Weekender Issue 044

ISSUE 044

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Friday 11th May 2018

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SPAIN will be flying 696 blue flags on its beaches this summer, more than any other country in the world. The blue flags are a benchmark for cleanliness, safety, conservation and essential services and are awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

The number is up twelve from 2017 and

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the Valencian Community again leads the way with 132, three more than last year. Galicia follows with 109 and then the region of Catalonia with 101. One surprise addition to the list was the Virgin de la Nueva beach in the landlocked region of Madrid – the beach is located by a major reservoir.

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FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Finance Feature provided by...

Chorus Financial is a trading style of Tourbillon Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (Gibraltar), Licence Number FSC1118B and registered with the UK FCA as an EEA Authorised firm, reference 539348.

Pensions – what’s the value of yours?

It was due to a similar article over a year ago that my client contacted me. He had worked as a store supervisor in a leading supermarket chain, and had no idea what his pension options were. He was 52 years of age and wanted to start thinking about when he could retire and what his annual pension would be.

By Tracy Storer

Senior Partner Chorus Financial

In all the years that I have been advising people on transferring pensions, I have never seen such astronomical transfer values, especially in the finance, manufacturing and retail industries.

In the past, Final Salary pensions were seen as the ‘gold plated’ pension option, however, over recent years, opinions have changed dramatically. Many UK schemes have unprecedented levels of debt and transfer offers are at all-time highs.

Transferring away from your final salary pension has never been so popular, with 10,000s of applications each year.

pension values, especially from banks, retail and manufacturing companies, as high as 40 times the annual pension. I will re-iterate that it is not always beneficial to transfer your final salary pension, they are very valuable and offer benefits that cannot always be replaced. What I will say, is that

requesting a valuation is simple, free and can be life changing.

If you would like to know what your pension transfer value is email me t.storer@ chorusfinancial.es or call 693 107 044.

After initially meeting with him, I sent off for a transfer value, and a few weeks later I was sat back in front of him. In short, he could expect an annual pension of £10,200 at the age of 60, or, he could leave the scheme with a pot of £350,000, or approximately 35 times his annual pension.

There are lots of factors that need to be considered before deciding if a transfer is right for you, however, for this client, the high transfer value, along with being able to retire 5 years early, were significant. I was happy to recommend that we move his £350,000 transfer offer into a UK based private pension, and have his pension funds managed by a well-known, FTSE 100 company.

He would not only have full, flexible access to this pot from 55, but should anything happen to him, his entire pot of £350k would be left to his loved ones, something that his final salary scheme did not offer.

This isn’t an isolated case, I’ve seen

Chorus Financial are a trading style of Tourbillon Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (Gibraltar), licence Number FSC1118B & registered with the UK FCA, ref. 539348.

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FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Elderly killer Valencia joins Brit set for rental crackdown prison THE Valencian Supreme Court has confirmed a 14 year jail sentence handed down to a 78-yearold Briton who killed his partner in their home in San Miguel de Salinas (Alicante).

Charlie BevilleWarcup was found

guilty last year of the killing of his partner, Rosie Broadwell, in September 2014 after Ms Broadwell was struck with a walking stick following an argument about money; at the trial the defendant said this was an accident

and also that alcohol had influenced his behaviour.

His defence was rejected and in the verdict last July Beville-Warcup was sentenced to 14 years in prison, a ruling fully ratified by the Supreme Court last week

VALENCIA is the latest major Spanish tourist city looking to set much tighter controls on the ever growing home rental holiday market.

The amendment to the Tourism Law was passed last week and gives local authorities much more control in the regulation of rentals and the power to stop them if they have good reason. They are also issuing new rules as to what type of property is suitable, limiting it to apartments on the ground and first floor.

In addition, parts of the city have also said they will not be issuing any further licences for new rentals.

The moves follow on from new legislation in Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, although it has not gone as far as Palma which has effectively stopped the practice altogether for most home owners.

However concerns

by Simon Russell

remain the same increased rental and house prices for locals, an excess of tourists, an increase in the

black economy and unregulated sometimes unsafe accommodation.

Deputy Mayor Sandra Gomez said “With this new legislation, municipalities are going

to take back control of what properties may be used for, and in Valencia we are going to raise barriers to ensure that the trend does not grow in the future.�

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FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Firefighters cleared

Assaulted for a pizza

THREE Spanish firemen who have been on trial in Greece for people smuggling have been cleared of all charges. Manuel Blanco, Quique Rodriguez and Julio Latorre, who all live and work in Seville, were volounteers with a group called Proem-Aid, which saves refugees who get into trouble while making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing, often in unsuitable vessels.

In January 2016 the three were on a ProemAid vessel that went to

A delivery driver was attacked in Alicante on Wednesday (April 2) , apparently for no other reason than to steal the pizza he was delivering. The victim was approached by three youths on the street where he had stopped to make his delivery and told the food was for them.

However instead of paying they hit the driver and ran off with the pizza. He called the 091 emergency service which sent an officer to the scene. The man was able to give a good description of his attackers and they were soon tracked down, complete with incriminating pizza. The trio are to be charged with violent robbery and intimidation.

by Matthew Richards

the aid of a boat reported to be in difficulties. The vessel could not be found, but when returning to base the crew of the boat, including the Spaniards, were arrested by the Greek Coast Guard on charges of aiding people smuggling.

Many feel the case should never have made it to court, with the charges being described as vague and insubstantial by some lawyers.

Furthermore the Greek authorities

had appeared to approve of the work done by the organisation, even giving them designated areas to search in. This was a key part of the men’s defence and helped lead to the dismissal of the case.

The trio intend to return to work with Proem-Aid, something they do in their own spare time and holidays.

The organisation recruits professional volunteers who have skills that can help their cause – the name is short for Professional Emergency Aid.

by Matthew Richards

Fish out of water Mother arrested for ignoring abuse

A landowner inland of Elche was surprised to say the least after someone dumped a consignment of what appeared to be sharks on his land. The incident happened on the Mayday holiday weekend when the man saw the out of place site behind a palm tree. He called the Seprona nature protection arm of the Guardia Civil, who came to investigate and said they looked to be type of small shark species.

Seprona are looking further into the case to try and determine their origins and if they were dumped so far from their natural habitat to cover up a crime such as illegal fishing. The man who made the discovery said that unfortunately fly tipping was common on the land, including sometimes dead animals such as cats and dogs – sharks however were a first for him.

A woman has been arrested for turning a blind eye to the on-going sexual abuse of her daughter by a family friend. The case, in Murcia, came to light when the girl was 15 and said she wanted to drop out of school. In a conversation with her teachers the girl’s mother said her daughter

by Matthew Richards

had been abused and was not thinking straight. The school was obliged to report this to the police who, after taking statements from the girl and her mother, determined that the woman had been aware of the abuse for two years.

It had started when the child, then eight years old, had been looked after by family friends while her parents worked. Two years ago she told her mother what was happening; she refused to believe her and even threatened her if she told the authorities. By this time the alleged abuser

was renting a room in the family house where the behaviour continued. A woman and man, aged 50 and 53 from Ecuador and Bolivia, have been arrested and are awaiting charges.

The girl has been put into the care of her adult sister who lives in another part of Spain.

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Serial bin burner detained

A man has been arrested in Elda-Petrer in connection with a spate of arson attacks on municipal waste bins in recent weeks. 18 of the containers had been burnt to date, and as well as the green rubbish bins there were

also recycling containers for paper and plastics, highly flammable and potentially toxic materials.

Police had their suspicions about who the culprit was and secretly monitored him for several

From Russia with love ALICANTE airport welcomed their first flight from St Petersburg last week with the traditional arc of water sprayed over the taxiing plane by fire crews. The Costa Blanca Tourist Board had also prepared a commemorative cake which was shared amongst passengers in the airport boarding area.

The new Russian route is to be operated by S7 Airlines with connections each Wednesday and Saturday. Although the Russians have not been coming to the Costa Blanca to live and holiday in the numbers talked about a while ago, there has been a steady increase in soviet tourists recently.

This year Alicante-Elche Airport is offering 12% more flights to Russia than in 2017.

weeks. He was caught close to the scene of another fire, this time outside the municipal warehouse. The evidence was deemed sufficient to charge the 34-year-old, who carried out his alleged attacks then used a moped to getaway.

The damage caused

estimated cost an estimated €12,000, and if found guilty the man may well be required to pay compensation. Police need to decide what charges to make against the man, whose actions were judged as potentially life threatening with some of the fires being set in built-up areas.

by Simon Russell

Serial paedophile behind bars DETAILS have been released of a paedophilia trial held behind closed doors in Alicante which finished last week. The defendant stood accused of having sex with a minor, a 15 year old boy he had encountered over the internet last June.

They met in person and the boy agreed to

accompany the man to his apartment where they had sex. The court heard that this arrangement continued on an almost daily basis until the youth tried to end their meetings.

At this stage the man became threatening and said that recordings made of their encounter would be leaked to the internet

and the child’s family. He also started giving money to the boy, whose family background was described as extremely unstable.

Two months after their first meeting the youngster decided to complain to the police, who had sufficient evidence to arrest the adult. He had two previous convictions for abusing minors and, taking this into account, he was sentenced to ten years in prison.

FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Banged up in Barcelona ONE of the suspects in the notorious killing of black teenager Stephen Lawrence has been arrested in Barcelona on drug smuggling charges. Jamie Acourt was sought by UK authorities who described him as one of their most wanted criminals. He was arrested by Spanish Guardia Civil officers when leaving a gym in Barcelona city centre last Friday and is likely to be extradited to the UK very shortly.

Acourt, aged 41, first came to the public’s

by Simon Russell

attention in 1993 after 18-year-old Stephen was stabbed to death in London in what appeared to be a vicious race attack on an innocent young man. Acourt was one of five young white men arrested in connection with the murder but there was insufficient evidence for the trial to proceed, causing uproar amongst the black community in particular.

Two of the five have subsequently been found guilty of the killing, but

Acourt, who always denied any involvement, remained free. However a long spell in a UK prison may well now be on the cards, albeit not for the crime that many think he was heavily involved

in. This includes unlikely sources such as the “Daily Mail” which famously printed its “MURDERERS” headline above a picture of the five suspects, including Jamie Acourt.

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PM’s guard among two dead A National Police Officer who works as a motorcycle protection guard for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was killed in Madrid last weekend while off duty.

The motorbike the 30-yearold was riding was hit by a car, which was swerving

out of the way of another vehicle. His female pillion passenger, aged 32, was also killed; both had been thrown from the bike and collided with a signpost and were declared dead at the scene. The driver who collided with them had to be treated for shock; an investigation into the cause of the deaths is underway.

Deadly air

AN estimated 30,000 people died from breathing polluted air in Spain last year, although this is dwarfed by the worldwide figure of 7 million provided in a World Health Organisation report. The cities in Spain with the worst problem are listed as Barcelona, Guadalajara, Salamanca, Zaragoza and Seville, all of which exceeded the established safe levels of 200 micrograms of nitrogen

dioxide per cubic meter.

Heart disease, lung cancer, pneumonia and asthma are among the most common killers due to poor air quality. An estimated nine out of ten people worldwide are exposed to polluted air, the WHO estimates. Cars and heavy industry aren’t the only cause, with many homes, and in particular kitchens, having dangerously high levels of particulates present.

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by Matthew Richards FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Tech targets for The best beer pourer in Spain thieves is crowned

A gang of thieves broke into an Alicante city-centre shop on a day when it was closed and made off with around €70,000 of technology equipment. The incident happened last Sunday at the K-tuin electronics store on Calle Germans. They gained access to the shop by drilling a hole in a wall from

an adjacent building through to the shops main storeroom.

No-one was aware of anything untoward until staff returned to work on Monday morning.

Sources say that the shop alarm went off on Sunday but when someone went to investigate the shop was empty; the alarm was turned off and they left. However, the

robbers may well have been in the stock room at this time at the back of the shop; this was completely emptied out.

They also tried unsuccessfully to break into a safe but left the shop floor stock in place, probably deeming it too risky. A forensics team are investigating the scene and a police spokesman said they believe that at least three people would have been required to carry out the theft.

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AN Orihuela bar worker has won the title of best beer pourer in Spain at a competition held in Madrid last weekend.

Davina Martinez had to do more than just pull a good pint as the winner also had to demonstrate skills with a tray, serving bottled beer and a good knowledge of the product she was selling. Davina said her secret is “think about what you are doing each time and be precise when pouring”.

This is the fifth National Beer Championship and the Davina fought off opposition from all over Spain who were whittled down to the best five

by Simon Russell

before the eventual winner was judged. She walked off with €1,000 and a trophy, while all five

finalists won their own weight in beer - probably less for petite Davina than the other four finalists, who were all male.

Carer drained account AN 86-year-old Valencia woman was shocked when she was unable to pay household bills due to lack of funds, believing she had over €20,000 in her bank account.

She suspected her carer, as the only person who had access to the account, and reported her fears to the police who

by Matthew Richards

started an investigation.

They found that her account had been systematically emptied, mainly by withdrawals from cash machines. This took place in a period between November 2016 and June 2017, which coincided with

the carer’s employment period; she left suddenly in July 2017, failing to turn up for work. It was from this date that the elderly woman found her bills could not be paid and reported the possible theft. A 38-yearold woman has been arrested this week in connection with the alleged theft.

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THE official digital version of the Spanish Biographical Dictionary is the first to categorically describe General Franco as a dictator, a term avoided as much as possible by the print versions of the same publication.

The distinction is important as the dictionary was presented in the presence of King Felipe and his wife, something that would appear to give veracity to the wording.

Refraining from calling Franco a dictator created its own controversies as someone who took power by force, halted the electoral process and “died still signing death sentences” he would appear to tick most of the dictatorial boxes. Historian Carmen Iglesias who is involved in the new work agreed, saying that the publication tried to be as objective as possible and history was always open

to a certain amount of interpretation.

The absence of overt criticism in many quarters has partly been Spain’s way of healing the deep rifts between Franco supporters and the Republicans, with even schools glossing over the period somewhat.

However, as time passes many people feel some historical truths need to start being addressed, however uncomfortable they may be.

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FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

RIGHT S&M bus ads withdrawn HAND MAN

VALENCIA has a growing reputation as one of the world’s leading locations for transplant operations, something further enhanced by the recent reattaching of a US Marines hand by a Valencian doctor. Dr Pedro Cavadas re-implanted the unnamed 21-yearolds limb in March and last week was honoured by the US Navy for his efforts.

The young marine had the hand severed below the wrist in an undisclosed industrial accident off the coast of Murcia. He was helicoptered to the Manises Hospital in Valencia where Dr Cavadas was standing by to perform the operation after receiving a call at 4.30am. The accident took place 130 kilometres out to sea and the surgeon’s main concern was the time elapsed while he was transferred, almost 11 hours. However the marine was lucky to find himself in the hands of one of the world’s top transplant surgeons, and all indications are that the ten hour operation has been a complete success.

The marine is now finishing his recuperation in a US military hospital while at the same time Dr Cavadas was receiving his thanks and reward from James Foggo, the Commander of the US Navy in Europe. He thanked the doctor for his expertise and professionalism and called the transplant nothing short of miraculous.

VALENCIA cities municipal bus company has withdrawn adverts featuring sado-masochistic imagery after receiving a number of complaints.

The advert was for a plastic surgery firm that specialises in breast augmentations and which shows a reclining woman in black leather complete with whip and handcuffs.

The campaign had started receiving a barrage of criticism on social media, more for the way

it depicts women than the graphic imagery. Deputy leader of Podemos in the city, Fabiola Meco, tweeted “The public buses of EMT Valencia should not carry sexist publicity.”

The

EMT transport manager, Josep Alemany, said that the advertising on their vehicles is managed by a separate operator and when he became aware of the offensive advert

he requested that they immediately remove it from all EMT buses. It is believed that the publicity was on four of the fleet of 400 EMT vehicles, targeting routes close to

Stand Up Night THE final of the Marina Alta’s amateur comedy standup competition will be held in Javea on 15 June at the Riurau d’Arnauda theatre. The three finalists are Jaume Concordia, Carlos Talaveron and Raul Diego, all of whom will be hoping their monologue is the one that has the judges laughing the loudest.

Host for the night is professional comedian Oscar Tramoyeres, a Valencian comic who will be sure to give a performance of his own on the evening. The event starts at 11pm and entrance is free.

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SKYLIGHT TRAGEDY A four-year-old boy who fell through the skylight of a roof in the north of Valencia tragically died two days later in hospital it has been announced. The youngster lived on a farm near Vila-real and fell from the first storey roof into the stone inner courtyard of the farmhouse. He was taken to the paediatric intensive care unit at Castellon General Hospital but his family were warned that his condition was very serious. The Town Council in his home town has sent their condolences and asked that the family’s privacy be respected at this difficult time.

Supermarket scammers CONSUMERS have been told to be on the alert for another internet scam doing the rounds involving Valencian supermarket giant Mercadona. The authentic looking social media message offers clients the chance to enter a prize draw.

However Mercadona have said that they never offer this type of promotion and anyone seeing these

by Matthew Richards

messages should ignore them.

Those entering the fake draw will be asked for personal details, including banking information, and it is this that the scammers are trying to obtain fraudulently.

As the biggest supermarket chain in the country and a trusted

brand, Mercadona is a popular front for scammers; duped shoppers are also quick to pass these “offers” on to friends, unwittingly allowing the scam to quickly go viral.

Recently some people seeking work for the firm were caught out by a social media fraud which again involved them disclosing personal details.

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FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Back In

DAME BARBARA WINDSOR DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER’S

Barbara Dame Actress Windsor has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, her husband has said.

Dame Barbara, 80, was diagnosed four years ago but her husband Scott Mitchell revealed the details publicly in an interview published on Thursday in The Sun. taking is Barbara Dame medication to manage her condition. loss memory her However, and confusion have grown worse in recent weeks, her husband said.

In the unpaid interview, Mr Mitchell told the newspaper: “Firstly, I hope speaking out will help other families dealing with loved ones who have this cruel disease.

“Secondly, I want the public to know because they are naturally very drawn to Barbara and she loves talking to them.

“So rather than me living in fear she might get confused or upset, they’ll know that if her behaviour seems strange, it’s due to Alzheimer’s and accept it for what it is.”

Recalling the moment when the couple were told of Dame Barbara’s diagnosis, Mr Mitchell said: “She began crying then held it back, stretched her hand out to me and mouthed ‘I’m so sorry’.

“I squeezed her hand back and

said: ‘Don’t worry, we’ll be OK.’” Mr Mitchell said he was giving the interview because “I can’t protect her any longer” and “I know that rumours are circulating in showbusiness circles”.

He added: “And, since her 80th birthday last August, a definite continual confusion has set in, so it’s becoming a lot more difficult for us to hide.

“I didn’t want someone else to dictate how or when the diagnosis came out, so that’s why I’m speaking about it now.”

Mr Mitchell said he first noticed symptoms of Alzheimer’s in 2009, when Dame Barbara began finding it difficult to learn her lines.

By 2016, the forgetfulness and confusion were worse, and it was agreed she would leave EastEnders for the final time.

The decision to speak has ushered praise from many, including Ross Kemp, who played her son Grant Mitchell in EastEnders.

He wrote on Twitter: “Very proud of Scott and Barbara for speaking diagnosis.

Barbara’s about openly “I hope by talking openly it will make it easier for others to talk about this dreadful disease. I love both Barbara and Scott very much.”

Lorraine Kelly wrote: “Such sad

news about Barbara Windsor - a funny, kind, generous, big hearted woman. Alzheimer’s is a very cruel disease. I hope she knows how much she is loved.

Thoughts with her husband Scott.”

Barbara Windsor made her stage debut aged 13, but it was her roles in the Carry On movies that made her a star.

She appeared in nine of the films between 1964 and 1974.

Later a whole new audience came to know her as the long-time pub landlord Peggy Mitchell in Eastenders.

But since her stage debut aged 13, Dame Barbara has appeared in a number of roles, including in Dad’s Army, Worzel Gummidge and One Foot In The Grave.

She was awarded an MBE in the Millennium New Year honours.

Away from her acting roles, Dame Barbara is probably most famous for her support of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

However, Mr Mitchell said his wife had now retired from charity work as well as acting.

Britain

FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

D E IL JA Y E L E S O M W E H MATT O T N O S T E G O T G IN Y R T R AFTE R E D R U M R O F E M A L B E H T TAKE

An Oswaldtwistle father, who tried to convince his son to take the blame for murder, has today been jailed for life with a minimum of 26 years. (pictured Moseley Matthew Close, ard Barn of below), 50, Oswaldtwistle was found guilty of the murder of Lee Holt, 32, from Accrington on Friday (May 4th) following a three week trial at Preston Crown Court.

During the trial Moseley denied he was responsible for the shooting, stating that is was his son Thomas Moseley, 14, who pulled the trigger. a followed shooting The disturbance at Moseley’s address on Barnard Close on Wednesday, October 25th at around 8:25pm.

As officers were on their way, it was established that Lee Holt (pictured below with his daughters) had been shot in the chest and was

not breathing. He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he sadly later died.

Mr Holt had attended Moseley’s address with a woman and two boys in relation to an on-going dispute between one of the boys and Moseley’s son, Thomas, who lived at the house.

Following an altercation near to the front door, Moseley - a licensed shotgun holder - grabbed a firearm from a nearby cabinet and fatally shot Mr Holt who was standing at the front of the house.

He subsequently tried to encourage Thomas to take the blame for the shooting despite knowing he was responsible.

Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston from Lancashire’s Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT): “I am pleased with the sentence handed to Matthew Moseley which is nothing

less than he deserves.

“He tried to convince his own son to take the blame and denied all responsibility for killing Lee Holt during the trial, pointing the finger back at Thomas. How any parent could do that to their own child is beyond comprehension.

“I would like to thank Lee Holt’s family for conducting themselves with such dignity and courage throughout the whole process and also the witnesses that gave evidence in such a difficult and emotive case.

“There are no winners in this; the Holt family may have received justice but they have lost a dearly loved father, son, partner, brother and uncle.

Thomas now also has to try and build a life for himself knowing his dad is in prison after trying to blame him. I wish them all the best with moving forward with their lives.”

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FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Business & Finance

years Weekender Twenty of igloos

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The

Talks

ECOVIDRIO, the company responsible for collecting and recycling glass in the Valencian Community, is commemorating the twentieth anniversary of when its first green “igloo” was installed.

When these were first

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“While this would not equate to a 22% increase in food prices for consumers, there can be no doubt that prices paid at the checkout would rise,” said the report, which was compiled by the House of Lords European Union Committee.

“To counteract this the Government could cut tariffs on all food imports, EU and non-EU, but this would pose a serious risk of undermining UK food producers who could not compete on price,” it continued.

The paper went on to cite concerns about Westminster’s intention to leave the Customs Union, in which member countries scrap customs duties for internal trade and agree to charge the same import fees.

“If no agreement is reached, and food imports from the EU are subject to the same customs and border checks as non-EU imports, the UK does not have the staff, IT systems or physical infrastructure to meet that increased demand,” it read.

seen back in 1998, Valencian residents recycled an average of 8.2 kilos of glass per person, a figure that has more than doubled to its current level of 16.7 kilos.

Ecovidrio estimate

that over 82,000 tons of glass have been recycled in the Community over the last two decades, preventing 60,000 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

This is equivalent to 14,500 vehicles being taken off the road or the planting of

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Food prices in Britain could soar and supply could be throttled if Westminster fails to secure a post-Brexit free trade deal with the EU by 2020, according to a parliamentary report released on Thursday.

A default 22% tariff from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) would otherwise be imposed on food imports, of which 30% comes from the EU and 11% from non-EU countries.

by Simon Russell

“Any resulting delays could choke the UK’s ports and threaten the availability of some food products for UK consumers.”

The report added that Britain will struggle to plug any gap left by a decrease on EU food imports if the costs become too high.

“UK self-sufficiency has been declining for the past 30 years, and reversing that would require financial incentives, investment in new technology and skills, and continued access to the EU workforce (at least in the short term),” it read.

“It would also take time and, given the restrictions of landscape and climate, there are some foods that could not be grown here.”

Red tape stopping housing AN estimated 1,500 house builds are on hold in Orihuela Costa due to delays in granting licences, according to local construction companies. Some of the delays are more than a year old and many are brought about by new legislation requiring municipal licences prior to obtaining bank guarantees.

by Matthew Richards

While the local businesses are complaining about this situation the council have warned that they should not be the ones setting the pace, increasing the risk of cutting corners. Before the change in the law many banks were financing new builds without being sure

they were fully compliant with local licensing laws. As many building companies went bust during the last downturn this left buyers and banks exposed, prompting the change in legislation.

However some builders say it has gone too far and new house building is in danger of grinding to a halt.

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Which foods are likely to be affected?

The UK imports just over half of its food and the EU is by far its biggest supplier. But if WTO mostfavoured-nation (MFN) tariffs hit, it’s British consumers who will be footing the bill, one way or another.

And the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO) have calculated how retail prices could change in Britain’s grocery shops post-Brexit, as well as the foods that could soon become a luxury.

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FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

15

Business & Finance

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A quick guide to retirement saving...

By Christina Brady

BLACKTOWER Financial Management

How much will I need in retirement?

There are a couple of essential things to consider when thinking about how much you will need in retirement.

The general consensus is that your outgoings are likely to be lower, as by the time you retire you will be mortgage-free, not supporting children and no longer spending as much on things such as commuting and other costs involved in going to work each day. However my experience from over a decade of giving financial advice and wealth management advice to expats over 60, is that this is in many cases incorrect because as you get older you need to factor in the cost of care later in life (should you need it).

Remember though you need to consider your state pension. Under the new UK flatrate state pension scheme this is £155.65 per

week, which is £8,094 per year. Allowing for a full state pension, someone targeting a retirement income of £24,000 would need other pension income of about £16,000.The pension pot needed to deliver that income, based on taking a 4 per cent income from funds that stayed invested in retirement, would be £400,000.

Other pensions In addition to your state pension there are, Defined Benefit pensions (final salary), Defined Contributions and Private pensions.

How much will my pensions pay me at retirement?

With a Defined Benefits pension this is easy to answer as your employer promises to deliver you an income in retirement and is responsible for doing so (as long as the company doesn’t go bankrupt and the pension fund doesn’t collapse).

With Defined contributions it’s a little trickier, you save into this and get contributions from your employer too. The

money is invested to build up a pot, which will then fund your retirement, the value of this pot whilst invested is subject to market volatility meaning it can increase or decrease in value in line with the way the investments perform.

Private pensions you pay money in, invest it and build up a pot, but similar to defined contributions the value can fluctuate.

Investing for retirement doesn’t have to be into a pension Remember that you can’t access your pensions until you are at least 55 years old, and for a state pension you need to be considerably older; the current age is 67 , but most governments are looking to increase this to 70.

So if you want to retire prior to this date, or have retired and have a lump sum sitting in the bank, earning little to no growth and its value is being eroded by inflation you are probably not receiving enough income from your pensions. There are other ways to make your money work for you!

Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and is registered with the DGS.

If you are working you can set up a regular savings plan, or if you have a lump sum you can invest it and when required take the growth as an annual income.

How to balance a pension against other investments comes down to personal choice, but with an investment you don’t have the age restriction.

If you would like to benefit from independent, professional and impartial advice on pensions, savings or investments please contact me by email christina.brady@ blacktowerfm.com or call me on 658 892 330. Website: www.blacktowerfm.com Blacktower Financial Management has been established for over 32 years and have worked with clients through the good and the bad times, offering sound independent advice, we will be by your side both now and in the future.

The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and registered with the DGS in Spain.

Confidence is priceless Our advice, your advantage Knowing you’ve chosen wisely is always a great feeling, but sometimes you might need a little extra help and advice in order to make the best decisions. When planning for retirement, a little knowledge is just not enough. Blacktower has more than 30 years’ experience helping to make retirement wealth plans that work.

UK & International Pension Transfers • Retirement Wealth Portfolios • International Investments

Get in touch today at: info@blacktowerfm.com +34 965 058 212 Avinguda d’Ausiàs March 9, Local 7 (Esq. Joan Fuster), 03730 Javea, Alicante

www.blacktowerfm.com Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission Licence 00805B. Blacktower Financial Management Limited in the UK is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

16

FRIDAY 13TH APRIL 2018

FRIDAY 13TH APRIL 2018

17

Eurovision Marmite Just like marmite, there’s no inbetween, you either love it, or you loathe it, but you’ll struggle to avoid it this weekend …….. yes we’re talking EUROVISION. Now known to most aficionados by it’s one word monicker, the Eurovision Song Contest will takeover this Saturday night’s TV schedules of countries throughout Europe and beyond.

Conceived in 1956, as a festival designed to bring the fractured states of post war Europe together through music, the first contest, held in Lugano, Switzerland, featured songs from seven countries and was won by the host nation.

This year’s 63rd consecutive contest, held in Lisbon, will feature artists representing 37 countries, including a very un-european Australia, who will have competed in two semi finals to reach saturday’s final.

The twenty semi final winners, will be joined in the final by host nation and last year’s winners Portugal, plus the ‘big five’ countries, UK, Spain, France, Germany and Italy, whose broadcasting networks provide most of the money.

Saturday’s three hour extravaganza will be streamed live internationally to countries

as diverse as China, Kazakhstan, USA and Australia, who were first included in the contest as a one off to celebrate the 60th anniversary in 2015 and have stayed ever since.

Estimated global viewing figures of up to a staggering 600 million, make the show one of the biggest live events in the world.

Far from bringing Europe together, over the years, the show has courted controversy, with countries accused of block voting and casting votes for neighbours, causing presenter Terry Wogan to famously stand down from his role in 2008, with the statement, “The voting used to be about songs. Now it’s about national prejudices. The United Kingdom are on our own. We had a very good song and a very good singer. We finished joint last. I don’t want to preside over a debacle like that again.”

The show has given us everything from spacemen, air stewards, dancing grannies, gorillas and the catchphrase ‘Nil Punts’ and whilst many of the songs, with their Euro friendly lyrics, such as ‘Boom Bang a Bang’, ‘La La La La’ and ‘Diggy Loo Diggy Ley’, have been dismissed as an irrelevance by music snobs, some such as ‘Volare’, ‘All Kinds of Everything’ and 1974’s

‘Waterloo’, by the recently reformed ABBA, launched the band to worldwide fame and adulation.

Other Eurovision performers, such as Cliff Richard, Lulu, Dana, Engelbert Humperdink, Bonnie Tyler Bucks Fizz and Blue have had varying levels of success, but 1988’s winner Celine Dion has gone on to international stardom.

Ireland hold the record for most wins, with 7 successes, a figure which almost bankrupted the national broadcaster and the last of

the UK’s five victories was in 1997, with Katrina and the Waves’ Love Shine A Light.

A change in voting rules and recent winners, such as 2012’s Euphoria, sung by Loreen of Sweden, seeing huge sales globally and 2015’s Austrian transvestite winner Conchita Wurst garnering great accolades, Eurovision is now seen as a major platform to launch a career.

So, who should you look out for when you tune in on saturday?

Well favourites are Israel, Cyprus and France, with the UK and Spain’s songs not given much hope, despite good performances by SuRie with Storm and Alfred and Amaai’s Tu Cancion in rehearsals.

No matter, just get together with some fellow Eurovision enthusiasts, break open a few bottles and watch the three hour drama unfold from around 21.00h. Who Knows?……

You may even enjoy it!

18

FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Motoring

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Boozy bus driver

Pot hole Problems

A bus driver in Galicia was found to be five times over the limit after being stopped and breathalysed at a random checkpoint. The checks were part of an initiative in the region to raise awareness of the dangers of driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.

The driver, who had 31

passengers on board his bus, was stopped at about 6 pm by the patrol.

He registered a blood alcohol level of 0.76 mg/litre against a legal limit of 0.15 mg/litre for being in charge of this type of vehicle.

The passengers were tourists from Luanco who had to wait while a replacement driver was found to continue with their trip.

THE city of Lugo is banning all sexual relations in cars and other vehicles parked in public places. The new law is mainly part of a crackdown on prostitution but encompasses private citizens going about their business, so to speak. Partly this is also a tightening up of current obscenity laws after the crime of “public scandal” was removed from the statute books which left a grey area regarding sexual relations in public places but inside private vehicles.

Anyone caught breaking the new law could face a fine of up to €3,000, with the maximum being applicable if the act is carried out near places such as schools. Not everyone is happy, calling it an intrusion on private life and drawing private citizens into the fight against prostitution which is rife in parts of the city.

Some point out that as people leave home at an older age, sometimes a car is the only place where young couples can have some privacy.

FRIDAY 4TH MAY 2018

Motoring

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FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Sport

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Williams keeps promise as he wins world title

Williams, 43, withstood a stirring fightback from John Higgins to land his third Crucible title on Monday, 15 years after his second. The 18-16 success made him the oldest winner of the tournament since Ray Reardon, 45, in 1978 Newly crowned world snooker champion Mark Williams has vowed to perform naked cartwheels if he repeats his stunning triumph next year - after stripping off in celebration of his nailbiting victory.

Williams, 43, withstood a stirring fightback from John Higgins to land his third Crucible title on Monday, 15 years after his

second. The 18-16 success made him the oldest winner of the tournament since Ray Reardon, 45, in 1978 and Williams fulfilled a promise to hold his press conference naked — although he wore a towel to protect his modesty.

Asked how his success felt, the Welshman said: “It feels a little bit uncomfortable at the minute. I had to wear the towel on the orders of Barry Hearn (chairman of World Snooker) otherwise I would just have walked in, just crying. If I won this again next year, I’d do this again — I’d cartwheel round here naked.”

Sir Alex Ferguson Recovering well F O R M E R MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson is sitting up and talking to his family following emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage, media reports suggested Thursday Widely considered to be the most successful manager in the history of British football, Ferguson, 76, won 38 trophies in more than 26 years in charge of United, including 13 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice.

Britain’s Mail Online said the Scot, who retired in 2013, was out of a coma and showing promising early signs of recovery following the haemorrhage on Saturday.

“Surgery went very well and the 76-year-old’s response to treatment has given encouragement and cautious optimism to those close to him,” the report said.

“However, they recognise it will still be a slow road to full recovery as he continues to be assessed.”

“The prognosis is good and his closest friends in

football are being kept abreast of any developments,” a source told The Sun newspaper.

United midfielder Michael Carrick, who played under Ferguson, has spoken of the respect in which his former boss is held.

“The whole football world is incredible but outside of that as well, from all corners of the globe and different walks of life, people have shown their support,” he told MUTV. “That’s the effect he had on people. It was the effect he had on everyone. He means a lot to me, as he does to this club.”

“We were all praying for him and thinking of him, Cathy and the family,” said Carrick. “It’s a tough time for everyone but I’m thinking positive and hoping he will pull through.”

United have thanked the many well-wishers, including Premier League managers Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, who have spoke of their admiration for Ferguson.

FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

23

Sport

Edmund Crushes Djokovic In 3 Sets

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Continued from back page Prior to Edmund’s victory over Goffin, the British number one saw off Novak Djokovic, losing in 3 sets.

Edmund had not taken a set off Djokovic in 3 previous meetings but the Serb is still feeling the affects of elbow surgery and his 23-year-old opponent took full advantage.

Djokovic stormed through the second set on the Manolo Santana court and, at his best, might never have looked back, but he spurned 3 break points early in the decider and Edmund pounced to win 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

This was only the third time Edmund had beaten a player ranked as high as world No. 12 and in terms of status, Djokovic is by far his biggest scalp yet.

Edmund’s barnstorming forehand wreaked havoc throughout and it was no surprise when the winners tally showed the Briton 3011 ahead by the time Djokovic sent a final backhand long.

Belgian David Goffin, whom Edmund lost to during Britain’s run to Davis Cup glory in 2015, now awaits in the last 16.

Djokovic, meanwhile, is left reviewing another early exit ahead England’s all-time record goalscorer with 53 in 119 caps from 2003 through 2016, has netted 10 times for Everton this season.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney is in advanced talks to join D.C. United of Major League Soccer from his Premier League club Everton, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

The 32-year-old former Manchester United striker has a year remaining on his contract with Everton, but reportedly is frustrated with his role at his boyhood club, where he returned last July.

England’s all-time record goalscorer with 53 in 119 caps from 2003 through 2016, has netted 10 times for Everton this season.

His haul of 208 Premier League goals rank second only to Alan Shearer.

D.C. United would have to pay a transfer fee or have Rooney negotiate a free move, but either would help them fill their new 20,000-seat home stadium, Audi Field, that is set to debut in mid-

of the French Open later this month. The 30-year-old has shown glimpses of his best this week but those moments have still been few and far between.

Serving to stay in the opening set, he played a dreadful game and, with 3 set points, Edmund took the first when a driving return caught the line.

Djokovic seemed hungrier in the second and was in charge from the moment he broke Edmund to lead 2-0.

Another break at 4-2 meant the match would be settled in a third set.

Edmund came back from 0-40 down in the fourth game and it proved a pivotal moment as he then broke himself for 5-3 when a Djokovic forehand looped long.

Djokovic was cursing his luck after a couple of awkward bounces but Edmund would not be distracted, serving out a superb victory after an hour and 42 minutes.

It’s the sixth straight tournament in which Djokovic has failed to

July.

The report said talks between the club and Rooney have accelerated in recent weeks, citing an unnamed source that said United had a 5050 chance of obtaining Rooney during the MLS trade and transfer window that opens July 10.

Rooney rebuffed overtures from the US capital club last year, according to the report, but United struggled in front of goal last season and has had similar woes this season.

D.C. United finished last in the Eastern Conference last year, scoring a co-MLS-low 31 goals while surrendering 60, losing out on goaldifference to Western Conference doormat Los Angeles Galaxy for the league basement.

This season, United again rank worst in MLS with one win, four losses and two draws and a minus-5 goal difference that ranks one tally worse than Western Conference basement co-dwellers Seattle and San Jose, also on five points.

reach the quarterfinals. The Serb has struggled this year after saying he returned to action too quickly following the lingering right elbow injury.

Djokovic lost in the third round in Monte Carlo and in the second round in both Miami and Indian Wells. The 12th-ranked Serb also failed to advance past the last 16 at the Australian Open.

Also, top-ranked Simona Halep beat Czech Kristyna Pliskova 6-1, 6-4 to stay on track for a third straight title in Madrid, while Dane

Caroline Wozniacki’s bid to return to the top of the rankings ended with a 2-6, 2-6 loss to 20th-ranked Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.

The second-ranked Wozniacki needed to win the title in Madrid to overcome Romania’s Halep for the No. 1 spot.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week’s Italian Open, saying she needs more time to be “100 percent ready to compete”.

The tournament made the announcement via Twitter.

Williams returned to the tour briefly this year after a 14-month absence to give birth to her daughter. The 23-time Grand Slam champion also withdrew from the Madrid Open and sitting out Rome puts her status for the French Open, which starts on May 27, in doubt.

Williams, a four-time Italian Open champion, has not played since her a first-round loss to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in March at the Miami Open.

Catherine Bellis takes Williams’ place in the Rome draw.

Rooney looks set to join DC United in MLS

24

FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

Your Weekend Starts Here!

Sport

Keep It Up Kyle!

British Number One Continues Madrid Run

British number one, Kyle Edmund followed up his win over Novak Djokovic by beating David Goffin in straight sets to move into the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open.

Edmund, who will break into the top 20 after defeating 12-time grand slam champion Djokovic, beat world number 10 Goffin 6-3, 6-3.

The 23-year-old will now face Denis Shapovalov, who defeated Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-4, in the last eight.

Edmund’s success was never seriously in doubt, as he outplayed an opponent he forced on to the back foot throughout and forced several errors.

He broke Belgian Goffin’s serve in the opening game of the first set, and retained control after that, losing just four points in his first four service games and taking it in 32 minutes by breaking Goffin again.

Edmund saved two break points on his first service game in set two, digging deep as Goffin tried to force his way back into the contest, before closing things out by clinching victory with a third match point in one hour and 12 minutes.

Continued inside, page 23