allow it to move ahead with its restructuring and return to private ownership.

BANKIA became a symbol of Spain’s banking crisis when it was nationalised in 2012 through a 22.5 billion euro ($25 billion) bailout just a year after it was listed, wiping out its shareholders and triggering protracted legal action.

The lender bounced back quickly from huge losses on dud property assets after these were transferred to an external “bad bank” which was backed by the state.

It also cut costs, shifted more of its lending to small businesses and away from mortgages and has steadily improved profits over the last three years.

But legal action by thousands of ordinary Spaniards who argue they were misled when they bought shares in the 2011 listing had cast a shadow over the bank’s recovery.

The bank said on Wednesday it received some 1.855 billion euros ($2 billion) in funds from minority investors, of which 255 million euros were sold before its nationalisation in 2012.

Those 255 million euros may not have to be compensated because shareholders incurred smaller losses and sometimes even made a profit on their investment.

A 1.84 billion euro provision made last year against the potential cost will be enough to cover all compensation, it said in a statement.

It added that in addition to the value of their original investment, shareholders would also receive 1 percent annual interest on the money as compensation and would be paid back within 15 days of filing claims.

A question mark remains however about potential compensations for institutional shareholders who also bought into the listing for more than 1.2 billion euros and which the group has not provisioned yet.

Several institutional shareholders have taken legal action against Bankia, but most analysts believe they are less likely to obtain any compensation.

France, Italy, Spain, Portugal seen breaking EU deficit rules

FRANCE, Italy, Spain and Portugal are in breach of or will break European Union (EU) deficit reduction rules unless they change policies, European Commission economic forecasts showed on Thursday.

EU budget rules oblige governments to keep the headline budget gap below 3 percent of GDP and cut the structural gap, which exclude the effects of the business cycle and one-offs, every year until they reach balance.

If they fail to do so, they face a disciplinary procedure in which EU finance ministers set deficit reduction targets and deadlines for them.

The Commission latest forecasts showed that the euro zone’s second biggest economy France, which has a deadline to cut its headline budget gap to 2.8 percent in 2017 will instead have a deficit of 3.2 percent next year, unless it takes action.

In structural terms, France was asked by European Union finance ministers to reduce the deficit by 0.5 percent of GDP in 2015, 0.8 percent in 2016 and 0.9 percent in 2017. But the Commission forecasts showed the cut last year was only 0.2 percent.

The reduction in the structural deficit this year in France will be only 0.4 percent — half of what is required — and the shortfall will actually rise 0.2 percent next year, according to the Commission’s forecasts.

The third-biggest economy Italy, while safely

below 3 percent with its headline deficit, will see an increase in its structural gap to 1.7 percent of GDP this year from 1.0 percent in 2015, rather than a 0.5 percent fall as required by EU rules.

The Italian structural deficit is then to ease only to 1.4 percent in 2017, again below the minimum required annual reduction of 0.5 percent.

Spain, the euro zone’s fourth largest economy and still without a government after inconclusive elections in December, was asked to cut its headline deficit to 4.2 percent in 2015. But the Commission’s forecasts showed it missed that target, with a 4.8 percent gap.

Madrid was to take the deficit down to 2.8 percent this year, but unless policies change it will end up with a 3.6 percent shortfall, the Commission projected.

In structural terms, Spain’s deficit has risen since 2014 rather than falling, the Commission said.

Portugal is also in trouble, because it was supposed to cuts its headline deficit to 2.5 percent last year, but instead ended up with a 4.2 percent gap.

Without policy changes, it will not bring its deficit below 3 percent this year either and its structural deficit is also rising sharply, rather than falling as it should.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

W

EEKEND focuses on HEALTH & BEAUTY WORLD

WEEKEND WORLD - 35

EIC SUPPORTS RARE DISEASE DAY 29th FEBRUARY marks the ninth international Rare Disease Day celebrated via many different campaigns and events across the globe. In the EU, as many as 30 million people may be affected by one of over 6000 rare diseases existing.

The main objective of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness of rare diseases amongst the general public, policy makers, public authorities, industry representatives, researchers, and health professionals. *Extra information on rare disease day below Here on the Costa del Sol the students of the English International College, Marbella have chosen to symbolise the day by supporting the Butterfly Children Charity (DEBRA). In 2015 the Butterfly Children Charity released the first ever Spanish Documentary previewing the life of the Butterfly Children Families.

On March 2nd the students will hold a cinema afternoon to broadcast it to the school.

They will also show their support of the day by following the Rare Disease Day campaign led by the Spanish Federation for Rare Diseases FEDER shown in the photograph with the hand symbol for the day. More information on the campaign can be found at https://diamundial.enfermedades-raras.org/

The students of the English International College, Marbella are marking International Rare Disease Day by showing the first ever Spanish Documentary about Butterfly Children

• Support for research programmes into a possible cure.

• Media campaigns to promote awareness and raise funds through numerous events and charity shops.

• A number of yearly national meetings to bring affected people together, as well as conferences for medics and other professionals.

• A link to DEBRA in all other countries.

Member of DEBRA International • Continuous work to obtain private and public grants.

ABOUT THE BUTTERFLY SKIN CONDITION:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RARE DISEASE DAY A disease or disorder is defined as rare in Europe when it affects less than 1 in 2000 people. 80% of rare diseases have identified genetic origins whilst others are the result of infections, allergies and environmental causes. 50% of rare diseases affect children.

To date the political momentum created has notably contributed to the advancement of national plans and policies for rare diseases in a number of countries. Important gains are also being made within the field of clinical and scientific research. These advances have improved the diagnostic and therapeutic

• Information and advice on all aspects of the disease, coordinating with doctors and health services to ensure patients receive the correct treatment.

From left – Kirsty Dixon (Butterfly Children Charity) Andre Badalyan, Riccardo Pierre, Kirill Ralin (EIC students) and Chris Long (EIC teacher)

procedures available to the individuals and their families. However, due to the broad diversity of diseases much progress remains to be made.

improve the quality of life of those affected

by Butterfly skin and their families in Spain.

The charity works hard to provide the following:

ABOUT THE BUTTERFLY CHILDREN CHARITY (DEBRA SPAIN)

• Emotional and medical support to families and carers, as well as social services professionals with information and guidance.

Founded in 1993, is a non profit-making organization formed to provide support and to

• Fully trained nurses who travel throughout Spain visiting families in their own homes.

Butterfly Skin (Scientific name Epidermolysis Bullosa or EB) is an incurable, rare and terrible genetic condition that affects the skin. It causes the skin to endlessly blister, shear and scar. In severe cases it hurts to walk, eat and bathe.

The skin can be so sensitive that the body must be wrapped in gauze to protect it from the mildest friction. Even the brush of a bed sheet can cause another burn-like blister. Blistering also occurs internally (in the mouth, oesophagus, intestine, airways, urinary tracts and even the inside of the eyelids) leading to further suffering and serious health problems.

Butterfly skin also becomes a disability because people suffering from this condition require intensive daily care from their relatives.

They also tend to lose the use of their hands and feet due to the extent of the blistering and the retraction of the skin in these areas.

Life expectancy is unfortunately short; hence the majority of our members are children.

ADVERTORIAL

36 - WEEKEND WORLD

H

AVING worked in insurance for over 17 years, I have worked in every aspect of insurance from claims to underwriting, sales and customer service. I have gained a wealth of experience and developed this further through examinations to become a certified member of the Charter Insurance Institute (CII). It is this knowledge and experience that I am now able to apply to my new role as Health Insurance Specialist at Ibex Insurance.

After working in health insurance for several years I have found that the most important thing in life to protect is our health. When it comes to choosing the right private health insurance, more often than not we are overwhelmed by the number of companies, products and options available. It can often become confusing and this can lead to us putting off taking out an insurance policy until it is too late.

A true professional My name is Carrie-Ann Harrison and I am the Health Insurance Specialist at Ibex Insurance for the Costa Del Sol

Will I be able to use any doctor or hospital or will I have to use a network?

• You can use their network of doctors and hospitals to maximise the benefits of the policy and therefore the premium will be lower. The network is usually widespread so this type of policy can provide real value for money.

• You can still go outside of their network but be aware that the reimbursement may be lower with usually a monetary cap on doctor consultations.

Will my pre-existing conditions be covered?

In order to find the product that fits your needs, I can go through your requirements on the telephone, in one of our Ibex offices on the Costa Del Sol or at a location more suitable to you. I believe that health insurance is a personal product that requires time and tailoring to the individual. To help you best understand what you want out of your health insurance I have listed some frequently asked questions and answers below to assist you:

• By restricting your cover to treatment just in Spain you will certainly reduce the premium and this could be combined with a travel insurance to cover trips outside of your country of residence.

policies apply the excess to each medical condition. If you are generally healthy and don’t habitually go to the doctor then taking a policy with a slightly higher excess is a good way of reducing the premium.

• Most of the health insurers that we work with have different plans so you can choose the option that best suits your needs.

As a health insurance specialist, my role is to guide you through the process and find the right insurance product that best suits your needs. Every individual is different and everyone’s medical history and personal requirements are also different. This can sometimes make people worry about where and how to start. That is precisely what I am here to do, it is my job to make sure that not only do you get the right insurance policy at the right price to suit your needs, but to provide continual support to make sure that it remains the right insurance product for you.

Do I need an insurance policy for cover just in my country of residence, the rest of Europe or Worldwide?

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

• Generally, if you have an on-going chronic medical condition, requiring check-ups and medication, it will be excluded from the policy. You are usually asked to complete a medical questionnaire and the underwriters will either: - include any previous/on-going condition - exclude the condition for a certain period of time - exclude the condition completely.

What is the excess (Co Payment) and how does it work?

• The excess is the amount that you pay out of your own pocket. It can usually be on an annual basis, however some

• With some insurers you do not need to complete a questionnaire and they will underwrite the policy on a moratorium basis, which means that any medical condition that you have had (usually) in the previous 5 years would be excluded for 2 years. It would only be accepted after the 2 year period if you have not taken medication, consulted with a doctor or experienced symptoms during this period.

Will there be a waiting period before I can claim?

• Check the policy conditions carefully as there could be a waiting period of up to 3 months and even possibly 12 to 18 months for certain medical conditions. The International policies tend not to have this waiting period and if you are moving from one health insurer to another, without a break, then often the waiting period is waived.

Do I need a policy for hospital only treatment or do I want one that covers outpatient (doctor consultations, tests or scans) as well?

• Although a policy that just covers hospital admission will be less expensive, outpatient treatment can get costly so think carefully before excluding this cover.

If you have any questions that I have not listed or would like to arrange a meeting to discuss health insurance, please contact me for a free no obligation quotation. Alternatively if you would just like to meet for some advice on starting the process, please contact me by telephone or email on: 952 887 125 - carrie-ann.harrison@ibexinsure.com

Ibex offers home, pet, car, travel, health and motorbike insurance, among others. For more information on insurance or any more general queries, please contact our friendly and experienced team today.

Sam & Carrie-Ann on 952 887 125, Angela & Shauna on 952 581 561 and Rachelle, Lynette, Michelle, & Lorrain on 350 200 44628.

As your local insurance broker Ibex can find the policy to meet your needs.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

ADVERTORIAL

WEEKEND WORLD - 37

EXPERIENCED HANDS AND A COMPLEX TECHNIQUE ARE NEEDED FOR AESTHETIC WORK WITHIN THE MOUTH CROOKE & LAGUNA - the professional staff at this dental clinic are specialists in all types of dental implants and treatments aimed to make smiles last many years or recover their former splendour Nowadays we are living in the dental implant era and nobody thinks twice about replacing lost teeth. The task, judging by the amount of offers on the market, can seem a simple one yet in many cases this isn’t so. Bad diagnosis and/or incorrect planning of treatments can result in disastrous results. The techniques used, the surgeon’s hands and having a reliable dental technician are key to a successful result.

All this becomes particularly important when work is being done on front teeth as they are the most visible ones in a smile. A failure in this area results in complicated tissue Winnerstechniques of the firsthaving stage of regeneration to be employed to try and return the mouth to as similar as possible a state as Slot before teeth were lost and this is often an impossible mission. the Paradise Club League,

showing prizes.

Another thingtheir to bear in mind is that when work is to be done on front teeth the smile as a whole must be evaluated and decisions made on whether additional plastic surgery to the gums, porcelain veneers or whitening treatments will be needed. Every area of orthodontics should be bought in to create a vision of the smile as a whole.

Here we present a case that came to us of a badly fitted central incisor implant. It had been placed too high up, resulting in destruction of the bone and gum and a pink ceramic piece was used, something inadmissible in a young woman’s smile. The implant had to be removed, work done to regenerate bone and gum before a new implant was put in place and complemented with porcelain veneers on adjacent teeth.

The second case is that of a patient who had had various composite veneers fitted but had failed to achieve the results she was looking for.

The teeth and lips were noticeably out of harmony so we proposed increasing the size of the dental pieces and marking the curve of her smile. Composites were replaced with porcelain veneers to give a more natural look and a shine to the smile, achieving an unbeatable look.

Case 1 after treatment: implant correction

Case 1 before treatment: implant correction

Case 1 before treatment: implant correction

Dr Rosa Gomez Laguna and Dr Eduardo Crooke Glez de Aguilar, Crooke & Laguna dental clinic directors

Case 2 before treatment: composite veneers

Case 2 after treatment: composite veneers

Experts in Full Rehabilitation Case 1 after treatment: composite veneers

Case 2 before treatment: composite veneers

Case 2 after treatment: composite veneers

Meet our highly qualified professionals

Marbella 951 500 100

www.clinicadentalcrookelaguna.com www.clinicadentalcrookelaguna.com

Malaga 952 22 91 92

Benalmadena 952 96 11 98

Churriana 952 43 51 67

Marbella 951 500 100 Malaga 952 22 91 92 Benalmadena 952 96 11 98 Churriana 952 43 51 67

38 - WEEKEND WORLD

FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

Hugh Jackman warns us all about Basal Cell Carcinoma –

BUT WHAT IS IT?

S

KIN cancer has been thrust into the limelight once again after actor Hugh Jackman took to Twitter to tell his followers that he had another basal cell cancer of the skin removed.

“An example of what happens when you don’t use sunscreen,” he wrote. “Basal cell.

Mildest form of cancer. USE SUNSCREEN PLEASE!!”

SO WHAT IS BASAL CELL CANCER? Well there are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The first two are often bundled together as “non-melanoma skin cancer” because they pose a much smaller risk to life than melanoma.

Each year, there are between 2 to 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers reported globally with over 130,000 melanomas. Non-melanoma skin cancers are by far the commonest cancers. In a survey undertaken by WHO globally New Zealand has the highest death rate per 100,000 with a rate of 7.68 %, the UK is ranked in 25% position with a rate of

3.03 % with Spain ranked in 49th Place with a rate of 2.05% (world rankings complied between172 countries).

WHAT CAUSES IT? All three types of skin cancer are related to prolonged exposure to the sun, making them much more common in those with outdoor occupations. Both the duration of sun exposure, and the severity of exposure, particularly sunburn, are important. Even intermittent exposure – taking your shirt off at the weekend to indulge in the weekend sun may simply be a cause.

Those with fairer skin – especially those who burn, rather than tan – are also at higher risk.

Sunbeds also increase the risk of skin cancers; use roughly doubles the risk of squamous cancer and increases the risk of melanoma by about a quarter. Not surprisingly, people who have had one skin cancer are much more likely to get another one.

Fortunately, basal cell carcinomas threaten life exceptionally rarely. The problem is the damage they do to the local skin.

The cancer appears a little like a shirt but-

“An example of what happens when you don’t use sunscreen.

USE SUNSCREEN PLEASE!!”

ton underneath the skin, with a raised shiny edge. Most are easy to recognise, though the smaller the lesion is, the harder it is to be sure of the diagnosis.

The usual treatment is surgical excision, with the removed tissue being examined pathologically to confirm the diagnosis. In theory, doctors can remove basal cell carcinomas if they are away from sensitive areas; in prac-

tice, most are referred to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. As they are generally slow growing, there is no particular urgency in removal.

Melanoma causes over 2,000 deaths a year in the UK and over 4,200 in Spain.

So whether you’re a fan of Jackman or not his celebrity message is one that is worth heeding.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA About 75% of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, or BCC. Usually, BCCs are very slowgrowing and don’t spread to other parts of the body. If they are treated early, most BCCs are completely cured.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA The second most common type of skin cancer in the UK is squamous cell carcinoma, or SCC. Most people with SCC can be cured with simple treatment. Usually, SCCs are slowgrowing and don’t spread to other parts of the body.

MELANOMA This is a less common type of skin cancer than the two other types mentioned above.

Melanoma behaves differently to basal cell and squamous cell cancers. It can grow quickly and needs to be treated early. This section does not cover melanoma, but we have separate information about it.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

Fundraising for World Kidney Day W

ORLD Kidney Day takes place on 10th March 2016, which this year focusses on the important theme of Kidney Disease and Children Act Early to Prevent It. All eight Specsavers Opticas stores in Spain have announced that they are getting behind this event and will be raising money and distributing information about the cause from 15th February until 15th March.

The global optical brand have been inspired to support this important cause, after Martin Blake the Director of Specsavers Opticas in Mallorca came to the rescue of his brother-in-law and donated a kidney in March 2015. His brother-in-law was seriously ill, receiving dialysis at the hospital for seven hours, five times a week whilst he waited for a donor and became weaker. The waiting list for kidneys in the UK is over four years and the doctors didn’t think he had that long to live. Martin bravely put himself forward as a donor and since the transplant his brother-in-law is responding very well.

FUNDRAISING Throughout 2015 Martin and his team have been raising money for Kidney Research and to date have collected 1,300€ for this worthy cause. All the other stores were so impressed by his sacrifice and commitment, that they have also got behind Kidney Research and will all be raising money for the Spanish kidney research charity ALCER in the run up to World Kidney Day. Martin commented, “It was amazing to be able to save a life by becoming an organ donor and seeing the difference it has made to my brother-in-law’s life has been wonderful. However, we’re aware that

WEEKEND WORLD - 39

YOUR AMAZING KIDNEYS The kidneys are complicated and amazing organs that do many essential tasks to keep us healthy.

The main job of your kidneys is to remove toxins and excess water from your blood. Kidneys also help to control your blood pressure, to produce red blood cells and to keep your bones healthy.

Each roughly the size of your fist, kidneys are located deep in the abdomen, beneath the rib cage.

Your kidneys control blood stream levels of many minerals and molecules including sodium and potassium, and help to control blood acidity. Every day your kidneys carefully control the salt and water in your body so that your blood pressure remains the same.

DID YOU KNOW? on average a kidney transplant only lasts 10-15 years and then this cycle could start again if new treatments or cures haven’t been discovered. This is why I am now raising money to fund the research which will hopefully find the cure and stop the misery of dialysis, and waiting for a donor. I am delighted that the other seven Specsavers stores have joined me to fundraise and raise awareness of this low profile disease.”

To find out more about World Kidney Day and how you can get involved visit www.worldkidneyday.org. To support Kidney Research pop into your nearest Specsavers Opticas store and make a donation. To find your nearest store visit www. specsavers.es. Information about ALCER and how you can become a supporter can be found on their website www.alcer.or

Your Kidneys: * Make urine * Remove wastes and extra fluid from your blood * Control your body’s chemical balance * Help control your blood pressure * Help keep your bones healthy * Help you make red blood cell

40 - WEEKEND WORLD

The perfect smile for him & her SWITCH on the television or open a magazine and there they are - perfect teeth. More than hair and definitely more than waistlines, smiles - and more importantly teeth - are often the first things you notice about someone, especially if they are bad.

Americans are obsessed with their teeth. They spend more than any other country on the planet maintaining and perfecting their pearly whites. However, over the last few years this obsession has crossed the pond and now creating that perfect smile has become big business. But is a perfect smile the same as a healthy smile?

Dr Anders, Cosmetic Dentists specialist of The Dentists explains: dentistry is a complex part of medicine that requires experts who are specialized in their own field to ensure that not only do you have beautiful looking teeth, but that you also have healthy teeth. Here at The Dentists we have specialists in Cosmetic Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Orthodontists who can offer our patients the best possible treatment and advice available according to their personal needs.

People often believe that looking after your teeth is simply just about getting an occasional filling of having a tooth removed but in fact there’s a lot more to it – just ask anyone whose suffered with an agonising toothache.

But we look at why the tooth aches and erosion has occurred and correct the problem at its source.

Located in the quiet area of Paniagua in Sotogrande, our clinic is equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art equipment necessary to provide a fully comprehensive, highest quality service in dental health and cosmetic dentistry.

We believe that by using only the best equipment can we provide the best service. And that is what our clients deserve.

www.dentistsotogrande.com

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016 ADVERTORIAL

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

W

WEEKEND WORLD - 41

EEKEND focuses on FOOD & FINE DINING WORLD

SEASONAL FOODS:

Winter, Spring Summer or Autumn - within each issue we will look at what fruits and vegetables are in season

“The artichoke, with a tender heart dressed up like a warrior...” by Pablo Neruda

A

S vegetables go, the artichoke is one of the most intriguing out there with its beautiful armourlike exterior and delicious savoury-sweet heart.

Surprisingly the artichoke is not a vegetable at all but the bud of a flowering plant from the thistle family. Steeped

in history we know that the ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed the delicious, silky juiciness of artichoke hearts and were highly regarded because of its diuretic and medicinal properties.

Around the world the artichoke can be found in countless

varieties, here in Spain the most popular variety is the Blanca de Tudela: On first glance, the artichokes looks quite intimidating but don’t let this put you off, steamed, grilled, roasted, or sautéed, the artichokes is one of spring’s most delectable treats.

Artichoke, pear, Brazil nut & goat’s cheese salad

Artichoke soup & parsnip crisps

Nutty roast artichokes go beautifully with the sweetness of the pears and tangy goat’s cheese. A lovely spring salad.

1 tbsp mild olive oil

4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for toasting 100g shelled brazil nuts, roughly chopped 600g jerusalem artichokes, scrubbed clean and chopped into 2cm chunks, or small ones left whole 4 conference pears, cored and quartered 8 fresh sage leaves Splash white balsamic vinegar Good pinch sea salt flakes Zest and juice 1 lemon 100g soft rindless goat’s cheese 1. Heat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. Heat a little of the olive oil in a small frying pan and toast the brazils until golden, tossing every now and then. Set aside to cool.

2. Put the artichokes in a large roasting tin and toss with the quartered pears (reserving 4 pear quarters), sage leaves, balsamic vinegar, 4 tbsp oil and sea salt. Roast for 45 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through, until the artichokes are lightly golden and chewy. Remove from the oven, squeeze over the lemon juice and leave to cool slightly.

3. Transfer the roasted artichokes and pears to a large serving dish using a slotted spoon, then gently toss through the nuts and lemon zest. Finely slice the remaining fresh pears and toss with the rest of the salad. To serve, top with dollops of the goat’s cheese, drizzling over any remaining roasting juices.

This artichoke soup recipe is a light starter that can be made in advance, making the rest of the cooking easier.

Knob of butter 2 onions, finely diced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 medium (about 150g) floury potato 6 medium Jerusalem artichokes 1 litre vegetable stock 250ml milk, hot 2 tsp thick double cream, to garnish Extra-virgin olive oil, to drizzle 1. Gently heat the oil and butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. Season with salt. Cover and sweat over a low heat for 10 minutes, until softened.

2. Meanwhile, peel and chop the potato and artichokes. Add to the pan with a few tbsp stock and sweat over a very low heat for 5 minutes. Once the potato and artichokes have softened, just cover with the stock. When the artichokes are tender, purée in a food processor.

Add the milk and season.

3. For the crisps, peel the parsnips. Discard the skin, but keep peeling until you get to the woody core.

4. Fill a deep pan a third full with oil and heat to 160°C. To check, drop a cube of bread into the oil. If it goes golden brown within a minute, it’s ready. Fry the parsnips for 1-2 minutes until golden and crisp. Immediately toss the crisps in salt and pepper. Cool and drain on kitchen paper.

5. Reheat the soup, then divide between cups and garnish each with the cream, a drop or two of olive oil and a grinding of black pepper. Serve with the parsnip crisps.

Wintry Niçoise salad 400g Jerusalem artichokes, halved 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 fennel bulb Juice of 1 Seville orange (or the sharpest orange you can get) 4 free-range eggs, at room temperature 100g cooked butter beans or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 1 head radicchio, chicory or trevisse, leaves roughly torn 100g black or purple olives 2 tbsp capers, rinsed 200g can tuna in olive oil, drained 8 anchovy fillets

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Toss the artichokes in 1 tablespoon oil and roast for about 30 minutes, or until they are tender and slightly caramelised.

Set aside.

2. Meanwhile, discard the tough, outer leaves of the fennel and slice the heart finely. In a large bowl, combine the remaining oil with the orange juice and lots of black pepper to make a dressing. Add the fennel, toss in the dressing and set aside to marinate.

3. Soft-boil the eggs. For creamy rather than truly runny yolks, add the eggs to boiling, salted water and cook for 7 minutes. Plunge into cold water to cool immediately. Peel as soon as you can handle and halve.

4. Add the warm artichokes, beans, lettuce leaves, olives, capers and tuna to the fennel and toss everything in the dressing. Season to taste. Serve in bowls and garnish.

Recipes supplied courtesy of www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk

42 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

FOCUS ON FOOD & FINE DINING

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 43

It’s a long way from Newkey Brown!

I

T seems Sting can do no wrong, he has earned millions of pounds thanks to his rasping voice, can make love for hours on end and now his wine ‘Sister Moon’ produced at his Tuscan estate has been recognised as one of Italy’s finest wines.

The red wine, named after one of his songs, is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes which give it a taste that is “silky and smooth, with mature tannins and hints of chocolate, liquorice and blackberries” says Stevie Kim the managing director of OperaWine, a prestigious wine fair held in Verona every April.

Sting first became interested in the art of viticulture 15 years ago when he and his wife Trudie purchased Il Palagio a Tuscan villa of 900 acres, which has been making wine since the mid 1500s. Run down after years of neglect Sting and his wife set about loving restoring the house to its former glory. With

the help of Alan York a world renowned consultant for biodynamic winegrowers, Paolo Caciorgna a local oenologist and Paolo Rossi who runs the day – day activities of the estate, it now produces 4 reds all named after his songs – Sister Moon, Casino delle Vie, When We Dance, and – inevitably – Message In a Bottle.

SISTER MOON - 2008 Named after Sting’s song “Sister Moon” this was the first IGT Toscano wine produced at Il Palagio.

With an alcohol content of 14.9% it is aged for 24 months in new French barriques.

Sting and Jimmy Fallon have a wine-tasting interview on The Tonight Show

And as it seems Sting is not the only celeb to own a vineyard, we’ve all heard about Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt French vineyard where they produce Miraval Rose, but did you

know that the presidential candidate Donald Trump had a winery in Virginia or that David Beckham brought victoria a vineyard for her 34th birthday.

Forget wine matching: it’s all about juices JUICE has finally moved up to the top table, no longer associated with just yoga loving, macrobiotic loovies. The juicing trend or “juice pairing” is popping up as an alternative to wine in restaurants all over and is seemingly revolutionizing dining habits.

Inspired by Rene Redzepi at his award-winning Noma restaurant in Denmark, the art of juicing is about pairing the perfect juice to match your meal just as you would with a wine matching the sweetness, acidity, mouth-feel and aroma combinations so that it enhances your meal.

With a new generation of juicing which includes fermentation, herbal infusions, exotic aromatics and complex layers of flavour designed to complement ingredients on the plate. Juice has definitely come a long way from just a glass of orange juice at the breakfast table!

SO HOW DOES IT WORK? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pairing food and juices. The broader your palate is for flavours the easier it is to find different flavours to complement one another.

AS FAR AS FLAVOURS GO; • Blackcurrant, raspberry and blueberry flavours go well with salads, chicken, lamb and beef • Apple, peach, feijoa and mangos blend well with shellfish, risotto, white fish and grilled or smoked vegetables; • Coconut & pineapples juice blends well with peppery dishes such as tacos

• Orange pairs best with bread, salads, fruit, duck and mussels.

If you’re attempting to replace wine with a juice, below we highlight what to try instead of your favourite tipple WHITES: • Light Chardonnay/Chenin Blanc: try apple or pear juice, white cranberry juice • Richer styles of Chardonnay try peach, mango, passionfruit or tropical fruit juice • Semillon: try pineapple juice, tropical fruit juice

WHEN WE DANCE - 2010 The most recent addition to the Il Palagio cellar is this charming, every day chianti, again named after a Sting song When We Dance. With 95% Sangiovese blended with Canaiolo and Colorino grapes, the alcohol content is 13%.

Casino delle vie - 2009 This wine is named after a property on the estate and when translated it means “little house by the roads”.

Colloquially, this can also mean “the muddling of the ways” suggesting philosophical musings on the paths we all take in life.

• Sauvignon Blanc try elderflower cordial, traditional lemonade • Riesling: try white grape juice, lime cordial, sparkling apple juice ROSE & REDS • Rosé and light reds such as Beaujolais try cranberry juice, red grape juice, strawberry cordial, watermelon juice • Pinot Noir try pomegranate, raspberry or raspberry and cranberry juice • Merlot, Carmenère and Shiraz try forest fruits, plum juice • Cabernet Sauvignon try blackcurrant juice/ cordial, blackberry, and elderberry CHAMPAGNE: • Champagne/sparkling wine try elderflower spritzer, sparkling apple juice

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE - 2011 Message in a Bottle now joins our portfolio of widely acclaimed wines. A versatile and very drinkable Toscana IGT, this wine compliments many dishes.

With an alcohol content of 13.2% it is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

44 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

Healthy & delicious snacks at Casino Marbella E VERY day, from midday, Casino Marbella offers a very special selection of snacks made with the very best products. Big hamburgers, sandwichs, kebabs and many other menus will be served at the Paradise Slot Bar and at the Gaming Bar from 8 pm. We recommended the blackened spaghetti with cuttlefish ink and American style king prawns. The Casino Marbella Restaurant is famous for its slice cured “Jamon Iberico”. It is the real jewel and it is inexcusable not to taste it. Choose from our extensive wine list and enjoy the experience in the best of environments, where unforgettable moments pass.

Don’t forget to book your table! Phone: 952 81 40 00 Opening hours: From 9pm until 3am Visit www.casinomarbella.com Please note that it is necessary to bring your National Identification Card (DNI), Passport or Driver’s Licence to enter the Casino

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

FOCUS ON FOOD & FINE DINING

WEEKEND WORLD - 45

MEATY MIXOLOGY HESTON Blumenthal has a lot to answer for, after all he was the architect of taking a popular dish which had tradition and mixing it together with something quite vulgar take snail porridge for example. Now it seems that mixologists from around the world have caught on to his “mash it together” trend and the result – meat cocktails!

When it comes to cocktail ingredients, meat is probably the last thing you’d expect to find in your tipple. But, that’s all about to change. Gone are the days when a kebab was consumed after the night’s events, today bartenders around the world are cooking up all sort of meaty delights to be enjoyed pre-alcohol induced starvation.

THE CLASSIC HANGOVER CURE Fans of the classic hangover sandwich “bacon and egg” can now enjoy it in a carnivore-friendly cocktail. A revamp of the classic whiskey sour this perfect breakfast drink is created using Jack Daniels and smoked bacon and maple syrup.

Decorate with a garnish of maple bacon and a gummy egg sweet.

BARBACOA Perhaps the granddaddy of all these meaty cocktails, the Barbacoa, Spanish for “barbecue.” Is as the name sug-

gests a mix of barbeque meats. Made with your choice of tequila or mezcal, chipotle, slices of red bell pepper, ginger syrup, agave nectar, lime pieces, and a piece of hickory-smoked beef jerky, this thick, smoky, spicy, sweet concoction is truly the closest thing to liquid BBQ.

WINGIN’ IT You’ll make no bones about liking the Wingin’ It cocktail, a drinkable twist on spicy chicken wings. A modern twist to the Bloody Mary and made with anejo tequila, lime juice, carrot juice, ginger syrup, chicken stock, and a dash of Tabasco, the orange-hued drink is garnished with a gorgonzola-stuffed celery stock. Think salty-sweet with a kick.

SPANISH SENSATION Cava and chorizo – you might not think it but it’s a match made in heaven, and they’re both Spanish so they’re bound to speak the same language,? Well now thanks to Copa de Cava you can enjoy them at the same time. Mixed chorizo infused al vino caviar, chorizo-infused gin and topped with Anna de Codorniu Brut Cava and served with a rosemary garnish and a chorizo crisp.

It’s Barcelona in a glass, nice.

THE FIRST GASTROMERCADO IN FUENGIROLA LA Gallery the first gastromercado in Fuengirola opened its doors at the beginning of the month to much aplomb. This new restaurant concept born with the firm intention of becoming a centre of cultural and gastronomic designed to merge food with leisure and culture a growing trend that in has already seen great results in Cordoba, Madrid and Seville.

With an investment of 760,000 euros, this new market combines market stalls where fresh food such as meat or seafood, Iberian products, international cuisine, and processed products. It also features a brewery, a café, and a cocktail bar for evening entertainment. In addition throughout the year organisers plan to host cultural events and exhibitions such as wine tasting, art exhibitions and book presentation blending together gastronomy and culture under one roof.

In addition, the vendors who run the stalls as well as the companies, distributors and shops are all local and all work in the same field with the same philosophy -To provide good food, with excellent customer services.

Situated in the heart of the city, La Galería can be found in the historic and commercial centre between España and Miguel de Cervantes street a few meters from the promenade and just five minutes from the train station and buses. It’s located in an area of 600 square meters and has the capacity for 250 people.

Open every day from 12:00 am to midnight except on Fridays and Saturdays, when it closes at 1:00 am. www. mercadolagaleria.com

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

46 - WEEKEND WORLD

W TEASERS...

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Lead; direct Mix in a bowl Brooch Glass pieces for a window Brief; abrupt Mean woman in a fairy tale Lurch; swerve Hardwood tree Cuban dance Authentic; real Ferris wheel or merry-go-round Afternoon hour Not boastful __ up; bound Shaping tool Perceive; feel Well-__; very informed Secondhand Cherub Inquires

Solution to puzzle from issue 14

DOWN 1 Ending for shoe or neck 2 Boring tools 3 Sickening 4 Needle’s hole 5 Soothe 6 Foe 7 Curry & others 8 Laceration 9 Inventor __ Whitney 10 Changed courses 11 Keen on 12 Address abbrs.

13 Early harp 19 Northeastern state 21 Someone who brings bad luck 24 Passes away 25 Conceal 26 Radar screen image 27 Numerical comparison

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SUDOKU Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzle games of all time. The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9. As a logic puzzle, Sudoku is also an excellent brain game. If you play Sudoku regluarly, you will soon start to see improvements in your concentration and overall brain power.

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ACROSS 1 Lois __; Clark Kent’s love 5 Tranquillity 10 Lab bottle 14 Take __; subtract 15 Invalidate 16 Covetousness 17 Classic board game 18 Metric length 20 Suffix for heir or poet 21 Belushi and Carrey 22 Ascended 23 Enlighten 25 Rush 26 Smart 28 Actor Hal 31 Rubber glove material 32 Opening in a forest 34 Right this minute 36 “__ what it is”

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WORD SEARCH Find and circle all of the Photography terms that are hidden in the grid.

The remaining letters spell the name of a type of camera.

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Youths Pleas Din Pistols Tell a fib Songbird Deep cut Many a Kosovo resident 40 Nuisances 41 Easy to handle 43 Elevated 44 Billy club 46 Wash off suds 47 Island banquet 48 Says no more 49 Stare 50 Engagement symbol 52 Frail 53 Likelihood 55 Neighbor of Canada: abbr.

56 Fellows 57 Refrain syllable

C L O S E U P E D S F I L T E R X C I E N G D A U A A M L E F L E F E A R G E N I S W F R R E A I N R S O H L O N R L L O N K E V E X R U G D C S L P I S E L A R E I L I M S F N E A I A P T S B T O R T L N I O A O I V L N R I H C N O E I G G O P G I C H E L I A N G O M E S M B E X T T H R C L E F P G I N R O L A T E M A O E T U O N O E E L T P O T M R H R E T H R O P G T C R P R T H L E O U G T N N P T E T O N U A A N R V O T O U I S T I E R H H A T N S I O I A C H Z T L E F R L L P L R N T T E S P S W O L L E B X P E C A E I A E R U S O P X E R E D N U M T B P N Solution to puzzle from issue 14 H S A L F B D R E D N I F W E I V A G R E G R A L N E R A N G E F I N D E R E V I T A G E N O T E P A N O R A M A E O H S T O H R P R O C E S S I N G A

Secret message: TIMES SQUARE IN NEW YORK CITY

APERTURE BALANCE BELLOWS BLOWUP CAMERA CLOSE UP COLOR CONTRAST CROPPING

DARKROOM DEVELOPER ENLARGEMENT ENLARGER FILTER FIXING BATH FLASH FOCAL LENGTH FRAME

HOT SHOE LIGHT METER LIGHTING NEGATIVE spacer OVEREXPOSURE PANNING PANORAMA PARALLAX PHOTOFINISHER

POSITIVE PRINT PROCESSING RANGEFINDER RETOUCHING SAFELIGHT SATURATION SHUTTER SLIDE

STOP BATH TELEPHOTO LENS TINT TONE TRIPOD UNDEREXPOSURE VIEWFINDER ZOOM LENS

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 47

W EIRD W ORLD

INDIA

A goat and its owner have been arrested in Chhattisgarh state, central India after a complaint was filed alleging that the goat was trespassing and had repeatedly caused damage to the garden and its plant’s of a neighbour.

The goat, named Babli, and its owner Abdul Hassan were held in custody after their neighbour Judge Hemant Ratre filed a complaint to police. The judge claimed that the female goat scaled the boundary wall and devoured flowers and vegetables on his property.

CODEWORD 4 2 3 11 26

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WORD BLOCK From the 9-letter grid, find words of 4 letters or more.

Words must contain the middle letter, and there is at least one nine-letter word.

Target: 24 words

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It sounds like something out of a Haans Christen Anderson fairy-tale “THE BEARDED LADY AND THE LOBSTER BOY FALL IN LOVE”

What do you do when your sex doll has passed its sell by date? Use it as a scarecrow of course!

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AMERICA

CHINA

Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number! To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters.

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The goat’s owner Mr Hassan has admitted the creature’s guilt and promised it would not damage the garden again.

Mr Hassan has been charged with damaging and destroying the judge’s property and trespass - and faces up to over two years in prison if found guilty.

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And that’s exactly what a local rapeseed farmer in Chengdu China has done. The doll believed to have belonged to a local construction worker who worked near the field was found by the farmer who taking advantage of its human (ish) appearance decided to use it to protect his field of rapeseed to ward off local crows and unwanted pest.

Wearing a yellow construction helmet, and with her breasts exposed, the doll definitely stands out with images of the doll in her new role spreading across social media Rapeseed, which is used as cooking oil in the UK, is consumed in China as a vegetable. It is reportedly the fastest growing oil product in the UK, thanks in part to its nutty flavour and health benefits

But that’s what has happened over in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. Jessa Olmstead, 30, and Grady Stiles III, 39, met whilst working at The Venice Beach ‘Freakshow’ and after dating for a while are now committed to take their low affair to the next level.

Jessa who is renowned for her long facial hair, and Grady for his hands and feet which look like claws feel they are a match-made in heaven.

The Bearded Lady said, “If people talk about us, let ’em talk – he’s gorgeous and I’m fuzzy.

Solution to Wordblock puzzzle from issue 14 downsizes - downsize - doziness - dizens - dozens - dizen - dozen - dozes - sized - sizes - winze wizes - zines - zoned - zones - doze - size - swiz - zeds - zine - zone

Solution to CODEWORD from issue 14

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A B L E D O G M A T I C

UK

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O L Y O R D F

Chessington World of Adventurers is recruiting and the skill set is well ...bizarre. The successful candidate must be prepared to ‘sit around for the majority of the day’ ‘enjoy being admired for several hours a day’ feel ‘comfortable wearing a warm, thick coat all day long’, and have a ‘high fibre diet of 14 kgs of bamboo a day’. Yes the zoo is recruiting for a panda.

An ideal job it seems for Jeremy Kyle participants, who sit around all day doing nothing, thinking they’re gods gift!

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Solution to SUDOKU puzzles from issue 14

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

48 - WEEKEND WORLD

W CLASSIFIEDS...

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FINANCE

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WEEKEND WORLD - 49

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

50 - WEEKEND WORLD

W BUSINESS CARDS ESTEPONA

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

PET CORNER

Y

OUR relationship with your dog is special. You are responsible for its care and welfare. Eventually there comes a most difficult life or death decision for the welfare of the animal and for you and your family.

The decision is a personal one but it need not be a solitary one. Your vet and your family and friends can assist and support you.

Consider not only what is best for your dog but also what is best for you and your family.

Quality of life is important for pets and people alike.

If your dog can no longer enjoy the things it once took pleasure from or if there is more pain than quality in its life, you may need to consider euthanasia. Likewise, if your dog is terminally ill or critically injured, or if the financial or emotional cost of treatment is beyond your means, euthanasia may be the only option.

Your vet understands attachment to pets and can examine and evaluate your dog’s condition, estimate your dog’s chances for recovery and discuss potential disabilities and long-term problems. A vet can explain the medical options and possible outcomes.

But he cannot make the euthanasia decision for you.

It is very important that you fully understand your dog’s condition. If there is any part of the diagnosis or the implications for your dog’s future that you don’t understand, ask to have it explained again. Rarely will the situation require an immediate decision. Usually, you will have time to review the facts.

Eventually you may wish to discuss the disposal of your dog’s body with your family and vet. You have several options and your vet can provide information about burial, cremation or other alternatives.

Euthanasia might be necessary if a dog has become vicious, dangerous, or unmanageable. However, some undesirable and abnormal behaviour can be changed with a qualified behaviourist. Economic and emotional problems together with changes in lifestyle may also force an owner to consider euthanasia of a dog. Obviously it is better to find another solution or an alternative home for these pets.

HOW DO YOU TELL YOUR FAMILY? They are usually aware of the problem.

However, you should review with them the information you have received from your vet. Long-term medical care can be a burden that you and your family may be unable to bear emotionally or financially, and this should be discussed openly and honestly.

Encourage family members to express their thoughts and feelings. Even if you have reached a decision, it is important that family members, especially children, have their feelings considered.

Children have special relationships with their pets. Excluding or protecting children from this decision-making process, because they are thought to be too young to understand, may only complicate their grieving.

Children respect straightforward, truthful, and simple answers. If they are prepared adequately, children usually are able to accept a dog’s death.

Euthanasia is almost always accomplished by injection of a death-inducing drug. Your vet may administer a tranquillizer first to re-

WEEKEND WORLD - 51

WE INVITE READERS’ COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ON DOGS AND CATS. PLEASE SEND THEM TO: info@simplymedia-group.com

Knowing when the time is right to say goodbye

lax your dog. Following the death-inducing injection, your dog will immediately go into a quiet and irreversible deep unconsciousness. Death will come quickly and painlessly.

The act of saying goodbye is an important step in managing the natural and healthy feelings of grief, sorrow, and sense of loss.

Your dog is an important part of your life and it is natural to feel you are losing a friend.

Once the decision for euthanasia has been made, you and other family members may want to say goodbye to your dog. A last evening with your dog at home or a visit to the dog at the vet hospital may be appropriate. Family members who want to be alone with the animal should be allowed to do so.

Farewells are always difficult.

After your dog has died, it is natural and normal to feel grief and sorrow. The grieving process includes accepting the reality of your loss, accepting that the loss and accompanying feelings are painful, and adjusting to your new life that no longer includes your dog.

There are many signs of grief, but not everyone experiences them all, or in the same order. Even before death has occurred, your reaction may be to deny your dog is sick or injured when you learn the extent of your dog’s illness or injuries.

Anger may follow denial. This anger can be directed toward people you normally love and respect, including your family and vet.

People will often say things that they do not really mean, perhaps hurting those whom they do not mean to hurt. You may blame yourself or others for not recognising the illness earlier or for being careless and allowing the dog to be injured.

You may also feel guilt and depression. This

is when you usually feel the greatest sense of loss. The tears flow, there are knots in your stomach, and you are drained of all your energy. Day-to-day tasks can seem impossible.

Sometimes you may even ask yourself if you can go on without your dog. The answer is yes, but there are times when special assistance may be helpful.

Once you and your family come to terms with your feelings, you can begin to resolve and accept your dog’s death. When you have reached this acceptance, the feelings of anger, denial, guilt, and depression may reappear. If this does occur, the intensity of these feelings will be much less, and with time, these feelings will be replaced with fond memories.

Although the signs of grief apply whether the loss is of a loving dog or a human loved

one, grieving is a personal process. Some people take longer than others to come to terms with it. If you understand that these are normal reactions, you will be better prepared to cope with your own feelings and to help others face theirs. Family members should be reassured that sorrow and grief are normal, natural responses to death.

Often, well-meaning family and friends may not realise how important your dog was to you or the intensity of your grief. Being honest with yourself and others about how you feel is best. If despair mounts, talk to someone who will listen about your dog and the illness and death.

The death of a dog can upset you emotionally, especially when euthanasia is involved.

Some people may feel they would never want another dog. A new dog may help others get over the loss more quickly. Just as grief is a personal experience, the decision of when, if ever, to bring a new dog into your home is also a personal one.

If a family member is having difficulty accepting the dog’s death, bringing a new dog into the home before that individual has resolved his or her grief may imply that the life of the deceased dog was unworthy of the grief that is still being felt.

Family members should come to an agreement on the appropriate time to acquire a new dog. Although you can never replace the dog you lost you can get another one to share your life.

The period from birth to old age is much briefer in pets than in people. Death is part of the life cycle for all creatures. It cannot be avoided, but its impact can be met with understanding and compassion. Try to recall the good times you spent with your dog. By remembering the pleasure of those times, you can realise your dog was worthy of your grief.

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Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

52 - WEEKEND WORLD

W

EEKEND focuses on SPORT WORLD

Bubba Watson triumphs by one shot at Riviera

B

UBBA Watson clinched the Northern Trust Open on Sunday for a second time in three years, sealing victory by one shot after a wildly fluctuating final round at sunny Riviera.

A stroke in front overnight, the American left-hander twice fell two off the pace as first Adam Scott and then Jason Kokrak broke clear but he regained control of the tournament with two birdies in the last three holes.

Watson, who has always loved playing on the iconic Riviera Country Club layout, shot 68 on a breezy afternoon to land his ninth PGA Tour title with a 15-under total of 269.

Australian Scott, who after an electrifying start that included an eagle and three birdies in his first six holes, carded a roller-coaster 67 to share second place with long-hitting American Kokrak (68).

World number three Rory McIlroy squandered a fast start with an erratic putting display as he shot 75 to finish nine shots off the pace. A final-round shootout was always on the cards and the day began explosively as playing com-

Mark Cavendish puts his losing streak behind him

MARK Cavendish has finally brought his losing streak to an end by winning the opening leg of the tour of Qatar.

Having not won a race since stage seven of the 2015 Tour de France, Cavendish has blasted to his first triumph with new team Dimension Data wining nine of the races of the tour so far.

Cavendish has worked very hard over the winter preparing for the six-discipline omnium he also has his sights set on a Olympic medal, if selected

panions Scott and McIlroy both sank lengthy putts to eagle the par-five first, Scott sinking a 36-footer and McIlroy a 24-footer.

By the time Watson lined up a three-foot birdie at the same hole, five players were level with him at the top of the leader board, at 12 under.

Though Watson briefly regained his one-shot advantage with his birdie at the first, he was soon overtaken by the red-hot Scott, who drained putts from 32 feet at the third, 20 feet at the fourth and four feet at the sixth to move two strokes clear.

Scott stumbled with a double-bogey at the eighth, after his tee shot ended up in a creek bed dividing the two fairways on the hole, as the leaderboard bunched up again before Kokrak moved two ahead with a four-foot birdie putt at the 13th. However, Kokrak also faltered, with a bogey at the 15th after he over-hit the green with an adrenalin-fuelled approach, and Watson took control for good with birdies at the 16th and 17th.

KYRGIOS WINS FIRST ATP TITLE IN MARSEILLE THE promising 20-year-old with the brash attitude, big game and outlandish talent hammered down 17 aces to earn the scalp of former U.S. Open champion Cilic in the final.

It concluded a dramatic breakthrough week for Kyrgios, who had previously garnered almost as many headlines for his on-court misbehaviour as his obvious rare ability.

The man from Canberra also beat two top10 ranked players in Richard Gasquet and Tomas Berdych plus the 12th-ranked Cilic, and did not lose a set in the tournament, his serve being unbroken in 47 games.

Kyrgios, whose ranking of 41 will shoot up, was playing in his second ATP final after finishing runner-up in Estoril last year but his maiden victory seems sure to be the first of many.

He is the first player under the age of 21 to down top 10 players in consecutive matches since Juan Martin del Potro beat Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer to lift the 2009 U.S. Open crown. “I played my first final last year and was looking for my first title,” a delighted Kyrgios told the ATP website.

“But I didn’t really expect to win this title this week after having a couple of weeks off.

But from the first round I started playing really well and just gained confidence as I kept winning matches.”

KYRGIOS ELATED Kyrgios had to withdraw from a tournament in Rotterdam the previous week with an elbow injury but showed no signs of discomfort as he put Cilic under pressure from the start.

Australian Nick Kyrgios, widely fancied to be the next superstar of world tennis, demonstrated just why as he claimed his first ATP title in the Marseille Open by beating Croatian Marin Cilic 6-2 7-6(3)

He converted his eighth break point for a 3-1 lead in the opening set before capturing a second break in the seventh game and then serving out to love to take the set.

Cilic had a chance to force a decider with a set point in the 10th game but Kyrgios held firm and served out the match with an ace in the tiebreak after 85 minutes.

Kyrgios’s elation in his second tournament of the season was a far cry from some of last year’s negative headlines.

In August, the Australian received a suspended 28-day ban and a $25,000 fine for a vulgar comment he made towards Stanislas Wawrinka at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Two months later, Kyrgios was fined for a verbal outburst during his first-round match at the Shanghai Masters.

He began the year in eyebrow-raising fashion by answering his phone on court before a mixed doubles game at the Australian Open.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 53 Barclays Premier League Table

Conte looks to be headed for Chelsea ANTONIO Conte has reached an agreement in principle to become the next Chelsea manager, according to reports in the Gazzetta dello Sport.

The former Juventus boss, 46, is believed to be keen to get back into club football after his contract with Italy expires at the end of Euro 2016.

The move to the Premier league would be Conte’s first job outside of Italy, he has previously managed over Serie A clubs, Siene, Juventus and Atalanta.

Liverpool discuss multi-million pound deal with China ITw is understood that Liverpool are in talks with three Chinese companies to sell the naming rights and sponsorship of their new main stand. The improved main stand which will open next season will see the Reds add 9,000 more seats to their Anfield stadium increasing the capacity to 54,000 According to reports, the club’s commercial advisor Billy Hogan has travelled to China and is brokering deals with megarich Chinese businesses for naming rights to this part of the stadium, which could be worth between £70m and £90m over a ten year period.

Done deal!

THE premiership transfer window has just ended so news of a transfer already completed for next season seems slightly absurd but according to reports in Italian press Lazio president Claudio Lotito has let slip that he has concluded a deal with Manchester United for Felipe Anderson.

Anderson 22, was linked with United in January, when two bids made by the Red Devils were turned down however it now appears that the Italian giants have sold the player to United for a sum of €60 million. The news of the transfer broke when Lazio was overheard boasting to Crotone FC sporting director Giuseppe Ursino that “I signed Felipe Anderson for €8m and have already re-sold him for €60m. Next year he’s going to Manchester United.”

P Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Leicester 26 15 8 3 48 29 19 53 2 Tottenham 26 14 9 3 47 20 27 51 3 Arsenal 26 15 6 5 41 23 18 51 4 Man City 26 14 5 7 48 28 20 47 5 Man Utd 26 11 8 7 33 24 9 41 6 Southampton 26 11 7 8 34 24 10 40 7 West Ham 26 10 10 6 40 31 9 40 8 Liverpool 26 10 8 8 38 36 2 38 9 Watford 26 10 6 10 29 28 1 36 10 Stoke 26 10 6 10 27 32 -5 36 11 Everton 26 8 11 7 46 35 11 35 12 Chelsea 26 8 9 9 38 36 2 33 13 Crystal Palace 26 9 5 12 27 32 -5 32 14 West Brom 26 8 8 10 24 32 -8 32 15 Bournemouth 26 7 7 12 30 44 -14 28 16 Swansea 26 6 9 11 24 34 -10 27 17 Norwich 26 6 6 14 30 50 -20 24 18 Newcastle 26 6 6 14 27 49 -22 24 19 Sunderland 26 6 5 15 32 50 -18 23 20 Aston Villa 26 3 7 16 20 46 -26 16

Sky Bet Championship Table P Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Hull 31 18 6 7 47 19 28 60 2 Burnley 32 16 11 5 50 26 24 59 3 Middlesbr. 30 17 7 6 39 16 23 58 4 Brighton 32 15 12 5 41 34 7 57 5 Derby 32 14 12 6 43 28 15 54 6 Sheff Wed 32 14 11 7 49 34 15 53 7 Cardiff 32 12 13 7 42 34 8 49 8 Birmingham 31 13 9 9 38 30 8 48 9 Ipswich 31 13 9 9 40 39 1 48 10 Preston 32 11 12 9 30 29 1 45 11 Nottm Forest 31 10 12 9 31 27 4 42 t2 QPR 32 9 13 10 38 39 -1 40 13 Wolves 32 10 10 12 40 43 -3 40 14 Brentford 32 11 7 14 43 51 -8 40 15 Huddersfield 32 10 8 14 43 44 -1 38 16 Reading 31 9 10 12 33 33 0 37 17 Leeds 31 8 13 10 29 34 -5 37 18 Fulham 32 8 11 13 50 53 -3 35 19 Blackburn 30 7 13 10 28 27 1 34 20 Bristol City 32 8 10 14 29 48 -19 34 21 MK Dons 32 8 7 17 25 44 -19 31 22 Rotherham 32 7 5 20 36 57 -21 26 23 Bolton 32 4 13 15 31 53 -22 25 24 Charlton 32 5 10 17 26 59 -33 25

Spanish BBVA La Liga Table P Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Barcelona 25 20 3 2 67 20 47 63 2 Atl Madrid 25 17 4 4 35 11 24 55 3 Real Madrid 25 16 6 3 71 24 47 54 4 Villarreal 25 14 7 4 30 18 12 49 5 Sevilla 25 11 8 6 36 26 10 41 6 Celta de Vigo 25 11 5 9 38 44 -6 38 7 Eibar 25 10 6 9 40 34 6 36 8 Ath Bilbao 25 10 5 10 35 35 0 35 9 Real Sociedad 25 9 6 10 35 34 1 33 10 Dep. Coruña 25 6 14 5 33 31 2 32 11 Valencia 25 7 10 8 30 26 4 31 12 Málaga 25 8 7 10 22 22 0 31 13 Real Betis 25 6 9 10 19 34 -15 27 14 Getafe 25 7 5 13 26 39 -13 26 15 Rayo Vallecano 25 6 7 12 34 51 -17 25 16 Espanyol 25 7 4 14 22 48 -26 25 17 Sp. de Gijón 25 6 6 13 28 42 -14 24 18 Las Palmas 25 5 6 14 24 40 -16 21 19 Levante 25 5 5 15 24 45 -21 20 20 Granada CF 25 5 5 15 26 51 -25 20

All results as at 34.02.2016

SPORT NEWS

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

54 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPORT NEWS

HAAS AIM FOR POINTS WITH THEIR ‘VERY FIRST’ F1 CAR

F

ORMULA One newcomer Haas, the sport’s first US-owned team in 30 years, presented their 2016 car at the weekend with a grey and red livery and the designation VF-16 to mark it out as the ‘Very First’.

“Our goal with this car is to score points,” declared Principal Guenther Steiner, who previously worked in Formula One with Jaguar and then Red Bull when the Austrian energy drinks company bought that team.

“First, we need to go out there and show that we can do the job, that we can finish races, that we are respected by the fans and other teams in the paddock. Then, we want to score points. That is the ultimate goal.”

The car, designed in Italy by Dallara and powered by Ferrari, made its first public ap-

pearance on Monday at the Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

Frenchman Romain Grosjean and Mexican Esteban Gutierrez, who was a Ferrari reserve last season after previously racing for Sauber, are the Haas drivers.

The season starts in Australia on March 20.

Haas are Formula One’s first completely new team since 2010, when Lotus Racing, Hispania and Virgin Racing made their debuts. Only the latter still survives after changing it’s name to Marussia and now Manor.

Hispania (HRT) folded in 2012 and Lotus Racing, which became Team Lotus and then Caterham, disappeared after the 2014 season. Neither scored a point.

Frenchman Romain Grosjean (top) and Mexican Esteban Gutierrez are the Haas drivers

Haas have forged close links with Ferrari, however, taking most of their components from the sport’s most successful team as well as engine and gearbox. Ferrari won three races last year and were the closest challengers to champions Mercedes.

Team founder and chairman Gene Haas is co-owner of the successful Stewart-Haas NASCAR team and his Haas Automation business are the Formula One outfit’s primary sponsor.

Formula 1 set for qualifying change FORMULA 1 could have a new qualifying format as early as this season after team bosses agreed the change at talks in Switzerland on Tuesday.

Sources confirmed to Reuters that the Formula One commission meetings in Geneva had produced “constructive development” on topics including agreement on a new elimination-style qualifying.

However any change was subject to final approval by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) World Motor Sport Council next month.

The meetings of the core strategy group, which includes the top six teams, the FIA and commercial rights holder, and broader Formula One commission had been due to discuss major changes for 2017 to make racing more exciting.

However, specialist motorsport websites reported the qualifying change could be introduced this season with an outline agreement in place.

Qualifying formats have changed repeatedly over the years, ranging from each car doing a single lap alone to a frenetic all-out battle for pole with all cars on track at once.

SHOOTOUT The current version is divided into three phases in a one-hour period divided by short breaks. The slowest six cars are eliminated at the end of each of the first two sessions before a final shootout for pole involving 10 cars.

However, world champions Mercedes have been dominant in qualifying in the last two years and turned that advantage into a string of wins -- they won 16 of 19 races last year and have taken 32 of the last 38.

Under the new proposal, the slowest drivers would be eliminated during the sessions rather than the cut coming at the end of them.

The motorsport.com website said the new system would see a car eliminated every 90 seconds once a ‘safe’ time period expired and until the quota was complete, ensuring constant track action.

Previously, the driver of a quick car could save a set of tyres by sitting out much of the session and only putting in a late lap to be sure of progress to the next phase.

The new first phase would last 16 minutes, the second 15 and third 14 minutes.

Seven drivers would be eliminated in each of the first two sessions with eight going through to the final round. Further eliminations would leave two remaining to chase for pole in the final minute and a half.

The season begins in Australia on March 20.

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 55

SPORT NEWS

Nadal dumped by Uruguayan battler

Farah overcomes spiked leg to win first race of 2016

Great Britain’s Mo Farah celebrates winning the 3000m final. Reuters / Lee Smith

MO Farah suffered a cut that left blood streaming down his leg but the mid-race spiking could not stop the world’s leading distance runner recording his first track victory of Olympic year in Glasgow on Saturday.

A month after Britain’s double Olympic champion was beaten into second place at the boggy Great Edinburgh cross country meeting, he returned to Scotland to make amends by winning the 3,000 metres in the more comforting surrounds of the Emirates indoor arena.

After a six-week training spell in Ethiopia, the 32-year-old was presented with a straightforward task against limited rivals as he brushed aside the injury caused by a stray opposition spike to win in a modest seven minutes 39.55 seconds.

Farah, who is expected to defend his Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 titles in Rio de Janeiro

in August, had been fancied to target Dave Moorcroft’s long-standing British record of 7:32.79 in Glasgow.

Poor pace-making quickly put paid to that idea, though, and he was content to ease away from Kenyan runner-up Augustine Choge (7:40.66) some 300 metres from home. “I have a few cuts,” Farah told reporters at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix.

“I was pushed around but that is racing. It happens.”The most important thing is to win in front of the home crowd. Now I’ll concentrate on the World Half Marathon Championships [in Cardiff next month] and it would be nice to get another title if I can.”

World 200 champion Dafne Schippers provided another highlight, the Dutch flyer winning the 60 metres in an Emirates Arena record 7.10 seconds.

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AFA Nadal’s below-par season has continued with the former world number one dumped from the Rio Open semi-finals with a 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 6-4 defeat by un-seeded Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas (pictured).

The top seed pipped Cuevas in a first set tie-break and denied his opponent two set points in the second but succumbed to his first defeat against the world number 45.

“I lost an opportunity, that’s it,” Spaniard Nadal said after being denied his 100th ATP final by claycourt specialist Cuevas who fired 48 winners to clinch the contest.

“I fought until the end. I have to accept it and keep working to try to change the dynamic. That’s what’s happening today and I have to work hard to change it,” added the 14-times grand slam champion.

“I didn’t win a title, so it wasn’t a positive two tournaments. I had my chances in both. I lost in the semifinals of both tournaments and just have to look forward to Indian Wells.”

Cuevas will meet another un-seeded player in Guido Pella in the claycourt final after the Argentine’s 6-1 6-4 humbling of fifth seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Nadal in the semi-finals in Buenos Aires last week.

World number five Nadal, who failed to win a grand slam title last year for the first time since 2004, entered the season positive after an injury-free off-season but was dumped out of the first round of the Australian Open and has struggled to return to his best form since.

Issue 15 Feb 25 - March 10 - 24, 2016

56 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPORT NEWS

Blatter “I won’t back any candidate in FIFA presidential election” FOOTBALL’S crisis-hit governing body Fifa will meet this Friday in Zurich to VOTE on who will become the next leader and tasked with cleaning up the beautiful game but one person has voiced his opinion and confirmed he will not be casting a vote - Sepp Blatter Blatter has said he will not support any of the five candidates standing to succeed him as FIFA president.

Blatter cannot stand, having been banned for eight years for ethics violations following a corruption scandal that has led to indictments against several dozen senior officials in the United States. “Four of the five candidates have spoken to me. I cannot take sides, that is not possible,” Blatter told French radio RMC. He said several national federations had asked him who they should vote for, but he told them to vote as they saw fit.

Bahraini Royal Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino of Switzerland are the two front-runners.

The other candidates are Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Frenchman Jerome Champagne, the former deputy general secretary of FIFA, and South African businessman and politician Tokyo Sexwale.

A winner must be declared on the night.

Above: Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and (below) Gianni Infantino

New dad Andy Murray set to lead in Davis Cup Defence

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N his first outing since becoming a father Andy Murray will next week lead Great Britain out against Japan as the team begin their defence of their Davis Cup title with an opening-round match against Japan.

Murray who has been on paternity leave since the birth of his new daughter Sophia Olivia who was born on February 7th has not played since losing the Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic at the end of January saw his name listed within the initial five-strong group ahead of the first-round clash against which begins on March 4 at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena.

GB captain Leon Smith, Murray’s brother Jamie, Kyle Edmund, Dan Evans and doubles specialist Dom Inglot have also been named.

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