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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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EEKEND

WORLD

SUPPLEMENTS

PROPERTY

MOTORS GIBRALTAR

Record summer forecast Page 37

WHAT’S ON

Local events in April including a feature on Moors & Christians festival in Alcoy Page 46

MONEY MATTERS Keep abreast of what’s happening in the financial world Page 50

HEALTH & BEAUTY Focusing on IBS Awareness Month Page 59

FOOD & FINE DINING

Championing seasonal ingredient - Aspargus Page 62

PUZZLES & TEASERS

Page 66

SPORTS

Can Sebastian Coe save athletics?

Page 73

EEKEND WORLD

NEWSPAPER WITH A DIFFERENCE

WEEKEND WORLD - 1

The intellectual persons paper Full of FACTS not gossip

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

Hate crimes against Muslims soar

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NTI-ISLAMIC hate crimes have soared across the country said the President of the Spanish Federation of Islamic Religious Entities, Mounir Benjelloun, who confirmed that a total of 534 attacks targeting Muslim community, including online abuse, were registered in the country last year a stark increase compared to that of 2014 when only 48 were attacks were reported and 70 within 2015.

“These types of aggressions increase whenever there is an act of violence in a European country, carried out by Islamic Extremists” he added.

Attacks against Muslims and Islamic institutions have surged more than 11-fold in Spain over the last year

VICTIMS Since the Brussels attack mosques across Spain in cities such as Salamanca in the west and Granada in the south have been vandalized with Spanish authorities confirming that Moroccan immigrants are the most common victims of xenophobia-related crimes and Islamophobia.

Earlier this week Spanish police earlier this week confirmed they had identified 14 people linked to far-right groups who took part in a protest outside of Madrid’s main mosque. The protesters who had gathered following the Brussles airport and Metro attack held large placard outside the Omar mosque in Madrid which read: “Today Brussels, tomorrow Madrid? Police confirm pros-

ecutors are looking to see whether these individuals could be charged with hate crimes.

Spain is not the only country suffering with cases of ‘Islamophobia’ in France reports that attacks against mosques and property owned by Muslims have increased sharply

since November 13, 2015, when militants killed 130 people in the French capital city of Paris, in the UK tell MAMA, a Britain-based NGO that tracks hate crimes against Muslims, also stated that such attacks have increased threefold in the United Kingdom since then.

King Felipe’s to hold coalition talks in last-ditch attempt to avoid elections KING Felipe will hold another round of talks with Spain’s fractious political parties in a last-ditch attempt to get them to form a coalition and avoid a second national election.

The leaders of Spain’s four main parties have until May 2 to agree on a possible government after none of them won a parliamentary majority in an election in December.

If they fail to form a government, parliament will be dissolved and new elections called, most likely in late June, raising the risk of hurting Spain’s uneven economic recovery. Polls show new elections would produce a similarly inconclusive result.

After leading two unsuccessful rounds of talks since the December vote, King Felipe will again hold one-to-one meetings with party leaders on April 25 and 26, the royal household confirmed.

Although businesses and investors have so far been calm about the deadlock, there are increasing signs of an economic impact. Earlier this month, ratings agency Standard & Poor’s also warned that further delays in forming a government would postpone the budgetary tightening needed after Spain missed its 2015 deficit target.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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NEWS

THE NEXT COLD WAR HAS ALREADY BEGUN – IN CYBERSPACE Written by Conor Deane-McKenna

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HE world is fighting a hidden war thanks to a massive shift in the technologies countries can use to attack each other. Much like the Cold War, the conflict is being fought indirectly rather than through open declarations of hostility. It has so far been fought without casualties but has the potential to cause suffering similar to that of any bomb blast. It is the Cyber War. When we think of cyber-attacks, we often think of terrorists or criminals hacking their way into our bank accounts or damaging government websites. But they have now been joined by agents of different governments that are launching cyber-attacks against one another.

They aren’t officially at war, but the tension between the US and Russia – and to a lesser degree China – remains high over a number of disputed decisions.

Cyber-attacks allow these countries to exert their power against each other in an often anonymous way. They can secretly make small gains but a wrong move could spell disaster, much like the operations of nuclear submarines during the Cold War. There are numerous forms of cyber-attacks that can be used. Malware, typically in the form of a Trojan horse or a worm, installs itself on a computer and takes control, often without the knowledge of the victim.

Other attacks can disrupt computer systems through brute force. For example, distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks involve flooding a system with so many requests to access a website that it crashes the site’s server.

Countries are also trying to build up their cyber defences. Many infrastructural systems connected to power plants, for example, have been physically disconnected or “air-gapped” from the internet.

Other defences such as firewalls and security programs are in place in all government systems to prevent their hacking by outside sources.

JUST AS DANGEROUS AS “REAL WAR” Some argue that the idea of cyber warfare has been overhyped because cyber-attacks don’t have the physical consequences that “real” wars do. But the cyber weapons being used and developed could cause a large degree of economic as well as infrastructural damage – and this could endanger property and even human life.

In 2007, scientists at the Idaho National Laboratory in the US were able to show how a cyber-attack on an electricity generator could cause an explosion. This shows the real danger that cyber-attacks can pose, not simply to national security infrastructure but also to hospitals, schools and homes.

The year 2007 was actually crucial in the history of cyber warfare, marking the point when several major states began putting cyber weapons to use in a well-documented way. After Estonia attempted to relocate a Soviet

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 3

NEWS

Hoping to restore trust, Cameron tightens tax laws

war memorial, Russia was accused of launching a series of DDOS attacks on Estonian websites including government and banking sites.

Such action was not just embarrassing but damaging to both the power of the Estonian state and the economic activity of the country.

Although it wasn’t discovered until 2010, the Stuxnet worm was the first prominent cyber weapon to be used by the US, and was originally deployed against Iran in 2007.

The worm, part of the wider “Operation Olympic Games”, was designed to prevent Iran from producing uranium that could be used in nuclear weapons.

The software was hidden on a USB stick and uploaded to the control systems of the enrichment plant, causing its centrifuges to operate outside of safe parameters and leading to a series of breakdowns.

The Israeli cyber section, Unit 8200, which had a hand in the Stuxnet design, was also involved in the blackout of air radar during an attack on nuclear facilities in Syria in Operation Orchard, 2007.

Shutting down the ageing Soviet-era radar through a mixture of cyber-attacks allowed Israeli jets to bomb the site in the Deir-ez-Zor region of Syria.

The Israeli example shows how cyber-attacks will start to become part of standard military operations. Both the US and Chinese cyber warfare divisions are parts of the countries’ conventional military structures. And both states have made it clear that they will not rule out using cyber-attacks for the sake of maintaining national security interests.

ACTING WITH IMPUNITY These capabilities pose a danger to everyone, not just governments, and not just because they could lead to infra-

structure being blown up.

Stuxnet was discovered because the worm found its way onto the global internet and caused problems for tens of thousands of PCs across the world. It’s not hard to imagine the widespread economic and personal damage that could be done with an even more malicious program.

Stuxnet also shows why simply keeping critical infrastructure disconnected from the internet is not enough to protect it.

The other particularly worrying aspect of cyber warfare is that it allows states to act with relative impunity.

Advanced encryption technologies make it almost impossible to prove exactly who is responsible for a specific cyber-attack.

As a result, states can now act unilaterally with little fear of open retaliation.

For example, despite a bilateral agreement between the US and China to refrain from hacking for economic benefit, Chinese hackers have continued to infiltrate secure systems in the United States.

There are few real consequences for this outright breach of sovereignty.

On the positive side, some have argued that cyber-attacks allow states to pursue their foreign policy goals without using conventional military action, and could even dissuade superpowers from doing so.

Disabling Iran’s nuclear programme, for example, reduced the short-term likelihood the US would feel the need to make a military attack on the country.

With tensions between superpowers high, but the risk of full-scale world war still relatively low, cyber-attacks are likely to become an increasingly common way for countries to gain at their competitors’ expense.

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will tighten laws to end tax evasion without deterring “aspiration”, hoping to end scrutiny of his personal wealth and restore trust in his leadership.

During a charged session in parliament during when one opposition lawmaker was ejected after labelling the Prime Minister “dodgy Dave”, Cameron defended those who want to use money to support their families - something he said his late father had done when he set up an offshore fund revealed by the Panama Papers.

CRITICISM But the measures he announced did little to ease some of the criticism of a leader accused by the opposition of being a hypocrite for going after tax evaders in view of his father’s fund and for being slow to detail his financial affairs.

Cameron sought to underline the difference between illegal tax evasion and legal tax avoidance, trying to address concerns over his leadership, hurt not only by questions about his wealth in the past week but also by divisions in his Conservatives over EU membership.

He said most of Britain’s overseas territories, including the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands, and Crown Dependencies, like Jersey, would now provide British law enforcement and tax agencies full access to information on beneficial ownership of companies to offer greater transparency.

He also said he was introducing legislation this year to make it a criminal offence for companies if they fail to stop employees from instructing clients on ways of evading tax, part of what he called some of the most robust action ever taken by a British government to close tax loopholes.

His message was aimed at balancing action to crack down on tax evasion to soothe critics who accuse him of being part of an elite, and to appeal to his own lawmakers, many of whom are against his campaign to keep Britain in the European Union, by underlining that he wanted to inspire wealth creation.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

4 - WEEKEND WORLD

NEWS

Why scrapping the €500 note may not help counter terrorism

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HERE are only two denomination notes in the world that have a higher value than the euro, namely the 10,000 Singapore dollar (about US$7,000) and the 1,000 Swiss franc (about US$1,000).

The highest denomination banknotes in other parts of the world are generally worth around US$100.

The €500 is therefore particularly attractive both for conducting cash business transactions and as a store of value.

Its popularity can also be attributed to its relatively stable exchange rate, the fact that it is accepted everywhere and the large number of central banks that can police counterfeits.

The circulation figures show that demand for the €500 note has grown since the financial crisis. In Greece, there is evidence of hoarding due to fears of a banking collapse. When just 20 notes equate to €10,000, it’s easy to transport and hide large sums.

The note is also popular in Germany, the country that led support for the €500 note when planning for the euro began in 1991.

Germany wanted a note that corresponded with its currency at the time – the deutschmark – as high value cash transactions remain popular in Germany.

The president of the European Central Bank has said that the bank is considering scrapping the €500 note as the big bill is being increasingly seen as “as an instrument for illegal activities”, according to ECB president, Mario Draghi. But there is little proof that scrapping the €500 note will improve chances of clamping down on nefarious transactions. of £50 notes (the UK’s highest note denomination) it would weigh in at a hefty 24kg.

For obvious reasons, there is no reliable data on the use of cash in illegal activities, but a recent study by Peter Sands and his colleagues from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government estimated that cash finances 55% to 60% of total proceeds from illegal cross-border trade in drugs, counterfeit goods, human trafficking, oil, wildlife, timber and fish.

Of these, trade in illicit substances represents the lion’s share in terms of estimated annual volume (US$320 billion a year) and the share financed by cash (as much as 80%).

The €500 note’s popularity with criminals means it has been dubbed “the Bin Laden”.

Thus, although this note accounts for 28% of the total value of euro notes in circulation, many merchants in Europe refuse to accept the €500 note.

CASH IN HAND But there are downsides to keeping the €500. Cash is relatively anonymous, whereas bank transfers are electronically tracked – so cash is attractive for crime and money laundering.

As an illustration, the equivalent of £1m would weigh just over 2kg and could neatly fit in a brief case if it comprised solely of €500 notes. If this was made up

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UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES The European Commission is probing the links between €500 and criminality while the European Anti-Fraud Office has also expressed concerns over the €500 note used in fraudulent activities.

Following the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris in November 2015, the European Union is clamping down on all means

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of payment that may be used to finance terrorist activities.

The UK government, which sits outside the Eurozone, already decided in 2010 to prohibit exchange offices from selling the €500, mainly as a result of the findings of the Serious Organised Crime Agency which indicated that 90% of the notes were found to be used in criminal activity.

Removing the €500 will affect criminals mostly by increasing their transaction costs.

It will also improve the traceability for law enforcement officials by making it more difficult to physically conceal the cash and by increasing the number of notes required to complete a transaction.

But getting rid of the €500 note without global cooperation to remove large denomination in other currencies may result in criminals merely substituting the €500 with another high denomination note.

Criminals will not be the only ones affected.

Those with a high preference for cash for its anonymity and for being outside of the financial system are likely to oppose the move, citing liberty, right to privacy and freedom of choice.

It is a fine balancing act to weigh the need for government surveillance with the right to privacy – and clamping down on criminals will affect law-abiding citizens too.

There is also the risk that focusing on its ability to reduce crime fails to consider the

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underlying causes of this underground activity in the first place.

As a practical and easier to implement measure, the ECB could consider placing limits on the value of cash transactions across all Eurozone countries. Currently, these limits are in place in France (€1,000), Spain (€2,500), and Italy (€2,999.99).

The German Finance Ministry has recently announced plans to ban cash payments of more than €5,000. Farther afield, Mexico has had limits on cash transactions in pesos and dollars since 2010.

This is designed to limit money laundering and tax evasion on large scales but there is scant evidence of the effectiveness of these cash-curtailing measures at fighting illegal transactions.

Whatever the ECB decides on the €500 note’s future, it will be an interesting reflection on how democracy within the Eurozone operates – and the transparency with which these decisions take place will indicate the extent to which the ECB values the right to information and freedom of choice.

It epitomises how money is also subject to the freedom versus security debate that is fast becoming one of the quintessential quandaries of the 21st century.

This article was originally published on The Conversation.

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 5

NEWS

BREXIT COULD DEAL HEFTY BLOW TO GLOBAL ECONOMY

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RITAIN could deal a damaging blow to the fragile global economy if it votes to leave the European Union in June, the IMF said in the sharpest warning yet from a global body about the risks associated with Brexit.

In a half-yearly assessment of the world economy, the International Monetary Fund listed the June 23 referendum as a key risk alongside instability in China and other

emerging markets, volatile share prices and a loss of long-term growth potential in advanced economies.

“The planned June referendum has already created uncertainty for investors,” the Fund’s chief economist Maurice Obstfeld (pictured left) said. “A Brexit could do severe regional and global damage by disrupting established trading relationships.”

The Fund also cut its 2016 growth forecast for

EU puts Britons at risk from dangerous criminals, ‘Out’ campaigners say

Britain to 1.9 percent from 2.2 percent, the sharpest downgrade for any major advanced economy other than Japan.

Britain’s economy expanded by 2.3 percent in 2015 and government forecasters have said growth will slow this year and in subsequent ones.

In February, the world’s top 20 economies listed Brexit as a global risk after lobbying from British finance minister George Osborne.

‘CLEAR WARNING’ Osborne, who has a warm relationship with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, said the Fund’s comments reinforced the case for staying.

“The IMF has given us the clearest independent warning of the taste of bad things to come if we leave the EU,” he said.

Supporters of Britain leaving said the IMF was being unduly negative and that the biggest risk was remaining in the EU. “The IMF has talked down the British economy in the past and now it is doing it again at the request of our own (finance minister),” said Matthew Elliott (pictured below), chief executive of campaigning group Vote Leave.

The European Union puts British families at risk by allowing the free movement of dangerous criminals, say campaigners who want Britain to leave, an argument dismissed as “scaremongering of the worst kind” by EU supporters

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OLLS show that concerns about migration and border controls are likely to play a big role in how Britons will vote in a referendum on June 23 on Britain’s EU membership.

The Vote Leave campaign, one of the groups pushing for an exit, compiled a dossier listing people who it described as the 50 most dangerous citizens from EU countries in Britain and who committed offences including murder and rape in the country.

EU laws meant states within the bloc did not have to inform British authorities on a systematic basis about the criminal backgrounds of their nationals allowing free movement for dangerous individuals, it said.

“EU membership means we have lost control of our borders and have been unable to

prevent dangerous individuals from walking into the UK,” Vote Leave Chief Executive Matthew Elliott said. “Free movement of people has created free movement of criminals making the UK less safe and less secure.”

Lucy Thomas, deputy director of the Britain Stronger In Europe group, described the argument as “scaremongering of the worst kind”. Conservative lawmaker Damian Green, a former interior ministry minister who backs staying in the EU said “it is a mix of chaos and confusion. The truth is that the UK already has the best of both worlds.

BENEFITS We maintain all the benefits of EU membership whilst opting out of the passport-free Schengen area and maintaining our border

at Calais (in France) rather than at Dover.”

In the last few days, campaigners on both sides have traded claims and counter-claims about whether a British exit from the EU would be damaging for Britain on issues ranging from security to the National Health Service.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said on Monday that young people could become a “lost generation” if Britain left and firms were suspending hiring decisions or advertising jobs.

Vote Leave said the EU had been bad for the young by driving up costs and forcing down wages. “In” campaigners are keen to mobilise younger voters who surveys show are overwhelmingly pro-EU but also less likely to bother voting.

The IMF said Britain’s trade with the EU was likely to suffer if it left, especially during the two years after the referendum when it would negotiate exit terms, “resulting in an extended period of heightened uncertainty”.

On Monday the City of London said leaving would be a shock to Britain’s financial industry, threatening foreign investment and crimping growth.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who supports EU membership, promised to hold the referendum to satisfy the many members of his Conservative Party who want Britain to leave the bloc.

Most opinion polls suggest supporters of EU membership have a narrow lead.

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 7

UK NEWS

WILLIAM AND KATE VISIT TAJ MAHAL, EVOKING DIANA’S FAMOUS PHOTO

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ORE than two decades after Britain’s Princess Diana was pictured forlornly alone at the Taj Mahal, her son Prince William and his wife Kate will visit the Indian landmark next week, evoking memories of his mother’s infamous 1992 trip.

The image of Diana sitting on a bench during a solitary sight-seeing trip to the Taj Mahal, a monument to love, made front page news worldwide and was widely interpreted as symbolising the irreparable state of her marriage to heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles.

The couple divorced in 1996 after 15 years of marriage, a year before Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris.

Rare Shakespeare First Folio found A NEARLY 400-yearold copy of a first edition of William Shakespeare’s collected plays has been found in a vast aristocratic house on the Isle of Bute, off the western coast of Scotland. Published in 1623, the First Folio contains Shakespeare’s 36 plays, including several that had never been published before and might have been lost without it, such as “Macbeth”, “The Tempest” and “As You Like It”.

DISCOVERY The discovery at Mount Stuart, grand neo-Gothic home of the Marquesses of Bute, brings the total of known surviving copies of the First Folio in the world to 234. Most others are in libraries and accessible only to scholars.

It is usually a single volume that would have to be read sitting at a desk, but the Bute copy was split in the past for ease of reading into three leather-bound volumes, one each for comedies, histories and tragedies.

According to Emma Smith, a professor of Shakespeare Studies at Oxford University who authenticated the Bute Folio, the folio is worth an estimated 2 to 2.5 million pounds ($2.8 to $3.5 million), this said the Folio is not up for sale and will be on public display at Mount Stuart until October.

Britain has been holding commemorations this year to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on April 23, 1616.

ICONIC IMAGE Charles has avoided the Taj Mahal on subsequent visits to India, but William, the Duke of Cambridge, and Kate “cannot wait to see it” during their official six-day tour to India and Bhutan starting on April 10, a spokesman for William said.

“The Duke of Cambridge is of course aware of the huge esteem his mother, the late Princess of Wales is held in India and he appreciates the iconic status of the images that exist of the princess at the Taj,” the spokesman said. “He feels incredibly lucky to visit a place where his mother’s memory is kept alive by so many who travel there,” he added.

“Twenty-four years on from her visit to the Taj, the duke and the duchess are looking forward to seeing this beautiful place for themselves and creating some new memories as they say ‘thank you’ to the people of India at the conclusion of this tour.”

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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NEWS

How much will Britain’s nuclear deterrent cost?

HMMM… WE DON’T KNOW! I

N response to a request by Reuters (the international news agency) about an estimate of the total price tag for the new Trident submarine fleet - Britain’s sole nuclear weapons system - the ministry said it was still working on “policy options” and gave no overall figure.

The replacement of Trident, which was backed in principle by parliament in 2007, of which is expected to be formally approved this year, has raised questions about national security as Britain heads for a referendum on European Union membership that may decide its future status on the world stage.

The Conservative government says the deterrent is vital to keep Britain safe in an increasingly hostile world, but some leading opposition figures say it is indefensible to commit a significant portion of the public purse to renewing the programme at a time of deep austerity cuts.

This makes the precise cost of replacing Trident a politically charged issue.

The government has indicated the price tag for replacing the fleet has risen since 2007 but has not given a full cost over its expected 30-year life, although calculations by Reuters and a Conservative lawmaker suggest it could reach 167 billion pounds.

“The department does not hold a cost forecast for the whole capability,” the defence ministry said in response to the Reuters request under the Freedom of Information Act asking for the estimated cost of replacing Trident over 30 years.

“The government needs a safe space away from the public gaze to allow it to consider policy options for delivering the deterrent in the most cost-effective way, unfettered from public comment about the affordability of

Britain’s defence ministry has not yet established the overall cost of replacing and maintaining its ageing nuclear weapons system, prompting opposition charges of mismanagement of a megaproject expected to be given the go-ahead this year particular policy options, some of which many not be at a mature stage of development.”

It did not elaborate on the policy options.

CRITISISM The main opposition Labour Party criticised the government for refusing to offer any detail over what is called the “Successor programme”.

Its defence spokeswoman, Emily Thornberry, said it was clear costs were “out of control” at a time when the Chancellor, George Osborne, is struggling to balance his budget.

“It is astonishing that the Ministry of Defence still cannot say what the total costs of the Successor programme will be, despite the massive implications of this programme for government spending in the coming decades,” said Thornberry, who is leading Labour’s Defence Policy Review and has in the past been a critic of replacing Trident.

She accused the government of a lack of transparency over the costs and arrogance in demanding more time to develop policy when it has already spent 10 years and “more than 3 billion pounds”.

“That arrogant refusal to account to parliament and the public is simply unacceptable,” she said in a statement.

“It is high time that the National Audit Office (the public spending watchdog) and the Public Accounts Committee conducted full investigations into the costs and management of the Successor programme, and forced the Ministry of Defence to start answering the legitimate questions they are being asked.”

Labour is deeply divided over whether to replace Trident - its leader opposes it but many in the party believe it is necessary. It is however keen to put more pressure on a government torn by divisions over EU membership and forced to abandon welfare cuts in its 2016 budget.

The Ministry of Defence said: “The government is committed to maintaining the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent – the ultimate guarantee of our nation’s safety.”

RISING COSTS The ministry has been working on replacing Trident for a decade and has tracked the rising costs in speeches to parliament, which have been criticised by opposition MPs for being too vague. Initially, in 2006, the cost of producing the submarine and warheads was put at around 15-20 billion pounds however it has now evaluated the latest costs to replace Trident at a cost 31 billion pounds to

produce the four submarines, with a contingency of 10 billion pounds, and another 3.9 billion pounds allocated to their design.

The ministry also said in its statement that in-service costs over its lifetime would be about 6 percent of the annual defence budget.

The ministry said it could not provide any detail of the costs for the nuclear warheads, support services infrastructure and running costs, as the scheme involved projects which formed parts of other defence capabilities.

“The department does not hold information in a form that would allow for a 30-year cost forecast for the nuclear deterrent capability to be easily calculated,” it said.

Ministers have said it is one of the government’s biggest schemes ever, and that building the submarines alone would cost about twice as much as London’s 15-billion-pound new railway link, currently the largest infrastructure project in Europe.

The government is expected to put the decision on whether to replace Trident to a parliamentary debate and vote later this year, when the project is set to get the green light. But it has been accused by opposition politicians of delaying the debate to avoid any contentious issues before the June 23 EU referendum.

Last month, U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter said Britain needed to renew Trident if it was to maintain its “outsized” role in world affairs.

Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director-general for defence and security think-tank RUSI, agreed and underlined the difficulty in coming up with long-term cost estimates as they could be “radically different”, depending on what assumptions were made.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 9

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‘MADMEN’ MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET NUCLEAR MATERIAL’

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U.S. President Barack Obama urged world leaders to do more to safeguard vulnerable nuclear facilities to prevent “madmen” from groups like Islamic State from getting their hands on an atomic weapon or a radioactive “dirty bomb.”

SPEAKING at a nuclear security summit in Washington, Obama said the world faced a persistent and evolving threat of nuclear terrorism despite progress in reducing such risks. “We cannot be complacent,” he said.

Obama said no group had succeeded in obtaining bomb materials but that al Qaeda had long sought them, and he cited actions

by Islamic State militants behind recent attacks in Paris and Brussels that raised similar concerns.

“There is no doubt that if these madmen ever got their hands on a nuclear bomb or nuclear material, they would certainly use it to kill as many innocent people as possible,” he said. “It would change our world.”

Obama hosted more than 50 world leaders for his fourth and final summit focused on efforts to lock down atomic materials to guard against nuclear terrorism, which he

called “one of the greatest threats to global security” in the 21st century.

Obama has less than 10 months left in office to follow through on one of his signature foreign policy initiatives. While gains have been made, arms-control advocates say the diplomatic process – which Obama conceived and championed - has lost momentum and could slow further once he leaves the White House in January.

WHO HAS NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES? The US, Russia, UK, China, France, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea all possess nuclear arsenals.

The US is the only nation to have actually used them in conflict, those being the separate bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

10 - WEEKEND WORLD

UK NEWS

European court clears UK officials of 2005 de Menezes shooting case E

UROPE’S top human rights court has ruled that British prosecutors were right not to charge police officers involved in the shooting 11 years ago of a Brazilian man they thought was a suicide bomber.

Specialist firearms officers fatally shot electrician Jean Charles de Menezes seven times in the head as he boarded an underground train at Stockwell station in south London Currencies Direct also has a or make a payment to another be over £150), they’ll set up on July 22, 2005.beneficiary. Many customers unique agreement with Caixa Direct Debit for you. It can use online transfer systems like aBank in Spain, so they’re able be weekly,He monthly, quarter- the day after four Islamist militants tried unwas killed this for smaller transactions to open a free CaixaBank acly or yearly. Leaving you free but preferLondon’s to speak directly to count network. exclusively for all their successfully to bomb transport Police to sit back and enjoy the view a person when making larger customers, which allows them wrongly thoughttransfers. he was Hussein Osman, the attackWith Currencies Di- to one have of immediate transfers rect it’s up to you. from Spain to UK with no ers on the run, who lived in the same apartment block as de transfer fees. This can save you Today’s rates look good, Repatriating funds thousands!

Menezes. but you don’t need to transfer Brazilian Marcello Andre Dantas Correia pauses by tributes for Let’s face it. We know Spain your money for – sayrepeated – three Peace of mind Despite demands from de Menezes’s family that is fantastic - there’s a reason compatriot Jean Charles de Menezes outside Stockwell Underground months? No problem. A Forwhy you invested and moved When looking for an exthe officers involved or their superiors be charged, prosward Contract is the currency station, London, Britain, in August 2005. REUTERS/Paul Hackett/Files there in the first place all those change provider, you want to 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

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ecutors said there was not enough evidence to take action against any individuals.

“The decision not to prosecute any individual officer was not due to any failings in the investigation or the state’s tolerance of or collusion in unlawful acts,” the court said in its ruling. “Following a thorough investigation, a prosecutor had considered all the facts of the case and concluded that there Living the simple life was insufficient evidence against any individual officer to Currency specialists love talking about foreign curren prosecute.” cy. And they should know that In 2007, Police as an organisation was most peoplethe don’t.Metropolitan It’s like ly that you just want to move found guilty of breaching health and safety laws and fined your money and get on with life.

Look for a specialist that the court heard it had made “shocking 175,000 pounds, after andtocatastrophic” ance help you get whatblunders. you want.

Lawyers for the British government told the European Court Direct last has June that the death could have been ofCurrencies Human Rights friendly and knowledgeable prevented and was the result of serious operational failures phone whenever you need by police, but said the killing did not amount to murder. them.

With a presence in Spain since they currently have The 1999, family argued that prosecutors were wrong not to charge individuals, and that the health and safety oftry and areany always looking to expand. This is a foreign ex fence was an inadequate punishment. change company with great experience knowledge of “We findand it unbelievable that our innocent cousin could be the market. shot seven times in the head by the Metropolitan Police when he or had nothing wrong and yet the police have with jargon hit done you with any costs, and any money you not had to account for their actions,” Patricia Armani Da Silva, transfer should be sent quick ly. the simplecousin, life meanssaid in a statement. deLiving Menezes’s you can enjoy the yacht, holi “Wehome feelorthat decisions about guilt and innocence should day whatever else your money buys you. Let the be made by juries, not by faceless bureaucrats and we are experts sort out the foreign currency to make it we have been denied that opportudeeply needed saddened that happen. nity yet again.”

Currencies - Moraira in 2008 delivered an open verdict on the A jury atDirect an inquest death, ruling that it was not a “lawful killing”, although the coroner had said the death could not be regarded as murder or manslaughter.

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IT’S a tradition practised by most men on a bank holiday weekend, a visit to the local DIY store but shoppers and staff alike were surprised to see Brad Pitt perusing the aisles at a West London branch of B&Q. The Hollywood star accompanied by two of his six children could have been any other regular dad as he wandered the gardening section.

Pitt, and his family have recently set up home in an eightbedroom, £14,700 rental in Surrey while Pitt films the sequel to his 2013 American apocalyptic action horror film, World War Z which is expected to take at least six months to complete.

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UK NEWS

Boris Johnson eyes Trump-style insurgency to win British EU exit battle

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LTHOUGH both have elite backgrounds, Johnson and U.S. presidential candidate Trump are flamboyant men with unorthodox approaches that tap into voter disaffection with “establishment” politicians, and could prove the key influence to two of the West’s most important strategic decisions in 2016. “They are the non-politician politicians. They both claim to be outsiders, they both claim to be anti-establishment, they both present themselves as being the champion of the masses,” said Sonia Purnell, author of “Just Boris”, an unauthorised biography that is critical of the privately educated mayor. “Probably in both cases that is simply untrue but look how brilliant and effective a marketing tool it is...

They are both entertainers. It is showbiz politics, it is celebrity politics.”

With British public opinion evenly split on whether to remain a member of the EU, the world’s largest trading bloc, and many voters yet to make up their mind, Johnson, 51, is hoping to become the galvanising figurehead for the “Out” campaign.

Trump, with an anti-immigrant stance and blunt, combative style, has captivated American media and mobilised latent grassroots support to move from rank outsider to the Republican party’s likely presidential candidate in the November election.

While Johnson, a member of Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative party, described being mixed up with Trump as “one of the worst moments”, if he can emulate the American billionaire’s success, the consequences could be far-reaching.

A British exit would batter the EU by ripping away the bloc’s second-largest economy and richest financial centre at a time when it is struggling to manage mass migration and coax economic recovery from the embers of a financial crisis.

STAR PLAYER A natural comedian known to all by only his first name, Johnson has crafted a twin-track career as a celebrity and politician. He has won two terms as mayor in London, long an opposition Labour stronghold, and become a household name known for his blond mop, eccentric manner and razor-sharp wit.

In the run-up to last year’s election, Cameron described Johnson as one of his “star players”.

That status was evident from the media scrum outside his house on a Sunday in Feb-

Once mistaken for fellow blond Donald Trump by a passer-by in New York, London Mayor Boris Johnson hopes his own gift for grabbing headlines and charming voters can persuade Britain to vote to leave the European Union at a June 23 referendum. ruary when he ended months of speculation by announcing that he would campaign against his leader and back “Brexit” from the EU. “That is what he can provide; the buzz, the excitement, the fizz. It is quite difficult to match that really, who is going to provide that for the ‘In’ campaign? There is no one really that can do that,” said Purnell.

In a typical display of showmanship, his first major campaign event saw Johnson jump into a “Vote Leave”-emblazoned articulated truck and drive through a warehouse car park.

Johnson also has the ear of a notable portion of the voting British public, though others question his motivations.

An Ipsos MORI poll published days before he announced his intention showed Johnson is second only to Cameron when it comes to swaying public opinion on Europe, with one in three voters saying he would be important in helping them decide how to vote.

While others say Johnson’s down-to-earth style made him more trustworthy As a negative many noted that his bluster and humour as evidence he lacks the substance for high political office.

Supporters of Trump describe his appeal in similar terms.

A campaign built on controversy - including

building a wall along the U.S.-Mexican borelection in 2020, and many voters therefore der and temporarily banning Muslims from view Johnson’s decision as a cynical political entering the United States - has shocked ricalculation designed to position himself for vals but enchanted Americans who feel nethe top job. glected by mainstream leaders.

A ComRes poll this month showed the pub“They both come from incredibly privileged lic were divided on his motive, with 41 perbackgrounds and yet they are both supportcent saying he was campaigning for Brexit ed by, if you like, for want of a better expresbecause he believed it was best for Britain, sion, the common man,” said Joe Twyman, and 39 percent saying it was because he head of political and social research at pollthought it best for his career. ster YouGov. He described the pair as having “box office” media appeal.

There are question marks over whether either can succeed.

In the United States, Trump’s ability to see off experienced Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton at the ballot box remains untested, while in Britain Johnson has to convince voters his heart is really in the “Out” campaign.

He is tipped as a potential successor to CamBoris Johnson: A eron, who says he will natural comedian not run again at the next

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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UK NEWS

Britain’s new minimum wage feeds in to ‘Brexit’ debate

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HANCELLOR George Osborne last year announced a series of increases in the wage that will make it 13 percent higher than it would otherwise have been by 2020. He hopes the change will boost productivity and make work more rewarding than welfare. But businesses in the typically low-paying hospitality, retail and social care sectors have said they might cut staff in response.

A government minister who wants Britain to leave the European Union is quoted as saying the increase would make Britain more attractive for foreign workers at a time when net migration is running far above the government’s target.

Britain holds what is shaping up to be a closely fought referendum on its membership of the bloc on June 23.

The country’s independent budget forecaster, the OBR, estimates the wage increase will result in 60,000 fewer jobs and increase business costs by around 1 percent of corporate profits.

More than a million British workers were given a pay rise last week as a higher minimum wage came into force, an economic experiment that fed in to a tense political debate on whether the country should leave the European Union.

A survey last year by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) said concerns among employers had already contributed to a slowdown in hiring.

But a separate survey by the Centre for Macroeconomics, a research body, found more than half of 37 leading economists it questioned saw no significant hit to jobs.

MIGRANT MAGNET? Osborne, whose political standing has been hurt by two U-turns on planned cuts to welfare payments in recent months, said the change would mean workers aged over 25 and on the minimum wage would get a big-

ger increase in annual pay than any of their counterparts in the world.

Under the first increase, the minimum wage has risen to 7.20 pounds an hour, up from 6.70 pounds. Britain first introduced a national minimum wage under Labour prime minister Tony Blair in 1999, when business leaders warned it would ramp up costs and force companies to hire fewer workers.

Those fears proved wide of the mark.

The minimum wage has been used by an increasing number of countries in a bid to boost economic growth, with Germany introducing it in 2015 and Japan announcing plans to increase its version.

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DID RAJOY REALLY SUGGEST BRINGING AN END TO SPAIN’S SIESTA?

I

NTERNATIONAL newspapers have gone into overdrive following the announcement made by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Madrid last week that his party is looking at ways to change legislations so the working day generally ends at 6pm.

Almost immediately newspapers across the globe began proclaiming the ‘end of the siesta’. The Independent ran a story claiming “Spain’s Prime Minister set to drop siesta”, the New York Post stated that “Spain might finally get rid of its country-wide nap time” and The Australian Times claimed “Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy proposes dropping the siesta” In fairness Spain’s siesta culture has often been a mocked by other countries as a sign of laziness and at a time when the economy of Spain is still trying to lift itself out of recession it doesn’t appear to be such a crazy idea BUT did Rajoy really suggest bringing an end to it? After all this would be tantamount to signing his own P45!

No, is the answer. Rajoy stated that he wanted to introduce a new work-life balance law, giving people with very large families more time off, making it easier for them to work from home and that he wanted to “rationalise working hours at business and institutions”.

He proposed under a new legislation to draw up an agreement to achieve a working day that would end at 6 p.m. every day, he also suggested that Spain should change its time zone time zone to GMT instead of CET so it was in line the Canary Islands, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

DO SPANIARDS REALLY WORK LESS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES? The legal working day in Spain is governed by Article 34.1 of the Statute of Workers , which states that it must not exceed 40 hours a week.

According to OECD data, Spain is in fact the fourth most productive country across Europe with an average of 1,775 hours per year with France in second place with 1,620 hours followed by Germany with 1,432,the United Kingdom is ranked in fourth place with 1,607 hours of productivity.

WEEKEND WORLD - 17

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LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

WE NEED MORE TIME

I

T has been reported in El Pais that Spain plans to ask the European Commission for an extra year to meet its public deficit targets, after missing the mark with its 2015 deficit and raising the prospect of further spending cuts to narrow the budget gap.

The country last month reported a 2015 deficit of 5 percent of economic output, one of the largest in Europe and above the EU-agreed target of 4.2 percent.

CUTS To reduce that to the 2016 target of 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the Spanish government will need to find about 23 billion euros (£18.5 billion) through tax increases or spending cuts.

The economy ministry declined to comment on the report,

Spain to ask Brussels for extra year to meet deficit target which cited government sources as saying that acting Economy Minister Luis de Guindos (pictured right) would include revised economic projections in the stability programme to be presented to Parliament on April 19.

Unpopular austerity measures imposed during the economic crisis prompted many voters to turn away from the traditional political parties in the Dec. 20 election, leaving Spain without a majority large enough to form a government.

The caretaker government, headed by acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, will ask Brussels to ease this year’s deficit target to 3.7 percent of GDP when it presents its stability programme this month.

Madrid, which must send its latest projections to Brussels before May, currently expects economic growth of 3 percent this year after GDP expanded 3.2 percent year on year in 2015.

Spain was sucked into a five-year economic slump after its property bubble burst in 2008, sending public debt soaring to almost 100 percent of GDP last year, from less than 40 percent before the crisis.

SHORTFALL Deep budgetary adjustments by Rajoy have almost halved the budget shortfall since he took power in 2011 and a return to relatively strong economic growth since the second half of 2013 has also helped to boost the public coffers.

However, additional spending and tax concessions in the lead up to the December election meant the government and regional authorities struggled to meet budget guidelines.

In exchange for more time, the government will commit to additional savings at a regional level of between 0.5 percent to 0.7 percent of GDP, equating to between 5 billion euros and 7 billion euros, El Pais said.

With new elections in June increasingly likely, any incoming government will have little time to make the necessary fiscal adjustments before the end of the year.

Ambassador sacked for Absenteeism Spanish Ambassador to Belgium Ignacio Jesus Matellanes Martinez has been sacked from his position following numerous complaints from embassy staff claiming that he was failing to properly represent his country.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry has confirmed in a statement saying that similar allegations were made against the ambassador during his previous posting in Nicaragua.

The sacking comes after an internal investigation carried out at the Spanish Embassy highlighted some “very serious abnormalities” in the working of the embassy, highlighting “mass absenteeism”.

Reports suggest that Matellanas Martinez is also accused of having controlled his subordinates “through fear, threats and confrontation”because of his personal connection to MEP Francisco Millán, the Spanish prime minister’s brother-in-law.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Stuck in hostels, Spain’s new wave of politicians lament deadlock

S

ITTING around in hostels was not what Spain’s new generation of politicians expected when they entered parliament on a wave of enthusiasm after a national election in December broke traditional parties’ grip over politics.

But three months on, lawmakers from around the country lodged in the streets surrounding parliament are still in limbo as parties have been unable to cobble together a coalition to oversee Spain’s uneven recovery from a deep recession.

Their arrival, driven by voters weary of austerity and an establishment rife with corruption scandals, ushered in a new era for Spanish politics by ending the duopoly over government held by the People’s Party (PP) and the Socialists since the end of dictatorship in the late 1970s.

But the threat of new elections looms. If parties fail to find common ground by May, parliament would be absolved and new lawmakers’ hopes of reforming Spain’s tired political system would be dashed or at least put on hold.

“We could be the shortest lived delegates in history,” said Angela Rodriguez of regional Galician party En Marea, in coalition with anti-austerity party Podemos on the national stage.

“It’s a feeling of instability, of not knowing what could happen in the next few months,” said the 26-year-old, who moves between hostel rooms and friends’ flats, unwilling to pin down a proper lease.

But there are few signs that lawmakers like Rodriguez could

soon start planning for the long term.

Parties’ lines have long been drawn in the sand. All opposition parties have ruled out support for the PP under Rajoy, who lost his parliamentary majority in December and advocates a coalition of center-left and center-right parties.

Podemos and newcomer liberals Ciudadanos refuse to join a government that would include the other, complicating the Socialists’ plans for a joint “government of change.” Leaders have until May 3 to form a government or new elections will be called most likely in late July. Polls suggest another election would yield an equally fragmented results.

But delegates say the situation they have found themselves in has started to take its toll.

“Obviously there is frustration,” said Maria Such, a new Socialist delegate for Valencia and the youngest member of parliament. “We have the responsibility to put forward policy but it is impossible since everything is blocked up.”

FRUSTRATION In Madrid’s Literary Quarter close to parliament, once the home of writers such as “Don Quijote” author Miguel de Cervantes, and where stores now peddle souvenirs to tourists, hostel owners say there is a constant flow of politicians through their rooms.

“I imagine they’re not from the PP,” said Alejandro Merino, a receptionist at Hostal Alexis on the fourth floor of a building above a gym, of his guests. “They’re respectful and quiet,” he added.

After parliament closes each day, bars and restaurants fill with a mismatch of politicians from different parties.

“It’s a bit like college,” said Enric Bataller of Valencian regional party Compromis, another Podemos ally.

Top Spanish banker Mario Conde arrested again!

THE Guardia Civil has arrested ex-banker Mario Conde on suspicion of money laundering in an operation that investigates the alleged laundering of millions of euros that authorities suspect corresponds to part of the money that disappeared during one of the most notorious financial scandals in the 90s.

The ex-banker who was president of Banesto bank and previously jailed for embezzlement for 20 years in jail although he was released early on parole in 2005 is suspected of misappropriation of funds. The anti-corruption prosecutor said there were “indications” that of the 26 million euros of money which disappeared 13 million euros of it was laundered and held in Swiss accounts. Six other people were over the charges, including his two children.

That’s going to hurt in the morning!

PERUVIAN matador Andres Roca Rey had a lucky escape whilst competing at the La Maestranza bullring in Seville. The young bullfighter appeared to have been impaled through his bottom by the indignant bull and flung around like a rag doll but miraculously Roca Rey was able to free himself and even walk away from the encounter.

It is believed that the horn only grazed the matador’s thigh and thankfully avoided his more delicate area. The latest encounter comes just months after the young matador was struck in the mouth by a bull’s horn in November which resulted in the loss of several teeth.

Maria Such, a 25-year-old lawyer and the youngest new lawmaker in the Socialist (PSOE) party, poses for a photograph in front of the Spanish parliament in Madrid.

REUTERS/Andrea Comas

In a meeting with union representatives a few days earlier, the 25-year-old said the party had to delay its electoral pledge to propose abolishing an article in Spain’s criminal code that restricts workers’ right to strike, which is opposed by the PP. “We said to them that until we have a government we cannot set a period to throw the reform forward, it’s a shame,” Such, another hostel lodger, said.

Such’s struggle to pass legislation highlights the broader problem faced by delegates.

Rajoy, whose government remains in power in an acting capacity, refuses to answer a parliament that he says does not support him. This week alone, 20 bills that were passed by parliament, including one aimed at tackling corruption, will not become law.

PEOPLE WILL LOSE FAITH Lawmakers say the delay in forming a government risks alienating a newly energized electorate, especially Spain’s young people who bore the brunt of the economic crisis as their unemployment levels topped 50 percent.

“The political forces are sending a bad message, it is almost as if we are telling people their vote has been futile,” Miguel Vila, Podemos’ new delegate for the northern region of Burgos, said in an interview.

Before taking the job, Vila, who is 32, worked as a television cameraman in the parliament recording the political class as it scrabbled to deal with the recession that bankrupted banks and sent government debt soaring.

He said his switch to the other side of the lens represents how frustrated ordinary Spaniards decided to take matters into their own hands.

“I saw how politicians of the two traditional parties worked with their backs turned to the people.”

The constant moving between hostels was a bit of a pain, he admitted, but it was irrelevant compared to the risk that the gridlock in forming a government could stem the momentum behind new parties.

“As long as there is no government of real change that can revert the PP’s economic policies and cuts, people will lose faith,” Vila said.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

20 - WEEKEND WORLD

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

GIFTS FIT FOR A KING SPAIN’S palace has for the first time has published a list of the gifts given to members of the royal family last year in its continued attempt to clean up the palaces image. King Felipe VI who took over the throne from his father, former King Juan Carlos, whose four-decade reign was marked by several scandals promised to implement transparency.

The publication of the 326 gifts received last year is a clear indication of this.

Most of the gifts given were ceremonial or ornamental and none were as extravagant as those received by the former King Juan Carlos who, during his reign was given two Ferraris and a luxury yacht among countless other expensive items. Of the 326 gifts, 151 were for the king himself and these ranged from ties & cufflinks – saddle and sword – DVD box set – plates and books.

Queen Letizia was the beneficiary of 8O gifts and the two princesses Leonor and Sofia were given 16 gifs.

Roca goods valued at 75 million euros auctioned online to the highest bidder A

MONG the items listed for sale are three properties in Marbella valued at over 2,200.000 euros a 84 room hotel situated in the heart of Murcia, commercial premises and moorings within the prestigious port of Puerto Banus valued at 800,000.

The jewel in the crown is the Finca La Loma (pictured right), a 27.5 million euros citrus farm of oranges, lemons and mandarins and consists of several rural properties and has over 164 hectares of land.

Other items include a large collection of riding carriages, whips saddles, and livestock in the shape of the Yeguas Spanish horse, vehicles, artwork, and an extensive wine collection valued at over 280,000 Anyone wishing to purchase an item can view them via the website: www.ventadebienesmalaya-roca.com

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Spain registers bigger-thanexpected deficit... again

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Assets seized from Juan Antonio Roca as part of the Malaya corruption case, a case that rocked Marbella and exposed a network of corrupt figures that had fleeced the town of millions of euros are now being auctioned online.

Community

SPAIN missed its public deficit target for 2015 by far more than the European Commission and many analysts had expected, in spite an economic rebound and assurances from the acting government that the slippage would be smaller.

This is the eighth consecutive year that Spain has overspent. The overall deficit stood at 56.6 billion euros (45 billion pounds) last year, or at 5.24 percent of economic output, according to data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE) on Thursday.

Minus financial aid paid to state-rescued banks, the 2015 deficit came in at 5.18 percent, far in excess of the target of 4.2 percent agreed with the European Commission, which has been warning for several months now that Spain was likely to miss its goals for 2015 and 2016.

The overshoot raises the pressure on Spain’s acting government to persuade Brussels it can keep spending in check at a time of political uncertainty. Parties on the right and left have been unable to form a coalition to govern since an inconclusive election on

Dec. 20.

Spanish officials had already suggested in recent weeks that overspending in the country’s autonomous regions and a biggerthan-expected gap in social security revenues would likely nudge the deficit even higher.

Caretaker Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, of the centre-right People’s Party (PP), had said that it would come in at 4.5 percent, lower than the latest Commission forecast of 4.8 percent.

That came after months of assurances that Spain would at least come close to meeting its goal of 4.2 percent, in the run-up to the December election.

Spain has whittled down the deficit since a financial crisis, after the PP wielded deep spending cuts to keep its accounts in check, but the government has struggled to keep within yearly limits established by Brussels.

The Commission is now warning that 2016’s deficit goal of 2.8 percent will be missed without further adjustments to Spain’s budget.

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Eventos Almenara PerioĚ dico Gib.indd 2

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LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

C

ONFUSED callers have looked to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for advice on bizarre issues ranging from where to buy English bacon in Europe, how to recruit a butler in Lebanon and how to avoid nudists in southern Spain, it has been revealed.

The FCO has released details of the ten weirdest consular calls it has received in the past year, as a reminder to Brits overseas that they should only look to use its services for genuine emergencies.

The calls included: n A man planning to move to Spain who was worried he would encounter nudists walking through the streets n A homesick expat asking where he could buy English bacon

n A lady in Lebanon looking for help to recruit an English butler n A holidaymaker trying to find Travel Advice for a visit to Coventry n A European filmmaker looking for an English pensioner to play a part in his new film n A woman who was disappointed the British Embassy had not sent someone to give her a tour of St. Petersburg on her arrival in Russia n A man asking for assistance to get illegal employment in Singapore n A mother asking for the contact details of a young British YouTuber, as her son was a fan of his Minecraft videos n A confused businessman looking for information on the construction of plug sockets n A man in South Korea asking what he could do with his old pound notes Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister James Duddridge said: “Our consular staff are a helpful bunch and do

Foreign Office reveals latest top ten bizarre requests from Brits abroad

BACON, BUTLERS AND SPANISH NUDISTS an amazing job helping out Brits in trouble around the world – but it is important that people remember they are there to help with genuine emergencies and not as an alternative to directory enquiries.

“Every minute they spend handling a call requesting advice on butlers or nudists is time taken away from dealing with life and death cases, so I urge the public to think before picking up the phone.”

Latest FCO figures show that over the last year almost half a million calls were made to its consular service –which pro-

vides emergency help to Britons in trouble overseas.

The vast majority were from people with genuine requests and the FCO assisted with numerous cases, including 3,250 Brits who were hospitalised, 4,770 who were arrested, and the families of 3,670 who died overseas. Almost 38,000 replacement travel documents were issued.

British residents in Spain made more than 13,000 telephone enquiries in the past year, of which a quarter could have been resolved if callers had first searched www.gov.uk. The most frequent topics - for which there is plenty of information online - included applying for a British passport, getting UK documents legalised and registering a birth, death or marriage (see table below for links).

In addition, nearly 2000 of the total calls were inappropriately seeking ‘lifestyle’ advice, with questions sometimes similar to the more bizarre examples received worldwide.

USEFUL WWW.GOV.UK LINKS: British passport applications www.gov.uk/overseas-passports Legalisation of documents www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised Registering a birth abroad www.gov.uk/register-a-birth Registering a death abroad www.gov.uk/register-a-death Getting married abroad www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad Copies of birth or marriage certificates etc www.gov.uk/general-register-office

Information about nudists is outside the British Consulate’s remit

How the FCO can and cannot help British nationals abroad: The FCO can:

The FCO cannot:

· Issue you with an emergency travel document

· Help you enter a country if you do not have a valid passport or necessary visas

· Provide information about transferring money

· Provide help if you have suffered rape or serious sexual or · Give you legal advice or translate documents physical assault, are a victim of crime, are ill or in hospital · Investigate crimes or get you out of prison · Give you a list of local lawyers, interpreters, doctors or fu- · Get you better treatment in hospital or prison than neral directors is given to local people, but we will raise concerns if treatment falls below internationally recognised · Contact you if you are detained abroad standards · Contact friends and family back home for you if you wish · Pay any bills or give you money · Provide help in cases of forced marriage · Make travel arrangements for you · Assist people affected by parental child abduction

FCO staff can support Brits abroad in many ways – including arranging to visit vulnerable Brits in hospital or in prison, advising on how to transfer money and helping those caught up in crisis situations.

However, recent research* has revealed that three quarters of Brits (74%) wrongly think the FCO can get them out of jail if they are arrested, nearly a quarter (22%) think the FCO can arrange for them to get home if they lose their ticket and 15% presume the FCO will lend them money if theirs is lost or stolen.

Kelvin Green, Head of the FCO’s Global Contact Centres, said: “We receive thousands of calls a year, and do all we can to help people who find themselves in difficulty abroad. But we cannot help people make travel arrangements or lifestyle plans, lend them money or pay medical and other bills for them.

“I would urge people to prepare well before they travel, making sure they have valid travel documents and insurance.”

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LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Uber returns to Spanish streets in search of regulatory U-turn U

BER hit the streets of Spain last week, after regulation and hostility from local taxi firms drove it off the streets at the end of 2014.

The U.S. company became embroiled in disputes with authorities around the world after a rapid international expansion, said its return was a launch of UberX, which unlike its previous UberPOP service, will use professionally licensed drivers.

COMPETITION Uber’s first attempt drew the ire of traditional taxi drivers and government suspicion, prompting a Spanish judge to rule that it did not comply with the country’s laws and represented unfair competition.

Uber’s ambition to conquer Spain’s taxi market is unchanged, but this time round the firm has opted for a more limited launch, targeting the private hire sector in Madrid, representing only 10 percent of all taxis in the capital city. Uber’s director for Southern Europe said it hopes that with its aggressive prices - they will be 30 percent less than for a

standard cab – which will win over consumers and convince politicians to revise Spain’s regulations. “I think that Spain is ready,” Carles Lloret said in an interview. “(But) there are services which cannot yet be launched because the regulation is not sufficiently agile.”

“We want to be transparent with the government and we want to maintain a very open dialogue to see how we can build a regulatory framework in Spain that makes sense in both a European and a digital context,” he said.

Although Lloret did not reveal the size of Uber’s initial launch, he said it could go on to create 30,000 jobs in Spain if the country’s regulation is changed.

For now, Uber is however not considering expanding into other Spanish cities, and neither will it offer UberPool, for people to share cars, or UberBLACK’s more luxurious offering.

Uber hasn’t had much luck in Spain last year its food delivery service UberEATS, which was launched in Barcelona, closed after only five months.

THE WORLD’S SCARIEST WALKWAY THE TO RE-OPEN 20th century to give workers access to two hydroelectric plants, the path is also known’s as the King’s Little Pathway.

In 2000, the walkway was closed after a number of people died attempting to cross it but after an extensive renovation programme it was reopened in 2015.

Tickets to visit the attraction can be purchased via the official website www.caminitodelrey.info and will be priced at approx. €10.

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ON Friday 22nd April, the Caminito del Rey will re-open to the general public following its temporary closure on 28th March.

The walkway, which has received one of 28 European and Cultural awards for 2016, has often been dubbed “one of the world’s scariest hikes” Attached to the steep walls of the El Chorro gorge in the province of Málaga the walkway was built at the turn of the

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LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

From traffic light to judge’s bench: an African migrant’s dream H

OWARD Jackson, a man of around 40 from the West African state of Liberia, is a well-known and colorful figure at a busy intersection entering the southern Spanish city of Seville.

Dressed up in one of his more than 200 costumes, from Peter Pan to Little Red Riding Hood to Julius Caesar, he has been selling packets of tissues to motorists for over a decade, twirling and laughing and shouting endearments to his customers.

Jackson (pictured right) arrived in Spain nearly 20 years ago after escaping as a teenager from a civil war in Liberia that killed over 200,000 and in which he lost both his parents and his brother.

He spent three years crossing Africa with no money or documents, doing odd jobs to earn cash to continue his journey. Left to die by people smugglers in the Sahara desert, he was discovered by nomadic Arabs who saved his life.

JUMPED Jackson entered Europe by climbing over the fence that divides Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Melilla. Since he jumped the fence

in the 1990s, this barricade between Africa and Europe has doubled in height and become a sophisticated obstacle course, virtually impossible to cross.

Making his way to Seville, Jackson slept rough on the streets for two years until a Spanish woman approached him and led him to an abandoned roofless house that he has since made into a home with electricity and running water.

“I was about to turn destitute before that woman came across me. Without her, I would have turned into a madman, god knows that’s true,” he said.

Jackson has gained legal residence in Spain, with a permit he must renew every five years, and can legally work, but says he cannot find a good full-time job.

Spain has one of the developed world’s highest unemployment rates, and joblessness is particularly acute in the southern state of Andalusia. Jackson has looked for jobs ranging from a waiter to an assistant to the elderly, to no avail.

He says the only way he can make some money is by hawking tissues at the traffic lights of Plaza de Armas intersection.

But Jackson aims to fulfill his parents’ wish for him as a school child, and so has completed a two-year course to access university and is now pursuing a four-year degree in law. His dream is to become a judge.

However, his studies mean he can now no longer sell tissues at the traffic light in stints of over 13 hours as he used to, meaning it is hard for him to make the 25 euros a day he needs to pay for food, electricity and textbooks.

“I would like to have a job that would allow me to leave the traffic light and spend more time studying,” he said. “One day I will be somebody who can have a good job and defend myself and defend other poor people who have no rights.”

More than 1.2 million migrants fleeing war and deprivation have poured into Europe over the past year, though few have entered Spain in part because of its economic crisis.

The Madrid government gives no figure for the number of undocumented migrants in Spain, but around 13,000 requests for asylum were outstanding in 2015, according the Spanish Commission of Refugees.

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Russia to deploy new weapons on disputed Kuril islands RUSSIA will this year deploy some of its newest missile defence systems and drones on the Kuril islands where Moscow and Tokyo have rival territorial claims, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

The dispute over the islands, known as the Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, has strained relations between the two countries since World War Two, when Soviet forces occupied four islands at the southern end of the chain.

The dispute is so acrimonious that Moscow and Tokyo have still not signed a formal peace treaty.

The new weapons were part of a drive to rearm military units already deployed in the Kurils, Shoigu said, in comments broadcast on state TV. “Coastal missile systems Bal and Bastion and new generation Eleron 3 drones will be deployed there this year,” he told a meeting at the Defence Ministry.

The Bastion is a mobile defence system armed with two anti-ship missiles with a range of up to 300 km (188 miles). It has also been deployed in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Bal anti-ship missile has a similar range.

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ROMANIA’S cultural ministers has announced that the country will offer people who donate money towards the purchase of a sculpture by the famous Romanian-born artist Constantin Brancusi, tax breaks.

The sculpture which has been the subject of a long legal battle has been offered to the government for the sum of €11 million.

The limestone statue’s history is a reflection of Romania’s turmoil” The Wisdom of the Earth” was carved in 1907 by Brancusi.

Four years later, Gheorghe Romascu, a Ro-

manian engineer and art lover, bought it.

But in 1957 it was then confiscated under the communist regime however when the regime fell it was returned to its original owners.

Romania’s government has allocated €5 million from the state budget but needs help raising the remaining €6million. Culture minister, Vlad Alexandrescu announced last week that people who donate money towards the purchase of the sculpture would be given tax breaks.

Businesses can also write off donations as a business expense.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 27

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Beijing extends leave for new parents as China hopes for more children T

HE world’s largest economy faces a shrinking labour force and ageing population, meaning it could be the first country in the world to age before it first gets rich.

Last year, the ruling Chinese Communist Party announced it would relax its long-standing and controversial “one-child policy”, allowing all couples to have two children.

The government, keen to address the looming ageing crisis, is concerned many people will choose not to exercise that right, worried about the cost of raising two children in an increasingly expensive country.

HOPES The state-run China News Agency, in reporting the new rules for leave for new parents, did not link them to hopes people would have more children.

Fathers in Beijing will now be entitled to 15 days of paternity leave under the new regulation, the news agency said. New fathers in China now get three to 10 days paternity leave depending on where they live, according to state media.

Mothers in Beijing can extend their leave to a maximum of seven months if their employers agree, the news agency said,

Authorities in China’s capital will extend leave from work for new mothers and fathers, state media has reported in what appears to be the latest incentive to encourage families to have more children which is 30 days longer than now.

Under the new regulations for Beijing, couples who already have a child each from a previous marriage can have another baby, the news agency said.

Several provinces and major municipalities have similarly amended their maternity and paternity leave policies, state media has reported.

China’s population is set to peak at about 1.45 billion by 2050 when one in every three people is expected to be more than 60 years old, with a shrinking proportion of working adults to support them.

The one-child policy was introduced in the late 1970s to prevent population growth spiralling out of control.

But it is now regarded as out-dated and responsible for shrinking the labour pool and an aging society, with a smaller number of productive young people, a phenomenon usu-

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

ally seen in industrialized countries.

Critics say the relaxation of the one-child policy and related reforms have come too late to avert a dangerous population imbalance, as many couples are now not keen on having more children.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED

T

HE Rolling Stones rocked a massive crowd at a free, outdoor concert in Havana last week, capping a week of engagement with the West for the Communist-led country that once censored the veteran British band’s music.

The Stones started their first-ever show in Cuba with “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” a song recorded in 1968, when Cuban rock fans were secretly sharing pirated vinyl records and risked being sent to rural work brigades to cure “ideological deviation.” “We know that years back it was hard to hear our music in Cuba, but here we are playing. I also think the times are changing,” lead singer Mick Jagger said in Spanish to a roar from the crowd.

The singer spoke in Spanish throughout of the 18-song show of hits that lasted more than two hours. The band played “Sympathy for the Devil” as a yellow moon rose through clouds, and they finished a two-song encore with “Satisfaction.” Fans started gathering 18 hours ahead of time at Havana’s Sports City football and baseball fields, including Cubans who travelled from across the Caribbean’s largest island and foreigners who flew in for the occasion. While no official estimate was immediately available for the crowd size, Cuban state media estimated half a million people could fit in the venue,

boots with the Stones’ tongue and lips logo.

Cubans have taken to colouring the tongue with the stars and stripes of the U.S. flag, whether in the mistaken belief that the British rock stars were American or in the spirit of this week’s historic visit by U.S. President Barack Obama.

COUNTERCULTURE

which was nearly full. The audience ranged from teenagers to pensioners and reserved some of the biggest cheers for Jagger’s snakey dance moves. “I love Mick Jagger so much. I’ve always dreamed about this. I couldn’t sleep knowing he would be here,”

G

REECE said authorities would start ruling on asylum applications from hundreds of migrants in the next two weeks, in a major test of a new deal to try and control the flow of people trying to reach Europe.

Asylum applications in Greece have been piling up since March, when the European Union and Turkey signed an agreement intended to close off the main route into Europe for over a million refugees and migrants since last year.

Under the deal, those who arrive to Greece from March 20 will be screened, registered and detained in holding centres until their asylum applications are processed. Rejected applicants, and those who do not apply, are returned to Turkey.

CHAOTIC Amnesty International has called the situation in Greece “very chaotic,” without enough attention for individual processing and has voiced concerns that the process will be a “rubberstamping exercise” to send people back.

So far, around 325 people who did not request asylum have been returned from the Greek islands under the accord, which the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) has condemned and rights advocates say may violate international law.

“The first results of the asylum applications will be ready in about 15 days and the next phase of the implementation of the agreement will begin,” government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili told a news briefing.

A spokesman for the European Asylum Office (EASO), a partner in implementing the deal, said the timeframe was “feasible”. EASO officials have been deployed on the island of Lesbos since last week carrying out “admissibility assessments” of arrivals.

said Angela Menendez, who cleans floors in a hospital.

Security was low-key and there was a noticeable absence of would-be entrepreneurs selling T-shirts or memorabilia. People were dressed in all manner of jeans, T-shirts and

The Stones formed in London in 1962, three years after Fidel Castro’s bearded rebels toppled a pro-American government. Castro’s revolutionary government came to see counterculture bands like the Stones and the Beatles as dangerously subversive and prohibited their music on TV and radio.

Half a century later, both the Rolling Stones and Cuba’s leadership share a longevity, performing well beyond what most people would consider retirement age. The band’s advancing years did not stop the youngsters in the audience enjoying the show, however.

“Don’t let anybody tell you different, this is the best concert in the history of Cuba,” said Cristian, 18, a reggaeton fan who this month saw electronic music act Major Lazer in another free gig.

For Juan Carlos Leon, 57, the event was more than special. “To me, this is a consecration,” Leon said. “I’ve waited my whole life for this.

The Stones are the greatest.”

Greece expects first asylum decisions under EU deal in two weeks

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

I

T was Sunday like any other for most of us but Sunday the 3rd April will be remembered as the day when prominent leaders, politicians and the worlds wealthiest were exposed in a series of leaked files dubbed the “PANAMA PAPERS” which show how these elite few have used a Panamanian law firm to launder money, dodge sanctions and evade tax.

The files which amount to over 11.5 millions documents consist of some 214,000 offshore corporations and detail how law firm Mossack Fonseca helped facilitate its clients by using methods of tax evasion and money laundering, with references made to bribery, corruption, violating business sanctions and criminal enterprises made.

To try and put this data dump into perspective the unauthorised leak, amounts to over 2,600GB in size compared to the 1.7GB of date exposed in 2010 by WikiLeaks regarding US Diplomatic papers and the 2013’s spying papers by Edward Snowden, which was 260GB

THE PANAMA PAPERS

SO WHAT DO THE PANAMA PAPERS REVEAL?

The leak made via Bastian Obermayer (above), a reporter for German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung took more than a year to orchestrate, and just like that of the WikiLeaks release it involved multiple media partners.

1. So far twelve national leaders (current or former) have been revealed to have used offshore tax havens. These include, Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmunar David Gunnlaugson; Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Shaif; Ali Abu al- Ragheb, Prime Minister of Jordan; Mauricio Macri, President of Argentina; Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Enir of Qatar and former vice-president of Iraq, Ayad Allawi;

2. Family members, and or close associates of world leaders called into dispute have links to; British Prime Minister David Cameron; Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko,; Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; South African President Jacob Zuma; Syrian President Bashar al-Assad; Chinese President Xi Jinping,; Russian President Vladimir Putin and Spains King Felipe VI

The size of the Panama Papers leak AMOUNT OF DATA COMPARED TO PREVIOUS LEAKS

Luxembourg Files (2015) 4.4GB

Swiss (HSBC) Files (2515) 3.3GB

Wikileaks (2010) 1.7GB

Offshore Secrets (2013) 260GB

3. Up to 143 politicians of which three are former Conservative MPs, six are members of the House of Lords and dozens who have donated to UK political parties have held offshore accounts.

4. Gianni infantino, the new President of FIFA the world governing body for sport appears in the papers. They show that in his role as the former secretary general for UEFA Infantino signed a contract for television rights with two business leaders who have since been tied with the FIFA corruption scandal. The documents show how UEFA sold the Ecuadorian TV rights for some games to a company registered in a tax haven for one price only for the company to immediately resell them at a much higher price.

5. The data also reveals secret offshore companies linked to the families and associates of Egypt’s former President, Hosni Mubarak; Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Panama Papers (2016) 2,600GB

Source: International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)

6. Other notable people listed within the papers include: Pedro Almodóvar, Spanish film director, screenwriter, producer and former actor; Agustín Almodóvar, Spanish film producer and younger brother of filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar; Jackie Chan, Hong Kong actor; Nick Faldo, English professional golfer; Nico Rosberg, Formula 1 driver; Barca star Lionel Messi and Simon Cowell music and entertainment mogul.

There is nothing to suggest that any of those named sheltered, or sought to shelter to avoid tax or break the law.

Mossack Fonseca have responded to the leak stating “ For 40 years we have operated beyond reproach and have never been accused or charged in connection with criminal wrongdoing”.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 31

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Online or in hard copy, DĂŠcor Magazine can be enjoyed anywhere in the world!

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

INDIA LOOKS TO BURY ITALY FEUD TO ACHIEVE BIGGER AMBITION

I

NDIA hopes the Brussels summit will bring a thaw in ties with Italy, and keep it from blocking the Asian nation’s membership of a key global group on missile technology, after Rome single-handedly scuppered India’s bid to join last year. “We have always wanted a vibrant, robust partnership with Italy,” said Indian foreign ministry official Nandini Singla.

“We see Italy as a key EU partner.” The row between the two nation’s stems from India’s arrest of two Italian Marines to stand trial for the killing of two fishermen off the southern Indian coast in 2012, a crime Italy said was beyond the jurisdiction of Indian courts.

One of the men has been allowed to return

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to a European Union summit this week, seeking to patch up a four-year diplomatic feud with Italy that has grown toxic enough to threaten New Delhi’s ambitions to become a bigger global player home for medical treatment, while the other is confined to the Italian embassy. Italy has sought international arbitration of the case, with a United Nations tribunal set to hold hearings this week.

An Italian government source said Italy seeks the return of the second Marine held at its New Delhi embassy, since the trial process in India had effectively ended after both

parties agreed to international arbitration.

“There’s no reason for him to stay in India for the arbitration. We have asked that he be allowed to follow the proceedings from his own country,” said the source, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the case.

French sex law hailed as “revolutionary”

India has joined the arbitration process and would respect the tribunal’s decision, said Singla, who is the joint secretary for Western Europe at the Indian foreign ministry.

“This is not really a bilateral issue anymore it has been taken out of the bilateral ambit and to an international tribunal.” She did not say how India would respond to the Italian

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NEW law passed in France that makes it an offence to pay for sex and moves the punishment from prostitutes to clients, has been hailed as revolutionary by activists who hope it will help stamp out sex trafficking.

Under the law, those who pay for sex will face fines of up to 1,500 euros for the first offence, and up to 3,750 Euros for subsequent offences. They may also have to attend a prostitution awareness course.

France follows Northern Ireland, Canada, Sweden, Norway and Iceland in introducing laws designed to punish the client without criminalising those who have been driven into prostitution.

“That’s a revolution in France because they’ve been criminalised for the last 76 years,” said Gregoire Thery, secretary general of the French non-profit Mouvement du Nid, which works with men and women in prostitution.

request, however. The sailors were part of a military team protecting an Italian oil tanker when, they say, they mistook a fishing boat for a pirate vessel and fired warning shots.

Two fishermen died.

For India, membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime, along with three other groups controlling the transfer of nuclear and other armaments is part of a diplomatic campaign to become a global player.

The MTCR is due to meet in October, when New Delhi will renew its bid for membership. “We are interested in membership of all four regimes, we are engaged in dialogue with the groups as well as individual members,” said Amandeep Singh Gill, head of the international security division of the Indian foreign ministry.

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VICTIMS There are between 30,000 and 37,000 sex workers in France, according to the Central Office for the Suppression of Trafficking of Human Beings.

Nearly 85 percent of them are victims of human trafficking, mainly from Bulgaria, Romania, Nigeria, Cameroon and China, said Thery. Who also said that by shifting the criminal charge from victim to the client would make France less attractive for pimps and traffickers.

“There is not a single state in the world that can argue that it is making a real effort to fight against trafficking of human beings if the demand is not tackled.”

Many sex workers do not have the right to work in France. The new law paves the way for those who want to leave prostitution to receive residence permits and financial support.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Three detained in Brussels over Paris attacks investigation Three more people have been detained and taken in for questioning after a house search in Brussels related to November’s militant attacks in Paris, Belgium’s federal prosecutors said on Tuesday.

The house searches were carried out in the southern Brussels neighbourhood of Uccle pictured below), prosecutors said, adding they would not give details as to why the people were detained.

SAUDI REPORTER JAILED FOR INSULTING RULERS

S

country’s Shi’ites since protests in early 2011 calling for an end to discrimination against the minority sect and for reforms in the Sunni Muslim monarchy.

Amnesty, which said it had information from a source with knowledge of the case, said the court on Thursday also handed Brinji an eight-year travel ban and a fine of 50,000 riyals ($13,300).

Brinji was arrested in May 2014 and has been in detention since, according to Amnesty. He had also been accused of apostasy - abandoning his Muslim faith - a crime which carries the death penalty but was not convicted of this due to a lack of evidence, Amnesty said.

Saudi Arabia’s judges are clerics from the kingdom’s ultra- conservative Wahhabi school of Sunni Islam. In the Wahhabi interpretation of Sharia, religious crimes, including blasphemy and apostasy, incur the death penalty.

In February a Saudi court commuted the death sentence against a Palestinian poet convicted of apostasy, to eight years’ jail and 800 lashes, according to his lawyer.

In 2014, a Saudi court in Riyadh sentenced three lawyers to up to eight years in jail after they criticised the Justice Ministry on Twitter.

AUDI Arabia has sentenced a journalist to five years in jail for insulting the kingdom’s rulers and “inciting public opinion” on Twitter, Amnesty International said.

Amnesty described the sentencing of Alaa Brinji as “a clear violation of international law” and said it showed intolerance of the right to peaceful expression. Officials at Saudi Arabia’s Justice Ministry have not commented.

DISSENT Against the background of regional turmoil, the ultra conservative Sunni Muslim country has issued tougher penalties against all forms of dissent. The sentencing against Brinji, who worked for Saudi Arabian newspapers al-Bilad, Okaz and al-Sharq, came after a guilty verdict on March 24, Amnesty said.

It said the court had also found Brinji guilty of ridiculing Islamic religious figures and of making accusations against “security officers of killing protestors in Awamiyah” – an area in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

The Eastern Province has been the focal point of unrest among the

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 35

Kensington FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

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36 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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WEEKEND WORLD - 37

EEKEND focuses on SOTOGRANDE & GIBRALTAR WORLD

Record Summer Forecast for Gibraltar International Airport n 40.8% growth in seats from summer 2015; 35.1% more flights weekly n New early morning British Airways departures from London Heathrow n easyJet to launch twice weekly service to Manchester and extra London Gatwick flights n Monarch Airlines to launch London Gatwick service 4 times a week and extra Birmingham flight n Thursday evening Royal Air Maroc services

G

IBRALTAR International Airport is expected to process a record number of passengers this summer. New routes, and increased frequency of flights on existing routes, include: British Airways New early morning departures from London Heathrow will operate on Mondays and Fridays as from 28th March, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays as from 3rd May. These 4 new services increase the total of BA flights to London Heathrow to 13 per week. easyJet On 3rd July easyJet will launch a new twice weekly service to Manchester on 3rd July, flying on Wednesdays and Sundays.

From 19th July easyJet will provide an additional 2 services to London Gatwick on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, offering a total of 13 services per week in the peak summer months. Services to Bristol, which started in April 2015, will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; but a larger A320 aircraft will operate on Sundays, offering an additional 48 seats per week.

Monarch Airlines Monarch Airlines will operate an additional weekly service from Birmingham. Furthermore, the regular schedule will change; Birmingham flights will no longer operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays instead. Sunday flights will continue as normal.

On 1st May Monarch Airlines will offer a London Gatwick service. This will operate four times weekly, on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Monarch Airlines will thus service Gibraltar from 4 airports: London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester and Birmingham.

Royal Air Maroc Royal Air Maroc services will continue to operate on Thursdays and Sundays. Flights out

of Gibraltar on Thursdays will, however, depart in the late evening.

Overall, Gibraltar International Airport will manage an additional 13 flights per week in the peak summer months, to bring the total of weekly services to 50, up from 37 in summer 2015. Passenger numbers are expected to continue to rise.

The number of seats on offer will grow by 40.8% per week from summer 2015. The number of weekly flights will increase by 35.1% compared to last summer.

In July, August and September Gibraltar International Airport will offer: • 17 flights weekly from London Gatwick (up from 11) • 13 flights weekly from London Heathrow (up from 9) • 6 flights weekly from Manchester (up from 4)

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We can provide cover for Gibraltar, Spanish or UK registered cars, vans and 4x4’s located in Gibraltar or Spain Call into our office in the centre of town or if you prefer we can deal with any type of enquiry over the phone or by e-mail.

• 2 flights weekly to Casablanca and Tangier (late evening Thursday flight) Minister for Tourism, the Hon Samantha Sacramento MP, said: ‘I am delighted that Gibraltar will enjoy such a busy summer, bringing even more visitors to the Rock by air. It is very encouraging to see our partner airlines placing their confidence in Gibraltar and increasing capacity substantially.

Not only to core destinations, but also to regional departure points. The teams at the Gibraltar Tourist Board and Gibraltar International Airport continue to work hard to ensure that further growth continues and that passengers receive high standards of care. Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar continues to develop its policy of sustained growth’.

Gibraltar

Rachelle, Lynette, Michelle & Lorrain

200 44628

weekendworld@ibexinsure.com 68 Irish Town, Gibraltar

Ibex Insurance Services Ltd 2015. Ibex Insurance Services Ltd, 68 Irish Town, Gibraltar. Registered no. 77247.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission FSC 006 43B

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38 - WEEKEND WORLD

ADVERTORIAL

HYGIENE-

Put a sparkle in your smile!

There is a common misconception that dental care is limited purely to the care and treatment of our teeth. Most of us forget out our gums which are the solid foundation needed to achieve and maintain excellent oral health and a beautiful smile.

We all know are teeth are precious, and the thought of losing them can be quite distressing but as we age our gums recede and the everyday wear and tear can start to take a toll and it’s not unlikely that a significant number of people will experience sore or bleeding gums due to over brushing or ill care. Whilst this is common if symptoms such as these persist then it could be evidence of something a little more severe and if the first signs of gum irritation and inflammation are ignored and left untreated, it can, in some extreme cases, lead to tooth loss.

Here at, DENTIST – SOTOGRANDE many clients often ask ‘How can I stop this?’ and the answer is simple – oral hygiene. Take care to brush, floss and use mouthwash. At the first sign of swollen red gums and blood, it is recommended that you visit your dentist. They can begin treatment for minor gum abrasions, however for the treatment and prevention of further infection, periodontal care is required.

Although very common, many patients wonder ‘What is Periodontist?.

Periodontist is one of the three main types of gum disease, the others of which are gingivitis and the more severe version of the latter - acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG), at DENTIST – SOTOGRANDE we specialise in periodontal (gum) problems, treating gum inflammation, infection and the build-up of plaque and tartar. The prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal issues is a specialist subject, and you can be confident in the excellent services provided by our highly skilled team.

Delivering quality periodontal care to patients, treating the onset of gum disease before it further develops, is our main priority. In general, treatment is quick and easy we provide a cleaning regime and use cutting edge laser periodontal therapy to remove the plaque and calculus pockets from around the teeth whilst smoothing the gum tissue to make brushing teeth easier and more effective.

In extreme cases we offer aesthetic periodontal treatment whereby cosmetic dentistry is used to reconstruct damaged gums, prior to the insertion of dental implants.

DENTIST – SOTOGRANDE helps you ensure long term gum and teeth health.

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 39

FOCUS ON SOTOGRANDE & GIBRALTAR

Inaugural Cruise Ship Call - Mein Schiff 4

Creative graphic design for all your marketing needs

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ERMAN cruise ship Mein Schiff 4 paid its inaugural call to Gibraltar on Saturday 9th April.

The vessel is part of the German TUI Cruises fleet, which is a joint venture operation with the American firm Royal Caribbean Cruises.

In an informal ceremony aboard the ship the Minister for the Port, the Hon Paul Balban, exchanged plaques with the Captain.

The newest of the TUI Cruises fleet, the Mein Schiff 4 has a gross tonnage of 99,526 and a length of 293.2m. It can carry 2,790 passengers and has a crew of 1,030. There will be a total of nine calls from this cruise company throughout 2016.

Minister for Tourism, the Hon Samantha Sacramento MP, welcomed the visit of the Mein Schiff 4 on its inaugural call to Gibraltar.

Minister Sacramento said: “The Government is extremely pleased with how the new 2016 cruise season is shaping up. There are numerous inaugurals lined up over the next few months, which once again highlights the importance of Gibraltar as a maritime

hub and regional cruise port of call in the Mediterranean.

“It is particularly significant that we have attracted interest from the German market and we are keen to develop the fresh business opportunities that this will generate over the coming months.

“The cruise industry is a success story of the overall Gibraltar tourist product and reflects the untiring efforts of the Government, Gibraltar Tourist Board and our partners and stakeholders in the private sector, to improve our product and to promote our wares in international markets.

“We look forward to receiving thousands of visitors and to another strong performance of the Gibraltar port in handling the arrival of these cruise ships, which include some of the largest vessels in the world. Gibraltar has once again shown its capacity in this area and the new cruise season confirms an expanding local industry that has become an important driver of the economy and the Rock’s sustained prosperity.”

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Business Card

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Advert

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Brochure

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All whales are protected under Gibraltar law and our Cetacean Protocol. Under these laws, the free movement of cetaceans must be permitted at all times and in all directions without limiting their freedom of movement by intercepting their trajectory, cutting across their path or passing through one of their groups. Vessels are therefore being asked to provide these animals with a wide berth, defined in law as a 60m exclusion zone, to prevent disturbing them.

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

40 - WEEKEND WORLD

FOCUS ON SOTOGRANDE & GIBRALTAR

ASSESORIA & LEGAL SERVICES

Smokefree zone New legislation makes it illegal to smoke in a vehicle when there is a child in the vehicle

Castles is a family run business based in the village of Sabinillas on the Costa del Sol in Southern Spain. We opened our doors in 1986 initially as a fiscal advisor to British, German and Polish clients and as an Estate Agent bringing together buyers and sellers of all nationalities from around the world. Our commitment to providing the highest of professional standards has seen our business grow since its inception and today we offer a professional service in the following areas

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M Government of Gibraltar is pleased to announce that, with effect from Thursday 31 March 2016, it will be an offence for an adult to smoke in an enclosed motor vehicle when there is a child in the vehicle and the vehicle is in a public place. In this context, an ‘adult’ means a person over the age of 18 and a ‘child’ is someone under the age of 18.

An ‘enclosed’ vehicle is one that is enclosed wholly or partly by a roof.

This change in legislation is designed to protect children and young people from the damaging effects of second-hand smoke, which can put them at risk of serious conditions such as meningitis, asthma, cancer, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Similar legislation is already in place in UK, France, South Africa, much of Australia, Canada and the USA and several other countries.

The new legislation follows the Smoke-Free Environment Act 2012 which made it an offence to smoke in enclosed public places

and in public service vehicles in Gibraltar.

Minister for Health, Dr John Cortes said, “This new legislation is designed to protect our children from second-hand smoke.

Smoking just a single cigarette in a vehicle exposes children to high levels of air pollutants and cancer-causing chemicals like arsenic, formaldehyde and tar. People often wrongly assume that opening a window, or letting in fresh air, will lessen the damage.

“The new law applies to any private vehicle enclosed wholly or partly by a roof, even if the window is open, the air conditioning is on or the smoker is sitting in the open doorway of the vehicle. Research in UK has shown that, even with a car window open, levels of dangerous chemicals are over 100 times higher than recommended safety guidelines. No matter what the situation, children will always be exposed to dangerous chemicals which can put them at risk of developing serious health conditions.”

NEW BUSES TO SERVICE THE UPPER TOWN AND MOUNT ALVERNIA HER Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar is pleased to announce the acceptance into service of six new buses that will be for use on the Upper Town and Mount Alvernia routes.

The buses have been modified to include sliding entrance doors, independent front and rear air conditioning, and a CCTV system, and are fully accessible with the inclusion of rear entry wheelchair lifts. These lifts will not only allow access to wheelchair users, but can also enable those persons with severe walking disabilities to access the bus interior using these means.

These buses are fully compliant with Euro 6 exhaust emission limits. The engines are

the most modern in the market, with injection technology particle filters. These buses, unlike their predecessors, can be serviced locally, hence increasing their operational efficiency.

Minister for Public Transport, the Hon Paul Balban MP, said: “I am extremely satisfied with the extensive work carried out by the team involved in the procurement of these buses to ensure a product that will adequately service the Upper Town and Mount Alvernia routes. The buses are expected to provide a vast improvement to the service and I expect that they will be warmly welcomed by the community.”

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 41

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WEEKEND WORLD - 43

EEKEND focuses on HOMES WORLD

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

44 - WEEKEND WORLD

FOCUS ON HOMES

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE YOUR summer nights will be illuminated with a new concept with these luxurious custom made creative lighted armchair and lighted cushion design.

Armchairs, sofas, poufs, headboards can be created upon a specific be-spoke design. Also luxurious lighted cushions are available in 3 sizes. This summer nights can be illuminated with exclusive luxurious and elegant products made to measure. Using the highest quality lights, bringing you an atmosphere, which will be unforgettable. For further info email contact@168interiordesigns.com Facebook: Lights up your life - Instagram: lights_up_your_life

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 45

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

46 - WEEKEND WORLD

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

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Broadcasting from Nerja to beyond Calahonda on 106.2FM and from Elviria to Gibraltar via 106.8FM

n Spring Charity Fayre, Friday, 15 April at 5pm - 8 pm, Neli G’s Gastro Café, Las Palmeras de Benavista, 4, CN340, km 167, Estepona

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Neli G’s are hosting a charity event in aid of the Last Chance Dog Charity and The Orphanage in Malaga. Raffle, games, gifts, afternoon tea and scones. Cake baking competition. Cookie decorating and face painting for the kids.

associations and political parties. Most of the casetas are private and open only to members and their guests. If you have a Sevillano friend with a caseta, you could be lucky enough to receive a much-coveted invite. Alternatively, there are also seven public casetas - the “caseta municipal” and one for each of six districts of Seville.

n Spring Fair in Sevilla, 12-17 April Spring in Seville has a special atmosphere, garlanded with the sweet scent of orange blossom and jasmine, and a frisson of excited anticipation.

The Seville Fair traditionally starts two weeks after Semana Santa, in a huge area in Los Remedios to the south-west of the city, next to the river. This is a week of serious dancing, drinking, eating and socialising, with late night. The sheer size of the April Fair’s spectacle is extraordinary.

From around midday until early evening - especially the first official day, Tuesday - Sevilla society parades around the fairground in carriages or on horseback.

There are also daily bullfights , generally considered the best of the season.

The “Real de la Feria”, where the Feria takes place, covers 1.2 km2 and includes the amusement park, called ´Calle de Infierno’ (Hell Street), and the casetas, canvas tent pavillions of varying sizes arranged along 12 streets. Numbering over 1,000, they belong to eminent local families, groups of friends, businesses, clubs, trade

n Salon Varieties, 22-26 April, nightly at 8pm, Sunday at 7pm. Teatro Salon Varietes, C/ Emanicipación, s/n, Fuengirola 29640 The MANIA PERFORMERS showcase 12 dynamic excerpts from the world of musical theatre.

Directed & Choreographered by Alexandra Avery. Musical Director Juliet Williams Across The Universe (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band) Moulin Rouge, Copacabana, Gypsy, Mary Poppins, Sister Act, Pippin, Footloose, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Matilda, Never Forget & Mamma Mia! There will be dancing in the aisles!

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 47

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

Moors & Christians

T

HE town of Alcoy nestled in Alicante this month’s celebrates its famous festival of Moors and Christians from April 22nd – 24th a festival which is regarded as one of the finest spectacles in the world involving 5,000 participants and attracting many more visitors to this historic inland town.

This three day spectacular celebrates the peaceful submission of the Moorish stronghold to the Catholic Kings, and is one of the most important events of the year. The festival which is dedicated to San Jorge ( St George), a figure shrouded in ancestral traditions dates back to as far as the 16th century and commemorates a battle which was fought in 1276 which saw the Arab troops of Al-Azraq attempt to storm the town but thanks to the intervention of San Jorge the Christian army won the day, forcing the Muslims to retreat and never to return.

Nearly all the local people are involved in organising this event. The festivities begins on Friday 22nd at 12 noon with

a spectacular procession through the streets with locals dressed in period costume representing the different groups that made up each of the armies. Food, drink and song can be had and enjoyed.

Saturday begins with the parade of horses, a dressage demonstration and a mediaeval tournament between Moors and Christians. On the final day, a huge battle is fought in Plaza de España square in a specially-built castle which represents the

city. The Muslim troops approach the castle in an attempt to persuade the Christians to surrender, but the offer is rejected and the ensuing battle ends with the Moors taking over the stronghold. In the afternoon, the Christian army returns and succeeds in retaking the castle. Then, after unsuccessfully negotiating surrender, the final battle begins in which the Moors are ultimately defeated. It is then San Jorge makes an appearance marking the end of the three days festivities.

48 - WEEKEND WORLD

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PRING has sprung and what better way to enjoy its arrival than with a picnic! Casino Marbella treated more than 50 guests to a Paradise Picnic to celebrate the success of Jackpot Paradise jackpot wins which stand at eight throughout the month of March.

More than 50 guests attended the slots room Paradise Jackpot Casino Marbella to participate in the Paradise Picnic and by mid-afternoon, guests could be seen enjoying; Raspberry tarts, apple pie, muffins, brownies and chocolate filled croissants, accompanied by all kinds of juices.

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

CASINO MARBELLA CUSTOMERS GO FOR A PICNIC

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FOCUS ON HOMES

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

EEKEND

WORLD

focuses on

MONEY MATTERS

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

Santander to close hundreds of domestic branches - CEO memo

United Kingdom - Financial Markets

Most Active Stocks Name Last Prev.

High Low Chg. % Vol. s Lloyds Banking 68.9300 66.6400 69.3100 67.4900 +3.44% 61.20M t Tesco 186.4500 196.3000 193.8500 186.4500 -5.02% 38.87M s Glencore 153.2500 148.5500 155.1500 152.0250 +3.16% 29.63M s Barclays 162.0500 155.6500 163.3000 157.5500 +4.11% 21.31M s BP 365.9000 356.9500 367.3500 361.3000 +2.51% 16.67M s HSBC Holdings 442.700 420.100 444.600 427.600 +5.38% 15.25M s Vodafone Group PLC 227.0000 226.5000 227.8500 226.1500 +0.22% 11.03M s Standard Chartered 509.500 470.700 518.000 478.000 +8.24% 9.92M s Legal & General 244.245 237.800 245.200 239.400 +2.73% 7.89M s Anglo American 684.20 638.70 689.90 652.30 +7.12% 7.68M

Top Gainers Name Last s Standard Chartered 509.500 s Anglo American 682.90 442.500 s HSBC Holdings s BHP Billiton 851.90 s Aberdeen Asset Mana. 288.10

Top Losers Chg. +38.800 +44.20 +22.400 +43.30 +12.30

Chg. % +8.24% +6.92% +5.33% +5.36% +4.46%

Name t Tesco t Randgold Resources t Pearson t United Utilities t SABMiller

Figures correct at 13.04.2016

Spain - Financial Markets

Last 185.4000 6,785.00 825.00 956.50 4,222.00

WEEKEND WORLD - 51

Chg. -10.9000 -75.00 -10.00 -3.50 -17.50

Chg. % -5.55% -1.09% -1.20% -0.36% -0.41%

Spain’s Santander plans to close around 450 small domestic branches as part of an overhaul in response to rising regulatory costs and a push into digital services, according to an internal memo from the bank’s CEO. Spain has long been among the European countries with the most bank branches per head of population and many lenders still have larger than average networks, even after cutting staff and shutting outlets in the wake of a deep financial crisis in 2012.

Like peers worldwide, Spanish lenders are also trying to cope with a shift to online and mobile-based business, as well as with rising expenses derived from regulatory demands to boost capital and risk controls.

Spain’s largest bank has 3,467 domestic branches and plans to close around 450 of those, the lender’s Chief Executive Jose Antonio Alvarez said in the memo sent to employees.

Nearly three-quarters of those have between one and three workers, according to the memo, though no details of how many employees many be at risk of redundancy or the time frame for the closures.

“Inevitably these measures will lead to a reduction in the number of people in the corporate centre and Santander Spain,” Alvarez said.

“The transformation process involves taking difficult decisions, but it is essential to ensure our leadership in the coming years.”

Unions are expected to discuss the restructuring process in the coming weeks, one of the country’s main unions UGT said in a statement.

Spanish court to probe Bankia predecessor over mortgages

Spain’s High Court has said it will investigate Caja Madrid, now part of state-owned lender Bankia, over allegations it over-valued mortgages in the years before the country’s housing crisis.

The court will look at whether the saving bank “systematically” inflated the value of mortgaged property between 2002 and 2007 to issue bigger loans, creating a high-risk portfolio that gave it one of the largest default rates among Spanish lenders, the court’s ruling said. Allegations that Caja Madrid Most Active Stocks also gave 20-year mortgages to foreigners with only tempo Name Last Prev.

High Low Chg. % Vol. rary residency in Spain will also be studied. s Santander 4.000 3.772 4.003 3.851 +6.04% 30.54M In the written ruling, judge Jose de la Mata said the investigation, which was triggered by a lawsuit by the bank’s s B. Sabadell 1.528 1.436 1.536 1.460 +6.41% 17.23M shareholders, would focus on Caja Madrid’s former chairman s BBVA 5.766 5.501 5.777 5.585 +4.82% 12.43M Miguel Blesa, former financial director Ildefonso Sanchez, Ras Bankia 0.809 0.778 0.810 0.787 +3.98% 7.86M mon Martinez, former head of risk management, and Ignacio s Telefonica 9.492 9.380 9.534 9.408 +1.19% 7.27M de Navasques, former head of Caja Madrid’s valuation unit s Banco Popular 2.283 2.178 2.289 2.205 +4.82% 5.58M Tasaciones Madrid. s Caixabank 2.619 2.507 2.622 2.539 +4.47% 4.78M Blesa’s lawyer Carlos Aguilar said his client had not yet des Mapfre 1.970 1.889 1.980 1.915 +4.29% 4.67M cided on a response to the court’s ruling. s Arcel. Mittal 4.857 4.482 4.879 4.610 +8.37% 4.57M A court spokesman said those named in the ruling were not charged with any crime and so did not need lawyers at this s Iberdrola 5.910 5.869 5.931 5.853 +0.70% 4.02M stage of the legal process. The ruling said the court will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to open a trial, withTop Losers Top Gainers out specifying any dates.

Caja Madrid’s losses after Spain’s financial crisis broke in 2008 Name Last Chg. Chg. % Name Last Chg. Chg. % forced it to merge in 2011 with other troubled Spanish savs Arcel. Mittal 4.851 +0.369 +8.23% t Grifols 19.450 -0.065 -0.33% ings banks. Together they formed Bankia, which last month s B. Sabadell 1.528 +0.092 +6.41% t FCC 7.582 -0.007 -0.09% began settling another series of lawsuits triggered by its s Santander 3.998 +0.226 +5.99% t Enagas 27.150 -0.005 -0.02% 2012 bailout just a year after its listing. s Obr.H.Lain 5.774 +0.296 +5.40% s Gamesa 16.540 +0.005 +0.03% Bankia has set aside 1.84 billion euros ($2.1 billion) to cover claims by minority investors whose investments were wiped s BBVA 5.766 +0.265 +4.82% s Inditex 28.795 +0.060 +0.21% out in the state rescue. A Bankia spokesman said it would not be impacted by the Caja Madrid case.

Euro exchange rates Blesa, Sanchez and Martinez are due to stand trial in a separate Caja Madrid case, in which former executives and board 9.29 Norwegian Krone 7.44 Danish Krone 1.48 Australian Dollars members, including ex-IMF chief Rodrigo Rato, are accused 9.17 Swedish Krona Hong Kong Dollar 8.77 0.79 British Pounds of misusing credit cards for personal expenses. All have de4.16 UAE Dirham 123.44 Japanese Yen 1.45 Canadian Dollars nied any wrongdoing and a date has not yet been set for the 1.13 US Dollars 1.63 New Zealand Dollar 7.32 Chinese Yuan trial.

52 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPAIN’S ABENGOA WINS BACKING OF CREDITORS TO RESTRUCTURE DEBT

ENERGY firm Abengoa has won the backing of around 75 percent of its creditors to restructure its high debt and seek more time from a court for talks aimed at avoiding bankruptcy.

The engineering and energy company, struggling with a 9.4- billion-euro debt pile, is in pre-insolvency talks and would become Spain’s largest ever bankruptcy if it failed to reach an agreement with lenders and bondholders.

Abengoa had until March 28 to win the backing of at least 60 percent of them and convince a Seville court to give the firm an additional seven months to reach the 75 percent creditor acceptance threshold for a wide-ranging debt restructuring plan. “We have won the backing of 75 percent of financial creditors when we needed 60 percent to present a standstill agreement,” said one of Abengoa’s most senior executive.

Abengoa expects to have a new deal implemented by May or June, when new management is put in place. Under the restructuring proposals, Abengoa would receive between €1.5bn and €1.8bn in fresh liquidity – it raised €137m in emergency loans last week to pay suppliers and staff wages. In return, those lenders extending the fresh liquidity would receive 55 per cent of the equity in the company. Existing creditors, who face a 70 per cent haircut as part of the restructuring deal, would get 35 per cent of the shares in compensation. The shareholding of existing equity holders, including the founding family, would fall to five per cent.

FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

Italy’s Monte Paschi denies report ECB asked for three billion euro cap hike I TALIAN bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena has denied a press report that the European Central Bank had asked it to carry out a capital increase worth up to 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion).

Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper said the bank could undertake the cash call by the end of this year. “Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena denies today’s report in Il Fatto Quotidiano.

The bank also notes that the disclosure of groundless reports, in such a complex context, can only cause further instability and damage to the banking system, the market and investors.” An ECB spokeswoman declined to comment, saying the regulator does not comment on individual banks.

The country’s No.3 lender has been in crisis mode for years due to the combined effects of a disastrous acquisition on the eve of the financial crisis, losses from risky derivatives trades and a pile of bad loans accumulated during Italy’s worst post-war recession.

WEAKEST LENDER It emerged as the weakest lender in a Europe-wide health check of banks in October 2014, has tapped investors for nearly 15

billion euros since 2008 and lost the same amount from 2011 to 2014.

The bank is burdened with 46.7 billion euros of gross bad debts - more than a third of its loan book, and a higher proportion than any other Italian bank.

The lender plans to sell 3.5 billion euros of bad loans by 2018, on top of 2 billion euros already sold. But it has said it is looking at ways of getting rid of even more soured debts than targeted in its business plan.

Selling bad loans at market prices, however, would erode its capital base - a problem shared by other Italian lenders. The whole

sector is saddled by some 360 billion euros of problematic debts.

Sources claim that the government and the Bank of Italy are considering a scheme to help banks offload their bad loans with the involvement of state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and other investors to limit the impact on their capital of such disposals.

The treasury is “following closely developments in the banking sector and Monte dei Paschi of course,” a treasury spokesman said, adding it was confident the Tuscan bank could reduce its pile of bad loans “using all available instruments.”

British brick maker Forterra aims for £450 million London listing BRICK maker Forterra, previously known as Hanson’s UK building products division, said on Tuesday it would float in London next month, aiming to capitalise on demand from house builders in Britain.

Chief Executive Stephen Harrison said an independent listing was the next step for the maker of the popular London brick as it looked to increase its production capabilities.

“The fundamentals of our industry are attractive and with our efficient manufacturing base, strong positions across all product categories, long-standing customer relationships, and significant scope for future capacity expansion, Forterra is very well placed for the fu-

ture,” he said.

Forterra said it expected to have a free float of at least 25 percent of its shares following the listing, which market sources said would give the group an equity value of about 450 million pounds ($642 million).

The group has been owned by U.S. private equity firm Lone Star Funds since it was sold by HeidelbergCement in March 2015. The German company bought Hanson in 2007.

Forterra grew its core earnings to 71 million pounds in its 2015 financial year, up from 22 million two years earlier, it said, thanks to its streamlined production facilities and growth in brick prices

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 53

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FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

54 - WEEKEND WORLD

T

HE European Central Bank has introduced a slate of new measures to try and bolster growth in the Eurozone.

Some have referred to Mario Draghi, the ECB president, as bringing out his “bazooka”.

Faced with the threat of deflation, he is keen to try and boost inflation nearer to its target level of around 2% from its current level of -0.2%. The real economy in the Eurozone is not doing very well. Real GDP grew at around 0.3% toward the end of last year, weaker than expected by many economists and the outlook for 2016 is moderate at best. The ECB hopes its policies will increase demand through financing conditions, increases in employment and structural reform.

Here are the three measures that are geared towards increasing the availability of credit, spurring a faster economic recovery and generating a more acceptable level of inflation.

1. INTEREST RATES CUT The ECB’s three main interest rates have been cut. The refinancing rate – the interest banks are charged for borrowing from the ECB – has been cut by five basis points from 0.05% to zero. The rate on its marginal lending facility, by which it makes overnight credit available to banks, has also been cut by five basis points to 0.25%. And the deposit facility – the rate paid to banks for overnight deposits – by ten basis points to -0.40%.

All of this is aimed at increasing the liquidity of commercial banks in the Eurozone and encouraging lending. By charging banks more to keep deposits at the central bank and less to borrow from it, the hope is that they have less incentive to hold onto their cash.

The refinancing rate meanwhile, is likely to

Explainer: what is the ECB ‘bazooka’ and will it spur a eurozone recovery?

These are usually bought and sold on secondary markets, offering high yields when ratings are low and low yields when ratings are high. This should lead to more money filtering through to what we call the real economy – where goods and services are actually produced, rather than financial markets where shares are traded.

Author: Shabbir Dastgir remain at the present level or lower for the foreseeable future, because of low inflation and the sluggish recovery.

Banks, who are of course at the heart of this lending and credit provision strategy, welcomed the move and have enjoyed an increase in share prices during trading since

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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the announcements. They are more confident about avoiding funding problems, because the cost of insuring against collapse is lower now that credit easing is being ramped up.

2. MORE QUANTITATIVE EASING Draghi also announced another round of quantitative easing – the introduction of new money into the economy. It is the eleventh attempt to reignite money supply growth since he took the helm and will increase the current injection of €60 billion a month to €80 billion each month.

To facilitate this, the ECB will electronically increase the amount of credit in its own bank account and use it to buy assets such as bonds or equities from other banks, a process called asset purchases. This will continue for at least another year or until the inflation rate returns to its target of less than, but close to 2%. Plus, the ECB is increasing the percentage of the share purchases that it is able to buy, up from a third to a half.

Quantitative easing will also be widened to include euro area corporate bonds, which are credit-rated bonds issued by companies.

3. FINANCING FOR BANKS A series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations were also announced, to begin later this year. Commercial banks will effectively be paid to borrow central bank funds.

They are being offered funds to lend to consumers and businesses for spending in the real economy (the money cannot be used for mortgages, for example). Banks that participate would pay back less at the end of the four-year loan than they borrowed. Liquidity is also offered to banks which need to continue lending between themselves and to avoid another credit crunch.

So this monetary stimulus, as the ECB is calling it, is an effort to help the eurozone economy grow faster by increasing the amount of money supplied to it. Doubts persist, however, about whether or not the policies explained here will prove successful.

Much of the ECB’s stimulus depends on there being sufficient demand for loans, which has long been questionable. If there isn’t sufficient loan demand, simply making loans cheaper is unlikely to have a significant impact. There has also been speculation in recent months about the health of the banking sector, though not quite another banking crisis just yet. These measures will help dampen those fears. But the fact that the ECB has had to intercede again, points to how serious such concerns are.

This article was originally published on The Conversation.

BANK PROBE

SPANISH watchdog probes four Spanish banks for anti-competitive practice.

The Spanish market watchdog said it had opened proceedings against Santander, BBVA, Sabadell and Caixabank for possible anti-competitive practices related to derivative contracts to cover the risk of syndicated loans.

The probe stems from a complaint from renewable energy company Inversiones Empresariales Vapat, the regulator said.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 55

EURO AREA LENDING GROWS AT FASTEST PACE SINCE 2011

legal and accounting solutions

L

ENDING to euro zone companies and households grew at its fastest pace since late 2011 in February, suggesting the bloc was continuing with modest recovery, despite falling inflation and slowing global growth, ECB data showed on Tuesday.

Bank loans to non-financial corporations increased by 0.9 percent year on year, clocking up their best growth rate since December 2011 and keeping alive a sluggish and uneven recovery that started in 2014. They had grown by 0.6 percent in January.

Household lending growth picked up to 1.6 percent, the fastest since November 2011, from 1.4 percent in January, led by mortgages and consumer credit.

ASSETS The ECB bought hundreds of billions of euros worth of assets in the past year and had announced it will up the monthly pace of purchases by a third, hoping to kick-start lending to drive up growth and inflation.

But it has little to show for it so far, with euro zone consumer prices falling by 0.3 percent in February and expected to have slipped by 0.1 percent in March as a protracted fall in oil prices since 2014 started to filter through to other goods and services.

A slowdown in emerging economies, led by China, also contributed to pushing down euro zone inflation.

So far bank lending has held up, but the pace of growth is low and uneven.

Corporate loans with a duration of more than five years, the biggest source of bank funding for euro zone companies, rose by just 0.5 percent in February, slower than in the previous two months.

But loans with a maturity of between one and five years, which account for a small portion of the total, jumped by 6.3 percent -- the fastest pace since 2009.

The annual growth rate of the M3 measure of money circulating in the euro zone, which is often an indicator of future economic activity, was unchanged at 5.0 percent, in line with expectations for an unchanged reading.

Growth in M3, which includes items such as deposits with a longer maturity, holdings in money market funds and some debt securities, peaked at 5.4 percent in April and has been more or less flat-lining since.

British banks’ misconduct bill has reached nearly £53 billion Lawsuits and misconduct fines have cost Britain’s largest retail banks and customer-owned lenders almost 53 billion pounds over the past 15 years, a new study has found.

THE scale of the pay-outs has hampered banks’ efforts to rebuild capital, restricted the amount they are able to lend and reduced dividends for investors.

Britain’s banks have been hit by scandals ranging from the manipulation of foreign exchange and benchmark interest rates to the mis-selling of loan insurance and complex interest-rate hedging products.

While lenders have struggled to return money to shareholders because of the charges, they have continued to pay billions of pounds in bonuses to staff, the study by the independent think-tank New City Agenda said.

“The profitability of UK retail banks has been

imperilled by persistent misconduct,” said John McFall, a director of New City Agenda and former Treasury Committee chairman.

“This has made every citizen poorer through our pension funds and our ownership of the bailed out banks.”

The report said the mis-selling of payment protection insurance alone cost banks at least 37.3 billion pounds in Britain’s costliest consumer scandal.

Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) had to set aside 14 billion pounds to cover misconduct between 2010 and 2014, almost twice the amount of any other British lender, the report said.

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56 - WEEKEND WORLD

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FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

EEKEND focuses on HEALTH & BEAUTY WORLD

SUGAR: it’s not

just the calories that are bad for you

T

HE main aim of this new tax is to reduce obesity in children. But, apart from causing child – and adult – obesity, too much sugar also increases the risk of many serious diseases, from cancer to heart disease. And sugar’s calories provide only part of the explanation.

Just as important is insulin. When glucose levels in the blood rise, the pancreas produces insulin, the key that opens doors on cells to allow the glucose in. But too many sugary snacks can keep blood glucose levels high, and so more insulin is also produced. In response to the continual bombardment with insulin, cells change their locks so the insulin key no longer works. With cells desensitised to insulin, blood glucose levels rise even more and the pancreas responds by producing even more insulin. This dangerous state

One of the main talking points from the recent UK Budget, was the announcement of a tax on sugary soft drinks of high blood glucose and insulin can persist undiagnosed for years and is a driving force behind many diseases, even in those of normal body weight.

Why are elevated glucose and insulin so dangerous?

High blood glucose is a well-established risk factor for type 2 diabetes. It also leads to free radicals being produced that damage blood vessels. The tradition of three meals a day allows time between meals for antioxidants to repair the damage. With snacking on sugary

foods there may be less reprieve. The result is an increased likelihood of a heart attack.

What’s more, insulin – glucose’s partner in crime – is a cell “fertiliser” promoting the growth of cells, and making it more likely that a normal cell will cross the threshold into cancer. Raised insulin levels are linked to many cancers and may be an important risk factor for breast cancer in postmenopausal women. So the double whammy of high glucose and high insulin is an insidious driver of many diseases.

PREDIABETES The health significance of elevated blood glucose is sufficient for it to have acquired a new medical term: prediabetes. According to one report, a staggering one in three adults now has this condition – a figure that has tripled since 2003. But most don’t even know they are living with this pre-disease state and so take no remedial action. Being obese increases the risk of prediabetes, but a quarter of prediabetic people are of normal weight.

Each year, about one in 20 people with prediabetes cross the threshold into type 2 diabetes. And a recent review of a large number of studies also found that being prediabetic was associated with an increased risk, albeit small, for many different cancers. So detecting and treating this condition has huge im-

Author: Richard Hoffman plications for public health.

Cutting down on sugary food and drinks is an obvious way to help prevent the dangerous cocktail of high blood glucose and insulin. Sugar added to processed foods is particularly harmful. But natural sources like fruit, though high in sugars, contain fibre, and fibre reduces glucose spikes in the blood by slowing the emptying of the stomach. It also gives a feeling of fullness, preventing over-consumption, whereas there is no such regulator in sugary drinks. Fruit also has the redeeming benefits of vitamins and other nutrients, while sugary drinks provide only empty calories devoid of nutrients. And studies show that fruit (but not fruit juice) is linked to a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Another way to reduce spikes in blood glucose is by having sweet foods only after eating foods rich in fibre such as vegetables, beans or cereals. Some plant foods also contain natural chemicals that help further by blocking glucose uptake from the gut. Apples are a good example – and my research shows that onions also contain chemicals that can reduce spikes in blood glucose. This ability of various plant foods to reduce blood glucose may be one reason why the plantbased Mediterranean diet, even though it includes some sweet foods, is very effective at preventing and managing diabetes.

Makers of sugary soft drinks now complain that their products are being victimised by the new tax. Yes, many other sources of added sugar are also contributing to the epidemic of sugar-related diseases. But this is an opportunity for food manufacturers to do more to reformulate their sugary food products, not less.

ADVERTORIAL

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 57

REHABILITATIONS WITH IMPLANTS GREATLY IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE Starting from the premise that knowledge gives security, Crooke & Laguna Dentistry Centre’s main aim is to keep their patients informed so they know of the mouth and tooth problems they could have, as well as explaining the most modern and efficient treatments in the field.

Dr. Eduardo Crooke Gonzalez de Aguilar, the head of the lmplantology Department of the clinic, tells us about modern implantology.

What options do we have when we are missing all of our teeth from part of the mouth?

When all of the upper or lower teeth are missing, the ideal treatment is to of the first stage insertWinners eight to 10 implants (figure 2) of the Slot Clubteeth in order to Paradise put in permanent League, showing their prizes. in zirconium or metal-porcelain (depending on the case). With this number of implants, there is more support so that chewing forces are distributed over all of the teeth.

Can this treatment be carried out in all cases?

It depends on the bone availability. Therefore, we must always do a dental scan which tells us the volume, height and quality of the available bone. In any case where there is little bone in the upper arch, we can carry out regeneration techniques such as the elevation of the maxillary sinus to increase the height of the bone. Regeneration of the lower arch is more complicated and we resort to short implants which are proving very efficient.

What other alternatives are there when there is not much bone or when the cost is too high?

We can put in fewer implants. For example, by putting in four to six (figure 3) implants we can insert

“A dental scan must always be carried out to show the volume, height and quality of the bone” permanent teeth, although it is always better to have more support points. Another way to reduce the cost of such treatments is by resorting to a metal-resin denture.

Some patients complain that their removable dentures shift, is there any simple treatment which can improve this situation?

The ideal thing would to be make it permanent with some of the options we have already mentioned, because this would stop the pressure of the denture on the gum, which is normally the cause of canker sores and constant pain. But if due to lack of money or lack of bone we want to do something more simple, we can put in an overdenture, which is an easy to remove denture, held by four implants in the upper teeth, or two in the lower teeth (fig-

ure 4). This stops any movement and reduces the size of the palate of the denture in the case of upper teeth.

Can implants and teeth be put in on the same day?

At Crooke & Laguna, we never let patients go home without teeth. We always put in a provisional denture, which we try to fix in place, either on the teeth which remain in the mouth or on implants. When we put in the implants, we are talking of “immediate load” which can be done when the quality and quantity of the bone allows it.

Dr. Eduardo Crooke - Crooke Dental Clinic

FIG. 1 What are dental implants?

Dental implants are defined as artificial dental roots which are placed on the maxillary bones.

They are currently the best alternative to replacing anything from one to all missing teeth.

FIG. 2

Can the implants be put in place without stitches?

Yes, but not in all cases. We must have the sufficient bone volume and enough surrounding gum so we don’t put the future of the implants in danger. To carry out this technique we must make a radiological guide with the scanner, by which we can put the implants in place virtually on the computer.

With that we can then order a surgical guide by e-mail from Sweden which will tell us exactly where and with what inclination to place the implants for our patients. This considerably improves post-op and reduces the time of the operation.

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

58 - WEEKEND WORLD

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

APRIL IS IBS AWARENESS MONTH If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you are not alone – IBS is common and affects between 10% to 15% of adults worldwide. Yet many people remain undiagnosed and unaware that their symptoms indicate a medically recognized disorder. Although IBS is not associated with an increased risk for life-threatening illness, it is associated with a significant health care and economic burden.

Studies have shown that IBS patients have an increased number of outpatient health care visits, diagnostic tests, and surgeries because of this IBS can severely compromise a person’s quality of life.

n What is IBS? IBS is best understood as a long-term or recurrent disorder of gastrointestinal (GI) functioning. It usually involves the large intestine (colon) and small intestine with disturbances of intestinal/bowel (gut) motor function (motility) and sensation.

These gut related activities are regulated by the brain. This

may also be impaired, which is why IBS is often called a braingut disorder.

These disturbances can produce symptoms of abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating or a sense of gaseousness, and a change in bowel habits (diarrhoea and/or constipation)

n What causes IBS? The cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not completely understood. There are possible factors like genetics and prior adverse life experiences (e.g. infection, trauma) that can predispose someone to get IBS. The symptoms appear to result from disturbances in colonic motility (muscle contractions) and increased sensitivity to food, gas, or stool in the bowel.

Finally, there is a tendency for the bowel to be overly reactive to various factors, which can amplify or bring about the symptoms. Examples include: eating, stress, emotional arousal, GI infections, menstrual period, or gaseous distension.

How to detoxify after the Easter blow-out DID you over indulge during the Easter weekend? If you’re feeling the effects of those chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and lamb roast dinners then you are not alone. Many of us have gained at least 4 extra pounds, we started getting blemishes on our skin and we’re finding it very difficult to focus these days. These are the signs that our bodies are packed with toxins, and we should undergo a detox diet. If you are suffering from the same symptoms, here’s what we use to get back to full strength!

Treat your body to some organic foods when possible: While you don’t have to eat only organic, there are certain foods where this is a necessity. The food list known as the “Dirty Dozen” contains a list of foods where pesticides and preservatives can build up and therefore be consumed and ingested by you during digestion.

The rule of thumb generally goes that if you eat the peel or the outside of the fruit or vegetable that you should really opt for organic. Strawberries, apples, and tomatoes are good examples of the types of foods where organic really does matter.

When you choose the right organic foods then you avoid the toxins that can be harmful to your health. This is a simple way of detoxifying the body and all it takes is making good choices at the grocery store.

Be diligent about knowing which organic foods really count, reading labels, and staying away from foods that could harm you. Making healthy choices like this will really help you to get rid of toxins that you were previously ingesting, and get your body to a much cleaner and healthier point.

Give your body a food break - Replace a meal each day with a detoxifying smoothie: Though you never want to go to extreme measures where your diet is concerned, there are some ideas that can work

WEEKEND WORLD - 59

wonders. When it comes to naturally cleansing the body a great measure can be to replace one meal a day with a detoxifying smoothie. This isn’t extreme and won’t cause any harm, but it can be exceptional for getting rid of the substances that your body doesn’t need.

It’s important not to jump on the bandwagon for the more extreme measures and to opt for a smoothie that uses natural ingredients at the core. Rather than turning to a premade concoction or chemically enhanced smoothie, just turn to natural foods that will get you cleansed properly. This can not only help with weight loss, but also with keeping the digestive system working the way that it should.

Turning to a smoothie for one of your meals is a great way to jumpstart your metabolism and to kick your digestive system into overdrive. You will notice that natural energy that you feel and you will also enjoy that some of the symptoms that you suffer with daily are gone with this natural boost.

Water, Water & more Water Even if you think that you are drinking enough water in a day, take your intake to a whole new level. If there is one thing that can easily and naturally help you to detox your body, it’s definitely water. We tend to think that we’re drinking enough when we really need to increase our intake dramatically.

Water can help to flush out your system naturally, and if you drink enough if it then this happens routinely. Proper water intake can contribute to clearer skin, properly functioning organs, and a more effective circulatory, respiratory, and digestive system. So this one simple substance can offer great help to our entire body and the way that it functions.

Forget all the rules that you have heard through the years about how much water is enough. Eight glasses in the minimum, so it’s time to dramatically increase your intake if you want the best health benefits. Water should be your drink of choice and should be your choice with meals, as well as before and after. You will see some of the health benefits readily and enjoy some of the longer term ones down the line.

n What are the treatments for IBS? The key to achieving relief for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is to embrace the understanding that IBS is a complex motility (motor) and sensory disorder and only knowledge and management of the disorder can provide relief- This management comes in two forms: Lifestyle changes The term “lifestyle” refers to things in your life you have control over. For example, evaluate any dietary or stress-related factors that may be related to symptoms and discuss these with a health care provider. If certain foods set off or worsen symptoms, reduce or avoid them. If the abdominal discomfort or pain occurs after eating, it may be helpful to eat smaller and more frequent meals.

Increased stress may result in the onset or worsening of IBS symptoms and associated non-bowel symptoms such as fatigue or low energy. Proper rest and exercise can help reduce stress levels and positively influence IBS. Remember that having IBS is also a stress and learning more about the disorder, communicating effectively with your health care provider, and taking more of a role in your selfcare can reduce that stress.

Medicines If lifestyle changes do not completely relieve IBS symptoms, a number of medications may be helpful • Antispasmodics [e.g., dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Levsin)] have limited benefit for treating IBS but may relieve abdominal pain or discomfort in some people, particularly if the symptoms occur soon after eating.

• Anti-diarrheal agents [e.g., loperamide (Imodium), diphenoxylate (Lomotil)] can be effective in preventing and relieving symptoms of diarrhea but may not be as helpful for the pain.

• Laxatives can help treat symptoms of constipation but not necessarily the pain and should be used under the supervision of a physician.

• Anti-anxiety medications can be helpful for some people with IBS, particularly those with psychological distress.

Some individuals with more mild-moderate symptoms will only require medications now and then. For example, an anti-diarrheal or antispasmodic may be taken by a person with diarrhea-predominant IBS before leaving home or eating a meal. Individuals with constipation may benefit from bulking agents (provided they relieve and don’t worsen symptoms) or laxatives on occasion.

There are also effective medications available that relieve the pain and improve the changes in bowel habit. These may need to be taken on a more long-term basis, such as low-dose antidepressant agents or the relatively newer medications.

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FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

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Authors: James Betts & Enhad Chowdhury

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

Should you eat breakfast? The most important meal of the day?

N the middle of the last century, popular nutrition author Adelle Davis advised people to eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. Her advice stuck. Recent examination of the merits of adults eating breakfast has raised the question of whether we should indeed eat like kings at breakfast or just skip it all together.

First of all, the “most important meal of the day” is not a title anybody should give to any meal whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. To attempt to arbitrarily define a specific meal as the most important is not sensible, but there are a few commonly held truths that may have contributed to breakfast receiving this rather lofty title. When considering these ideas, it becomes clear that some don’t have the weight of evidence you might expect.

Here are some of the commonly asked questions about breakfast and some of the evidence. As you will see, it’s not a cut and dry issue.

Does skipping breakfast make you eat more?

We know that skipping breakfast causes the brain to be more responsive to highly palatable foods and that people often eat more at lunchtime if they skip breakfast. But in laboratory situations and in more realistic investigations conducted with people going about their normal routines, most studies show that skipping breakfast results in lower total energy intake over the course of a day than eating breakfast. So, despite greater hunger during the morning and some compensation during lunch, the effect of skipping breakfast doesn’t seem great enough to make people overshoot the calorie deficit created by missing the morning meal.

Does breakfast ‘kick start’ your metabolism?

Eating sets a variety of biological processes associated with digesting and storing food into action, which result in increased energy expenditure known as diet induced thermogenesis (DIT). So, yes, breakfast does kick start your metabolism. A recent study has even shown that this increase in expenditure is more pronounced in the morning than the evening. But there is a major problem with pinning your hopes on this “jump start” to offset the energy in your breakfast.

DIT accounts for a proportion of the food you eat. For a normal diet it’s only about 10% of energy intake. Higher proportions of protein can push this figure up, but even at its great-

Global optical group Specsavers celebrates 10 years in Spain SPECSAVERS Opticas is part of the World’s largest privately owned optical group which has revolutionised the eyecare industry. Founded 31 years ago in the UK, it is now an International retailer with more than 1,600 stores across 10 countries and is the third largest optical group in the world.

Specsavers Opticas benefits from economies of scale and brings low cost, high quality optics to the market. Specsavers arrived in Spain 10 years ago and is celebrating this important milestone in April and May with birthday events, giveaways and special offers. They are inviting the local community to come and celebrate with them at their nearest store.

The first Specsavers Opticas opened in Javea on the Costa Blanca in April 2006 to provide customers with quality, professional eyecare at low prices. Their fully qualified optometrists use the latest technology to provide a comprehensive eye examination including digital retinal photography to capture images of the back of the eye.

Digital Precision Eyecare technology is also used to calculate important measurements needed to fit your lenses. Specsav-

ers Opticas have opened eight stores on the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Mallorca, creating 68 jobs and bringing professional, excellent value eyecare to the Costas.

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary Specsavers Opticas in Marbella and Fuengirola will be offering free eye tests, special offers such as glasses for just 10€ and running the popular Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition throughout April and May. To join in the celebrations and enter the competition, pop into your nearest store, visit the website www. specsavers.es or find SpecsaversOpticas on Facebook.

José Ángel Moral-Tajadura, Retail Development Consultant and Business Development Manager for Specsavers Spain commented, “We are very proud to have succeeded in Spain despite the financial crisis and become known for our low prices, quality products, excellent customer service and professional services.

We look forward to the next ten years and invite the local community to come and visit their local stores in April and May to take part in fun activities and take advantage of some amazing promotions.”

est, DIT might only account for about 15% of what you eat.

But there might be more to this than just the increased metabolism due to digestion. New evidence from our group, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that those assigned to eat breakfast used more energy through physical activity (in particular during the morning) than those fasting. So it might be that skipping breakfast makes people feel less energetic so they reduce their levels of physical activity, without consciously realising it.

Does skipping breakfast make you gain weight?

Skipping breakfast is associated with greater weight and increased fatness over time. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that skipping breakfast causes the weight gain. It could be that eating breakfast is simply a marker of a healthy lifestyle and, in itself, doesn’t protect against obesity.

Several randomised trials (where people are randomly assigned to a certain behaviour, such as eating breakfast or skipping breakfast) have not found any evidence to suggest that skipping breakfast causes weight gain. Despite the association between skipping breakfast and weight gain, experiments specifically designed to try and establish cause and effect haven’t provided evidence that skipping breakfast causes you to put on weight.

Thinking beyond weight Having covered the common perceptions relating to breakfast and weight, it’s important to recognise that there are other dimensions to the debate on breakfast: • The term “breakfast” covers a vast array of foods from sugary cereals to fry ups. Research examining how different breakfast types affect the body is still on-going.

• It’s possible that consuming breakfast (depending on the type) may make you more likely to consume recommended amounts of certain nutrients.

• There is evidence that eating breakfast can improve endurance exercise performance.

• Eating breakfast might help the body regulate blood glucose concentrations. Skipping breakfast has been shown to increase postprandial hyperglycemia (high blood sugar following a meal) in people with type 2 diabetes.

So, should you eat breakfast?

The prevailing public wisdom suggests that yes, you should eat breakfast. But the current state of scientific evidence means that, unfortunately, the simple answer is: I don’t know.

It depends.

Whether you are a religious breakfast consumer or a staunch skipper, keep in mind that both sides might have some merit and the answer is probably not as simple as you’ve been led to believe.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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WEEKEND WORLD - 61

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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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 stalks of spring The fleshy green spears of asparagus are both succulent and tender and have been considered a delicacy since ancient times. This highly prized vegetable arrives with the coming of spring, when its shoots break through the soil and reaching their 6-8 inch harvest length. Famously diuretic, asparagus is often ascribed the overused status of ‘superfood’ but

this is a title warranted as the asparagus does contain useful quantities of a list of beneficial substances as long as your arm, including vitamins B6, A and C, calcium, magnesium, folic acid, iron, zinc and dietary fibre.

In Spain, asparagus comes in three sorts, the wild, the cultivated and the processed. Wild asparagus, known as esparra-

gos trigueros, “wheat-field” grows on the verges of fields and is part of traditional country cooking in Andalusia.

Cultivated asparagus, both green and white, is grown in Andalusia, Navarra, Aranjuez, and Extremadura and processed asparagus comes in the form of white asparagus in cans or jars, which are smooth, silky and ready to eat.

CHARRED ASPARAGUS TACOS WITH CREAMY ADOBO AND PICKLED RED ONION Meaty tacos are great, but who doesn’t love charred sweet asparagus in the springtime? An intriguing mix of white and green charred asparagus gives complexity to these tacos.

INGREDIENTS 2 ancho chillies, stemmed and seeded 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 small onion, finely sliced 2 medium cloves garlic, grated on a microplane grater 2 teaspoon dried oregano 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 1 chipotle chili and 1 tablespoon sauce from 1 can chipotles in adobo 2/3 cup sour cream or Mexican crema 2 teaspoons fresh juice from 2 limes Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 1/2 pounds asparagus (green, white, or a mix), bottoms trimmed, cut into 1-inch segments 24 corn tortillas warmed Pickled Red Onion Queso fresco or queso cotija Fresh cilantro leaves Lime wedges DIRECTIONS 1. Heat ancho chillies in a medium saucepan over high heat, turning occasionally, until toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a microwave-safe measuring cup and cover with 1 cup water. Microwave on high heat until just simmering, about 3 minutes. Let steep until chillies are softened.

Drain chillies, reserving liquid.

ASPARAGUS AND SWEET PEA FRITTATA WITH MINTY SPRING SALAD This simple pea-and-asparagus frittata is a quintessential spring dish that’s as perfect for breakfast as it is a light lunch, snack, or dinner. Served with a bright, fresh salad that’s flavoured with fresh mint and shaved asparagus, it becomes a quick and easy meal in its own right.

INGREDIENTS 10 large eggs Kosher salt 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for drizzling 1 small yellow onion, diced One (1-pound) bunch asparagus, woody ends trimmed, half cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1 cup), half stalks shaved with a vegetable peeler and tips halved 1 cup sweet peas from about 1/2 pound fresh shelling peas or one (10-ounce) bag frozen peas

Freshly ground black pepper 2 ounces pea tendrils or other tender lettuce (about 4 lightly packed cups) 1/2 cup loosely packed torn mint leaves from about 10 sprigs 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon DIRECTIONS 1. Adjust broiler rack to 10 inches from heat source and preheat broiler to high. Beat eggs in a large bowl with 2 generous pinches of salt. Set aside. In a medium oven-proof nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring, until just translucent, about 2 minutes. Add diced asparagus and peas, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until tender but not browned, about 6 minutes.

2. Add egg and cook, stirring, until moist curds have formed throughout, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer skillet to broiler and cook until top is set, about 3 minutes. Let frittata cool slightly.

Run a thin spatula around and under frittata to detach any

2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in now-empty skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onions, and cook, stirring frequently until softened and lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and oregano and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add vinegar, chipotle chilli and sauce, and reserved chilli liquid. Scrape up browned bits from bottom of pan. Transfer contents to jar of a blender along with soaked chillies, sour cream, and lime juice. Blend on high speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.

3. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat until smoking. Add asparagus, season with salt and pepper, and cook without moving until well charred on bottom, about 2 minutes. Toss and repeat, allowing asparagus to char before tossing again. Repeat until all asparagus is charred and softened, 8 to 10 minutes total. Transfer to a large plate.

4. Form 12 double stacks of tortillas. Spread a tablespoon of sauce over each one. Divide asparagus evenly between tortillas. Top with pickled onions, cheese, and cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges and extra sauce.

spots stuck to skillet.

3. Invert a large plate over skillet, and in one quick motion turn frittata out onto plate. Set aside.

4. Combine shaved asparagus and halved tips with pea tendrils and mint in a large bowl. Add remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and the lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat evenly. Cut frittata into wedges and serve with salad on the side.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

FOCUS ON FOOD & FINE DINING

TAPAS-STYLE GRILLED ASPARAGUS

GRILLED ASPARAGUS, ZUCCHINI, AND BREAD SALAD WITH OLIVECAPER DRESSING

Take a culinary journey to Spain with delicious in-season asparagus served tapas-style. Alternatively, instead of using olives and almonds in this dish, you can use preserved anchovies or fried capers.

A season-appropriate spin on the classic panzanella salad, fat stalks of asparagus and halved zucchinis are grilled until charred without becoming mushy. It’s a salad that’s both smoky and fresh, and tastes great the next day.

INGREDIENTS 2 medium red onions, cut into 1/2-inch slices 1 pound zucchini (about 3 medium), split in half lengthwise 1 1/2 pounds asparagus, trimmed 1 loaf Italian bread (about 12 ounces), split in half lengthwise 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 lemon 1/4 cup chopped pitted black olives (such as kalamata) 1/4 cup capers, drained, rinsed, dried, and chopped 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar DIRECTIONS 1. Place onion slices flat on cutting board thread two wooden skewers through each onion slice to keep them flat as they grill. Place onions, zucchini, asparagus, and bread on two large rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle evenly with 1/4 cup olive oil and rub with hands to coat all the vegetables and bread evenly. Season everything with salt and pepper. Set aside.

2. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with grey ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over half of the coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover gill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. If using a gas grill, preheat half the grill to high.

3. When fire is ready, place bread over cool side of grill. Place onions in center of grill. Place zucchini cut-side-down over hot side. Cook, turning once until well charred on both sides

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INGREDIENTS 500g asparagus (3 bunches) 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil sea salt and freshly ground pepper 1 clove garlic zest and juice of 1/2 lemon handful of pitted olives, green and black handful of toasted marcona almonds, roughly chopped

and just starting to become tender, about 4 minutes total.

Return to baking sheet. Check bread and flip and rotate to make sure it’s drying evenly. Check onions and flip if necessary.

4. Add asparagus to hot side of grill and cook, turning occasionally until well charred and barely tender, about 3 minutes total. Return to baking sheet. Continue cooking onions until charred and tender throughout, about 10 minutes total.

Return to baking sheet.

5. When bread is mostly dry, transfer to hot side of grill and cook, turning occasionally, until well toasted and lightly charred, about 1 minute total. Return to baking sheet. Split lemon and place on grill cut-side-down. Grill until lightly charred and warm about 4 minutes.

6. Combine olives, capers, parsley, vinegar, and remaining 1/4 cup olive oil in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Cut zucchini, asparagus, bread, and onions into rough chunks and add to bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss everything well to combine, adding extra olive oil to taste if desired.

7. Transfer salad to a bowl and serve with charred lemon halves.

RAW ASPARAGUS CAESAR SALAD INGREDIENTS 2 bunches (or about 2 pounds) pencil-thin asparagus, tough ends trimmed and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1-1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 1 lemon 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (or 1 anchovy filet) 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

DIRECTIONS 1. Combine mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and anchovy paste in a blender. Blend until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl. Whisking constantly, add the olive oil in a thin, steady stream until incorporated.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2. In a medium bowl, toss the asparagus with the dressing. Transfer to a serving platter and top with the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the barbecue or grill pan until very hot. Snap the woody ends off the asparagus and toss in a little oil and salt.

Grill for about 5 minutes (cooking time will depend on the thickness of the stems), turning regularly so they become charred, but still hold their shape.

2. Pound the garlic clove in a mortar with a pestle adding a little salt, then stir in half the lemon zest, all of the juice and remaining oil to make a dressing. Add pepper and check seasoning.

3. Put the asparagus in a shallow container, then pour the dressing on top. Leave to marinate for a few minutes. Transfer onto a serving platter and garnish with olives, almonds and remaining zest.

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

64 - WEEKEND WORLD

Meat is the main attraction

THE STARS SHINE BRIGHTLY ON MARBELLA He is regarded as one of the best chefs in Spain, and this year Dani Garcia will host an event at his restaurant in Hotel Puente Romano, Marbella paying tribute to who many consider the best chef in the world, Frenchman Joel Robuchon.

For two years, Dani has hosted the 4-day exclusive gastronomic event “A Cuatro Manos” and this year he brings together chefs from around the world who collectively hold between them 71 Michelin stars.

The opening night held on Monday, April 18, will feature Robuchon himself who will accompany Dani Garcia and the rest of the cooks to reinterpret, each one of the French chef’s signature dishes.

The next day, April 19, there will be a Night Unplugged with Dani Garcia, accompanied by Angel Leon from restaurant A Poniente Cadiz, and Paco Morales from the Noor of Cordoba. Dishes will be

EVEN with the rise of more sophisticated dining habits there can be nothing better than a perfectly cooked steak. The smell and sight of steak cooking over charcoal is enough to entice most hungry diners into any restaurant. Meat is central to most Spanish cuisine whether it be the Beef of Navarra, Asturias & Basque Country, Sergovian Pork or the Lamb of Catilla y Leon.

With this in mind the new Vovem Grill brasserie in Nueva Andalucia is a perfect combination – It offers a new concept in meat eating, with meat as the main attraction presenting more than ten varieties of beef breed worldwide, highlighting the Avileña-Charolais, the Galician Blonde, Friesian, the Brown Swiss, Angus Black Nebraska, Aberdeen Angus Uruguay, national Wagyu, Japanese black purebred Wagyu (Kobe) and authentic steer berrenda colorao race and so famous ox Bodega El Capricho, considered by the New York Times as the best meat in the world.

All meats are cooked with care, respect and professionalism, and the smell of the coals of oak, olive and vine are mouth-watering.

To accompany your meat selection Vovem offers a menu that complements the meat, with a section rice, salads and vegetable dishes. It also offers tapas which can be savoured on the spectacular terrace as well as a number of dishes to share.

Dani Garcia

created using cooking techniques developed prior to that of 1995.”I chose 1995 because it was when I started cooking professionally,” Said Dani,.

On Wednesday, April 20, chef Daniel Humm, of restaurant Eleven Madison Park United States and Dani Garcia will create dishes, which infuse the flavours of New York and Andalucian cuisine.

Thursday night, April 21 will see Dani Garcia and Sebastian Frank of Horvath Restaurant, Berlin create dishes blending Andalucian and German cuisine.

Evenings are priced between 350 and 450 euros per person.

The mayor of Marbella, José Bernal, called the event barbarian “A unique opportunity that we cannot lose.”

For more information or to book a reservation visit www.grupodanigarcia.com/acuatromanos

Joel Robuchon

Angel Leon

Kitchen time: Monday to Sunday 1:00pm - 4:00pm & 7:30pm - 11:30pm Terrace time: Monday to Sunday 12:30pm to 1:00am For reservations: + 34 952 00 34 34 For more information visit: www.vovemasador.com

Paco Morales

Daniel Humm

Sebastian Frank

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 65

A S A D O R

CL YEDRAS, S/N C.C. ODEON, LC 9-10 NUEVA ANDALUCIA T. 952 00 34 34 www.vovemasador.com

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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Solution to puzzle from issue 16

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 Chocolate substitute 6 Polaris or Vega 10 Crew members’ needs 14 Over and __; beyond 15 Easy gait 16 Provo’s state 17 More impolite 18 Singles 19 Movement of the waves 20 Time without end 22 Lassie, for one 24 Short fast race 25 Reviewer of the financial books 26 Soft yarn made from goat hair 29 Overuse the mirror 30 Baseball’s __ Ripken, Jr. 31 Valleys 33 Bursting at the __; too full

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Solution to puzzle from issue 16

The hidden message is: SAINT PATRICK LIVED IN THE FIFTH CENTURY

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WORD SEARCH Find and circle all of the words that are hidden in the grid pertaining to Chocolate.

The remaining 55 letters spell a secret message.

K L I M T S E I N W O R B C H O C C G O L Y N A S E M I S W E E T T E H N C S D E N E T E E W S N U O R C I I O E N I I G F I L L I N G S I O P K C L A D N A B F T E S E K F R N S A O F C E I O O M C T V N R H E F D B A F T R S O E H E I I C A T A E R T T U I G D D O G T R O R D S N C E C C R O N S C N C D O W E F T R T E U T T U I O I I G K H T A S P C I R P O H F L D D N I I E W M R U E O I C O T A D D I E T E S E P S R C N N A H T U A C S E S A E S I I Y D E B K I P O I T I M B E R L E U S A R O E A M A W F U D G E S E A R C A Y R S O S U G A R D T E S S U O M R S E E ADDICTIVE BAKING BARS BITTERSWEET BROWNIES CAKES CANDY CHIPS

CHOCOLATIERS COCOA CONFECTIONERY COOKIES CREAM PIE CUPCAKE DARK DECADENT

DELICIOUS DESSERT DRINKS FILLING FONDUE FOOD FUDGE ICE CREAM

ICING INGREDIENT MILK MOUSSE PUDDING SEMISWEET SUGAR SWISS

SYRUP TREAT TRUFFLES UNSWEETENED WHITE

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 67

W EIRD W ORLD

AUSTRALIA

Derek the wombat was orphaned recently after his mother was tragically hit and killed by a car. He is looking for someone to become his temporary cuddle buddy.

Tourism marketers in Tasmania, Australia, are looking for a “chief wombat cuddler” to hang

out with Derek for 3 days.

The successful applicant will be flown on an all-expenses-paid trip to Flinders Island, where they’ll also get to enjoy the local sights.

The pros of the role are getting to spend

CODEWORD 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.

14

2

10

11

14

11 5

10 7 5 5 13 5 6 3 17 3 7 5 26 19

L

6 7 21 13 18 4 11

6 3 3 7 6 4 10 5 11 17 24 2 5 24

15

2

16

20

9 6 11 16 5 22 1 6

A

16 3 24 17 4 22 23 19

11 10 22 7 22

10 12 19 9 16 25 9

13 5 18 1 16 11 23

5 17 13 5 18

14 7 17 18 6 7

16 22 23 5 18 20 16 26

6 14 18 9 10 23

6 3 7 17 20 24

P

23 5 18 18 16 14 16 11

1 6 6 4 16 8 21

23 17 18 23 16 7 7 6

11 9 5 18 4 24

25 9 7 7 5 1 5

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 14

2 15

3

P

16

4 17

5 18

6

A

19

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: 86 words

7

L

20

8 21

9 22

10 23

11 24

12

13

25

26

some quality time with the ridiculously cute animal. The cons are that the job is unpaid and only lasts for three days, and you have to be an Australian citizen to qualify. Boo. Wannabe wombat cuddlers have to tell Tourism Tasmania in 25 words or less why they’re the best person for the role of Chief Wombat Cuddler by April 16.

“Non-cuddlers need not apply,” the tourism website states.

Derek is currently being raised by Kate Mooney, who’s also known as the “Wombat Lady of Flinders Island,” according to UPI.

FRANCE

French baker Michel Flamant, 62, has a bakery in the town of Dole in the Jura mountains, eastern France. A homeless man, Jérôme Aucant, begged for spare coins outside the bakery and rather than chase him away, the baker regularly came out to offer him a coffee and croissant to keep the man’s spirits up.

Last December, his generosity was rewarded handsomely. Mr Flamant was baking bread in his bake house when he started feeling increasingly unwell. It transpired that the oven had been poorly repaired and was leaking carbon monoxide, which is odourless and deadly if inhaled in a confined space.

Mr Flamant soldiered on with the baking started to lose consciousness. Just at that moment, Mr Aucant popped in to the bakery for a chat and to come in from the cold. He took one look at the baker, pulled him out of the bakery and phoned the emergency services.

“The firemen said he would have been dead within a quarter of an hour,” said Ms Guillemin. “The doctors said he was incredibly lucky.”

After two weeks recovering in hospital, the baker returned and instantly offered his saviour a job as his apprentice, which he accepted. After a few days with Jérôme, the baker could see he had a willing and able apprentice.

“So I decided to leave him the concern for one symbolic euro,” said Mr Flamant, none of whose three daughters were interested in taking up the business.

“Jérôme is a hard worker and wants to succeed. He deserves a break,” he said.

As for Mr Aucant, he said: “I want to work and am not afraid of baker’s hours.”

“I’m leaving him a place of work, now it’s up

to him to make it work,” said Mr Flamant, who will be handing over the keys in September once he is sure his bread is in good hands.

INDIA

A restaurant owner in Kochi, India, noticed there were a lot of homeless people who often walked past her restaurant rummaging through trash cans.

So Minu Pauline, owner of Pappadavada, came up with a brilliant idea: an outdoor refrigerator that the hungry can access 24 hours a day.

Recently, the fridge was opened. It’s unlocked 24/7 and anyone can take food from it, no questions asked.

The fridge receives regular donations from restaurant patrons and other people, and Pauline herself leaves around 75-80 portions of food per day.

“Money is yours,” she told The Huffington Post. “But resources belong to society. That’s the message I want to send out. If you’re wasting your money… you’re wasting society’s resources.”

Solution to Wordblock puzzzle from issue 16 yachtsman - caymans - snatchy - ashcan - cayman - chants - chanty - mantas - mynahs - sancta scanty - shaman - shanty - snatch - stanch - antsy - atman - canst - cants - canty - chant - hymns - manas - manat - manta - mynah - mynas - nasty - natch - scant - snath - synch - tansy - anas - anta - ants - cans - cant - cyan - hymn - mana - mans - many - myna - nays - scan - sync - tana - tanh tans - than

Solution to CODEWORD from issue 16

12

21

7

21

19

21 20

W C A C S C B

18 24 11 16 17 22

10 22 11 16 10 2 10 9

15

Z I T H E R O R T H O D O X 19

24

11

10

8 15

S I T N O M N

19 11 13 15 15 24 15 4

21 16 7 24 19 17

6 7

S T U N N I N G C H A I S E 17

21

17

17

E C E E K A

10 22 21 16 7 22 2 19

7 21 3 13 24 11

O R C H A R D S A C Q U I T 24 24 11 2 13

I I T D U

12 7 5 5 7 20 23

26 17 22 7 15 2 7

W A L L A B Y V E R A N D A 5 24 4 2 24

L I G D I

8 10 16 7 24 22

7 20 15 10 22 8 7 5

M O H A I R A B N O R M A L 22 2 18 10 7 8

R D Z O A M

20 7 15 1 10 19

17 9 11 17 15 2 17 2

20

B A N J O S E X T E N D E D 21

13

10

24

4 11

C U O B I G T

25 5 7 8 17 15 21 10

25 24 5 5 17 22

23

F L A M E N C O F I L L E R 17

14

4

19

17 22

E P G S Y E R

Solution to SUDOKU puzzles from issue 16

L F E

I R C

D K O

8 7 2 1 3 5 6 4 9

5 7 1 9 3 8 2 6 4

5 6 3 4 9 8 7 1 2

8 6 3 1 2 4 7 9 5

9 4 1 2 6 7 8 5 3

9 2 4 5 6 7 8 3 1

2 1 7 3 5 9 4 6 8

1 5 8 6 4 9 3 7 2

3 9 8 6 7 4 5 2 1

6 9 2 7 5 3 4 1 8

4 5 6 8 1 2 9 3 7

4 3 7 2 8 1 6 5 9

6 8 9 5 2 3 1 7 4

2 1 5 8 7 6 9 4 3

7 3 5 9 4 1 2 8 6

7 4 9 3 1 2 5 8 6

1 2 4 7 8 6 3 9 5

3 8 6 4 9 5 1 2 7

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

68 - WEEKEND WORLD

W CLASSIFIEDS...

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

MOTORS TYRES-2-U.COM the Coasts ONLY to your door mobile tyre fitting store. Puncture repairs, callouts , new tyres. 7 days a week. +34 676186499 www.tyres-2-u.com Malaga to Gibraltar CALLING AUDI OWNERS! Need an Audi Specialist to keep your Vorsprung Durch Technik in the shape it left the factory? Bright Sky Cars, Audi Specialist.

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

70 - WEEKEND WORLD

PET CORNER

T

O keep your dog, cat and other furry friends safe, make sure you are prepared. Below are some tips on preventing accidents and safeguarding your pet during the summer months.

TICKS With all of the time your pet will be spending outdoors, one of the biggest dangers is ticks. It is recommended that you check your pet for ticks at least once a day and look thoroughly after walks or trips through wooded areas. Ticks can be harder to find on thicker coat dogs and dogs are often more affected than cats are.

What should you do if you find a tick? Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible, but be gentle! Try not to pinch the skin. Pull outward in a straight, steady motion, making sure that you’ve removed the entire tick, since anything left behind could lead to an infection. Try to save it in an airtight container then ask your vet if you should bring it in for testing. Ticks carry a number of diseases, including Lyme disease, but symptoms are often hard to spot.

Dogs may be tired or feverish, or become lame. So also talk to your vet ahead of time about effective tick medication, and only use products that are made for your type of pet.

DEHYDRATION AND HEAT STROKE Dehydration and heat stroke are very real threats when the dog days of summer are

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

OUT IN THE MIDDAY SUN Summer has long been a time for holidays,BBQs and garden parties. When the heat turns up, the dangers to pets increase too. water and pool water can cause health problems.

CARS However short your errand, never, ever leave your pet in the car.

upon us. Animals should always have fresh, clean water available, whether it’s summer or the dead of winter. Carry portable water

adana

Annual Dog Show Sunday 24th April 2016 at the Palacio de Congresos, Estepona Entrance €2 Children free SPAIN’S ANSWER TO CRUFTS! Registration from 11am - Judging from 12 noon CATEGORIES INCLUDE: Dog with waggiest tail Senorita and Senora Estepona • Best Ex-Adana Dog Open Obedience • Best Trick • Agility CAFÉ • POLICE DOG DISPLAY • OVER 40 STALLS Details & entry form on our website - www.adana.es CIF G29463635

bowls on walks and bring them on vacation or long car rides. Short-nosed dogs, like pugs, Japanese chins and bulldogs, darkercolored pets, animals that are overweight or ones that have thick coats (like Himalayan or Persian cats), are especially prone to heat stress. Watch out for these symptoms: Excess lethargy Decreased urination Dry gums Refusal to eat Sunken eyes Decreased skin elasticity (Gently pinch your pet’s skin near the shoulder up into the shape of a tent; if the skin is slow to snap back, your pet may be dehydrated.)

Don’t worry if your dog pants - it’s how they cool themselves. The hotter it is, the more they will pant. Other ways to cool your pup re fans, ice packs, frozen treats, ice cubes, kiddie pools and sprinklers. Your kids and dog will have a blast.

What should you do if you think your pet is dehydrated? If they seem weak or off-balance, cool them with a hose or wet towels and get them to a vet as quickly as possible.

POOLS AND WATER Despite what YouTube may tell us, cats and rabbits don’t like to swim. And not all dogs have mastered the doggie paddle. Some may not like water and certain breeds like pugs and terriers may have trouble swimming. So buy a flotation device (yes, dogs can wear floaties too!) to keep your pup safe.

If you are planning a boating adventure with your dog this summer, make sure he doesn’t jump overboard, which can be dangerous for animals. And never try to force your pet into the water.

If you luck out and your pet enjoys splashing around, always rinse off after a swim. The chlorine, salt and bacteria in pools and lakes can be harmful. Animals should also have a shady area nearby where they can cool off and access to fresh water, as drinking salt

BEE STINGS Buzz. Buzz. It may not be a pleasant sound to us, but it can cause your pet to investigate.

And while curiosity may not kill the cat (or dog), it can get them stung. So what should you do? Often nothing is necessary unless there is a lot of swelling. Call your vet who can suggest an office visit or prescribe an over-the-counter medicine. Some OTCs are harmful to pets though, so never dispense them on your own.

And watch how your pet responds to any swelling. If they are very irritated, they may scratch the stung area, pulling out the fur.

These “hot spots” make your pet look bald.

Bring your pet to the vet right away if you notice this behaviour or these spots.

PAVEMENTS Asphalt and other surfaces can get very hot and can harm your pets’ paws. Think about what you’re walking on, if you wouldn’t like walking on it with bare feet, try to limit your dog’s time on it too.

When taking your bet for a walk, stay away from asphalt or rough pavement, pick softer routes, in the shade as much as possible and schedule walks for cooler times of the day.

EXTRA FUR Grooming is especially important in warmer weather. Brush your pet more often during the summer to get rid of excess or matted fur, which can weigh a pet down and contribute to overheating. If they seem uncomfortable because of their thick coat consider taking them to a groomer. Never cut too closely though, as a coat protects your pet from the harsh summer sun.

BBQs Everyone loves a BBQ especially your pet, who gets to feast on table scraps. But a little of this and a taste of that can be bad for pets - and not just for their waistlines. Some surprising foods, such as grapes, onions, garlic and raisins, can be toxic to dogs if consumed in large quantities and should stay off their menu. Grapes and raisins are safe for cats, but keep onions and garlic away from them.

These dangers may sound scary, but a little preparation and watchful eye is all you need to take the heat off your summer. Get more hot weather tips from the ASPCA.

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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WEEKEND WORLD - 73

EEKEND focuses on SPORT WORLD

We need headto-head rivalries to switch on fans A

THLETICS needs more headto-head rivalries to reach younger fans who have switched off from a sport that has become boring, according to IAAF president Sebastian Coe. The sport had been “irreparably damaged” by the corruption and doping scandals that have overshadowed the early months of his tenure, Coe added in a BBC programme entitled “Can Seb Coe Save Athletics?” .

Just as important as regaining trust was revamping a schedule that for most of the year meant there was no top-quality track-and-field action to watch, he added. “There isn’t enough athletics, we kid ourselves but there is not enough,” former Olympic champion Coe said. “We go from September through to May where frankly there is not much to be talking about or writing about; we have to remedy that.

“We have to extend the season into climates where you can compete and we have to develop those markets and make sure the athletes go head to head much more often.”

While tennis enjoys rivalries such as those between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, and football has Barcelona and Bayern Munich vying for superiority, athletics struggles for the same appeal. Coe himself enjoyed a fierce rivalry on the track with fellow Briton Steve Ovett in the early 1980s and their races over

800 and 1,500 metres generated huge crowds and television audiences. Finding more Usain Bolts would help but athletics was not a conveyor belt, Coe said, adding that the top names in the sport’s various disciplines needed to be more visible on the track and also in social media, an area he said athletics was bad at.

“We have agents and managers who at the start of the season are saying: ‘Our guy is going to have a quiet year this year.’ “It’s like Barcelona selling season tickets and saying Lionel Messi will only play one in every three or four games,” Coe said. “Usain Bolt is a genius but what we have to do at the IAAF is to make sure people know as much and are excited about the athletes like (New Zealand shot-putter) Valerie Adams who are extraordinary athletes too.”

The format of the world championships, which will be in London next year, needed to change, he said.

“Has what we are watching changed dramatically since we were competing? Yes, in little ways,” he said. “But people were prepared back in 1983 to sit through nine or 10 days of a world championships. They are not going to do that now. “We have to be realistic.

Will we have a world championships format that is shorter? No, not straight away. Will we have that in five years?

We have to. It’s about survival and doing some really radical things.”

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74 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPORT NEWS

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TEPPING out of his father’s shadow Chris Eubank Jr has secured the British middleweight title a title that eluded even his famous father, but the fight against Nick Blackwell brought back painful memories for Eubank’s father, Chris Eubank Sr. who 25 years ago fought Michael Watson leaving him fighting for his life and suffering with severe brain injuries.

Nick “Bang Bang” Blackwell, 25, from Somerset and former holder of the British middleweight belt was placed in a medically induced coma following the brutal fight with Chris Eubank Jr. The fight, which was stopped in the 10th round by referee Victor Loughlin because of damage to Blackwell’s left eye, saw Blackwell collapse in his corner minutes after the stoppage. While Eubank Jr celebrated his win Blackwell was attended to ringside before being rushed of via a stretcher to hospital where he was placed in a medically induced coma.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF CHRIS EUBANK V MICHAEL WATSON

BLEED At hospital it was confirmed the boxer had suffered a small bleed on his brain and although all medical procedures were followed properly leading neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn, who operated on Michael Watson when he suffered brain damage in the 1991 fight with Chris Eubank Snr, said the fight should have been stopped earlier.

However in complete contrast the British Boxing Board of Control stated it is satisfied with how the bout was handled.

“Every boxer who gets into a ring knows the risks,” BBC general secretary Robert Smith told BBC Radio 5 live. “We have everything in place as best we can. But we’re never going to make it 100 percent safe.”

The incident immediately drew parallels with the world title Eubank Sr fought in 1991 which left fighting for his life.

Watching his son from the ring corner Eubank Snr, 49, could be heard urging his son to avoid hitting Blackwell’s head at the end of round eight. “If the referee doesn’t stop it, I don’t know what to tell you, but I will tell you this, if he doesn’t

Chris Eubank Jr and his father, Chris Eubank Snt after the bout

stop it, and you keep beating him like this, one, he’s getting hurt, two, if it goes to a decision, why hasn’t he stopped the fight?,” Eubank Snr. said.

Writing in a British newspaper, Michael Watson wrote that Blackwell’s injury took him “down memory lane in many senses. Chris and Nick were involved in a very tough fight, and it was a very sad thing to see Nick hurt at the end and then to hear what has happened to him after the fight. It was a real sense of deja vu as the story unfolded.”

At a packed White Hart Lane Eubank Snr had just been floored by Watson, it was the 11th round and Watson was once again in line to beat Eubank Snr but with a desire to win like no other, Eubank Snr managed to land a devastating uppercut that sent Watson flying.

With a glazed look and helpless to defend himself against the onslaught being unleashed upon him by Eubank Snr, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. But Watson’s fight was only just beginning!

Collapsed in his corner he had slipped into a coma and whilst Eubank Snr gave his post-duel interview in the opposite corner of the ring, for eight minutes Watson was unassisted by anyone medically qualified.

With no ambulance at the arena and no paramedics on site, it was a full 28 minutes before Watson finally made it to hospital for treatment where he spent the next 40 days in a coma.

When he did eventually regain consciousness, he had lost the ability to speak or hear and was completely paralysed.

Watson’s struggle ensured that more stringent medical practices were put in place within the sport and from then on it became compulsory that an ambulance, paramedics, an anaesthetist and oxygen were present at every licensed fight in Britain and the nearest neurological trauma unit should be within ten minutes’ reach of fight venues, with hospitals informed of promotions in advance of contests.

Against all odds, Watson has clawed his way back to defy health critics even competing in a marathon in 2013.

Spaniard Fernandez retains men’s world crown in Boston to be able to perform today and perform well in front of everybody ... it was unbelievable.” I’m so glad I think the people enjoyed it and that for me is the most important thing.”

Hanyu took silver with 295.17 points and Chinese teenager Jin Boyang won bronze on 270.99.

The Japanese was well below his best and posted just 184.61 in the free skate, falling and losing balance on other occasions.

Canadian Olympic silver medallist and Four Continents champion Patrick Chan settled for fifth place.

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JAVIER Fernandez produced a spectacular free skate to overhaul Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu and retain his men’s title at the world figure skating championships in Boston last Friday.

Fernandez, who was second behind Japan’s Hanyu after the short programme, was near flawless in the free skate on the way to a score of 216.41 points, skyrocketing his total to 314.93 and a clear victory. “Emotion is everything,” Fernandez said. “To repeat, a second title in a world championship is something not easy and these past months have been tough sometimes with some injuries and some pains. “So

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 75 Barclays Premier League Table

SPORT NEWS

Arsenal legend Sylvain Wiltord announces return FORMER Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord has announced his plans to come out of retirement. The French forward who was part of “The Invincibles team” winning two premier leagues with the gunners during his four year spell took to Twitter to announce his return to the beautiful game.

Wiltford, 41, has not revealed which team he will be playing for instead told his followers to ‘Tune in on April 20 for my press conference’.

Watch this space!

Sky Bet Championship Table

has come to England will tell you that. (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger was talking about that a few months after coming and even Jose Mourinho was.”

Meanwhile, the Scot has tipped Leicester City, who have a seven-point cushion over second-placed Tottenham Hotspur with seven games left to play, to win their first ever league title.

“Leicester have got the bit between their teeth, they’ve been the best team without question throughout the season and they deserve to win it,” the most decorated manager in Premier League history said. “I only see Tottenham being a danger to Leicester. But Leicester have got the edge. I think they’ll get there.”

P Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Burnley 41 22 14 5 64 33 31 80 2 Middlesbr. 40 24 7 9 55 25 30 79 3 Brighton 40 20 15 5 56 38 18 75 4 Hull 40 20 10 10 56 29 27 70 5 Derby 41 19 13 9 60 38 22 70 6 Sheff Wed 41 18 14 9 60 41 19 68 7 Cardiff 41 16 15 10 52 44 8 63 8 Ipswich 41 16 12 13 47 47 0 60 9 Birmingham 40 16 11 13 45 39 6 59 10 Preston 41 14 14 13 39 39 0 56 11 QPR 41 13 16 12 52 48 4 55 12 Wolves 41 13 14 14 48 52 -4 53 13 Brentford 40 15 7 18 57 61 -4 52 14 Reading 40 13 12 15 45 46 -1 51 15 Leeds 40 11 15 14 39 49 -10 48 16 Blackburn 41 11 14 16 39 40 -1 47 17 Fulham 41 11 14 16 63 67 -4 47 18 Bristol City 41 12 11 18 45 64 -19 47 19 Huddersfield 41 12 10 19 54 59 -5 46 20 Nottm Forest 40 11 13 16 35 41 -6 46 21 Rotherham 41 13 7 21 51 64 -13 46 22 MK Dons 41 9 10 22 34 59 -25 37 23 Charlton 41 8 12 21 37 72 -35 36 24 Bolton 41 4 14 23 38 76 -38 26

Spanish BBVA La Liga Table P Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Barcelona 32 24 4 4 87 27 60 76 t2 Atl Madrid 32 23 4 5 54 16 38 73 3 Real Madrid 32 22 6 4 93 29 64 72 4 Villarreal 32 17 9 6 41 26 15 60 5 Celta de Vigo 32 15 7 10 45 52 -7 52 6 Ath Bilbao 32 15 6 11 50 40 10 51 7 Sevilla 32 13 9 10 45 39 6 48 8 Málaga 32 10 11 11 30 29 1 41 9 Real Sociedad 32 11 8 13 40 42 -2 41 10 Eibar 32 10 8 14 43 48 -5 38 11 Dep. Coruña 31 7 16 8 40 44 -4 37 12 Real Betis 32 9 10 13 29 45 -16 37 13 Valencia 32 9 10 13 36 39 -3 37 14 Las Palmas 31 10 6 15 34 43 -9 36 15 Espanyol 32 10 6 16 33 60 -27 36 16 Rayo Vallecano 32 7 10 15 43 64 -21 31 17 Granada CF 32 7 9 16 33 57 -24 30 18 Sp. de Gijón 32 7 7 18 32 53 -21 28 19 Getafe 32 7 7 18 28 56 -28 28 20 Levante 32 6 7 19 28 55 -27 25

All results as at 11.04.2016

GUARDIOLA FACES TOUGH CHALLENGE IN ENGLAND – ALEX FERGUSON FORMER Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes Pep Guardiola will need time to adapt to Premier League football when he takes charge of Manchester City in July but has tipped the Spaniard to be a success.

Guardiola has won numerous trophies in Spain and Germany with Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively but Ferguson feels the English game, known for its fast-paced and physically demanding nature, will pose a completely different challenge. “Without question Pep has got a fantastic work ethic about him. He has got great coaching ability there is no doubt about that. Man City have made a real coup in getting him,” the 13-time league champion said.”But Pep won’t find it easy, English football is not easy. Every foreign coach that

P Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Leicester 33 21 9 3 57 31 26 72 2 Tottenham 33 18 11 4 60 25 35 65 3 Arsenal 32 17 8 7 55 33 22 59 4 Man City 32 17 6 9 58 33 25 57 5 Man Utd 32 15 8 9 39 30 9 53 6 West Ham 32 13 13 6 52 40 12 52 7 Southampton 33 14 8 11 44 34 10 50 8 Liverpool 31 13 9 9 50 42 8 48 9 Stoke 33 13 8 12 37 43 -6 47 10 Chelsea 32 11 11 10 49 42 7 44 11 Bournemouth 33 11 8 14 40 55 -15 41 12 Swansea 33 10 10 13 34 42 -8 40 13 West Brom 32 10 10 12 31 39 -8 40 14 Everton 31 9 12 10 52 43 9 39 15 Watford 32 10 8 14 31 37 -6 38 16 Crystal Palace 32 10 7 15 35 42 -7 37 17 Norwich 33 8 7 18 35 57 -22 31 18 Sunderland 32 6 9 17 36 57 -21 27 19 Newcastle 32 6 7 19 32 61 -29 25 20 Aston Villa 33 3 7 23 23 64 -41 16

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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SPORT NEWS

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NGLISHMAN Danny Willett took advantage of a shocking back-nine meltdown by defending champion and runaway leader Jordan Spieth to win his first major title by three shots at the Masters on Sunday.

Three strokes behind the pacesetting Spieth going into the final round at Augusta National, an ice-cool Willett closed with a fiveunder-par 67 to end a 17-year title drought

by European golfers at the year’s opening major.

Willett, a four-times winner on the European Tour competing in his second Masters, birdied three of the last six holes to cap off a bogey-free display in sun-bathed but cool conditions and post a five-under total of 283.

He became only the second Englishman to win the coveted Green Jacket, following three-times champion Nick Faldo, and ended a barren title run by Europeans dating back to Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal’s second victory here in 1999.

“It’s been crazy,” Willett, 28, said before being helped into the coveted Green Jacket by last year’s champion, Spieth. “You can’t really describe the emotions and feelings.

“We all go out there and try and play good golf and at the end of the day someone’s got to win the golf tournament. Fortunately enough, today was my day,” added 2007 English Amateur champion Willett, who is the son of a vicar.

“It was tough. Every time we seemed to make ground, Jordan kept pulling ahead.

And we were just trying to dig in and dig in ... trying to make birdies and birdies. It was just a very surreal day when you look back at the ebb and flows.”

Willett’s participation at this year’s Masters had been in doubt last month with his wife scheduled to give birth on Sunday, but their baby boy Zachariah arrived 12 days ago.

Willett wins Masters after stunning Spieth meltdown “He came early ... to let me play,” Willett smiled. “You talk about fate ... it’s just been a crazy, crazy week.”

Spieth, bidding for a second consecutive wire-to-wire win at the Masters and a third major title, had to settle for a share of second place after carding an adventurous one-over 73 that included a quadruple bogey and seven birdies.

NIGHTMARE SEVEN The American world number two had stormed five strokes in front with nine holes to play and victory seemingly assured when he bogeyed the 10th and 11th before running up a nightmare seven at the par-three 12th.

“It’s tough, it’s really tough,” Spieth told CBS Sports about his stunning three-hole collapse, his voice cracking with emotion. “Pretty sure I’ll be disappointed with that one.

“Just put a bad swing on it right at the wrong time. Just compounded mistakes. Just lack

Danny Willett is helped into the green jacket by Jordan Spieth. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

of discipline. A very tough 30 minutes for me that hopefully I will never experience again.”

Finishing level with Spieth at two under was England’s former world number one Lee Westwood who, still seeking a first major title after recording 17 top-10 finishes during a stellar career, returned a 69.

England’s Paul Casey (67) and Americans J.B.

CONTADOR TO CARRY ON COMPETING IN WAKE OF BASQUE TRIUMPH S PAIN’S twice Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has vowed to continue competing for at least another year after claiming the Tour of the Basque Country title on Saturday.

Contador, 33, declared last year he would retire at the end of the 2016 season but after his Basque triumph with victory in the time trial, he said he would shelve plans to stop racing.

“After going round in circles and discussing it with my family and my people I have come to the conclusion that I enjoy what I’m doing and I’ll put the idea of leaving cycling to one side,” he was quoted as saying by Spanish newspaper AS. “I’ll continue doing what I enjoy and that day (when I retire) will come without warning.

“It sounds crazy but since I announced I was going to quit I received an incredible amount of messages telling me not to retire,” he added.

Contador has won all three professional cycling Grand Tours, winning the 2007 and 2009 Tour de France, the Vuelta a Espana in 2008, 2012 and 2014, and the Giro d’Italia in 2008 and 2015.

He won the 2010 Tour de France but was later stripped of the title having tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol and got a two-year suspension.

The Spaniard had blamed the failed test on contaminated meat and denied any wrongdoing.

Tinkoff rider Contador picked up his fourth Tour of the Basque Country title on Saturday after finishing first in the stage six time trial in 29 minutes 13 seconds, five seconds ahead of Colombian Nairo Quintana.

That win gave him first place in the general classification, 12 seconds ahead of Colombian Sergio Henao of Team Sky, earning the Spaniard his first title this year after he narrowly missed out on victory in Paris-Nice and

the Volta a Catalunya in March.

“I have had a very tough winter and this brings me immense happiness,” said Contador.

Danny Willett waves to the crowd after completing the 18th hole during the final round of the 2016 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Holmes (68) and Dustin Johnson (71) tied for fourth at one under while world number three Rory McIlroy, seeking to complete a career grand slam of the majors, returned a 71 to share 10th place.

After three rounds of gusting winds, players were greeted by the coldest temperatures of the week but the calmest conditions as Sunday’s final round began with an abundance of compelling possible storylines in the melting pot.

UNFLAPPABLE For the first nine holes, Spieth was his usual unflappable self as he mixed five birdies with a lone bogey and several clutch putts to reach the turn five strokes clear at seven under, seemingly in total command.

However, the 22-year-old Texan bogeyed the 10th, after bunkering his approach, and also the 11th, after his tee shot sailed right into the trees, before the tricky 12th took an even more severe toll.

After hitting successive shots into the waters of Rae’s Creek in front of the 12th green, Spieth found a back bunker with his fifth en route to a mind-boggling seven, tumbling back into a tie for fourth at one under.

Though he did well to rebound with birdies on both par-fives, the 13th and 15th, he also bogeyed 17 after bunkering his approach and was never able to catch Willett, who picked up shots at the 13th, 14th and 16th to give himself a cushion.

“I had my ‘B minus’ game tee to green, and I made up for it around the greens with my putter,” said Spieth. “Ultimately you just have to have your ‘A’ game every single part, and I just didn’t have those iron swings, as it showed on the back nine.”

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 77

SPORT NEWS

BOXING AT ITS BEST

For boxing fans the world over the two-stand out fights of recent weeks have been brutal, no hold-barred excitement

PACQUIAO BEATS BRADLEY IN FAREWELL FIGHT Manny Pacquiao defeated Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision in the rubber match between the fighters prevailing in what the Filipino has said is the final fight of his career.

Pacquiao, who bounced back from a controversial split-decision defeat to Bradley in 2012 with a decisive win two years later, delivered the final blow in their welterweight clash in Las Vegas as all three judges scored it 116-110 in his favour.

With fans chanting ‘Manny’ at the conclusion, Pacquiao maintained that he is heading into retirement and continuing his political career in the Philippines.

“I have a commitment to my family that I’m going to retire after this and we don’t know,” Pacquiao told ringside reporters. “Every round (I was) looking for a KO but Bradley is a very good boxer,” Pacquiao said of the performance, which may go some way to helping cement his legacy after a disappointing fight against Floyd Mayweather last May. Mayweather easily won the fight that lacked much action to retire undefeated, though Pacquiao’s support team said afterwards he had suffered a shoulder injury in training beforehand and later needed surgery.

Manny Pacquiao moves in with a punch against Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

RUTHLESS JOSHUA CLAIMS IBF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CROWN Britain’s Anthony Joshua lived up to his billing as the new superstar of heavyweight boxing when he stopped Charles Martin in the second round with a demonstration of brutal power to claim the American’s world IBF title last weekend.

In doing so Joshua became the first boxer in history to hold the Olympic super-heavyweight crown and a version of the world heavyweight title simultaneously with his stunning triumph at the O2 Arena, a few miles from where he won gold at the London 2012 Games.

The 26-year-old handed champion Martin his first career loss to grab the title with his 16th knockout win in his 16th professional fight, putting him down twice in the second round with magnificent right hands in front of 15,000 fans after just 1 minute 32 seconds.

It was a demonstration of skill as well as merciless power from the relatively novice professional Joshua, who was expected by many to receive a genuine test from the first southpaw

opponent he has met as a professional.

Yet from the moment the dreadlocked Martin felt the thud of Joshua’s right fist in the opening round it quickly became clear he had never experienced such ferocity. One roundhouse left hand made him wince as the home fighter easily won the first round.

Boxing - Charles Martin v Anthony Joshua IBF Heavyweight Title - O2 Arena, London - 9/4/16 Anthony Joshua celebrates his win Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge Livepic

Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

78 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPORT NEWS

F1 to return to 2015 qualifying format

T

HE change will come into force in time for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix after it is rubber-stamped by the F1 Commission and World Motor Sport Council bringing an end to the failed experiment to shake up starting grids.

The teams had outlined their united position in a letter to F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone and International Automobile Federation (FIA) head Jean Todt.

This year’s elimination format, which saw drivers knocked out at timed intervals during the three sessions, was approved hurriedly before the start of the season to add excitement.

However, drivers were eliminated while sitting in the garages in the final stage rather than battling for pole on track as in the past.

The sport had looked set to retain the elimination format in China after teams rejected a compromise backed by the FIA. Todt and Ecclestone had ruled out going back to the old system at a meeting with the teams in Bahrain last weekend.

Williams deputy-principal Claire Williams

Formula One will revert to its 2015 qualifying format at this week’s Chinese Grand Prix and for the remainder of the season, the governing FIA have said in a statement.

said on Sunday that Todt and Ecclestone believed “going back to 2015 would create more confusion than is necessary”.

Teams agreed at the Bahrain Grand Prix to vote by Thursday on a compromise solution,

which would have seen each driver do at least two laps in each of the three phases of qualifying with the times aggregated.

The argument was about more than finding the best way to line up 22 cars on the start-

ing grid, however.

In a sport that can crunch vast amounts of data in milliseconds, it comes down to power and who really calls the shots, the teams or the FIA and Ecclestone.

World champions Mercedes and Ferrari supply eight of the 11 teams, giving them more muscle in decision-making.

“The FIA should write the regulations and say ‘these are the regulations. If you want to enter the championship you enter. If you don’t, don’t,” Ecclestone told reporters in Bahrain.

He said the change to the elimination qualifying format came at the request of promoters, keen for more action during the early phases of the Saturday session, and a desire to shake up the starting grid.

Dominant Mercedes have won 34 of the last 40 grands prix and eight in a row.

Any change to the 2016 regulations requires the unanimous approval of the F1 commission, which groups the teams, commercial rights holder and governing body as well as other stakeholders.

California Chrome wins the world’s richest race - Dubai Cup THIS year marked the 21st running of the world’s richest equestrian event, which links together nine races for a collective purse of $30 million. (€ 27 million) The winner of the main race -- also called the Dubai World Cup -- collects $6 million (€ 5.4 million) of the staggering $10 million (€8.9 million) purse and this year California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza won by a staggering fourlengths.

Similar to Ascot’s Gold Cup, the race is open to any horse aged four and older but that’s where the similarities end between the famous sprints, with one established in 1807 in a London suburb, and the other in 1996 in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. Not to mention, of course the prize fund last year’s Gold Cup at Ascot fetched a relatively paltry purse of £375,000 (€475,000).

The Dubai World Cup is run on the Meydan Racecourse, which sits on grounds that stretch over 67 million square feet also includes a 60,000 capacity grandstand that measures a full mile.

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

SPORT NEWS

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Issue 17 April 14 - 27, 2016

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EEKEND

WORLD

I can take nothing for granted

F

ERNANDO Alonso has said his participation at this week’s Chinese Grand Prix remains in doubt but he is hopeful.

The double world champion, who sustained fractured ribs during his huge crash at the Australian Grand Prix in March at the beginning of the season, was side-lined for the last race in Bahrain after he failed an FIA medical test. Alonso will undergo further scans by the sport’s governing body on Thursday to determine whether he will be fit to race in Shanghai.

“It was disappointing to be told I couldn’t race in Bahrain, but I fully respected the decision of the FIA medical team,” he said, “while I hope I’ll be back in the cockpit for China, until I get the all-clear from the doctors to race, whenever that may be, we cannot assume anything”.

The Spaniard was replaced in Bahrain by the team’s Belgian reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne, who ended up 10th to score McLaren’s first point of the season after team mate Jenson Button failed to finish.

Alonso has won twice before in China, once with Ferrari and once with Renault.

MANCHESTER UNITED SEE NEARLY HALF A BILLION WIPED OFF ITS VALUE IN JUST ONE YEAR CURRENTLY sitting in 5th place and fighting for a Champions League spot, Manchester United have more reasons to be concerned than most of us thought as it has been reported that the club has seen its value fall by more than £400m since the start of the season.

At the beginning of the season United’s market capitalisation was worth £2bn but following their poor performances on the pitch and their

struggle to qualify for the Champions League they have seen their value drop by almost £412m to £1.58bn.

United are still considered to be the world’s richest club and are expected to overtake Real Madrid however, without continued success on the pitch, they will continue to see a negative drop in their share prices.

Many believe the biggest protagonist for United’s demise is Louis Van Gaal. The manager’s three-year con-

tract runs out in the summer of 2017.

However, unless he secures that much needed place in the Champions League which would secure the club at least £50m and somehow replenish some of the pot, it is expected he will be given his cards.

At time of going to print United’s hunt for some silverware hung in the air as the club travel to West Ham United looking to secure a place in the semifinals of the FA Cup.