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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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a very merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2016 Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

What could be more magical than witnessing Santa’s Sleigh speeding across the sky? Well this Christmas Eve you are in luck (well sort of) ….

Catch a glimpse of Santa

PROPERTY

BUILDING

WEEKEND WORLD - 1

ITH a busy few days ahead of him, delivering gifts to the children of the world Santa’s present laden Sleigh can be seen riding across the skies from South South West to South South East this is because at precisely 6.18pm the International Space Station will be passing over Spain According to NASA’s website the ISS will be visible for 6.29 minutes. The space station

is the largest man-made object in the sky it weighs 45 tonnes and measures an incredible 356 feet (109 metres) from end-to-end which is slightly larger than a football field. It orbits the Earth every 90 minutes at a speed of more than five miles per second and reflects the sun’s light as it passes overhead and so appears as a giant, star-like object moving across the night sky which I’m sure you will agree could easily be mistaken for

Santa! According to NASA, ISS it is a microgravity laboratory with an international crew of six people. Only this week British astronaut Tim Peake made history as he was blasted into space as the first British astronaut to go to the ISS. Since November 2000 the ISS has been continuously occupied and during that time over 200 people from 15 different countries have stepped foot onto it.

Spain’s PM says open to pact after tooclose-to-call election SPANISH Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, faces a likely slim win at the election on Sunday according to opinion polls, but said on Wednesday he would consider a political pact to assure a stable government over the next term. Rajoy’s conservative ruling People’s Party (PP) which, over the last four years, has presided over one of the worst economic slumps in decades, is seen winning the election but well short of the parliamentary majority it has enjoyed since 2011. The PP’s three political rivals are close behind, with the traditional left-wing Socialists (PSOE) and newcomers including the liberal Ciudadanos and anti-austerity Podemos running neck and neck in the polls. Rajoy refused to say with which opponent his party would consider joining forces, saying the situation was too unclear to predict. “We’ll see who has the most political support, and that group must find more backing in order to form a stable government,” Rajoy said in a radio interview. Continued page 3

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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NEWS

HE proposal, in a letter sent last week to the EU executive in Brussels, would in principle apply to any member state, not just Greece. But it is driven by frustration that Greek failure to control large numbers arriving by sea is putting the EU’s open-borders Schengen zone at risk. EU leaders, struggling for unity and facing competing pressures at home, will again discuss the crisis at a summit where diplomats are expected to call for more coercive pressure on both governments and migrants to follow policy set in Brussels. A draft of conclusions for the summit speaks of “rapidly” fixing failings in border control and of “measures to discourage refusal of registration” by migrants -- the closest official EU language has come to calling for the use of force and detention.

EUROPE TALKS TOUGH ON MIGRANT STRATEGIES

EUROPEANISING

Germany and France have proposed giving an EU border force the power - in theory at least - to patrol Greece’s frontiers uninvited by Athens in the latest sign of hardening attitudes towards solving Europe’s migration crisis.

Talk of “Europeanising” frontier defence is also growing. “In exceptional circumstances, Frontex should be able to deploy rapid reaction teams to the frontiers on its own initiative and under its own responsibility,” the French and German interior ministers, Bernard Cazeneuve and Thomas de Maiziere, wrote to the European Commission. Frontex is the EU agency that coordinates border management. The proposals by Cazeneuve and de Maiziere, who also said Italy and Greece must keep all migrants in “reception centres” for “as long as necessary” to check their claims, were made on a day when Athens was under huge pressure to invite Frontex forces in or face being effectively suspended from the Schengen zone. However, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, a leftist who has had tumultuous relations with the EU over Greece’s debt crisis and who rules in coalition with right-wing nationalists, insists that national law prevents Frontex patrolling Greek frontiers. Athens has also been sceptical about cooperation with Turkey following an EU deal with Ankara to help keep Syrian refugees in Turkey. The focus of EU concern is the sea between Greece and Turkey where naval patrols might be feasible without the level of Greek cooperation that is needed for Frontex to work on land.

COERCION Italy, too, has made clear its reservations about calls from other EU governments for tougher frontier controls. But the arrival of about a million migrants this year, mostly by sea via Greece and Italy, who have trekked north over Schengen’s open borders, has piled pressure on leaders such as French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Last month’s Islamic State attacks in Paris, in which some of the assailants may have

arrived from Syria via Greece, has also increased pressure for action on the EU’s frontiers, as Cazeneuve and de Maiziere spelled out in their letter. Donald Tusk, the former Polish prime minister who will chair next week’s summit, urged governments last week to be ready to detain all migrants for “as long as needed” to check their identities and claims. He said it could be for up to 18 months. The French and German ministers echoed that by saying that reception facilities in It-

aly and Greece should hold all people until a decision was made to deport them or let them apply for asylum, either locally or “relocalised” elsewhere in the EU. “All migrants arriving in Italy and Greece must go through the reception centres,” they wrote. “That means these centres must be able to take in enough people and hold them for the time required ... so that the necessary security checks can be made and their status clearly established, between relocalisation, asylum claim in Greece or Italy,

or deportation.” A French government source said the letter was not intended to promote new EU measures but to stress a need to implement what has already been agreed. The source said: “It’s a political push that says: ‘We’re now at the time for making decisions and this has to be implemented very quickly’.” EU officials say they are anxious to see Greece implement measures to contain migration, including in cooperation with Turkey, while winter weather reduces the numbers crossing, so that next spring does not see a repeat of this year’s chaos. One senior EU official voiced frustration with the refusal of Greece and Italy to force new arrivals into reception centres. Athens and Rome insist they will not run “concentration camps”. “As long as there is no detention, you cannot do security checks. So it cannot be optional,” the EU official said. “It’s not going to be a nice discussion, but you have no other solution. There’s an obligation on all of us to check who is entering Schengen.” Responding to the position of the United Nations and other agencies which say detention of migrants should be avoided where possible, another senior EU official told Reuters the bloc would have to “push the limits of international law” to oblige people to stay put while their claims were assessed. “If we don’t keep people in some kind of centre until we put them on a plane,” he said, “then it doesn’t work.” REUTERS?Alastair Macdonald

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NEWS

Debt and reforms top investor concerns as Spain goes to the polls

PAIN may no longer be in economic or financial crisis but record public debt and the ability -- and willingness -- of the incoming government to pursue “structural reforms” are reasons for investors to be cautious ahead of Sunday’s general election. Polls point to the country’s first coalition government since becoming a democracy 40 years ago, which could slow and dilute the policy-making process even if marketfriendly conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy is returned for a second term. The vote comes just weeks after a Socialist government won power in neighbouring Portugal, toppling a short-lived center-right government with the support of the far left and turning what first appeared as an Oct. 4 election defeat into victory. Spanish markets are relatively calm ahead of the vote. Stocks may have underperformed their European peers this year and bond yields and spreads have risen in recent months, but these moves have been in the slipstream of broader market moves led by global drivers like U.S. and euro zone monetary policy and

the twists and turns of China’s economy and policy. Spanish yields are still near record lows and the premium investors demand for holding Spanish bonds over German debt is also low -- much of that is down to the crisis-averting actions of the European Central Bank. Investors say the key issue for the new government, whatever its make-up, is the state of Madrid’s fragile finances. “Long-term debt sustainability remains a serious concern,” Societe Generale analysts wrote in a note this week. “Given the limited fiscal space, there is a real risk that debt could be pushed well above its already high level of 100 percent of GDP. Any external shock could push debt much higher, above 130 percent.” Public debt to GDP ratio across the 19-nation euro zone bloc is currently 92.5 percent. Spain’s net public debt is the highest it has ever been. Standard & Poor’s upgraded Spain’s rating in October but warned that even tighter fiscal policy will be required to keep that from rising and to further reduce the budget deficit from just under 6 percent currently.

NON COMMITAL Contined from page 1 One in three voters surveyed in an official poll earlier in December either refused to give their preference, were undecided or planned to abstain that, together with the transformation of Spain’s political landscape, make predicting the election outcome very difficult. Hard times, with more than a fifth of the workforce unemployed, and anger over a slew of corruption scandals have fuelled the rise of the new parties, breaking the mould of a system long dominated by the PP and the PSOE. Of the three most probable runners-up, the PP’s most likely partner would be the market-friendly Ciudadanos, led by the charismatic 36-year-old Albert Rivera. However, Rivera has said he would not enter in to a coalition with Rajoy or the Socialists. He has remained cagey over whether his party would abstain from a confidence vote which would allow a party to form a minority government. REUTERS

The rating agency also cut the debt rating of Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia, citing political tensions as Catalan separatists push for independence form Madrid. Prime Minister Rajoy has repeatedly vowed Spain will not break up.

FOLLOWING IRELAND? The ruling People’s Party leads the polls but looks set to fall short of a majority, leaving the door open to potential pacts. The main opposition Socialists (PSOE) and two newcomers, liberal Ciudadanos and left-wing Podemos, are close behind. Francois Savary, chief investment officer at investment firm Prime Partners, summed up the view of many investors, saying his preferred outcome would be for the PP to win outright or to form a coalition with Ciudadanos to thwart the left-wing and anti-austerity party Podemos. “If Rajoy gets 30 percent, I could consider buying up Spanish equities and bonds, as Rajoy has done well in terms of reforming the economy,” Savary said. Rajoy won a convincing victory at the last election in November 2011, inflicting on the PSOE the worst defeat for a sitting government since 1982. Then, the country was gripped by recession, stocks had just had their worst quarter in almost a decade and bond yields and spreads over benchmark Germany were the highest since the euro’s launch. The banking system was creaking and there were real fears that Spain could crash out of the euro. The backdrop to Sunday’s election is less

fraught. The economy is recovering, unemployment is falling and financial market conditions, by some measures at least, are the healthiest they’ve ever been. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman points to the collapse in wages in Spain relative to Germany and the easing off of fiscal tightening over the last couple of years as the two main drivers of Spain’s recovery. But while the economy has grown every one of the last nine quarters, economists argue that further reforms such as reducing public spending and making labor markets more flexible are needed to keep the recovery on track. Structurally, the long-term growth outlook remains sluggish. Economists at SocGen reckon Spain’s potential growth level is around 1 percent absent further reforms. “The policies of the next government could determine whether Spain’s growth prospects move closer to Ireland’s or stay closer to its Southern neighbors’,” Barclays economists Apolline Menut and Antonio Garcia Pascual said in a note on Tuesday. Another once-troubled euro zone “peripheral” country, Ireland’s annual growth in the third quarter reached 7 percent.

STRUGGLE Greece, Italy and Portugal, however, continue to struggle. Greece came close to crashing out of the euro earlier this year and has only just emerged from recession, Italy’s economy is stagnating and political crisis is bubbling just under the surface in Portugal. Spain’s economy is still around 5 percent smaller than it was in 2007, unemployment is over 20 percent and youth unemployment is almost 50 percent. The scars of a lost decade, indeed a lost generation, will be deep. Analysts at Deutsche Bank are optimistic, however, predicting growth of 2.7 percent next year, well above the euro zone average. REUTERS/Jamie McGeever

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UK NEWS

GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TIM Britain’s first publicly funded astronaut Tim Peake has successfully landed on the International Space Station

BRITAIN has finally joined the space race. On Wednesday 15th December Tim Peake the former army major became the first publicly funded astronaut to officially represent Great Britain in space by landing on the International Space Station where he will reside for the next six months. Although a great deal of fuzz has surrounded Major Tim’s endeavours into Space he is however, not the first Briton to go into space. That was chemist Helen Sharman, who in 1991 travelled on a Soviet spacecraft for eight days on a mission funded by the USSR and private companies. Peake will now spend the six months, conducting research and creating educational projects designed to encourage young people to pursue science. Only this week the Conservative government announced Britain’s first National Space Policy, which it says aims to capture 10 percent of the global space industry and create 100,000 high-tech jobs — although it’s unclear how these goals will be funded. Peake is joined on this expedition by the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, and NASA astronaut, Tim Kopra.

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UK NEWS

S the debate over Britain’s future in the European Union gathers pace and heat, there has been much discussion of what might happen if voters in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales disagree. What if the UK were to leave based on the English vote alone? Would such an outcome provide the “material change” in circumstances cited by the SNP’s leadership as a potential trigger for a second independence referendum? What would such a decision mean for support for independence in Scotland and Wales? Could there even be implications for the peace deal in Northern Ireland, as the Irish prime minister recently suggested? At the same time, rather less attention has been paid to the potential for another, equally plausible, outcome. What if England votes narrowly in favour of leaving the EU, but is kept in Europe by its more Europhile UK neighbours? Could such an outcome trigger calls from England for further loosening of ties within the UK?

A NATION DIVISIBLE All recent survey and polling data confirm that such a gap does indeed exist. Recent polls suggest support for leaving the EU could be as low as 25% in Northern Ireland and 36% in Scotland. In Wales it sits at 45%. Meanwhile, in England, 48% say they would leave (based on averaging recent opinion polls in each country, excluding those who do not know how they will vote). At the moment then, the polls point to all four countries voting to remain in the EU. But the margin of support for remaining is clearly narrower in England than elsewhere. Some relatively simple modelling (multiplying the estimated leave vote in each country by that country’s percentage share of the UK population and then summing the totals) enables us to estimate a “tipping point” for votes in England. Above that point, England could take the rest of the UK out of the EU against its will. Below it, and England might be kept in the EU against its will by its neighbours. The first thing to note here is that the size of England relative to its neighbours means that a relatively modest majority in favour of leaving there would be enough to outweigh any level of support for remaining in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. If 59.6% of people in England voted to leave the EU, it would be enough to take Britain out of Europe – even if no one in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales voted to leave. However, if we assume that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in fact vote as indicat-

Divided kingdom: how England could force a Brexit, even if others vote to stay Author Rachel Ormston - Senior Research Director (Social Attitudes), ScotCen Social Research ed above (based on the averages of recent polls in each country), then a narrow vote in England in favour of leaving (between 50 and 52.5%) could be overturned by the popularity of staying in the EU elsewhere in the UK. But if more than 52.5% in England voted to leave, the views of those elsewhere in the UK would be outweighed and the UK as a whole would have a majority (just – 50.1%)

% of the UK population*

in favour of leaving.

TURMOIL AHEAD? Of course, calculating such a tipping point involves a lot of assumptions. The polls in each country would have to be largely correct, for a start, and opinion would have to remain the same up to the vote. Given the apparent narrowing of the overall

Estimated % vote to leave the EU

Contribution to overall vote to leave

England

84.0%

42.6%

44.2%

Scotland

8.3%

36.0%

3.0%

Wales

4.8%

45.0%

2.2%

Northern Ireland

2.9%

25.0%

0.7%

TOTAL VOTE TO LEAVE

50.1%

*http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/compendiums/compendium-of-uk-statistics/population-and-migration/index.html

lead for the remain campaign in recent polls (our most recent poll of polls puts support across the UK for remaining at just 51%, compared with 49% for leaving), it is feasible that support for leaving could increase across all four nations, and not just in England. Tweaking the figures to assume a 4 percentage point increase in support for leaving the EU in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland reduces the tipping point to 51.7% – if the leave vote in England were above this, then the UK as whole would be tipped in favour of leaving even while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland still remained on balance in favour of remaining (albeit only just in Wales in this scenario). Conversely, if support for leaving the EU fell by 4 percentage points from the figures indicated above in each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, then at least 53.3% of people in England would need to vote to leave before the UK as a whole would be tipped in favour of leaving. If the race in England is indeed as tight as current polls suggest, these figures suggest there is considerable potential for the referendum to produce constitutional headaches beyond the specific issue of whether we remain in or leave the EU. This article was originally published on The Conversation.

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UK NEWS

London’s Big Ben could be rendered silent L

ONDON’S 156 year old BIG BEN clock is one of the most famous landmarks of the United Kingdom and as the clock strikes midnight on the eve of the 31st December eyes from around the world will be glued to it as we welcome in a new year, however will this year be the last time we hear the famous chimes that have rung out over London for more than 150years? Big Ben is said to be so dilapidated that it could grind to a halt at any minute unless drastic repair work is carried out. Earlier this year it was noted that the clock was running up to six seconds late. The cause of the delay was traced to a mechanical error and after thorough checks of the clock’s pendulum and gears some shocking news was released. To keep London’s iconic Great Clock - Big Ben is actually the name of the bell - in operation, taxpayers will have to fork out up to £29.2 million in repairs to the clock’s hands, pendulum, mechanism and tower, and in doing so will render the five ton clock silent for at least four months.

The Prime Ministerial Dispatch Box, part of the collection of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher during an auction preview at Christie’s in London. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Maggie makes Millions ON the 15th December Christie’s auction house in London held a unique sale that offered belongings from Baroness Thatcher’s. The 186 piece collection valued at £500,000 included political and personal memorabilia, including her clothes, letters and mementoes. But in reality only two items were needed to be sold to reach this estimate, Lady Thatcher’s red dispatch box, which carried her state papers while she served as Prime Minister, sold for £242,500, eventually being won via telephone in the room at King Street, London, after a frenzy of bidding against South Korea and an American bald eagle, given as a gift by Ronald Reagan to Lady Thatcher, sold for £266,500, Both these items were originally estimated between £3,000 – 8,000 The sale was just part of 400 items being sold from Ms Thatcher’s personal effects as an online auction with over 200 pieces was also held independently with bids received from Singapore, Australia, the United States, Europe and Bermuda.

The clock is in such a dilapidated state that it is “ready to fail,” the source said. But at 156, Big Ben could be forgiven. According to a parliamentary report “The clock currently has chronic problems with the bearings behind the hands and the pendulum. Either could become acute at any time, causing the clock to stop.” In its plea for the funding to undertake the repairs, the report claims that the Great Clock is a “symbol of democracy” and warned that a breakdown would cause “international reputational damage.” Since the clock first began keeping time on the 31st May 1859, it has only fallen silent on a few occasions. • Three months after its inauguration the bell cracked for three years it lay silent until the bell was rotated and a lighter hammer was added to strike the bell – the crack was never repaired but the clock went into service again. • During World War 1, the bells were silenced for two years and the clock face was not illuminated at night to avoid guiding attacking German Zeppelins. • First and only major breakdown the Great Clock was shut down for a total of 26 days over nine months – it was reactivated on 9 May 1977; this was the longest break in operation since its construction. During this time BBC Radio 4 broadcast the pips instead. As a mark of respect the clock was silenced during the state funerals of both Winston Churchill on the 30th January 1965 and Margaret Thatcher on the 17th April 2013. Big Ben’s woes match those of the Houses of Parliament, which adjoin the tower and are themselves in need of restoration work that could cost as much as 5.7 billion pounds and take 32 years.

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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GENERAL NEWS

IX years earlier, countries had bitterly walked away from global climate talks in Copenhagen without a deal. The decision to reassemble in Paris to try again at getting almost 200 countries to sign a pact on cutting carbon emissions was a gamble: another collapse could end the world’s ability to forge a common approach to dealing with climate change. And no political leader wanted his reputation stained by a repeat of the debacle in Copenhagen. So there was no detail of hospitality too small for the French hosts this time, no country negotiator who would go un-flattered by Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister who presided over the conference. Fabius had been the youngest French prime minister in history in the 1980s; now he was an elder statesman looking to carve a bigger place in it. Over two weeks under the global spotlight, his sonorous voice and relentless optimism would come to define the public tone of the proceedings. But behind the scenes, the talks witnessed the confrontations and five-past-midnight compromises to be expected when sleepdeprived negotiators from almost every country in the world are supposed to come to a consensus. They ultimately found it, remarkably only one day later than planned. But the path to the standing ovations at the end was strewn with disputes over money, the emergence of an effective new climate coalition of states, and hours of wrangling over what “should” or “shall” be done.

HOW THE WORLD LEARNT ITS LESSON AND GOT A CLIMATE DEAL It was an agreement born from a fear of failure, delivered by the smoothness of French diplomacy FRENCH WAYS For the survivors of Copenhagen, the key to success in Paris would be preparation. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon complained that the political leaders had not been wellprepared for the Copenhagen meeting, and this time he and the French conducted extensive advance work to get other leaders personally engaged.

They also decided that, if leaders were to come to Paris, they would do so at the beginning to lend the talks some political oxygen, rather than arriving for a scramble at the end. So on Nov. 30, the sprawling conference hall near the Le Bourget airfield on the outskirts of Paris hosted world leaders, who were supposed to deliver three minutes of encouragement. Fabius wandered the conference centre before they arrived, tapping microphones and checking the video monitors under a podium made of recycled wood. “Ah, we have Prince Charles,” he said to an aide, consulting the speakers’ list. The opening day speeches were seen as a success. UN officials were relieved at the relatively cooperative tone from Russian President Vladimir Putin who was among several leaders who assured Ban privately before the outset that Russia would not block a deal, UN officials said later. Fabius pulled together a team of officials and diplomats from across the French civil service to facilitate the talks. “He treated it less like a climate negotiation and more like a trade deal,” said one UN veteran of past climate talks. He also constantly praised delegates for their hard work and insights, before telling them exactly what schedule of debate they had to follow to finish by their self-imposed deadline of Friday, Dec. 11. He gave the job of writing the accord’s preamble to Venezuela’s minister Claudia Salerno, whose country had been perhaps the harshest critic of the Copenhagen process that was seen as a collusion of big powers dictating to small countries, making her personally vested in finding compromises. Not all developing countries were easily won over, however. A central sticking point throughout the talks was the degree to which the agreement would be legally binding on countries, especially the rich ones who are expected to provide the hundreds of billions of dollars in funding to cover the transition to a low carbon future. The differences were expressed in wrangles over wording. Hard, legally binding commitments were preceded in the

text as items that countries “shall” do. Those items that were simply good intentions fell into the “should” do category.

HALF A DEGREE CLOSER Facing un-budging demands to put their financial commitments into legal language, U.S. negotiators knew they had to break the poor vs. rich country divide. Their tactic was to sign up to a loose coalition of countries called the High Ambition Coalition. The European Union takes credit for starting the group as far back as 2011, when it was a loose alliance between the EU and small island states. As Paris approached, it expanded to include African, Caribbean and Pacific nations, developing an agenda that included the goal of keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels by the end of the 21st century. The number had almost been banished from serious discussion ahead of Paris. But the American decision to “join” the High Ambition Coalition brought the 1.5 goal back into play, sweetened with pledges of hundreds of millions of dollars to help island and developing states mitigate the ill-effects of climate change. Although the promise is only aspirational, the re-emergence of references to 1.5 degrees in the Paris text brought several influential developing countries into the U.S. camp. Soon Canada joined, then Australia and Brazil, a collection of wealthy, heavypolluting western countries marching into the plenary hall alongside the Marshall Islands. China’s negotiators dismissed the High Ambition Coalition as a stunt. “This is a kind of performance by some members,” said Liu Zhenmin, deputy head of the China delegation. But the solidarity of the developing nation bloc was broken.

LAST BRIDGES & HICCUPS Climate change summits have developed a particular theatre of their own. In one moment, it was possible to see actor Alec Baldwin expressing his fears for the planet to journalists, across from an Indonesian pavilion hosting a party to show off its pilot green energy hospitals. But much of the real work was done by people not even at Le Bourget. After visiting at the start, U.S. President Barack Obama and

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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GENERAL NEWS Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed roadblocks by telephone, and the two countries appeared to be mostly on the same page. Other housekeeping of the text was taken care of. Negotiators insured that a specific reference to climate effects on “occupied territories” was taken out to keep the politics focused on climate issues. By Saturday, Fabius’s pieces were falling into place. “I think we’re done here,” said a happy Marshall Islands foreign minister Tony de Brum on Saturday morning. There was to be one last hiccup. The final text had settled on 143 items prefaced by “shall,” 40 with “should.” But in one section, the words appeared to have been flipped. Suddenly, there was a delay in the hall where delegates had convened amid smiles and air kisses to seal the deal. Fabius and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry left the room, replaced by rumours of trouble. But then the French minister was back. A technical glitch, he explained, brought on by the fatigue of a drafter. The organizers announced corrections to a few typographical errors, and tellingly switched one last “should” for a “shall” before Fabius swiftly brought the gavel down.

Barack Obama with European leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen / Peter Souza

So what was ACTUALLY achieved? Speaking from the White House President Obama said “The Paris agreement establishes the enduring framework the world needs to solve the climate crisis”, and whilst the plan has been hailed as a milestone in the battle to keep Earth hospitable to human life, critics are now asking what was actually achieved and how the agreement will be enforced. Achievement 1: A long-term goal to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial temperatures and strives for a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) if possible. How: In order to achieve these target countries will need to look at switching from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy replacing coal and gas powered stations with emissions-free sources such as wind, solar & nuclear. However research by the International Energy Agency reveals that this switch would cost $16.5trillion because not only will the power stations need to be modified but homes and businesses too. Achievement 2: National pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions with a review of each of the pledges to be made every five years after 2020. How: During the Paris summit, countries made so-called “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions” (INDCs) – pledges setting out how they plan to limit their countries greenhouse gas emissions. These pledges will be monitored and revisited every five years after 2020 and each country’s pledge must “represent a progression” on their previous one “and reflect its highest possible ambition”. Achievement 3: Rich nations to provide funding to poorer ones of up to $100bn a year until 2025

How: The agreement determines that “developed” nations help developing countries with the costs of going green, and the costs of coping with the effects of climate change. But how much should the richer nations have to pay? This question alone was one of the most contentious points of the talks. At present developed countries are obliged to provide up to $100bn a year of public and private finance to help developing countries this was set during Copenhagen talks in 2009 establishing a timeframe of 2020. The new agreement extends this timeframe to 2025. Although the poorer countries wanted an increase in the amount of money offered the US made it clear it would never agree to such a deal and a loose agreement was made that from 2025 finance should be offered in excess of $100bn per year. Achievement 4: Monitor progress and hold countries to account How: The agreement sets out a transparency framework that will hold each country accountable for its own emissions. Each country must provide detailed analysis and information on their emissions to ensure they are hitting their targets. If deficits arise then an adjustment to the target must be offered. Developed countries must also provide accounts to show that the finance has been provided.

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ISSUE 2 • WINTER 2015

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

10 - WEEKEND WORLD

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

INDUSTRIAL DRUG LAB AND 1.5 TONNES OF COCAINE UNCOVERED IN SPAIN

N international multi-agency operation has led to 11 arrests, the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cocaine and the shut down of an industrial-sized drug production lab. Acting on intelligence from the National Crime Agency, officers from the Spanish National Police searched a shipping container from Colombia which arrived in the Port of Valencia on 30 November. The container appeared to be loaded with sacks of charcoal on wooden pallets but forensic examination found that the pallets were made of compressed cocaine powder made to look like wood, and some of the sacks contained cocaine disguised as charcoal.

Coordinated strikes on 1 December led to six men from Liverpool being arrested in the UK and Dubai. NCA officers arrested a 44-year-old at Liverpool Airport, along with a 54-year-old and a 50 year-old in the rooftop car park of the Belle Vale Shopping Centre. Merseyside Police detained a 46-year-old at an address in Knowsley Village. The Dubai Police Anti-Narcotic Unit arrested a 39-year-old and a 38-yearold at a luxury apartment. Another five men – two Colombians, two Peruvians and a Spaniard – were detained on 3 December by the SNP at a company in an industrial unit in Chiva following the delivery of a dummy consignment of charcoal. Greg McKenna, NCA Regional Head of Investigations, said: “We believe the company was a front for a industrial-sized lab where cocaine was extracted from pallets and charcoal, processed and repackaged for onward distribution across Europe. “This seizure of cocaine, the shutting down of the lab and the eleven arrests will have disrupted criminal activity across the whole of Europe.” The four men arrested in Liverpool have been released on bail pending further enquiries, while the two men in Dubai are still remanded in custody. The five men in Spain are also in custody.

More Spaniards are leaving despite economy’s return to growth M

ORE Spaniards moved abroad in the first half of this year than at any point since the country entered a long economic downturn in 2008, statistics show. Although the Spanish economy has rebounded to grow faster than most other countries in the euro zone, close to 51,000 Spaniards packed their bags, nearly as many as left during the whole of 2010, in the depths of the country’s debt crisis, the figures from the National Statistics Institute showed. The mass of people leaving Spain marks a near 30 percent increase on the first six months of the previous year.

TOP DESTINATION The number of Spaniards returning home also rose, but net migration of Spaniards widened to nearly 28,000. The bulk of the emigrants are of working age, between 25 and 44 years old, the report on Spain’s population said. The top destination was Britain, attracting more than 6,000 Spaniards in the first half, followed by France and Germany. High immigration is controversial in Britain and is likely to be a major issue in the referendum on Britain’s EU membership that Prime Minister David Cameron has promised by the end of 2017. Spaniards have been driven to look abroad by falling wages, job insecurity, and a youth employment rate even higher than Greece’s, despite Spain’s emergence from recession in mid-2013, with GDP growing by 0.8 percent in the third quarter of this year. Over the last four years average monthly wages for those aged between 16 and 24 fell by 12 percent and those between 25 and 34 by almost 5 percent, according to a November report from the statistics office. The tendency of working-age people to move abroad feeds into worries about Spain’s ageing and declining population, which hit a new milestone recently when it recorded more deaths than births in the first half of this year. REUTERS/Angus Berwick

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 11

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

Ageing Spain passes population milestone as deaths surpass births S

PAIN, long concerned about its ageing population and emptying countryside, has passed a milestone in population decline when it recorded more deaths than births in the first half of this year. Deaths exceeded births by more than 19,000 in the first half of 2015, a turnaround from a year earlier when there were nearly 4,000 more births than deaths, the National Statistics Institute (INE) said. Spain has not consistently experienced more deaths than births since its 1936-39 civil war or the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, according to news reports. Deaths briefly exceeded births in early 1999, but demographers considered that a blip while now they see it as the start of a longer trend. The INE predicted last year that a trend of more deaths than births would begin in 2015

Spain’s population has been shrinking since 2012 due to net migration as recession and high unemployment encouraged people to seek better prospects abroad. Demographers say the crossover of the birth and death rates could accelerate the decline. An exodus from the countryside has also left many small villages abandoned or with shrinking elderly populations. Pensioners read a free newspaper as they sit on public benches in Madrid

and the gap would widen until 2062. It said the country’s population, now numbering more than 46 million, would probably fall by more than a million in the next 15 years and by 5.6 million in the next 50 years.

Spanish police arrest two suspected of recruiting for Islamic State SPANISH police have arrested two people suspected of recruiting fighters for Islamic State in the Canary Islands and the north-eastern region of Catalonia, bringing the total number of suspected Islamist militants detained this year to 100. The Interior Ministry said the man and the woman, both with Moroccan nationality, had distributed Islamic State recruiting material through the Internet and had made death threats in Spain and France. Spain has stepped up its efforts to stop citizens joining Islamic State since the fatal gun attacks at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris at the beginning of the year. Police have made several arrests in Spain linked to jihadist networks since the Nov. 13 Paris attacks in which 130 people died. REUTERS/Sonya Dowsett

BURDEN Spain, one of many European countries facing a shrinking workforce and increasing burdens on its social security system, has the 10th oldest population in the world, with an average age of 43.2 years. That is projected to move up to fourth oldest, with an average age of 50.1 years, by 2030, according to a United Nations report in July. The country’s large elderly population could play a significant role in the Dec. 20 general election, for which centre-right Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has courted old people’s votes by protecting pensions. Europe is the continent most affected by an ageing population. The U.N. said 34 percent of its population would be over 60 years old by 2050. Increased immigration could help reverse the trend and hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Syria and other war-torn states have been flocking towards Europe. The European Union struggled to agree a plan to share out just 120,000 of them. REUTERS/Susana Vera

Pensioner killed by woman attempting suicide A PENSIONER sitting on a street bench in Alicante has been killed by a woman who fell onto him whilst trying to commit suicide from an apartment balcony above (pictured below). The woman, 48, thought to be suffering from depression jumped from her seventh floor apartment balcony in an attempt to commit suicide landed on top of the 81-year old pensioner as he sat on a street bench below, killing him instantly. The woman was taken to Alicante’s San Juan hospital suffering from serious injuries, but she was reported to be in a stable condition. This marks the third accidental murder of stranger by attempted suicide from apartments in Spain.. In 2009 a 50-year-old man died in Viladecans, near Barcelona, when a woman leapt out of her eighth-floor apartment and landed on top of him in the street below and in 2010 an old woman was killed in the city of Malaga when an 18-year-old woman jumped out of her apartment in a suicide attempt.

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

12 - WEEKEND WORLD

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

DEMAND However, the shop is not going to crank up production in response to the overwhelming demand because there are only 10 metres left of the pink floral fabric used in the princess’s outfit - enough to make just 20 more dresses. “I’ve got a very big problem, I’ve got a huge waiting list but only 10 metres of that fabric,” said a laughing Pato, “we have the dress in other fabrics but not in that one.” Celebrity magazines have speculated that the baby’s Spanish nanny may have bought the dress for Charlotte, who is fourth in line to the British throne. M&H, which stands for ‘mother and children’

Spanish maker of Princess Charlotte dress inundated with orders in Spanish, was opened by Pato in 2009 in the central Spanish town of Valladolid. She later opened shops in Madrid, Valencia and Seville. The shop just makes two models in each size of the designs. The dress, typical of M&H’s traditional baby clothes all made in Spain with Spanish fabrics and yarn, costs 29.90 euros ($32.58) and Pato says she is not going to put up the price in response to the avalanche of demand. “I’m not driven by the money,” she said. “What I’ve made from this so far is enough.” REUTERS/Susana Vera

FAMILY-RUN children’s clothes shop in Spain has been inundated with orders from around the world for dresses identical to the one worn by Britain’s Princess Charlotte in the latest official photos - but has enough cloth to make only 20 of them. Six-month-old Charlotte, Queen Elizabeth’s newest great-grandchild, was pictured wearing the pink smocked dress with ruffled neck in photos taken by her mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. “The biggest advertising agency in the world couldn’t get this response, it’s incredible,” said Margarita Pato, who realised the princess was wearing one of her designs when she saw the photos in Spain’s Hola magazine. “In Spain interest has soared, but in England it’s almost a revolution,” added the 62-year-old founder and designer of M&H.

REUTERS/Sonya Dowsett Spanish dressmaker Margarita Pato poses with a dress identical to the one worn by Britain’s Princess Charlotte in the latest official photos, at her store in Madrid

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 13

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

14 - WEEKEND WORLD

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

BANDERAS TO PAY €60,000 MONTHLY SPOUSAL SUPPORT M

ALAGA’S favourite son’s divorce from Melanie Griffiths has officially been granted. Following proceedings which have lasted just over a year a judge in Los Angeles granted the two actors their “Decree Nisi” after a financial agreement was confirmed by both parties. The pair’s divorce judgment states that 57-year-old Griffith will be awarded their Aspen, Colorado home and half of all the royalties, residuals and profits earned by 54-year-old Banderas from the years 2004 to 2014. It also states that Banderas will pay Griffith up to €60,000 a month in spousal support.

EXPENSES Banderas also agreed to pay for daughter Stella’s college or grad school expenses until September 2021. Melanie also gets to keep a Picasso called “The Painter and His Model.” Banderas will keep all the cash and royalties accrued from “The Mask of Zorro,” “Desperado,” and “Spy Kids and all future movie earnings, his Spanish properties and an apartment in Manhattan. He also gets to keep a pencil drawing by the venerable Picasso, as well as one drawn by the late Mexican artist Diego Rivera. This is the second divorce for the Spanish actor , who divorced Spanish actress Ana Leza in 1996.

Lost treasure found in the San Jose galleon in Colombia

The Holy Grail of treasure discovered The wreck of a 300 year old Spanish galleon sunk in 1708 by the British en-route to Spain has been discovered of the coast of Colombia

Banderas and Griffiths in happier times

HE San Jose galleon long thought to be laden with gold, silver and jewels which it collected in the South American colonies to help finance King Philip V’s Spanish war against the British, could today be worth at last $1bn - the greatest treasure trove ever to be found at sea. Ownership of the ship’s treasure has long been the subject of legal dispute. In 1981 an American salvage company, Sea Search Armada, said it had located the area where the ship sank and a split agreement was made with the Colombian government for any proceeds found, however the government later said any treasures found would belong to Colombia this was later backed up by the US Supreme Court which ruled that Colombia held the rights to items deemed to be “national cultural patrimony”. Following the announcement by President Juan Manuel Santos of the discovery of the San Jose, Spain has now weighed into the ar-

gument with Spanish foreign minister, Jose Garcia-Margallo claiming that he hoped an amicable agreement could be made with Colombia over the ships and its contents. Jose Garcia-Margallo states that the discovery of the vessel under the UNESCO convention stipulates that this type of wreck belonged to the state as it was the result of war, and was not a private boat.

FIGHT This is not the first case Spain has had to fight regarding sunken treasure. In 2012, Spain won a major international victory when the US Supreme Court sided with Madrid over the ownership of 500,000 silver and gold coins retrieved by Florida-based treasure hunting firm Odyssey Marine Exploration from the shipwreck of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. Spain have indicated they will defend their interest at the UN if necessary

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos attends a press conference to announce the finding of the 18thcentury Spanish galleon San Jose in the Colombian Caribbean

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 15

LOCAL AND REST OF SPAIN NEWS

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Ambassador urges British residents to follow the example of those who are most content

OME of the secrets to happy living in Spain are revealed in a new survey by the British Embassy on how expatriates adjust to a life in the sun. Integration into the Spanish way of life is the key, the survey reveals. More than half of the British residents who responded say they speak Spanish regularly with friends and neighbours, enjoy Spanish food, use the Spanish healthcare system and employ Spanish tradespeople. The adjective ‘happy’ is the word that they most commonly use to describe their lives in Spain, followed by ‘relaxed’ and ‘content’.

INTEGRATION But some Brits admit to getting by without learning Spanish or registering on the padrón, and fail to make Spanish friends or keep up with Spanish news and politics, all things that appear to help others get more out of living in Spain. Almost 1600 people responded to the British Embassy’s ‘Integrometer’ online survey into levels of resident integration. Two-thirds live in Andalucia or the Comunidad de Valencia, where there are some high concentrations of British residents and integration is often low. Further significant numbers live in the Canaries, Murcia, the Balearics, Catalunya and the Madrid region.* Commenting on the survey, British ambassador Simon Manley said: “It’s great to see so many Brits saying they are happy and content in Spain as a result of their efforts to integrate into local life. I

would definitely urge others to follow their example. If you are settling here, the first and most important thing to do is to register on the padrón. That way you can access the health and social services you may need now or in future. “If you fail to register, then you can’t expect support from the Spanish system later. Some of the most tragic cases that we see in our Consulates are the consequences of people having moved to Spain – often years earlier – but not signing up on the padrón or integrating into their local Spanish communities.” Nine out of 10 people say they are registered on the padrón, which implies that one in 10 survey respondents have yet to do so. More than half say they have a Spanish will, and over 50% have a Spanish driving licence. Two thirds are registered for Spanish healthcare, with another 13% having private medical insurance. But an alarming 16% admit they have failed to provide for their healthcare in Spain, leaving them at serious risk of difficulties in the event of an accident or illness. Spanish food proves popular. Nearly a quarter say they eat a Spanish meal every day, and eight out of ten do so at least once a week. Only 6% say they eat a Spanish meal less than once a month. The wealth of advice on the British Embassy’s own ‘Living in Spain’ Facebook page helps nearly four out of 10 people integrate into Spanish life, and provides useful links to both Spanish and British government procedures and public information. ‘Happy’ and ‘relaxed’ are the two words most used by integrated Brits to describe their life in Spain

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

16 - WEEKEND WORLD

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ISRAELI PM’S DOG BITES POLITICAL VISITORS

REUTERS

P Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) shows U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry his recently adopted dog Kaiya

RIME Benjamin Netanyahu’s recently adopted dog Kaiya has sunk her teeth into her new position, biting two visitors at an event on Wednesday, including the husband of the deputy foreign minister. At a candle-lighting ceremony to mark the Jewish festival of Hannukah, the 10-year-old mixed breed also took a snip at a member of parliament from Netanyahu’s Likud party. Knesset Member Sharren Haskel, a veterinary nurse, dis-

missed the incident, telling Army Radio it was “trivial”. Netanyahu’s son took the dog in from a rescue home earlier this year. The prime minister posted a picture on Twitter in August urging dog-lovers to seek out adult canines to adopt, saying “You won’t regret it!”. Kaiya has met several dignitaries, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Kerry is believed to have escaped unharmed. Written by Luke Baker

The world’s first ‘test tube’ puppies

HIS summer a team of scientists from the USA have made a ‘huge breakthrough’ in the continued development of Vitro Fertilization by producing seven adorable test tube puppies. In a joint venture between Cornell University and Smithsonian Institute researchers transferred 19 fertilized embryos into one female dog, which then gave birth to a raucous romp of seven. Two of the puppies have a beagle mother and a cocker spaniel father, while the other five are from two pairs of beagle parents. To make the pups, 19 embryos were implanted in a surrogate dog using sperm from five different males. Researchers now hope that they might also be able to use this technology, along with gene editing techniques, to remove some inheritable diseases common in certain dogs and possibly expand it to help wildlife conservation programs, such as boosting the numbers of endangered canine species that are struggling to breed in the wild. It can also be used to preserve rare dog breeds or weed out heritable diseases among canines.

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 17

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The secret behind Mona Lisa’s smile

EONARDO da Vinci’s most famous portrait is shrouded in mystery the mystifying, enigmatic half-smile image of Lisa del Giocondo, wife of Francesco del Giocondo has amused art lovers and scholars for over five centuries, but theories that the woman in the image could have been da Vinci’s mother, lover or even a disguised self-portrait, have only added to the Mona Lisa’s legend. However French scientist Pascal Cotte who has spent the last decade analysing the image using light reflective technology (L.A.M) says he has revealed three hidden paintings beneath the surface of Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece.

ORIGINAL One is an early study of a head and another is a Madonna-style portrait. The third, he believes, is the original portrait of Lisa Gherardini which shows the women sitting in an entirely different position with a sideward gaze and not a front-on gaze of the Mona Lisa today. The woman also has a larger head and nose, bigger

The mysterious expression of the “Mona Lisa” has captivated the world for more than 500 years but could it because the smile belongs to that of two separate women? hands and, importantly, smaller lips than those used for the famous Mona Lisa smile. Cotte claims “My scientific imagery technique takes us into the heart of the paintlayers of the world’s most famous picture and reveals secrets that have remained hidden for 500 years. The results shatter many myths and alter our vision of Leonardo’s masterpiece forever.” Whilst Cotte’s discovery may reveal hidden portraits the art world has been quick to refute his claims, it is perfectly normal for an artist to overpaint an image and if the work was a commission the client may have requested changes so claims of a hidden figure behind the world’s most famous portrait is being looked upon with great scepticism.

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Pascal Cotte discusses his deep analysis of Mona Lisa at a press conference

GERMANY REGISTERS OVER 1 MILLION REFUGEES EUROPE’S top economy has registered more than 1 million asylum seekers according to Bavarian social minister, Emilia Mülle, of the 1 million now registered within the “Easy” computer system more than 206,000 migrants were registered in November alone. While this figure is high experts say the number has dwindled to between 2,000 and 3,000 per day, down from the 8,000 or more of early autumn. Germany has become a popular destination for refugees from Syria and other Middle East and African countries thanks in part to its open door policy and generous asylum laws but the figures also reveal that this year Albanians and Kosovans made up five of the top groups claiming asylum even though both Albania and Kosovo are listed as “safe countries of origin” meaning they have no reason to request political asylum.

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 19

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ANGELA MERKEL NAMED ‘PERSON OF THE YEAR’ BY TIME T IME magazine have named German Chancellor Angela Merkel its 2015 “Person of the Year” noting her resilience and leadership when faced with the Syrian refugee crisis and turmoil in the European Union over its currency this year. In a statement explaining the magazine’s choice, managing editor Nancy Gibbs said despite crises in the region that caused “reason to wonder whether Europe could continue to exist,” Merkel, 61, emerged as an “indispensable player. For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny as well as expedience and for providing steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply, Angela Merkel is Time’s Person of the Year,” Gibbs wrote. In response to the news, Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert told a government news conference: “I am sure the chancellor will cherish this

as an incentive in her job.” Merkel, elected to her position in 2005, has been called the most powerful politician on the planet and is the first woman to lead Germany. Time noted her leadership this year in leading the West’s response to Vladimir Putin’s “creeping theft of Ukraine” and welcoming refugees to Germany despite “the reflex to slam doors, build walls and trust no one.” Merkel topped a short list of finalists that included U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who came in third, and Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was runner-up. She is the first individual woman to hold the title in 29 years, though women have been honoured as part of a group. Last year, a group of Ebola doctors and survivors won the title. Angela Merkel is only the fourth women to be recognised by Time Magazine as “woman of the year”. Since Wallis Warfield Simpson was bestowed the first title in 1936, only a select few have graced the cover as individuals in their own right. Women have featured as part of a group but only 3 other women have held this title up until now.

DESPAIR The first woman to be nominated Time person of the year was Wallis Simpson in 1936. The American socialite, who captured the heart of the Edward the Prince of Wales throwing the British monarchy into despair as he abdicated so he could marry his sweetheart, was credited as being “the most-talked about, written-about and compelling person in the world,” according to the Time feature.

Next came Queen Elizabeth II in 1952, following the death of her beloved father King George VI and her succession to the throne, Time magazine honoured her with the title finding that her significance was that “of a fresh young blossom on roots that had weathered many a season of wintry doubt. The new young Queen was a reminder of a great past... and dared to hope that she might be an omen of a great future.” The last women to grace the converted covers of Time was in 1987 when Corazon Aquino, the then President of the Philippines appeared. This was her second appearance as in 1986 she appeared side by side with the late President Ferdinand Marcos, whom she was challenging in the presidential race. Time noted that Aquino “became a unifying force against the autocratic President Ferdinand Marcos.”

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

20 - WEEKEND WORLD

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Pope REFUSES to wear bullet proof vest for Christmas speech DESPITE receiving numerous threats from ISIS, Pope Francis has told his Italian security team that he WILL NOT wear a bullet proof vest for this year’s Christmas Day message. The pontiff is said to be fully aware of threats made by ISIS against him following a propaganda video released by ISIS showing computer-generated tanks advancing on a crumbling Colosseum, while a deserted Vatican City is bathed in an orange light but he is “not afraid” of the militants. With its unwavering religious beliefs Rome and the Pope are ideal targets for Jihadist terrorist, and following the Paris attacks which killed 129 the FBI has shared information with the Italians about possible threats, including at St. Peter’s and the two Milan landmarks.

If you’re a journalist - don’t venture to China IN a report conducted by the Committee to protect Journalist (CPJ) China is highlighted as the world’s leading jailer of journalists for the second year running. The reports states that the number of journalists imprisoned across the world during 2015 has actually decreased, but in countries such as China, Turkey and Egypt the numbers increased. At present there are 199 journalists being held against their will this accounts to 109 online and 83 print journalists. China accounts for over one quarter of the number jailed with 49 imprisoned during 2015 and Egypt witnessed the most rapid deterioration of the press freedom across the world, with 23 journalists jailed in 2015 compared with 12 in 2014. Like Egypt, freedom of press in Turkey is non-existent. Turkey previously held the title of ‘worst jailer’ for 2012 - 2013 and this year 14 journalists have been detained.

Azerbaijan: 8 Bahrain: 5 Bangladesh: 5 Cameroon: 1 China: 49 Democratic Republic of Congo: 1 Egypt: 23 Eritrea: 17 Ethiopia: 10 Gambia: 2 India: 4 Iran: 19 Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: 1 Kuwait: 1 Kyrgyzstan: 1 Mauritania: 1 Morocco: 1 Myanmar: 5 Russia: 1 Saudi Arabia: 7 Somalia: 2 Syria: 7 Thailand: 2 Turkey: 14 Turkmenistan: 1 United Arab Emirates: 1 Uzbekistan: 4 Vietnam: 6

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WEEKEND WORLD - 21

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

22 - WEEKEND WORLD

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 23

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Puppet Workshop OSVALDO LOBALZO ART GALLERY. 11

OSVALDO LOBALZO ART GALLERY. 5

“Painting with daddy” Exposition OSVALDO LOBALZO ART GALLERY

Jan. 3

Santa Claus Greeting Kids LA MARINA. 5

Jan. 2

pm.

Christmas Charity Race PUERTO SOTOGRANDE. 11.30

New Year’s Brunch LA RESERVA

pm to 8 pm

pm.

Jan. 8 - 10 Christmas Polo Match & Activities SANTA Mª POLO CLUB - PUENTE DE HIERRO

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Fabulous first floor apartment

POLO GARDENS

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

Built: 198m² | Terrace: 46m² Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 4 Price: e595.000 | Ref: HPG-1483

SOTOGRANDE ALTO

his conveniently located architecturally unique modern style family home. Situated in large delightful landscaped gardens with cork trees and ample flat lawn areas, a lawn tennis court and a large pool with diving rocks. The accommodation offers a spacious entrance hall, 2 bedrooms, a large family bathroom, TV room, study, open plan split level Living/Dinning room leading to extensive covered terraces, a fitted family kitchen, service bedroom and bathroom and a spacious external utility room. On the first floor there are 2 double bedrooms, the master suite with a private terrace and a double en-suite guest bedroom also with private terrace. There is a further extensive solarium off the landing area ideal for future extensions. The property has AC throughout and central heating by electric radiators. The efficient Solar hot water system is backed up by electricity. Quadruple carport and large single garage.

Modern family home

www.holmesotogrande.com

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SOTOGRANDE ALTO

Elevated position

south facing 4 bedroom villa built on a great elevated front line golf plot with wonderful views over Valderrama. With access vía an andalucian courtyard, the ground floor comprises of an entrance hall, guest toilet, living room, dining room, fitted kitchen, laundry room and 3 en-suite bedrooms. On the first floor there is an office/TV room with acces to a terrace with great views and 1 bedroom en-suite also with a terrace. Includes alarm system, satellite, heating by radiators, garage and BBQ by the pool.

Plot: 3.799 m2 | Built: 339m² | Terrace: 120m² Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 4 Price: e950.000 | Ref: HSN5-1095

Ribera de la Tenca

antastic first floor 3 bedroom south-facing apartment in “Ribera de la Tenca” with great views to the Guadiaro River, the Sotogrande Marina and the Yacht Club. It comprises of an entrance hall, fully fitted kitchen, living/ dining room with fireplace and direct access to a glazed covered terrace, master bedroom with bathroom en-suite, 2 more double bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Other features are: home automation system, hot/cold air conditioning, communal pool, 2 parking spaces and 1 storeroom.

Great river views

www.holmesotogrande.com

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FOCUS ON SOTOGRANDE

ENJOY CHRISTAMAS WITH EVENTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY IN SOTOGRADE

ROM ice rinks to Christmas markets and acts of charity there are a whole range of events and activities for everyone to get involved with in Sotogrande this holiday season. With an unprecedented initiative in Sotogrande the program of over 30 events runs until 10th January 2016 and is encouraging the community to participate actively in the holiday season on the streets of the urbanization, and join hands in a fun and exciting coexistence.

THE SHOE BOX APPEAL:

Gifts for the most disadvantaged children Christmas is a time for giving and charity. Therefore, in collaboration with the NGO Hogar Betania, students of Sotogrande International School have launched the Christmas Shoes Box Appeal project, which will make it possible for even the poorest of children to receive gifts this Christmas.

People are asked to fill a shoebox with gifts then wrap it and specify whether it is for a boy or girl and for which age range (babies, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, 5- 7 years, 7-9 years, and 9-11 years. Drop off points for filled boxes are Sotogrande International School, Daycare Fundamentals in La Marina and La Reserve, from there gifts will be taken to the headquarters of Hogar Betania.

ECOLOGICAL ICE RINK

One of the most striking installations of the Christmas celebrations in Sotogrande is the installation in the La Reserva of an ecological ice rink. This is an initiative that is committed to innovation development, the environment and a stamp that, being so typical of Christmas, is new and different for the inhabitants of the area. With an area of 300 square meters, the ice rink is built with plates of self-lubricating synthetic ice, allow uses to slide effortlessly as though on real ice. Entry to this attraction including skate hire is free and staff will also be on hand to help those who are venturing onto the â&#x20AC;&#x153;iceâ&#x20AC;? for the first time.

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Christmas celebrations are all about the children and in this sense, one of the most significant events took place on the 12th, with the Sotogrande International School Christmas Fair, an event in which students at the school enjoyed lots of treats and activities to increase the feelings of festivity and magic that makes this time of year so special for the younge

The program of events also includes the inauguration of the new facilities of La Reserva Golf Club, which opens its doors at Christmas with live entertainment, a new restaurant and a golf tournament to say goodbye to 2015.

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focuses on

GIBRALTAR

We are looking for a sponsor for the Gibraltar section INTERESTED? Then call 0034 951 127 200

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FOCUS ON GIBRALTAR

ORONER Charles Pitto has delivered his verdict at the inquest into the deaths of Anarda de la Caridad Perez Friman, four year old Amanda Kristofferson, and six week old Eve Shannon Perez as one of unlawful killing and suicide for the death of John Shannon, the man responsible. Describing the inquest as “an unimaginably painful but necessary process” for the families the coroner expressed his gratitude and admiration for their stoicism and dignity. He went on to wish them well for the future adding “What’s done is done, however sad – but the pain continues”.

INVESTIGATION The four bodies were found on March 30 in a locked rented flat on Boschetti’s Steps a narrow alleyway in the heart of Gibraltar’s old town. The killings led to one of the largest murder investigation in the British territory’s modern history. Evidence by pathologists concluded 31 year old Anarda de la Caridad Perez Friman, 4 year old Amanda Kristofferson and six week old Eve Shannon Perez died of stab wounds to the heart, while 37 year old John Shannon died after his throat was cut, “typical of selfinflicted wounding”. The court also heard how John Shannon was suffering from paranoid delusions and hallucinations, probably caused or worsened by the misuse of cannabis and steroids, which caused him at times to believe he was being followed by the police; by contract killers

UNLAWFUL KILLING Inquest into Boschetti’s Steps deaths from Lebanon, where he had lived for a time; and by people seeking to take his organs and those of his baby daughter. He also believed his partner, Anarda de la Caridad Perez Friman, was poisoning him, and colluding with those trying to take his organs. Police found eight knives and a blood-soaked corkscrew in the flat, along with evidence of extreme violence in several rooms. Neighbours heard a woman’s high-pitched screams and the desperate crying of a little girl on 28 March - the night they were killed - without being able to identify where the noises were coming from. Shannon’s victims were repeatedly knifed, and the mother and toddler, of whom Shannon was not the biological father, had deep defensive wounds, indicating they had tried to fend off their attacker. The court heard Shannon remained in the property with the bodies then died two days after, on 30 March, from a self-inflicted cut across the neck that punctured his jugular vein.

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Scene of the killings: Boschetti’s Steps a narrow alleyway in the heart of Gibraltar’s old town

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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FOCUS ON GIBRALTAR

MISS GIBRALTAR 2015 AT THE MISS WORLD PAGEANT MISS Gibraltar 2015, Hannah Bado, recently left Gibraltar to participate at the Miss World Pageant being held in Sanya, China. On arrival Miss Gibraltar and the 117 other contestants had a full schedule of photo shoots, receptions, official ceremonies, filming and touring Hainan island and travelling to neighbouring islands. Hannah has participated in the Miss World Sports elimination round, in which she took 9th place. Hannah has also visited a local orphanage where contestants presented the children with gifts supplied by the Miss World Organisation, which will be donating clothes and shoes to the orphanage for a year. Hannah has been updating her online blog with her experiences and is enjoying her time in Sanya. The highlight of Hannah’s trip will be the Miss World Final to be held on Saturday 19th December 2015. The Miss Gibraltar Office encourages everyone in Gibraltar to download the Miss World App and vote for Hannah for the People’s Choice Award: http://www.missworld.com/competition/ The-Miss-World-App/

Buckingham Palace responds to 10,000-strong petition

ER Majesty the Queen greatly appreciates the loyalty of the people of Gibraltar but has no plans to visit Gibraltar for the foreseeable future with overseas travel very limited. These comments have come in a response from Buckingham Palace to the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia following the submission of a petition containing 10,000 signatures which had been collected locally.

RESPONSE The petition, with a covering letter from Dr Garcia, was sent to Gibraltar House in London for forwarding to Buckingham Palace this summer. The response arrived during the general election campaign and the details are being disclosed at this time. Dr Garcia met this morning with three representatives of the group who collected the signatures, Mrs Liz Balban, Mrs Sheridan Borda and Mr Luis Edwards in order to convey the news and pass them a copy of the letter from the Palace. The letter adds: “The United

Kingdom and Gibraltar share a tight bond stretching back over three hundred years. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. These anniversaries help us remember the countless sacrifices made by citizens of the United Kingdom and Gibraltar in defence of our shared values.” It recalls that Her Majesty conveyed her best wishes to HE the Governor and the Chief Minister on 9 September following the joint congratulations sent when she became the longest reigning Monarch of the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories.

THREE KING’S CAVALCADE 5TH JANUARY 2016 AS the Christmas season comes into full swing, arrangements are well underway for the organisation of the Three King’s Cavalcade, organised by the Cavalcade Committee. The Gibraltar Cultural Services have been working closely with the committee to ensure that once again sweets are distributed at the event. Sweets will be personally handed out to spectators instead of being thrown from at them from the floats themselves. The Gibraltar Cultural Services staff will be responsible to hand these out to children and persons lining up the route of the Cavalcade. GCS staff will be departing Casemates Square at 7.15pm. The Three King’s Cavalcade will take place along Main Street on Tuesday 5th January 2016 at 7.30pm.

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STAR WARS Showings The Force Awakens premiered in Los Angeles on December 14 and will be released , in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D, on the 18th December, more than 10 years after the release of the franchise’s last instalment, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). It is expected to break box office records with projected profits exceeding $1 billion. Two sequels, Episode VIII and Episode IX, are scheduled for 2017 and 2019 respectively. These cinemas will have their first screening at 00.05 on the release date 18th December. The Film will then be screened daily at the following times: Cine Teatro Goya Carrer de Av. Julio Iglesias Marbella - T 951 196 666 16:30 - 18:00 - 19:30 - 21:00 - 22:30 C.C. Miramar Fuengirola - T 952 198 605 12.10 - 16.25 - 19.15 - 22.05 Leisure Cinema, Kings Bastion, Gibraltar T +350 200 44777 18:30 - 21:45

SPONSORED BY CITY FM MALAGA

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

Made any plans for December? The Weekend World has rounded up a list of some of the best events in Spain, from a festival celebrating Peppa Pig to a candelit carol concert in Sotogrande

n “Light a Light”, 18th December, Cudeca Hispice, Benalmádena Cudeca Hospice once again celebrates “Light a Light” in memory of loved ones, on Friday 18 December from 6 p.m. The Lights are a personal tribute and will continue to shine until 6 January. You can make your dedication for a minimum donation of €10 at the Hospice Centre or online www.cudeca-eventos.org/ eventos/lightalight2015. On this special evening, enjoy listening to choirs and there will also be a raffle, home made cakes, and other savoury delights. Further items on sale will be Cudeca’s popular Christmas Cards, hand crafted by patients and volunteers, the 2016 Calendars and the “El Gordo” Lottery tickets. The Lights are switched on by the Hon-

orary President and Founder, Joan Hunt O.B.E., and Chief Executive & Medical Director, Dra. Marisa Martín. Everyone is welcome to join in this poignant evening. Your participation will help the hospice to continue offering a “special kind of caring” to those who need it most. n Polar Bear Swim, Boxing Day, Catalan Bay Beach, Gibraltar After over-indulging in Christmas day treats, some feel the need to detox by bracing the chilly water of Catalan Bay in Gibraltar, at the Polar Bear Swim on Boxing Day. The swim which is normally held at Catalan Bay, Camp Bay and Eastern Beach and is now an extremely successful tradition in Gibraltar, also raises money for different charities and although there is no entry fee donations are welcomed. Those who brave the cold water are treated to mince pies and brandy along with the annual Polar Bear certificate. The brave (crazy) participants usually begin to congregate at the beach around 11.30am before entering the water around midday. More information on the Polar Bear Swim can be found at www.visitgibraltar.gi/events n Queen Tribute Dinner, 21 December, Duquesa Golf and Country Club, Duquesa, Manilva The evening, hosted by Peter Charles and starring guest singer Anthony Wolfson will feature a tribute to queen, Queen of Magic, as the main act and a three course dinner. Seating will be at 8pm with the show beginning at 9pm. Tickets cost 25€ and include a welcome Cava. They can be purchased from www.livemusicspain. com or The Bookshop in Sabinillas. n Gibraltar Christmas Spectacular, 20th December, Boyds, Kings Bastion Leisure Centre, Gibraltar Over 50 much loved characters and a full day of shows and entertainment, Ice Skating, Disney Style Grotto, Live Music, Christmas parade and much more in

an amazing winter wonderland setting. Also performing will be Elisha Lang who recently steamed her way through to the semifinals of La Voz Kids. Tickets cost 18.50€ per adult and 14.50€ per child and include full entertainment, gifts, balloons, prizes and a meal. For more information email boydsevents@ gibtelecom.net n Art Exhibition, Until 22 January, The Golfer Sports Bar, Marbella Leading artist: the painter Roger Cummiskey from Ireland exhibits a selection of new works in the The Golfer Sports Bar in Marbella. The exhibition runs until the 22nd January, daily between 5 - 9 PM. Tom Jennings, the owner said “Roger´s artworks are of well-known famous personalities and are thought provoking in their concept. His photographs are a personal reflection taken on the Costa del Sol”. Further information is available from the web site www.rogercummiskey.com/thegolfer-marbella n Kids Workshop Creating Dreams”, Various Dates, The Osvaldo Lobalzo Art Gallery, Sotogrande marina. The Osvaldo Lobalzo Art Gallery at Sotogrande Marina will be holding various childrens workshops over Christmas. In each kids workshop they will make different types of Xmas decoration. With this handcrafted decoration they will decorate the Christmas tree inside Santa’s grotto and their own at home! Visit www. sotogrande.com/xmas for details of this workshop and other events. n Arboretum Winter Fair, 20 December, 12;00-17:00 Marbella Arboretum, Finca El Trapiche, Marbella Environmental charity Arboretum Marbella are holding a very special Winter Fair on Sunday 20th December with stalls, special activities and opportunities to win some great prizes. There will be stalls where you can buy last minute Christmas gifts and organic produce, a kids’ zone from Marbella nursery Coleta and food and drink to buy. The event will take place in the stunning surroundings of Arboretum’s Edible Gardens for an afternoon surrounded by nature and festive fun. There will be a competition for the best Recycled Christmas Tree. Kids and parents are being encouraged to get creative and build a tree out of what they can find; from plastic bottles, loo roll tubes to plastic bags and pine cones. The best tree voted for by the attendees will be awarded with a very special prize. There will be a recycled Christmas tree making workshop during the event too for kids. This Winter Fair will be raising funds for charity Arboretum with tombola, a raffle to win a Christmas hamper and a tea and cake to buy. Plus there is the opportunity to find out more about the charity with a tour. Event attendees are being asked to bring a book to donate and the donated books will be on sale to raise more funds for this fantastic environmental charity. Arboretum’s Winter Fair will be a magical, natural and fun start to the Christmas season, showcasing local producers, environmentally friendly products and artisans.

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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

OR many Christians, the holiday season doesn’t officially end until the 12th day of Christmas known as the “Feast of the Epiphany” or “Three Kings’ Day”. The holiday marks the biblical adoration of baby Jesus by the three Kings, also referred to as three Wise Men or Magi. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the men found the divine child by following a star across the desert for twelve days to Bethlehem. Melchor, Caspar, and Balthazar - representing Europe, Arabia, and Africa respectively - travelled by horse, camel, and elephant in order to present baby Jesus with three symbolic gifts. In Spain January 6 – Three Kings Day or Dia de Los Reyes in Spanish – is just as important if not more so than Christmas itself, especially for children, as this is the day when they get their presents! The fun starts the evening before on January 5th when the three kings lead their processions through the streets of Spain throwing sweets to the children from trucks, trailers and even floats. Later that evening it is tradition for children to leave their shoes out to receive their gifts in. The next morning, the children wake up to find their presents have been left overnight.

The centrepiece of breakfast on January the 6th is a Roscón del Rey (kings roulade pictured above) a sweet, donut-shaped bread (though much bigger than a donut) covered in dried fruit and sugar fashioned to resemble a kings crown. Inside, bakers hide a small figurine often of a king or baby Jesus as well as a bean. The one who finds the lucky prize is supposed to be King or Queen for the day with a gold paper crown often provided with the cake and the one who finds the bean must pay for the Roscón! The day continues with families coming together for a special meal, gift exchanges and time together.

LOCAL PARADES ON 5TH JANUARY MARBELLA 12.00 - The 3 wise men arrive at Marbellas Puerto Deportivo aboard the “Fly Blue”. Reception by the Mayor and keys to the city. Followed by a drive round the city centre in

A RIGHT ROYAL PARADE

classic cars and welcome at the Town Hall where they will wave to all the public from the balcony. 18.00 - Three wise men procession which will take the following route: Avda. Severo Ochoa (Edif. La Zambomba), Avda. Ramón y Cajal Avda. Ricardo Soriano Plaza Monseñor Rodrigo Bocanegra (El Piruli). BENALMADENA This year the 3 kings will disembark at the Marina in Benalmádena to be greeted by the Mayor. There will be a reception in their honour and they will then make their way to the townhall by the following route: C/ Fragata Avda. del Puerto Deportivo Avda. Alay Avda. Antonio Machado García Lorca Avda. de la Constitución Avda de la Estación Avda. Tívoli Avda. Arroyo Hondo Avda. Juan Luis Peralta Ayuntamiento (Townhall) MALAGA Malagas parade will leave from the Ayuntemiento (city Hall) at 5 pm on January 5th and the route is as follows: City Hall Malaga, Avenida de Cervantes, Plaza General Torrijos, Paseo del Parque, Plaza de la Marina, Alameda Principal, Puente Tetuan, Avenida de Andalucia, Nazareno del Paso, Puente de la Esperanza, Manuel Jose Garcia Caparros, Pasillo de Santa Isabel, Carreteria, Alamos, Plaza de la Merced ESTEPONA In Estepona, January 5th is packed with activities for children. At noon, a children’s party is held at the Palace of Exhibitions and Congresses. In the afternoon from 5 pm onwards the Kthree Kings Cavalcade will be

accompanied by the Municipal Town Band, floats, and other entertainment. This year there will be ten tons of sweets to be hurled into the eager crowds. In a change from previous years the procession route will be Hercules Roundabout - Avenida España (near the San Jose School) Avenida Andalucia,

Avenida Juan Carlos I, Avenida España, Calle Terraza; Calle Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente. 18.00 - The Three Kings will then go to Plaza Antonia Guerrero where they will receive the children’s cards. They will then visit various housing estates in the town SAN PEDRO From middady The 3 three kings will drive through the town in classic cars then at 17.00 the three kings visit the Residencia Aspandem in San Pedro Alcántara.where the The fire service will accompany the kings to the start of the procession at Calle Fuente Nueva. The three kings will take the following route from there: C/ Fuente Nueva, C/Diego Piña Macias, Avda Oriental, C/ Juan R. Jiménez, C/ Pepe Osorio, C/ Luis Braile, c/ Lagasca, C/ Andalucía, Avda. La Constitución, C/ Jerez, C/ Marqués del Duero, C/ Hernán Cortes, C/ 19 Octubre, Avda. Oriental Plaza de la Iglesia. Once at the Plaza de la Iglesia the kings will greet everyone from the balcony of the Tenencia de Alcaldia.

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EEKEND

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focuses on

KIDS Family fun and education

Focus on Kids is sponsored by

& +34 693 745 454 www.happydayscostadelsol.com

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

FOCUS ON KIDS

WEEKEND WORLD - 33

OUR KIDS, OUR FUTURE Childline Andalucia announces launch!

HILDLINE Andalucia is excited to announce its inauguration in Spain as an official charity with the launch of its 24 hour online help service and child friendly interactive website in southern Spain www.childlineandalucia.org Based on the UK model and working alongside the Spanish authorities Childline Andalucia aims to support the immediate needs of expatriate children and teens through dedicated and confidential support and advice. For the first time in Spain children from the expat community will have a dedicated contact point for dealing with issues such as bullying, cyber bullying, drugs, domestic violence, abuse, and suicide awareness. The helpline will offer links for Spanish children to their relevant child care agencies. The official launch date for www.childlineandalucia.org is 14 December 2015 with a dedicated telephone service soon to follow in the New Year and plans to extend the service be-

yond the expat community. In addition to providing expert support services Childline Andalucia will play a prominent role in educating children throughout Andalucia with a program to be rolled out in schools and other youth organizations and groups. Tracey-Leigh Bennett, the founder of Childline Andalucia, says “As of 14 December 2015 children will be able to contact a dedicated professional who will provide expert support for any sensitive issues they may have, via the contact form on the “Ask Ziggy” pages of the website.” She goes on to say, “the team at Childline Andalucia will be vetted, trained and experienced in dealing with issues of minors. We have great plans to expand our service and look forward to organizations and volunteers in southern Spain working with us to achieve our aims by contacting us on 0044 (0) 747 301 5088.” Childline Andalucia is a registered charity in both the UK and Spain.

Our kids, our future. We need your support. www.childlineandalucia.org

Help us to raise funds and awareness for Childline Andalucía to provide and maintain our...

• 24hr telephone helpline • helpline training • Emergency contacts list • Activity Days • Online problem page • Website with news & lots of fun things to do • Clear and simple help and Support An online help & support team available via www.childlineandalucia.org for kids and teens in Andalucia from 14th December 2015.

A N D A LU C IA Dear Reader, Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. Our aim is to establish and maintain a point of contact to help and support expat. children and teens living in southern Spain who are suffering from abuse or bullying. If you are abe to supply, donate, or assist us with any of the following wishes, please get in touch with us as soon as you can. • Office space between Marbella and Sotogrande suitable for 4-6 stations with the possibility to expand if required. • Commercial space suitable for our planned charity shop • Computers, office equipment, and accessories for us to fully establish the telephone helpline • Volunteers for the helpline: full training given • Sponsors for fundraising events • Van/People Carrier for pick-up and delivery of Charity shop donations & Volunteer transport • Storage unit for Charity Shop merchandise • A large house or suitable premises to establish as a safehaven for children or teens that require an immediate, temporary, and safe environment if faced with imminent danger; with separate living space for our professional on-site Medic & Care manager. To discuss advertising space on our fun, action-packed website, please contact me directly by phone or email. Thank you for your attention, I look forward to hearing from you. Tracey-Leigh Bennett Founder | President 0044 (0) 747 301 5088 traceyleigh@childlineandalucia.org UK Charity Number: 8964929 | Spain CIF Number: G93439156

Childline Andalucía is a registered charity UK Charity No. 8964929 Spanish CIF No. G93439156

Please donate at www.childlineandalucia.org or take part in one of our fantastic fundraising events.

FOCUS ON KIDS

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

CLUBS & AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES After-school & weekend activities help kids develop social skills, improve academic performance, and help them build strong supportive relationships with adults other than their parents. Kids benefit especially from the social skills development and improved academic skills, this leads to improved conflict management and better school attendance. From dance schools to football clubs, the Costa del Sol has plenty of after school clubs & classes so to help you find the class your child needs we have categorized these groups into four different areas of sport, which we will feature over the coming months.

Under 8’s: From 3 years old we will focus on building confidence through team play, structured games and encouraging success. The 3 - 6 year olds train every Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 11am and Wednesday from 5pm - 6pm. Your first time is FREE. Under 14s: In this age group we encourage and develop children’s enthusiasm for the game. Stretching their minds and knowledge. The 7 - 14 year olds train every Saturday and Sunday from 11am - 1pm and Wednesday from 5pm - 7pm. First time is FREE. www.atletico-allstars.com

Funtastic Gymnastics Introduces and develops boys and girls aged 4 plus in the physical activity of Artistic Gymnastics in a fun, varied and progressive environment. Following the British Gymnastics Education program, we teach children specific gymnastics moves using balance beams, springboards, vaults, bars and floor mats whilst encouraging the development of physical, social, emotional and life skills. www.marbellagymnasticsclub.com

The Multisports Club The Multisports Club offers sports activities for both children and adults based in Aloha Gardens in Nueva Andalucia, Mar-



bella. They also offer a popular kids camp that runs during weekends and school holidays all year long. Offering a wide range of sports and fitness activities to suit both children and adults, including tennis, padel, aerobics, Zumba, and personal training, circuit training and even skateboarding! www.themultisportsclub.com

Duck n Dive Swim School Offers fun progressive lessons following STA (Swimming Teachers Association) Badge Scheme to motivate students of all ages and levels. Offering courses in Cancelada, Marbella, Coin, Fuengirola and Calahonda Duck n Dive Swim School is the largest swim school on the Costa del Sol and is a place where babies, children and even adults can learn how to swim with the proper technique with confidence in a safe, secure and caring environment. Classes are taught by qualified instructors who speak English, Danish and Spanish in clean pools at various urbanizations throughout the Costa del Sol or private lessons can be arranged in your own pool at home or in your community. www.swimminglessonsmijascosta.com STAGECOACH SPAIN & GIBRALTAR Stagecoach Theatre Arts opened in Spain and Gibraltar in 1999 and today caters for almost 200 students. Stagecoach is a parttime theatre school and runs classes in the three major disciplines of the performing Arts – Drama, Dance and Singing – at

three different locations on the coast – Fuengirola, Marbella and Gibraltar. Children are welcome from ages 4 to 18 years of all abilities and the school loves to bring out the best in every child through the wonderful world of drama, dancing and singing. www.stagecoach.es

MARBELLA STAGE SCHOOL Marbella Stage School is a fun English stage school in Marbella that accepts all ages and levels and offers courses in dance, singing and musical theater. Located at the Qi sports centre in Vasari Puerto Banus, some courses are also taught at local schools - Alboran, EIC and Swans. The school focuses on providing every child a chance to dance, sing and act in a fun, safe, stimulating environment. Classes in ballet, tap, modern, jazz, hip-hop, singing and drama for children ages 3 - 18 are taught by experienced and qualified instructors. www.marbellastageschool.com

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HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE IN SAN PEDRO

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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MONEY MATTERS

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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Málaga - Granada - Jaén - Madrid

Europa series of banknotes

ON 25 November 2015 the new €20 banknote entered into circulation in the euro area. It is the third banknote of the Europa series and follows the new €5 and €10 notes released earlier this year. This new set of banknotes has been aptly titled the ‘Europa series’ because two of their security features contain a portrait of

Europa – a figure from Greek mythology and the origin of the name of our continent. With counterfeiting on the increase numerous security features have been incorporated into all euro banknotes to protect them these form part of the FEEL – LOOK – TILT method.

FEEL: MB abogados is a law firm whose professionals will help you not only to resolve legal disputes, but also to avoid litigation by using what is known as “preventive law” in a broad scope of areas, such as privacy and data protection law, intellectual property, I.T. law, estate planning, corporate compliance, business planning, and property transactions among others. MB abogados minimizes the risk of legal disputes, but also ensures a professional legal advice in case of litigation.

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If you need legal advice, please arrange an appointment by calling or emailing our legal adviser in your area:

Mr. David Marrero (+34) 677 729 620 david.marrero@icajaen.es

The paper should feel crisp and firm and the print should be raised. Run your finger across the front of the banknote. The ink is thicker in some parts.

LOOK:

This incorporates three features: Watermark - Look at the banknote against the light. A faint image and the value become visible. If, however, you put the banknote on a dark surface, the watermark becomes darker. Security thread - Look at the banknote against the light. The security thread – a dark line running through the banknote – becomes visible. The word “EURO” and the value can be seen in tiny letters in the thread. See-through number - Look at the banknote against the light. The marks printed in the top left corner on the front and the top right corner on the back of the banknote combine perfectly to form the value.

TILT:

When you tilt the banknote, the hologram shows the value of the note and the € symbol. A gold-coloured stripe should also appear on the back highlighting the value and the € symbol.

Telefonica loses rights to show La Liga football SPAIN’S Telefonica has lost the bulk of its television rights to screen Spanish football matches for the next three seasons, undermining its strategy to capture pay-TV viewers through premium content. Spain’s La Liga football league said on Wednesday it had awarded packages of television rights to screen first division, second division and King’s Cup matches to

Spanish media group Mediapro for 1.9 billion euros (£1.35 billion). Telefonica unit DTS won rights to screen a smaller package of games from these leagues for 750 million euros. Telepfonica is banking on boosting its Movistar+ pay-TV service by offering premium content like football matches. REUTERS / Adrian Croft

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

WEEKEND WORLD - 39

Spain’s public debt-to-GDP ratio at 99.3 pct in third quarter

United Kingdom - Financial Markets

Spain’s public debt stands 1.062.472 trillion euros

Most Active Stocks

On December 11th Spanish debt as a percentage of economic output stood at 99.3 percent in the third quarter, the Bank Name Last Prev. High Low Chg. % Vol. s Lloyds Banking 70.5300 70.5300 70.7400 69.9500 +0.27% 130.32M of Spain said, which is above the government’s forecast of 98.7 percent by the end of the year. s Vodafone Group PLC 212.8000 212.8000 214.3000 209.3000 +1.57% 66.56M The debt-to-GDP ratio was also 99.3 percent in the second s Glencore 84.3500 84.3500 85.9700 81.2700 +2.40% 66.06M quarter, revised up from a previous 97.7 percent after the s BP 340.2000 340.2000 346.6500 339.4000 +0.74% 34.94M government assumed debt related to a highway concession s HSBC Holdings 520.800 520.800 527.200 513.000 +1.80% 30.92M in the northern region of Catalonia. The total public debt t Tesco 148.0000 148.0000 151.9000 144.8500 -0.87% 25.13M came to 1.06 trillion euros ($1.2 trillion) at the end of the third s Barclays 215.7500 215.7500 217.4000 213.7500 +0.44% 24.47M quarter, up from 1.05 trillion three months earlier and compared with just 383.8 billion euros in 2007 before the onset s Legal & General 262.000 262.000 263.100 259.200 +0.69% 18.78M of the economic slump. s Standard Chartered 512.700 512.700 514.100 483.700 +6.37% 18.64M The government has set its debt-to-GDP targets at 98.5 pert BT Group 468.200 468.200 473.800 463.900 -0.28% 15.40M cent for 2016, 96.5 percent for 2017 and 93.2 percent for 2018. ($1 = 0.9137 euros). REUTERS

Top Gainers Name s Standard Chartered s Pearson s Rolls-Royce Holding. s Shire s Anglo American

Top Losers Last 512.700 743.50 566.50 4,347.00 278.20

Chg. +30.700 +36.50 +26.50 +165.00 +7.10

Chg. % +6.37% +5.16% +4.91% +3.94% +2.62%

Name t ARM Holdings t Sports Direct Int t Mondi t BG Group t Persimmon

Spain - Financial Markets

Last Chg. 1,021.00 -31.00 570.500 -9.000 1,309.00 -17.00 945.700 -10.300 1,952.00 -18.00

Chg. % -2.95% -1.55% -1.28% -1.08% -0.91%

Spain will forgive €1.709 billion of debt owed by Cuba as part of an agreement reached with the Paris Club Group

CUBA has reached an agreement with the Paris Club to restructure its debt of $10.08bn which has lingered since 1986. The Paris Club an informal group of public creditors created in 1956, from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States who periodically meet to try to resolve the payment problems of debtor nations reached the agreement on the terms that Cuba pay’s $2.6bn over the next 18 years. As part of the agreement Spain has agreed to forgive more Most Active Stocks than €1.7 billion in interest Cuba owes it, but the principal Name Last Prev. High Low Chg. % Vol. debt to Spain still stands at €537 million ($591 million). s Santander 4.668 4.668 4.745 4.589 +0.76% 80.07M s BBVA 6.995 6.995 7.058 6.875 +0.95% 39.24M t Iberdrola 6.459 6.459 6.577 6.451 -0.97% 30.84M t Telefonica 10.660 10.660 10.895 10.635 -0.33% 27.64M s Bankia 1.128 1.117 1.132 1.111 +0.98% 23.46M s B. Sabadell 1.691 1.691 1.704 1.656 +0.30% 22.78M Benidorm’s skyscraper ‘In Tempo’ t Caixabank 3.541 3.550 3.567 3.474 -0.25% 17.16M goes up for sale following the s Repsol 10.700 10.700 10.935 10.540 +0.90% 15.12M bankruptcy of its promoter s Mapfre 2.380 2.367 2.409 2.352 +0.55% 13.49M IN Tempo or The tower built by the developer Olga Urbana is s Banco Popular 3.193 3.193 3.241 3.144 -0.53% 10.11M to be sold to the highest bidder, according to the settlement approved by the Commercial Court of Alicante following a Top Gainers Top Losers liquidation plan submitted by the developers. Name Last Chg. Chg. % Name Last Chg. Chg. % Construction on In Tempo the tallest residential building in Spain which consists of two parallel towers separated by a s Sacyr 1.886 +0.032 +1.73% t Indra A 9.388 -0.307 -3.17% gap of 20 metres (66 ft) and connected by a cone-shaped s Gamesa 15.965 +0.240 +1.53% t FCC 5.756 -0.140 -2.37% structure between floors 38 and 44 began in 2006 however s Aena 107.95 +1.35 +1.27% t Endesa 18.575 -0.350 -1.85% because of economic issues the building has remained uns Tecnicas Reunidas 34.975 +0.410 +1.19% t Arcel. Mittal 3.502 -0.065 -1.82% finished. In December 2012, in the midst of the property cris Bankia 1.128 +0.011 +0.98% t Mediaset 10.405 -0.165 -1.56% sis 94 percent of the building had been completed and 35 percent of units sold. Spain’s so-called “bad bank,” the Sareb announced that it was taking on the loan along with other Euro exchange rates creditors include Banco Sabadell and Abanca, but even this was not been enough to save it. 9.53 Norwegian Krone 7.46 Danish Krone 1.52 Australian Dollars Now, interested parties have four months to come forward 9.28 Swedish Krona 8.48 Hong Kong Dollar 0.73 British Pounds with an offer. While there is no official asking price, the build4.02 UAE Dirham 133.38 Japanese Yen 1.51 Canadian Dollars ing has been assessed as worth €90 million. 1.09 US Dollars 1.62 New Zealand Dollar 7.08 Chinese Yuan

Figures correct at 16.12.2015

A tower of debt

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FOCUS ON MONEY MATTERS

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

Spanish PM promises tax cuts for pensioners if he wins election Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he would lower income tax for pensioners who remained in the workforce, part of efforts to shore up his elderly political base SPANIARDS over 55 are twice as likely to back Rajoy’s governing centre-right People’s Party (PP) as younger voters, according to Spain’s state pollster last week, and the party has already courted their votes by promising to protect pensions. Rajoy also said during a television interview the PP would lower income tax for people of any age for a year after they find their first job, a pledge targeting millions of unemployed young Spaniards who are struggling to join the workforce. Spain has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the European Union, with almost half of all job-seekers under 25 unable to find work. “Given that there is now greater economic activity in Spain and that the state is collecting more tax revenue, we can again lower

taxes,” Rajoy said, referring to income tax cuts implemented in July. The European Commission has said Spain will need to revisit its 2016 budget after the election as it says it is based on unrealistic growth forecasts. The budget was passed before the latest promises for further tax cuts. The government expects the Spanish economy to grow by 3.3 percent this year, having emerged from recession in mid-2013, but unemployment remains above 20 percent. Rajoy’s PP will win the Dec. 20 parliamentary election but fall short of a majority, according to a closely watched official poll published on Dec. 3. The poll also showed a leap in support for a new reformist party that may play the role of kingmaker.

Spain’s uneven job market a challenge for recovery

PAIN’S over-reliance on short-term work contracts remains a major challenge as it overcomes a deep economic crisis the European Commission said last Wednesday, adding it could hinder growth of productivity. Jobs will be a key concern for Spanish voters in a Dec. 20 general election, even amid an economic recovery that has prompted companies to start hiring again. Spain’s unemployment rate has dropped from a peak of 27 percent two years ago, though at just over 21 percent it is still the second highest in Europe after Greece and one of the most damaging legacies of a double-dip recession. Much of the work being created is shortterm - 26 percent of all contracts are temporary, more than anywhere else in the euro zone - accentuating a two-tier labour market that left these types of workers in the firing line during the crisis. “Duality in the labour market remains a serious challenge as the share of temporary contracts has increased,” the Commission said in a periodical review of Spain’s economy and banks after some of its weakest lenders needed an international bailout in 2012. Spain has since exited the rescue program and its economy is growing at one of the fastest rates in the euro zone.

The Commission said job creation was strong and the banking sector had stabilized, but that imbalances remained. “Persisting segmentation in the labour market risks holding back productivity growth,” it added. A 2012 labour reform program by the governing centre-right People’s Party (PP) made it cheaper for employers to fire staff, aiming at the same time to create incentives for hiring. But its critics say it failed to reduce the number of jobs at risk.

DEBATE The labour debate has been central to political campaigns ahead of the closely-fought election, which the PP is expected to win. The opposition Socialists and anti-austerity party Podemos have vowed to scrap the 2012 labour reform plan, which lowered severance pay for employees, and build a new charter of workers’ rights. Centrist party Cuidadanos is pushing for a one-size-fits all contract as a means of doing away with temporary work. The PP has no plans for further labour reform, though Economy Minister Luis de Guindos, who is unlikely to serve again in another PP government, said additional measures could be taken to improve labour rules or encourage hiring.

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016 be over £150), they’ll set up a Direct Debit for you. It can be weekly, monthly, quarter ly or yearly. Leaving you free to sit back and enjoy the view

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

Marbella for €324,999 on 19

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

The euro was trading at 0.84p. They were recommended to they could achieve in sterling. The sale went through in midApril. The euro had devalued to 0.82, but they still received £272,999 instead of £266,499. This put an extra £6,500 in the

Repatriating funds

thousands! Let’s face it. We know Spain is fantastic - there’s a reason Peace of mind why you invested and moved When looking for an exthere in the first place all those change provider, you want to years ago. However, home will get the best rates and great WEEKEND WORLD - 41 always be home, and we can’t service. You want someone blame you for wanting to go to talk to you, to understand what’s important to you and back. what you want to achieve. But Selling your property over- most importantly, you want to seas, moving back to your make sure your funds are in home country and repatriating safe hands. After all, it’s your your funds doesn’t have to be money we’re talking about. a complicated process. Banks Currencies Direct have try to get a chunk of your hard- been around since 1996, so earned money with hidden they have credibility and lonfees and unfair exchange rates. gevity. Both of these are fundamental when choosing the This is hardly a secret. right currency exchange proInstead, when you are plan- vider company. ning a move back, it is recomMake sure you look for a mended to use the expertise of a currency exchange compa- company that’s established, ny like Currencies Direct. Not with a good credit score and is only will they provide you with authorised by the FCA for the the guidance you need to un- provision of payment services derstand all the process, but like Currencies Direct. This bathey can save you up to 5% on sically means the FCA heavily

Regular overseas payments? Don’t let the banks take a bite Every time you transfer money overseas with your bank you’ll lose money in hidden fees and a poor exchange rate. Use our regular transfer service and you’ll be making great currency savings!

Give us a call on +34 952 906 581 to find out more. Let’s talk currency

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

N excellent structure with 60-minute levels of play over several days brought together 49 players in the first High Roller VIP Tournement held at Casino Marbella. With a €1,100 entry, participants enjoyed dinner, drinks and surprise gifts. The large glass trophy was sought by all participants in the High Roller VIP Tournement. After three days of play, Sergio Pérez Oliveras, managed to take the trophy and the € 12,040 prize. The second place went to Luis Paz, 8,000€. Jonathan Almazan earned an equal amount, with his third place. The rest of the pot, which amounted to a total of € 47,040, was split between fifth and tenth places: Ivan Lukacs, David Roof, Alberto Montesino, Manuel Sadornil, Daniel Steftchev and Tonino Montesanti. The greatest success of this tournament was echoed by all participants. The tournament structure, the price of the inscriptions and the level of the participants in this tournament became a dream for any poker player. Without the help of an external sponsor, the Casino took a risk to launch a tournament with these characteristics but it proved a worthwhile challenge . A good finale for the year that saw the poker room of Casino Marbella host Pokerstars, 888 live, the Spanish Poker Championship, the Spanish Poker Million, the league and its 5 Sportium.es weekly tournaments. We are already finalizing the schedule for 2016 in order to stay between one of the most famous poker room in Europe, which stops almost guarantees the success of any circuit. Right: Oliveras Sergio Perez, with his mother and Ivan Aguilar, proudly shows off the trophy Below: Competitors of the final table

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paid out €47,000 in their first High Roller VIP tournament After three days of play Sergio Oliveras was proclaimed the winner

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

The dreams of CASINO MARBELLA customers light up the tree O

NE hundred guests celebrated Christmas at Casino Marbella with an original cocktail of lights. The wishes of all attendees were hung in custom baubles on the tree. The official switching on of the lights started the Christmas season where there is much to celebrate in Casino Marbella. Prior to the event a tournament was played by 48 players on the machines in the Jackpot Paradise Room. The occasion saw customers, media and friends gather to welcome the new holiday season. The Casino provided a warm and elegant atmosphere with live music, a toast and Christmas sweets. The Christmas decor, created by Roberto Silvosa, included accents of gold and chocolate brown. But undoubtedly the special touch of the evening was the custom baubles hanging from the tree. One for each guest who wrote their wishes on gold paper, which were then placed within baubles and hung on the tree with ther ornaments. The Game Room was transformed into a magical place. The machine tournament, held two hours before the tree lights were switched on, again exceeded capacity, with a total of 48 participants. The chosen machines where Keno Party. A total of 1,200 credits divided among the top four. In addition, all players also received extra credit to those who had completed their round of betting. This year, Casino Marbella has much to celebrate. From “High Roller” poker tournaments with a 1,100€ entry, different business menus and slot machines tournaments, and even the traditional toast on the nights of of 23 and 31 December and the typical Roscón de Reyes on the 5 and 6 January. All information on menus is available on the website of Casino Marbella: http://www.casinomarbella.com/menu-grupos.html

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 45

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FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

Avoid STRESS this Christmas

HRISTMAS is a time for getting together with loved ones, enjoying each other people’s company, exchanging presents, eating drinking and having a good time. Whilst that all sounds great it is also one of the most stressful times of the year. Stress can affect us in a variety of different ways including nausea, constant butterflies, lack of sleep, weight-loss and not being able to think clearly. Sometimes you don’t even realise you’re stressed until you feel like you really can’t cope anymore.

So with the help of www.medical-masterclass.com we have compiled “10 Commandments to Reduce Stress” 1. Thou shalt not be perfect or even try 2. Thou shalt not try to be all things to all people 3. Thou shalt leave undone things that ought to be done 4. Thou shalt not spread thyself too thin 5. Thou shalt learn to say “NO” 6. Thou shalt make time for thyself 7. Thou shalt learn to switch off and do nothing regularly 8. Thou shalt be boring, untidy and unattractive at times 9. Thou shalt not feel guilty 10. Thou shalt not be thine own enemy

HANGOVER CURES: The five best and healthiest ways to recover

HE Christmas party season is here and more often than not we tend to get a ‘little tipsy’ if not steaming drunk. So if you are hopeless at heeding the ‘drink sensibly’ health advice you are going to some tips for the best hang over cures.

l BLACKCURRANTS Apparently, blackcurrants are a ‘scientifically proven hangover cure’. Researchers found “components taken from the humble super fruit, such as vitamin C, boosted levels of key enzymes that break down alcohol after heavy drinking”, according to Dr Derek Stewart from the Scottish Crop Research Institute. The Blackcurrant Foundation, which champions British blackcurrants, recommends gulping down some blackcurrant juice before or after your party - or both l ORANGE You may be craving fizzy cola and a gallon of coffee, but caffeine and sugar are a quick-fix that could actually lead to you feeling worse later on, and even more dehydrated. Vitamin-loaded orange juice, however, will help wake you up, replace some of those lost nutrients following a heavy night, and the natural fruit sugars are a far healthier energy boost than soft drinks. l TOMATO Another great way to rehydrate and replenish those nutrient levels, lots of people swear by tomato juice to soothe a hangover. Tomatoes also contain lycopene which, as well as giving them their bold, red colour, has anti-inflammatory properties - always handy when you’re feeling a bit battered and bruised. A twist of lemon or lime in your tomato juice will add a flavour and extra vitamin kick. l BANANA Yes, that massive fry-up sounds tempting, but what you think are stodge cravings are actually your body’s way of telling you it needs a good dose of nutrients and energy. Bananas are gentle on the stomach (so ideal if your belly’s a bit dodgy) and packed full of potassium (which you’ll be in need of a top-up of following a boozy night) and natural sugars for recharging and balancing energy levels the healthy way. l COCONUT WATER Sipping coconut water has become a bit of a health-trend. Unlike its more indulgent counterpart coconut milk, coconut water is naturally very low in fat and cholesterol free and will give you that sweet fix you may be craving. What’s more, it’s great source of electrolytes - and electrolyte imbalance plays a big part in those horrid hangover symptoms. In fact, you’d actually get a better electrolyte fix than those sugary, fizzy sports drinks.

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

WEEKEND WORLD - 47

Be prepared for emergency dental care over the holidays WE know that an emergency dental situation can occur at any time and with the Christmas season nearly upon us there could be nothing worse than spending time with loved ones whilst suffering from toothache, because you may require a root canal treatment, dental extraction or have lost a filling or crown, but here at Dentist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sotogrande we can help. Over the festive period our dedicated team will be on hand to help with any dental emergencies located in the quiet area of Paniagua in Sotogrande, our clinic is equipped with the latest, state of the art equipment necessary to provide a fully comprehensive, highest quality service in dental health and cosmetic dentistry. We believe that by using only the best equipment can we provide the best service and that is what our clients deserve our attention whatever time of the year it is

www.dentistsotogrande.com

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FOCUS ON HEALTH & BEAUTY

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

Managing overindulgence in the festive period

OST of us are all guilty with overindulging in food and alcohol over the Christmas period, and those of us who do are all too familiar with the unpleasant after-effects such as a hangover, headache, nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, or tummy ache. Eating too many rich foods, cakes and sweets as well drinking large amounts of wine, beer and spirits gradually takes its toll on the body and mind. You start to feel tired all the time, sluggish, gain weight, are unable to concentrate and may cause your digestive organs to not function properly. The liver takes the brunt of this as it is the liver’s job to get rid of the excess fat, protein and all the unnatural chemicals found in food, the environment, cosmetics and water supply. If the liver cannot eliminate these toxins, they are stored in the body’s fat and the result is weight gain. Other organs that are also affected when you overindulge include the gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, nervous system, endocrine system, heart and lungs. Although it may sometimes be tempting to overindulge in food and alcohol, keep in mind that moderation is key and that you can still allow yourself to indulge ever so slightly but at the same time make the effort to stay healthy.

SOME TIPS TO AVOID OVER INDULGENCE

and gallbladder disorders. The active constituent of milk thistle is thought to be silymarin, a flavonoid found in the seeds. Many people take Milk Thistle to help them get through periods of overindulgence such as leading up to and during the Christmas & New Year period as well as when they want to detox – usually in March as a spring clean or before a holiday. Most of the goodness of Milk Thistle can be traced back to three liver-protecting compounds known collectively as silymarin. It is thought these help to protect liver cells by altering the outer cell membrane thereby blocking the entry of toxins. It can therefore help the liver regenerate itself in people who have hepatitis or cirrhosis. the most calories, so sip wine, wine spritzers or light beer instead. Alternate an alcoholic beverage with water to cut back on alcohol intake. You’ll consume fewer calories and feel better the next day, too. Let It Go Did you overindulge at the company Christmas meal, at a relative’s house or at home? Get rid of the guilt. Dwelling on dietary disasters can lead to ditching healthier eating altogether. Instead of kicking yourself for overdoing it, start eating better at your very next meal or snack.

Pick and Choose Don’t resist the urge to splurge completely, but do be choosy. When presented with a table packed with goodies, scan the options for one or two higher-calorie seasonal foods you absolutely must have, like eggnog, mince pies or stuffing with gravy. Take small portions of your favourites, as the first few bites of any food pack the most pleasure.

Trick yourself Research has shown that eating from a smaller plate makes it seem like you’re eating more leaving you feeling less deprived. Another way to curb calories: Drink alcohol from tall, narrow glasses to delude your brain into thinking you’re drinking more. Sip water or other calorie-free drinks from wide-rimmed glasses because they encourage greater fluid intake.

Change it up Alcohol can lower your resistance to high-calorie foods, and they’re full of calories too. Start the party off with a caloriefree soft drink, such as soda and lime, and save your alcohol to enjoy with food. Sugary and creamy cocktails serve up

And if all that fails try Milk Thistle Milk Thistle is a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms associated with occasional overindulgence of drink and food. Milk Thistle is a plant native to Europe and has a long history of use as a folk remedy for liver

And if you intend to party hard this Christmas and New Year, Milk Thistle can also be taken as a preventative measure to protect the liver from the excesses of alcohol!

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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Wishing our current and future clients a very merry Christmas

EXPERTS IN FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCTIONS

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FOOD & FINE DINING

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

FOCUS FOCUSON ONFOOD FOOD&&FINE FINEDINING DINING

WEEKEND WORLD - 51

COOKING UP MEMORIES with AGUSTÍN ROMÁN

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The Casino Marbella offers those with exquisite palates, an elaborate and delicious cuisine made from carefully selected seasonal produce highlighting the most essential flavours in Mediterranean gastronomy accompanied by an exclusive selection of wines and cavas. Casino Marbella is definitely the place for anyone who wants to enter a world of taste coupled with exceptional gaming.

Our Christmas Menús Option 1 - 29€

Option 2 - 36€

Option 3 - 45€

Salad of contrasts with a crisp langoustine brochette Cod tempura with “Vizcaina” sauce and tomatoes Roast shoulder of Málaga goat cooked in its own juices Chocolate and orange brownie with cappuccino ice cream Christmas Sweets

Salad of contrasts with a crisp langoustine brochette Pumpkin cream Monkfish salmon fillets on black olives and sweet paprika cream souce Roast shoulder of Málaga goat cooked in its own juices Almond crisp with a cold soup and pineapple sorbet Christmas Sweets

Foie gras micuit served with Apple compote, ginger and “torrefacto” coffe Asparagus Vichussoise with cured yolk and bacon bits. Hake served with Green beans and Romesco sauce Grilled beef fillet wih vegetables and bernaise sauce Homemade flan with a vanilla mousse and marinated strawberries Christmas Sweets

All 3 options include wine, water and a glass of cava

VAT included

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

52 - WEEKEND WORLD

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

FOCUS ON FOOD & FINE DINING

WEEKEND WORLD - 53

EDIBLE GOLD LEAF The most opulent food garnish... G

OLD leaf has been used for centuries, not only for decoration of fine art objects but also for the decoration of food. It has a long and illustrious history as a culinary ornament signifying good luck, prosperity and wealth. Over the years many a top chefs and classy, high end restaurants have offered gold infused foods on their menu Heston Blementhal is an avid fan of using edible gold leaf his 2010 Spiced Popping Candy Chocolate Tart sold out immediately. This year Michelin star chef Matt Worswick, executive chef at Wirral’s Thornton Hall has decided to go one step further creating the ‘Ultimate Millionaire Christmas Pudding’ which costs an incredible £10,000. Gold is universally recognised as a symbol of wealth and prestige. From the masks of the ancient pharaohs to the Faberge eggs created for the Romanovs, it has graced the most exquisite and desirable of all objects and whilst gold is certainly edible, would you really want to part ways with your money to have a taste? Here we list a few ritzy foods made with gold.

GOLDEN FOODS Marni-Laduree Gold Leaf Macarons – €100 / box In 2009, a Paris-based pastry shop Ladurée teamed with fashion house Marni to create a delectable pastry that fuses food and fashion. This unusual partnership resulted in the renowned Marni-Laduree Macarons. Each of the two-bite size chocolate macaron is made of premium ingredients. To give it a hint of lavishness, the creators decided to cover each macaron in thin sheets of precious, yet palatable gold. Cadbury Wispa Gold Chocolate Bar – €1,500 per bar Cadbury’s Wispa Gold bar was discontinued in 2003, nearly 20 years after its introduction in 1981. A few years after Cadbury dropped the Wispa line, fans of the chocolate bar

launched its own campaign to urge the company to bring it back. In response, Cadbury decided to make a gold edition, literally. A Wispa chocolate bar covered in gold leaf wrapper was soon put on display in jewellery store in London. In 2008, Cadbury decided to resurrect their Wispa line for good. Douche Burger – €600.00 If you are more than willing to shell out $666 from your wallet, then you can try 666 Burger’s most expensive item on their menu – the Douche Burger. Aside from the usual buns and beef patty (which is made of expensive Kobe beef), you will also get imported aged Gruyere cheese, a special BBQ sauce, rock salt from the Himalayas, caviar, foie gras, lobster, and truffles. Precious gold leaf is used as a special wrapping for the patty. TWG Yellow Gold Tea Buds – €2,800 / 100 grams Tea is one of the oldest beverages enjoyed throughout the course of human history. Almost every nook and corner in the world has its own version of this very pleasant and soothing drink. But TWG, a Singapore-based tea manufacturer, decided to give tea the golden standard when the company started to offer the Yellow Gold Tea Buds. For just under €3,000, per 100 grams of tea buds. Expensive? Yes. But you have to

consider that the tea buds are harvested using golden shears and then painted with 24-karat gold. While you can still enjoy like an ordinary cup of tea, you will have that fusion of metallic and floral aftertaste once you’re done. Serendipity 3 Frrrozen Haute Chocolate – €23,000

Recognized by Guinness as the most expensive dessert ever, this exquisite creation from Serendipity 3 uses a fine crystal goblet from Baccarat Harcourt, with 18 karat gold and white diamond bracelet decorating the stem (and yours to keep). Inside, the goblet is lined with 23-karat edible gold leaf, which is then followed by Serendipity 3’s world famous frozen hot chocolate, which is a mixture of 28 premium chocolates imported from Africa and South America. Shavings of more 23-karat gold leaf adorn the top of this lavish dessert. But you can’t just gobble this up with an ordinary spoon. You have to consume this expensive delicacy in style and luxury – with a $14,000 golden spoon (which you also get to keep).

54 - WEEKEND WORLD

ATING 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve is both a tradition and a superstition in Spain. Rare is the Spaniard who will risk poisoning their fate for the coming year by skipping the grapes, one for each stroke of midnight. While the rest of us giddily greet the New Year with a sip of champagne and air kissing, Spaniards seize these 12 seconds and focus on eating all 12 of the “lucky grapes” that symbolize 12 lucky months ahead. And these grapes that hold the fortune of so many for the months ahead are not just not any ‘olde grape’ oh no! They are protected by Denominación de Origen (designation of origin, or D.O.) and wrapped in paper bags in June and July during their maturation period to avoid contamination. Fleshy, deliciously sweet, and pale, almost whitish-green in colour, these ‘lucky grapes’ are a traditional Spanish variety called Aledo that, mature late and are not harvested until November and December. Although it may seem an easy task to swallow only twelve grapes – getting them all in your mouth before the bells stop chiming is actually quite hard – HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FREE

FOCUS ON FOOD & FINE DINING

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

Green Grapes and Red Underwear: A Spanish Tradition

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WEEKEND WORLD - 55

RANCHO GRILL A classic but refined steakhouse with a modern culinary twist and Belgian style dishes. Famous for chateaubriand served on a small table charcoal grill allowing you to prepare your own meat just how you like it. The exquisite and exclusive wines on our list have been personally selected from Spanish and French vineyards. Bold and rich, they pair perfectly with our prime steaks. Our romantic terrace is the perfect setting to be wined, dined and dazzled . Don’t forget our Tiffany Room available for private parties and celebrations. Urbanización Carib Playa, 11, Exit Las Chapas, Marbella 29604 E: alfonso@banusgrill.com - T: +34 952 831 922 www.grillelrancho.com Advanced booking required.

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56 - WEEKEND WORLD

EEKEND

WORLD

focuses on

TRAVEL

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016 NETHERLANDS Tradition: Sinterklaas and Black Peter

In Holland Santa Claus is called Sinterklaas. He doesn’t live at the North Pole, but in sunny Spain and arrives by steamboat with a helper called Black Peter rather than an elf.

FOCUS ON TRAVEL

WEEKEND WORLD - 57

Celebrating Christmas around the World It’s the most magical time of the year - families come together and children wait patiently for Santa and his reindeers to deliver those all-important presents. Being an expat living in Spain I have witnessed first-hand how different countries celebrate this wonderful occasion so have complied a list of some of the more unusual ways nationalities around the world mark this occasion

SERBIA Tradition: Tying up mum and dad Here, presents are swapped on the Sundays before ChristPORTUGAL CZECH REPUBLIC mas. Two Sundays before 25 December, the children tie up Tradition: Dining with Spirits Tradition: Shoe Tossing their mum. She then has to pay a ransom in the form of gifts to be freed. The following Sunday the same happens with dad.

SPAIN Tradition: A different sort of Christmas log

In Portugal, families set extra places at the dining table on Christmas morning for deceased relatives. The practice is called “consoda” and is thought to bring the family good luck.

Over Christmas, Czech women use a clever trick to predict their love lives for the coming year. Unmarried women stand with their backs to their front doors and toss shoes over their shoulders. If a shoe lands with its toe pointing towards the door, the woman will get hitched within the next 12 months. GERMANY

Tradition: Santa’s scary little helper

Most countries celebrate the arrival of Santa Claus but Germany, Austria and some parts of Switzerland also await the arrival of his scary little helper “the Krampus” (pictured below). a devilish creature who punishes naughty children throughout the festive period. The mythical beast, which stems from Austro-Bavarian German-speaking Alpine folklore, is hairy with hooves and large horns. In France there’s a similar figure called La Pere Fouettard.

In the region of Catalonia there are some strange traditions one of which is the “defecating log”. In the fortnight leading up to Christmas, a grinning creature is created out of a small log and placed on the dining room table. The log must be fed every day with fruit, nuts, and sweets, before – on Christmas Eve – it’s beaten with sticks, excreting its goodies.

UKRAINE Tradition: Decorating with Spider webs

It may sound more like a Halloween tradition than a Christmas one but Ukrainians decorate their Christmas trees with spider webs. The custom, which is said to bring good luck is derived from legend that a magic spider once visited a poor family at Christmas and turned the webs in their home into gold and silver.

AUSTRALIA Tradition: Rudolph the red nosed Kangaroo

Of course Down Under Christmas falls in summer. There tradition has it that Father Christmas swaps his reindeer for ‘six white boomers’ or kangaroos. It’s also traditional to enjoy a barbecue on the beach on the big day.

Rockefeller Centre

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

FOCUS ON TRAVEL

58 - WEEKEND WORLD

A WINTER WONDERLAND

Christmas in New York City is the stuff dreams are made of!

Rockefeller Centre

Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Saks Fifth Avenue

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

FOCUS ON TRAVEL

WEEKEND WORLD - 59

OWHERE does Christmas quite like New York! The twinkling lights on the Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree, ice-skating in Central Park and the heart-warming holiday window displays - the festive season is a truly magical time to visit this incredible destination. It is the city that never sleeps and over the Christmas period it becomes a winter wonderland with blankets of snow covering the streets of Manhattan; crowds “oohing” and “aahing” at the exquisite Christmas window displays adorning the stores along Fifth Avenue and ice skaters glide majestically (or not!) across the Rockefeller Centre Skating Rink beneath the 30,000 glowing Christmas lights of the iconic Rockefeller Christmas tree. It’s fair to say that no place in the world embodies the spirit of Christmas more-so than New York, and from November till January the city plays hosts to a number of magical events:

Shopping You can’t visit NYC without hitting the shops and the Christmas window displayed along the sidewalks of Madison Avenue and Times Square effectively look like extravagant works of art. Saks Fifth Avenue to Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Tiffany & Co, host the most extravagant window masterpieces on the block with some spending over a million dollars. If you have children then Macy’s Santaland

with its elaborate scene of Christmas trees, toy trains, elves and mountains of snow is a must. It is also the home of the ‘one real Santa Claus’ as per the 1947 film, Miracle on 34th Street.

Grab a show There are plenty of dazzling, annual holiday shows this time of year, from “The Nutcracker” at Lincoln Centre to the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” at Radio City Music

Central Park

Santa Convention

Hall. However, if you’re looking for a twist to your holiday fun, head to the Minetta Lane Theatre for the naughty and nice “Nutcracker Rouge” (showing daily through December 10th ), put on by Company XIV. It’s not for the faint of heart, or children, as these skilled dancers reimagine the classic tale with heels, acrobatics, a little striptease and a whole lot of panache. Also worth checking out is the Grand Central Terminal Laser Light Show: The world-renowned Grand Central Terminal (also known as Grand Central Station) projects a laser light show onto its famed Sky Ceiling every Christmas season that is truly a sight to behold. The festive free shows are the perfect time to visit this quintessential landmark in NYC, conveniently located on E 42nd Street and Park Avenue near some of the best restaurants and shops.

Must see sights

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

One fantastic thing that happens annually in the city that most people don’t know about is the 20-foot Christmas tree that gets assem-

bled at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and stays up until January 6. The tree is decorated with 18th-century Neapolitan angels and cherubs, as well as a marvellous nativity scene using realistic crèche figures. And no trip to New York City during the holidays would be complete without a visit to Rockefeller Centre, so make sure to stop off at the classic attraction to see the grand Christmas tree.

An NYC Tradition Wander the streets of New York City dressed as Old Saint Nick. This Santa Claus Convention is definitely one of the quirkier festivities to take place over the holiday season but it is one of the more amusing.

Christmas Show

60 - Car WEEKENDBike WORLD

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

PET CORNER

Dog Muzzles MANY folk have so many different opinions of the muzzle. Of course anyone that sees a dog with a muzzle automatically assumes that the dog is dangerous. There are many types of muzzles but whatever one you choose make certain that the dog is able to breath. The muzzle that I recommend is the Baskerville (above) which is marketed by the eminent Roger Mugford. This is a basket design and allows near unrestricted mouth opening for panting and drinking. These are available at most good pet shops and many vets stock them. They come in 12 sizes to ensure that a good fit is available for most breeds of dogs. For further information visit www.company ofanimals.co.uk I encourage all owners to train their dogs to wear a muzzle, the earlier in the dog’s life the better. Most young dogs are destructive; a muzzle will protect your home from being eaten. A muzzle will ensure that your dog is unable to eat any rubbish or poison on the ground that alone is worth training for. When visiting the vet it can also be useful for nervous dogs to wear a muzzle and also when a dog has been operated on. Wearing a muzzle is another way to prevent him from licking the wound. In the event of an emergency, if you do not have a muzzle then one can always tie the leash around the dog’s mouth to prevent it biting. I would add that a muzzle does not cure a bad behaviour but it is useful whilst an effective therapeutic strategy is developed.

WEEKEND WORLD - 61

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

STOP the milk! A

T one time fish was thought to be a major cause of skin disease in cats. Now we have all come to realize that the flea is the main culprit when it comes to skin irritation in cats and dogs. However not many pet owners are aware that our pets suffer food allergies which can cause dermatological discomfort. In fact according to Nigel Taylor the Express vet one percent of all skin problems in cats and dogs are caused by dietary allergies. Allergen reactions may be triggered in minutes, hours or days. Once an allergy to a protein is established, sensitivity is often lifelong. Dogs are mostly sensitive to beef and milk, while cats often do not get on with beef, milk or fish. Some dogs can digest the lactose in cow’s milk.

SENSITIVE Give a pet dog or cat milk and the undigested lactose provokes an upset stomach in no time. This is not a true allergy but demonstrates how sensitive to certain food pets can be. Stop the milk and your pet’s life will look up immediately. Most pets will react in some way by incorrect feeding and apart from allergic reactions one can expect flatulence and inconsistent stool quality and large smelly motions. Incorrect feeding can cause failure to put on weight and certainly if the balance of the food is not correct a display of hyperactivity or indeed low activity can result. Most animals can be assessed by their coat and skin vitality. There is always a possibility that the protein is being utilised for energy with a subsequent loss of health and vitality. Many owners give far too many vitamins and one should remember that a well-balanced diet should not have to be supplemented.

Ritualistic scratching and licking could well indicate that there is an allergic reaction to the food and the eating of grass, twigs and roots sometimes is an indication that the food is not being digested properly. Tissue

stealing and fibre based destruction could be another indication that there is a craving for fibre to help the digestive process in some way. It is a good idea to speak to your vet about feeding pets and to make things easy for you there are many good commercial dried pet foods with selected proteins like lamb and chicken that are unlikely to cause allergy already in them. Many pet shops and vets are now selling “Chewies” I would steer clear of anything which has a colour since this must have an additive, and I would only buy a chewie which showed what exact chemicals have been added. Chews have been known to cause hyperactivity and low activity. If you dog needs something to chew then take a look at a Kong Ball or Cube, these can be stuffed with goodies ( put some in the freezer) and will occupy your pet for hours.

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

62 - WEEKEND WORLD

W TEASERS... 1

21 23

38 42

47 53

37 Joints nearest the belly button 38 Pacify; make quiet 39 Injure 40 Go astray 41 Tiny weight 42 Sculpt 43 Tangiest 45 German rulers’ title, once 46 Bullring shout 47 Young miss 48 Gyro bread 51 Essential thing 56 Lion’s cry 57 Hay bundles 58 __-do-well; bum 60 Hole-making tools 61 Clear the slate 62 Festive event 63 Gender 64 Discontinued 65 __ as a fox

Solution to puzzle from issue 12

9 6

4 3 2

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DOWN 1 Hooting bird 2 Close by 3 Shaping tool 4 Maximum; highest degree 5 Parts of speech 6 Use foul language 7 Prolonged pain 8 __ education; P.E. 9 One who dies for his beliefs 10 Follow orders 11 Cut coupons 12 Game similar to lotto 14 “All __ go!”; signal to proceed 21 Bursts 25 Womanizer 26 Fireplace residue 27 Bird’s comment 28 Isle of __; resort near Naples

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Build Shoe bottom __ up; prepares Martini garnish Stopwatch user Hot cross __; sweet treats Drone’s mate Sending Grease Vehicles Rough; not fine Smooched Waterbirds Baby buggy Midwest state __ tale; exaggeration Make a salary __ in; wearing Soothing drinks Holler Sunbeam

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

ACROSS 1 “Cat __ Hot Tin Roof” 4 Remove the lid from 9 Make fun of 13 Marries 15 Stash away 16 Up to the task 17 Slothful 18 Overly sentimental 19 __ in; bring under control 20 Answers 22 Clerical error 23 Throw 24 Like dangerous winter roads 26 Agree to take 29 Snail on a plate 34 Pillow covers 35 Wide 36 Actor Wallach

23 26

17 20

WORD SEARCH Find and circle all of the Christmas words that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell a secret message.

E N A C Y D N A C H T A E R W S S T H I S S N O I T A R O C E D H Y E G G N O G M E H E L H T E B E O 38 G I F T S F R U I T C A K E T P T 39 41 R E G N A M H F R I E N D S F H S 42 S L T R E E I E C S C S R R S E E 44 45 T S H N E G A S A A E A A A T R J 47 H A R A S E N N T L N N R A T D E 48 49 G I E G S E T I C L K D K O G S S 50 I T E G L A K I K I E S L O L T U 52 53 L T W O B E C A N C O T L E N S S 54 F E I B E I I C L G O D O E S N J 55 59 A S S O L L E R A F C T M E M O O Solution to puzzle from issue 12 M N E T L N B N B N W A S Y A W S I I M T S O G A B A N O R E R M E L O E E J E O L T R G R N D Y A P Y P N Y L L O H O S H L Y S S N H

Secret message: THE TRADITION OF HAVING A CHRISTMAS TREE ORIGINATED IN GERMANY

ANGEL BELLS BETHLEHEM CANDLES CANDY CANE CAROLS DECORATIONS EGGNOG FAMILY

FRANKINCENSE FRIENDS FRUITCAKE GABRIEL GIFTS GOLD GREETING CARDS HOLLY ICICLES

JESUS JOSEPH LIGHTS MANGER MARY MISTLETOE MYRRH ORNAMENTS POINSETTIA

SANTA SHEPHERDS SKATES SLEIGH SNOWFLAKES SNOWMAN STABLE STAR STOCKING

THREE WISE MEN TOBOGGAN TOYS TREE WREATH

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 63

W EIRD W ORLD

CANADA

A Canadian man has died of complications following a lottery win after attempting to gold plate his private parts to celebrate his $598,556 win. Justin Reiter was, according to friends, enamoured with the 2002 movie comedy Goldmember - an Austin Powers par-

ody of the Bond movie Goldfinger in which Powers is hunting a criminal mastermind who colours his victims’ man parts gold. After coating his manhood in lead-based gold paint, Justin quickly decided that wasn’t enough and went on to borrow a professional

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. 23 3 7 9 18 14 16 5 7 18 25 11 18 15

15 2 14 18 23 4 2 23 22 23 19 2 16 9 25 11 20

21 2 22 9 25

10 1 9 4 20 13 9 6 9 1 9 4 8 9 19 19 18 4 2 15 15 18

automotive gold plater from a garage to encase his penis in real gold. Unfortunately in the twelve hours following the makeshift operation, Justin encountered a series of health issues that ultimately led to his death. Autopsy reports shows that the actual cause of death was lead-based paint poisoning. Dr Ian Joseffson of the Alberta Community Hospital warns of a growing trend of wannabe gangsters attempting the “deadly operation”. Some experts believe the trend stems from the Mayas who painted their bodies with gold to empower themselves as offerings to the gods.

RUSSIA

Life-sized chocolate sculptures of Vladimir Putin and his dog, Connie, have been created for Russia’s Festival of Chocolate held in St Petersburg. Organisers said that more than 170 pounds of chocolate were used in the creation of the statue and that they planned to submit it to the Guinness World of Records as the largest chocolate sculpture of a secular

19 5 8 15 23 23 15 19 2 11 23 2 15 1 18 15 18 14 2 15 4 18

staff told the entire school during an assembly that the guilty party needs to stop bringing in the contraband vegetable as it could trigger ‘an allergic reaction’ in another pupil. The school has put its searchlights on full – with an assembly and a letter home to all parents.

“When I read the letter I laughed,” one dad, who wished to stay anonymous, said. “The kid should get a medal and a job with MI5.” The letter said: “A child who we believe may be in Year 3 has been bringing in cooked Brussels sprouts from home. These Brussels sprouts have been discovered in children’s bags – we think in an effort to dispose of them. Since we have children in school with severe food allergies this is obviously a situation which we require your assistance in monitoring.” Fewer than one in 50,000 people are allergic to Brussels sprouts.

9 19 8 17 18 13 9 13 25 18 5 23 18 15

Solution to Wordblock puzzzle from issue 12

5 11 13 3 7 5

12 16 25 13 9 9 9 14 2 15 5 9 14 25 18 11 9

23 25 18 26

9 2 6 18 2 25 23 13 25 18 8 8 23

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18 19 24 18 19 24 18

A 2

3 16

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WORD BLOCK From the 9-letter grid, find words of 4 letters or more. Words must contain the middle letter, and there is at least one nine-letter word. Target: 33 words

7 20

8 21

Solution to CODEWORD from issue 12 22 21 18 9 25

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V I P E R H Y P N O T I C

9 21 4 17 21 2 25 14

E I A O I B R W

5 21 6 20 21 26 4 13 9

5 5 4 23 4

L I Q U I D A T E L L A M A

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V U L X I Q R

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E Y E L I D R E Q U I E M

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T N J E U T

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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

leader. Organisers warned that there would be “no touching, licking or biting of any of the statues,” at the festival. Except for Putin’s. The festival said it would gift Putin his chocolate likeness, and he can eat it if he wants. The sculpture is not meant to make any political statements and was inspired by a life-sized sculpture of Pope Francis created from chocolate last year.

impulsive - pelvis - evils - ivies - levis - lives - veils - velum - evil - live - spiv - veil - vies - vile - vise -

10 23

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I M L W

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M O T I F B L E A K N O D

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Monkfield Park Primary School in Great Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, is trying to identify a child who keeps smuggling unwanted cooked brussel sprouts in to school and planting them in other pupil’s backpacks. Members of

E I L X N Y

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D R I Z Z L E C O M M O N

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Y E N U I L I T

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F R I G H T E N Y U M M Y

Solution to SUDOKU puzzles from issue 12

E G T

I L I

N L E

1 7 2 5 8 3 6 9 4

2 5 8 4 7 1 9 6 3

3 8 4 2 9 6 5 7 1

1 9 4 2 3 6 5 7 8

9 6 5 1 4 7 8 2 3

6 7 3 8 5 9 1 2 4

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2 1 7 9 5 4 3 6 8

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5 2 1 4 7 8 9 3 6

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Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

64 - WEEKEND WORLD

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BUILDERS EXPERIENCED JOINER no job too big or small, kitchens, bathrooms, doors and floors. For a free quote please call Sean on 692 182 753 PROMAS BUILDING, a professional team of builders with over 10 years experience in Spain who carry out any reforms from complete houses and extensions to smaller home improvements, swimming pools, kitchens, bathrooms, patios and more. www.promasbuilding.com Call Andy on 699582569 FREE CONSULTATION UNTIL 30.08.2015! Estomar91 offers a bespoke construction service, with the architect, design and planning team working closely with a client on each individual project. www.etomar91.com +34 952 816 686 SUNRISE PROJECTS General builders Extension, reforms, insurance work 13 years in Spain Call Fran; 695528692 RENOVATIONS large or small; including bathrooms, kitchens, building work, replacement windows and doors. Competitive quotations. All areas covered. www.spainmultiservices.com / info@spainmultiservices.com HMS PROFESSIONAL builders. General reforms, extensions, pools, damp specialist. We improve on any competing quote. Any size job. Call 610502623 MJ LANCLEY LTD Design and build your lifestyle. Genuine references available on request. Also Plastering, rendering and drylining. Call 00350 20064323 www.mjlancleyltd.com

BUSINESS SERVICES ACCOUNTANTS. English and Spanish Accountants for all accounting/ bookkeeping jobs. Tax and company formation. Professional, reliable, confidential. Tel: 952440773 BUSINESS 1st have 2 Breakfast Networking groups on the CDS. Mijas Costa & Estepona. Est since 2009, 30 plus members meet twice a month, new referrals at each mtng. +34 664227400 www.business1st.es

CASA TASHAM is a bespoke Interior Design company offering a personalised service and great rental packages from 8,500 euros. All furniture is purchased directly from major suppliers so we can offer a full service at very competitive prices. Natasha Mills: +34 699 02 15 57 www.facebook.com/ casatashaminteriors

DRY CLEANERS

INVITE potential clients inside your business with a VIRTUAL TOUR from Plush Global Media. Prices from 60€, added to Google+ and Facebook! Sell your property faster by using virtual tour photography. Prices from 100€ for 2 bed apartment. Tel: 951193436

HOT OFF THE PRESS The only genuine ECO friendly dry cleaners in Southern Spain. WHY ? We don’t use any petrochemicals in our dry cleaning process. We only use pure natural silicone. Los Jarales, Calahonda, km197 952 930 392

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FINANCE

BUY/SELL SECOND hand shop, buy and sell. Tim’s established in 1992. Atalaya ( San Pedro). New opening hours: Tuesday – Friday10:30am – 7:00pm Saturday 10:30am – 2:00pm Sun + Mon (closed) 666903499 angelsmarbella@gmail.com HOUSE clearance specialists Houses, gardens, garages cleared. Cash on collection. Man & van removal services. Fast & reliable Call Rich: 639 229 604 / Joanne 649 9777 23 HOLA CREDITO. Instant short term loans against valuables. Quick, easy and always discreet. Tel: 900 123 457 www.holacredito.com

CLEANING SERVICES CARPET & UPHOLSTERY Professionally cleaned, 20yrs experience, wet or dry clean. Honest, reliable service. 678808837/952669701 OVEN CLEANING, domestic, commercial & professional cleaned from 40 euros. www.ovencleaningcostadelsol.com 632569282

DECORATORS NO NEED TO PAINT, we won’t just paint your property we’ll PROTECT it with longlasting, waterproof and breathable wall coating! Looks like normal paint, but last 10 times longer! Flexible so no cracking, peeling or flaking! www.noneedtopaint. com - info@noneedtopaint.com 640 519 482 or 952 594 425

Do You Need Award Winning Independent Financial Advice on your Pensions and/or Investments? Call 951 242 684 today or see our main ad on page 60 AES Andalucia BUSINESS INVESTOR REQUIRED for marketing & publishing company. As publishers we produce high-end, top quality publications. The business is well established catering to a high net worth clientele but further investment is required to take the business to an international level The Potential is vast - Serious people need only apply call 666 827 925 or email business.invest2015@gmail.com CURRENCIES DIRECT Get bankbeating exchange rates and fee-free transfers. Call 952 906 581 www.currenciesdirect.com

GARDENERS EXPERTGARDENERS - a company for maintenance, design and construction of gardens, maintenance of pools and installation of system irrigation. 656327329 Email: info@expertgardeners.es DREAM GARDENS: Landscaping architecture, design, water features, irrigation. Specializing in beautiful gardens. Also planning/maintenance. 610502623. www.dreamgarden.es IRIS-IRRIGATION & LANDSCAPES. New installations and problem-solving. Turf (supply/lay). Garden & patio constructions. Clearing and maintenance. 676747521

HEALTH & BEAUTY THE DENTISTS Esthetic Dentistry, General Dentistry, Implants, Orthodontic Treatments, Emergency Dentistry. Galeria Paniagua, Sotogrande. Call 956 795 273 www.dentistsotogrande.com MARBELLA CHIROPRACTIC. Serving Marbella more than 10 years. Dr Mark Lane, AEQ member. Family wellness practice. English and Spanish spoken. Free health class. Exit 170 o_ A7. C.C. Guadalmina, San Pedro de Alcantara 952 880 398 info@marbellachiropractic.com SKIN Specialist - NHS Registered. Treats all kinds of skin problems. Consultation 70 euros. Dr. Eva Fuengirola / Calahonda 664747267 www.dermadelsol.com PROFESSIONAL Sports massage. 15 year’s experience. 1 hour: 40E, 1.5 hours: 55E. Elviria. Wendy 952852330/ 634310821 Mobile Services +10E ITEC diploma courses in holistic massage, sport massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, SPA and beauty therapy. Now available intensive holistic massage course with online support. 951311216 www.naturaclass.net AFFORDABLE private health Insurance linked to Bupa. For quotation call 952383127 / 670217272 /649072417 TRAFALGAR Traditional Gentleman’s Grooming. Centro Commercial, Supercor, Sotomarket. Call 956 695 371

HOUSE & HOME CARPET WORLD For all of your carpet, wood, laminate and vinyl flooring needs. Stockists of Stainfree family friendly carpets, protection against all food and drink stains with a free lifetime guarantee. Call 952 789 277 www.estaponacarpetworld.com BANG & OLUFSEN MARBELLA Home automation and entertainment systems. Puerto Banus, Main Entrance. Call +34 952 817 250 www.beolink.com THE YORKSHIRE LINEN CO. Bedding sets, bed linen and soft furnishings available throughout spain. Call 951 197 577 www.yorkshirelinen.es BEDS & MORE Bed bases and mattresses, bedroom furniture, rugs and artwork. Call 952 667 095 www.bedsandmore.es

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016 OVERSEAS SUPERMARKETS All your favourite brands. Puerto Banus, Sotogrande and Fuengirola. Call 065 734 000 www.overseas.es DM INTERIORS More than just a decoration shop. Bespoke curtain makers blinds and soft furnishings. Centro Comercial Marisol, Local Bajo, 11310 Sotogrande, Cádiz. Call 956 79 53 81www. dminteriors.es CASASOLA Your local furniture and interior design store that has more than 45 years of experience in both interior design and furniture sales throughout Malaga and the Costa del Sol. Call 952 77 27 58 & 952 77 27 62 www.mueblescasasola.com

LOCKSMITHS SECURITY of Spain. 24 hour locksmiths. 30 years’ experience. www.securityofspain. com Call Daren. 636770865 / 952660233. LOCKSMITH 24/7 Emergency/ Appointment. Doors opened without damage, locks changed, patio doors, windows secured. Call Paul 657466803

MOBILITY Scooters, electric wheelchairs, wheelchairs, for sale or rent, new batteries supplied and fitted. 609581139 www. mobilityscootersdirectspain.com

MORTGAGES KENSINGTON FINANCIAL SOLUTINS Working with only licenced and regulated brokers offering the best rates +34 952 880 844 info@ kensingtonfinancialsolutions.org

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. Sales & Service 14 years Audi experience. www.facebook.com/brightskycars BRITISH mechanic workshop. Repair, service & ITV to all makes of cars, van and SUV’s Call Steve 951 914 025 / 605 407 369 Nº1 CARS for all your luxury car needs. Services & Repairs, Painting, ITV, Diagnostic & testing All makes models, cars, motorbikes Poligono Industrial La Ermita, 45 Calle Uranio, 29600 Marbella Call 952 926 544 / 952 898 603 Mobile : 675 530 409 www.no1carsmarbella.com

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Providing QUALITY CARS at BARGAIN prices SINCE 2009 Save time, money and stress! Call our sales department now on 952 794 102 info@bargaincars.es

CASA RIO VISTA Outstanding unique property for sale in BENAOJÁN, ANDALUCIA. Information from T S LEISURE & PROPERTY Trevor Savage, Property Analyst & Consultant, www.propertyanalyst. co.uk, Mobile: 07743 769135

GRILL DEL PUERTO Famous port side steak restaurant where you can enjoy the fantastic views while having the best possible dining experience. First Line, Puerto Banus, Marbella 29660. Call 952 811 686 www.grilldelpuerto.com

PETS

REMOVALS & STORAGE

TRATTORIA ITALIANA. The best pizzas on the coast. Contro Commercial Elviria, Local 25, Next to SuperSol, Elviria. Open daily: 12:00-00.00 Closed Tuesday. Call 952 832 009

STEFANIES Kennels and Cattery Estepona. Est. 1986. Excellent facilities. Viewing welcome. 952790943 www. stefanieskennels.com TERRAVET Veterinary Clinic, complete veterinary service, emergencies, housecalls, dog and cat grooming. San Pedro Alcantara. Tel: 951500175. Emergencies: 663363626. www.terravet.es Sotogrande Veterinary Clinic Over 10 year’s experience. Team of veterinarians, veterinary assistants and groomers united by a common goal: to provide the best care to improve the quality of life and the health of your pet. www.veterinariosotogrande. com / 910 327 715 / 685 849 370

PROPERTY OBSIDO ESTATES Finding a real estate agent you can trust is incredibly imporant. List your property with us. Avda. Las Combres s/n, Cerrado de Elviria, 29604 Marbella. Call 951 087 979 www. obsidoestates.com CASTLES Well established family business with almost 30 years experience in the local property market. Our area concentrates from Estepona to the exclusive Sotogrande Port and inland to Manilva and the white villages of Casares and Gaucin. Our particular focus is on the picturesque Duquesa Port and Duquesa Golf region as well as the traditional fishing village of Sabinillas. Call 952 891 221 www.castlesestateagency.com HOLMES SOTOGRANDE Sotogrande’s longest established real estate agent offering an extensive range of luxury property for sale including villas, apartments, townhouses, plots, berths and marina properties. Call 956 79 53 40 www.holmesotogrande.com LUCAS FOX Exceptional properties in exceptional locations. Call 951 319 994 www.lucasfox.com FASTIGHETSBYRAN Sweden’s leading estate agent in Spain. Marbella 951 191 000 and Estepona 952 807 777 www.fastighetsbyran.se/overseas MIDTOWN DEVELOPMENT Presenting truly beautiful 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments in Gibraltar. Call +350 200 43511 www.midtown.gi ARKITECTS ARK offers a complete and quality service to the client, covering all professional aspects in the field of building and town planning. Call 956 793 166 & 670 342 347 www.ark-architects.com

BRITANNIA Southern. Worldwide container shipping. Proven track record. Customs formalities & advice. Quality packing materials sold. 952470707 www.southern.es 679786669 WWW.SPAINUKSPAIN.COM Vehicle leaving Spain 9th-19th-29th, returning 10th-20th-30th. Prices from 90 pounds per m3. Cars 525. Bikes 325. Dogs 395. Cats 295 including vet checks/ travel with your pets. Various vehicles cater for your needs. 952596213, 665150227 STORAGE MARBELLA Dry warehousing storage space available short or long term excellent rates. Collection and delivery can be arranged call 952 816 582 or email move@freinternational.com We buy all furniture, electrical items, cds, dvds, vinyl records. Full House, Store and Garage Clearance. Fast efficent service. Cash Paid. Tel 634324914 or email houseclearanceman@ hotmail.com

RESTAURANTS & BARS THE SOLUTION LAB, ELVIRIA Friendly locals bar with sports channels, live music and extensive drinks and cocktail menu. CC Pino Golf de Don Carlos, Local 18, Elviria. Call 952 83 43 39 www.allthesolutions.com TROCADERO ARENA Restaurant, beach club, lounge on Rio Real Beach. Call 952 86 55 79 www.trocaderoarena.com TANINO! A happening place, somewhere to really live the moment! Ctra de Cadiz km 168, Urbanization Benamara. Call 952 883 259 www.tanin.es CASINO MARBELLA Slot machines, table games & poker tournaments in a palm-fringed casino with a restaurant & bar. Hotel H10 Andalucía Plaza, s/n, 29660 Marbella, Málaga, Málaga, Spain Call: +34 952 81 40 00 www.casinomarbella.com RANCHO GRILL A classic but refined steakhouse with a modern culinary twist and Belgian style dishes. Urbanización Carib Playa, 11, Exit Las Chapas, Marbella 29604 Call 952 831 922 www.grillelrancho. com

SPICE VILLAGE Fine Indian Cuisine. “To share a relaxed meal with friends or colleagues is one of life’s little pleaseures” Urb. Guadalmansa, Edificio Salinas, Local 6 CN340 km 163-164 Estepona. Call 951 278 286 D-WINE Wine shop and restaurant. Centro Comercial Azalea, CN340 km 173, Edificio A, Nueva Andalucia, 29660, Marbella, Málaga Office - 34 951 339 309 Restaurant - 952 814 446 www.d-wine.es

SWIMMING POOLS POOL Covers and Rollers: Quality covers at competitive prices. 20 years’ experience all areas covered. www. envirocarespain.com / info@ envirocarespain.com 952663141/ 670409759 PERFECT POOLS: Maintenance/ repairs, professional and reliable service. All areas covered from 70 euros p/m. www. perfectpools.com / info@perfectpools. es call 650348785

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PLEASE MENTION THE WEEKEND WORLD WHEN CONTACTING BUSINESSES

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

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W BUSINESS CARDS ESTEPONA

Permananet make up training in Spain

EURODOG, Storage & Sales Motorhomes - Caravans Boats - Cars & Vans. Delivery and collection available. Short or long term. Established 15 years. Safe & secure with 24hr CCTV. www.eurodog.es 606101807

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4 day diploma accredited course in Micropigmentation on the

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SPORT

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 69 Barclays Premier League Table

IS THIS THE END FOR‘THE CHOSEN ONE’? W

ITH his team currently sitting just one point outside of the relegation zone, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has lost all faith in his manager and speculation is rife that over the next few days emergency talks will be held to discuss whether they can SACK Jose Mourinho. Jose, who is only one year into his four year deal of £250,000 a-week-deal publically criticised his team’s performance following there shocking defeat to Leicester on Monday evening, shaming his so called ‘superstars’ for their lacklustre performance.

For Abramovich this seems to be a step too far, especially with today’s modern players who are thin-skinned and pampered. If Abramovich did decide to sack Mourinho, it could cost him up to £40million and although mega rich Abramovich is a billionaire this may be an amount that is just too much to consider. Plus who could they get to replace him? The obvious choice for fans would be Pepe Guardiola who is nearing the end of his contract at Bayern Munich but with problems in the red camp of Manchester United will Pepe wait to consider his options? Only time will tell.

Manchester United players in revolt T

IS the season to be jolly – well, not if you’re a Manchester United fan. United are in the midst of a poor run of form which has seen them get knocked out of the Champions League and drop to fourth in the Premier League and what’s worse, it appears Val Gaal may now have lost the confidence of his senior players. Van Gaal, who spent £250 million on new players this season, has not managed to get the team to gel and players are now questioning his tactics. Ex Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand has also waded into the debate stating that the team appear to be going backwards; “Manchester United are going backwards again and I don’t see that changing because the manager will not change. They have to be allowed to express themselves.” Although Manchester United are still in the top half, if they were to drop any further and finish outside of the top four this could be catastrophic in securing a replacement manager with experience as neither Pepe Guardiola or Ancelotti would be interested in aligning themselves to a below par club.

P Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Leicester 16 10 5 1 34 22 12 35 2 Arsenal 16 10 3 3 29 13 16 33 3 Man City 16 10 2 4 32 17 15 32 4 Man Utd 16 8 5 3 21 12 9 29 5 Tottenham 16 6 8 2 26 14 12 26 6 Crystal Palace 16 8 2 6 21 15 6 26 7 Watford 16 7 4 5 18 16 2 25 8 West Ham 16 6 6 4 25 21 4 24 9 Liverpool 16 6 6 4 20 19 1 24 10 Everton 16 5 8 3 29 21 8 23 11 Stoke 16 6 5 5 13 14 -1 23 12 Southampton 16 5 6 5 21 19 2 21 13 West Brom 16 5 5 6 16 21 -5 20 14 Bournemouth 16 4 4 8 20 31 -11 16 15 Newcastle 16 4 4 8 18 31 -13 16 16 Chelsea 16 4 3 9 18 26 -8 15 17 Swansea 16 3 5 8 15 24 -9 14 18 Norwich 16 3 5 8 18 28 -10 14 19 Sunderland 16 3 3 10 17 30 -13 12 20 Aston Villa 16 1 3 12 13 30 -17 6

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

Spanish BBVA La Liga Table P Team P W D L F A GD Pts 1 Barcelona 15 11 2 2 36 15 21 35 2 Atl Madrid 15 11 2 2 22 7 15 35 3 Real Madrid 15 9 3 3 32 13 19 30 4 Celta de Vigo 15 8 4 3 26 22 4 28 5 Villarreal 15 8 3 4 19 15 4 27 6 Dep. Coruña 15 5 8 2 23 16 7 23 7 Sevilla 15 6 4 5 21 19 2 22 8 Valencia 15 5 6 4 19 12 7 21 9 Ath Bilbao 15 6 3 6 22 18 4 21 10 Eibar 15 5 6 4 19 17 2 21 11 Real Betis 15 5 4 6 13 19 -6 19 12 Espanyol 15 5 2 8 15 26 -11 17 13 Real Sociedad 15 4 4 7 17 20 -3 16 14 Getafe 15 4 3 8 16 24 -8 15 15 Sp. de Gijón 15 4 3 8 15 23 -8 15 16 Málaga 15 3 5 7 9 14 -5 14 17 Granada CF 15 3 5 7 17 25 -8 14 18 Rayo Vallecano 15 4 2 9 16 27 -11 14 19 Las Palmas 15 3 4 8 12 22 -10 13 20 Levante 15 2 5 8 12 27 -15 11

All results as at 16.12.2015

SPORT NEWS sponsored by RED CLOUD SPORTS BAR

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

70 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPORT NEWS sponsored by RED CLOUD SPORTS BAR

SERENA WILLIAMS NAMED SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR S

ERENA Williams, who held all four of tennis’s grand slam titles for the second time in her career and won 53 of 56 matches in 2015, was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine on Monday. The 34-year-old accomplished her second ‘Serena Slam’ while battling a string of injuries, producing one of the greatest late-career runs in the history of any sport, the magazine said, hailing her a “global icon”. “Serena has made a very strong case as not only the greatest tennis player of her generation but of all time, and after the string of performances she put together in 2015, she is one of the most dominant athletes playing today,” said Sports Illustrated (SI) Group Editor Paul Fichtenbaum. Williams was ranked number one every week for the second consecutive year, and her three successive grand slam wins to start 2015 lifted her within one of Steffi Graf’s record 22 singles titles in the professional era.

“Everyone always asked, ‘What was your greatest moment in tennis?’ and I always said it hasn’t happened. “But I think it has happened now, and that was going back to Indian Wells and playing. It released a lot of feelings that I didn’t even know I had. I was really surprised at how emotional I got -- and how relieved I felt after everything was said

and done.” Williams joins an elite group to have won the award, including Muhammad Ali (1974), Arthur Ashe (1992), LeBron James (2012), Michael Jordan (1991), Billie Jean King (1972), Joe Montana (1990) and Jack Nicklaus (1978). REUTERS/Larry Fine

Ferrari say accused engineer not joining them

Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, driven by Nico Rosberg, during the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix

“This year was spectacular,” Williams said in a statement. “For Sports Illustrated to recognise my hard work, dedication and sheer determination with this award gives me hope to continue on and do better.”

HONOUR Williams is the first woman to be recognised with the honour as an individual since Mary Decker in 1983, and the magazine took the opportunity to rename its award from Sportsman of the Year to Sportsperson of the Year. The magazine also cited Williams as a force off the court, using her broad platform to advocate for racial justice, gender equality and equal access to education around the world. It noted that Williams made a powerful statement by returning to play a tournament at Indian Wells for the first time since 2001 when she was jeered by the crowd and, according to her family, suffered racist slurs. Williams called her decision to play her “greatest moment in tennis.”

A MERCEDES engineer who has been accused by the Formula One world champions of data theft will not be joining Ferrari and never had a contract with them, the Italian team has announced. “There were talks but nothing led to a formal contract. He’s not even going to join us in the foreseeable future,” a spokesman said. “It’s not true that he was on the verge of joining us. What he did concerns only him and the company he was working for,” he added. “We are not involved in this.”

DOMINANT Mercedes, the dominant team in Formula One for the past two seasons, confirmed that they were taking action against a senior engineer who had taken confidential technical information from them. Court documents indicated Benjamin Hoyle was intending to join Ferrari. “A legal action is underway involving Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) Limited and an employee who is due to leave the company at the end of the year,” a Mercedes team spokesman had said. “The company has taken the appropriate legal steps

to protect its intellectual property.” Ferrari are Mercedes’s closest rivals after making big improvements to their power unit and performance following a dismal 2014 season in which they failed to win a race. Key figures in Formula One teams who have had access to sensitive information are usually put on lengthy ‘gardening leave’ when they hand in their notice to ensure they are far removed from any current data. Teams have always kept a close eye on rivals in the highly secretive sport, with mechanics often shielding sensitive aerodynamic parts from photographers, and regularly try to poach star employees. Formula One was rocked by a major spying controversy in 2007 when a 780-page dossier of Ferrari technical information was found in the possession of then-McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan. Coughlan was sacked by McLaren while Ferrari dismissed Nigel Stepney, the engineer accused of passing the information to him. McLaren were subsequently handed a record $100 million (£66.3 million) fine, although they ultimately paid less, with the loss of all their constructors’ points. Alan Baldwin

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

WEEKEND WORLD - 71

SPORT NEWS sponsored by RED CLOUD SPORTS BAR

As we near the end of 2015 – we take a moment to remember the great sport stars who have died this year

RICHARD MEADE, 76

EQUESTRIAN - Britain’s most successful equestrian Olympian. He was a triple Olympic gold medallist and the first British rider to have won an individual Olympic title.

DAVE MACKAY, 80

FOOTBALL - The powerhouse of a Tottenham Hotspur side which achieved the FA Cup and league double in 196061, and years later of Brian Clough’s first successful team at Derby County.

CALVIN PEETE, 71

GOLF - Calvin Peete won 12 PGA Tour events and was ranked as high as No. 10 in the World Golf Ranking. Before Tiger Woods came along Peete was the most successful African-American golfer ever

CAMILLE MUFFAT, 25

SWIMMER - French swimmer Camille Muffat was a three-time medallist at the 2012 Olympics, including gold in the 400-meter freestyle. She was killed in a helicopter crash while filming a reality TV show in Argentina.

JUSTIN WILSON, 37

INDY CAR RACING - Known as the “Gentle Giant” of racing, Wilson got his start racing Go-Karts at the age of 9 at his home in Yorkshire, England. He raced in the European Formula One series in 2003 and then moved to the United States. Wilson died after sustaining a head injury during a crash at the Pocono Raceway.

DANNY JONES, 29

RUGBY LEAGUE - Welsh international Danny, 29, died from a heart attack after falling ill just minutes into a League One game at London Skolars. The young rugby league star left behind his wife Lizzie and their infant twins.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

JULES BIANCHI, 25

F1 - Formula One driver Jules Bianchi of France died nine months after suffering head injuries in a crash Oct. 5, 2014, in the Japanese Grand Prix.

CLIVE RICE, 66

CRICKET - Clive Rice become one of the most prominent all-round cricketers ever to have played the game, he died of a brain tumour aged 66.

NATALIA MOLCHANOVA, 53

FREE DIVING - A Russian champion free diver, holder of multiple world records and the former president of the Russian Free Dive Federation, widely regarded as the world’s greatest freediver; she held 41 world records in disciplines ranging from holding her breath under water to diving to a depth of more than 100 metres on a single breath. On 2 August 2015 she went missing during a recreational dive in Spain.

PAT EDDERY, 63

HORSE RACING - Jockey Pat Edder, who won two Breeders’ Cup races and had three victories in the Epsom Derby and four in the Arc de Triomphe, died on Novemner 10th.

JONAH LOMU, 40

RUGBY - New Zealand rugby player Jonah Lomu, whose kidney illness extinguished his meteoric All Blacks career, died suddenly at his home in Auckland on November 18th.

BRIAN CLOSE, 84

CRICKET - Described as the bravest man to ever play cricket, the Yorkshire great was renowned for his ferocious battles with West Indies’ great fast bowlers of the 1970s.

Issue 13 Dec 17 - Jan 13, 2016

72 - WEEKEND WORLD

SPORT NEWS sponsored by RED CLOUD SPORTS BAR

Ferrari throws W EEKEND ITS toys out of the pram?

WORLD

FOR the third time in six years Ferrari is threatening to quit F1 in protest against the new rules being proposed by the sport’s supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, and FIA president Jean Todt

ERRARI president Sergio Marchionne says he would be prepared to pull the manufacturer out F1 if Bernie Ecclestone and FIA President Jean Todt are allowed to implement their proposed changes to the sport by introducing cheaper cost for independently supplied engines. The proposed cap aims at bringing the cost of team engines down from around €20m to €12m. Addressing his team during their annual Christmas meeting Marchionne said “We go to the track to prove to our-

selves and to everyone our ability. If we begin to undermine this advantage, Ferrari has no intention of racing.” However never one to back down Ecclestone has accused Ferrari of threatening to “destroy” the sport. “We’re trying to save the sport and these people are trying to save it for their own good.” According to Ecclestone, Ferrari has already written to the FIA declaring that the governing body had breached its contract with the teams by giving him and Todt a mandate to rewrite the rules.

Wiggins could ride on in 2017 but new Hour bid unlikely

ORMER Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins wants to keep riding after next year’s Rio Olympics but said he was unlikely to try and extend his Hour record. Wiggins, who became the first Briton to win the Tour in 2012, when he also claimed Olympic time trial gold, initially planned to make Rio the swansong of his career. But now the 35-yer-old former Team Sky rider is not so sure. “I will see how I feel this time next year,” Wiggins was quoted as saying in the Guardian on Wednesday. “There might be other opportunities. If I haven’t got a job by this time next year I will keep racing.” Four-times Olympic gold medallist Wiggins smashed the

UCI world Hour record in June at the London Olympic velodrome, covering 54.526 km. He said he still regretted not reaching the 55 km milestone, but was unlikely to try again. “Now, it’s all about the focus for Rio, so it’s looking like never again,” he said. “The time to do it would be now but my body shape is changing for the team pursuit and it’s gone further away from what it should be for the Hour. “I have to accept the Hour record was what it was, a record of its time. There is a tinge of disappointment as I wanted to go past 55km. The record is beatable and will be beaten but another 700m would have made people think twice.” Wiggins launched his own cycling team this year comprising young home-grown riders. REUTERS