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NORTH EDITION
Your English Newspaper
Issue 636
23 DEC 2011-05 JAN 2012
Festive fears prove fanciful
Hospital beds cut further IN A move unpopular with the workers’ commission the CC OO, the Department of Health has cut a further 26 beds at the Hospital de La Vila over Christmas and The Kings until further notice p7
Furry therapist helps the disabled
by Louise Clarke
CANI, A hunting hound is being used in therapy for children and the disabled p8
So what can we look forward to in 2012? FIND OUT more on p25
Spying on Santa HAVE A look at what Gadget Inspector has been doing this week p51
ITV Orihuela RFC show the way ITV ORIHUELA RFC with the Juniors, Cadetes and Infantiles played in a tournament on Saturday in Murcia p63
Some brave swimmers in Javea last year
Fancy a New Year dip?
TALK ABOUT causing a panic! It must be a light news week in the UK after various British newspaper reported that emergency evacuation plans are being drawn up for Brits living in Spain amid fears of the euro collapsing. This incredible story, which actually comes during a week when the financial markets are more positive about Spain’s finances than they have been all year, has resulted in RTN being inundated with calls from worried expats asking us whether they should take all their money out of their bank accounts! The Daily Mirror was one of the chief scaremongers and reported that these drastic proposals had emerged after an ‘unnamed’ (very convenient) former Security Minister had warned that expats could be left stranded and destitute by the breakup of the single currency. WORRYING
It was also claimed that Brits who have invested their savings in Spain A CHARITY swim taking place on Albir beach is expected to attract large numbers of may not be able to withdraw cash and British, Spanish, Dutch and Norwegian swimmers into the sea on New Year’s Day. The could even lose their homes if banks call event will start with a Casa Fitness Warm up workout and the swim will start at 1pm on in loans! According to these reports, Sunday opposite the Ritz Grand café bar. Entry to the swim requires a donation of €5 for which were also relayed on Sky News, children and €10 for adults; all of which goes to the SURINAME Orphanage. The swim is the Foreign Office is preparing to bring being sponsored by Vistacard, RTN, Xtra FM, Television Alfaz, Radio Alfaz, Hallo, Nieuws us all back from Spain if it is forced out Radio and Heat FM. Depending on fitness, those involved can either simply take a short dip, otherwise there will also be two buoys placed 25m out to sea or placed 50m for those of the euro. Then the Tory Peer, Baroness Neville-Jones, got in on the act who wish to do lengths. There will also be plenty of fun activities for all the family. For more information email esther@ritzalbir.com or call her on 616 076 688 or 966 867 448. and added fuel to the fire by calling
the situation “very, very worrying”. Apparently, the 72 year old was quoted as saying that: “Spain is clearly a vulnerable area and our own citizens would not be able to get money out of their banks to live on.” Incredibly, the reports then went on to qualify their scaremongering with a quote saying that officials are “braced” for a nightmare scenario where thousands end up penniless and sleeping at airports with no means of getting home. And even that planes, ships and coaches could be sent, with some expats being brought out through Gibraltar! FANCIFUL RTN would like to reiterate that there is NO substance to these reports whatsoever and spoke to several of our financial contributors who told us that Spanish banks guarantee the first €100,000 that is deposited by savers. Meanwhile, RTN also contacted the British Embassy in Madrid about these, frankly ridiculous claims. A Spokesman told us: “All British Embassies regularly update contingency planning for all sorts of scenarios, including natural disasters and internal political unrest. However, there is NO Spain contingency plan for a euro-based evacuation, nor do we have any intention of preparing one, it is fanciful to imagine that a major evacuation of British nationals would either be necessary or feasible.” So there you have it, panic over! Phew!